It is Spiritual HELP that We Seek, d3

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

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13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Jesus kept telling His disciples that they could not have their Advocate Friend (the Holy Spirit) until He left.  And that the Holy Spirit would be better for them than He would.

First question:  why COULDN'T both be in their lives at the same time?

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We tell the children that we made an offer on a nice boat today, and that the owner is considering it.  "Great!  Let's get it out on the water!  Let's go!"   Well, hang on.  We haven't purchased the boat yet.

Christian doctrine is that before God had the right to take possession of His people, somebody had to account for all of the evil that His people had done.  If somebody kidnaps your child and sells them into slavery to disappear forever, and then the judge decides, "Hey, well, that's my friend on trial.  I think we'll just give him a pass," you won't thank the judge for being so nice.  You'll curse the judge for his injustice.

That is the incredibly profound idea of Rom. 3:26:

Rom. 3:25 (Jesus) God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be (1) just, and (2) the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

It is a logical contradiction to say that one man could do these two things at once: (1) Uphold the law that says "don't kidnap children," and (2) be so nice to the criminal that you don't punish him at all. ... it's not that it's hard to do those two things at once:  it is logically impossible to do those two things at the same time.

Think about it.  Imagine some crime that you consider gasp-inducingly vile.  Gay-bashing?  Selling crack to children?  Running one of Saddam's abuse rooms?

Then imagine a judge letting the defendant off --  because they're cousins.  Would you consider that an admirable act on the judge's part?  No, of course not. 

How then is God to pardon us -- and remain the anchor of that which is good and right in the universe?

The doctrine of Christianity is that God found a way to be both things:  the upholder of law and order and holiness, and also our friend.   That "way" was by having Jesus take the bullet for us, maintaining the "price tag" on evil acts while simultaneously giving us a second chance.

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That price had to be paid by Jesus -- He had to die, and leave -- before the Spirit could come and begin His role of helping the disciples take on the world.  Otherwise there would be no redeemed church in which the Spirit could work.

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Which came first, the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution?

It wouldn't be much good for the 13 states to get together, and divide up power, before a nation existed at all.  That's what Jesus is talking about.

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A secondary point:  Jesus physically could only be with a few people at a time.  Christian doctrine is that the spiritual connection with the Holy Spirit is something that would be available worldwide, at any moment and at all moments.

Which would be better for an American in the 1920's:  for a Bing Crosby to be travelling from town to town, entertaining in small theaters?   ... or for radio and records to exist?

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The apostles weren't meant to be carried down the path towards revolution.  They were going to do it themselves.  They would have help, but it wouldn't be done for them.

A hard lesson for me to learn, I know that much.  :- )

Kind regards,

Jeff

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