Nevertheless

Once again though we know and are humbled by the revelation of our flesh and our depravity let us also pray and focus on the nevertheless. Let us see by His grace and mercy the completion in the “but if I depart”. I pray that through Him we see this “but” in light of His finished work, and rest in the Comforter that has come. May He strip away any ignorance and press in our hearts His truth.

Extra Credit: Going with the continuing and eternal theme I found this short article from John Gill. The title originally caught my eye in which the whole of the gospel of how a just God can save an unjust sinner is wrapped up in just these two words, ”But Christ”

Jhn 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.

- Why was it expedient for Christ to go away now?

Nevertheless, "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10-12). Although the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5). Despite that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: (Jeremiah 17:9) And that "The wicked are estranged womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." (Psalms 58:3), "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) Not with standing that "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19) Nevertheless They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. (Psa 14:3).

Nevertheless He died and atoned our sins. In spite of the justice we deserve He provided His Son so that God may be both just and justifier of all who believe. Although there are none righteous Christ was made sin so that we may be made righteous. Despite our harden heart He turns us from our old man and gives us a new heart. Not with standing our depravity and position He has a Mediator that intercedes and speaks to the Father our prayers. Nevertheless Christ has died, risen, and ascended to the Father and He will send the Comforter unto you.

"‘Unless I go away,’ that is, unless I die, nothing will be done you will continue as you are and everything will remain in its old state: the Jews under the law of Moses, the heathen in their blindness—all under sin and death. No scripture would then be fulfilled, and I should have come in vain" (Martin Luther).

But God

We need caution that we do not confuse guilt from being caught with sorrow when being convicted. It is easy to guilt yourself into emotions but it is the Spirit filled heart that weeps and repents. Oh I pray that we not read these words and rent our clothes and cover our heads in ashes but rejoice in them and their hope and revelations. I pray we have patients in our tribulations and focus on our provider. May we take by the grace of God conviction and go To Him continually in prayer. I pray He enlightens each of us fills our heart.

Extra Credit: My recommended bonus article today is from A.W. Pink, entitled The Impotency of the Human Will. It answers plainly the common question “Does it lie within the province of mans will to accept or reject the Lord Jesus as Saviour?”


Jhn 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Jhn 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
Jhn 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

- Did Peter previously ask where the Lord was going? Reconcile this with vs 5

How sad these words may be. We all too many times focus solely on ourselves and our problems. We see only what is happening in our lives. Sadder still in this selfish look at our own situations we see them through the eyes of our flesh. We see not the hand of a sovereign Lord guiding all things for His glory and our good. We instead focus of misery and pain and become blind to His wisdom and guidance. We see the clouds and rain and curse the sun for not shinning through and know or care not the life the rain brings. We want what we want, when we want it, and kept to ourselves would stay in the darkness complaining about what we do not have. What worries me even the more is on our own, in this flesh, we not only in ignorance and sin think we know better and can effect our own future better and that we may do this at the price to others and the glory of God but there is in our harden hearts no remorse or sorrow. BUT! Oh what mercy and grace is in that word. BUT these trials, problems, worries, temptations, stresses, pain, words, and things He hath told us and given us so that we may remember, learn, and grow. BUT though we did not desire Him, though none followed, He went away for us. BUT He does not leave us to our own will and flesh. But He gives us a new heart. BUT He fills our heart with sorrow and turns us from our flesh. BUT He convicts us that through the sorrow, repentance, and shame we find comfort, joy, and hope. Oh how thankful we should be for the sorrow. How we should focus and seek grace to turn from this flesh. (Rom 12:12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Timeless and Personal

A little longer than I use to post but on the other hand I have had 4 months to write it. My thanks to the few that have written to me in this absence and welcome to the new subscribers that receive this electronically now. When I first began these posts on the Gospel of John 3 years ago it was much for myself and to fellowship with others. Though I pray that my message has and will not change I pray also after recent convictions that I return now more humbled and it pleases Him to use these words for His glory and to comforter ye His people.

Extra credit: “Do not take comfort in comfort, take true comfort in Christ alone.” This is easy to say but without the grace of God we find it much harder to do. This is a line from todays extra suggested reading from Gleanings of Grace. a post entitled Trails and Comfort by Brian DuFour.

Jhn 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
Jhn 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Jhn 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Who are these words to?

It is so easy to make reference to current events or preach against radical Islamic cultures. Oh these scriptures should be timeless and personal. People kill, people die, and many have been persecuted for ages past and be assured ages to come for beliefs and ideas. Oh but these and all scriptures are timeless and personal. There are wars today raging in places many people do not even know truly where on the globe they exist. They fight for, on both sides, false doctrine and beliefs they frame in ignorance as a holy war. There are killings and tragic events that occur closer to home, but not speaking for you, I have been blessed that even these truly do not change my life or have impacted me directly. Oh but these scriptures today are timeless and personal. There are some that may read this that my ramblings may not apply. There may be some that read this that may be called by Gods providence to face physical persecution or even fear or revelation of death for His glory. God shall give you grace and comfort to deal with this at your greatest moment of need. But I weak in faith or blessed by the Spirit have not had to face such trails as that. But these words are timeless and personal for all. These words He has spoken are so that we should not be offended. I have been personally asked to leave or not attend a Bible study before. I have been verbally persecuted and rejected by those I thought to be friends. And all of this done because what I believed and me holding by the grace of God to those beliefs for His glory. So could I compare these petty incidents to wars, physical persecution, or even facing death in His name, YES. God gives to each of us according to the measure of faith and grace in which He has provided. The same grace that sends a man to certain death in His name is the same exact grace that provides for us daily. Any ability and faith is not of me but of God and it is Him that sees us through. As we are in this world these challenges are timeless and endless and we should know that any offense or persecution no matter how insignificant we try to make them they are completely insurmountable without the grace of God. More still and I most likely I am negligent for not stating this point forth write, this is not about me and though this and all scripture should resonate personally to all this they do unto His Sheep because they know not Him. ALL scripture points to Christ and Christ alone. These scriptures preach boldly the nature of man, you included, and the mercy and grace of God. This does not preach against anyone or anything but humbles men and glorifies Christ and the Father. And oh I pray that these and all scripture are timeless and personal to your heart.