THE PARACLETE
[p. 108] THE PARACLETE
The Holy Spirit sent down and so with the saints, the church, now corresponds with the Angel who accompanied Israel through the wilderness. The Angel of Jehovah would keep them in the way and “bring thee to the place that I have prepared”, Exodus 23: 20. They were enjoined to “be careful in his presence, and hearken unto his voice”. He would bring them in unto the Amorites, “and I will cut them off”, says God.
Romans opens up what the Spirit is in relation to the gospel. Corresponding with the light the Spirit sheds abroad the love of God in the hearts of believers. He enables them to fulfil the righteous requirement of the law; He is in them a new state and His mind in us is life and peace. Christ in the believer, the body is dead on account of sin, but the Spirit life on account of righteousness; and our bodies shall be quickened by His power. By Him we put to death the deeds of the body and so we live. We are led by Him as sons of God, and by Him, the Spirit of adoption, we cry, “Abba, Father”. He witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. As in us He is not our spirit, nor does He absorb our individuality. In Galatians He cries, “Abba, Father” — using our vocal powers, as it were; in Romans we cry by Him. The latter indicates growth, and is what God intends; a son (the believer) is speaking, rather than the Spirit. The Spirit is not a son, but has (in Christ first) become the Spirit of Sonship and so brings the consciousness of sonship into the believer’s heart, and so he cries, “Abba, Father”. And in the saints the Spirit makes intercession for them according to God.
The position of the saints in relation to the testimony is worked out in Romans 12 — Israel’s relation to it being in view in chapters 9 to 11. Chapter [p. 109] 12 corresponds somewhat to the ordering of the tribes in Numbers 2. Believers are at the divine disposal and so the kingdom of God is in chapter 14. It alludes to God here by the Spirit in moral sway and blessing — as of old He was in the midst of the tribes, they being set around His dwelling in four sets of three each. The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 15 is energy — at least, in Paul — in service and testimony, the Levites’ part, as in Numbers.