Spirit of Man, Part 4 Teaching

Understanding the Spirits

WELCOME PRAYER SONG SILENCE

(ON BOARD)

Psalm The Spirit of Man IV September 14th 2025

Exploring Ethical Frameworks

TELEOLOGICAL DEONTOLOGICAL (discuss)

See, herein lies the rub – we can love Him through the Spirit of Christ in us and be grateful and emotional about this love but these things will not equip us with tools to navigate this life and so as believers, really true sold out believers in Him, we are not equipped with roots to hold us fast on the Rock.

In other words, emotional affinities do not stand on deontological allegiance – they stand on our personal feelings. When we live by our feelings and emotions, we are not really equipped to cope, act and make sound decisions base on His will and ways. Even if we approach life teleologically, or intellectually, these are decisions found in the world, though our senses, and intellect and not His will.

Learning His will introduces facts (or content/evidences) and once we receive them and accept them as truth, we stand on Rock rather than on than shifting sands of the Spirit of Man. I strongly suggest that the human realm, even the very Spirit of Man operates on and off its own intellect and its own emotional levers.

The Spirit of Christ

How we feel. What makes us cry, laugh, angry, lusty, proud, rebellious, excited, enthused. All the arts, the films, the music, entertainments, money, sex, drugs, victories – emotions, emotions, emotions. They are part of being human and they make up some of the most wonderful element of this life – but they are NOT how we experience God in any mature way. It’s not that He can’t be felt, or appreciated emotionally from us – that is when the emotional response is good.

But to genuinely follow Him, to walk in His Spirit of Christ, and not by the Spirit of this world, we have to learn what He really taught and why, on what He did and why, and then what He expects of those who are His disciples indeed.

To begin to put learning to the test, remember what the scripture claims He said, “Come to me all you who are laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and LEARN of me – for I am gentle and lowly of heart. And you shall find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” By turning to the scripture, we become educated on what He really taught, why He taught it, and how it best fits with our choosing to be His true disciples.

This end result of seeking and learning of Him in this ways will produce in my estimation, an operative system known as a deontological ethic. Big words, right but they are easy to understand – “deontological and teleological ethics.”

But simply put deontological ethics judge actions based on whether they follow duties or rules (regardless of the outcome), while teleological ethics (also called consequentialism) judge actions based on the goodness or badness of their consequences. Key concepts are duty, rules, and obligations for deontology, and outcomes, happiness, or benefits for teleological ethics. For example, a deontologist would find lying wrong because it breaks God’s command not to lie, while a teleologist might permit a lie if it leads to a positive outcome.

As we learn more and more and more about Christ, we see that to follow

The Ethics of Duty and Consequence

Him deontologically is what He commanded – based on Him saying, a new commandment I give to you – and when we learn that this is His commandment, we love, like He loved us, and therefore fulfill His commandment out of duty. What duty? Duty to follow Him for what He has done for us. Teleological ethics fails in this, causing us to choose to “love” based in outcomes or circumstances which are counter to His command to love all – God, family, friends and enemies – and to “do good to them when they despitefully” use us. This is the wisdom of Man – often based in emotion and human logic and therefore unreliable, ineffective and driven by a different motive – our wisdom over Christ’s.

Deontological Ethics

In summary, deontological ethics focus on the act itself, rather than its consequences, with actions being right or wrong based on adherence to duties, rules, or obligations, and in this case, our duties and rules and obligations can ONLY come from learning from Him – NOT from religion or men. As a sold-out follower of Christ, even if an act produces a good outcome, this would be considered evil if it violated our duty to Him and His teachings. Teleological ethics suggest actions that will bring about what is deemed a good result, so in the mind of some, blowing up a meth lab or abortion clinic, or even shooting a guy speaking things you find evil may solve a human problem you see but would not be in deontological harmony with Christ.

Teleological Ethics

When it comes to Teleological Ethics, we are focusing on the consequences or the end result of an action and the teleological act is considered morally right if it leads to a good outcome in the here and now. This makes teleological choices all about this world, and flow from the Spirit of Man while deontological ethics speak to our duty to God in a right spiritual sense. We are constantly looking, as human beings, on how to know what choice to make in matters. Remember, in this world, we all have to live by the Spirit of Man, and if there is a person that is undermining a project that needs to get done, they should be removed (teleologically) from the situation because that would justify the end goal. But a Christian would follow after the person fired and extend them agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty. and fellowship in the face of this personal disappointment.

Do you see how operating in this world that God has given us to govern provides one set of rules to operate by but in our personal life toward other people and our heart for them as God’s children we elect to follow deontological ethics as often as possible. A Christian decides to harm someone – let them teleologically go to prison but let us deontologically go visit him and encourage him while there. See the difference. We do NOT let teleological necessity govern our deontological hearts which are NOT governed by emotions they are governed by duty.

Learning Duty from Christ

Duty to what? Who? To Christ. And the only way we can truly know our duty to and for Him is to learn of Him by reading what has been said about Him and from what He said himself. And as we said, this should lead a believer to searching the best source of information about Him on earth. If you think you can learn more about Him from a non-biblical source – and I am talking about the Old Testament and the apostolic record – be my guest – but it defies logic to consider the writings from a group or individual who was not in charge of recording the prophecies about Him, nor were they part of bringing Him forth into the physical world genetically, who were not part of His culture, not there when He did His work, not direct witnesses of His birth, life, deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., resurrection, ascension and return for His own. Such writings are inferior and will produce an inferior form of maturity and faith than reading and learning from the real McCoy. Before moving on to our next L word in the process of maturing, I want to point out that the incomprehensible value of the Bible cannot be overstated when it comes to rightly discerning who God is, what He has done and how He has done it, through His Son which the writings describe, we are faced with a paradox about the Bible. Because like all material gifts that Bible is an aid, not a

Spiritual Maturity and Ethical Perspectives

destination. It contains truth, but is NOT the Truth – it only leads us to The way, truth and life. So paradoxically, the go-to in the nascent stages in developing Spiritual maturity as a means to walk in the world as disciples of Christ is reading and considering the content of the Bible, it by no means is the final say – He and His Spirit is. Why? Because the written words are always going to be debated – therefore our learning is not definite and certain. It is part of the process of hearing, choosing, comparing, and looking at the through line as long as we are absent from the absolute Truth.

In the end, His command is to love as He loved, and in the end, this is the rule – agape love for all OVER what we believe we know religiously, or from the rules of this world. In other words, we seek and learn about Him to fortify our knowledge of Him in life as a means to choose to do as He commands, but when we interpret what we have learned about him differently than others, the rule is NOT division, anger, or parting ways – it is the Spirit of Christ over the letter of whatever we think is so important that is to reign.

The Role of Ethics in Religion

This is TRUE deontological ethics – because His command is to love as He loved. Religion, because it is material and of this world, must operate by teleological ethics. It must remove and do what is best for the group and the end game of the organization which is one reason why they are at odds with individuals deontologically following Christ. Christ said to love as He loved – teleological ethics said, “we can only love as long as it serves our end goals.” So be very careful about how much you allow your learning of Him to influence your duty to Him. The former should always take a back seat to the latter – and our duty is to love as He loved – the third L.

Just to let you know, by the way, philosophically, Mormonism runs on a teleogical ethic known as Utilitarianism which judges all actions on the amount of Good or happiness the action produces for the greatest number of Saints first, and the world second. Utilitarianism is teleological and is not deontologically driven because deontology says we act based on the commands of Christ irrespective of the happiness it produces. A teleological perspective would evaluate the morality of an action by looking at its results. A lie, for instance, might be seen as permissible if it ultimately produces a positive result. This is why religious institutions will lie to protect themselves. The main distinction lies in the source of moral evaluation. Deontology is “duty-based,” meaning the inherent rightness of an action is determined by whether it fulfills a moral duty or rule. Teleology is “consequence-based,” where the rightness of an action is determined by the goodness or badness of its effects.

Allegiance to Christ’s Commandments

I maintain that in genuine Christianity, deontological allegiance for Christ’s commandments reign over us and I reject the made-man teleological ethics where actions are assessed by men in this world and what happiness it creates in the here and now – especially for the community. Before we move into the third L there is a concept that we need to discuss that is found in scripture relative to our understanding what we have learned. It might surprise some of you. I simply call it “doing to confirm.”

Stepping into the desire for light is one thing, then learning what we choose to believe and receive as truth in our minds is another. But then there is the step forward, the action, that moves us from believing what we have learned and then knowing or having it confirmed to us personally.

In John chapter 8 we read the most fascinating circumstance as Yeshua is talking to the Jews of his day. After teaching in public we read, starting at verse 25 of chapter 8: John 8:25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then

Learning and Belief

shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. The believing is the result of them having the capacity to hear Him and see what He meant. This is the basis of the phase of learning – it teaches us what we choose to believe. There were many that heard the same message but did not believe. Why? We say that they did not want the light over their lives, and we suggest that they were probably proud and unwilling to surrender over to the one standing before them. But bottom line, there were also some (Many) that believed on Him based on what they learned. But notice – notice – that Yeshua did not stop here. He did not say, your belief is fine. Its enough.” Instead we read at verse 31

Continuing in His Word

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. We summarize learning as first seeking, then deciding what you accept and/or believe, and then CONTINUING in his teachings “as true disciples” because through that “you will KNOW the truth and the truth will make you free.” Continuing in His words is part and parcel of learning, friends, on the road to being His true disciples because it is the way that a believing disciple comes to personally KNOW the truth, and that knowledge sets them free. Yeshua hits on the import of continuing in His word when He taught in John 15 the oft-quoted parable of the Vine, saying ever so plainly,

Abiding in the Vine

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

From this teaching thus far we see the import of seeking light, of endeavoring to learn via the scripture of Him, of accepting and choosing to believe what we learn, and then continuing in His word because in that way described, we can KNOW the truth and the truth will set us free. Herein lies a perfect segue into the next L world because at verse 8 of chapter 15 Yeshua now adds – ready?

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. And in this we see the connection between seeking Light, Learning (which includes believing, then abiding and continuing in the things we learn and believe) and how we bear fruit making us disciples and that the fruit is . . . (next L word) LOVE. That is why Yeshua then continues to say in John 15

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what

Understanding Biblical Teachings

His lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Learning and Love

Here are the links to learning and then to love. We have to learn what to love before we can love by following it. We have to learn how to love before we can make the choice to act. We have to learn the source or power of our love in order to accept and live by it – which is Christ, on who we have learned, believed and sought. We have decided to learn as a means to mature in the faith. Pretty basic decision right. And we have elected to learn from the tenets of the Bible.

Now, many people see the Bible as a book about Judaism. And they would not be wrong. It is a book ensconced in that ancient faith that continues to have a presence in the world today. But the throughline of the scripture reveals the way God used human beings to save human beings – an important element to remember. Many people wonder why God didn’t just fix all of the world problems as God?

The Problem of Evil

The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (c. 341–270 BC) is credited with stating the problem in a more detailed, question-based format: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.” “Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.” “Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?” “Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

Let’s review these quickly with some reasonable answers:

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.” God is not willing to prevent evil because if He created us with the ability to choose then for Him to prevent evil would make Him a despotic God, therefore not loving nor supportive of how He made us.

Then, “Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.” He is not able to prevent evil based on the above response – this is a choice, based in principles, not because He lacks power, but because He benevolently uses His power.

“Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?” Evil comes from all that freely opposes God or exists without Him and His presence. Evil exists because God is Good not because God is malevolent or incapable.

And finally, “Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” We call Him God because he is neither willing nor able by His own volition, which is Good and that is why we call Him God.

In the face of all of this we can begin to read the biblical history of all God has done to bring about His good will among Man, His freewill creations on earth. And this brings us to the last element of learning from reading the Bible – it conveys truths that can only be known and understood by the same spirit that moved the original writers to record it. Those who have come to understand the value of this relationship are inclined to describe the Bible as God’s words to human kind.

The Divine Inspiration of Scripture

This would make the author of the majority of it God, as the text itself says, 2nd Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Paul wrote to Timothy and said, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. It is super important to know, however, that Paul was not saying that every word of the Bible is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable, but . . . “the Greek tense better means, whatever is scripture, or whatever God inspired men to right is profitable for doctrine . . .”

Bottom line, the book has to be read by the same Spirit which God gave men to write it originally because to read it by the Spirit of Man will only brings the thoughts of man to the interpretation. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians.

Spiritual Understanding Through Scripture

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1st Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Learning and Growing in Biblical Principles

I want to conclude this teaching with some references from the Bible on the value of learning, of hearing, understanding, of growing in the biblically stated principles and allowing the Spirit to make them clear. Let me give you a few mini-teachings to help you see how God explained things to the believers in Yeshua’s day and which principally support our recommendation to consider the book.

Let’s first go to Ephesians 4:17-24 where Paul wrote to the believers in that day – 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The Connection Between Learning and Understanding

There is a direct relationship presented in scripture between teaching, preaching, learning, hearing, seeing and understanding. Some passages that support this include, Proverbs 28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. Psalm 14:2 YAHAVAH looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

We read in, Deuteronomy 5:1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. Did you know that Yeshua the Christ as a man even learned? Speaking of Him, listen to what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 5:8 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”

The Bible explains in part why we suffer in this life in other places too, as the Psalmist wrote, Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. In the same chapter of Psalms 119:73 we read, “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”

Isaiah wrote, Isaiah 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Paul told the Bride in his day, Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Instruction and Understanding

Speaking of the job to instruct and teach, we read in Nehemiah 8:8, So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. In the Apostolic record, the English word translated to understanding is – no-eh’-o And it literally means to “exercise the mind, to comprehend, heed, consider, perceive, think and so we realize that what we are looking to

Renewal and the Scriptures

Through the Spirit of God, our minds get renewed to a place where it lines up with the will of God. This is why Paul wrote, speaking first to husbands in the Bride in that day, Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Other passages support this idea that by the reading of the scripture by the power of the Spirit we expose our minds to renewal. Remember what Yeshua said to His disciples in the Parable of the Vine? He told them, John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Remember when Yeshua prayed for them and asked His Father, John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Of course, I believe that He was speaking of Himself but the scripture is frequently referred to also as the Word of God.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Then in Titus 3:5 we read, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Finally, remember what Yeshua said to the people of His day in Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Or when he called to the multitude in Matthew 15:10 and said, “Hear, and understand.”

Understanding the Limitations

Now, understand, there are some caveats to learning the scripture makes clear. And the one I want to point out right out the gate is that because we are in the Age of the SpiritThe era of direct spiritual relationship with God—guided by the Spirit, not religion., and in the face of Christ having overcome all things on our behalf God said, speaking to our day, Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. no more.

The Nature of Knowledge

With this caveat in mind we have to be careful in assuming that through our learning we know anything, because the fact of the matter is, we really don’t. We only really know what God personally and subjectively has written on our hearts, so while extremely valuable in readying us with the facts, we must humbly admit that we take it all on faith and our so-called, “book learning” can never lead in our relationship with Him or others. See, while informative and full of guiding principles, the scripture can be obscure and out of reach to some and not fully known by any. Even Yeshua said in Matthew 13:13, Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And remember what Paul said in 1st Corinthians 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Paul added later, 1st Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. Paul also talked about those in that day that were 2nd Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Spiritual Maturity

Learning the first principle of humility MUST abide. We will continue forth on the notion of the second L learning in our next video installment.

The “Wash Cycle” of Spiritual Maturity

Then, “Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

Warnings

“FALSE LIGHT THAT NEVER WARMS, SANITIZES OR HEALS” SANDTRAPS/”OFF THE PATH BUILDING” PRIDE / JUDGEMENT / ARROGANCE from LEARNING