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VOL.
XXXIX
PITTSBURGH,
P
A.,
NOVEMBER
15,
1918
No.
22
SELF~DENIAL-ITS
PURPOSE
AND
ITS
IMPORTANCE
"Whosoever
he
be
of
you
that
for3ak,eth
not
Gil
that
M
Mth,
cannot
be
my
disc1ple."-Luke
14
:33.
Denying
one's
self
is
eelf-denial.
In
conllidering
what
is
of
the
flesh
and
of
the
devil,
but
that
the
spirit
of
meek
is
meant
by
the
phrase,
"denying
one's
self,"
we,
must
dis-
ness,
gentleness,
patience,
brotherly
kindness,
love,
.is
the
tinguish
as
to
what
self
is
and
what
are
the
BeH·rights.
Upon
spirit,
mind
or
disposition
of
Christ,
and
is
in
accord
with
mature
reflection
we
perceive
tha.t
our
personality,
our
ego,
God.
He
also
learns
that
since
he
has
,been
,begotten
of
the
is
represented
by
our
will.
Evidently,
then,
our
Lord
nqulres
holy
Spirit
of
God,
his
human
will
must
be
kept
dead,
tha.t
that
every
one
who
becomes
his
disciple
shall
surrender
hil
his
new
will
is
to
be
God's
will,
and
that
it
must
not
operate
own
will-"all
that
he
hath";
for
el~where
the
Master
says:
except
in
line
with
the
divine
arrangements.
As
the
new
"If
a.ny
man
will
come
after
me,
let
him
deny
himself,
take
creature
develops,
he
gains
more
and
more
control
over
the
up
his
cross
and
follow
me,"
(Ma.tthew
16:24)
Whether
mind,
the
body,
the
a.cts,
the
thoughts.
It
is
the
new
will
our
will
be
good
or
bad,
strong'
or
weaJc,
it
must
be
given
up
which
is
thus
gaining
control
of
the
human
body-the
will
of
when
we
consecrate
ourselves
to
do
the
will
of
God;
and,
when
the
new
creature.
This
divine
new
will
is
entirely
upon
once
we
have
surrendered
our
own
will
to
do
the
divine
will,
God's
side,
and
hopes
to
receive
80me
day
the
things
promised
it
follows
that
henceforth
we
are
to
do
God's
will
to
the
best
in
the
Word
of
God
to
the
overcomers
of
the
Gospel
age.
of
our
ability
in
every
matter.
When
we
characterize
this
new
will
as
being
divine,
we
do
After
our
consecration
to
do
the
will
of
God,
and
the
sub-
not
mean
to
imply
that
there
is
no
individual1ty
about
the
sequent
a.cceptance
on
the
part
of
our
hea.venly
Father
through
new
creature,
however;
for
our
Lord
Jesus
still
maintains
his
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord,
we
were
,begotten
of
the
holy
Spirit
as
individuality,
and
it
is
written
that
the
church,
the
new
sons
of
God,
new
creatures
in
Clll:ist.
This
transaction
meant
creation,
shall
be
like
him.-I
John
3:
1,
2;
2
Peter
1:4;
that
we
gave
up
self-will
and
accepted
God's
will
instead
of
Philippians
2
:8-11.
•
our
own
on
all
subjoots.
This
matter
of
giving
up
one's
The
holy
Spirit
is
the
same
disposition
or
mind,
whether
own
will
in
order
to
do
the
will
of
anothllr
is
a
most
radical
the
Father
or
the
Son
or
the
church
possesses
it.
"'''hen
at
proposition.
Indeed,
the
yielding
up
of
the
will
to
anyone
the
moment
of
spirit-begetting
we
received
the
impartation
except
the
heavenly
Father
is
the
most
da.ngerous
thing
we
of
this
holy
Spirit,
we
began
to
take
on
the
divine
spirit,
or
can
do.
Very
grave
mistakes
have
been
made
in
this
way.
disposition.
In
other
words,
we
have
been
making
the
di
In
various
cults,
in
denominational
bodiell
a.nd
in
:political
vine
mind
.ours.
As
the
Apostle
Paul
intimates,
we
are
being
circles
the
surrender
of
the
individual
will,
the
fallure
to
tra.nsformed,
formed
over,
by
the
renewing
of
our
minds,
in
maintain
a
personal
responsibility,
has
resulted
in
many
order
that
we
may
prove
more
and
more
the
good,
the
a.c-
serious
mistakes
and
in
much
evil
practise.
ceptable,
the
perfect
will
of
God.
(Romans
12:
I,
2)
As
TUB
START
01'
THE
OW
OKJL\'rIOJr
gra.dually
our
minds
expand
to
grasp
that
will,
we
are
en-
In
the
case
of
those
who
have
surrendered
their
will
to
abled
~ore
and
more
to
a,pprecia~e.
the
l~nRths
and
breadths
God
the
matter
ie
altogether
differeBt,
hOW4lver.
God
has
and
heights
"an~
d.epths
of
the
di.VlI!e
mmd;
an1,
we
say
to
given
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
to
be
the
Head
over
the
church
01!rse!ves:
ThI.8
IS
wh~t
I
am
aImIng
to
~e~h.
.
Thus
ou.r
which
is
his
body,
and
of
whieh
the
CODI!8C1'a.ted,
spirit-be·
Will
IS
ende!"vormg
continually
to
do
the
diVine
wlll,
the
.dl
gotten
C'hildren
of
God
are
the
members
in
particular.
No
'Pine
P~;
for.
we
have
taken
over
~
ou:selves
the
mind
one
could
properly
be
a
member
of
the
body
of
Christ
if
he
of
ChTlst,
who
dehghted
to
do
the
Father
swill.
retained
his
own
individual
human
will.
This
fact
is
weil
DBSIU
TO
DO
mGHT
NOT
SUFFIOIENT
illuatra.ted
in
the
human
,body,
every
member
of
which
is
"If
any
man
will
come
after
me,
let
him
deny
himself
fully
under
the
control
of
the
head,
unless
the
body
is
serious-
and
take
up
his
cross,"
setting
aside
his
own
will,
disl'osing
ly
diseased.
T'he
hands,
the
feet.
etc.,
have
no
volition
of
their
of
it
forever.
If
at
any
future
time
a
will
which
is
contrary
own,
but
respond
to
the
will
of
the
brain.
And
I!Q
it
is
with
to
God's
will
should
develop,
then
the
whole
transaction
would
the
members
of
the
body
of
CJuoist;
they
are
subject·
to
the
be
at
an
end;
for
the
covenant
o£
sacrifice
into
which
we
will
of
the
Head,
our
Lord
Jesus.
entered
at
consecration
involves
the
death
of
the
old
mind
At
first
the
new
cres.ture
seems
to
have
been
nothing
but
and
the
old
will.
The
new
creature
must
never
permit
the
a
will.
Originllilly
as
a
hUIIJan
being
he
,had
a
body,
a
mind,
will
of
the
flesh
to
come
into
control
again.
So
it
is
the
new
and
a
will
which
represented
his
personality,
his
ego,
his
will
that
is
working
001,
the
victory
for
the
new
creature;
being.
But
while
he
was
still
a
natural
man
a
proposition
and
every
'victory
won
over
the
flesh
leads
to
the
consuDlU14
came
to
him:
If
he
would
heartily
comply
with
certain
tion,
tJhe
death
of
the
human
nature.
terms
and
conditions,
God
would
give
him
a
change
of
nature
In
Philippians
2:
12
the
Apostle
Paul
exhorts
the
new
from
huma.n
to
epirit.
This
cha.nge
evidently
would
mean
a
creature
in
Christ
to
work
out
his
own
salvation
with
fear
new
body,
a.
new
mind
and
8.
new
will,
in
order
that
the
new
and
tremhling.
How
neceesary
it
is
for
us
to
battle
against
creature
could
adapt
himself
to
his
new
environment.
But
tIle
adverse
conditions
of
the
human
body,
as
well
as
against
in
the
divine
arrangement
for
the
Gospel
age
those
who
ac-
those
of
the
world
and
of
the
devil!
God
has
started
his
cepted
this
proposition
received
neither
a
new
body
nor
a
nllw
spirit-begotten
children
in
this
narrow
way
of
giving
up
their
mind
first,
but
a
new
will,
with
the
promise
that
the
other
own
will
and
taking
the
divine
will
instead,
of
determining
two
requirements
would
,be
given
in
the
resurrection,
as
a
re-
to
live
in
harmony
with
God's
will.
We
are
to
do
his
will
sult
of
cheerful
compliance
with
all
the
terms
of
the
covenant
even
to
the
extent
of
sacrificing
the"
human
body.
God
is
entered
into
with
God
at
the
time
of
consecration.
looking
on
to
see
whether
or
not
we
are
overcoming
self
in
Thus
the
first
step
on
thc
'part
of
those
who
accepted
the
this
respect;
for
only
the
more
than
overcomers
shall
re
divine
proposition
to
become
members
of
the
new
creation
ceive
the
,promised
glory,
honor
and
immortality-the
divine
was
that
of
giving
up
the
human
will.
Whoever
took
this
nature.
step
contracted
to
become
dead
as
a
human
being-;-not
that
It
is
God
who
is
working
in
U8
the
Apostle
declares
as
his
human
body
or
his
human
brain
died,
not
that
he
lost
new
creatures.
He
began
that
w;rk
when
he
drew
u~
to
the
power
to
think,
but
that
he
promised
to
forgo
his
human
himself
through
the
knowledge
of
his
provision
through
Christ
personality
and
experience
in
order
to
he
ruled
thereafter
Jesus
for
our
salvation.
and
when
he
accepted
us
in
the
BC'
by
a
new
will.
the
w~ll
of
God.
Those
who
have
taken
this
loved
and
begat
us
of
his
holy
Spirit.
Continually
he
I!ives
step
of
full
consecratlOn
are
accepted
of
the
Father
through
us
fresh
beauties
in
his
Word.
But
while
God
is
working
our
Lord
Je~us
Christ,
!lnd
have
hecn
begotten
of
the
holy
upon
our
wills,
we
must
Bee
to
it
that
we
go
further
th1tn
Spirit
as
new
creatures
in
Christ.
merely
having
the
desire
to
do
right.
We
must
make
strcnu-
NEW
WILL
THE
NEW
CBEAT11RE
ous
efforts
to
put
our
desire
into
operation.
At
the
present
time
this
new
will
is
all
that
there
is
of
on
WILLS
NOT
Otm.
THOUGHTS
the
new
creature.
At
the
time
of
his
spirit-begetting
this
We
must
make
sure
that
we
do
not
mistake
our
thoughts
new
will
had
not
yet
attained
control
of
the
mind
or
of
the
for
our
will.
The
will
is
the
decision.
the
determination
of
body;
but
it
is
expected
to
conquer
them,
to
bring
them
into
the
majority
of
those
facultie5
of
the
brain
whieh
constitute
obedience
to
the
new
standard
of
living.
The
new
will
should
the
mentality.
The
will
of
thc
flesh
actually
dies
at
the
mo
eontrol
the
brain
as
to
what
things
may
be
proper
subjects
ment
of
consecration;
and
we
receive
the
will
of
God
instead,
of
thought
and
what
things
may
not
be
so
considered.
This
thenceforth
to
be
our
will.
But
we
retain
our
human
bodies,
new
creatnrr.
i~
exhorted
to
put
away
from
,his
mind
all
selfish
with
the
old
brain,
which
has
the
same
tendencies
after
con
lines
of
thought,
and
to
put
far
away
from
him
all
anger,
secration
as
before.
\Vhen
we
accepted
the
wiJl
of
God
instead
wrath,
ma!ire,
hatred,
strife,
works
of
the
flesh,
and
to
put
of
our
own
will
we
did
not
fully
understand
that
new
will;
on
meeknl'ss,
g'l'ntlenc5s,
patience,
brotherly
kindness
and
love.
but
as
time
went
on,
the
divine
will
became
more
and
more
From
the
Word
of
God
the
new
creature
learns
that
the
apparent
to
us.
former
spirit,
mind
or
disposition
of
anger,
malice,
hatred.
This
determination
to
accept
the
will
of
God
as
onr
will
(339-340)
{6362]
Vou. XXX1IX PITTSBURGH, PA., NOVEMBER 15, 1918 SELF-DENIAL—ITS PURPOSE AND ITS IMPORTANCE No. 22 “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.’—Luke 14:33. Denying one’s self is self-denial. In considering what is meant by the phrase, “denying one’s self,” we, must distinguish as to what self is and what are the self-rights. Upon mature reflection we perceive that our personality, our ego, is represented by our will. Evidently, then, our Lord requires that every one who becomes his disciple shall surrender his own will-—“all that he hath’; for elsewhere the Master says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Whether our will be good or bad, strong: or weak, it must be given up when we consecrate ourselves to do the will of God; and when once we have surrendered our own will to do the divine will, it follows that henceforth we are to do God’s will to the best of our ability in every matter. After our consecration to do the will of God, and the subsequent acceptance on the part of our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, we were begotten of the holy Spirit as sons of God, new creatures in Christ. This transaction meant that we gave up self-will and accepted God’s will instead of our own on all subjects. This matter of giving up one’s own will in order to do the will of another is a most radical proposition. Indeed, the yielding up of the will to any one except the heavenly Father is the most dangerous thing we ean do. Very grave mistakes have been made in thig way. In various cults, in denominational bodieg and in political circles the surrender of the individual will, the failure to maintain a personal responsibility, has resulted in many serious mistakes and in much evil] practise. THE START OF THE NEW CREATION In the case of those who have surrendered their will to God the matter is altogether different, however. God has given our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Head over the chureh which is his body, and of which the consecrated, spirit-begotten children of God are the members in particular. No one could properly be a member of the body of Christ if he retained his own individual human will. This fact is well illustrated in the human body, every member of which is fully under the control of the head, unless the body is seriously diseased. The hands, the feet, etc., have no volition of their own, but respond to the will of the brain. And so it is with the members of the body of Christ; they are subject to the will of the Head, our Lord Jesus. At first the new creature seema to have been nothing but a will. Originally as a human being he had a body, a mind, and a will which represented his personality, his ego, his being. But while he was still a natura? man a proposition came to him: If be would heartily comply with certain terms and conditions, God would give him a change of nature from human to spirit. This change evidently would mean a new body, a new mind and a new will, in order that the new creature could adapt himself to his new environment. But in the divine arrangement for the Gospel age those who accepted this proposition received neither a new body nor a new mind first, but a new will, with the promise that the other two requirements would be given in the resurrection, as a result of cheerful compliance with all the terms of the covenant entered into with God at the time of consecration. Thus the first step on the part of those who accepted the divine proposition to become merabers of the new creation was that of giving up the human will. Whoever took this step contracted to become dead as a human being—not that his human body or his human brain died, not that he lost the power to think, but that he promised to forgo his human personality and experience in order to be ruled thereafter by a new will, the will of God. Those who have taken this step of full consecration are accepted of the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, and have been begotten of the holy Spirit as new creatures in Christ. NEW WILL THE NEW CREATURE At the present time this new will is all! that there is of the new creature. At the time of his spirit-begetting this new will had not yet attained control of the mind or of the body; but it is expected to conquer them, to bring them into obedience to the new standard of living. The new will should control the brain as to what things may be proper subjects of thought and what things may not be so considered. This new creature is exhorted to put away from his mind all selfish fines of thought, and to put far away from him all anger, wrath, malice, hatred, strife, works of the flesh, and to put on meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness and love. From the Word of God the new creature learns that the former spirit, mind or disposition of anger, malice, hatred, (339-340) is of the flesh and of the devil, but that the spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness, love, is the spirit, mind or disposition of Christ, and is in accord with God. He alse learns that since he has been begotten of the holy Spirit of God, his human will must be kept dead, that his new will is to be God’s will, and that it must not operate except in line with the divine arrangements. As the new creature develops, he gains mora and more control over the mind, the body, the acts, the thoughts. It is the new will which is thus gaining control of the human body—the will of the new creature. This divine new will is entirely upon God’s side, and hopes to receive some day the things promised in the Word of to the overcomers of the Gospel age. When we characterize this new will as being divine, we do not mean to imply that there is no individuality about the new creature, however; for our Lord Jesus still maintains his individuality, and it is written that the church, the new creation, shall be like him—1 John 3:1, 2; 2 Peter 1:4; Philippians 2:8-11. The holy Spirit is the same disposition or mind, whether the Father or the Son or the church possesses it. When at the moment of spirit-begetting we received the impartation of this holy Spirit, we began to take on the divine spirit, or disposition. In other words, we have been making the divine mind ours. As the Apostle Paul intimates, we are being transformed, formed over, by the renewing of our minds, in order that we may prove more and more the good, the acceptable, the perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1, 2) As gradually our minds expand to grasp that will, we are enabled more and more to appreciate the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the divine mind; and we say to ourselves: “This is what I am aiming to reach.” Thus our will is endeavoring continually to do the divine will, the divine purposs; for we have taken over to ourselves the mind of Christ, who delighted to do the Father’s will. DESIRE TO DO RIGHT NOT SUFFICIENT “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross,” setting aside his own will, disposing of it forever. If at any future time a will which is contrary to God’s will should develop, then the whole transaction would be at an end; for the covenant of sacrifice into which we entered at consecration involves the death of the old mind and the old will, The new creature must never permit the will of the flesh to come into control again. So it is the new will that is working out the victory for the new creature; and every vietory won over the flesh leads to the consummation, the death of the human nature. In Philippians 2:12 the Apostle Paul exhorts the new creature in Christ to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. How necessary it ia for us to battle against the adverse conditions of the human body, as well as against those of the world and of the devil! God has started his spirit-begotten children in this narrow way of giving up their own will and taking the divine will instead, of determining to live in harmony with God’s will. .We are to do hia will even to the extent of sacrificing the human body. God is looking on to see whether or not we are overcoming self in this respect; for only the more than overcomers shall receive the promised glory, honor and immortality—the divine nature. It is God who is working in ua, the Apostle declares, a3 new creatures. He began that work when he drew us to himself through the knowledge of his provision through Christ Jesus for our salvation, and when he accepted us in the Beloved and begat us of his holy Spirit. Continually he gives us fresh beauties in his Word. But while God is working upon our wills, we must see to it that we go further than merely having the desire to do right. We must make strenuous efforte to put our desire into operation, OUR WILLS NOT OUR THOUGHTS We must make sure that we do not mistake our thoughts for our will. The will is the decision, the determination of the majority of those faculties of the brain which constitute the mentality. The will of the flesh actually dies at the moment of consecration; and we receive the will of God instead, thenceforth to be our will. But we retain our human bodies, with the old brain, which has the same tendencies after consecration as before. When we accepted the will of God instead of our own will we did not fully understand that new will; but as time went on, the divine will became more and more apparent to us. This determination to accept the will of God as our will [6352]
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