“If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete [allos parakletos] to be with you for ever” (Joh 14:15-16 NJB).

It is not possible to keep the commandment without the Holy Spirit. Those who tried it got the same result. It was my experience. You cannot keep the commandment unless you befriend the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. The five reasons are:

1. 1.      The Language

Sometimes people call to ask me, “Father, is this a sin?” or “Which is the will of God? I do not want to offend him.” Who can understand the commandment of the Lord? The commandment of the Lord is the Lord’s way. It is difficult to understand. The language of the commandment needs to be taught. The Psalmist is always saying the same prayers: “Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths” (Psalm 25:4 RSV) “Teach me thy way, O LORD, that I may walk in thy truth” (Psalm 86:11 RSV). We observe misinterpretations, misinformation and excesses. Sometimes one is not aware what is sin and what is not. Sometimes one is in dilemma on what is the right choice to make, the acceptable will of God.

First Response is Understanding (Wisdom and Knowledge)

The answer is the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of wisdom, truth and knowledge. He is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). “No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:11 RSV).  Jesus says, “And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8-13 RSV). The Spirit of the Lord is “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2 RSV). It is the Spirit that reveals the mind of God.

1. 2.      Proclivity

We are vulnerable and prone to sin. Proclivity is the natural propensity in us to sin, to do evil, to say no to God. There is this tendency in us to rebel against God, to rebel against what is good, to work against order, to follow unnatural paths, to dominate, outdo and outshine others. It is the reason for the commandment. To guard against these natural tendencies in us. There would be no commandment if these strong inordinate urges were not in us. “Where there is no law, there no sin” (Romans 4:15). We have the tendency to sin. It is an inner conflict within everyone. It is like a battle within us. It is natural proclivity, a conflict within, a law of sin. Paul noticed this law of sin within his body, a conflict of what to do; good or bad. It was so strong that he had to cry, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:23-24). How can one keep the commandment in the midst of this proclivity, this inner conflict?

Second Response is Power

The answer is the Holy Spirit. The power greater than the power of sin within us. He is the Spirit of power and courage. Jesus was very precise, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). Proclivity to sin is turned around with power. The force of sin - addiction, evil, wickedness, lies, impurity, vengeance, hatred, bitterness, prostitution, bribery, unfaithfulness, sycophancy can be stopped with the power of the Holy Spirit. Befriend the Spirit and possess this power. By flesh alone shall no one prevail. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit (John 3:6, 31). Only those who are born of God overcomes the world and sin (1 John 5:4). To be born of God is to be born in the Spirit. It is to befriend the Spirit and live in the Spirit. He is the Spirit of power.

1. Transcendentality

The Commandment is not natural to us. It is not against nature as such but not-natural. The commandment is transcendental. It is spiritual (Romans 7:14). It is beyond nature and therefore, beyond natural capacities. Our natural abilities are incapable of keeping transcendental principles. The flesh will disappoint you (Romans 8:5-6). Natural capacities will fail you. Nature is incapable of keeping transcendental commands. Natural capacity does assist. It can initiate a journey but cannot complete it. The flesh cannot submit to God’s commandment (Romans 8:7-8). Paul was in this dilemma. He discovered that there was war in his body. He said, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15). In another place, he says, “I can will what is right, but I cannot do it” (Romans 7:18). This explains why one makes resolutions not to sin; not to steal or tell lies or commit adultery among others and still continues to do them. The law is spiritual. The commandment is transcendental. It is far away from what we can keep. What do we do?

                                    Third Response is Grace

The key is grace. Grace is from the same Spirit. He is the Spirit of Grace. He, the Spirit gives everyone a measure of grace (Romans 12:3). Grace is given to each one of us (Ephesians 4:7). We can please God and keep his commandment through the Spirit. The Spirit delivers our bodies from sin (Romans 8:9-13). How does it do this? Through ennoblement. The capacity of nature or natural ability is ennobled by grace. Our ability to say no to sin, to desire to live rightly, to reconcile with God, to make determination, and commitment to obey the commandment and please God is ennobled by grace. We are empowered by grace. Now this Scripture makes sense to me, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8 RSV). We are saved by grace.

1. 4.      Satanization (Enslavement)

We are made free from Satan by keeping the commandments. We become friends of God. This is what Satan, the tempter does not want. He cannot become our master if we make Jesus our friend and so, he makes everything possible to keep us below or against the commandment. He did that to Adam and Eve when they were comfortable and in peace. He did it to Job when he was in agony and pain. He tried it with Jesus when he was hungry and in need. Whether you are comfortable, in agony or in need, the tempter does everything to break you away from the commandment. Satan is a slave master (Romans 6:16). He uses sin as a tool. Sin enslaves (Rom 6:20). What do we do?

Fourth Response is Freedom (Liberation)

The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). Where the Spirit is, there is freedom. The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin (Romans 8:2). We are set free from sin (Romans 6:22). Sin is a slave master. Befriend the Holy Spirit and ask him to set you free, free from sin.

1. 5.      Original Sin

We find it difficult to keep the commandment because of original sin. Sin rebels against everyone and everything. Sin rebels against God. It rebels against the commandment. Baptism washes away the original sin, makes us members of the body of Christ but human nature has been wounded (not destroyed) by this sin. So we are conceived, born in sin (Psalm 51:5). Paul acknowledged this fact (Romans 7:17). It is a deception to think otherwise (1 John 1:8). Sin is in the blood. This is why there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). That is where the healing begins – in the blood.

Fifth Key is Reconciliation (Forgiveness)

This again is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the Sanctifier, who sanctifies us and reconciles us with the Father. He reconciles us with Jesus. The Spirit is our Counselor, Advocate when we sin. The Scripture admonishes us not to sin but if we do, our Advocate (parakletos) is Jesus, the expiation for our sins (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus says today, “And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (allos parakletos), to be with you for ever” (Joh 14:16 RSV) and who cannot come unless he (Jesus) goes away (John 16:7). The Advocate, the Counselor, the Paraclete is the Holy Spirit. Befriend him. He will reconcile you with God. He is our reconciliation and sanctification.

This is the reason why, in the first reading, the apostles heard that the people of Samaria had received the word of God and baptism, quickly sent Peter and John to them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-15). It happened the same way at Ephesus (Acts 19:2) Holy Spirit is a Person. Befriend the Holy Spirit. Do not resist him (Acts 7:51). Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19). Do not grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30). Some did. But if you wish to keep the commandment and enjoy the benefits, befriend the Spirit. The Father and the Son will love you and Jesus will manifest himself to you (John 14:21). May the Holy Spirit possess you in Jesus Name.

© 17/05/2020 Innocent Joshua Chiawa Igbokwe, OCD