"HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE."
By T. E. Bowen
THIS is a precious truth, and also contains a promise of everlasting life. Every individual in the world has the call to life. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." But while it is the will of God that none shall perish, yet the fact remains that all will not enter into life, because they have not the Son. For "he that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." It does not say, He that hath the Son will by and by be granted life. It is now. Life is in having the Son, and just so long as that Son abides within the soul, just so long that individual hath life. So we are exhorted to abide in Him. "Abide in Me," says Christ, "and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me." The question of eternal life, then, is settled by our knowing whether or not we have unto the end the abiding Saviour within. Upon this point none need be in uncertainty; for plain instruction from God is left us upon this most vital subject: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This is a real experience, and individually, with the apostle, we shall know it, and we can truthfully say: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20. This is the only hope held out before us of its ever becoming possible for a soul to escape sinning, and be able to keep God's holy commandments—the breaking of which constitutes sin. He that hath the Son is kept by the power of God from sin. He that hath not the Son of God can not cease from sin; for the very thoughts of his heart are sinful. Jesus Christ is not the minister of sin. His mission to earth was to save His people from their sins. This He does by entering the souls of those who invite Him in, and so filling them with pure, elevating joys of His own precious life that sin loses all its attractions. The experience of that Christ-filled heart then is, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." And again, "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin." Sin can not have dominion over the life of Jesus Christ within; therefore that soul hath life, because he hath the Son. But how are we to know that Jesus is within? We need be in no doubt concerning this. Briefly let us compare a few texts: "We know that we have passed from death [sin] unto life [Christ within], because we love the brethren." 1 John 3:14. But how do we know that we love the brethren?—"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments." Chapter 5:2. How do we know that we love God?—"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." Verse 3. Beloved reader, here is the test by which we are to know whether or not we have the Son of God: If any of the Ten Commandments are grievous—the fourth not excepted, which plainly declares the seventh day to be the Sabbath—be assured something is the trouble within. Christ will not take the throne of the soul temple to reign supreme with a mutilated law within the ark when light has shone upon all its precepts. "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." John 15:10. "And why call ye Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" "He that hath the Son hath life."