T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (“ Conversation” is translated in the R. V. “ citizenship.” ) Consequently down here we are so journers, tarriers; we are ambassadors from heaven’s court, representing our King and country. Therefore we must keep ourselves clean, and we are told in the Scriptures what we must put off, or lay aside. Evil Speaking: The “ loose-leaf” method of using that member of our body that so easily casts suspicion, ruins the reputation, and in cold blood wrecks the life of another. These things war against the soul, They are the devil’s instruments which he uses to spoil the lives of the priests of God, and bring shame and contempt upon the cause of our Lord. We, as pilgrims and strangers, are to keep ourselves unspotted, live a clean- cut life, press the claims of our Lord. We are to live a sober life, knowing that the world reels like a drunker man to its doom; viewing things in a world that is upside down, as heavenly visitors. We are to live righteously in relation to our neighbors, giving every man a square deal in God’s sight; godly in re lation to our King, in worship and serv ice, and with our eyes fixed upon the ciouds waiting for the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. (3) THE PERSECUTED ASPECT, vs. 19-25. \ We are not of this world. The devil hates a- godly life. He hated and still hates Christ, knowing that He is his Master, and will one day put His heel upon his neck, and consign him to per dition. A godly life is a reflection upon a worldly life, and especially is hatefu1 to the hypocritical Pharisees in the church, as in the days of our Lord. We must exercise patience, and ex hibit the power of the new life. Our example is Chr>-r+. He bore it all for
212 “ And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Those are the words which thou shalt spf ak unto the children of Israel.” In Rev. 1:6" and 5:10 every believer is individually called a priest. The church of God, constituted of “ born- again ones,” has a high and holy calling. Every believer on an equality, saved by the same grace, through the same blood-offering, called to he saints, mak ing holy every place where they record His name; with no special feast days, no class distinctions, all one in Him; all endued with the same Holy Spirit; all having the same imparted life of Christ; all empowered to be witnesses to the same saving Gospel; all author ized to pronounce the forgiveness of sin to those who in faith believing confess their sins; all empowered to pronounce doom and eternal separation from God to those who reject His offers of grace and mercy; clothed in the holy gar ments of His eternal righteousness, we offer spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, the fruit of our lips (Heb. 13: 15), and the fruit of our lives (Heb. 13:16), by alms and deeds of kindness and love as did our great 'High Priest. We are the temples of God by the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16), Christ in us, the hope of glory. We are the priests of God, authorized and empowered. We have a heavenly and holy calling. We represent the King of kings, and Lord of lords. We speak with authority in His name. We minister with power the holy things of God. How sacred is the ministry! What a call there is to keep our gar ments unspotted, and to use our high office to the glory of our King! (2) THE PILGRIM ASPECT OF THE BELIEVER, vs. 11, 12. Believers are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). “ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
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