My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)

1 Corinthians 15:47 … The 2 nd Man
(03/22/2017)
“The first man was from earth, a man of dust;
the Second Man is the Lord from Heaven.”
~ Paul (1 Corinthians 15:47)
Here is yet another brilliant example of Paul unwittingly “getting it” without
actually getting it. For Paul is here speaking of the principle of a post-mortem
salvation that comes solely to those who have chosen to worship Jesus Christ as
their “only Lord & Savior.” Of course, as is so often the case, Jesus had a
completely different take on that particular matter (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John
7:16, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 et al) -- just as he would have had a very different
take on this particular verse …Indeed, if we look to the teachings of Jesus in the
Gospels, it becomes readily clear that he would see the “first man” in each of us as
the ego that is sustained by every act of sinful selfishness, and that he would see
the “Second Man” in each of us coming to life in every moment of Purposeful
self-sacrifice for others. For – to Jesus at least – this is how humans could attain
Salvation (see John 13:15-17 & Matthew 24:12-14 et al) and this is how we could be
ever “born again” (see John 3:1-8).
So in closing, keep in
mind that “the Lord from
Heaven” mentioned in this
verse is not a celestial
ruler residing somewhere
“up above” us (as Paul
believed), but rather is the
Divine Essence residing
within us all (according to
Jesus -- see Luke 17:20-21 +
John 14:20); an Essence
that comes to light
whenever we choose to
Love others selflessly
(Matthew 16:24) –
especially our enemies
(Matthew 5:40-44) &/or the
downtrodden in our midst
(Matthew 25:35-40).
Amen … Let it be so.
45