442 T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S Spirit to impart to the believer the moral and spiritual virtues of Jesus Christ, aS'the life of the vine is communicated to the branches by the sap. Holy living becomes the dominating principle in all true believers. Still we find ourselves not exempt from temptation, nor free from mistakes in prac tice, temperamental difficulties, and the various infirmities of mind and body common to those who liVe in this corruptible state. The issue, however, is over the question of whether or not the sinful nature is entirely eradicated by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the believer. 1 John 3:8 is usually the passage relied upon to prove that a child of God cannot sin. This states that the one who commits sin is of the devil Some gather that there are a certain select few who have received a second blessing which has entirely eradicated the sinful nature. Verse 9 says that, 1 ["Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. ’ ’ The present tense -in the Greek sets forth a state. The born-again soul certainly does not habitually practice sin. He is not in a state of sin. If he continues in a state of sin, what proof is There that he has new life at all? John Wesley believed in perfection, yet he was careful to guard his position by; specifying that he did not mean perfection in the sense of being free from sins of ignorance, mistake, infirmity, negligences, nor ever in a state not admitting of spiritual increase. He refers to sins that are due to union with a corruptible body, and thinks while believers are in the flesh there Can be no absolute perfection as the necessary consequence of that union. What saint of God will not admit that there is yet much more that can be done for him by the Lord Jesus in perfecting his nature if he were but entirely yielded to the Spirit? That the believer can keep a good conscience and go to bed many a night with the consciousness that he has not wilfully grieved the Holy Spirit, we are sure. This, however, is not sinless perfection. We must ever be on our guard against the conflict with the flesh. We shall need daily crucifixion, prayer and dependence upon the advocacy of our Lord, the cleansing of the Holy Spirit and the power of the blood. Let us remember that God has something to say about those who say they are without sin and that He has given a strong warning for those who think they stand, f „ J —K. L. B.
stands! Should all the forms that men devise Assail my faith with treacherous art, I’d call them vanity and lies, And bind Thy Gospel to my heart!
The All-Sufficient Gospel How well Thy blessed truths agree! How wise and holy Thy commands! Thy promises, how firm they be! How firm our hope and comfort
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