The Test of Discipleship
By H. J. Farman
“But if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8: 9, A. R. V. “Born of the Spirit,” “in the Spirit,” “led by the Spirit of God,” “walk by the Spirit,” “live by the Spirit,” “hear what the Spirit saith to the churches,” and many similar expressions are familiar to the students of Scripture, and clearly express the Christian’s experience. Nothing is more imperative than to know that we are Christians, and one of the important evidences is thus expressed: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Verse 16. Having the Spirit of Christ is the test of Christianity, and all other graces follow in their order, as “the obedience of faith” wrought out in love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.” And why no law against such? — Because “they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.” Gal. 5: 22-24. No more important questions can be settled by each individual than these: Have I the Spirit of Christ, or have I not? Am I cherishing, following, and obeying the Spirit? Shall I, through the Spirit’s power, ever and always so live that the Holy Spirit will witness with my spirit that my ways please him? Upon the right settlement of these and other like questions, depends our future usefulness in the third angel’s message. Altogether too much time has now run to waste in careless indifference, as if we had a millennium in which to prepare for the Saviour’s coming, when indeed he is now about to lay aside his priestly robes, put on the garments of vengeance, and come to this earth. Are we ready? It has been, and is, Satan’s studied plan to keep God’s people from enjoying the presence and power of the Holy Spirit; for should they possess it, his subjects would be continually taken from him, and his end would speedily come. O that this might be so! and it will be so, whether or not we have the Holy Spirit. The writer believes the time has fully come when decisive measures are being taken by the Father to bring his people to himself, where the Holy Spirit can guide them; and those who refuse thus to be drawn to God, will follow their own spirit to death. How dreadful to be left to one’s self without the Spirit of God! yet there is but one of two conditions to occupy, namely, to be in possession of the Spirit, or to be without it; there is no middle ground to occupy, it is either one thing or the other; we either have it, or we have it not. We can quickly settle this question by the Word of God, and our own lives, which must be in harmony with it. Here are some of the evidences: “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.” 2 Cor. 5: 17. “But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.” Rom. 8: 9. “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. . . . So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Verses 10-14. Reader, have you the Spirit of God? If not, ask, seek, knock, and find. Luke 11: 9-13. Make speedy application of the promises of God concerning his gift of the Holy Spirit, lest he say to you, “My Spirit have ye grieved away for the last time.”