PREFACE

 

There is scope in the salvation of Jesus Christ for comfort. The term sometimes so rendered from the Hebrew can signify strength as well, and in the Greek of the New Testament, what is translated 'Comforter', literally meaning one called alongside, one who pleads another's cause before a judge,  pleader, counsellor, advocate, helper, succourer. Such is the cse in John 16:7, and the words of Christ proceed to indicate that He is also to be called "the Spirit of Truth." The fact is that it is ONLY in the truth that one can take the counsel, courage, strengthening and wisdom jointly which is the need of man.

Anything less or else runs the risk of being fatuous, foolish, inept, superficial and just plain wrong. In any system of thought or model as it is often called, which omits the absolute personal God there IS no truth, for all is at its height, reaction. What happens becomes the maximum, and even that is absolved from complicity with truth, since it does not exist; it is left only the mind of the one who invents such self-contradictory systems, in order to enunciate them, and them of course have them at once cancelled in validity.

On the positive side, however, when the Spirit of Truth comes to those FOR WHOM CHRIST PAID THE PENALTY, the ransomed, the redeemed, those reconciled to God, then there is a comfort BECAUSE of that fact. The fact is beautiful as well as practical; it brings healing as well as holiness, truth as well as peace, for God loves to bring peace, though not where war is in the heart, since truth is not double-tongued (cf. Micah 3:5, Revelation 19:19). In the Hebrew, as in Isaiah 40:1, the term used is seen as having a root relating to a deep breath, and hence often is used to relate to comfort, relief, like a huge sigh.

Relief is in redemption and comfort is in Christ, through the Holy Spirit whom He has sent as He foretold, until He comes to collect His own and receive them into His kingdom. Already the kingdom of heaven is in our midst, depending on which 'midst', that is, is to be found in the background as ambassadors - which is heaven, God's place - for which they are sent in Christ Jesus (as in Matthew 28:19ff.). On that Kingdom of Heaven see in the book  of that name, Chapter 2.  Through the Spirit of God one can be 'translated' or brought into the effectual midst of the Kingdom of the Lord, as He ministers peace, wisdom, grace, brings love and regales with reality. It is like, in some ways, a vast workshop where numerous students and exponents are learning to paint, mould, sculpt, gain wisdom, bring fruit in the presence of the Maestro and Lord, being sent from time to time on mission as they grow (II Peter 3:18, II Corinthians 3:17-18).

It is the words of God, the Bible, which brings key to this comfort for the Christian, and a key to the door for the non-Christian, for the Christian already has the password indelibly inscribed in his or her heart. The word of God fits the Word of God and through faith in Him whose it is, on appeal to Christ as Lord and Saviour, not of man's thought but as He is revealed in the Book of the Lord, the door opens, indeed it opens then of itself, since He came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.

In this book, the plan is to look at God's words of invitation, expiation, comfort and hope, fitting into that door of Entry, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to consider the vast domains of beauty of holiness and wonder of comfort and pity to be found thus  through Him. In terms of Christian Apologetics, we find here not the drab gesturings and problematic posturings of verbal politics, strong in arm and weak in its use for good as so often, but precisely that consistent and extensive accommodation in mercy and truth, consolation and comfort, wisdom and power, peace and graciousness, that encouragement to find in one's own heart reflection of these things such as becomes a servant saved and a soldier sent, where not perfection (Philippians 2-3), but promotion of the beauty of truth, the truth of beauty, the beauty of holiness and the mercy of the pardoning God, is the criterion, as the image of Christ is wrought more and more accurately, and its aberrations are removed more and more fundamentally, from the now willing heart of the redeemed.

Some take it for granted; but it is a prodigious maintenance work of the soul new-created in Christ Jesus; and some use the provisions too little but they are in that Handbook of Holiness the Bible, as we shall see more and more.

 

THE CYCLE THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A BI-CYCLE!

THE SAME GAME, SAME SHAME, SHAME NAME

1st and 21st century A.D.

 

INSPIRATION, ILLUMINATION, SEPARATION AND  SERVICE

The Epic of Obedience

From Century to Century