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More Life Needed

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 30, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 52.

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More Life Needed

By D. H. Kress, M. D.

D. H. KRESS, M. D.
“The spirit giveth life.” The letter of the truth without the spirit killeth. Knowledge may be power, or it may be weakness; it may save, or it may condemn and kill. The acceptance of a theory, however correct, cannot impart life; it is only the indwelling of Christ’s spirit that can do this.
Is Christ’s spirit a fault-finding spirit? Is it a murmuring, worrying, or criticising spirit?—No; there is death in such a spirit. Every one knows that worry kills. The man who worries and murmurs is doing himself an injury; he is shortening his life, no matter how much he may know and accept as truth.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” In these there is health. These emanate from the Spirit that imparts life.
We must exchange the spirit of heaviness for the garment of praise. Man reveals what is within. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.” Peace within will also be written upon the face. “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man [is revealed] to man.”
But will not the many offenses and annoyances which come mar the peace?—No. If we are crucified with Christ, we shall say with him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Instead of destroying peace, they increase the peace. We may be able to say with Joseph, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” “The Spirit giveth life.”
“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 [impart life to] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” “Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Only the life of Christ can save; but his life is of no avail or benefit to me as far as salvation is concerned unless it becomes my life, and his character my character.
His life received, will be lived. His life is a life of cheerful obedience, a life of faith, a life of love, joy, and peace, a temperate life, a self-denying life spent in service to others. It was said of him even by his enemies, “He saved others.” There is salvation in no other life.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” Of him it is said, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” He who is a partaker of Christ’s life will be in harmony with God’s standard of righteousness, the law of God.
When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ. No one can expect to be saved by Christ’s death while refusing to live his life of self-sacrifice. There is balm in Gilead; a healer is there, who heals all our diseases.