The concept of senses, as portrayed in Scripture and spiritual teachings, extends beyond mere physical faculties. It delves into the realm of human consciousness, the interplay between the spiritual and the carnal mind, and the effects of sin and error on human decision-making. This discourse explores the duality of human nature, the role of the senses in shaping our understanding, and the transformation brought about by aligning with the Spirit.
### **The Divine Origin of the Senses**
Proverbs 20:12 declares, “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made even both of them.” These faculties, created by God, are not inherently evil but were designed for humanity's good. However, when governed by sin, they can become tools for indulgence in the desires of the flesh However, when these senses are governed by the flesh rather than the Spirit, they become conduits for error, sin, and spiritual blindness.
In 1 John 2:16, the apostle writes, "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." This verse highlights the peril of senses when dominated by carnal desires. Physical pleasure, materialism, and pride stem from the world, not from God, illustrating the distinction between spiritual and worldly values.Here, the senses are depicted as gateways through which the world exerts its influence, fostering cravings for physical pleasure, materialism, and ego-driven pride. These attributes align with the "sense consciousness," a state formed by acting through the outward senses rather than spiritual discernment.
### **Sense Consciousness and the Carnal Mind**
Sense consciousness" refers to a mental state shaped by reliance on outward senses, leading to actions and beliefs rooted in the physical world. , sin operates through the brain and stimulates propensities that are blind and instinctual. When intellect and sentiments operate solely under the influence of these propensities, they are darkened and unable to comprehend divine truth (Ephesians 4:18).
Paul elaborates on this in Romans 8:6-7: "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so." Here, the apostle contrasts the outcomes of two forms of governance: the carnal mind, which is enmity against God, and the spiritual mind, which leads to life and peace.
### **The Awakening of the Spiritual Mind**
The spiritual mind represents a state of Christ-consciousness, in which the outward senses are subdued, and the inner life is illuminated by divine truth. This awakening is described metaphorically: "Just as when the sun arises the brightness of all the rest of the stars becomes invisible; but when the sun sets, they are seen." The spiritual mind, like the rising sun, overshadows the carnal senses, allowing for clarity, peace, and alignment with God's will.
The senses, when allowed to dominate, obscure the spiritual mind, likened to the setting of the sun, which gives way to the darkness of night (the carnal senses). Conversely, when the spiritual mind, or "Christ consciousness," awakens, it eclipses the carnal senses, as the rising sun outshines the stars. This allegory highlights the transformative power of spiritual awakening, which diminishes the influence of worldly desires.
When the spiritual mind is asleep, the carnal senses dominate, leading to conflict, error, and separation from God. This duality reflects the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, a theme central to Christian spirituality.
### **The Spirits of Creation and Error**
The *Testament of Reuben* offers a detailed exploration of the human faculties, describing seven spirits given at creation and their corresponding roles:
1. **The Spirit of Life:** The foundation of human existence.
2. **The Spirit of Sight:** Associated with desire.
3. **The Spirit of Hearing:** Linked to instruction.
4. **The Spirit of Smell:** Facilitating breath and vitality.
5. **The Spirit of Speech:** Leading to knowledge.
6. **The Spirit of Taste:** Providing strength.
7. **The Spirit of Procreation:** The potential for sin through pleasure.
In addition, an eighth spirit, the spirit of sleep, represents a state of spiritual dormancy and susceptibility to error. These faculties, when influenced by the "spirits of error"—such as pride, injustice, and insatiability—lead to spiritual destruction and alienation from God's law.
### **Living by the Spirit**
Paul’s teachings in Romans 8 emphasize the necessity of living by the Spirit to overcome the limitations and deceptions of the flesh. By rejecting the dominance of the senses and embracing spiritual discernment, believers are able to align themselves with the will of God. This transformation is captured in Colossians 1:12-13: “He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.”
### **Conclusion**
The senses, while divine gifts, are vulnerable to corruption when governed by the carnal mind. Decisions based on outward appearances often lead to conflicting thoughts and spiritual blindness. The awakening of the spiritual mind through the Spirit of Christ allows for liberation from the dominion of sin and alignment with God’s eternal kingdom. Thus, believers are called to "love the truth" and live in the light of the Spirit, overcoming the limitations of the flesh and embracing the fullness of life in Christ.
The Bible and other related texts reveal profound insights about human senses, their impact on spiritual consciousness, and their potential to influence both moral and carnal behavior. These teachings emphasize the dual nature of human existence: the outward, sensory-driven life that can lead to sin, and the inward, spiritual life that aligns with God’s purpose.
### The Role of Senses in Spiritual Consciousness
Proverbs 20:12 acknowledges the divine origin of human senses: "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made even both of them." These faculties, created by God, are not inherently evil but were designed for humanity's good. However, when governed by sin, they can become tools for indulgence in the desires of the flesh.
1 John 2:16 states, "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." This verse highlights the peril of senses when dominated by carnal desires. Physical pleasure, materialism, and pride stem from the world, not from God, illustrating the distinction between spiritual and worldly values.
### Sense Consciousness and Its Consequences
"Sense consciousness" refers to a mental state shaped by reliance on outward senses, leading to actions and beliefs rooted in the physical world. , sin operates through the brain and stimulates propensities that are blind and instinctual. When intellect and sentiments operate solely under the influence of these propensities, they are darkened and unable to comprehend divine truth (Ephesians 4:18).
Paul elaborates on this in Romans 8:6-7: "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so." Here, the apostle contrasts the outcomes of two forms of governance: the carnal mind, which is enmity against God, and the spiritual mind, which leads to life and peace.
### Awakening the Spiritual Mind
The senses, when allowed to dominate, obscure the spiritual mind, likened to the setting of the sun, which gives way to the darkness of night (the carnal senses). Conversely, when the spiritual mind, or "Christ consciousness," awakens, it eclipses the carnal senses, as the rising sun outshines the stars. This allegory highlights the transformative power of spiritual awakening, which diminishes the influence of worldly desires.
### Insights from the Testament of Reuben
The *Testament of Reuben*, an ancient text, provides a detailed exploration of human senses and their association with moral and spiritual challenges. It describes seven spirits given to man at creation:
1. **Spirit of Life** - The essence of existence.
2. **Spirit of Sight** - Associated with desire.
3. **Spirit of Hearing** - Linked to instruction.
4. **Spirit of Smell** - Enables breathing and discernment.
5. **Spirit of Speech** - Conveys knowledge.
6. **Spirit of Taste** - Provides strength through nourishment.
7. **Spirit of Procreation** - A source of sin when misused.
Reuben warns of an eighth spirit, the **spirit of sleep**, symbolizing spiritual lethargy and ignorance, often mingled with the spirits of error, such as pride, lying, and injustice. These spirits corrupt the young, darkening their understanding and separating them from God’s law.
### Overcoming the Carnal Mind
The Bible and other writings repeatedly call for rejecting the dominance of the senses in favor of spiritual enlightenment. This awakening is achieved by aligning one’s thoughts and actions with God’s Spirit. As Colossians 3:2 advises, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." The spiritual mind prioritizes eternal truths over temporal pleasures, offering freedom from the bondage of sin.
### Conclusion
The human senses, though divinely created, become a source of sin when governed by the flesh. Operating in the realm of sensory consciousness leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God. However, through spiritual awakening, the senses can be subordinated to the mind of Christ, enabling believers to walk in life and peace. By loving truth and embracing the spiritual kingdom, individuals can overcome the errors of sense consciousness and live in harmony with God’s eternal purpose.
The meaning of senses
The sense consciousness--A mental state formed from believing in and acting through the outward senses. It is the consciousness of sin, linked with emotions (body) and feelings (mind).
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
the meaning of this is clear the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
"Operating upon the brain [physical], it [indwelling sin] excites the 'propensities', and these set the 'intellect' [mental], and 'sentiments' [moral] to work. The propensities are blind, and so are the intellect and sentiments in a purely natural state; when therefore, the latter operate under the sole impulse of the propensities, 'the understanding is darkened through ignorance, because of the blindness of the heart'". (Elpis Israel, p . 127)
Decisions based on outward appearances--the senses--produce conflicting thoughts
Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Proverbs 20:12 - The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made even both of them.
The sense consciousness--A mental state formed from believing in and acting through the outward senses. It is the consciousness of sin, linked with emotions (body) and feelings (mind).
the meaning of this is clear the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
"Operating upon the brain [physical], it [indwelling sin] excites the 'propensities', and these set the 'intellect' [mental], and 'sentiments' [moral] to work. The propensities are blind, and so are the intellect and sentiments in a purely natural state; when therefore, the latter operate under the sole impulse of the propensities, 'the understanding is darkened through ignorance, because of the blindness of the heart'". (Elpis Israel, p . 127)
Decisions based on outward appearances--the senses--produce conflicting thoughts
Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
And again, when the spiritual mind is awake the outward sense or carnal mind is extinguished; when we discard the exercise of our senses; and so, when the mind rises up again and awakens, the outward sense is put an end to.
Therefore, the awakening of the outward senses or the carnal mind is the sleep of the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness; and the awakening of the spiritual mind is the discharge of the outward senses from all occupation. Just as when the sun arises the brightness of all the rest of the stars becomes invisible; but when the sun sets, they are seen. And so, like the sun, the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness, when it is awakened, overshadows the outward senses, but when it goes to sleep it permits them to shine.
Reuben Chapter 1
2:1 And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of error, when I repented.
2:2 For seven spirits are established against man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth.
2:3 And seven other spirits are given to man at creation, so that by them every human deed is done.
2:4 The first is the spirit of life, The first spirit is of life, with which man's whole being is created.. The second is the spirit of sight, with which comes desire.
2:5 The third is the spirit of hearing, with which comes instruction. The fourth is the spirit of smell, with which is given tastes for drawing air and breath.
2:6 The fifth is the spirit of speech, with which comes knowledge.
2:7 The sixth is the spirit of taste, for consuming food and drink; by it comes strength, because in food is the substance of strength.
2:8 The seventh is the spirit of procreation and intercourse, with which comes sin through fondness for pleasure.
2:9 For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man into a ditch, and like an animal over a cliff.
Reuben Chapter 2
3:1 In addition to all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, with which is brought about the trance of nature and the image of death.
3:2 With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error.
3:3 First, the spirit of fornication resides in the nature and in the senses; the second, the spirit of insatiableness, in the stomach; the third, the spirit of fighting, in the liver.
3:4 The fourth is the spirit of flattery and trickery, in order that through excessive effort one might appear to be at the height of his power.
3:5 The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant. The sixth is the spirit of lying, which through destructiveness and rivalry, handles his affairs smoothly and secretively even with his relatives and his household.
3:6 The seventh is the spirit of injustice, with which are thefts and acts of rapacity, that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by the taking of gifts.
3:7 And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.
3:8 And so every young man is destroyed, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the Law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers as befell me also in my youth.
3:9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.
Therefore, the awakening of the outward senses or the carnal mind is the sleep of the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness; and the awakening of the spiritual mind is the discharge of the outward senses from all occupation. Just as when the sun arises the brightness of all the rest of the stars becomes invisible; but when the sun sets, they are seen. And so, like the sun, the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness, when it is awakened, overshadows the outward senses, but when it goes to sleep it permits them to shine.
Reuben Chapter 1
2:1 And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of error, when I repented.
2:2 For seven spirits are established against man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth.
2:3 And seven other spirits are given to man at creation, so that by them every human deed is done.
2:4 The first is the spirit of life, The first spirit is of life, with which man's whole being is created.. The second is the spirit of sight, with which comes desire.
2:5 The third is the spirit of hearing, with which comes instruction. The fourth is the spirit of smell, with which is given tastes for drawing air and breath.
2:6 The fifth is the spirit of speech, with which comes knowledge.
2:7 The sixth is the spirit of taste, for consuming food and drink; by it comes strength, because in food is the substance of strength.
2:8 The seventh is the spirit of procreation and intercourse, with which comes sin through fondness for pleasure.
2:9 For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man into a ditch, and like an animal over a cliff.
Reuben Chapter 2
3:1 In addition to all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, with which is brought about the trance of nature and the image of death.
3:2 With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error.
3:3 First, the spirit of fornication resides in the nature and in the senses; the second, the spirit of insatiableness, in the stomach; the third, the spirit of fighting, in the liver.
3:4 The fourth is the spirit of flattery and trickery, in order that through excessive effort one might appear to be at the height of his power.
3:5 The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant. The sixth is the spirit of lying, which through destructiveness and rivalry, handles his affairs smoothly and secretively even with his relatives and his household.
3:6 The seventh is the spirit of injustice, with which are thefts and acts of rapacity, that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by the taking of gifts.
3:7 And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.
3:8 And so every young man is destroyed, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the Law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers as befell me also in my youth.
3:9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.
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