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'Abdul-Baha speaks of man's dual nature. The physical nature is inherited from Adam, the spiritual nature "from the Reality of the Word of God." The physical nature "is the source of all imperfection," the spiritual nature "of all perfection." The low qualities of man, the sins, are the consequence of "the power of the lusts." The body obeys the demands of Nature: "A man who has not had a spiritual education is a brute." Lofty as the station is "which man, if he but choose to fulfil his high destiny, can attain"-- he can also sink into the depths of degradation, "depths which the meanest of creatures have never reached." This (above) verse from Baha'u'llah is a sufficient explanation of all the evil on earth-- including Auschwitz and Hiroshima. The Devil was not needed; for that! But all the imperfections, all the bad qualities, "which come from the requirements of the physical life of man," can be "transformed into human perfections" by the Word of God, the cause of spiritual life, which "is a quickening spirit... Therefore Christ was a quickening spirit, and the cause of life in all mankind." (93:1) The transformation of man-- his inner deliverance and turning to God-- is a precondition of his ability to partake of spiritual life. "Repent!" cried John the Baptist of old, to those who prepared for the coming of Christ. ..(The theologian) did not recognize that the transformation of man is more than "education, piety and brotherly love, etc.", more than the naive call, "be kind to each other and obedient to God." The transformation of man, the "return" demanded in the Jewish religion, is the complete turning of man to God, with whom he becomes united through the accomplishment of the law: transformation is the spiritual resurrection which Jesus demanded. Nothing can bring about this transformation except the living Word of God. (93:2) God "loveth the one that turneth towards Him." But the belief alone has no power to bring salvation. That demands responsive action, for the greater the effort, the more faithfully will man "reflect the glory of the names and attributes of God." The relationship between God and man is expressed in the verse: "Love Me, that I may love thee." The idea of the Covenant got lost in Christianity owing to Paul's misunderstanding, and is not a subject dealt with in either Catholic or Protestant theology; but, as in Islam and Judaism, it is one of the essential factors in the Baha'i Faith, the latest Covenant. (The extent to which the term "Grace" is given a theological point is sufficiently shown by the fact that in his epistles the word Grace comes 110 times, while it is completely absent in Mark and Matthew.) God's intention of the salvation of mankind is complemented by the duty of man to obey God's will as manifested in the Law. "The essence of religion is to testify unto that which the Lord hath revealed, and follow that which He hath ordained in His mighty Book." The Baha'i Faith is a religion of the Law. The recognition of God, a knowledge which is "the source of all learning," must be followed by realization of the divine will which confronts man in the Law. For "the essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds." From the Law man discovers what he owes God. And only in striving to fulfil the Law does he come into the right relationship with God. The Baha'i Faith is, therefore, a religion of action. Divine grace is obtained through faith 'and' works.
(93:3)
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