become now settled (vs. 21). Christ is our ultimate authority as we earnestly seek to bring all the hon or and glory to Him in discerning in these ways His perfect will. It is interesting to see how the Apostle Paul was characterized by bearing in his body, soul and spirit the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Galatians 6:17). Even while in prison he busied himself in the study of the Old Testament scrip tures, as well as in witnessing to the guards assigned to watch him. His only thoughts were for the fur thering of the Gospel. While he bore actual physical marks, he al so had those which were spiritual. Such things proved to the world that he was a definite child of God. We ought to bear the same indi cations that were his. We ought to desire to be more like Jesus, aspir ing to fellowship in His sufferings so that we might be made con formable unto His death. First of all, there was the mark of redemption. It is a sad fact that thousands of people have their names inscribed on the member ship roles of churches but they per sonally have never had a personal relationship or encounter with Je sus Christ. In John 3:7, Jesus was speaking to a very religious man and still He had to tell him, "Ye must be born again." Paul had experienced the new birth. Again, there are many people who know all about Christ but who have nev er come really to know Him in a personal manner which leads to salvation. Two words which stand out all through the gospel of John are "believer" and "receive." Our works do not enter into it at all. We can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are saved Page 43
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