What is the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God?
AFTER we become fully satisfied from the Word of God that the doctrine of Christ's second coming is truth; and feel assured that whether we realize it or not, the Son of man will shortly be revealed in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory; we immediately begin to search and prove ourselves, whether we shall be able to stand acquitted in that day. It is a thing of small moment, to have an intellectual conviction, that the advent of Christ is near, unless having this hope we purify ourselves even as he is pure. The prophetic warning is given that we may trim our lamps and be ready. What then concerns us most, is, to understand and secure the needful preparation. This we may not learn from the creeds and traditions of men, for they are alike varied, changing and unstable. It is not wise to compare ourselves among ourselves, or rely on former prejudices or borrowed impressions. But it is wise and safe, to inquire of God, by searching the Scriptures without note or comment, to know what is his will concerning us. We first learn that without faith it is impossible to please God, and we must therefore with child-like simplicity, believe every word which he hath spoken. In the old testament, He says, "walk before me and be thou perfect," and in the new, "be ye holy for I am holy," and "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." We also read that "this is his will even our sanctification," and that if we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of his," and "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him;" also, "we know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not," and "he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not," and "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." When speaking of the "inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away," it is added, "reserved in heaven for you, who are kept, by the power of God through faith unto salvation." Then we assuredly understand that we may be cleansed from all sin by the blood of Christ, and have his Spirit abiding in us, and be thus kept by the power of God. John says, "Ye have an unction from the Holy One," and "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you," &c., and again, "herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world." "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment." "He that feareth is not made perfect in love." And in another place we read, "every one that is perfect, shall be as his master," and again, "this also we wish, even your perfection," and "are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh," and above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." It is then the glorious privilege of all believers, [Rom. vi,] to be made free from sin, and become servants to God, having their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, and to "know and believe the love that God hath to them," and thus believing to be filled with his abiding presence, and that joy and peace and love which casteth out all fear. Again, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear," and "the Spirit also beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." David says, "He shall redeem Israel from all his sins." And the angel said to Joseph, "call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." In Ezekiel, we read, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you, I will also save you from all your uncleannesses." Surely this must be accomplished in us during our probation, for there is a time when he that is filthy will be filthy still, and he that is holy will be holy still. Seeing we look for such things, it becomes us to be careful that we attain the Bible standard of holiness, not being easily discouraged by any, who, looking at other standards, may call it presumption to speak of walking with God, without spot and blameless, as though a necessity of sin were laid upon us. We read that Zacharias and Elizabeth "were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless," and that "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are," let us then take heed that we run not into the error of the wicked and follow the modern traditions of men. Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind," and "thy neighbor as thyself," but some of our teachers say, this is impossible, and can never be fulfilled until after-death; when all admit, that as a tree falleth so it lieth. Many insist that it is the duty of every one to aim at holiness of heart, and yet deny that it is practically attainable. In these last momentous hours of trial, when men's hearts are failing for fear, and the foundation of the world's theology is shaken, it becomes all those who wait for the coming Bridegroom to search his revealed will to know certainly what is the wedding garment, and how the spirit may be purified and made white; for nothing impure or unholy shall enter there.