God's Plan For Man html

chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. The y wi l l t r ea t y ou t h i s way be c aus e o f my name , for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’” (John 15: 18-25) There is a parallel and a relativity between God and mere man, but while having the same Divine purpose there is a distinctive difference. The Master is LORD of Lords, and the servant who is now the Teacher and the student is like the Master in mission and purpose. One is from above and one is of the earth to distinguish their origins. How to distinguish such a reality calls for wisdom, so take to heart these words: “When t he Couns e l o r c ome s , whom I wi l l s end t o y ou f r om t he Fa t he r , t he Sp i r i t o f t ru t h who g o e s ou t f r om t he Fa t he r , he wi l l t e s t i f y abou t me . ” (John 15: 17-26) This is a testimony acceptable only to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Everything that Jesus expressed with His disciples came under strict scrutiny. His actions, His speech, the actions of the Apostles, and the disciples were severely examined; the way they went about life was very different from what seemed normal. The rigid traditions demanded to keep the doctrinal teachings the way they were: rigid and unloving—not much has changed. The assertion was nothing needed to be changed, and anything added would be offensive to Jesus and blasphemous. In other words, they justify what is lacking in their theology by saying, “It’s a mystery, and mysteries are not to be revealed; they are a secret,” which is a denial of the revelations given. Revelations are new additions to what was once mysterious, but now brought to light. Truth is the only practical way to be spiritually free. Has this spiritual freedom or evolution of truth already occurred? Who is free to rise above literal doctrine, or free to comprehend deeper aspects of the Divine mind? When one realizes he is free to ask deep questions and comprehend more than what is written in theological doctrine, he or she will know perfectly the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; without further need to speculate.

-217-