Monday 21 June 2021

Death and Life.


The Bible and other religious texts talk about death and life.

Mostly this refers to a person's spiritual condition.

St. Paul talks about death to God which he says is caused by sin and the devil.

But rather than some fixed spiritual state I believe this refers to our behavior.

Whether we are "choosing the things that please God."  Isaiah 56:4 (NRSV)

And what are the things that please God? 

Aiding the poor and needy, the widow, the orphan, the alien.....(Old Testament Prophets).

As opposed to: "dishonest gain, for shedding of innocent blood, and for practising oppression and violence."  Jeremiah 22:17 (NRSV)

But most of all Life is attained by Love. 

There is but one commandment.

That we love one another.  John 15:12 (NRSV)

There is however one catch.

Most negative behavior is caused by fear.

And 'perfect love casts out fear."  1 John 4:18 (NRSV)

So when we experience the perfect Love of God our fear disappears and we are able to love.

"We love because he first loved us."  1 John 4:19 (NRSV)

So the Holy Spirit which is the Nephesh (the Breath of Life) and an expression of God's Love brings Life! 


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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