manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:15, 16). The word holy is the same word translated saint, mean ing “ set apart for God to be, as it were, exclusively His” (Thayer). In other words, putting Paul’s and Pe ter’s statements together, they are say ing to you today: you are called holy, therefore be holy; you are called saints, therefore be saints; you are called exclusively His, then be ex clusively His. BE WHAT GOD' HAS CALLED YOU TO BE! The believer has been “ bought with a price” therefore he is not his £wn (I Cor. 7:19, 20). His body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God’s stamp of ownership and security is upon him. “Ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). If this is all-glor- iously true — and it is — then “ glor ify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s” (I Cor. 6:20). Christian, here and now, while you are alive you are a saint.’ You do not need to wait until you die for saint hood. You are a saint so why not be one. How, you ask? Holiness can only come from Him who is holy. It cannot be the product of the flesh. The secret lies in yielding to the in dwelling Triune God. “ Likewise rec kon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your mem bers as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instru ments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:11-13). The author is pastor o f the Humberlea Baptist Church, W eston, Ontario, Canada. He was graduated from Biola in 1951 and 1956
That in them we are treading,— then each flower Of hope seems fairer, and each joy doth yet more brightly glow. Oh, that I always followed Him alone! I know that I am His, for I have bowed In peaceful faith before my Saviour's throne, And gladly there to Him my life, my all, have vowed. And He hath pardoned me, and washed away Each stain of guilt, and bade me quickly rise And follow Him each moment of each day; And He hath set a crown of life and joy before mine eyes. How can I turn aside and wound the love That gave Himself to bleed and die for me! How can I stray, and grieve the holy Dove Who lights my soul, opening mine eyes to see! O Saviour, fix my wayward, wandering heart Upon Thyself, that I may closely cling To Thy blest side, and never more depart From Thee, my loved Redeemer, Thee, my heart's own King. And grant me daily grace to follow Thee Through joy and pleasure, or through grief and sadness, Until an entrance is vouchsafed to me In Thy bright Home of holiness and gladness.
O Jesus, Thou didst leave Thy glorious home O brightness more than mortal eye could bear, And joys in ineffable, alone to roam Through earth's dark wilderness in grief and want and care, Thou didst exchange the praise of seraph voices For sin-made discords and the wail of pain, The anthems swelling high where each in Thee rejoices For fierce revilings in the world where unbelief doth reign. Yes, Thou didst leave Thy bliss-en circled dwelling, Of joy and holiness and perfect love, And earnest to this world of sorrow, telling Each weary one the way to realms of rest above. Mark we Thy walk along the holy way,— Each step is graven, that all the path may trace Which leads where Thou art gone,— and never may The powers of darkness one bright step erase! And Thou hast left a solemn word behind Thee, Solemn, yet fraught with blessing:— would we learn How we may gain Thy dwelling, and there find Thee? Thou sayest, “ Follow Me." Be this our great concern. And oh, how blessed thus to mark eacr hour The footsteps of our Saviour, and to know
IS
MARCH, 1964
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