Spiritual Sacrifices 1 Peter 2-5

 Back in the day, lambs were used as a sin offering, to atone for man’s sins. Only unblemished lambs were chosen as the offering. To them, offering a prize lamb was a sacrifice, because it was valued; and just might have been worth its weight in gold to the tribe. This was part of man’s transformation from the flesh into spirit, because once he learned “the animal” needed to be sacrificed, he would come to understand that he would have to sacrifice himself, specifically his animal-side – his selfish egotistical, clever, greedy, take-care-of-me-and-mine self. Once he could do this, man would operate as spirit in this world – be in it, but not of it [A Passer-by man; Gospel of Thomas, 42  Jesus says:You must be as passers-by].

Jesus demonstrated this transformation; and once this lesson was taught, man no longer needed to perform animal sacrifice as a sin offering. This was the only part of God’s LAW that changed [The , or NEW covenant (agreement), not new law].

The fact that the animal sacrifices which were put to death, were but types, and "could never take

away sin " for the animals had never sinned (Heb. 10:11). However the nature of the animals is as full of this physical evil principle called SIN as the nature of man; although it cannot be called sin with the same expressiveness; because it does not possess them as the result of their own transgression; the name, however, does not alter the nature of the thing.

The force of these words is seen in that, so far as true believers are concerned, they are not to offer to God something outside themselves. On the contrary, they are to offer themselves to Yahweh

as men and women who are living proof of the Truth at work in themselves, transforming them to "conform to the image of His Son" (ch. 8:29).

Animals were to be brought to the altar alive. "We have an altar", said Paul (Heb. 13:10), "who is Christ". God's saints are "dead unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord... as those that are alive from the dead" (Rom. 6:11, 13).

This type of sacrifice— apparent under the ritual system of the Law of Moses only in type, and therefore hidden from all except those who sought the spirit of the Law — is a spiritual sacrifice, resulting from the enlightenment of the mind to the divine will; the conviction gained therefrom providing the motivation to strive to perform "the acceptable and perfect will of God

sacrifice a refining process that is constantly going on in the consciousness.

The Animal sacrifices on the altar represent the transformation of the conscious to the next higher plane of action. This is a process of reformation that pertains to those who put on the new man.

The altar represents the place in consciousness where we are willing to give up the lower to the higher, the personal to the impersonal, the animal to the spiritual.

We must purify our mind and heart by the Spirit in order to begin the regenerative work. When this blessed realisation of the regeneration comes to consciousness the voices of men are heard by the Lord and their prayers ascend "even unto heaven."

When we have faith in God we are willing to give up all our material pleasures this is a point that is also symbolised by the sacrifices so often referred to in the history of the Children of Israel.

Yahweh is the Head Angel in the Old Testament Exodus 23:20,21

Yahweh is the head angel in the Old Testament 

or Yahweh is the archangel Michael

Epiphanius Against Basilides, Basilides 2:3 He says that this creation was produced later by the angels of our heaven and the power in it. One of these angels he calls God and distinguishes him by saying that he alone is the God of the Jews—though he made him one of the number of the angels whose names he coined for us as though he were composing a mime.8 By him the man was fashioned.9

https://web.archive.org/web/20170916133936/http://www.masseiana.org/panarion_bk1.htm#31.

Yahweh is the head angel in the O.T....right? Christ has assumed the position higher than the angels.

Exodus 23:20,21 20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.

There is an angel who is called Yahweh Exodus 23:20,21

This angel is the chief angel or archangel Michael whose name means who is like the Divine One (God) EL or power

Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Yahweh is said to have appeared to Abraham as he sat in the door of his tent. (Gen. 18:1) When he first saw the visitor, though, he did not see the Lord but “three men” or Elohim, of whom one was the chief. Read all of Genesis 18 to 19:29 and you will see that the Everlasting Deity talks and acts by or through these Elohim, but chiefly through one of them called the Lord God or Yahweh Elohim. (Elpis Israel)

God appears to Jacob in Genesis 35:9 and says in the second verse: “I am God Almighty.” In the thirteenth verse we see God went up from the place where He talked with Jacob. At the time, he was at Bethel where the Elohim were previously revealed to him. On that occasion he dreamed he saw a ladder reaching from Earth to heaven with “the Lord standing above it, and the Elohim of God ascending and descending.” These messengers or angels were the Elohim or “ministering Spirits sent forth to assist those who will inherit salvation.” (Heb. 1:14) On another occasion (Gen 32:24-30) Jacob is said to have encountered the “Invisible God” when he wrestled with one of the Elohim. (Elpis Israel)

Gen 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God (the Elohim) faces to faces, and my soul is preserved."

Ho 12:3  He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Ho 

12:4  Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

Gen 35:1 ¶  And God  (Elohim )<0430> said unto Jacob , Arise , go up to Bethel , and dwell  there: and make there an altar  unto God (EL) <0410>, that appeared  unto thee when thou fleddest from the face  of Esau  thy brother .

Gen 35:1 Then the Elohim said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to the One True El, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother."
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to the One True El, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone."

Hence, the Elohim speak in the first person as personifications of the Invisible and Incorruptible Substance or Spirit who is the real author of all they say and do.

In Exod. 24:10, Moses tells us -- that he and seventy-three others "saw the God of Israel." We should err, however, if we supposed that he meant they saw the Deity, the Uncreated Spirit, "no man can see Him and live." He says they saw "the Elohim of Israel" the depositories and the embodiments of the Eternal Spirit, who shone out in glory in the presence of the Elders. The appearance under the feet of the Elohim, whose feet were also the feet of the Spirit, and, therefore, styled "His feet, was, as it were, a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven for clearness." The whole was a Spirit-manifestation.

The order was that "Moses alone shall come near YAHWEH," with his attendant. The reader will perceive the distinction here between the Elohim and YAHWEH. The nobles of the children of Israel came nigh to the Elohim, and saw them; and did not see Him. Even Moses, who did come near to the glory of Yahweh did not see His face; for said he, "there shall no man see me, and live; thou shalt see my back parts, Moses, but my face shall not be seen" (Exod. 33:20). Paul testified the same thing in 1 Tim. 6: 16, saying: "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see..." The Hebrew nation saw the symbol of YAHWEH'S presence on the mountain top "The glory of Yahweh like devouring fire," but neither they, Moses, nor their nobles, saw the face of the Eternal Substance himself.

The glory of Yahweh was manifested to Moses through the medium of the One from whom he received the Law (see Exod.. 33:18-23; 34:4-8; 24:12-18). This was the work of an angel as Paul and Stephen reveal (Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:53). Moses saw in him "the similitude of Yahweh" (Num. 12-8). Yahweh's Name was named upon him (Exod. 23:20-23) so that he exercised greater authority than the other Elohim as Christ will exercise greater authority than his glorified brethren

The distinction between Yahweh and Elohim is revealed in the incident recorded in Exodus 24. Moses was told that he, alone, "shall come near Yahweh" (v.2), but the elders of Israel were not permitted to do so. Yet, v.11 states: "The nobles saw God (Elohim) and did eat and drink." Neither Moses nor the nobles saw the great eternal and invisible spirit the Father. The former saw His glory revealed through an angel of Yahweh (probably the one referred to as bearing the Name according to Exodus 23:20), so that it is stated, "the similitude of Yahweh he beheld" (Num. 12:8). On the other hand, the nobles of Israel "saw God," or Elohim of lower status (though of the same physical constitution) as the one who appeared unto Moses, as recorded in the earlier verse.

John 1:18 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him

Verse 18: No man hath seen the Creator at any time. "God" meaning "elohim" refers to angels. See Exod# 33. 11, 20. The showing of YHWH to Moses was the showing of a highly placed angel, typifying that the people would see the manifestation of God in Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth. His whole life, all his teachings, and especially his death and resurrection and ascension to heaven, all "declared" his heavenly Father.

Azazel the scapegoat Leviticus 16

Azazel the scapegoat Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:7 “And he must take the two goats and make them stand before Jehovah at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron must draw lots over the two goats, the one lot for Jehovah and the other lot for Azazel. 

The word “Azazel” occurs four times in the Bible, in regulations pertaining to Atonement Day.—Lev 16:8, 10, 26.

"And the other lot for the scapegoat"

— The word "scapegoat" is altogether wrong. The Hebrew word is azazel it is derived from 2 hebrew words « "goat" from a root denoting strength, and the other hebrew word meaning "to go away, to disappear". The word therefore signifies The Goat of Departure, or The Goat of Removal. It represented one that has the strength to bear away the "sins" to be figuratively placed upon it.

Shall be presented alive before Yahweh"

— The two goats are prophetic of Christ's work. Both in life and in death he glorified the Father (John 17:4-5). This goat was preserved alive, and presented to Yahweh to foreshadow the resurrection of the Lord after he had successfully completed his function as a sin offering. Hence Paul wrote: "Jesus our Lord . . . was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rorn. 4:25). The type foreshadowed the provision of a living advocate on behalf of Yahweh's people, as is provided in (he Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of the Lord witnessed to the effectiveness of the atonement accomplished by his sacrifice (Rom. 1:1-4).

As Paul explained, by Jesus’ offering of his own life as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, he accomplished far more than had been achieved by “the blood of bulls and of goats.” (Heb 10:4, 11, 12) He thus served as “the scapegoat,” being the ‘carrier of our sicknesses,’ the one “pierced for our transgression.” (Isa 53:4, 5; Mt 8:17; 1Pe 2:24) He ‘carried away’ the sins of all who exercise faith in the value of his sacrifice. He demonstrated the provision of God to take sinfulness into complete oblivion. In these ways the goat “for Azazel” pictures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ

Sending The Goat of Departure (Azazel--removed, separated, sent away) out into the wilderness demonstrates the Renouncing of error, the putting away sin, or releasing from the consciousness all belief in and thought of sin and evil.

The two goats of Leviticus 16 signify the twofold operation in consciousness that attends the putting away of sin. Sacrificing one goat as a sin offering to Jehovah signifies the process of uplifting and refining the energies that lie back of all action and have been used to do evil. These energies are good and must be refined and elevated to spiritual expression in the consciousness and organism of man, that he may become perfect even as the Father is perfect. (See Matt. 5: 48.)

Sending The Goat of Departure (Azazel--removed, separated, sent away) out into the wilderness indicates denial of error, putting away sin, or releasing from the consciousness all belief in and thought of sin and evil, and all condemnation for sin.

"As far as the east is from the west,So far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psa. 103:12).

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more" (Jer. 31:34).

The two goats symbolizes resistance and opposition. It is a phase of personality. We resist Spirit on one hand, and we resist our fellows on the other. These two instances of resistance symbolize the two goats of Leviticus 16:5-22. They are both to be denied. Resistance to the Lord is to be killed out entirely and resistance to our fellows is to be sent into the wilderness--denied a place in consciousness.

This also illustrates the difference between sins toward God and sins toward man. There must be a complete and full union of the Father and child; every thought of obstruction and resistance must be done away with. It is very important that we make complete at-one-ment with the Father.

Resistance toward evil is not to be wholly destroyed, but consciousness of the nothingness of the thoughts of evil is to be dumped into the wilderness of sense. This is the scapegoat that carries away all the iniquities of the Children of Israel and loses them in the outer void.

Our relations to our fellow men are so complex that we are excused in a measure if we fall short in observing the law of nonresistance in its entirety. Yet in superconsciousness we can rise with Jesus Christ and "resist not him that is evil"; we must do it before we can become like Him and see Him even a He is (I John 3:2).

metaphysical Meaning of the Crucifixion John 19

The Gospel of Thomas Saying 55. Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple, and whoever does not hate brothers and sisters, and carry the cross as I do, will not be worthy of me."

The Apocryphon of James

I answered and said to him, “Master, we can obey you if you wish, for we have forsaken our fathers and our mothers and our villages, and followed you. Give us the means not to be tempted by the evil devil.”
The master answered and said, “What good is it to you if you do the father’s will but you are not given your part of his bounty when you are tempted by Satan? But if you are oppressed by Satan and persecuted and do the father’s will, I say he will love you, make you my equal, and consider you beloved through his forethought,  and by your own choice. Won’t you stop loving the flesh and fearing suffering? Don’t you know that you have not yet been abused, unjustly accused, locked up in prison, unlawfully condemned, crucified without reason,  or buried in the sand  as I myself was by the evil one? Do you dare to spare the flesh, O you for whom the spirit is a wall surrounding you? If you consider how long the world has existed before you and how long it will exist after you, you will see that your life is but a day and your sufferings an hour. The good will not enter the world. Disdain death, then, and care about life. Remember my cross and my death, and you will live.”
I answered and said to him, “Master, do not mention to us the cross and death, for they are far from you.”
The master answered and said, “I tell you the truth, none will be saved unless they believe in my cross, for the kingdom of god belongs to those who have believed in my cross. Be seekers of death, then, like the dead who seek life, for what they seek becomes apparent to them. And what is there to cause them concern? As for you, when you search out death, it will teach you about being chosen. I tell you the truth: No one afraid of death will be saved, for the kingdom of death  belongs to those who are put to death.  Become better than I. Be like the child of the holy spirit.” (The Apocryphon of James)

 The Gospel of Truth:

For this reason error was angry with him, so it persecuted him. It was distressed by him, so it made him powerless. He was nailed to a cross. He became a fruit of the knowledge of the Father. He did not, however, destroy them because they ate of it. He rather caused those who ate of it to be joyful because of this discovery. (The Gospel of Truth)


The cross represented Jesus' love, symbolizing his willingness to sacrifice his life for us; from this fact, that He cry out with strong emotion upon the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,"(8) the long-suffering, patience, compassion, and goodness of Christ are exhibited, since He both suffered, and did Himself forgive those who had ill-treated Him. For the Word of God, who said to us, "Love your enemies, and pray for those that hate you,"(9) Himself did this very thing upon the cross; loving the human race to such a degree, that He even prayed for those putting Him to death.

Instead of dying upon the cross like the two thieves that were crucified with him, Jesus simply passed through death and came out fully alive on the other side. The bodies of the robbers were turned to dust, while that of Jesus became alive again, was glorified, and, as is plainly taught in the Scriptures,

However there is another meaning to the crucifixion. The cross is referred to is a crossing out of the old, and thus a making way for the new. Jesus' experience on the cross symbolizes the last step to be taken by each individual, when he fully surrenders to God and enters into the “kingdom of the heavens,”.

What is represented by Jesus' thirst and the attempt to satisfy it with vinegar? Thirst is the physical desire for more life. This desire can be satisfied only by the realisation that life is spiritual. The attempt to satisfy it with vinegar shows the vanity of material counterfeits. What thought is represented by the sponge filled with vinegar that was given to Jesus to drink? The vinegar soaked sponge represents the final bitterness and agony of the separation between the carnal mind and the will of God.

now, "when he had tasted, he would not drink." The wording here suggests that Jesus was glad enough to take the drink that was put to his lips, but when the first taste of it told him what its purpose was, he would not have it.

. Jesus refused the sour wine that was presented to him to alleviate his suffering

"The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink if"? So to have faced crucifixion and death in a state of intoxication would have been, in a sense, to have turned away from the cup which his Father now held out to him.


In Matthew 27:46 it is stated that at this stage of the crucifixion Jesus cried: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The Christ left Jesus on the cross. The Christ the spiritual man, did not die on the cross

Jesus did died, but the fact that He was resurrected proves that He did overcome death. His body did not see corruption

What is symbolized by crucifixion on Golgotha, “The place of a skull”? The skull is the place where the carnal mind is “crossed out,” that the consciousness may awake to the newness of timeless life. Jesus (the carnal intellect) was crucified at “The place of the skull” that Christ (Truth) might become all in all.

Explain the significance of Golgotha. Golgotha (“place of the skull”) represents the domain of the carnal mind seperted from spiritual truth. Purely carnal thoughts and desires in a believer must come to an end and absolute Truth (the Christ) must possess him consciously instead.

Who were with Jesus on the cross? The crucifixion of the “two robbers” who were with Jesus they represent the removal from the mind of all thoughts of the past activities of sin or old life which the old man of the flesh who is crucified with Jesus.

Of what is the "darkness over all the land" a symbol? The three hours of "darkness over all the land" symbolize the failure of understanding that settles upon the consciousness and casts its shadow upon the mind and heart in times of great trial.

What is meant by Jesus giving up the spirit to God? The final giving up of all human ambitions and aims is involved in this surrender to God.

At the crucifixion of Jesus it was the human consciousness of this corruptible flesh that died. "Our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that we should no longer be in bondage to sin."

When the thoughts of sin are crossed out, the spiritual truth and life are manifested in the consciousness. "The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus . . . shall give life also to your mortal bodies." This is pictured in the resurrection of Jesus as an angel of Yahweh descending from heaven (the ruling spiritual kingdom) and rolling away the stone from the door of the tomb.

Jesus resurrected the body that was crucified; He did this by putting into the body the true state of consciousness. "put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.

We can resurrect our body just as Jesus resurrected His. "Follow me." We can overcome, and make our body like the body of Jesus. We must do this. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death." We resurrect our body by putting a new mind into it--the mind of Spirit. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Ignorance and sin kill the body; understanding and righteousness bring it to life.

Mary Magdalene is a symbol of wisdom and the church The Gospel of philip

Mary Magdalene is a symbol of wisdom and the church The Gospel of philip

Literal meaning of Mary:

Mary, ma'-ry (fr. Heb.)--contradiction; rebellious outcry; bitter complaint; bitterness; myrrh; bitter waters; aromatic spirits.

Mary Magdalene is a figure of wisdom and the church the bride of Christ she is also a leader of the early church

Mary Magdalene is an inspired leader of the early church

Mary Magdalene is seen as one of the most important of Jesus' disciples

Mary Magdalene is honoured as one of the first witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus, and received a special commission from him to tell the Apostles of his resurrection
Mary Magdalene, who according to John 20:17–18 and Mark 16:9–1 was commissioned by the risen Jesus to inform the disciples of his resurrection, is called "the apostle to the apostles".

Matthew 28:1–8 and Luke 24:10 speak of women (in the plural), including Mary Magdalene, carrying out this function. An early Christian commentary on the Song of Songs, has Christ speak of two women, whom it calls Mary and Martha, as apostles to the apostles: "Christ showed himself to the (male) apostles and said to them: ... 'It is I who appeared to these women and I who wanted to send them to you as apostles.

Jesus could have appeared first to Peter, John, or one of the other male disciples. Instead, he chose to favour these women by making them the first eyewitnesses of his resurrection and by commissioning them to bear witness about it to his male disciples

Symbolic meaning of Mary: 

The feminine, the soul, the affectional and emotional phase of man's being, both when seemingly bound and limited by sensate thought, and in its freed, exalted state.

Through Jesus seven demons were cast out of Mary Magdalene. This means the releasing of the mind and heart (soul) from the emotional errors that have their existence in the unregenerated feelings, and establishes peace and poise in the consciousness raised to divine understanding and power,. As the soul is purified and lifted day by day out of the bondage of the errors (demons), it pours out upon the whole consciousness. Both soul and understanding (love and wisdom) must enter into our affirmations of Truth if those affirmations are really to become substance and life to us.

There were three who always walked with the Lord: Mary, his mother, and her sister, and Magdalene, the one who was called his companion. For Mary is his sister and his mother and his companion. (The Gospel of Philip)

The sentence suggests that there is only a single Mary one who is his mother, his sister, and his companion. The Gospel of Philip wants us to see these figures are more than literal historical characters

Truth did not come into the world naked, but it came in types and images. The world will not receive truth in any other way. There is rebirth and its image. The Gospel of Philip

Mary a symbol of repentance from the vanities of the world.
Mary is also an image of a greater spiritual truth:

As for the Wisdom who is called "the barren," she is the mother of the angels. And the companion of the Saviour. Mary Magdalene she is the one the Saviour loved her more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often on her mouth. The rest of the disciples they said to him "Why do you love her more than all of us?" The Savior answered and said to them,"Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness." (The Gospel of Philip)

Isaiah 54:1 "Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says Yahweh.

Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”

if we understand Mary as wisdom this explains how she is at once mother, sister and his companion

she is the mother of the angles and his spiritual sister since the son does not have children but siblings and his female counterpart

Mt 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Mr 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Luke 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

This helps to explains how Mary is at once Mother his spiritual sister and companion

The word angel means messengers this could be divine or human messengers. However I would understand that the angels are human messengers begotten by spiritual wisdom the word of God
with a spiritual kiss

Kissing refers to the close acceptance of spiritual teaching for not only does the Lord suggest that the male disciples should seek to be loved by him in the same way, but he also says:

We are nourished by the promise of heaven, from the mouth of the word. If the word emanated from the mouth, it is perfect. For it is by a kiss that the perfect conceive and give birth. For this reason we also kiss one another. (The Gospel of Philip)

This again explains how Mary is at once Mother for she conceives and gives birth to spiritual teaching through the kiss, his spiritual sister and companion. This shows the special relationship of Mary Magdalene to Jesus based on her spiritual perfection

I would argue that Mary Magdalene is a figure for the bridal archetype of the Church. That is, she is a symbol or sign for the Church that is called into relationship with it’s spiritual spouse, Christ the Divine Bridegroom.

Then, “Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17).

“Do not touch me” or “do not hold me.” It is here that the Song of Songs continues to inform us of what is happening, “when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go.” (Song 3:3-4).

Jesus wasn’t holding Mary away at arms length, as some would imagine. In fact, she was embracing him, and he tells her she has to let him go now, and fulfil her mission: to be a witness of this encounter and an “apostle to the apostles.”

Mary Magdalene therefore not only models the courageous and faithful disciple who remained with Jesus through his crucifixion, but she also reveals the Church as a missionary Bride to us. Each member of the Body of Christ, must encounter the Lord, as she did. We must embrace him with love (something we can do every time we pray and remember his sacrifice). But, no faith, no matter how powerful and personal is ever private. We cannot simply cling to Jesus for ourselves. He sends us forth, the Good News of our Risen Lord is meant to be shared and lived out by loving others with his tender love.

Christ pre-existed but Jesus didn't John 1:1-4

Christ pre-existed but Jesus didn't John 1:1-4

In contrast to orthodox Christians, Valentinians did not believe that Christ was joined to Jesus at his birth. Instead, they insisted that Christ became joined to Jesus only at the beginning of his ministry i.e. at his baptism. The dove which descends upon Jesus at the baptism was understtod as Christ descending on Jesus and joining with him (Irenaeus Against Heresies 1:7:2, 1:15:3, 3:16:1, 3:10:3, Excerpts of Theodotus 61:6,26:1 Hippolytus Refutation 6:35:3). Christ is "the Name which came down upon Jesus in the dove and redeemed him" (Excerpts of Theodotus 22:6 cf. Gospel of Philip 70:34-36).Jesus was anointed with the Spirit of God at his baptism in the Jordan.

In the beginning was the LOGOS - (the outward manifestation of the inward thought)

the LOGOS WAS with God. (Yahweh and His Divine Plan could not be separated)
the LOGOS was God - (God and the Logos are one).

Christ, the Word, who “in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth,” therefore pre-existed before the birth of “the body prepared” of the substance of Mary, and which lay dead in the tomb. That body named Jesus, had no existence until developed by the Christ-Power. Federally, indeed, it pre-existed in the loins of Abraham and in Adam, as Levi was in Abraham, and we in Adam, before birth; but not otherwise. (On the Nature of Christ February 22nd, 1867 by Eusebia J. Lasius)

The pre-existent Christ, or Deity, was not the less Deity because he veiled himself in flesh, in our “sinful flesh,” or “sin’s flesh,” and styled himself JESUS, or he who shall be Saviour. (Dr. Thomas letter to Robert Robert July 17th, 1869)

In reference to those words of Jesus, saying,—“The bread I give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6.) For the bread of the Deity is He, who descending out of the heaven, and giveth life to the world.’ This was as much as to say, that the manna was representative of a life-imparting agent from heaven: even the Logos speaking by Jesus. ‘In him’—the Logos, ‘was Life,’ says John ‘and the Life, was the light of men.’ It was this Logos who said, ‘I am the Way and the Truth; the Resurrection and the Life’: ‘I am the Bread of Life,’ or the manna: ‘I came down from heaven’: this is the bread which descendeth from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die’ . . . ‘If any man eat of this bread he shall live in the age: and the bread that I (the Logos) will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (Eureka -- Vol 1 -- Chap 2 -- Sec 3: 8. The Hidden Manna)

Jesus was not literally the Word. He was the word "made flesh". (John:14). Jesus is the complete manifestation of the logos - "in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Deity bodily." (Col. 2:9). It was the "logos" which was in the beginning with God, not Jesus. When the "word was made flesh" (John 1:14) then, and then only, Jesus became the "Word".
Jesus is called the Word (Rev. 19:13 cf. 1 John 1:1; Luke 1:2) since his doctrine and words came from his Father (John 7:16; 17:14). He was the logos lived out in speech and action, not merely written on scrolls. (wrested scriptures)

Jesus Christ in the day of his weakness, had two sides—the one, DEITY; the other, MAN—the Eternal Christ-Power or the anointing spirit veiled in, and manifested through the flesh created from the ground; which flesh had Willfully transgressed the Divine Law, the penalty of which sent it back into the dust from whence it came. This is Jesus Christ the true Deity, whom to know is life eternal. (Dr. Thomas letter to Robert Robert July 17th, 1869)

This flesh which inhabited Paradise, like all the beasts. Was “very good” of its sort, is described as “sin” and “sin’s flesh,” because it sinned or transgressed the Eden law. Our flesh is the same as Adam’s before he sinned, only the worse for wear: for Paul says that we sinned in him, and he was sinless before he sinned; and we were as much in his loins when he was sinless, as in the act of sinning. His flesh undefiled by sin is constitutionally the same as the flesh of his posterity defiled legally thereby. The Christ-Deity veiled himself in the Adamic nature defiled by sin, in order that he might condemn sin in the flesh and to condemn sin to death in the nature which, although created “very good,” had legally defiled itself by transgression of the Eden law. This purpose would have been defeated if he had veiled himself in a clean nature. (Dr. Thomas letter to Robert Robert July 17th, 1869)

To say that the Man, Jesus, was corporeally clean, or pure, holy, spotless, and undefiled, is in effect to say that he was not “made of a woman;” for Scripture teaches, that nothing born of woman can possibly be clean: but it is testified that he was “born of a woman;” he must therefore necessarily have been born corporeally unclean. Hence, it is written of him in Psalm 51:5, “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” He therefore prays, “Purge me with sop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” This prayer has been answered, and he has been “Washed thoroughly from his (corporeal) iniquity, and cleansed from his sin;” so that now he has a clean nature, which is spirit and divine—“the Lord the Spirit”—once dead as to flesh, but now alive as Spirit for evermore.—(Rev. 1:18.) (Dr. Thomas letter to Robert Robert July 17th, 1869)

I believe that Christ pre-existed but Jesus didn't. It may sound complicated but it isn't really.

It's about God Manifestation - ultimately the angels the "focalisations of the Spirit", Jesus Christ and the Saints are all manifestations of God (which is why Jesus says "does it not say in your law Ye are gods?").

The exhortation is that we need to behave like that now, while we are in the flesh, because once the flesh is removed we will only be as much Spirit as has been developed in us.

The Christ descended on Jesus at his Baptism Matthew 3-16

In contrast to orthodox Christians, Valentinians did not believe that Christ was joined to Jesus at his birth. Instead, they insisted that Christ became joined to Jesus only at the beginning of his ministry i.e. at his baptism. The dove which descends upon Jesus at the baptism was understtod as Christ descending on Jesus and joining with him (Irenaeus Against Heresies 1:7:2, 1:15:3, 3:16:1, 3:10:3, Excerpts of Theodotus 61:6,26:1 Hippolytus Refutation 6:35:3). Christ is "the Name which came down upon Jesus in the dove and redeemed him" (Excerpts of Theodotus 22:6 cf. Gospel of Philip 70:34-36).Jesus was anointed with the Spirit of God at his baptism in the Jordan.

And he died at the .departure of the Spirit which had descended upon him in the Jordan, not that it became separate but was withdrawn in order that death might also operate on him, since how did the body die when life was present in him? (Theodotus 61:6)

Proof:

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38). (Christadelphian Instructor 1891)

The dove represented the anointing spirit of God. This spirit entered the body of Jesus Christ and remained in him until Jesus was crucified. 

So we read...

Matthew 3:16 Having been baptized, Jesus immediately rose up from the water and look! The heavens were opened up and he saw the spirit of God descending as if a dove coming upon him.

God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him," John 3:34

Again, in his gospel narrative (John 1:14), he says: —" The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth," from which it is evident that Christ was a divine manifestation—an embodiment of Deity in flesh—Emmanuel, God with us. " God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him," says the same apostle (John 3:34). (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

The spirit descended upon him in bodily shape at his baptism in the Jordan, and took possession of him. This was the anointing which constituted him Christ (or the anointed), and which gave him the superhuman powers of which he showed himself possessed. (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

This is clear from the words of Peter, in his address to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius —(Acts 10:38)—" God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed." (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

This statement alone is sufficient to disprove the popular view of Jesus been co-equal and co-eternal. If he were "very God" in his character and nature as Son, why was it necessary he should be "anointed" with spirit and power? (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

Jesus did no miracles before his anointing. He had no power of himself. This is his own declaration: "I can of mine own sell do nothing" (John 5:30). "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" (John 14:10). At his death Jesus was left to the utter helplessness of his own humanity, he felt the severe mental and physical pain of his suffering that hour and cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

Before his anointing, he was simply the " body prepared " for the divine manifestation that was to take place through him. The preparation of this body commenced with the Spirit's action on Mary, and concluded when Jesus, being thirty years of age, stood approved in the perfection of a sinless and mature character. (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

After the Spirit's descent upon him, he was the full manifestation of God in the flesh. The Father, by the Spirit, tabernacled in Christ among men. "God was in Christ," says Paul, " Reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

When raised from the dead and glorified, he was exalted to "all power in heaven and earth"; his human nature was swallowed up in the divine; the flesh changed to spirit. Hence, as he now exists, " In him dwelleth all the fullness of the God-head bodily " (Col. 2:9). He is now the corporealisation of life-spirit as it exists in the Deity. (Christendom Astray Chapter 6)

The effluent spirit (out-flowing spirit) forsook Jesus when he exclaimed upon the cross, "My AIL (EL), my AIL (EL), why hast Thou forsaken me?" The effluent power by which he had taught and worked was withdrawn from him for some time before he died. The Spirit no longer rested upon the Cherub, yet that Cherub continued to live as other men. In process of time he expired.(Phanerosis)

Dr Thomas in Phanerosis is saying that the out-flowing anointing spirit was taken away from Jesus when he cried out upon the cross, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" 

The out-flowing power by which he had taught and worked was withdrawn from him for some time before he died. The Spirit no longer rested upon Jesus, yet Jesus continued to live as other men. In process of time he expired. 

By Cherub Dr Thomas understands this as a vehicle for the spirit to ride

not that the spirit became separate from him but was withdrawn in order that death might also operate on him, since how did the body die when life was present in it?  (Theodotus 61:6)

 

Jesus did not become the Christ until His baptism. Jesus, up until his baptism, was simply the body that God had prepared for the Christ to indwell. The Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, and took possession of Him. This was the anointing which constituted him as the Christ, and which gave Him the superhuman powers which He demonstrated during His ministry.

The Gnostic Understanding of the Resurrection

Metaphysical Understanding of the Resurrection

The Gnostic Understanding of the Resurrection

O Rheginos, do not lose yourself in details, nor live obeying the flesh for the sake of harmony. Flee from being scattered and being in bondage, and then you already have resurrection. If you know what in yourself will die, though you have lived many years, why not look at yourself and see yourself risen now? You have the resurrection, yet you go on as if you are to die when it is only the part destined to die that is moribund. Why do I put up with your poor training? Everyone finds a way, and there are many ways, to be released from this element and not to roam aimlessly in error, all with the end of recovering what one was at the beginning. (The Treatise on the Resurrection)

Resurrection, according to Paul in Romans 8:10-11, is when the logos/mind of God "dwells in you". Simply said, resurrection is reaching the Christ-Consciousness of the pleroma because here you awaken to your true perfect god-self.

Resurrection implies intellectual renewal made possible by understanding Jesus' Christ message. "The 'old man [henos anthropos] must be 'put off' (Colossians 3:9-10) in order to 'put on' the new spiritual man [pneumatic anthropos].

In this light, resurrection means the transition of our judgmental ego-consciousness to our nonjudgmental Christ-Consciousness .

This transition is made possible by understanding Jesus' knowledge teachings.

However some may claim but the apostle saith, we are saved by “the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

He also says, we are "renewed by knowledge” (Colossians 3:10). In this, however, he does not contradict himself, but rather makes the one phrase explanatory of the other; as if he had said, “we are renewed by the Holy Spirit through knowledge.” The Holy Spirit renews or regenerates man intellectually and morally by the truth believed. “Sanctify them by thy truth,” says Jesus; “thy word, O Father, is truth” (John xvii. 17). “Ye are clean,” said he to his apostles, “through the word which I have spoken to you” (John xv. 3). God’s power is manifested through means. His Spirit is His power by which He effects intellectual, moral, and physical results. When He wills to produce intellectual and moral effects, it is by knowledge revealed by His Spirit through the prophets and apostles. This knowledge becomes power when received into “good and honest hearts”; and because God is the author of it, it is styled “the Knowledge of God” (2 Pet. i. 2), or “the word of truth” (James i. 18), by which He begets sinners to Himself as His sons and daughters. “The word of the truth of the gospel,”” the gospel of the kingdom.” “the incorruptible seed,” “the word,” “the truth as it is in Jesus,”” the word of the kingdom,”” the word of reconciliation,” “the law and the testimony,” “the word of faith,” “the sword of the spirit which is the word of God,” “the word of Christ,” “the perfection of liberty,” etc.-are all phrases richly expressive of” the power of God” by which He saves His people from their sins, and translates them into the Hope of the kingdom and glory to which He invites them. The truth is the power that makes men free indeed (John viii. 32, 36). Hence Jesus says, “My words are spirit, and they are life.” The prophets, Jesus, and the apostles were the channels through which it was transmitted to mankind; and the spirit the agent by which the knowledge was conveyed to them. Hence, the knowledge or the truth being suggested to the prophets by the spirit is sometimes styled “the spirit” (Rom. ii. 20). The spirit is to the truth as cause and effect; and by a very common figure of speech, the one is put for the other in speaking of them relatively to the mind and heart of man. So that the phrase “renewed by the holy spirit” is equivalent to renewed by the belief of the truth testified by the Holy Spirit (John xv. 26: xiv. 13-14).


The raising of man's mind and heart from the carnal mind to the higher Christ consciousness. This is accomplished by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. "If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Rom. 8:11).

The resurrection is the lifting up of the whole mind and heart into the Christ consciousness. The resurrection lifts up the seat of reasoning and emotion of the mind and heart until they conform to the mind of God, and this renewal of the mind makes a complete transformation of the carnal mind or ego.

The resurrection is a transformation that takes place daily in all who are conforming their lives to the regenerating teachings of Jesus' anointed message. The resurrection takes place here and now in all who conform their lives to the spiritual law under which it works.

Now is the time of the resurrection. "The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God" (John 5:25).

The power of the resurrection is the Christ. "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25). This resurrection is not of the future, "but hath now been manifested by . . . our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light" (II Tim. 1:10).

Resurrection, in the above sense, does not rule out life after death in the kingdom of God on earth, only that we can raise to a higher consciousness the Christ consciousness in the here and now before we entering the restored kingdom of God.

The resurrection takes place in us every time we rise to Jesus' realization of the perpetual indwelling life that is connecting us with the Father. A new flood of life comes to all who open their minds and their bodies to the living word of God.

The definition of Original Sin according to modern Medical Science see Romans 5:12,19

The definition of Original Sin according to modern Medical Science see Romans 5:12,19

 Romans 7:20, KJV: Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:20, NASB: But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.

Cellular aging

Your cells are programmed to divide, multiply, and perform basic biological functions. But the more cells divide, the older they get. In turn, cells eventually lose their ability to function properly. Cellular damage also increases as cells get older

However, death is a biochemical reaction, and every plant has to die one day. Plants die naturally because of a series of events that lead the cells of the plants to deteriorate. With age, the replacement of cells and tissues becomes very slow.

After the fall the Deiry charged the physical makeup of Adam and Eve the cells of their body would now multiply and divide and lose their function over time thus causing old age. 

Man in his physical constitution is imperfect; and this imperfection is traceable to the physical organization of his flesh, being based on the principle of decay and reproduction from the blood; which, acted upon by the air, becomes the life of his flesh. All the phenomena which pertain to this arrangement of things are summed up in the simple word sin; which is, therefore, not an individual abstraction, but a concretion of relations in all animal bodies; and the source of all their physical infirmities. Now, the apostle says, that the flesh thinks, that is, the brain, as all who think are well assured from their own consciousness. If, then, this thinking organ be commanded not to do what is natural for it to do under blind impulse, will it not naturally disobey?  (Elpis Israel)

Even plants and animals are corruptible they grow old and die

Also cells can malfunction from the very start this is why women have miscarriages are children died of infant mortality and why people get diseases and stuff that kill them off before they grow old

Thus cellular aging cellular damage is a scientific way of explaining admaic condemnation or sin in the flesh

Yet has Dr Thomas says according to the animals and plants it cannot be called sin since they have not transgressed elpis Israel Chapter 4

The nature of the lower animals is as full of this physical evil principle as the nature of man; though it cannot be styled sin with the same expressiveness; because it does not possess them as the result of their own transgression; the name, however, does not alter the nature of the thing. (Elpis Israel)

Yes, it cannot be sin in the flesh because it for animals and plants to be in the ‘dying’ state is not defiling in God’s sight

But for man, it is, because they are in the physical similitude as the Father

That Adam broke this law, and was adjudged unworthy of immortality, and sentenced to return to the ground from whence he was taken-a sentence which defiled and became a physical law of his being, and was transmitted to all his posterity.

Sinful flesh being the hereditary nature of the Lord Jesus, he was a fit and proper sacrifice for sin; especially as he was himself "innocent of the great transgression", having been obedient in all things. Appearing in the nature of the seed of Abraham (Heb. 2:16-18), he was subject to all the emotions by which we are troubled; so that he was enabled to sympathize with our infirmities (Heb. 4:15), being "made in all things like unto his brethren". But, when he was "born of the Spirit", in the quickening of his mortal body by the spirit (Rom. 8:11), he became a spirit; for "that which is born of the spirit is spirit". Hence, he is "the Lord the Spirit", incorruptible flesh and bones.

Sin in the flesh is hereditary; and entailed upon mankind as the consequence of Adam's violation of the Eden law. The "original sin" was such as I have shown in previous pages. Adam and Eve committed it; and their posterity are suffering the consequence of it. The tribe of Levi paid tithes to Melchisedec many years before Levi was born. The apostle says, "Levi, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham". Upon the same federal principle, all mankind ate of the forbidden fruit, being in the loins of Adam when he transgressed. This is the only way men can by any possibility be guilty of the original sin. Because they sinned in Adam, therefore they return to the dust from which Adam came -- says the apostle, "in whom all sinned". [This marginal reading of the A.V. cannot be sustained. The Revised Version has struck it out.] There is much foolishness spoken and written about "original sin". Infants are made the subjects of a religious ceremony to regenerate them because of original sin; on account of which, acoording to Geneva philosophy they are liable to the flames of hell for ever! If original sin, which is in fact sin in the flesh, were neutralized, then all "baptismally regenerated" babes ought to live for ever, as Adam would have done had he eaten of the Tree of Life after he had sinned. But they die; which is a proof that the "regeneration" does not "cure their souls"; and is, therefore, mere theological quackery.

We reject the doctrine - that Christ was born with a "free life."

We reject the doctrine - that Christ's nature was immaculate.

We reject the doctrine - that there is no sin in the flesh

Mary Magdalene the Companion of the Lord The Gospel of Philip

The Gospel of Philip:

Wisdom, who is called barren, is the mother of the angels.
The companion of the [saviour] is Mary of Magdala. The [saviour loved] her more than [all] the disciples, [and he] kissed her often on her [mouth].
The other [disciples] [64]…said to him, “Why do you love her more than all of us?”
The saviour answered and said to them, “Why do I not love you like her? If a blind person and one who can see are both in darkness, they are the same. When the light comes, one who can see will see the light, and the blind person will stay in darkness.”

In their traditional manner to kiss one upon the lips means " to compliment, give credit to, to favour

There was no word for "kiss" in Aramaic it's just like saying "your pulling my leg" there are those that speak of his blood line and want to link themselves to him, for that reason he took his body so that they could not match the DNA of the physical body that he was in to the elite rulers of this world.

Three Women Named Mary

Three women always walked with the master: Mary his mother, his sister, and Mary of Magdala, who is called his companion. For “Mary” is the name of his sister, his mother, and his companion.

In this passage many have misunderstood it's meaning, they take and run with it without checking other text that speaks of the same thing.

Companion:......... one that accompanies another

In a group, there are companions being both male or female, these assist in helping the group to understand what the master of the group is saying.

In the book of "Thunder the Perfect Mind" Sophia speaks of herself being " the Mother, sister and companion, this is what Christ meant by saying that Mary was his companion here on this world,

Christ was referring to the power of the Sophia that was on the inside of Mary his mother, sister and also in Mary Magdalene, it was the power of the Sophia that is his companion, but most who have not eaten the full loaf, never can tell or explain what the entire loaf taste like, they only taste a piece and do not know the fullness of it's flavor.

The Sophia is called the barren one, she has perfect virginity, and many sons also, and we are virgins as well.

I am the members of my mother
and the barren one with many son

To accompany some one you must know that one, and as I have said on many occasions accompany me as I accompany Christ, in this way we are his companions, this is what was meant by Mary was Christ companion, she accompanied Christ more and closer than his other disciples she understood the mysteries he spoke of on a higher level than they, and he often complimented her, this is what it means to " kiss upon the lips " he simply congratulated her for understanding him more that his disciples did.

Ex 18:7 At once Moses went on out to meet his father-in-law, and he proceeded to prostrate himself and to kiss him; and they each one began asking how the other was getting along. After that they went into the tent.

Samuel kissed Saul when anointing him as Israel’s first king.—1Sa 10:1

Rom 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the congregations of the Christ greet YOU

The “Holy Kiss.” Among early Christians there was the “holy kiss” (Ro 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1Th 5:26) or “kiss of love” (1Pe 5:14). This early Christian form of greeting may correspond to the ancient Hebrew practice of greeting one with a kiss. The “holy kiss” or “kiss of love” evidently reflected the wholesome love and unity widespread in the Christian congregation.—Joh 13:34, 35.

Figurative Use. Kissing, as representing a demonstration of respect and devotion, is mentioned in the inspired advice to “serve Jehovah with fear” and “kiss the son, that you may not perish from the way.” (Ps 2:11, 12) Persons responding favourably and submitting to the Messiah God's appointed as King and his Kingdom will realize great blessings when it can be said: “Righteousness and peace—they have kissed each other,” because the connection of the two will be as evident to all as is the close association of affectionate friends.—Ps 85:10.