A Prayer
of Jesus
|
I
thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden
these things from the wise
and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was
thy gracious will
|
THE
BIFURCATION OF
THE HUMAN RACE
By Edgar Jones
Introduction
The word is not a common one, so for
those who need a definition we visit Merriam
Webster's Collegiate:
birfucation : the
point at which
bifurcating
occurs.
bifurcate : to divide into two
branches or parts
Therefore we are here to examine the division into two branches (or
parts) of the
human race.
I. We all begin the same,
as little children wholly acceptable to the Father.
And
calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn
and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven
(Matt. 18:2-3).
Then children were brought to him that
he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the
people; but Jesus said, Let the
children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the
kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and went
away [Matt. 19:13-15].
We were all alive to the Father, fully
qualified
for his kingdom and possessing eternal life.
II. We are not all the
same when we mature:
And
whatever town or village you
enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.
As
you enter the house, salute it. And
if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not
worthy, let your peace return to you (Matt.
10:11-13)
Some are worthy, some are not
worthy. Luke states it like this:
Whatever house you enter,
first say, `Peace be to this house!' And if
a son of peace is there, your
peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you (Luke 10:5-6).
These are houses that have not heard
the Word (the Logos). Some have a "son of peace," some not.
Jesus expressed the distinction in many way. Here is another:
Jesus
answered him, If a man
loves me, he will keep my word, and my
Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with
him. He
who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you
hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me (John 14:23-24).
One loves him, another doesn't, and
the evidence is that one receives the Logos and another does not.
The Word does not make the distinction. The already existing
distinction only dictates one's response
to the Word.
The good man
out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man
out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the
heart his mouth speaks (Luke
6:45).
The
difference in the two
categories of men is the difference between good and evil. This
difference springs from the heart, and manifests itself by the words
that issue from the mouth.
The Logos contains many such examples
of
the existence in the race of these two separate and distinct
categories. Examination of their contexts establishes that the
Logos does not establish this distinction, which only determines the
responses to the Logos. The division is there before the
hearing of the Logos and it arises as a condition of the heart.
III. Confirmation from the Parable of the Sower
The evidence from this parable,
interpreted by Jesus himself, is clear. There are here not
two, but six categories of humans prior to their hearing of the Logos,
which again dictates their responses. On examination, however, it
is seen that all six are sub-categories of the two comprehensive ones,
so that, as
in the examples cited above, there are only two major categories.
Also, as above, the root of the distinction arises in the heart.
I will present here first the parable and then the Lord's interpretation
A sower went
out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some
fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the
air devoured it. And some fell on the
rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no
moisture. And some fell among
thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into
good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As
he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Luke 8:5-8).
Now the parable
is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the
path are those who have heard; then the devil comes
and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe
and be saved. And the ones on the
rock are those who,
when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root,
they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell
among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as
they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and
pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in
the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word,
hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with
patience (Luke 8:11-15).
Luke's record of the interpretation is
incomplete and needs to be amended with Matthew's, which states that
in the case of the "path" category, this one hears the word of the kingdom but does
not understand it. Also in Matthew,
the "good soil" category contains sub categories that bring forth fruit
which yields, in one case a
hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. All
are categories that exist in the race prior
to hearing the Logos, so that the difference is seen in their
responses. These are categories that span the entire race of
mankind, from the first to the last. They appear as givens in the Logos.
Jesus therefore designates, by this parable, only two major categories,
which on
examination are
composed of the fruitless and the fruitful respectively. The
fruitless category contains, as subcategories, those who do not
understand the Logos, those who receive it with joy but believe for a
while then fall away and those who hear but allow the Logos to be
choked so that the fruit does not mature. The fruitful category
contains sub categories according to the measure of fruit they
bear.
Examining the first fruitless
sub category, those along the path, Jesus
states that the devil takes the Word from their hearts that they may
not believe and be saved.
Salvation is at stake in distinguishing these categories and we see
that the fruitless category, with all its sub categories, fails to obtain
salvation. The clear implication is that the fruitful
category,
with all its sub categories, enters into salvation. The Lord
makes this implication explicit in the Parable of the Vine, where we
see the specified destiny of the fruitless ones:
I am the true
vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that
bears no fruit, he takes
away, and every
branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more
fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken
to you.
I am the vine,
you are the branches. He who abides in me,
and I in him, he it is that
bears much fruit, for apart from me you can
do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is
cast
forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown
into the fire and burned (John 15:1-6).
Yet
again, we see two major categories, the fruitful and the
fruitless. The divine Logos is perfectly consistent in every
point!
IV. Definition of the Fruit
Now that we know the major categories
as the fruitless and the fruitful, we need to examine what Jesus has
in mind when he thus applies the word, fruit. He clarifies this in
the following utterance:
For no good
tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is
known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are
grapes picked from a bramble bush. The
good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and
the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the
abundance of the heart his
mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45).
The fruit
consists of the words that the mouth speaks! These arise from the
heart! In this categorization, Jesus distinguishes two kinds of
fruit, the evil and the good.
We can recognize the fruitful category by both input and
output. Those who belong there receive the good word, the Logos,
believe it and bear good fruit,
which is more good words.
The fruit they bear is the good
word, which is the Logos -- some thirty, some sixty, and some an
hundredfold! The fruitless likewise received bad words and
dispense bad words. Thorns in, thorns out! Figs in, figs
out! Jesus emphatically states the telling indicator:
So, every sound
tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot
bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does
not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus
you will know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:17-20).
We find here,
yet again, the good man and the evil man. The words
men speak identifies them as either fruitful or fruitless, and further
describe the heart of each, which is the origin of the words. There is
nothing, nor
can there be anything, in the value set of Jesus that surpasses the
value of the Word of Truth. The Father sent him into the world to
plant that Word in the hearts of men such that it would never pass
away. It is essential to his purpose in coming, and to the
Father's purpose in sending him, that before he departed to return to
the Father there should be put into action a continuous process for the
perpetuation of the Word on the earth. This is precisely the same
Word that the Father sent Jesus to publish. To this end, Jesus
carefully selected his apostles and first disciples and told them:
As the Father
has sent me, even
so I send you. (John 20:21)
His disciples therefore bear precisely
the same heavy but blessed responsibility that Jesus bore during his
time on earth,
the publishing of the Logos, the very same Word that Jesus preached
throughout his earthly days, the precious Gospel of the Kingdom.
This responsibility for the publishing of the Word, being
the same responsibility as that of Jesus himself, identifies his
disciples with him so intimately as to make them one:
He who hears
you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me
rejects him who sent me (Luke 10:16).
This explains his great concern for
fruitful disciples, for if they fail, he fails. Those
precious Words are the greatest treasure the World has ever
received. Therefore we understand the significance, to Jesus and
to the Father, of this bifurcation of the race into the fruitful and
the fruitless. Though we started life, all of us, as little
children wholly acceptable to the Father in heaven, examples of
meekness, humility, and simplicity of the little children of the
Father, we have split into two separate categories that Jesus defines
as the fruitful and the fruitless.
V. Relative Quantity
One can describe the foregoing categorizations as distinguished by
quality -- the quality of the heart, whether good or bad -- the quality
of the fruit (words), whether good or bad. Let us take a look to
determine the relative quantities
of the two major categories. Jesus
leaves us in no doubt:
Enter by the
narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way
is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are
many.
For the gate is narrow and the
way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few
(Matt. 7:13-14).
This strongly suggests a second
indicator to distinguish the two major categories, the many and the
few. We will see below
that the quantity
indicator only confirms the quality
indicator, both of which are very explicit.
To summarize briefly, the Logos reveals
that there are two major categories of human beings. Using the
terminology of Jesus, we may label them evil
and good. The
Logos also reveals
that there is but one category of Little
Children -- all innocent, all good, all fit for the
kingdom of God, and none evil. This is not time limited; these
categories existed before Jesus appeared on the earth; he identified
them, and only them, at his appearance. The Logos had no role in
creating the division of one part into two parts. Furthermore, the
character of men, to this day, confirms that there continues to be
these same two categories dividing the race in the continuing presence
of the
Logos. The distinction is essentially one of good and evil
and therefore cannot be ethnic or gender based. It is not that
which distinguishes Gentile and Jew. It is not that which distinguishes
man and woman. It is
that which distinguished good from evil.
There has been and is a bifurcation of the
human race. There are two parts where there was
one.
VI. Some Characteristics of the Split
A clearer view of this bifurcation can be had by focusing on a
restricted segment of the population. We confine our attention to
a specific
set of individuals, consisting of everyone born on the same day, say
January 1, 1954 and who yet survive. Having this common birthday,
all will have
celebrated their fiftieth year on January 1, 2004. This set finds
representation world wide, in all nations, races,
religions and both genders. It is
rather numerous since it includes everyone on earth born on one out of
a total of 365 days of a specific year, 1954. We can roughly
estimate its current size as
follows:
1.
Approximate population of the earth, total human beings
= 6.12 billion.1
2. Estimated percent of those who are age 50 in 2004 = .8%2
3. Estimated population, age 50, worldwide is .008 x 6.12 billion = 49
million
The figure of 49 million is the
population of the world that is age 50. It includes persons
who may have been born on any day of a specific year. To estimate
the number born on one day, which we designate January 1, 1954,
4. World population, age 50, born Jan.
1, 1954 = 49,000,000/365 = 134,000.
There is in the world as of January 1, 2004
a set consisting of
approximately 134,000 humans who were
born on January 1, 1954, being all the same age to the day, i.e., 50
(this is not the total number of persons born on that day, but the
total number who were born on that day and who survive to the age of
50).
Now, on January 2, 1954, this set consisted of 134 thousand newborns, Iittle children, everyone one good
and all qualified for the kingdom of
God. Today they are all age 50 to the day. Are they all yet
good?
No, because this set is characteristic of all similar sets, and of the
whole,
in that it has experienced a bifurcation. It has split into two
sets, the good and the evil. As presented from
our study of the Logos above, this process of bifurcation proceeds in
the world apart from the Word or from any experience of birth from
above. It is a process that issues from the fundamental nature of
humans. It has been operating since the first good woman/man
became evil.
But some of them are good now, at age 50, and they were good when they
were
born, since all are born good. I conclude that this part of the
original set retains its original good character. They were born
good and they are good today. This does not preclude a
return to
the good after having been evil. Such a return is the result of
true repentance, which we need not discuss here. Contrary to
this, the evil part started out good also, precisely the
same as the good part. They have not repented of the evil, so
evil they remain. This bifurcation has produced, from a
single set (at birth), two sets of age 50, a good set and an evil
set. Therefore, we can safely conclude that
there is in the world today a set of people born on January 1, 1954 who
have changed from good to evil, which has produced the bifurcation of
the original set. They were born good, but they are evil today.
When did this occur?
The bifurcation is a continuous process because it proceeds on an individual basis as, one by one,
born good members of the
original set change from good to evil.
We cannot point to a specific time, and can say only that it began when
the first of the 134,000 individuals became evil. We cannot say
when it ends, but the indications, both from the Logos and from our
observations, are that it has not yet ended for this group, as
additional individuals continue to defect from the good set to join the
evil set. It is conceivable that many of the 134,000 who remain
with
the good set will yet defect even after the age of 50. This is
speculation, of course, since we have no data base by which to check
the numbers.
Seeing that, with regard to the whole, this bifurcation is a continuing
process, we cannot assign to it a specific point in time.
Consequently, it does not strictly conform to the definition of
bifurcation, which strictly applies only when an individual transfers
from the good to the evil set.
VII.How Does This Occur?
Is it not obvious? Individuals, motivated by the love of life,
choose evil -- some early, some late, but it is always an individual
choice.
What are the relative sizes of the two sets, age 50, sharing the same
birthday, but distinguished by being either good or evil?
We can only say, based on Matthew 7:13-14, that the good are few, the
evil are many. If only 1% of the 134,000 remain good, that leaves
only 1340 good persons persevering in the original good set. This
may very well be a high number, but no one can say.
Is it possible, having left, to return to the good set?
Yes, through repentance, and repentance has been an option for as long
as there has been evil. I say this after long exposure to the
Word, and find that the Word establishes this as consistent with the
Truth.
I have defined a specific set of mature adults across the world,
sharing the same birthday at age 50, only to clarify the
nature of the split. It should go without stating that persons of
all ages are similarly categorized since all sets, such as the above,
are
blended together in the world. This results in two large sets,
good and evil, that comprise the entire six billion persons on the
planet today. The process of
bifurcation continues as the many, one by one, leave the good and
choose the evil.
VIII. The Question of Good.
Jesus was once approached by a man who
addressed him as "good teacher." He responded as follows:
Why
do you call me good? No
one is good but God alone (Mark
10:18).
This seems a contradiction to this
utterance:
The good man
out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man
out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the
heart his mouth speaks (Luke
6:45).
It is not. The man who
addressed him as "good teacher" was both rich and proud, as suggested
by his further claim to have observed all the
commandments from his youth. Jesus' response was tailored to this
man's specific character and was in terms of absolute good for which God is the
only standard measure.
The man must have considered himself to be perfect, so Jesus had to set
him straight. This particular utterance refers to absolute
goodness, but in speaking of a "good man" Jesus must be understood as
expressing a relative
definition of good.
The Parable of the Sower strongly suggest that the six categories
defined there are only relative distinctions, consequitive segments on
a graded scale from absolute evil to absolute good. Therefore,
the two major sets of human beings resulting from the bifurcation are
neither absolutely evil nor absolutely good but, with their sub
categories, are relative stages along the scale.
Conclusion
Repeating for emphasis, the
bifurcation is an ongoing process in the world that is independent of
exposure to the Logos. Hearing the Gospel according to Jesus does
not create the split, it only reveals it as individuals accept or
reject his Word. The Word has the effect of producing children of
the Father from the set of persons who receive it in a good and honest heart (see the
Parable of the Sower).
Many other questions, objections,
reservations and concerns will come to you as you contemplate the
above. Rather than discuss them here, which would make a very
long paper, I invite you to submit your comments to me by email.
I will attempt to respond to each one and, if it seems justified by
many questions, will post a second paper on this subject. Also, it may
be useful for you to visit my papers on salvation, beginning here.
I expect that most objections will be due to long exposure to false
Christian doctrine. If you are a Christian and unwilling to openly and honestly examine the validity of your faith, you will not
be able to understand what we are saying. Since all of the above
comes from
hearing and believing Jesus, you are also placing yourself in yet
another very large set of human beings who believe in Jesus but do not
hear him or believe what he says. What is required is not that we
believe in Jesus, which could
mean anything depending on how we interpret his office and work in the
world. What is required of men is that they believe Jesus (leave out the in). No one will do this, of
course, who does not truly believe in
Jesus also. Jesus confronted
representatives of
this set, those who believe in
him, in this incident:
Jesus then said to the Jews who had
believed in him, If you continue
in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know
the truth, and the truth will make you free.
They answered him, "We are descendants
of Abraham, and have never been
in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, `You will be made
free'?"
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, every one
who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not
continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the
Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are
descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds
no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do
what you have heard from your father.
They answered him, "Abraham is our father."
Jesus said to them, If you
were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did,
but now you
seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from
God; this is not what Abraham did. You do
what your father did.
They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father,
even God."
Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love
me, for I
proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he
sent me. Why do you not
understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's
desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do
with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he
speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of
lies. But, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which
of
you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear
them is that you are not of God (John.8:31-47).
In the final analysis, the two
branches of the human race, following the bifurcarion, consists of the
set of human beings who will believe
in Jesus, as did those Jews of whom we just read, and the set,
much much smaller, who believe
Jesus -- who hear the words of
God. We have also learned from the
Logos that this difference can be stated such that the act of believing in Jesus is more fully
explained as believing something about
Jesus that someone else has told us we must believe to receive the
forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
1. From Time,
January
29, 2001, p. 12.
2.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/agewpop1.htm
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