There is an ongoing question about the nature of our humanity and being. Why do you and I do the things we don’t want to do and then continue to do them over and over again, often to our detriment? There is a dual aspect to our “being,” and it helps to explain our behavior in life. It is critical to understand that our “being” is the essence of who we are and everything we think and feel in being alive. (Be Still and “Be”)
There is the “being” we present and reveal to the world, and we call it the false self. There is also the “being” stripped and laid bare before God and is called our “true self.” The true self is the “be” that describes Adam’s identity and relationship with God before the fall of humanity in the epic account of the Garden of Eden. It is the self that contemplates our state of “being” as living in union with God before any awareness of separation from God takes place.
Adam representing humanity acted against God, and as a result, we now live feeling isolated and separated in our minds from God. The false self is now controlling and dictating our lives at every moment. On the other hand, the true self desires and seeks to live in unity and oneness with God. It is the “be” that renounces the false self and seeks wholeness with God. It is the “be” of our soul restored to its original destiny of being united with God from the beginning.
The “be” of the true self is the naked and vulnerable self open for union and communion with God. Paul described it in his letter to the Galatians; it is the “crucified self.” The “be” is the naked and vulnerable self open to God’s will. It is our “self” exposed to the light of God. It is the self that responds, search me, O God, and see if there be any wicked way in me. (Ps. 139:23-24) The apostle Paul declares it is the self now rendered powerless by the intervention of the Spirit of God. (Rom. 8:5) It no longer continues to rebel against God. (Rom. 6:5-7) It is the self that surrenders its self-obsession, its arrogance, and pride. It lets go of the need to win at any cost. It lets go of the need to be right on every issue in life. What it recognizes is the world does not revolve around its plan or control. It is working to free itself from its bent on self-glorification. It abandons its desire for recognition and fame. It renounces its false worship of itself and creation.
Paul teaches the old humanity of (self) is dead, and we now live spiritually alive in Christ. Paul states, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal.2:20) Paul, by faith, dies to the false self and ego. He dies to his human nature as opposed to the will of God. Paul dies to self so he might enter into the flow of the eternal life of God. He is spiritually aware of the false self, and the resurrected Christ now is alive in his innermost being. He is now aware his body is the temple and dwelling place of the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 3:16) He no longer lives in human strength, intellect, and wisdom. He abandons His will for the will of God in his life. The old humanity no longer controls his “being.” He possesses the resurrected Lord, who is eternally present in the now. He lives in union and communion with the Triune God; he walks and talks with God. His old name was Saul, and his new name is Paul. The life of Saul is gone, and the presence of Jesus is alive and eternally present in Paul.
There is the hope of humanity’s restoration to the original blessing—the blessing of being made in the image of God to walk in unity and communion with God. The prayer of Jesus is becoming a moment-by-moment reality in our lives that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21) The nature of our humanity and being is made complete and whole in the Eternal Christ. (The Divine Mystery)
Scripture References: NIV
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:20
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:5-7
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21
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