Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
The Father rescues people from Satan's cruel dominion and spiritual darkness and brings them under Christ's rule, service and ownership where righteousness prevails. This transfer belongs together with being made fit for the inheritance of the saints in light through redemption in Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Christ secured it by humbling Himself to become man's substitute, meeting and overcoming the powers of darkness single-handed, and dying to cast out Satan and open the way of escape. It is received by faith when sinners accept Christ as personal Saviour, being born anew, made like Him by the Holy Spirit, and stepping from the black banner of darkness to stand under Christ's banner. Those translated live the higher life in oneness with Jesus, growing in wisdom, benevolence and thankful praise, taking a decided stand on the Lord's side, casting off the works of darkness, and letting His love govern heart, speech and action.
Words and Context
The Father is the one who delivers, rescuing people from the power and dominion and rule of darkness and translating and bringing them into the kingdom of His dear Son. Darkness is Satan's cruel rule and spiritual darkness, and the kingdom is Christ's rule and service and property, where righteousness will prevail. This rescue and transfer is every Christian's privilege and present blessing of the Christian life. It is the new life of those who receive Christ as Saviour, in which they become God's children and are reformed as new creatures.
This deliverance and transfer belong together with the Father making believers fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light. They belong together with redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Those who cast their helpless souls upon Christ have the right to have the evidence that their sins are forgiven, which requires positiveness in faith kept by living day by day in communion with God in order to know what He is to those who seek Him.
Its setting is thanksgiving to the Father, calling for thankfulness from those constantly yielding to God and growing in spirituality through Christ. It is the answer to prayer that believers be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Translated ones are to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God. They are to be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, through prayer and watchfulness and growth in understanding, so they are prepared to communicate the truth for this generation acceptably, in a living acting faith that works and not an idle dead faith, received by trusting God's Word as the sure foundation and being established, strengthened, settled and fastened to the eternal rock.
The Son who gives this deliverance is the coming Redeemer who ransoms humanity from the powers of darkness. The sacrificial offerings pointed forward to this ransoming.
Christ's Victory Over Darkness
Christ came for the great purpose of exposing the falsity of Satan's claim to sovereignty over the world and reasserting God's original supreme ownership and authority. As Restorer and Life-giver He stepped into the enemy's path to dispute Satan's right to the souls and bodies of men and women. He planted His cross between heaven and earth, midway between heaven and earth, to wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness.
He humbled Himself to become man's substitute and surety, laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown to live among men a life free from spot of sin. The infinite God consented to the humiliation of His own dear Son to bring deliverance, and Jesus the Son of God came to this world and engaged in a mysterious conflict that defeated the powers of darkness. Single-handed He met, wrestled with and overcame the powers of darkness in man's behalf.
By giving His life for the life of sinners He delivered sinners from darkness and brought them into the kingdom of God's dear Son. He died to rescue man from the grasp and slavery of Satan and to set him free by the blood of His atoning sacrifice, translating him into the kingdom and property of Jesus Christ. By that death Satan the prince of the world was cast out, and Christ opened the way of escape from Satan's cruel power into His service, redeeming people from sin's slavery and Satan's power.
Contemplating this humiliation and conflict elevates, purifies and ennobles the student of Scripture. It gives subject for the deepest thought and the loftiest aspiration, which angels contemplate with wonder. By unfolding the great controversy between truth and error it reveals the wiles of Satan and the means to resist him, gives the solution to the problem of evil and sheds light on the origin and final disposition of sin, manifests the justice and benevolence of God in all His dealings, and shows the holy, unchanging nature of His law.
Receiving the Deliverance
The deliverance is offered in God's word and received by faith, for when sinners accept Christ as personal Saviour they are rescued from the dominion of darkness and moved into the kingdom of His Son. It is redemption through His blood, with fitness to share the inheritance of the saints in light, and the greatness of God's gift is realized in that receiving. This marks a passage from death to life, known in the believer's own experience by receiving help and satisfaction in Christ. His life-giving word awakens those spiritually dead in sin and brings them out of darkness into light, into faith and hope and assurance to meet the need of the soul.
It means conversion and new birth into the kingdom, becoming God's children and new creatures reformed into new life with redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood. It is being born into the kingdom and adopted into the household of faith with a changed heart, through conviction by the Word and acceptance of truth that changes the whole tenor of life. To be converted is to be delivered from the power of darkness into marvelous light, showing a heart changed to bring good things from its good treasure in harmonious speech and action as seed unto eternal life. Christ gives His righteousness in place of sin, not as a mere covering that leaves sin untouched but as a transforming power by which passion is brought under control. That change is being made like Christ and made new in mind by the Holy Spirit while still in this world.
It is stepping from under the black banner of the powers of darkness to stand under the banner of Jesus Christ, under Prince Emmanuel's blood-stained banner. The change is volunteering as a soldier of the cross and enlisting in the army of the Lord, made possible because God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes has everlasting life, with constant study afterward to show oneself a faithful soldier. There is rejoicing in heaven among the angels over such confession and move. So Paul, who had blasphemed the only saving name, was after conviction called out of darkness into marvelous light, his tongue converted from blasphemy to eloquent praise of Christ who saved him.
It comes from God's mercy and love and grace, because He is rich in mercy and from the great love wherewith He loves, not from human goodness or worthiness. This spiritual life places feet on a safe and sure path toward sanctification and a character fit for His people, even causing them to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Every provision has been made in Christ, who lived among men free from spot of sin, for men and women to meet and resist the enemy and become sons and daughters of God in victory over that power. Entering this spiritual kingdom means facing the powers of an unregenerate nature and the forces of darkness, which none can overcome by own strength to defeat evil desires and habits, for God alone gives victory. Yet God works through human faculties and powers, each left free to choose to follow Christ to whom all power belongs or to turn to the world, and the heart must be willingly opened to the Spirit's transforming work in consent and cooperation.
The testimony of the chapter is utterance of the Holy Spirit, giving the receiver the mind of Christ and making him a faithful worker. By that Spirit he brings self and evil tendencies under control rather than struggling alone.
Life in the Kingdom
To be delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son is to receive the privilege of the higher life, even the life of God. In that life the Father makes men fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light and gives redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Those translated are to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, to be fruitful in every good work, to increase in the knowledge of God, and to be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. That life increases spiritual, mental, and physical power, and by wise planning the work brings forth fruit that brings forth more fruit unto eternal life, instead of dwarfing self by overwork and losing health and courage and faith in God.
Those brought into the Son's kingdom are to grow in spiritual understanding and strength so they can serve others as the Saviour's helping hand. It is a living, acting faith that works, not an idle dead faith, received by trusting God's Word as the sure foundation and being established, strengthened, settled and fastened to the eternal rock. The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent and noble, countenancing no littleness and no mean transactions. True Christians allow none of the cheap, covetous actions that are a disgrace to the doer, and men in responsible positions are required to make straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way.
The deliverance is known through oneness with Jesus the exalted Head in ever-continued covenant relation with God and with His adopted children. Through the grace and power of Christ those delivered can march on to victory, not in the rear but in the forward ranks. Holding that victorious position depends wholly on their own course of action in remaining in that covenant relation.
This privilege calls for thanksgiving to the Father and for praise and thanksgiving to flow to the Father as Giver. Those delivered show it by keeping the praise of God on their lips and learning the song of heaven, for heaven is near to earth and heavenly angels constantly serve believers, are present in worshiping assemblies and in the family to mold every family after the divine family into a sample of heaven, and bring wonderful opportunities and blessings. The believing thankful soul who offers grateful praise glorifies God, is surrounded by a fragrant atmosphere, and reflects bright beams of heavenly light when appreciation of the Lord's goodness is expressed in the home and in the church. Such gratitude prepares them through prayer, watchfulness, and growth in understanding to communicate present truth acceptably, and leads to sharing the light with others.
Citizens of the kingdom learn its language, speaking in ways that please the Father rather than using speech recklessly or for empty amusement. A changed heart brings good things out of the good treasure of the heart in words and works, with harmonious speech and action instead of sinful variance and misery. Words and actions sown as seed unto eternal life reap precious grain and lead souls to be converted, while evil words and works show control by Satan. The one so delivered belongs to Christ in body, powers and property because bought with the price of blood, the body being the temple of the Holy Ghost. Lives transformed by grace and filled with His love become channels of light that advance God's glory and seek to rescue others still under the enemy's power and no longer captive to the prince of darkness.
Being fitted for transfer to another world calls for transformation of character, learning heaven's principles, and living in a way that meets God's approval. Accepting present truth in genuine faith brings deliverance from darkness and entrance into Christ's kingdom, with the sure result of a life lifted up, refined, sanctified, and ennobled. In that kingdom is redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. This present truth is to be given as the work of saving souls ready to perish in the darkness of error.
Warnings and Daily Obedience
Being delivered from the power of darkness leaves no excuse for talking discouragement, unbelief and doubt and for drawing darkness around oneself as a mantle. Doubt and discouragement belong to Satan as their originator, who seeks to cast his hellish shadow across the pathway, and that dark shadow must be rolled back and cast aside to be borne by him. Faith must penetrate the dark cloud of doubt and unbelief to take hold of the arm of Christ beyond it.
A fierce conflict is now raging between the power of light and the power of darkness, in which the people of God have a vital interest. Those who follow Christ must take a decided, open stand on the Lord's side, for no neutral or noncommittal position is possible for His faithful servants. When convicted by the Spirit, a person is to begin the Christian life and be led to take a stand with the Saviour in victory against the powers of darkness. That stand means being freed from the yoke that man places on the neck, casting off the works of darkness, putting on God's armor, and wearing Christ's yoke and not any man's yoke in acting the part God desires in the proclamation of truth.
Subjects of the kingdom act as subjects by letting the love of Christ burn on the altar of the heart, loving Christ as Saviour and loving brethren as self. They turn the mind off dark pictures to think on things that give light, talk of deliverance instead of bondage, and meet it with patience, longsuffering and joy instead of being cast down. They leave rebellion, doubt, infidelity, unbelief and unsanctified feeling, and live cheerful and thankful with the peace of God dwelling in the heart, working to the light and keeping on the loyal side. Choosing instead to dwell under a cloud cherishes a congenial element of darkness. It invites dark angels who love the atmosphere of unbelief and darkness, poisons the atmosphere where a person lives and breathes, spreads gloom and darkness and despair in the track, makes one an agent of ruin instead of a blessing, and leaves one unable to tell light from darkness or darkness from light.
Deliverance requires a decisive break with enslaving practices. Remaining joined to worldly business for the sake of money puts faith in danger and gives Satan opportunity to steal it. The one rescued from Satan's grasp and set free by the blood of atoning sacrifice is translated into the kingdom and property of Jesus Christ, belongs to Christ with body, powers and property because bought with the price of blood, has a body that is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and therefore will not remain enslaved by the pernicious habit of tobacco-using nor be guiltless in spending the Lord's entrusted capital every day to gratify an appetite which has no foundation in nature.
Deliverance does not mean the pathway to heaven will always be smooth and without temptations. Peculiar difficulties will still arise to test faith, tax patience and try steadfastness. They are to be faced bravely with unswerving principle, with Christ and the angels present, casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of God in persevering service and willing obedience, perfecting purified and made-white characters that will enable one to stand and win a crown of life.
Children left to follow their own wishes become helpless prey to the power of darkness, for Satan has power over youth and children and leads them where he pleases. To remain in disobedience and transgression is to stand under the banner of the prince of darkness and unite God-given powers with the enemy of righteousness, and parents must educate and train children in this probationary time not to remain there. Parents and teachers must labor for their salvation, take them out of Satan's ranks and place them under Christ in His ranks and keeping and service, and guide them to stand on the Lord's side. This is done through pleasant faces, cheerful words, love expressed in every feature, tender sympathy, mingling with them in play and amusement, patience, and kindly speech and correction that corrects wrong without fretting, scolding, criticizing, standing off, casting off the dull, or provoking children to wrath.
The Father rescues people from Satan's cruel dominion and spiritual darkness and brings them under Christ's rule, service and ownership where righteousness prevails. This transfer belongs together with being made fit for the inheritance of the saints in light through redemption in Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Christ secured it by humbling Himself to become man's substitute, meeting and overcoming the powers of darkness single-handed, and dying to cast out Satan and open the way of escape. It is received by faith when sinners accept Christ as personal Saviour, being born anew, made like Him by the Holy Spirit, and stepping from the black banner of darkness to stand under Christ's banner. Those translated live the higher life in oneness with Jesus, growing in wisdom, benevolence and thankful praise, taking a decided stand on the Lord's side, casting off the works of darkness, and letting His love govern heart, speech and action.
Words and Context
The Father is the one who delivers, rescuing people from the power and dominion and rule of darkness and translating and bringing them into the kingdom of His dear Son. Darkness is Satan's cruel rule and spiritual darkness, and the kingdom is Christ's rule and service and property, where righteousness will prevail. This rescue and transfer is every Christian's privilege and present blessing of the Christian life. It is the new life of those who receive Christ as Saviour, in which they become God's children and are reformed as new creatures.
This deliverance and transfer belong together with the Father making believers fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light. They belong together with redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Those who cast their helpless souls upon Christ have the right to have the evidence that their sins are forgiven, which requires positiveness in faith kept by living day by day in communion with God in order to know what He is to those who seek Him.
Its setting is thanksgiving to the Father, calling for thankfulness from those constantly yielding to God and growing in spirituality through Christ. It is the answer to prayer that believers be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Translated ones are to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God. They are to be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, through prayer and watchfulness and growth in understanding, so they are prepared to communicate the truth for this generation acceptably, in a living acting faith that works and not an idle dead faith, received by trusting God's Word as the sure foundation and being established, strengthened, settled and fastened to the eternal rock.
The Son who gives this deliverance is the coming Redeemer who ransoms humanity from the powers of darkness. The sacrificial offerings pointed forward to this ransoming.
Christ's Victory Over Darkness
Christ came for the great purpose of exposing the falsity of Satan's claim to sovereignty over the world and reasserting God's original supreme ownership and authority. As Restorer and Life-giver He stepped into the enemy's path to dispute Satan's right to the souls and bodies of men and women. He planted His cross between heaven and earth, midway between heaven and earth, to wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness.
He humbled Himself to become man's substitute and surety, laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown to live among men a life free from spot of sin. The infinite God consented to the humiliation of His own dear Son to bring deliverance, and Jesus the Son of God came to this world and engaged in a mysterious conflict that defeated the powers of darkness. Single-handed He met, wrestled with and overcame the powers of darkness in man's behalf.
By giving His life for the life of sinners He delivered sinners from darkness and brought them into the kingdom of God's dear Son. He died to rescue man from the grasp and slavery of Satan and to set him free by the blood of His atoning sacrifice, translating him into the kingdom and property of Jesus Christ. By that death Satan the prince of the world was cast out, and Christ opened the way of escape from Satan's cruel power into His service, redeeming people from sin's slavery and Satan's power.
Contemplating this humiliation and conflict elevates, purifies and ennobles the student of Scripture. It gives subject for the deepest thought and the loftiest aspiration, which angels contemplate with wonder. By unfolding the great controversy between truth and error it reveals the wiles of Satan and the means to resist him, gives the solution to the problem of evil and sheds light on the origin and final disposition of sin, manifests the justice and benevolence of God in all His dealings, and shows the holy, unchanging nature of His law.
Receiving the Deliverance
The deliverance is offered in God's word and received by faith, for when sinners accept Christ as personal Saviour they are rescued from the dominion of darkness and moved into the kingdom of His Son. It is redemption through His blood, with fitness to share the inheritance of the saints in light, and the greatness of God's gift is realized in that receiving. This marks a passage from death to life, known in the believer's own experience by receiving help and satisfaction in Christ. His life-giving word awakens those spiritually dead in sin and brings them out of darkness into light, into faith and hope and assurance to meet the need of the soul.
It means conversion and new birth into the kingdom, becoming God's children and new creatures reformed into new life with redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood. It is being born into the kingdom and adopted into the household of faith with a changed heart, through conviction by the Word and acceptance of truth that changes the whole tenor of life. To be converted is to be delivered from the power of darkness into marvelous light, showing a heart changed to bring good things from its good treasure in harmonious speech and action as seed unto eternal life. Christ gives His righteousness in place of sin, not as a mere covering that leaves sin untouched but as a transforming power by which passion is brought under control. That change is being made like Christ and made new in mind by the Holy Spirit while still in this world.
It is stepping from under the black banner of the powers of darkness to stand under the banner of Jesus Christ, under Prince Emmanuel's blood-stained banner. The change is volunteering as a soldier of the cross and enlisting in the army of the Lord, made possible because God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes has everlasting life, with constant study afterward to show oneself a faithful soldier. There is rejoicing in heaven among the angels over such confession and move. So Paul, who had blasphemed the only saving name, was after conviction called out of darkness into marvelous light, his tongue converted from blasphemy to eloquent praise of Christ who saved him.
It comes from God's mercy and love and grace, because He is rich in mercy and from the great love wherewith He loves, not from human goodness or worthiness. This spiritual life places feet on a safe and sure path toward sanctification and a character fit for His people, even causing them to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Every provision has been made in Christ, who lived among men free from spot of sin, for men and women to meet and resist the enemy and become sons and daughters of God in victory over that power. Entering this spiritual kingdom means facing the powers of an unregenerate nature and the forces of darkness, which none can overcome by own strength to defeat evil desires and habits, for God alone gives victory. Yet God works through human faculties and powers, each left free to choose to follow Christ to whom all power belongs or to turn to the world, and the heart must be willingly opened to the Spirit's transforming work in consent and cooperation.
The testimony of the chapter is utterance of the Holy Spirit, giving the receiver the mind of Christ and making him a faithful worker. By that Spirit he brings self and evil tendencies under control rather than struggling alone.
Life in the Kingdom
To be delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son is to receive the privilege of the higher life, even the life of God. In that life the Father makes men fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light and gives redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Those translated are to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, to be fruitful in every good work, to increase in the knowledge of God, and to be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. That life increases spiritual, mental, and physical power, and by wise planning the work brings forth fruit that brings forth more fruit unto eternal life, instead of dwarfing self by overwork and losing health and courage and faith in God.
Those brought into the Son's kingdom are to grow in spiritual understanding and strength so they can serve others as the Saviour's helping hand. It is a living, acting faith that works, not an idle dead faith, received by trusting God's Word as the sure foundation and being established, strengthened, settled and fastened to the eternal rock. The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent and noble, countenancing no littleness and no mean transactions. True Christians allow none of the cheap, covetous actions that are a disgrace to the doer, and men in responsible positions are required to make straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way.
The deliverance is known through oneness with Jesus the exalted Head in ever-continued covenant relation with God and with His adopted children. Through the grace and power of Christ those delivered can march on to victory, not in the rear but in the forward ranks. Holding that victorious position depends wholly on their own course of action in remaining in that covenant relation.
This privilege calls for thanksgiving to the Father and for praise and thanksgiving to flow to the Father as Giver. Those delivered show it by keeping the praise of God on their lips and learning the song of heaven, for heaven is near to earth and heavenly angels constantly serve believers, are present in worshiping assemblies and in the family to mold every family after the divine family into a sample of heaven, and bring wonderful opportunities and blessings. The believing thankful soul who offers grateful praise glorifies God, is surrounded by a fragrant atmosphere, and reflects bright beams of heavenly light when appreciation of the Lord's goodness is expressed in the home and in the church. Such gratitude prepares them through prayer, watchfulness, and growth in understanding to communicate present truth acceptably, and leads to sharing the light with others.
Citizens of the kingdom learn its language, speaking in ways that please the Father rather than using speech recklessly or for empty amusement. A changed heart brings good things out of the good treasure of the heart in words and works, with harmonious speech and action instead of sinful variance and misery. Words and actions sown as seed unto eternal life reap precious grain and lead souls to be converted, while evil words and works show control by Satan. The one so delivered belongs to Christ in body, powers and property because bought with the price of blood, the body being the temple of the Holy Ghost. Lives transformed by grace and filled with His love become channels of light that advance God's glory and seek to rescue others still under the enemy's power and no longer captive to the prince of darkness.
Being fitted for transfer to another world calls for transformation of character, learning heaven's principles, and living in a way that meets God's approval. Accepting present truth in genuine faith brings deliverance from darkness and entrance into Christ's kingdom, with the sure result of a life lifted up, refined, sanctified, and ennobled. In that kingdom is redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. This present truth is to be given as the work of saving souls ready to perish in the darkness of error.
Warnings and Daily Obedience
Being delivered from the power of darkness leaves no excuse for talking discouragement, unbelief and doubt and for drawing darkness around oneself as a mantle. Doubt and discouragement belong to Satan as their originator, who seeks to cast his hellish shadow across the pathway, and that dark shadow must be rolled back and cast aside to be borne by him. Faith must penetrate the dark cloud of doubt and unbelief to take hold of the arm of Christ beyond it.
A fierce conflict is now raging between the power of light and the power of darkness, in which the people of God have a vital interest. Those who follow Christ must take a decided, open stand on the Lord's side, for no neutral or noncommittal position is possible for His faithful servants. When convicted by the Spirit, a person is to begin the Christian life and be led to take a stand with the Saviour in victory against the powers of darkness. That stand means being freed from the yoke that man places on the neck, casting off the works of darkness, putting on God's armor, and wearing Christ's yoke and not any man's yoke in acting the part God desires in the proclamation of truth.
Subjects of the kingdom act as subjects by letting the love of Christ burn on the altar of the heart, loving Christ as Saviour and loving brethren as self. They turn the mind off dark pictures to think on things that give light, talk of deliverance instead of bondage, and meet it with patience, longsuffering and joy instead of being cast down. They leave rebellion, doubt, infidelity, unbelief and unsanctified feeling, and live cheerful and thankful with the peace of God dwelling in the heart, working to the light and keeping on the loyal side. Choosing instead to dwell under a cloud cherishes a congenial element of darkness. It invites dark angels who love the atmosphere of unbelief and darkness, poisons the atmosphere where a person lives and breathes, spreads gloom and darkness and despair in the track, makes one an agent of ruin instead of a blessing, and leaves one unable to tell light from darkness or darkness from light.
Deliverance requires a decisive break with enslaving practices. Remaining joined to worldly business for the sake of money puts faith in danger and gives Satan opportunity to steal it. The one rescued from Satan's grasp and set free by the blood of atoning sacrifice is translated into the kingdom and property of Jesus Christ, belongs to Christ with body, powers and property because bought with the price of blood, has a body that is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and therefore will not remain enslaved by the pernicious habit of tobacco-using nor be guiltless in spending the Lord's entrusted capital every day to gratify an appetite which has no foundation in nature.
Deliverance does not mean the pathway to heaven will always be smooth and without temptations. Peculiar difficulties will still arise to test faith, tax patience and try steadfastness. They are to be faced bravely with unswerving principle, with Christ and the angels present, casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of God in persevering service and willing obedience, perfecting purified and made-white characters that will enable one to stand and win a crown of life.
Children left to follow their own wishes become helpless prey to the power of darkness, for Satan has power over youth and children and leads them where he pleases. To remain in disobedience and transgression is to stand under the banner of the prince of darkness and unite God-given powers with the enemy of righteousness, and parents must educate and train children in this probationary time not to remain there. Parents and teachers must labor for their salvation, take them out of Satan's ranks and place them under Christ in His ranks and keeping and service, and guide them to stand on the Lord's side. This is done through pleasant faces, cheerful words, love expressed in every feature, tender sympathy, mingling with them in play and amusement, patience, and kindly speech and correction that corrects wrong without fretting, scolding, criticizing, standing off, casting off the dull, or provoking children to wrath.