Remember These Things

Knowing God is the pinnacle of our human experience in this life, as it is in this world. Only if God reveals Himself in a way that permits one to receive His revelation can one know Him (Ps 48:3; Jn 1:12–13). Many know about God; but few know Him in the context of a right and personal relationship (Ps 100:3).

Jesus’ disciples were at the end of a three-year intensive course of learning Christ. The Apostle John records the final hours of fellowship and instruction (Jn 14–16). The things Jesus spoke to the eleven at this time troubled them (Jn 16:6); but the promise of the Spirit, who would bring to remembrance Jesus’ words, would comfort them (Jn 14:26).

Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God to man (Heb 1:2). To know God aright, one must learn Christ (Eph 4:20–21), who is revealed in the Holy Bible, which is the Word of God, the Word of truth (Ps 119:43; 2 Tim 2:15; Jas 1:18). The written Word reveals the living Word, Jesus, who affirmed the Scriptures (Jn 5:39–47).

The natural man, devoid of the Spirit of God does not accept the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:14; Jude 19). It is the Holy Spirit who testifies to Jesus in the world (Jn 15:26). The true Gospel preacher is fully dependent upon the indwelling Spirit to fill him with all wisdom and power for the task of proclaiming Christ (1 Cor 1:24, Col 1:28). The man of God must preach the Word, not himself (2 Cor 4:5).

Jesus promised that most would not receive the Word (Mt 22:14; Jn 6; Rom 11:5–6). The Word of Christ is heard by man, but it is the Spirit who gives faith to God’s elect, redeemed people (Phil 1:29). Thus, the Spirit and the Word are the divine Agents for the spiritual man’s sanctification (Jn 17:17; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2).

The world hates God (Ps 2; Rom 1:30). It hates Jesus (Jn 7:7); and they hate Jesus’ disciples (Jn 15:18–25). Those at enmity with God detest His people whom He chose out of the world and set apart for His purposes (Jn 15:16; 2 Tim 1:9). The world’s opposition to the kingdom of God, Christ’s church, has degrees. Unbelief and disobedience resists exposure to the truth. Men love darkness and avoid the light (Jn 3:19). At a heightened level, mocking and scoffing may turn hostile to the point of deadly persecution (Jn 16:2).

Christ Jesus died at the hands of murderous Jews and Gentiles (Mt 20:19; 27:29, 31; Mk 10:34; 15:20, 31; Lk 18:32; 22:63; 23:36). We know that God had designs for the death of His Son (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3; 1 Pet 2:24), veiled from everyone until it was later explained. In Jesus’ warning to His disciples, just before His arrest and sufferings, He told them that they, too, would suffer persecution. For most of them, it was indeed persecution unto death (Jn 16:2).

Jesus explained the reason for the world’s hostility. The world is ignorant of Christ and of God the Father. Hence, it does not know the truth nor Him who is true (Jn 14:6; Rom 3:4). The world serves Satan (Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10); which is why chaos and war prevail in world politics. Sinners sin. Liars lie. The ambition of men is to gain more of the world. They compete with one another to gain some advantage over their neighbors (Eccl 4:4). While attempting to gain the whole world, men lose their souls (Mt 16:26; Mk 8:36; Lk 9:25).

Knowing God in Christ is our salvation. We learn Christ from God’s Word that reveals what we need to know to be saved (Mt 1:21; Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5). Knowledge itself does not save. Jesus saves us; but knowing our God and Savior (Titus 1:4; 2:13; 2 Pet 1:1), from the Word of life, gives us life (Jn 6:63), by implanting His Word (Jas 1:21). God has revealed Himself in the Bible; therefore, for us to know Him, we must know the Scriptures (Ps 1:2).

God, by giving us the Holy Spirit, gives us the knowledge of Christ (Rom 5:5). The Spirit of truth preaches the Word of truth, who is Christ in the Bible. The Christian takes in Christ by hearing the Word preached (Rom 10:17). We taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8). The Spirit grants both repentance and faith to those He indwells (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Phil 1:29; Rom 8:9, 11). By His grace (God causing all things to work together for good for His chosen people), we grow in grace and the in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18).

The one devoid of the Spirit (Jude 19), has no interest in the Bible. Not knowing God positions unholy, unrighteous, ungodly, sinners at enmity with God. This, of course, is the natural state of man (1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:12). Having been conceived in sin and born in iniquity (Ps 51:5), every inclination of his heart is only evil all the time (Gen 6:5). Religious folk may be worst because they pretend to serve God under the guise of their religious activities.

Religionists rise up and take power within local churches. They will chase the saints away, making them outcasts. Many churches are left with unbelieving goats. Christians have long endeavored to construct church governments to remedy the devil’s work to produce schism. Pastors who stand on sound doctrine often fall prey to the schemes of political opportunists, when the church is not led by elders who know their Bibles.

Christians need the nurture and protection of the Spirit and the Word. We are warned about this kind of trouble from Jesus Himself (Jn 16). He is able to keep us from stumbling (Jn 16:4; Jude 24), when various persecutions come to us. We must remember why the Christian life is so challenging. Simply put, we are in a hostile environment in this world of sin. Jesus prayed that we would be kept from the evil one but not taken out of the world (Jn 17:15).

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, is sent to every believer, chosen by God and redeemed by Christ (Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16; Acts 1:8; 11:16; 1 Cor 12:13). In teaching us about the world’s hatred, we are comforted to know that trouble is expected, especially the more one’s light shines in the darkness. We stand on the promises of God from His Word, even the promise that in the world we will have trouble (Jn 16:33); for all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12).

Christ Jesus chose His disciples who were with Him from the beginning of His ministry (Jn 15:16). The longer they walked with Him, the more they witnessed the resistance of the religionists. On the day of His crucifixion, they saw the pure hatred of men toward God. They killed His Son. They hated Him without a cause (Jn 15:27).

Christians must remember these things regarding persecution. We must also remember that we are not alone. God is with us (Is 8:8). He is in us (Jn 14:17). He is for us; and His plans for us are good (Jer 17:9). Dark days of different kinds will trouble us. Finally, remember, this present suffering is not to be compared to the glory to be revealed to us.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

August 4, 2024

John 16:1–4