THE POWER OF CHRIST by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 42.

THE POWER OF CHRIST.

By M. C. W.

INSPIRATION, in speaking of that number who shall be translated, or redeemed from among men, at the second coming of Christ, says that "they are without fault before the throne of God." Rev. 14:5. Their virtue is not relative virtue, they are not compared with worldly standards of righteousness, but, standing before that throne founded in righteousness and judgment, before that Judge who can read all hearts and motives, they are "without fault." Wondrous and blessed condition! What brought them there? their own obedience to the law by their own efforts? No; by no power of man are they thus perfected so that God's law finds no fault in them. They sought unto the law for righteousness, but it condemned them. In their pride they strove to obey it, but could not. They found the law good, but their own hearts carnal. Rom. 7:14, 15, 19. Despairing of conquering by human power, by failing in every attempt to do God's will, they are driven by condemnation to the only remedy, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Rom. 7:25. In him they find pardon and peace. Rom. 8:1.

But God's grace does not leave them here. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God [did by] sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin [overthrew sin] in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:3, 4. "Condemned sin in the flesh" does not mean, as some suppose, condemned sinful flesh, or mankind. Mankind is condemned by God's law, before Christ came as much as after he came. Rom. 3:19. As the law condemned, it could not save. Salvation comes through Christ. He came not to condemn the world (John 3:17), but to condemn sin in the flesh, in order "that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:6); or, as expressed in Rom. 8:4, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." That professed Christians do sin, is no evidence that they need to sin. God's grace is as powerful to keep from sin as to cleanse from sin.

Temptations will come just as long as probation lasts. But the Spirit which has changed man's heart will give him power to meet temptation that sin may no longer reign. In fact, the real temptations begin after Christ is accepted. The Christian is then an enlisted soldier; the warfare lies before him. God has given him a new heart; his change comes from within,—by the renewing of the mind. Rom. 12:2. But though his weapons of warfare are not sword and spear and gun, they are nevertheless "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." 2 Cor. 10:4.

It is a mistake to suppose that there will be no temptations, no lustings and clamorings of the flesh, after God has accepted the individual; for there will be. Here is the battle-ground, here the power of Christ in the heart is to be manifested against the power of sin, inherent and cultivated, in the flesh. Before conversion sin reigned. That reigning power of sin is called "the body of sin," "the old man," "the first husband." Rom. 6:6; 7:1-6. This controlling power of sin is destroyed, and is buried by baptism; but lusts remain in the mortal body. Hence the injunction, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." Rom. 6:12. The lusts are there still. If the soul cherishes them, yields to them, lust conceives and brings forth sin. James 1:14, 15. Continuing in this way, a body of sin is soon built up, and the individual turns from Christ, the lawful husband, and chooses a worldly paramour.

The members of the body which once acted in harmony with its lusts, for the heart was then agreed, formed strong and natural habits of sin. After conversion the tendency of the flesh and its members is to act in the same way. The sinful tendencies of the mortal body clamor for the old mastery; but the renewed mind and the Spirit of God are sufficient to put them down, to crucify the deed in its inception. Here are strongholds of sin; here the weapons not carnal through the power of Christ are sufficient to pull down these habits of the past.

The nerves of thought will also tend in the old way, in the sinful imaginations, but grace is sufficient to cast down all imaginations, and every high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5. The members which were once yielded to sin are by the power of Christ yielded as instruments of righteousness to God. Rom. 6:13. The law of life in Christ Jesus has made the individual free from the law of sin and death. Where sin then reigned, grace now reigns. The flesh suffers in the conflict, but in suffering gains the victory and ceases from sin. And every victory over tendencies and lust, makes that tendency and lust so much weaker, while it confirms the forming habits of righteousness.

Thus the conflict goes on. Trials manifest the tendencies of the flesh and reveal wrong habits which are unconsciously held by the child of God, till all tendencies are overcome, a righteous character

is formed by right habits, the babe has become a full-grown man in Christ Jesus, and through the latter rain of God's grace and power, the individual is fitted to stand without fault before the throne of God. The conflict of Christian life means agony, strong pleading, strong faith, consecration, and love of God; but he who exercises these beats not the air in his efforts, fights not uncertainly the battles. Victory is sure through Christ Jesus our Lord. Then "be of good courage, . . . all ye that hope in the Lord."

M. C. W.