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T H E L A W S O F P A R A D I S E 
Dear viewer, we wish to call your attention to the fact that several points on The Laws of Paradise treatise may seem new, and deep, and you may need to go slow. Please do not hesitate to email us with your questions. Also, please take note that this article, is updated continuously, so you will want to come back again soon, to view the new things added to it. Brother Edmund
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom.8:2 Apostle Paul Here we see our beloved apostle Paul, showing us all: THAT THE LAW THAT IS IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH, IS INDEED SPIRITUAL, because it is of THE HOLY SPIRIT OF LIFE THAT IS IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (cf. John 6:63). This law then, being of the Holy Spirit, must be taught according to how the Holy Spirit of God teaches.And how does the Holy Spirit of God teach within His Church? As our apostle Paul tells us: "BY COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL..." As it is written in 1 Cor.2:13,“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing (i.e., TO JUDGE) spiritual things (non-carnal, Divinely supernatural, regenerate, religious *Strong's Bible Concordance*) with spiritual (non-carnal, Divinely supernatural, regenerate, religious *Strong's Bible Concordance*) .” 1 Cor.2:13Here we see that: THE TRUE RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE, THE RELIGIOUS TEACHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH, THE DOCTRINE AND TEACHING OF THE TRUE CHURCH IS: NON-CARNAL DOCTRINE, NON-CARNAL TEACHING.Indeed, for our Holy Lord Jesus Christ, our high priest Himself, THE VERY HEAD OF THE OUR TRUE CHURCH, WAS NOT MADE A PRIEST ACCORDING TO ANY CARNAL LAW, OR CARNAL COMMANDMENT As it is written in Heb.7:12-17." For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Heb.7:12-17 Oh, heavenly soul, the proof of having the Holy Spirit of God, IS NOT in jumping up and down, dancing around like a spinning top, etc. Nor is it speaking in tongues, as so many would have you believe. Nor dressing in certain types of clothes, men having a beard, women having long dresses, not eating this, or, eating this only. No, none of these things are proof of having the Holy Spirit of God, for evil spirits can also cause one to do all these things. The proof of having the Holy Spirit of God, is found in the ability to "compare, i.e., to judge", this world of sin according to the Divine heavenly Spiritual laws of God. For we see that it is written,"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter ( The Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (Divine law):" John 16:7-8Here we see that this is the proof of having the Holy Spirit; for we see that this is what the Holy Spirit comes to do. Again, beloved apostle Paul writes, “ For it is written IN the law of Moses, Thou salt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn (see Deut.25:4). Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether (i.e., entirely) for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope (see 1 Tim.5:17-18). If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” 1Cor.9:9-11Here we see that THE SPIRITUAL LAW (i.e., the law which has not a carnal meaning, but a Spiritual meaning), is the law that is ENTIRELY FOR THE CHRISTIAN. This law is called:
THE LAW OF FAITH (
"Then, again, when affirming the law to be spiritual (Romans 7:14), he thereby implies that it is prophetic, and that it is figurative. “ Tertullian Here Tertullian shows THE TRUE MEANING of what our beloved apostle Paul was saying in Romans 7:14, and throughout the whole book of Romans when speaking about this particular law (for the book of Romans speaks of two different laws ~Rom. 8:2~) .Here we see that our beloved apostle Paul was showing forth that this law of God’s righteousness, “ IS PROPHETIC ”, and “FIGURATIVE“.The word: “FIGURATIVE”, means= “ METAPHORICAL”. And knowing as we do that the word: Metaphor, means=“beyond, over + to carry”, we see that the carnal understanding of the Words of this law, MUST be carried over into the heavenly Spiritual understanding of it, in order for this law to “REGENERATE US”.For this Spiritual law that our beloved apostle Paul mentions in Romans 7:14, does indeed have 
regenerating power
within itself.
And again, Tertullian writes, “For why should God, the founder of the universe, the Governor of the whole world, the Fashioner of humanity, the Sower of universal nations be believed to (1): have given a law through Moses to one people, and not be said to have assigned it to all nations? For unless He had given it to all by no means would He have habitually permitted even (2): proselytes out of the nations to have access to it.But, as is congruous with the goodness of God, and with His equity, as the Fashioner of mankind (3): He gave to all nations the selfsame law, which at definite, and stated times He enjoined should be observed; when He willed, and through whom He willed, and as He willed. (4): For in the beginning of the world He gave to Adam himself, and Eve a law, that they were not to eat of the fruit of the tree planted in the midst of paradise; but that, if they did contrariwise, by death they were to die. Which law had continued enough for them, had it been kept. (5): For in this law given to Adam we recognise in embryo all the precepts which afterwards sprouted forth when given through Moses; that is, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God from thy whole heart and out of thy whole soul; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; Thou shalt not kill; Thou shall not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; False witness thou shall not utter; Honour thy father and mother; and, That which is another's, shall thou not covet. (6): For the primordial law was given to Adam and Eve in paradise, as the womb of all the precepts of God. In short, if they had loved the Lord their God, they would not have contravened His precept; if they had habitually loved their neighbour-that is, themselves -they would not have believed the persuasion of the serpent, and thus would not have committed murder upon themselves, by falling from immortality, by contravening God's precept; from theft also they would have abstained, if they had not stealthily tasted of the fruit of the tree, nor had been anxious to skulk beneath a tree to escape the view of the Lord their God; nor would they have been made partners with the falsehood-asseverating devil, by believing him that they would be "like God; "and thus they would not have offended God either, as their Father, who had fashioned them from clay of the earth, as out of the womb of a mother; if they had not coveted another's, they would not have tasted of the unlawful fruit. Therefore, in this general and primordial law of God, the observance of which, in the case of the tree's fruit, He had sanctioned, we recognise enclosed all the precepts specially of the posterior Law, which germinated when disclosed at their proper times.” Tertullian Here we see several things to take note of. (1): We see that there was a law given NOT BY MOSES, but given THROUGH MOSES, by God WHO IS A Holy Spirit.No doubt this is the same prophetic law that was given to the seventy (see Numbers 11:25), in that THEY PROPHESIED, i.e., brought forth the heavenly Spiritual law of the Logos of the Father, which now goes by the name, The Lord Jesus Christ. For the Spirit of the prophetic law of God, IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST (see Rev. 19:10, 1 Pet.1:10). And that Holy Spirit of Christ says: "...The Words I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT, and they are life." John 6:63 (2): We see that this heavenly Spiritual prophetic law, has always been there for all mankind, of all nations, to partake of it, "IF" they would turn unto it (see Deut.29:14-15).
(3):
And so we see that all nations, were given this law at one time or another.
For example, in the time of Noah, we see that after the flood, ALL who were
with Noah, heard the teaching. For it is written that
GOD BLESSED NOAH AND HIS SONS, AND SAID BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND
REPLENISH THE EARTH
(see Gen.9:1), which is the
SAME SPIRITUAL LAW
( (4): For we see that this is the same Spiritual law given to Adam and Eve, who were spiritual creatures, and parents of all mankind. (5): We see that this heavenly Spiritual law, has to do also with the ten commandments. Indeed, the MOST HOLY TRUE JEWS themselves, i.e., The TRUE FOLLOWERS OF GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT LANGUAGE, knew that THE LAW, AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WITHIN THE LAW, WERE SPIRITUAL.Let us hear now from a very ancient document, how it is recorded that the great heavenly wisdom HOLY Jewish priest, Eleazar, as he is being martyred, speaks to a Satan man about the heavenly spiritual life giving laws that were written by the finger (i.e., by The Holy Spirit ( Luke 11:20, Matt. 12:28, Ex.31:18) of God. And let us hear holy Eleazar make confession that the ten commandments were not only written without on the two tables of stone, but WERE also IN A HIDDEN, SPIRITUAL, SECRET WAY, WRITTEN WITHIN THE TWO TABLES OF STONE, as it is written,“And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tables of testimony were in his hands, tables of stone written on both their sides: they were written within and without. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing the writing of God written on the tables.” Ex. 32:15-16 Septuagint Bible Here is part of that ancient Jewish document:“And first into the midst came Eleazar the priest, hoary of hair but shewing youth in mind. And he was urged to eat of heathen sacrifices and flesh of swine, and herein that he should renounce his pure reverence for the Law; for the tyrant thought that if he overcame this man, he would overcome the Law, yea the Priesthood itself; and he thought that to overthrow the old man was to dissolve the (Law and the Priesthood). For with these was his war (i.e., his war was with the law and the Priesthood) and not with the sons of men. And he hoped again that the master would be followed without a struggle also by the young men his disciples.But his hope and his expectation disappointed him. For with the body the old man and infirm triumphed over the torments, and strengthened the youths strong as they were in body, and proved that the Law was spiritual and the Priesthood heavenly. And he made known that there was in them a good and ready hope for the sake of which it was also right to suffer, even though these things were not yet established unto form and writing. For Antiochus indeed laughed much at him as though he were suffering in vain and in vain rejecting that pleasant taste of swine's flesh; and he called it a servant of nature and he reckoned it folly that he should take death in exchange for a single food. For he was mixing his very threats and at the same time mocking the man and frightening him. And sometimes he spoke both pitying and being grieved for his weakness and old age and worthiness; and the self-same sneers his servants also held forth. Being armed even thus on the king's side and helping him in every way, they were surrounding this old man as a tower of virtue. But he was not to be taken nor known nor subdued by them. For he (Eleazar the priest) said: Our Law, O Antiochus, is verily The Law, for it is the work and gift of God and the teaching is not of one of the sons of men (i.e., the teaching of the law is not carnal, but spiritual, for it is the teaching of the Holy Spirit of God, for God is a Spirit, and God gave it). Hearest thou not of Moses and his fast of forty days and the purity and brightness which came from him? And of the top of Mount Sinai and the cloud, and of Him who spoke to him from thence, and of the tables graven with the finger of God, which were written on both their sides, within and without; declaring to those who were heavy (brutish) in their minds the external things of the word, but to those who Feared hinting (we see that the word hinting used here, means = to say, in a indirect hidden way, that The Ten Commandments are spiritual of the Spirit of God) carefully the theory of the deep things of the Spirit?From thence we derive our refusal of the food of the flesh of swine, for it teaches us to restrain gluttonous desires, and not to pursue after pleasure, and that therein we should maintain constancy. Reverence therefore either the Lawgiver who is God, or the high estimation of the Law. For irrational beasts are permitted, as I have said, to make use of the abundance of nature, and to possess the lust of unrestrained pleasures. But for rational man the Law is appointed that he may neither eat nor do all the things that are natural; for some are withholden, and the rest are permitted him. On account of this we even call those barbarians beastly who bring all things under the tooth, obeying nature and not the Law. The counsels of the Law therefore are such as they are because they remove men from irrational follies. For I speak even to your untaught obedience and heathenishness. And what shall I say? For the sake of decency (that is reverence for the High-priesthood) I reverence the worked tunic which giveth oracles by means of various colours, making it known that it is fit for the high-priest to be clothed with the whole various host of virtues. I reverence the ephod of judgment and the Urim and Thummim which we who are worthy to exercise the priest's office carry upon our breasts when we enter within the Holy of Holies, that we may gain eloquence of soul and that the adversary may be turned back rather with a word than in wrath and in lusts; that we may be able to judge the things that are fitting, and as in a vision may receive revelations from above and teachings of truth, and may offer answers clear of falsehood to those who are initiated. I reverence the tiara which crowns the head of the priest, as of one who has mastered the passions. I tremble at the sacred plate of gold seeing that he carries on it the name of God which is without reproach, for this is engraved on the seal, even things ineffable, that it may give light to the face and may direct him that he may see God only. As I think these thoughts and more than these, how can I betray the law of my fathers? And how can I be overcome by one irrational food? How can I defile my mouth? Herein thou hast, Antiochus, proof of my soul; try now my body also!” Here we see that the ten commandments were not only written on the outside of the stone tables, but also, they were written "within the stone tables".And here in this ancient Jewish document, we see the great ancient heavenly wisdom HOLY Jewish priest, Eleazar, make confession that those who are brutish in their minds, those who are in truth the brute beasts (Jude 10), only see and understand the external ten commandments that were written on the outside of the stone tables, and these they try to bring forth as the true meaning of the ten commandments.But here we also see that those who "truly fear God", those who "care for God's Holy Spirit law (Rom.7:14, Rom.8:2, 1cor.2:13)", will show that they seek only to understand and to bring forth "the ten commandments that are spiritual", the "ten commandments that were hidden within the two stone tables". This is how one can tell "true believers IN GOD" from false.Oh, what can be said about that law that was first given to Adam and Eve? For in it, is found the embryo all the ten precepts which afterwards sprouted forth when given through Moses. For God the Spirit, when He gave the ten commandments to Moses, was reminding the first man and woman (the soul that is in all mankind), what they did against Him, and that they should not do it again. For example, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” Ex.20:3. For the serpent said to them: “…ye shall be as gods…” Gen.3:5. And they believed him and sought to have the Godhead for themselves apart from God, just like the Devil had done before them.And again, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy“ Ex.20:8. As long as Adam and Eve were in the Sabbath day, and kept it Holy, they were righteous. But when they broke the law and ate of the tree, they broke the Sabbath day of God. For the Sabbath Day of God can rightly be called: THE BLESSING OF, AND RESTING IN, GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS.For we see that they were in God’s image and likeness when God’s Sabbath rest was given. And so, when we look at Gen.1:26-27, we see that it was “God’s image and likeness” that was to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth, and have dominion, etc.It WAS NOT mankind by himself that was to do all these things, but IT WAS God’s image and likeness IN mankind that was to do all these things. And so, when mankind lost the likeness of God’s Divinity, mankind COULD NOT do all these things that God COMMANDED to be done by mankind. Oh, mankind could be fruitful, but not with God’s likeness. Mankind could multiply, and replenish the earth, and have dominion, BUT NOT WITH GOD’S LIKENESS. And again, “Thou shalt not kill.” Ex.20:13. This commandment had to be given to them to remind them not to kill themselves again, as they did in the past by lusting for the Godhead apart from God. For Adam and Eve had killed themselves by taking from the tree of false knowledge of the good and evil of the Godhead. And again, “Thou shalt not steal.” Ex.20:15 Our Holy Lord God, was reminding them that under the influence of Satan, they tried to steal the Godhead for themselves apart from God, just like Satan tried to do before them, and that is why they died. And so our Lord God was reminding them that they were not to do it again. And again, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”Ex.20:14 Our Holy Lord God was reminding the souls of mankind that by lusting after a different law, other than the Lord’s law in the garden of Paradise, they committed adultery. For the law is like a “husband” to the soul (Rom.7:1-4). So we see that by these Holy heavenly ten commandments given by God the Spirit (Deut.4:12-13), we see that the Lord was calling mankind back to the “peculiar” priesthood, i.e., the priesthood that could show forth the praise of the Spiritual Law of God the Spirit (Ex.19:5-6 ~1 Pet.2:9), like Adam was first made to do. For Adam was a priest, a King, and a prophet of God the Spirit, i.e., the Spiritual Word of God. But of course as we know, the children of Israel who fought against Moses, never got these ten commandments, for Moses broke the tablets and they did not get the life giving Spiritual meaning of them written into their hearts, for they rejected the washing fountain which must come "first" (c.f. Ezek.36:25-28).
But all this shows us that they (the ten commandments), must be understood,
and walked in
(6):
For we see that THE LAW OF WISDOM ABOVE, IS TO BE
"One can only say that (1): the law is called eternal in the sense that we say that: (2): ' The law is spiritual', and that through it can be (3): offered spiritual sacrifices which can never be interrupted or brought to an end." Origen Here we see that (3): What is meant by saying, "spiritual sacrifices" is, spiritual sacrifices that can never be interrupted or brought to an end. And are offered accordingly in (2): "THE SPIRITUAL LAW". And that this is that which is called (1): "THE ETERNAL LAW". And we see in 1 Peter 2:5 it is written, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5 Here we see THAT WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD is, that a true Christian OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES THAT ARE OF THE SPIRITUAL LAW that is by (i.e., through), Jesus Christ (see Romans 8:2). But let us ask, if they DO NOT know, nor, are in, this heavenly Spiritual law, how can they offer anything that would be acceptable to God from this law? And as we know, no one enters CHRIST'S law without FIRST being LIVING WATER baptized (For our Lord said that "first", he would wash, and after that put His law in the heart (see Ezek. 36:25-28).
Therefore, we see that the prerequisite
of offering TRUE CHRISTIAN
SACRIFICES IS, THAT FIRST ONE MUST ENTER
"If, then, the rivers of Babylon (see Ps.137:1-9) are the streams of voluptuousness, as wise men say, which confuse and disturb the soul, then the willows must be chastity, to which we may suspend and draw up the organs of lust which overbalance and weigh down the mind, so that they may not be borne down by the torrents of incontinence, and be drawn like worms to impurity and corruption. For God has bestowed upon us virginity as a most useful and a serviceable help towards incorruption, sending it as an ally to those who are contending for and longing after Zion, as the psalm shows, which is resplendent charity and the commandment respecting it, for Zion is interpreted (1): "The commandment of the watchtower. Now, let us here enumerate the points which follow. (2): For why do the souls declare that they were asked by those who led them captive to sing the Lord's song in a strange land? Surely because the Gospel teaches a holy and secret song, which sinners and adulterers sing to the Evil One. For they insult the commandments, accomplishing the will of the spirits of evil, and cast holy things to dogs, and pearls before swine, in the same manner as those of whom the prophet says with indignation, (3): 'They read the law without'; for the Jews were not to read the law going forth out of the gates of Jerusalem or out of their houses; and for this reason the prophet blames them strongly, and cries that they were liable to condemnation, because, while they were transgressing the commandments, and acting impiously towards God, they were pretentiously reading the law, as if, forsooth, they were piously observing its precepts; (4): but they did not receive it in their souls, holding it firmly with faith, but rejected it, denying it by their works. (5): And hence they sing the Lord's song in a strange land, explaining the law by distorting and degrading it, expecting a sensual kingdom, and setting their hopes on this alien world, which the Word says will pass away, where those who carry them captive entice them with pleasures, lying in wait to deceive them". Methodius
Here we see that
(1):
Here we see that
(2):Those
who are in the rivers of Babylon (i.e., those who are in the doctrine of the
great harlot mystery Babylon, which is wisdom below, Rev.17:5,11:8,
Prov.7:16,James 3:15), try to lead captive those who are of wisdom above, by
saying: Oh we love your teachings, sing to us now
THE LORD'S SONG, WHICH IS THE GOSPEL, WHICH IS THE HOLY AND SECRET SONG,
WHICH IS
Here we see that (3): THAT THE LAW WAS NOT TO BE READ OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM, NOT TO BE READ IN A "STRANGE LAND". But let us take note of who BLAMES THEM STRONGLY FOR TAKING THE LAW OUT OF JERUSALEM AND READING IT IN A "STRANGE LAND". For who does blame them strongly? Methodius tells us that THE PROPHET BLAMES THEM STRONGLY. And that tells us that OUR HOLY LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE THAT BLAMES THEM STRONGLY! How do we know that? Because it is written, "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. " 1 Peter 1:10-11 Here we see that all the true prophets, HAD THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THEM AS THEY SPOKE. And how does Christ speak? Our heavenly Lord tells us, for it is written, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63 Indeed, Christ who is God's Word of heavenly wisdom, speaks by comparing Spiritual with Spiritual (see 1 Cor.2:5-16). But what is "THE STRANGE LAND" in which THE PIETY OF GOD'S LAW IS READ IMPIOUSLY? What is "THE STRANGE LAND" in which the people read the law as if in forsooth (i.e., as if in truth), but in fact ARE NOT READING IT IN TRUTH, BY NOT HOLDING TO THE TRUE FAITH OF IT? It is WISDOM BELOW, THE STRANGE WOMAN, WHO FLATTERETH WITH HER WORDS (doctrine). And mankind suffers greatly because of her flattery of unlawful words, until mankind comes out of her, and turns to wisdom above. For mankind is the land (the earth) that suffers by being in her church (her house). For the earth rightly belongs unto our Lord, and His heavenly covenant laws of wisdom above. But until mankind gets free (by entering the one Holy lawful baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church) from the evil man (i.e., the anti-christ spirit), and the house of the strange woman, mankind remains in death, and will not be able to enter the flesh and bone of THE GOOD EARTH, THE GOOD LAND. And so it is written,
"To deliver thee from
Indeed, wisdom below
STEALS THE LIVING WATER WORDS OF WISDOM
ABOVE ( And so it is written,
"Stolen
waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he
knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths
of hell." Proverbs 9:17-18 And again, Methodius writes about THE LAWS OF PARADISE, “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Rom.7:9 "Let us see then, what it is that we have endeavoured to say respecting the apostle. For this saying of his, "I was alive without the law once… (Rom.7:9)" (1): refers to the life which was lived in paradise before the law, not without a body, but with a body, by our first parents, as we have shown above; (Note! Earlier, Methodius had shown from scripture in Gen. 2:23&3:21, that Adam had a body of flesh and bone ’before’, God clothed them with coats of skin). for we lived without concupiscence (lust), being altogether ignorant of its assaults.For not to have a law according to which we ought to live, nor a power of establishing what manner of life we ought to adopt, so that we might justly be approved or blamed, is considered to exempt a person from accusation. Because one cannot lust after those things from which he is not restrained, and even if he lusted after them, he would not be blamed. For lust is not directed to things which are before us, and subject to our power, but to those which are before us, and not in our power. For how should one care for a thing which is neither forbidden nor necessary to him? And for this reason it is said, "…I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (Rom.7:7) " For when (our first parents) heard, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it; for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die, (Gen.2:17) " then they conceived lust, and gathered it.Therefore was it said, “…I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet; (Rom.7:7)“ nor would they have desired to eat, except it had been said, "…Thou shalt not eat of it. (Gen.2:17)" For it was thence that sin took occasion to deceive me. For when the law was given, (2): the devil had it in his power to work lust in me; "…for without the law, sin was dead; (Rom.7:8)"Which means: when the law was not given, sin could not be committed. But I was alive and blameless before the law, having no commandment in accordance with which it was necessary to live; "…but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (Rom.7:9-10) " (3): For after God had given the law, and had commanded me what I ought to do, and what I ought not to do, the devil wrought lust in me. (4): For the promise of God which was given to me, this was for life and incorruption, so that obeying it I might have ever-blooming life and joy unto incorruption; but to him who disobeyed it, it would issue in death. (5): But the devil, whom he calls sin, because he is the author of sin, taking occasion by the commandment to deceive me to disobedience, deceived and slew me, thus rendering me subject to the condemnation, "…In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die.(Gen.2:17)" "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good; (Rom.7:12)" (6): Because it was given, not for injury, but for safety; for let us not suppose that God makes anything useless or hurtful.What thou? "Was then that which is good made death unto me? (Rom.7:13)…" Namely, that which was given as a law, that it might be the cause of the greatest good? "…God forbid.(Rom.7:13) " (7): For it was not the law of God that became the cause of my being brought into subjection to corruption, but the devil; that he might be made manifested who, through that which is good, wrought evil; that the inventor of evil might become and be proved the greatest of all sinners.And again, "For we know that the law is spiritual; (Rom.7:14)…" and therefore it can in no respect be injurious to any one; for spiritual things are far removed from irrational lust and sin. "…But I am carnal, sold under sin; (Rom.7:14)" which means: But I being carnal, and being placed between good and evil as a voluntary agent, am so that I may have it in my power to choose what I will.(8): For "behold I set before thee life and death; (Deut.30:15), Note! We have taken the liberty to put in Deut.30:15, as belonging to this scripture quote. For even if our Lord said this to Adam in Genesis, and it is not recorded in the Bible, still, it is most important to see the our Lord said it through Moses in Deut. 30:15" meaning that death would result from disobedience of the spiritual law, that is of the commandment; and from obedience to the carnal law, that is the counsel of the serpent; for by such a choice "I am sold" to the devil, fallen under sin.Hence evil, as though besieging me, cleaves to me and dwells in me, justice giving me up to be (9): sold to the Evil One, in consequence of having violated the law. Therefore also the expressions: "That which I do, I allow not," and "what I hate, that do I, (Rom.7:15)", are not to be understood of doing evil, but of only thinking it.For it is not in our power to think or not to think of improper things, but to act or not to act upon our thoughts. For we cannot hinder thoughts from coming into our minds, since we receive them when they are inspired into us from without; but we are able to abstain from obeying them and acting upon them. Therefore it is in our power to will not to think these things; but not to bring it about that they shall pass away, so as not to come into the mind again; for this does not lie in our power, as I said; which is the meaning of that statement, "The good that I would, I do not; (Rom.7:19)", for I do not will to think the things which injure me; for this good is altogether innocent. But "the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do; (Rom.7:19)", not willing to think, and yet thinking what I do not will.And consider whether it was not for these very things that David entreated God, grieving that he thought of those things which he did not will: "O cleanse Thou me from my secret faults. Keep Thy servant also from presumptuous sins. lest they get the dominion over me; so shall I be undefiled, and innocent from the great offence. (Ps.19:12-13)". And the apostle too, in another place: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor.10:5)".But if any one should venture to oppose this statement, and reply, that the apostle teaches that we hate not only the evil which is in thought, but that we do that which we will not, and we hate it even in the very act of doing it, for he says," For the good which I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do; (Rom.7:19)" , if he who says so speaks the truth, let us ask him to explain what was the evil which the apostle hated and willed not to do, but did; and the good which he willed to do, but did not; and conversely, whether as often as he willed to do good, so often he did not do the good which he willed, but did the evil which he willed not? And how he can say, when exhorting us to shake off all manner of sin, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ? (1 Cor.11:1)" Thus he meant the things already mentioned which he willed not to do, not to be done, but only to be thought of. For how otherwise could he be an exact imitation of Christ?It would be excellent then, and most delightful, if we had not those who oppose us, and contend with us; but since this is impossible, we cannot do what we will. For we will not to have those who lead us to passion, for then we could be saved without weariness and effort; but that does not come to pass which we will, but that which we will not. For it is necessary, as I said, that we should be tried. Let us not then, O my soul, let us not give in to the Evil One; but putting on" the whole armour of God, (Eph.6:11)", which is our protection, let us have "…the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel (of peace). Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, (Eph.6:14-15)", that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ…(2 Cor.10:5)", "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood; (Eph.6:12)", "For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not: but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me-that is, in my flesh-dwelleth no good thing… (Rom.7:15-18)".And this is rightly said. For remember how it has been already shown that, from the time when man went astray and disobeyed the law, thence sin, receiving its birth from his disobedience, dwelt in him. For thus a commotion was stirred up, and we were filled with agitations and foreign imaginations, being emptied of the divine inspiration and filled with carnal desire, which the cunning serpent infused into us. And, therefore, (10): God invented death for our sakes, that He might destroy sin, lest rising up in us immortals, as I said, it should be immortal.When the apostle says, "for I know that in me-that is, in my flesh-dwelleth no good thing, (Rom.7:18)", (11): by which words he means to indicate that sin dwells in us, from the transgression, through lust; out of which, like young shoots, the imaginations of pleasure rise around us. (12): For there are two kinds of thoughts in us; the one which arises from the lust which lies in the body, which, as I said, came from the craft of the Evil Spirit; the other from the law, which is in accordance with the commandment, which we had implanted in us as a natural law, stirring up our thoughts to good, when we delight in the law of God according to our mind, for this is the inner man; but in the law of the devil according to the lust which dwells in the flesh. For he who wars against and opposes the law of God, that is, against the tendency of the mind to good, is the same who stirs up the carnal and sensual impulses to lawlessness.And the same is denoted by the words, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom.7:22-24)". By which he does not mean that the body is death, but the law of sin which is in his members, lying hidden in us through the transgression, and ever deluding the soul to the death of unrighteousness. And he immediately adds, clearly showing from what kind of death he desired to be delivered, and who he was who delivered him, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ.(Rom.7:25)"."For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death; (Rom.8:2)", so that "…He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you; (Rom.8:11)", having "…condemned sin (Rom.8:3)", which is in the body to its destruction; (13): "that the righteousness of the law (Rom.8:4)", of nature which draws us to good, and is in accordance with the commandment, might be kindled and manifested.For the good which "the law" of nature "could not do, in that it was weak," being overcome by the lust which lies in the body, God gave strength to accomplish, "..sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh; (Rom.8:3)", so that sin being condemned, to its destruction, so that it should never bear fruit in the flesh, the righteousness of the law of nature might be fulfilled, abounding in the obedience of those who walk not according to the lust of the flesh, but according to the lust and guidance of the Spirit; (14): "for the law of the Spirit of life, (Rom.8:2)", which is the Gospel, being different from earlier laws, leading by its preaching to obedience and the remission of sins, delivered us from the law of sin and death, having conquered entirely sin which reigned over our flesh.(1): Here we see so much about the amazing Paradisiacal law of eternal life, that was first giving to mankind in paradise.Here we see that mankind, while in paradise, was indeed shown the eternal SPIRITUAL law of the mind of God. Here we see that this was the very law that would have allowed our parents (Adam and Eve) while in THEIR FLESH AND BONE IN PARADISE, to be blessed, in God’s very own image and likeness, and to be fruitful in God’s very own image and likeness, and to multiply in God’s very own image and likeness. Oh! What can be said about the image and likeness of God? For it is the image of God’s own immortality, the likeness of God’s own Divinity. Before the fall, the blessing, the fruitfulness, and the multiplying, in their flesh and bone, could have taken place. But not after the fall. For after the fall, mankind COULD NOT multiply in flesh and bone, God’s very own image of God’s immortality, the likeness of God’s Divinity. For how can corruptibility (which mankind’s flesh and bone had become after the fall), multiply incorruptibility? How can death, multiply life? How can material carnal flesh and bone, multiply immaterial spiritual flesh and bone? And lest one should think that there cannot be an immaterial spiritual flesh and bone, when we look at Luke 24:38-39, we see that it is written, “And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in
your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle
me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
Luke 24:38-39 We see that our Holy Lord showed Himself to His disciples here, and it is clear that he was in a “spiritual” state. And yet we see that He had flesh and bone. So we see that that flesh and bone was indeed in a “spiritual state”. In Luke 24:38-39, we see a flesh and bone that was indeed a “spiritual” flesh and bone. For that flesh and bone, did not need to eat, did not need to sleep, did not need to drink, did not need to have clothing to keep warm, or any such thing as we see that carnal material corruptible earthly flesh and bone needs. So we see that it is not impossible for flesh and bone to be “spiritual”. As a matter of fact, we could rightly call that flesh and bone: “a spiritual earth, of flesh and bone”. And so it was in the beginning. For as we know, our Holy Lord Jesus Christ came to “restore” mankind back to God. Now mankind is made up of three things, body-soul- spirit (1 Thessalonians. 5:23). And so, the body of flesh and bone, needed to be “restored”, back to God (who is a Spirit), back to it’s first spiritual state, for as we know, God is a Spirit, God is eternal, God is incorruptible, etc. And so, for anything to be “restored” back to God, such a thing needs to “spiritual-eternal-incorruptible” too. So when our Holy Lord said to the carnal dead minded (Rom. 8:6), Pharisees, who with their carnal minds were trying to test our Holy Lord and His heavenly life giving Spiritual law mind, our Lord said to them, “…Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, ‘And said’, (Let us notice the words: ‘And said’, being used here. Who said? Let us notice it was God that said:) For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Indeed, it was God’s Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, which spoke through Adam, about this flesh that could multiply God’s image and likeness 1 Peter 1:10-11) Matt. 19:4-6Here we do see that mankind was in “one flesh”, at the beginning. But what we must keep in mind, is what was talked about previously, i.e., God’s “Image and likeness”. For as we see in the book of Genesis, that “one flesh”, of mankind, had God’s image and likeness in it in such a way so as to be able to “be fruitful, and multiply God’s image and likeness of God‘s spiritual-eternal-incorruptibility, “in that one flesh”. For the scripture DOES NOT SAY, “Be fruitful and multiply My image and likeness of My righteousness, My immortality, My eternalness, My heavenly Spiritual life giving law, with your soul, but not with your flesh and bone. No! The scripture says: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen.1:26 And again, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Gen.1:26-27 Here we see that mankind was to be “fruitful, and was to multiply God’s image and likeness, with ALL THAT MANKIND WAS, i.e., with Spirit-soul-AND FLESH AND BONE. PART TWO 
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But I keep myself pure
for thee, O Bridegroom, and holding a lighted lamp