Overview of the Principles of Restoration part 1

Okay, so the next bit is about not eating the fruit. Sorry, if you eat it, that's right, do not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. From the day that you do, you will surely die. It's not just a commandment; it's more of a warning. The commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve was something He expected them to observe based on their understanding. It wasn't just about obeying Him; it was about understanding how the world works. For example, don't walk outside the garden gate; if you do, you'll most probably get run over by a car. Don't stick your finger in a socket, or you'll get an electric shock. Don't go too near to the cliff's edge, or you might fall and break your leg. Don't eat unripe fruit, or you'll get a tummy ache. Don't eat those mushrooms over there because they're poisonous. That's how the world works, isn't it? That's how we teach children to understand the world they live in.

Having faith in God's word means keeping God's commandment, and this commandment was based upon understanding. God was trying to educate and teach Adam and Eve how the world worked. It wasn't that He was asking them to believe or do something inexplicable or ununderstandable; it was logical. They knew what death was; there were lots of animals dying. No animals lived forever. I'm sure they must have known what death was. They should have had faith in God's word, believed in it because it made sense. They also knew God loved them, cared for them, and was trustworthy. They should have trusted and had faith in God's commandment because what He said was logical and made sense.

After that, they should have made a foundation of substance. It wasn't enough just to believe in God's truth; they had to become the embodiment of God's word or God's truth, which is something very substantial. They had to grow and reach maturity. That's why Jesus was called the Incarnation of the word of God, the word made flesh. They themselves should not have just believed God's word but should have embodied it. They would have become the living Incarnation of the word of God, just as Jesus was. When Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; nobody comes to the Father but by Me,' He was the Incarnation of the word of God. If Adam and Eve had done that, they would have become mature and perfect. What would the Archangel Lucifer have done? How would he have felt towards them? I think he would have felt respect for them.

For example, if you read the Quran, it says that God told all the angels and jinn to bow down in front of Adam and Eve, and they all did except for Lucifer. He said, 'I'm not going to bow down to them; they're just made of clay. I'm made of fire; I'm better than they are.' Lucifer was unable to respect Adam and Eve. But if Adam and Eve had become the embodiment, the Incarnation of the word of God, then Lucifer would have respected them. After Lucifer tempted Eve and she gave in to the temptation, do you think Lucifer's respect for Eve increased or decreased? It decreased; he had less respect for her after she fell than before. If Eve had behaved nicely and treated him well but said no and resisted his temptation, how would Lucifer have felt? His respect would have gone up, and that's what should have happened. Adam and Eve should have made a foundation of faith and a foundation of substance, which is the principle of creation.

Then, the foundation of faith: Adam and Eve should have had faith in God's commandment for a period of time, probably around 21 years. During this time, they should have grown up, become mature, and perfected their character. Once they matured and perfected, they would have been blessed by God in marriage, and the purpose for which God created the universe would have been fulfilled. God would have dwelt in the family. For this to happen, it requires a combination of divine grace and human will for God's will to be accomplished. God could do His part, but human beings had to do theirs. Then they would have been blessed by God in marriage. Who would have been the best man? Who would have given Eve away to Adam? Lucifer. Lucifer would have said to God, 'Adam and Eve are ready to get married; please bless them in marriage.' So, Lucifer would have been like the best man, handing the bride over to the bridegroom. That's how it should have been.

Adam and Eve needed to win the respect of the Archangel and establish a proper order in the created world. The foundation of substance is about establishing a proper order in the created world, becoming mature and perfect, and on that basis, winning the respect of the created world. Adam and Eve would have become Lords of creation, which is what God originally wanted. They would have been Lords of creation, which meant being Lords over the angels, which of course meant winning the respect of Lucifer and all the angels. This should have happened very naturally; they should have won respect through becoming mature and perfect, worthy of his respect. So, what's lineage got to do with identity?

Lineage is about where we come from; it's about our descent from a common ancestor going back over generations. When we think about our identity, how is it formed? Our identity is socially constructed by the relationships we form as we grow up. For example, if we were born and brought up in another family, our sense of self would be different. The relationships we have with our parents and siblings impact our understanding of our place in the world. If you're the eldest son, second son, or youngest son, does it make a difference to your sense of place in the world? Yes, it does; it makes a huge difference. Our identity is socially constructed by the relationships we form with our parents. If we feel our parents love us unconditionally, we feel valued. If, on the other hand, we feel our parents don't love us unconditionally, it affects our sense of self and value.

Identity is socially constructed by relationships, and the most significant of these are the ones we have with our family, particularly our parents and siblings. They impact our whole life and the relationships we form at school and in society. These primary relationships affect us greatly, but they don't limit us. If someone asks you, 'Who are you?' you can describe your physical attributes, but if you want to reveal yourself, you tell your story about where you came from and your experiences growing up. It's our story that helps others understand why we are the way we are. Part of our story includes who our parents were, our grandparents, the church or community we grew up in, and the country we come from. All these things impact our sense of self and who we are. Our identity comes from our lineage, our background, and various other aspects.

What should our lineage be? If Adam and Eve had grown up and become one with God, they would have had children who experienced God's love unconditionally through their parents. They would have grown up feeling, 'That's where I come from; my parents are expressions of God's love.' Love creates life; husband and wife love each other, and children are an expression of that love. Love creates lineage, and through our lineage, we get our sense of self. Our identity is formed as a result of God's love, which should be fully expressed through the four Great Realms of heart and three Great Kingships. People would have felt their identity as children of God. If someone asked, 'Who are you?' they would have said, 'I'm the Son of God' or 'I'm the Daughter of God.' People would have felt this in every cell of their body, without any doubt, and they would have felt worthy of God's love.

People would have felt that they deserved to be loved by God and that they had the right to inherit God's kingdom. That's how we should have felt. People's pride and sense of identity should have come from their relationship with God. Sometimes, people say, 'Who's your dad? What does he do?' and they might say, 'My dad's a doctor,' or 'My dad's a president.' A lot of people's sense of self and identity comes from that. One ought to be able to say, 'My dad is God; my dad is the creator of the universe.' Can you imagine how one would feel if they felt that? A normal way of life would have been taking care of others and living for the sake of others.

What did happen then? Adam and Eve neither made a foundation of faith nor a foundation of substance. They lost faith in God's word. If you look at the conversation between Lucifer and Eve, you can see she became confused intellectually about what God's word was and emotionally confused as well. She didn't keep the commandment, and Adam and Eve fell. They lost their relationship with God; instead of being God-centered, they became self-centered and dominated by the archangels. Instead of becoming mature and developing a perfect character, they developed fallen nature. Their original nature became twisted, distorted, and corrupted, and they became dominated by the Archangel. That's what happened at the fall. As a result, all people have been affected by this.

Through the relationship Lucifer had with Eve, she inherited certain attitudes and memories. Her nature became corrupted and distorted, and she became cynical. Eve had a relationship with Adam, and he also inherited these thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. These evil elements were passed on to their children. The children of Adam and Eve didn't grow up feeling like the sons or daughters of God. They didn't experience God's love through their parents, which is why the family is so full of conflict. Eventually, Cain killed his brother Abel. If Adam and Eve had truly received God's elements, they would have passed them on to their children, and the murder of Cain and Abel would never have happened. This is what we call original sin.

What is the fallen human lineage? Generally speaking, people have a very confused sense of identity. When people feel happy, they may feel loved by God and think, 'I feel I'm God's son or daughter.' But a day later, they might have a rough day and feel they have no value, not even as a servant or slave of God. Sometimes people feel loved by God, but they don't feel worthy of that love. They don't feel like they are really God's son or daughter. This leads to a confused sense of identity. People often find their identity in all sorts of other things instead of saying, 'I'm the son or daughter of God.' They might identify as a sports supporter or by their nationality. This becomes their primary source of identity.

You see this with nationalism; people may hate someone of a different nationality not because that person has done anything wrong to them personally but simply because they think their primary identity is their nationality. Instead of thinking, 'I'm a son of God, and he's a daughter of God; we're both brothers,' they see differences and conflicts. You can see this in battles between football supporters. One group may attack another, and you wonder what's going on. Did this person personally offend you? No, it has nothing to do with that; it's just an abstract sense of identity.

I'm a middle War supporter and there is something else supporter, and that's why we're doing it. Forgetting this person is also God's son, this person is also my brother. They may have beaten me in this football match, but there's more to life than football. Surprisingly enough, people have a confused sense of identity. The way of life is often a mixture of good and bad; sometimes people are good, and sometimes they are bad and selfish. We have this fallen, corrupted, distorted nature and fallen tradition, such that people are generally quite self-centred at times. Father describes this, saying people are deluded into believing the lineage of the enemy is a lifeline upon which the world depends. If you happen to be a football supporter and your team wins on Saturday, how do you feel afterwards? Elated. Life is good; you feel really happy. But supposing your football team loses, how do you feel? Absolutely depressed. It's as if life isn't worth living. People feel that their life and the world depend upon whether their team wins or loses. This is what Father is talking about here: people are deluded into believing in a false sense of identity and false lineage, which is a lifeline upon which the world depends.

If one's primary source of identity came from God, whose love is eternal, unchanging, and absolute, then even if your football team lost, it would be sad, but it wouldn't wipe you out. You wouldn't become depressed or feel like the world has ended. You would be much more stable and constant than if you put your trust in other things, which always fluctuate. God's love does not go up and down; it is eternal, unchanging, and absolute. If we find our primary source of identity from our relationship with God, we become eternal, unchanging, and absolute ourselves. This is why prayer and meditation are really helpful.

Now, what is fallen nature? I guess Jack would have gone into this last week. It is wrongly directed original nature, which has passed from Lucifer to Eve, from fallen Eve to Adam, and from both of them to all their descendants. The point here is that there is no such thing as fallen nature in its own right; it is just original nature that has become wrongly directed, twisted, corrupted, or distorted. It is not a question of getting rid of your fallen nature; it is about straightening it out, correcting it, and putting it back where it belongs. Sometimes people fight against their fallen nature and struggle against it, but it needs to be transformed, purified, and corrected. You shouldn't hate yourself in that sense.

So, what is sin? Sin is a thought or deed that violates Heavenly law and forms a relationship with Satan, thus setting a condition for give and take action with him. Sin is not a state; you are not a sinful person. Sin is an act; you commit a sin. For example, a Heavenly law could be 'do not murder.' How does violating a Heavenly law bring you into a relationship with Satan? It makes you more similar to him than you are to God. You start to have give and take with Satan. Usually, people murder because they get angry and hate someone. This connects to the Seven Deadly Sins, which are also sins. If you have that way of thinking, it is slightly different from a law but still sinful.

When we talk about greed, for example, it is excessive desire. When you give in to excessive desire, your body dominates your mind. You end up eating to live instead of living to eat. This creates a condition for you to have give and take action with Satan. If your body dominates your mind, you lose focus on what the priorities are. For instance, if you are not wealthy but want a full stomach, you might think only about what your body wants and eat all the food, leaving your family without any. This causes problems. Lust is another example; it is a sexual desire where the body dominates the mind, leading to a lack of self-control. One thing can lead to another, and people can end up seducing others or even committing rape.

Now, let's talk about original sin, which is a basic orientation towards selfishness that people have. This tendency leads to being dominated by physical desires. An example of inherited sin is slavery, as our ancestors committed evil acts and victimised others. This conditions their spirits in a negative way, influencing their descendants. The responsibility and accountability of these actions can fall on the descendants, who may not be able to correct the past but can change the present. Often, certain attitudes, like racism, are inherited from what one hears from parents, which may have originated from their grandparents. This way of thinking can be passed down through generations, leading people to hold prejudiced views without realising they are wrong. Reflection and repentance are necessary to make amends for these inherited attitudes.

Alcoholism is another inherited issue; you may see your parents or grandparents drinking, which can lead to similar behaviour. Criminality can also be inherited, as can swearing. If you hear your parents swearing a lot, you might grow up doing the same without realising it is wrong. Now, regarding collective sin, even though one person may be the initiator of a horrific act, like the Holocaust, the entire nation can be held accountable. For example, I remember when I was at university, friends from Africa would tell me about the wrongs committed by the British. I thought to myself that I didn't do those things, and my ancestors weren't slave owners. However, I felt there was an issue because I was British, and that collective history affects us all.

In the history of the slave trade, many British people were heavily involved. I feel this is something for which I bear a collective sin, and I need to do something to try and make up for it, to apologise, or whatever is necessary to help restore that relationship. It is important that the other person does not feel bitter or resentful anymore. When we talk about sin, we can define it in terms of being in a position of a sinner, whether that be personal, collective, inherited, or original. In this sense, we are responsible as part of a collective and as individuals for exploring that mistake. Even if you have not done anything wrong, if you have witnessed something and did nothing, you are denying your own sense of responsibility.

There are sins of commission, where you actually do something wrong, and sins of omission, where you could have done something right but chose not to. If something bad happens to someone and you know you could have stopped it, you may feel guilty. This guilt arises from the recognition that you could have acted differently. Therefore, if you feel that way, you need to do something to indemnify or restore the situation. Many attitudes, such as anti-Semitism, nationalism, and racism, are passed on collectively, alongside personal sins. We need to work to solve all these issues, but we cannot do it alone. Many people are actively involved in restoring these relationships.

For example, the history between England and Ireland has been troubled for hundreds of years. It was not long ago that dreadful things took place, particularly during the famines and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. When the Queen visited Ireland recently, she felt the need to say something to try to mend this relationship. She could have easily dismissed it by saying it was not her fault, but representing her country, she chose to address the past. It was interesting to see how her words made a difference; people felt that she had helped alleviate a lot of pain and resentment. In different situations, we need to consider what we can do to resolve issues, even if we did not personally cause them.

Human nature after the Fall can be described as having a well-developed fallen nature and an underdeveloped original nature. However, this is not a very good diagram because it suggests that fallen nature and original nature are separate. In reality, we just have our nature, which became distorted. Different people exhibit varying degrees of fallen nature, meaning that their original nature is corrupted or distorted in different ways. The New Testament states that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We are born in what is called the Midway position, with an inclination towards evil and a conscience urging us to do what is right. Our sense of identity can become confused, leading to fluctuating feelings depending on the choices we make.

Indemnity is a key concept in understanding how God restores His children. It involves making a choice to take responsibility for something and to make it right. For example, if you fall down the stairs and break your leg, that is not indemnity. Indemnity is the process of restoring your leg to its original state. If you do not seek help, you risk further complications, such as infection or permanent damage. Therefore, indemnity requires effort and the willingness to pay the necessary price to restore something to its original position. If you cannot pay the indemnity, it is a terrible situation, as it means you cannot restore what was lost.

Indemnity is about making the necessary conditions to restore something to its original state. If you bump into someone on the street and they apologise, the relationship is restored, and you likely forget the incident. However, if they do not apologise, the negative feeling lingers, and you may hold onto that resentment. If you accidentally knock over an old lady's groceries, simply saying sorry is not enough; you must help her pick everything up to restore the relationship. Living a life of indemnity is not about suffering; it is about correcting mistakes and taking responsibility for your actions. At the end of the day, you should have a clear conscience and be able to sleep peacefully.

Indemnity is about going around fixing things. If you see something wrong, you should get involved to try and sort it out. Sometimes, you may find yourself in situations that seem unrelated to you, but they may be tied to ancestral issues. Living a life of indemnity means making the necessary conditions to restore and reverse whatever went wrong in the past. This understanding of indemnity is crucial for daily life. If someone is resentful after you apologise, it may be because they have unresolved feelings from past experiences. In such cases, it is important to recognise that their anger may not be directed at you personally, and you should consider how to alleviate their hurt.

It feels better to be able to get someone to a point where they can apologise or say the things they need to say to get it out of their system. This is important for restoring relationships. A lot of history revolves around this concept. Is it necessary for one person to pay for something someone else did? It's not necessary, but it's a good idea if they do. Someone has to take responsibility at some point, and if you don't, then someone else will have to. For instance, you may see litter on the floor and think, 'I didn't drop it; whoever dropped it should pick it up.' However, if the person who dropped it is never coming back, it becomes your responsibility to pick it up and put it in the bin. Just because you didn't do it doesn't mean you shouldn't be responsible for restoring what someone else did. This is what Father's life is about—sorting out the problems of the world that he himself did not cause. We can apply this principle on various levels, such as in our communities, where we might think, 'This has nothing to do with me.' A responsible person will realise there are problems and wonder if they can be a peacemaker or alleviate the situation.

Sometimes, when religious people commit a sin, they might fast, thinking of fasting as a form of indemnity. They may feel they have separated themselves from God and believe that fasting can resolve some of that separation. This leads to the misconception that suffering itself is somehow good for us. However, fasting can be beneficial, especially for someone who is greedy, as it helps establish a correct relationship between mind and body. If you are greedy and begin fasting, your body will complain, and your mind may feel overwhelmed. It's similar to being addicted to food, smoking, or alcohol; when you can't have what you desire, your mind becomes consumed with it. Fasting is about achieving a proper relationship between mind and body, which makes it easier to connect with God and experience His presence. Additionally, if you want to receive an answer or blessing from God, you need to demonstrate that you are worthy of it. This is another reason why people fast and pray, as God cannot give blessings unconditionally without facing accusations from Satan. Therefore, people need to do something to show they are worthy of receiving blessings or revelations.

If you've done something wrong, fasting alone won't solve the issue. However, if you've offended someone and are unsure how to make amends, fasting and praying can help you figure out how to apologise and reconcile with that person. In this sense, prayer and fasting hold value. Now, regarding the Holocaust, some may ask why it wasn't an indemnity condition. The contention arises from the belief that the Jews supposedly killed Jesus. However, how did the deaths of six million Jews restore anything? It did not restore the death of Jesus. From a pragmatic point of view, one reason the state of Israel exists today is because of the Holocaust; it generated empathy in the world, which could have been achieved without the Holocaust but likely wouldn't have been. The suffering of those who died should not be overlooked. The crucifixion of Jesus was politically motivated, and as Christians spread their faith in the Roman Empire, they found it more convenient to blame the Jews for His death rather than the Romans, who were the actual perpetrators. This scapegoating led to generations of anti-Semitism, culminating in an environment where the Holocaust could occur without significant opposition from Christians.

The Christian Church, which should have stood up against the Holocaust, failed to do so. There is a significant difference between the Jews at the time of Jesus and the Jews living in Germany during the Holocaust. It is unjust to hold one group responsible for the alleged crimes of another. The anti-Semitism that permeated European history created an environment where the Church did not protect innocent people. When it comes to forgiveness, if you apologise, the other person may forgive you. Jesus, who had the right to condemn those who crucified Him, chose to forgive them, saying, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' If Jesus forgave those responsible for His death, what right does anyone else have to blame or punish others on His behalf? Holding onto irrational prejudice, such as anti-Semitism, is ultimately irrational and unjust.

Indemnity is common sense; it is simply how the world works. If you have good manners, you apologise when you do something wrong. This is not merely a religious concept; it is how human society functions when it operates properly. Indemnity is constantly at work. For example, the Bible states that when a man or woman does something wrong against someone, they must confess their sin and make restitution, adding one-fifth to what they owe. If you offend someone, you must make it up to them and provide a little extra. This principle of restoring relationships is reflected in various practices, such as fasting or taking cold showers. I recall my first 21-day workshop when someone suggested I try a cold bath as a condition of indemnity. I hesitated, but eventually, I decided to go through with it. I ran the bath, and as I prepared to get in, I felt a surge of fear and doubt. However, I pushed through, submerged myself in the cold water, and emerged with a clear mind. This experience opened me up to various encounters with God, and I realised that if I had listened to those fearful voices, I might have left the workshop and taken a very different path in life.

When discussing indemnity, we can compare the value of what was lost. There are three types of indemnity: equal, lesser, and greater. An equal amount is akin to human justice, as illustrated by the biblical principle of 'an eye for an eye.' While this concept may seem harsh, it reflects a basic principle of justice. In reality, the Jews never practiced this literally. However, the idea of compensation is essential. For instance, if you rent something and damage it, you must pay for the repairs. If someone bumps into you and does not apologise, you may feel the need to bump into them to restore balance. This sense of justice is ingrained in human nature. It is not about feeling good about the person; rather, it is about achieving equality. In the context of industrial compensation, if someone is injured due to negligence, they should receive compensation rather than seeking revenge. The laws of compensation have existed for thousands of years within Judaism, reflecting a deep-rooted passion for justice. If something happens to you, you are entitled to compensation, which is fair and just. The modern health and safety regulations, while well-intentioned, sometimes seem to go too far, but they are based on the same principles of accountability and compensation established in biblical times.

The modern world is quite primitive in its understanding of justice, especially when compared to the teachings that have been around for thousands of years. This concept of restitution can be likened to human justice. For instance, imagine a scenario where a child accidentally breaks a valuable family heirloom. The child might try to fix it, perhaps using glue, but ultimately realises the gravity of the mistake and feels remorse. The parents, while initially upset, do not impose a harsh penalty. Instead, they might ask the child to do small chores as a way to make amends. This reflects the relationship between parents and children, where forgiveness is a fundamental aspect. Parents forgive their children for various transgressions, as long as there is a sincere apology. This dynamic mirrors our relationship with God, where we cannot fully restore the wrongs of human history, but through faith and small acts, we can experience forgiveness.

In contrast, the concept of greater indemnity can be illustrated through societal laws, such as parking fines. If someone parks their car for just a few minutes too long, they might receive a hefty fine, which is disproportionate to the minor infraction. This is akin to Satan's justice, where a small mistake leads to severe consequences. For example, if a person is attacked for merely looking at someone the wrong way, it reflects a harsh and unfair system. In Satan's world, justice is not about equal compensation; it is punitive and often leads to further suffering. This unfairness is evident in various aspects of life, where minor errors can result in significant penalties, highlighting the disparity between divine justice and human justice.

The biblical story of Abraham illustrates the importance of faith and the consequences of doubt. When God promised Abraham that his descendants would be numerous, Abraham believed, and it was counted as righteousness. However, when God promised him that his descendants would inhabit the land of Canaan, Abraham expressed doubt and sought proof. To restore his faith, Abraham was required to make an offering. Had he succeeded in this offering, his descendants would have thrived in Canaan for 400 years. This offering was not merely a ritual; it was a condition that determined the blessings his family would receive. If he failed, Satan could claim his descendants and subject them to hardship.

The 400 years of suffering that the Hebrews endured in Egypt were a direct consequence of Abraham's failure to make the offering. During this time, they faced immense challenges and temptations to abandon their identity as God's chosen people. Many might have considered assimilating into Egyptian culture to escape slavery, which would have led to the loss of their heritage. However, despite the oppression, they maintained their identity, which was crucial for their eventual restoration. This period of suffering was not without purpose; it was a time for them to solidify their faith and prepare for their return to Canaan.

Ultimately, the journey of the Hebrews serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. When individuals make mistakes, they may feel cut off from God and question their faith. However, it is essential to endure through difficult times, as these experiences can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of oneself. If one gives up during these trials, they risk losing everything, including their connection to God. The story of the Hebrews illustrates the necessity of maintaining faith and identity, even in the darkest of times, as this is what ultimately allows for restoration and redemption.

The principles of restoration are to restore the principles of creation; they aim to rectify what Adam and Eve failed to accomplish. In the process of restoration, we need to establish a foundation of faith and a foundation of substance. This foundation then becomes essential for receiving the Messiah when He is sent. It relies on the principles that facilitate this process, making it crucial for our understanding of restoration.

In terms of restoration, it is about addressing the two conditions that Adam and Eve did not fulfil: they did not create a foundation of faith or a foundation of substance. Therefore, in the context of restoration, individuals must work to establish these foundations to reverse the mistakes made in the past. This is a vital aspect of the restoration process.