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The Fundamentals He is the Way of life to all who believe on Him, who, having heard His Word—th e Word of life—have likewise passed out of death into life (John 5:24). This is the wonderful provision of God for the deliverance of dying men. In order that they might not die, and because God wills not that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), He has sent into this dying world a Word of Life. For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matt. 22:32). In comparison with the provision of divine wisdom, power and grace, from the God who quickeneth the dead (Rom. 4:17), how pitifully foolish and vain are all human schemes for the betterment, reform and cultivation of that old man who has fallen under the sovereignty of death! Men are very in- genious, but none has yet brought forward a scheme for abolishing or escaping death, or for raising the dead. With- out that, of what avail are plans of improvement ? And what end do they serve but to blind men’s minds to the truth that they are dead, and so are beyond all but the power of a God who raises the dead ? Surely these schemes are the most suc- cessful devices of “the god of this age.” What men need is not morality, but life; not to make death respectable, but to receive the gift of eternal life; not decent interment, but a pathway out of the realm of death. Many men have brought forward their schemes for the “up- lift of humanity” (though the results thereof are not yet dis- cernible) ; but there is only One Man who makes, or ever made, the offer of eternal life. None other has ever said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on Me though he were dead yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26). He only claims to be the “Fountain of Living Waters” (Jer. 2:13; John 4:14; 7 :37), and says to all who are suffering the thirst of death, “Come unto Me and drink” (John 7:37). Therefore, in concluding these reflections upon the Living Word, we obey the command, “Let him that heareth say,
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