Truth and
    Perceptions 
 
 
  
This overview
   table tries to match concepts spanning various traditions concerning spiritual realities – which as long as we
   are human will largely remain a mystery. However, if our eyes have been opened by divine grace, we can catch
   glimpses of the awesome reality we call “God” and what it means to live a life “in spirit” and in harmony with
   the will of God. The terms used come both from the Bible (especially the writings of John) and from various
   spiritual writers whose understanding and lives witness to their having been touched and enlightened by the
   omnipresent Holy Spirit. I believe that by considering these concepts, we can all have our humanly limited
   understanding enriched by the views and perspectives of one another. 
For a PDF file with scripture references, click here.
  
  
    
        
            
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                     Satan and
                       Darkness 
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                     God and
                       Light 
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                     The devil, deceiver
                          of the world, accuser, destroyer, murderer, ruler of the kingdom of the air influencing
                          the disobedient, prince of darkness, power of darkness, enemy, adversary, devourer,
                          tempter, opposed to God and light, but pretending light and goodness, oppressor, the evil
                          one, kingdom of darkness  
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                     Creator, Life
                          Force, Higher Power, Supreme Power, Higher Intelligence, Source and Sustainer
                          of all, Lawgiver, Mysterious Presence around
                          and within all, Spirit, Universal Consciousness, Ocean of Awareness, Love, Body of God,
                          Body of Christ, Being, I Am (or "I Will Be"), Kingdom of
                          Light  
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                     Two Possible States of
                       Humans  
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                     Natural  
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                     Transformed by
                       grace 
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                     Sins, in particular
                          the “original sin” or the universal human tendency, have separated all of us from
                          God, and the hope of salvation.  
                 | 
                
                     God’s grace and
                          forgiveness reconciles and reunites us with God and gives us hope for eternal
                          life.  
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                     In their natural state, people remain in darkness and are “dead in sins”.
                       Their life is typified by hardness
                       of heart, spiritual blindness, unconsciousness, unbelief, and lack of receptivity to the
                       things of God. 
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                     Through a divine
                          opening of eyes, a change of heart is possible and individuals are transferred
                          by grace from darkness to light, from death to life, from unconsciousness to
                          consciousness. They become a new creation through a “birth from above” and are now aware
                          of God in all things.  
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                     Deception, error,
                          ignorance  
                 | 
                
                     Growth in truth,
                          understanding the things of God, divine wisdom from within (the heart) rather than from
                          without (the world).  
                 | 
             
            
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                     Separation from God
                          and others, individuality, separate body of sin, pain body  
                 | 
                
                     Being in God /
                          Christ – connected with the divine, unity with God and all life, being members of one
                          body, the body of Christ.  
                 | 
             
            
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                     Divine life
                          principle is present – without it, there would be no physical life, which however is only
                          temporary and ending in "death" in contrast to immortality. Divine nature is dormant,
                          needing to be supernaturally awakened.  
                 | 
                
                     Divine life and
                          nature are present and active – walking in the Spirit, walking in newness of life,
                          putting on the new man, continuing in the teachings of Christ, being a new creation,
                          temple of the Holy Spirit, child of God and brother/sister of Christ. Life is now
                          abundant and contains the seed of immortality.  
                 | 
             
            
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                     The unconverted
                          state is referred to as the ego, heart of stone, blindness to one’s divine identity and
                          destiny, old self, false self, body of sin, sinful nature.  
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                     The divine within
                          is referred to as spark of God, Spirit from God, divine anointing, Higher Self, inner /
                          inmost being, new heart, new self, God in you, Christ in you / in your heart, I (Christ)
                          in you and you in Me, Christ coming in the flesh, Holy Spirit joining with the human
                          spirit, Holy Spirit in the inner being, power working within us, God’s love poured out
                          into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  
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                     Ego/self with its
                          deceitful desires dominates the heart and one’s life manifests the "works of the flesh" –
                          “low energy” or “low vibration” behaviour – hate, indifference, competition, strife,
                          fighting, survival of the fittest, ingratitude, lust, greed, killing. Submission to God’s
                          law is impossible as one is enslaved to sin.  
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                     As God's Love and
                          nature/Christ works in the heart /soul, and the Holy Spirit guides thoughts and
                          actions, the self is being pushed out, put to death, replaced. Love and fruits of the
                          Spirit manifest in life as “high energy” or “high vibration” behaviour – outgoing
                          concern, giving, mutual help, cooperation, peace, harmony, gratitude. A lifestyle of love
                          is evidence of the new birth and Spirit presence.  
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                     The unenlightened
                          prefer to remain in darkness and reject light and truth.  
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                     Christ is, as well
                          as brought, the way, truth, light and life, and gave it to those whose eyes he also
                          opened to see it.  
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© 2009 Eva
   Peck 
Photo: Intellimon,
   Ltd. 
    
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