p. 78 | The Sons of God by H. M. Kenyon

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1859

The Sons of God.

By H. M. Kenyon

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure." 1 John iii, 2, 3. We find that God's people are required to be a pure people, and that this is an individual work. "He that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself." I understand John has reference to the second coming of our Lord; and who have, or who should have a more lively hope than those who are keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus? We are not left to our own conceptions how we are to purify ourselves; but the Scriptures are "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Says Peter, "Seeing ye have purified yourselves in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." 1 Pet. i, 22. "Wherefore laying aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls." James i, 21. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

We find by these quotations that the child of God has something to do, a work to perform; "for if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass, and goeth his way, and forgeteth what manner of man he was." We may have faith in the word of God; but unless our works correspond with our faith, it will avail us nothing; for says James, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Jas. ii, 24. How important it is, that those who believe that Jesus is near even at the doors; that soon the unmingled wrath of God is to be poured out upon all those who do not heed the testimony of the third angel, should square their lives by the Word, and "be hewed by the prophets," and be not only "hearers of the Word, but doers also."

God will hold us responsible for the light of his truth which has shone upon our pathway. What more could God do for his people than he has done?

While the professed people of God are left to grope their way in darkness, God has favored us with the light of present truth; and as we have the truth let us walk in it; for says Jesus, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John viii, 31, 32. Then let us "walk in the light, while we have the light;" for says Paul, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night nor of darkness, therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. v, 5, 6. And let us heed the admonition of Jesus, "to have our loins girt about with truth, and our lights burning, and we ourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, we may open to him immediately." Luke xii, 35, 36. May the language of our hearts be with the poet,

"We want the truth on every point, We want the truth to practice by."

H. M. Kenyon.

Monterey, Mich., Jan., 1859.