Some (Good) Advice From Paul

WED., NOV. 17, 1999, 8:54 AM
OFFICE, PULLIAM

It has been interesting and rewarding to again consider the words of Paul, particularly in this Letter to the folks in Rome. He was a “hard-core,” well-educated Jew, convinced that he was one of My chosen people. But now he was a born-again Christians, frustrated by the unwillingness of fellow Jews to accept Me, Jesus, as Lord… the promised Messiah. He didn’t want to give up his Jewish identity, but he couldn’t deny the reality of My crucifixion, as a sacrifice for him and “for us all,” and then My resurrection. Yet can you put away “tradition” with a single event, however dramatic it was?

He confessed, to those in Rome, that he couldn’t always keep the Laws… and laws… important as he knew them to be. So I, Holy Spirit, led him to see… and to proclaim… that he couldn’t… but I could. No more earning. Just accept the gift of grace and forgiveness. This was hard for him as a good Jew. It is also hard for you, as a responsible, somewhat conservative middle-class American. You believe in working for what you get… at least this has been a value in your life thus far. Still, it often is joyous to just be given something of value. In contrast to most of your life your bank account now “bulges” with money from your Mother and Dad. They earned it, and, in death, have given it to you. Still, you don’t yet feel comfortable in just “spending it.”

Anther facet of this “dilemma,” which you and Paul share, is “what about justice?” If you don’t keep the law shouldn’t there be some punishment? Do you keep the law to avoid such punishment? Or are you forgiven… forever and for whatever you do… because… I did it for you… I took the punishment… My sacrifice was for you? I say this, and this is the essence of the Christian message. Its effect on behavior is that you life fully, rightly, and joyfully ( 9:19 / 9:24 ), in appreciation of being pardoned, accepted, blessed, atoned, full of grace. (whew!)

You have always had the question, about this declaration, “isn’t it equally hard to accept forgiveness and reconciliation (freely given, without merit) as it is to keep the Law and laws completely?” You have done pretty well with this since your two born-again experiences, particularly since I have been your loquacious Friend. And you’re feeling the acceptance as this aging process is clearly upon you. But, you opine, how well would you have done if I hadn’t been your Enlightener? Just accept that that was an aspect of your “gift.”

You have accepted, as an interpretation of Paul’s conviction, that “you don’t have to be good, you just have to be faithful.” This is true, but see it also “the other way” – if you’re faithful, you’ll be “good,” by My standards. You have come forth from Me, in spirit, and to Me you shall return, when your faithfulness results in enlightenment and you “see through” the “maya” of earth life.

When you have bene faithful in ways that are pleasing to Me… and to you, as you also experience the “whole” of your spiritual journey… you will willingly merge back into Me, quite a more fulfilling experience than just being the spirit that has been Bob Russell (this time).

Now, this is an extrapolation from Paul, but he is clear in not fearing death, but seeing it as a kind of fulfillment of life. I, Holy Spirit just “suggest” this lengthening of the process. Paul’s affirmation that he had no fear of death for he had been “saved,” by Me, as Jesus, did not seem “valid” to the dedicated Jews, and was a strange, but appealing, premise for the Gentiles, to whom he was called.

Symbolically, Paul continues to live this very day through these Letters that have become Holy Scripture. But, as in the actual “encounters,” Paul and his “theology” was accepted by some and was anathema to others.