DIVINE PRINCIPLE
PART I
CHAPTER 7
CHRISTOLOGY
กก
There are many questions to be resolved by fallen men who are on their
way to attaining the goal of salvation. The most important of all are the
questions concerning the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit
centered on God, the relationship between Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and fallen
men, rebirth, Trinity, and others, all within the scope of Christology. Up
to the present day, no one has ever completely answered these questions.
With these questions still unresolved, there remains much confusion in the
life in faith and doctrines of Christianity. In order to resolve these
questions, we must first understand the value of the original man endowed at
the creation. Let us discuss this question before dealing with the others.
SECTION I - THE VALUE OF THE MAN WHO HAS ATTAINED THE PURPOSE
OF CREATION
Let us discuss the value of the man who has attained the purpose of
creation--that is, the value of Adam in perfection.
First, let us discuss the relationship between God and perfected man from
the standpoint of "dual characteristics". According to the principle of
creation, man was created with mind and body, taking after God's dual
characteristics. There are mutual relationships between God and perfected
man which may be compared to the relationship between man's mind and body.
Just as the body was created as the substantial object to the invisible
mind which it resembles, man was created as the substantial object to the
invisible God, taking after His image. Since we cannot separate one from the
other when the mind and body of a perfected man become one, centered on God,
we can never sever the relationship formed when God and perfected man become
one body through the four position foundation, because, in this state, man
would live in perfect union with God's heart and feeling. In this way, a man
who attains the purpose of creation would become the temple of God's
constant abode (I Cor. 3:16), thus assuming deity (cf. Part I, Ch. 1, Sec.
III, 2--42). As Jesus said, man must become perfect as our heavenly Father
(Matt. 5:48). Therefore, the man who has attained the purpose of creation
would assume the divine value of God.
Second, let us consider the value of man, centering on the purpose of
creating man. God's purpose in creating man was to enjoy happiness through
him. Each individual has special characteristics which others do not have.
However vast the number of people on earth may be, we can find no two
identical in their individuality. Therefore, there is only one individual in
the whole creation who can return stimulating joy to God as His substantial
object, through a reciprocal base with the particular dual essentialities
contained within God, which are subjective to that individual (cf. Part I,
Ch. 1, Sec. III, 2--42). The man who has attained the purpose of creation,
whoever he may be, is an existence unique in the whole universe. Buddha's
statement, "I am my own Lord throughout heaven and earth.", is reasonable in
light of this principle.
Third, let us study man's value from the standpoint of the relationship
between man and the rest of creation. By understanding the relationship
between man and the rest of creation, according to the principle of
creation, we can better understand the value of perfected man. Man was
created to rule the invisible world with his spirit, and to rule the visible
world with his physical body. Therefore, the man who has attained the
purpose of creation becomes the ruler of all creation (Gen. 1:28). Thus, man
is to rule both the visible and the invisible worlds, with his physical body
and his spirit. Thus, these two worlds form a substantial object to God by
performing the action of give and take, with man as the medium.
According to the principle of creation, we know that the world of
creation is the substantial development of man's dual essentialities.
Accordingly, man's spirit is the substantial encapsulation of the entire
visible world. Therefore, a man having fulfilled the purpose of creation is
the substantial encapsulation of the entire cosmos. This is the reason man
is called a microcosm. Man has the value corresponding to that of the whole
macrocosm, as it is said (Matt. 16:26), "For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world and forfeits his life?".
Suppose there is a perfect machine. If the parts of the machine are the
only ones of their kind in the whole world and can neither be obtained nor
made again, one part would have a value corresponding to that of the whole
machine, however trivial that part may be, because without it the whole
machine would not operate. Likewise, the individuality of a perfected man is
unique. So, however unimportant he may seem, he in fact corresponds to the
whole macrocosm in terms of his value.
SECTION II - JESUS AND THE MAN WHO HAS ATTAINED THE PURPOSE
OF CREATION
1. JESUS AND PERFECTED ADAM AS THE RESTORATION OF THE TREE
OF LIFE
Human history is the history of the providence to establish the Kingdom
of Heaven on earth by restoring the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:14), which was
lost in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24). We can know the relationship between
Jesus and perfected Adam by understanding the relationship between the Tree
of Life in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9) and the Tree of Life that is to be
restored at the close of the age (Rev. 22:14).
As already discussed in detail in the "Fall of Man", if Adam had become a
man who had attained the ideal of creation, he would have become the Tree of
Life (Gen. 2:9); and all his posterity would also have become trees of life.
However, Adam fell, nullifying the will (Gen. 3:24), and ever since, it has
been the hope of fallen men to restore themselves to this Tree of Life (Prov.
13:12, Rev. 22:14). Since fallen man can never restore himself as the Tree
of Life by his own power, a man having attained the ideal of creation must
come as the Tree of Life, and all men must be engrafted to him. Christ is
the man who comes, symbolized as the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:14). Therefore,
perfected Adam, symbolized by the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, and
Jesus, who is also likened to the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:14), are identical
from the standpoint of their being men who have attained the ideal of
creation.
2. JESUS AND THE MAN WHO HAS ATTAINED THE PURPOSE OF
CREATION
We have already explained in Section I the value of perfected man. Let us
here consider the difference between Jesus and perfected man. As we well
know from the previous discussion, a perfected man, in light of the purpose
of creation, should become perfect, as God is perfect (Matt. 5:48); thus, he
is so valuable as to even possess deity. Since God is eternal, man, who was
created as His substantial object, should also become eternal, after his
perfection.
Besides, the value of the existence of the whole macrocosm cannot be
complete without perfected man, because he is a unique being and the lord of
all creation. Therefore, man has the value of the whole macrocosm.
Jesus is truly a man of this value. However great his value may be, he
cannot assume a value greater than that of a man who has attained the
purpose of creation. Therefore, we cannot deny that Jesus was a man who had
attained the purpose of creation.
The Principle does not deny the attitude of faith held by many Christians
that Jesus is God, since it is true that a perfected man is one body with
God. Furthermore, when the Principle asserts that Jesus is a man having
attained the purpose of creation, this does not in the least diminish his
value. However, the principle of creation sees the original value of
perfected man as being equal to that of Jesus. We have explained above that
Jesus was a man who had attained the purpose of creation. Then, let us look
at the Biblical proof for this.
It is written in I Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.". We find in Romans 5:19, "For as
by one man's [Adam's] disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's
[Jesus'] obedience many shall be made righteous.". It further explains (I
Cor. 15:21), "For as by a man [Adam] came death, by a man [Jesus] has come
also the resurrection of the dead.". The Bible also says (Acts 17:31),
"...he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by
a man whom he has appointed." and Luke 17:26 says, "As it was in the days of
Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man.". Thus, the Bible
demonstrates most plainly that Jesus is a man. Above all, he had to come as
a man in order to be the True Parents of mankind, thus giving man rebirth.
3. IS JESUS GOD HIMSELF?
When Philip asked Jesus to show him God, Jesus said to him, "He who has
seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Do you
not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?" (John 14:9-10).
Again the Bible says, "He was in the world, and the world was made through
him, yet the world knew him not." (John 1:10). Further, it is written,
"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58). On the
grounds of all these Biblical verses, many Christians have hitherto believed
that Jesus is God Himself, the Creator.
As demonstrated above, Jesus, as a man having fulfilled the purpose of
creation, is one body with God. So, in light of his deity, he may well be
called God. Nevertheless, he can by no means be God Himself. The
relationship between God and Jesus can be compared to that between the mind
and body. The body, as the substantial object which resembles the mind, is
one body with the mind, so it may be called a second mind (image of the
mind), but the body can by no means be the mind itself. In like manner,
Jesus, being one body with God, may be called a second God (image of God),
but he can by no means be God Himself. It is true that he who has seen Jesus
has seen God (John 14:9-10); but Jesus did not say this to indicate that he
was God Himself.
It is written (John 1:14) that Jesus is the Word made flesh. This means
that Jesus is the substantiation of the Word; that is, the incarnation of
the Word. Then, it is written (John 1:3) that all things were made through
the Word, and again (John 1:10), that the world was made through Jesus;
naturally, Jesus may be called the Creator. According to the principle of
creation, the world of creation is the substantial development of the
character and form of a man of perfected individuality. So, a man who has
fulfilled the purpose of creation is the substantial encapsulation of the
entire cosmos, and the center of harmony in the whole creation. In that
sense, it may also be said that the world was created by a man of
perfection. God intended to have man, after his perfection through the
fulfillment of his own portion of responsibility, stand in the position of
the creator over all things, by giving him even His own creative nature.
Seen from this perspective, we can understand that the Bible (John 1:10)
only clarifies the fact that Jesus was a man who had perfected the purpose
of creation, and does not signify that he was the Creator Himself.
Jesus was a descendant of Abraham; but since he came as the human
ancestor giving rebirth to all mankind, he would become the forefather of
Abraham, in light of the providence of restoration. This is why Jesus said
(John 8:58), "...before Abraham was, I am.". We must understand that this
also does not signify that Jesus was God Himself. Jesus, on earth, was a man
no different from us except for the fact that he was without original sin.
Even in the spirit world after his resurrection, he lives as a spirit man
with his disciples. The only difference between them is that Jesus abides as
a spirit man of the divine spirit stage, emitting brilliant light, while his
disciples are the objects who reflect this light.
Meanwhile, Jesus has been interceding for us before God even in the
spirit world after his resurrection (Rom. 8:34), just as he did on earth. If
Jesus is God Himself, how could he intercede for us before Himself?
Moreover, we see that Jesus also called upon "God" or "Father" for help,
which is good evidence that he is not God Himself (Matt. 27:46, John 17:1).
If Jesus was God Himself, how could God have been tempted by Satan, and
finally crucified by the evil force? Furthermore, when we find that Jesus
said on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" it becomes
clear that Jesus is not God Himself.
SECTION III - JESUS AND FALLEN MAN
Fallen man, lacking the value of the original man who has fulfilled the
purpose of creation, fell to a lowly position in which he looks up to the
angels, who were created to be lower than himself. But Jesus had the value
of a man who has accomplished the purpose of creation, and this qualified
him to dominate the entire cosmos, including the angels (I Cor. 15:27).
Meanwhile, fallen man, still having the original sin, remains susceptible to
Satan's invasion. But Jesus, having no original sin, is without any such
susceptibility. Fallen man does not know the heart and will of God. If he
had ever had such knowledge, it would be extremely limited. However, Jesus
was living in the position in which he knew God's heart completely and
experienced His feeling as if it were his own.
Accordingly, man has no value as long as he remains in a fallen state;
but when he is reborn through Christ, the True Parent, and when he thus
becomes a child of goodness, cleansed of original sin, he is restored as a
man who has fulfilled the purpose of creation, like Jesus. This is similar
to the relationship of father and son, in which the original values of both
do not in the least differ; only their order is different, one being the
father and the other the son.
Therefore, Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22), and we are his
body and members (I Cor. 12:27). Accordingly, Jesus is the main temple and
we are the branch temples. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches (John
15:5); and we, as wild olive shoots, should be grafted into Jesus, the true
olive tree, in order to become true branches (Rom. 11:17). Thus, Jesus
called us friends (John 15:14). Again, the Bible says that when Jesus
appears, we shall be like him (I John 3:2). The Bible also says that Christ
is the "first fruits", and we who belong to him will be the next, indicating
only a difference of time and order (I Cor. 15:23).
SECTION IV - REBIRTH AND TRINITY
The theory of Trinity has been discussed in the theological world as one
of the most difficult questions to resolve. Meanwhile, another question that
has been left without fundamental solution concerns the theory of Rebirth,
which we will consider here.
1. REBIRTH
(1) Jesus and the Holy Spirit from the Standpoint of
Rebirth
Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that unless one is born anew,
he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). "Rebirth" means to be born the
second time. Let us study the reason fallen men must be born anew.
Had Adam and Eve, having fulfilled the ideal of creation become the True
Parents of mankind, their descendants would have realized the Kingdom of
Heaven on earth, as children of goodness without original sin. However,
having fallen, they became the evil parents of mankind and multiplied evil
children, thus producing earthly Hell. Therefore, as Jesus said to
Nicodemus, fallen men cannot see the Kingdom of God unless they are born
anew as children without original sin.
We cannot be born without our parents. Then, who are the parents of
goodness, giving us the second birth as children without original sin,
capable of entering the Kingdom of God?
It would be impossible for evil parents with original sin to give birth
to children of goodness without original sin. Naturally, we cannot expect to
find parents of goodness among fallen men. Such parents should "descend"
from Heaven. Jesus was the True Parent of mankind who came in that manner.
In other words, he came as the True Father in order to realize the Kingdom
of Heaven on earth by giving rebirth to fallen men as children of goodness
without original sin.
Therefore, it says (I Peter 1:3), "...By his great mercy we have been
born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead.". Jesus came as the True Father, the position which Adam had not
fulfilled. This is why the Bible says that Jesus is the second Adam (I Cor.
15:45); that he is the "Everlasting Father" (Is. 9:6); and that God would
send Elijah the prophet again and have him turn the hearts of the children
(fallen men) to their father (Jesus), so that they might also become his
children (Mal. 4:6). Again it is written that Jesus is to come again with
his angels in the glory of his Father (Matt. 16:27).
However, a father alone cannot give birth to children. There must be a
True Mother with the True Father, in order to give rebirth to fallen
children as children of goodness. She is the Holy spirit. This is why Jesus
said to Nicodemus that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born
anew through the Holy Spirit (John 3:5).
There are many who receive revelations indicating that the Holy Spirit is
a female Spirit; this is because she came as the True Mother, that is, the
second Eve. Again, since the Holy Spirit is a female Spirit, we cannot
become the "bride" of Jesus unless we receive the Holy Spirit. Thus, the
Holy Spirit is a female Spirit, consoling and moving the hearts of the
people (I Cor. 12:3). She also cleanses the sins of the people in order to
restore them, thus indemnifying the sin committed by Eve. Jesus, being male
(positivity), is working in heaven, while the Holy Spirit, being female
(negativity), is working on earth.
(2) Jesus and the Holy Spirit Seen from the Standpoint of
the Dual Essentialities of Logos
"Logos" is a Hellenic word meaning "word" or "law". It is written (John
1:1) that Logos is in the objective position to God. In the meantime, since
God, as the subject of Logos, contains dual essentialities within Himself,
Logos, as His object, should also contain dual essentialities. If Logos were
without dual essentialities, the things of creation, which were made through
Logos (John 1:3), would not have dual essentialities either. Adam and Eve
were the substantial objects of God, divided from the dual essentialities of
Logos (cf. Part I, Ch. 1, Sec. I, 1--20).
If Adam had become the Tree of Life, as a male having realized the ideal
of creation, and if Eve, symbolized by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and
Evil as a female, had realized the ideal of creation in herself, and if they
had thus become the True Parents of mankind, then God's three great
blessings to man would have been fulfilled, thus enabling the realization of
the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. However, due to their fall, the world became
an earthly Hell. Therefore, Jesus came as the True Father of mankind, with
the mission of the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:14); that is, as the second Adam (I
Cor. 15:45). Then, it would only be logical that there should come the True
Mother of mankind, with the mission of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and
Evil (Rev. 22:17); that is, the second Eve. The Holy Spirit came as the True
Mother who would give rebirth to fallen man.
(3) Spiritual Rebirth through Jesus and the Holy Spirit
A baby is born through the love of his parents. As it is written (I Cor.
12:3), when we come to believe in Jesus as the Savior through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we receive the love of the spiritual True
Parents, coming from the give and take action between Jesus, the spiritual
True Father, and the Holy Spirit, the spiritual True Mother. Then, through
this love, new life is infused into those who believe in Christ, and each is
reborn into a new spiritual self. This is called "spiritual rebirth".
Man fell both spiritually and physically; so he must liquidate even the
original sin through "physical rebirth". Therefore, Christ must come again
to accomplish man's physical salvation by being born on earth.
2. TRINITY
According to the principle of creation, God's purpose of creation can be
realized only through the four position foundation which is established by
forming the three objective purposes through origin-division-union action.
Accordingly, in order to fulfill the purpose of creation, Jesus and the Holy
Spirit must establish the four position foundation centered on God, be
becoming one body in unity through the action of give and take, each as the
object of God, substantially divided from His dual essentialities. In this
manner, Jesus and the Holy Spirit become one body centered on God; this is
called "Trinity".
Originally, God's purpose of creating Adam and Eve was to form a trinity
by uniting them into one body in love as the True Parents of mankind, thus
establishing the four position foundation centered on God. If they had
perfected themselves without the fall, forming a trinity as the True Parents
centered on God, and had multiplied children of goodness, all their
descendants would have grown to become married couples of goodness centered
on God, each pair forming a trinity with God. naturally, the Kingdom of
Heaven on earth would have been realized centering on the first human
couple, in accordance with the realization of God's three great blessings to
them. However, due to the fall, Adam and Eve established the four position
foundation centered on Satan, thus resulting in a trinity centered on Satan.
Therefore, their descendants have also formed trinities centered on Satan,
and have brought about a human society of corruption.
Therefore, God must work to have all fallen men born anew through the
True Parents of mankind, Jesus and the Holy Spirit--one as the second Adam
and the other as the second Eve--and then having all form respectively a
trinity centered on God. But because of the undue death of Jesus, he and the
Holy Spirit have fulfilled only the mission of spiritual True Parents, by
forming the spiritual Trinity centered on God. Since Jesus and the Holy
Spirit have undertaken the mission of spiritual rebirth only, the saints
still remain in the position of their spiritual children, having been
restored through the spiritual Trinity only.
Christ must come again in flesh in order that he may become the True
Parent both spiritually and physically, by forming the substantial Trinity
centered on God. He will then, by giving them rebirth both spiritually and
physically, have all fallen men form (by couples) substantial trinities
centered on God, after having liquidated the original sin. When fallen men
have established the four position foundation in the original form centered
on God, then the Kingdom of Heaven on earth will be restored through the
realization of God's three great blessings to man. |