Wednesday, May 23, 2018
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me."
NO "NEW AGE MYSTICISM" HERE
The "sacred indwelling" taught in this text is a form of mysticism. But beware: "Christian" mysticism is worlds apart from the New Age kind, which teaches that a person can achieve an immediate or direct oneness with God-- and even become God oneself, just as Jesus supposedly "became God." That, dear readers, is heresy.
Note carefully that Jesus teaches that the Father and the Son indwell, or make their home with, those who "keep" Jesus' word and teaching.
Simply put, the Word of God in the Bible is the medium: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," writes St. Paul (Romans 10:17). "Blessed are those that hear the Word of God and keep [treasure, obey] it!" says Jesus in another place (Luke 11:28).
And He adds here: ". . . And the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me." This is yet another passage from Scripture which teaches verbal or "word" inspiration. Truly, every word in the Bible is God's Word, and is therefore to be kept, guarded, heeded by those in whose heart God would dwell.
In our cynical, skeptical, Bible-denying day and age, beware then of any "mysticism" which downplays the Bible. Rather, may the Holy Spirit preserve in our hearts true love for our Savior-God and His Word of Truth.
O Holy Spirit, grant us grace That we our Lord and Savior
In faith and fervent love embrace And truly serve Him ever,
So that when death is drawing nigh,
We to His open wounds may fly And find in them salvation.
Help us that we Thy saving Word In faithful hearts may treasure;
Let e'er that Bread of Life afford New grace in richest measure.
Yea, let us die to ev'ry sin,
For heav'n create us new within That fruits of faith may flourish.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 293:1-2)
