Vou. XXVIII eral of (hr a Presence ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1907 1907—OUR YEAR TEXT—1907 Our book of ‘‘ Daily Heavenly Manna’’ is evidently being greatly used of the Lord for the blessing of the household of faith. The bringing thus of a morsel of meat from the storehouse of truth, with a comment upon it, at the beginning of each day, is evidently tending toward the strengthening of the new nature, the new mind, by continually directing it in the ways marked out in the Lord’s Word. Additionally our year-texts are helpful, as tending to remind us along the lines of our general duty, as the daily texts refresh us and strengthen us along particular lines. We have had this in mind in the choosing of this text, and believe it to be one the frequent consideration of which will be profitable—-and the value of all these spiritual refreshments is enhanced by the realization that the minds, the hearts, of the Lord’s people everywhere are being similarly stirred and refreshed along the same lines. As announced in a previous issue we have this year’s texts in large supply, very elegantly gotten up and at a trifling cost, so that none need do without them—none need be deprived of this help and encouragement. Desiring that every reader of this journal should have the comfort and profit of this means of grace—this assistance in the narrow way—we have made the prices extremely low, simply to cover cost, but additionally now propose that if there be any of you who cannot afford to purchase we will take pleasure in supplying you without charge: that thus we may assist in washing the feet of the Lord’s disciples—assist in cleansing them from earthly defilements and thus in preparing them for the heavenly courts. TO WHOM IS OUR TEXT APPLICABLE The Apostle does not address the world, however morally well disposed they may be. None has an interest in the things above unless first of all he has heard of Jesus as the Redeemer, renounced sin and fled to the Savior for refuge—justification. He must have gone even further than this to have an interest in the things above: he must have consecrated his justified life, presenting it a living sacrifice to the Lord (Rom. 12:1), and been accepted of the Lord and been begotten again of the holy Spirit, and thus have started his experiences as a spirit being—a ‘‘new creature’’ in Christ Jesus, It is well for us to have continually in mind the sharp distinction which the Scriptures draw as between the natural man and the new ereature. The natural man, however well disposed, is of the earth earthy. This does not signify that he must be sensual, degraded, devilish; for, on the contrary, some natural men have very fine characters indeed, considering that they are sharers with all of mankind in the degradation of the fall. Adam thus was a natural man in his perfection, in the image of God. He could not set his affections on things above, for he had no revelation respecting them, no hopes or prospects centered there. His interests, in harmony with his nature, were earthly. So it will be also in the future age. While mankind under the blessings of restitution will be restored to the full perfection of human nature lost through Adam, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (Acts 3:1921), although they will be reverencing the heavenly laws, messages, authorities, they will, properly enough, be giving their thought and attention largely to earthly things—appreciating especially the restitution blessings, privileges, opportunities that will then be afforded them. [3913] THE CHRISTIAN’S CONFLICT It is because the Lord has called us out of the world to constitute the new creation, his ‘‘body,’’ his ‘‘Bride,’’ to share with him his spiritual, heavenly glories and honors, therefore we should ever keep this in mind and strive for these things, for ‘‘even hereunto were ye ecalled.’’—1 Pet. 2:21. Called to ‘‘glory, honor and immortality,’’ it remains for us to make this calling and election sure. (Rom. 2:7; 2 Pet. 1:10). Again he reminds us, ‘‘Let us fear lest a promise having been left us of entering into his rest [the heavenly rest] any of you should seem to come short of it.’’—Heb. 4:1. The Apostle forewarns us that we must not forget that, although we are reckoned by the Lord and by ourselves and by the brethren as dead according to the flesh and alive according to the spirit, nevertheless we have this treasure of the new life in the earthen vessel, which is only reckoned dead, but which really is very much alive and constitutes our chief enemy. Not that we have two wills and are thus doubleminded (Jas. 1:8). Thank God, No! We have only the one will, and it is fully devoted to the Lord according to the terms of its consecration. But this one new will can not have its new body until it proves itself worthy of it, and then will gain it as a reward in the resurrection. Meantime the conflict is on between the new will (which has no body of its own kind) and the old flesh (which has no will of its own kind). In order to be a conqucror the new will must struggle with the old flesh, and by the Lord’s assistance keep it under, in subjection until the end of the course, until literally dead. The Apostle assures us that in proportion as the new mind, the new creature, grows on the spiritual food, the promises of the Lord’s Word—in proportion as it affiliates with other new creatures and is thus strengthened and sustained by the holy spirit granted to all such, it grows stronger and stronger for its conflict with the world and the flesh and the adversary. It cannot hope to conquer the adversary nor the world, cven though it may resist them; but it is encouraged to hope for victory in its combat with the flesh. The Apostle’s assurance along this line is that ‘‘If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you.’’ (Rom. 8:11). If the power of God was sufficient to quicken and cnergize the dead body of Jesus, surely he is able as well as willing to make it sufficient for us—to give us the victory over our flesh to the extent that sin need not reign in (dominate) our mortal bodies, but instead we, as new creatures, will be able to use them more and more efficiently in the service of our Lord, to whom we have pledged our all. WHY SET OUR AFFECTIONS ABOVE? Since the new mind (the will) has no way of expressing itself except through the mortal body, and since the latter is prone to sin through inherited weaknesses, the new mind has a difficult task before it to rise from the grovelling things of sin and the sordidly selfish conditions surrounding everything at the present time to the grand heights of perfect love and unselfishness inculeated by the spirit of the Lord, by which we have been begotten. Realizing that the tendency of the fallen flesh is continually downward, the new creature is (3-4)
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