a matter of fact, a Christian is one who, in Christ, has died to the law in the same way that in Christ they died to sin. Their relationship is now being married to Jesus Christ. Two people who are married simply come to each other voluntarily and mutually say in effect, “I make my life available to you.” They go on through the years in this blessed union. A Christian is no longer en deavoring to please God by trying to fulfill the demands of the law, but is now related to the Lord Jesus Christ in such a way that his life is avail able to Him, and vice versa. Mar riage only operates properly on a principle of love and respect. Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ can not be in word only, but also in deed. Could your Christian experience best be described as a blissful mar riage? The Bible says that we should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead. The first thing one should do is really to find out who the partner is. In Yorkshire, England they have a saying, “You never know what you’ve got until you’ve got it home and shut the door.” There’s a lot of truth to that. I have told many young people contemplating mar riage to spend time finding out all they can about their proposed part ner before the vows are consummat ed. It is exciting to think that one’s life is available to Christ and His risen life is available to you at any given moment. My wife and I were so delighted when the Lord gave us the gift of two boys and a girl. This was not a surprise for when two are married it is natural to bring forth fruit. Even so, a person whose life is related to the risen Lord Jesus should similarly bring forth fruit. This is the evidence of the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead alive within you. How much evi dence is there in you ? I t is a case of your availability to the Saviour so He can reproduce His life in terms of yours. Have you discovered that 10
she does these things. While she may be a wonderful person and tries her best, she is miserable, due to her in adequacy. The Bible emphatically states, “Cursed is everyone who con- tinueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” She can’t say to her husband, “Well, I didn’t do that, but I did do this.” That won’t interest him at all. He insists that she has to do every thing he has compelled her to do. This she is unable to achieve and for this reason her life is wretched. She may explain to him, “I had a bad day today.” But he would snap back, “You don’t have time for ‘bad days’.
Dr. Gordon Hooker (left),recently retired from the Biola music department, chats with several of the new California students. From left to right are Diane Gardner,Walnut Creek, Diane Stephens, Oakland, and Florence Freeman of Inglewood.
I expect you to continue in all the things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Every time she fails, he curses her. Can you imagine what it would be like to be married under such circumstances? What a picture of an individual who tries to get to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments. It can never be done, and even the most noble of ef forts meet with condemnation. Mar ried to Mr. Law will make anyone so discouraged and depressed that life itself will seem impossible. Carrying on in our illustration, the wife dies to the law. Her former relationship is now terminated. As
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