Infinite+Spirit

=[|Infinite Spirit]=

[|PAPER 8]: [|THE INFINITE SPIRIT]
8:0.1 Back in eternity, when the Universal Father's [|"first"] [|infinite] and [|absolute] [|thought] finds in the Eternal Son such a perfect and adequate [|word] for its divine [|expression], there ensues the supreme [|desire] of both the Thought-God and the Word-God for a universal and infinite [|agent] of mutual expression and combined [|action]. 8:0.2 In the dawn of eternity both the Father and the Son become infinitely cognizant of their mutual [|interdependence], their eternal and absolute [|oneness]; and therefore do they enter into an infinite and everlasting [|covenant] of divine [|partnership]. This never-ending compact is made for the execution of their united concepts throughout all of the [|circle] of [|eternity]; and ever since this eternity [|event] the Father and the Son continue in this divine [|union]. 8:0.3 We are now [|face to face] with the eternity [|origin] of the Infinite Spirit, the Third [|Person] of [|Deity]. The very instant that God the Father and God the Son conjointly conceive an identical and infinite [|action]—the execution of an absolute thought-plan—that very [|moment], the Infinite Spirit springs full-fledgedly into [|existence]. 8:0.4 In thus reciting the order of the [|origin] of the [|Deities], I do so merely to enable you to think of their [|relationship]. In [|reality] they are all three existent from eternity; they are [|existential]. They are without beginning or ending of days; they are [|co-ordinate], [|supreme], [|ultimate], [|absolute], and [|infinite]. They are and always have been and ever shall be. And they are three distinctly individualized but eternally associated [|persons], God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.  

[|8:2. NATURE OF THE INFINITE SPIRIT]
8:2.1 The //Conjoint Creator// is from [|eternity] and is wholly and without qualification [|one] with the [|Universal Father] and the [|Eternal Son]. The Infinite Spirit [|reflects] in [|perfection] not only the [|nature] of the [|Paradise] [|Father] but also the nature of the //Original Son//. 8:2.2 The [|Third Source and Center] is known by numerous titles: the [|Universal] [|Spirit], the Supreme [|Guide], the Conjoint [|Creator], the Divine Executive, the [|Infinite] [|Mind], the Spirit of Spirits, the Paradise Mother Spirit, the Conjoint Actor, the Final Co-ordinator, the [|Omnipresent] Spirit, the [|Absolute] [|Intelligence], the Divine [|Action]; and on [|Urantia] he is sometimes [|confused] with the [|cosmic mind]. 8:2.3 It is altogether proper to [|denominate] the Third Person of Deity the Infinite Spirit, for God is spirit. But [|material] [|creatures] who tend towards the [|error] of viewing [|matter] as basic [|reality] and mind, together with spirit, as postulates rooted in matter, would better [|comprehend] the Third Source and Center if he were called the Infinite Reality, the Universal Organizer, or the [|Personality] Co-ordinator. 8:2.4 The Infinite Spirit, as a universe [|revelation] of [|divinity], is unsearchable and utterly beyond human [|comprehension]. To [|sense] the absoluteness of the [|Spirit], you need only contemplate the [|infinity] of the [|Universal Father] and stand in [|awe] of the [|eternity] of the [|Original Son]. 8:2.5 There is [|mystery] indeed in the [|person] of the [|Infinite Spirit] but not so much as in the Father and the Son. Of all aspects of the Father's nature, the //Conjoint Creator// most strikingly discloses his [|infinity]. Even if the [|master universe] eventually expands to [|infinity], the [|spirit] [|presence], [|energy] [|control], and [|mind] [|potential] of the //Conjoint Actor// will be found adequate to meet the demands of such a limitless [|creation]. 8:2.6 Though in every way sharing the [|perfection], the [|righteousness], and the [|love] of the [|Universal Father], the Infinite Spirit inclines towards the [|mercy] [|attributes] of the [|Eternal Son], thus becoming the mercy minister of the [|Paradise Deities] to the [|grand universe]. Ever and always—universally and eternally—the Spirit is a mercy minister, for, as the [|divine Sons] reveal the [|love] of God, so the divine Spirit depicts the [|mercy] of God. 8:2.7 It is not possible that the Spirit could have more of [|goodness] than the Father since all goodness takes [|origin] in [|the Father], but in the [|acts] of the Spirit we can the better [|comprehend] such [|goodness]. The Father's faithfulness and the Son's constancy are made very real to the [|spirit] [|beings] and the [|material] [|creatures] of the [|spheres] by the loving ministry and ceaseless [|service] of the [|personalities] of the Infinite Spirit. [See[|[1]][|[2]][|[3]][|[4]][|[5]][|[6]][|[7]]] 8:2.8 The //Conjoint Creator// inherits all [|the Father]'s [|beauty] of [|thought] and [|character] of [|truth]. And these [|sublime] [|traits] of [|divinity] are [|co-ordinated] in the near-[|supreme] levels of the [|cosmic mind] in subordination to the infinite and eternal wisdom of the unconditioned and limitless [|mind] of the //Third Source and Center//. 

[|8:3. RELATION OF THE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER AND THE SON]
8:3.1 As the [|Eternal Son] is the [|word] [|expression] of the "first" [|absolute] and [|infinite] [|thought] of the [|Universal Father], so the //Conjoint Actor// is the [|perfect] [|execution] of the "first" completed [|creative] [|concept] or plan for combined [|action] by the Father-Son personality [|partnership] of [|absolute] [|thought]-[|word] [|union]. The [|Third Source and Center] eternalizes [|concurrently] with the [|central] or [|fiat] [|creation], and only this central creation is eternal in [|existence] among [|universes]. 8:3.2 Since the [|personalization] of the [|Third Source], the [|First Source] no more personally participates in universe creation. The Universal Father delegates [|everything] possible to his [|Eternal Son]; likewise does the Eternal Son bestow all possible [|authority] and [|power] upon the //Conjoint Creator//. 8:3.3 The Eternal Son and the Conjoint Creator have, as [|partners] and through their co-ordinate personalities, planned and [|fashioned] every post-[|Havona] [|universe] which has been brought into [|existence]. The Spirit sustains the same [|personal] [|relation] to the Son in all subsequent creation that the Son sustains to the Father in the first and [|central creation]. 8:3.4 A [|Creator Son] of the Eternal Son and a [|Creative Spirit] of the Infinite Spirit created you and your [|universe]; and while the Father in faithfulness upholds that which they have organized, it devolves upon this Universe Son and this Universe Spirit to foster and sustain their [|work] as well as to minister to the [|creatures] of their own making. 8:3.5 The Infinite Spirit is the effective [|agent] of the all-loving [|Father] and the all-merciful [|Son] for the [|execution] of their conjoint project of drawing to themselves all [|truth]-loving souls on all the worlds of [|time and space]. The very [|instant] the Eternal Son accepted his Father's plan of [|perfection] [|attainment] for the [|creatures] of the universes, the moment the [|ascension] project became a Father-Son plan, that instant the Infinite Spirit became the conjoint [|administrator] of the Father and the Son for the [|execution] of their [|united] and eternal purpose. And in so doing the Infinite Spirit pledged all his [|resources] of divine [|presence] and of [|spirit] [|personalities] to the Father and the Son; he has dedicated all to the stupendous plan of exalting [|surviving] will [|creatures] to the divine heights of [|Paradise] [|perfection]. 8:3.6 The Infinite Spirit is a complete, exclusive, and [|universal] [|revelation] of the [|Universal Father] and his [|Eternal Son]. All [|knowledge] of the Father-Son [|partnership] must be had through the //Infinite Spirit//, the conjoint [|representative] of the divine [|thought]-[|word] [|union]. 8:3.7 The [|Eternal Son] is the only avenue of approach to the [|Universal Father], and the //Infinite Spirit// is the only means of [|attaining] the [|Eternal Son]. Only by the [|patient] [|ministry] of the Spirit are the [|ascendant beings] of [|time] able to [|discover] the [|Son]. 8:3.8 At the [|center] of [|all things] the Infinite Spirit is the first of the [|Paradise Deities] to be [|attained] by the [|ascending] [|pilgrims]. The Third Person enshrouds the Second and the First Persons and therefore must always be first recognized by all who are candidates for presentation to the Son and his Father. 8:3.9 And in many other ways does the Spirit [|equally] [|represent] and similarly serve the Father and the Son. 

[|8:4. THE SPIRIT OF DIVINE MINISTRY]
8:4.1 [|Paralleling] the [|physical] [|universe] wherein [|Paradise] [|gravity] holds [|all things] together is the [|spiritual] [|universe] wherein the [|word] of the Son interprets the [|thought] of God and, when "made flesh,"[|[8]] [|demonstrates] the loving [|mercy] of the combined nature of the [|associated Creators]. But in and through all this material and spiritual [|creation] there is a vast stage whereon the Infinite Spirit and his spirit offspring show forth the combined [|mercy], [|patience], and everlasting [|affection] of the divine [|parents] towards the intelligent [|children] of their co-operative devising and making. Everlasting ministry to [|mind] is the [|essence] of the Spirit's [|divine] [|character]. And all the spirit offspring of the Conjoint Actor partake of this [|desire] to minister, this divine urge to [|service]. 8:4.2 God is [|love], the Son is [|mercy], the Spirit is [|ministry]—the ministry of divine love and endless mercy to all intelligent [|creation]. The Spirit is the [|personification] of the Father's love and the Son's mercy; in him are they eternally united for [|universal] service. The Spirit is love [|applied] to the [|creature] creation, the combined love of the Father and the Son. 8:4.3 On [|Urantia] the Infinite Spirit is known as an [|omnipresent] [|influence], a universal presence, but in [|Havona] you shall know him as a [|personal] presence of [|actual] ministry. Here the ministry of the Paradise Spirit is the exemplary and [|inspiring] [|pattern] for each of his [|co-ordinate Spirits] and subordinate personalities ministering to the created beings on the worlds of [|time and space]. In this divine universe the Infinite Spirit fully participated in the [|seven transcendental appearances] of the [|Eternal Son]; likewise did he participate with the original Michael Son in the seven bestowals upon the [|circuits] of [|Havona], thereby becoming the sympathetic and understanding spirit minister to every [|pilgrim] of time traversing these perfect [|circles] on high. 8:4.4 When a [|Creator Son] of God accepts the creatorship charge of [|responsibility] for a projected [|local universe], the personalities of the Infinite Spirit pledge themselves as the tireless ministers of this Michael Son when he goes forth on his mission of creative adventure. Especially in the persons of the Creative Daughters, the [|local universe Mother Spirits], do we find the Infinite Spirit [|devoted] to the task of fostering the [|ascension] of the [|material] [|creatures] to higher and higher levels of spiritual [|attainment]. And all this [|work] of creature ministry is done in perfect [|harmony] with the [|purposes], and in close [|association] with the [|personalities], of the [|Creator Sons] of these local universes. 8:4.5 As the Sons of God are engaged in the gigantic task of revealing [|the Father]'s [|personality] of [|love] to a [|universe], so is the Infinite Spirit dedicated to the unending ministry of revealing the combined love of the Father and the Son to the individual minds of all the children of each universe. In these local creations the Spirit does not come down to the material races in the likeness of mortal flesh as do certain of the Sons of God, but the Infinite Spirit and his co-ordinate Spirits do downstep themselves, do joyfully undergo an amazing series of [|divinity] attenuations, until they appear as [|angels] to stand by your side and guide you through the lowly paths of [|earthly] [|existence]. 8:4.6 By this very diminishing series the Infinite Spirit does actually, and as a [|person], draw very near to every being of the [|animal]-[|origin] [|spheres]. And all this the Spirit does without in the least invalidating his existence as the Third Person of Deity at the [|center] of [|all things]. 8:4.7 The Conjoint Creator is truly and forever the great ministering [|personality], the [|universal] [|mercy] minister. To [|comprehend] the ministry of the Spirit, [|ponder] the [|truth] that he is the combined portrayal of the Father's unending love and of the Son's eternal mercy. The Spirit's ministry is not, however, restricted solely to the representation of the Eternal Son and the Universal Father. The Infinite Spirit also possesses the [|power] to minister to the creatures of the realm in his own name and right; the Third Person is of [|divine] [|dignity] and also bestows the universal ministry of mercy in his own behalf. 8:4.8 As man learns more of the loving and tireless ministry of the lower orders of the creature [|family] of this Infinite Spirit, he will all the more admire and adore the [|transcendent] nature and matchless [|character] of this combined Action of the Universal Father and the Eternal Son. Indeed is this Spirit "the eyes of the Lord which are ever over the righteous"[|[9]] and "the divine ears which are ever open to their prayers."[|[10]]



[|8:6. PERSONALITY OF THE INFINITE SPIRIT]
8:6.1 Do not allow the widespread bestowal and the far-flung distribution of the [|Third Source and Center] to obscure or otherwise detract from the [|fact] of his [|personality]. The Infinite Spirit is a [|universe] [|presence], an eternal [|action], a [|cosmic] [|power], a [|holy] [|influence], and a universal mind; he is all of these and infinitely more, but he is also a true and [|divine] [|personality]. 8:6.2 The Infinite Spirit is a complete and perfect personality, the divine [|equal] and co-ordinate of the [|Universal Father] and the [|Eternal Son]. The Conjoint Creator is just as real and visible to the higher [|intelligences] of [|the universes] as are the Father and the Son; indeed more so, for it is the Spirit whom all ascenders must [|attain] before they may approach the Father through the Son. 8:6.3 The Infinite Spirit, the Third Person of Deity, is possessed of all the [|attributes] which you [|associate] with [|personality]. The Spirit is endowed with [|absolute] mind: "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."[|[14]] The Spirit is endowed not only with [|mind] but also with [|will]. In the bestowal of his gifts it is recorded: "But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally and as he wills."[|[15]] 8:6.4 "The love of the Spirit"[|[16]] is real, as also are his sorrows; therefore "Grieve not the Spirit of God."[|[17]] Whether we [|observe] the Infinite Spirit as [|Paradise] [|Deity] or as a [|local universe] [|Creative Spirit], we find that the Conjoint Creator is not only the [|Third Source and Center] but also a [|divine] [|person]. This divine [|personality] also [|reacts] to the universe as a person. The Spirit speaks to you, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says."[|[18]] "The Spirit himself makes intercession for you."[|[19]] The Spirit exerts a direct and personal influence upon created beings, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."[|[20]] 8:6.5 Even though we behold the [|phenomenon] of the [|ministry] of the Infinite Spirit to the remote worlds of the [|universe of universes], even though we envisage this same [|co-ordinating] [|Deity] [|acting] in and through the untold legions of the manifold [|beings] who take origin in the Third Source and Center, even though we recognize the [|omnipresence] of the Spirit, nonetheless, we still affirm that this same Third Source and Center is a [|person], the Conjoint Creator of [|all things] and all [|beings] and [|all universes]. 8:6.6 In the [|administration] of universes the [|Father, Son, and Spirit] are perfectly and eternally interassociated. Though each is engaged in a [|personal] [|ministry] to all [|creation], all three are divinely and absolutely interlocked in a service of [|creation] and [|control] which forever makes them one. 8:6.7 In the [|person] of the Infinite Spirit the Father and the Son are mutually present, always and in unqualified [|perfection], for the Spirit is like the Father and like the Son, and also like the Father and the Son as they two are forever one. 8:6.8 [Presented on [|Urantia] by a [|Divine Counselor] of [|Uversa] commissioned by the [|Ancients of Days] to portray the [|nature] and [|work] of the [|Infinite Spirit].]