3529 — The Second Blessing
By Editor
Is there any scripture for the second blessing, or the second work of grace that we hear so much about these days? We have said it often, and we wish to say it again: There is a second blessing and a third blessing and a fourth blessing and blessings innumerable, all the way to the kingdom of God, to the one who is faithful and persevering in God's service. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18. He who sheds light must receive light, and he who sheds light more and more must receive more and more light and blessing. The apostle Paul exhorts the brethren at Thessalonica that they "abound more and more;" and to Timothy he declares, "The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Now many such expressions as this do not indicate that one receives at one time a blessing and then at some other time another blessing. Of course there are certain definite blessings in the Christian life: the conviction of sin is a real blessing; forgiveness is a greater blessing still; and the regeneration of the heart, taking away of the desire for sin, is a still greater blessing; but God wants these blessings to continue in larger, fuller, more abundant measure all the way through. We know of no scripture which demands what our questioner seems to indicate of a second blessing. We trust that his faith, and the faith of others, may grasp more and more abundant blessings all the way to the kingdom. Sometimes these second blessings mean to the individual who is seeking them a state of feeling, or ecstasy; and when we get to seeking some particular thing like that, Satan is always ready with his counterfeits. The one thing above all else that we ought to seek for is a heart wholly submitted to God's will, grace for every time of need, and leave Him the outpouring of His grace.