Even Your Sanctification Introduction

BLJ: We just finished Rev. Fay's book on salvation. He wrote an additional book on entire sanctification. We will spend a few days looking at this subject. As I wrote earlier, I believe only a few in the church are truly saved, and if so, there are even fewer sanctified wholly. Entire sanctification destroys the "old man", i.e. carnality or the carnal mind. When someone is sanctified, you see it in their life, their speech and in their behavior. The sanctified believer is sold out 100% for God. Are you sanctified?

INTRODUCTION

The New Testament book of Romans is sometimes called the "Gospel of Saint Paul." Gospel means "good news" or "glad tidings"; and it is good news that sinners can now be saved, reconciled to God, and made heirs of eternal life. Paul was not disappointed in the gospel. He said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

But what about Christians struggling with the problem of "inward sin" (Romans 7:23-24)?
Christians often feel more pain and shame over unholy, lurking "inward tendencies" than ever they did from their overt sinful lives. I am speaking of true Christians, those who love Christ and who have had many rich blessings. Yet it grieves them sorely that their inner heart life is a scene of carnal activity and corruption.

These are painful realities; and every true Christian should and will loathe them. But there is good news for Christians! The Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is a Savior to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25). Holiness of heart and life is the triumph of Christ's holy gospel.

This is what Charles Wesley would have us sing about in his beautiful hymn, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul."

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin,

Let the healing streams abound, Make and keep me pure within.

It was good news to the scheming, but now, brutally honest Jacob, when the angel said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed" (Gen. 32:28).

It was good news to the children of Israel that the land God promised to give them was one "that floweth with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), truly a land of plenty!

It was good news to the disciples when they heard Jesus say that He came not merely that they "might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10), and promised "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), and be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

It was good news to the multitude when Peter declared that the sudden filling of the Spirit in the upper room was not an experience for only a select few but as he declared, "the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to... as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).
It was good news to the Roman believers as Paul's words were read to them stating that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20) and that "our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
It was good news to the Thessalonian Christians when they read Paul's letter and learned that the will of God included "even your sanctification" (1 Thess. 4:3) "and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly... and... faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24).
Surely it is good news to all Christians that "there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" ending the inner conflict for the soul. "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (Heb. 4:9-10).

Yes, there is good news for Christians! "EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION!" Yes, Reader, even yours, at whatever age, from whatever culture and with whatever temperament, infirmities or peculiar spiritual handicaps... even your sanctification!

Before my conversion, I had little spiritual concern. This all changed when the Holy Spirit sent conviction upon my careless, sinful life. Awakened to my soul's value and guilt, I keenly sensed the danger of being lost. One immediate result of my conversion was a concern for others who were obviously unsaved. However, it remained a mystery to me that many older Christians were troubled and burdened for Christians who were "yet carnal." This all changed when I answered the call to holiness and sought and obtained, by faith, the experience of entire sanctification. From that day forward, I have had a burden of concern for the unsanctified.

Now I long to be a guide to any of my Readers who may yet be without the experience of entire sanctification. It blesses me that I may do so, for this gracious work of the Holy Spirit is not only desirable but scripturally obtainable and livable.

Our God has given us His oath,... "that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life" (Luke 1:74-75).

Perhaps the reader will remember the dilemma of Tantalus from an ancient Greek myth?  Tantalus had displeased a god and for punishment he was placed in a pool of water. Just above his head was a branch of delicious fruit. When, however, he attempted to bend down and drink the water, it vanished; and whenever he attempted to reach up and take some fruit to satisfy his hunger, it mysteriously swung out beyond his grasp. Thus his thirst was never slaked nor his hunger satisfied. What a picture of many Christians today whose dilemma is exactly the same. They are tantalized but never satisfied by a deep spiritual life. Reader, God does not tantalize His children! He offers the bright hope of spiritual satisfaction to all when He says,

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

May the reader find his soul-satisfying portion of heart holiness as expressed so ably in Toplady's hymn:
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure. 

Kenneth H. Fay

Salvation Study: The Magnificance of Salvation

BLJ: We will spend a few days talking about salvation. Let me blunt. I am convinced that many people attending church are not saved. They go to church because of the social benefits and friendships they make. Yet, they lack the deep commitment to Jesus Christ. As we study a work by Rev. Kenneth Fay, search your soul. Are you saved?

THE MAGNIFICENCE OF SALVATION

1 Cor 2:7-9 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Cor 13:9-12 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Take an ordinary lump of clay. Now place it in the hands of a master artist and see what happens. As the clay yields to the sensitive hands of the artist a miracle is born. What appeared as very common clay is now becoming something beautiful and useful while it continues to respond to the experienced fingers of the master. Have you ever thought of your life and future in this way? God wants to do something beautiful with your life. He wants to give it the touch of magnificence. God has a special purpose for your future. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Let us notice the magnificence of salvation in three aspects:

1. The Magnificence of the Cross:

With all the shame attached to the hated cross, which St. Paul experienced, (a shame greater than that of the electric chair) we yet hear him actually "glorying in the cross" (Galatians 6:14). Now why? Is it not because the cross experience transforms the ordinary man into a character of moral radiance and spiritual beauty? By "death of the old man" the Christian may now "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).

In nature the pearl illustrates this. It is difficult to think of anything more ordinary than an oyster. Outwardly, it is not attractive and appears destined to a calm and uneventful history. If, however, while the shell is opened for food, a tiny speck of foreign matter or perhaps a small sea creature should enter the opened shell, a strange and thrilling drama begins.

The oyster seeks to remedy the irritating intruder by covering it with layer upon layer of lime and nacre, like coats of varnish, which continue to cover and harden, cover and harden, until at last, it develops into an elegant pearl, a gem of magnificent beauty and charm!

Likewise, God, through the pain of spiritual crucifixion transforms a dark cheerless spirit into one of magnificent loveliness. Oh, the magnificent power of the cross!

"O cross that liftest np my head

I dare not ask to fly from thee,

I lay in dust life's glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red!

Life that shall endless be!"

2. The Magnificence of Divine Care:

Facing death a dear Christian man once asked his loved ones this question. "After I see Jesus, do you know who next I want to see?" They could not say. "Why my guardian angel," he exclaimed!

And why not, dear reader, seeing that God in His magnificent care

not only numbers the very hairs of our head, but has stationed these

heavenly guards to protect and guide us across life's way.

These angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). They are mentioned almost three hundred times in the sixty-six books of the Bible. The good angels are holy and sinless, mighty and powerful, having supernatural strength. In fact, they "excel in strength" (Psalm 103:20). One angel by himself smote 185,000 Assyrians in one night (2 Kings 19:35). One rolled away the stone from the sepulcher of Jesus to let the women see the empty tomb (St. Matthew 28:2).

When Peter was in prison, it was an angel who came to escort him to freedom (Acts 12). While Daniel was in the lion's den he declared, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths" (Daniel 6:22). Scriptures indicate they not only surround the Throne of God, eagerly awaiting His commands, but are rather constantly traveling back and forth from heaven to earth. They are faster than the speed of light. True, they are invisible to the physical eye, but they are really there!

How thrilling to know that these heavenly couriers, though unseen, are ever ready to aid the struggling distraught pilgrim in his journey homeward. This seems to be their chief function and glory on earth. We shall learn more about the angels as we delightfully mingle among them in God's exciting tomorrows.

3. The Magnificence of the City:

When the apostle John was given the privilege of a few glimpses inside the Heavenly City, he was overcome by its magnificence and splendor. His words failed him as he attempted to describe its glories and beauty.

Heaven's size is magnificent. The following from Dr. A. W. Criswell gives us some idea of its proportions. "It is a city as though it began in Maine and went all the way down to Florida. It is so vast in its length, its breadth and its height that the City would cover all of Ireland, all of Great Britain, all of France, all of Spain, all of Germany, all of Austria, all of Italy, all of European Turkey and half of European Russia. 1,500 miles one way, 1,500 miles the other way, and 1,500 miles upward. Street upon street and story upon story, the beautiful, golden municipality of God."

Heaven's beauty is magnificent. One evening a little girl, walking hand in hand with her father, looked up at the brilliant shining stars in the night sky. With an enraptured sigh she said, "Heaven must be beautiful!" When her father asked her why she thought so, she said, "Cause the light coming through the cracks in the floor is so pretty."

After seeing those same stars or viewing a gorgeous sunset we all know how the little girl felt. Heaven must be beautiful beyond our fondest dreams! "The glory of God's brightness enveloped it like an unclouded halo, permeates it, and radiates through it and from it so that there is not a dark or obscure place about it" (J. A. Seiss). "As all the hues of the rainbow are in the sun's rays, so all the hues of the twelve foundation stones are combined in the jasper wall" (J. E. Greenhough). God loves color and things beautiful. Imagine all the rays of the spectrum blended together in dazzling beauty! This is heaven!

Heaven's occupations are magnificent. The redeemed "will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalms 23:6). It will not, of course, be a place of eternal idleness. As Adam was given responsibility over the earth so the redeemed will actively serve God in the glory world. Service, there, however, will be unhampered by the restrictions of mortal flesh. In the glorified state each saint will have every power developed, every capability increased. With exhaustless energies and abounding life these perfected immortals will "Know as they are known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). They will rule and reign with Christ (see St. Luke 19:12-27). Now they will explore the mysteries of the universe. Is there life on other planets? We do not know. Scientists know our earth is but a tiny spot in God's great universe. The moon, our nearest neighbor, is 240,000 miles away. Mars, the next closest is about 3 million miles away. Saturn, 50 million miles; Neptune, is calculated over 2.5 billion miles beyond the sun. Beyond this--infinity! The nearest known star is 276,000 times as far away as the sun ( 25 trillion miles ). What is out there? Can we imagine God making millions upon millions of starry worlds for no purpose? This will all be investigated and understood by the saints some glorious day as they delight themselves in the treasures of God's grand University.

Praise God for His amazing salvation. Praise God for His magnificent cross; His magnificent care, and His magnificent city. Praise God too that we can get in on it all!

O' Beloved Reader, do not run from God's wonderful Savior. Come to Him, if you are not spiritually reborn. Come, now! Jesus really loves you.

In the story of the Holy War, John Bunyan wrote, I think, the most beautiful words ever written, aside from the Bible itself:

"The Prince (Jesus) spoke kindly to Mansoul (anyone), saying: (suppose, dear reader, you imagine yourself as Mansoul)

I have loved thee, Mansoul: I bought thee with my blood, and stood by thee when thou wert unfaithful. Yes--I did, though thou didst not understand. It was I who made your way dark and bitter after thou didst sin...it was I who put Mr. Godly-Fear to work--it was I who stirred up your will and your conscience--it was I who made you seek me, and in finding Me, you found your own happiness. Nothing can hurt thee but sin... Nothing can grieve Me but sin... Nothing can make thee fall before thy foes but sin...

Beware of sin, my Mansoul.

I will pray for thee...I will fight for thee. I have taught thee to watch, to fight, to pray; now I command thee to believe that my love is constant toward thee.

Oh my Mansoul, how I have set my heart, my love upon thee. Show me thy love--and hold fast-until I take thee to my Father's kingdom where there is no sorrow--no grief--no pain--Where thou shalt never be afraid again."

Jesus Christ is able and ready to save. Yes, right now. He is never "pushy." He only enters the heart door that is opened to Him.

He wants to do something beautiful with your life now and forever.

Will you let Him?

Well?

Salvation Study: The Magnitude of Salvation

BLJ: We will spend a few days talking about salvation. Let me blunt. I am convinced that many people attending church are not saved. They go to church because of the social benefits and friendships they make. Yet, they lack the deep commitment to Jesus Christ. As we study a work by Rev. Kenneth Fay, search your soul. Are you saved?

THE MAGNITUDE OF SALVATION

I have learned the wondrous secret
Of abiding in the Lord:
I have found the strength and sweetness
Of confiding in His Word.
I have tasted life's pure fountain,
I am trusting in His blood;
I have lost myself in Jesus,
I am sinking into God.

I am crucified with Jesus,
And He lives and dwells with me;
I have ceased from all my struggling,
'Tis no longer I but He.
All my will is yielded to Him,
And His Spirit reigns within;
And His precious blood each moment,
Keeps me cleansed and free from sin.

For my words, I take His wisdom
For my works, His Spirit's power,
For my ways, His ceaseless Presence
Guides and guards me every hour.
Of my heart, He is the Portion,
Of my joy, the boundless Spring;
Savior, Sanctifier, Healer,
Glorious Lord, and coming King!

-- A. B. Simpson

"Though you have much peace and comfort,
Greater things you yet may find,
Freedom from unholy tempers,
Freedom from the carnal-mind."

These bold words of an old Methodist hymn writer indicate the saints of the past enjoyed and encouraged more than a partial transformation of character. They urge upon us the possibility of a complete spiritual cure for all our moral maladies, whether outward or inward. Was the writer justified by scripture in so doing? Let us see.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (St. Matthew 5:6). "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (St. Matthew 5:8). "That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him, without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life" (St. Luke 1:74-75). "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (St. John 17:17). "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate" (Hebrews 13:12). "Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27). "And the very God of peace sanctify pou wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

These scriptures and many more, properly understood, amply prove the hymnist was not scripturally askew in his verse. The Bible does indeed offer a full, free, and uttermost salvation to every believer.

Beloved Reader, do not despair if you feel, as Brengle says, "Yet roots of bitterness within: quickness of temper, stirrings of pride, too great sensitiveness to praise or blame, shame of the cross, love of ease, worldly mindedness, and the like. These must be taken away before your heart can be made clean, love to God and man made perfect, and the Holy Spirit have His way in you." Carnal-self, that wicked intruder in the flesh, the grief of every unsanctified believer; the perpetuator of all the soul's dark spirits, is "not to have dominion over you" (Romans 6:14). True; Carnal-self is Satan's strongman well fortified in man's soul-stuff but the magnitude of our salvation is not clearly realized until the eye of faith perceives that Christ is not only capable to deal with our open sins but to effectively cleanse away old corruption as well (Romans 6:6-14 and Galatians 2:20).

Reader, at this point we share with you how the faithful Spirit brought your writer into the blessed experience of full salvation. "Faithful is he that calleth YOU, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

In the winter of 1960 we were in a revival meeting doing all we knew to assist the evangelist and help souls find God. I scarcely ever enjoyed a greater burden of prayer than I did for the success of that meeting. Things were continuing, however, in much the normal way.

The writer remembers so well the evening while washing dishes at the kitchen sink, that a peculiar Presence brooded about him, shutting other voices out, and causing him not a little discomfort. A strange, sickening, sensation immediately settled upon my heart, and in those moments an indelible impression fastened itself upon mp mind that God the Holy Ghost was bringing me to a crisis in my religious career. To my consciousness the words were very plain--"Ye are called unto holiness." I became so weak I thought I would fall, so dumb I could not speak, and in those moments of death-like stillness all my former professions to entire sanctification were broken and thrown to the ground never to raise their voices again.

That night as the call for seekers was given, I fell in at the altar like a ringed bull being led to the slaughter house, my coat coming off with a twist and a heave, and seekers on the right and left giving a wide berth on the rail for the death charge. In a minute the die was cast, carnality was cornered, my pride humbled, and both opportunity and hope for recovery fully gone. I was a seeker for holiness!

I was an earnest seeker, aware of what I lacked and fully persuaded of what I could and must have. I would have it as soon as possible. Yea, that very night! But, to my great surprise, instead of finding my soul at that time walking the grand highway of holiness, it was found crawling down that dark and lonesome trail we have since learned to know as the death-route--a term well-fitting and so correct for the seeker of heart purity.

We held a protracted effort to rout the Old Man some call "taking it by the job," and to aid our seeking we commenced to number on paper the various traits and manifestations of carnality. And how this monster of self did writhe, and squirm, twist, shuffle, and turn. Darting here and there for a hiding place and now and then rearing back its ugly head to strike, and now feigning death. But, the Spirit would have none of it, and as I began to tell on it, calling it what it was, the tide began to turn in our favor, and self began to give ground under the encounter. Things never dreamed of, and others only faintly suspected were turned up under the all piercing eye of the Holy Spirit. It was a sight well adapted to frighten any man, and it frightened me.

With some of the traits the Holy Spirit would cause our minds to travel back memory's pathway until we could once more see those horrible creatures flouting their horrid deeds. Instances were refreshed even back into early childhood as the Spirit gave an amazing brightness to our memory. It would break us up and the tears would freely flow as we lingered at the scenes again and watched self display its ancient wares.

A deep and well-founded revenge sprung up within us to be rid forever of this 'life of self' and though it would cost much humiliation, yet the fact that we could be free and clean was thrilling and encouraged us on! Life will spring up out of death, and for the joy of the resurrection we would endure the cross!

Down, down, down, ever deeper. Deeper than I deemed necessary, but the Holy Spirit knew well His work and we were determined to have it done. At times our soul would fall into much despair, but holding steady the Lord would bring it out. At times we seemed to be seeking in the dark, but again the Lord would come and reveal just where to seek. He knows the way and is a competent Guide. At times we were weeping over our condition and at other times shouting over our promise of the coming Comforter! The confessions continued to mount up until some fifty-one were arraigned on paper, the work of three and a half days.

Somehow now we knew that we were on the bottom and very near the long sought for blessing. Coming up out of the dark Death-route, though still not sanctified wholly, we were made to feel like David, "He hath brought me into a large place." It seemed as though we were standing on even ground never known before, and over yonder we recognized the fair table land of Canaan. Unbelief gave way to faith and we cried, "Lord, I believe, I believe--NOW!"

The Holy Spirit Himself gives witness to the operation of sanctification. He chooses, therefore, for reasons best known to Himself, to manifest His presence within believers in different ways. No two cases may be exactly alike. To one He may come as a burning-fire; to another with melting mellowing love. To another with a deep hallowed brooding of wonderful peace and calm; to still another with a sunburst of rapturous joy, etc., Reader, He is Sovereign! Let God be God!

As I recall, I was kneeling at the altar in a motionless position, alone, when the unmistakable "witness" came upon me. I experienced the Spirit, Word and Blood wash out of my mind, purge my lips, and pass as a refining fire throughout my heart. It filled me with purity, peace, and power. I knew now why Jesus referred to this experience as the "Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire."

I became so quiet and peaceful. After a while I started running and jumping about the church, shouting and laughing, and Oh! such joy welling up within me like a river. The witness was clear--the Comforter had come to abide. I have lived to see to my own amazement and satisfaction that the work was genuine. Glory to Jesus and the precious blood for the great work of entire sanctification.

As the happy days roll on, we are want to re-echo the words the poverty-pinched Appalachian uttered when he, for the first time, gazed upon the mighty Atlantic. "Thank God," said he, "for something there is enough of!"

And let each reader thank God for "something there is enough of" --that "grace that reaches deeper than the stain has gone"--our plenteous redemption--both free and full--that saves, sanctifies, and keeps.

"Living here with my Lord
In a holy Union,
Day by day all the way,
Holding sweet communion.

Oh, what change grace hath wrought,
In my lowly station,
Since my soul has received,
Full and free salvation."

Second Bible Study of the Quarter: Because of Idolatry

Today's lesson comes from Ezekiel 6: 1-10.  Chapter three records Ezekiel's commission. Chapters four and five provides the events that lead up to the message God wants Ezekiel to deliver. The land of Judah had been overrun twice by the Babylonian armies. Yet, the people who dwelt there thought that the captivity would soon end, and everything would return to normal. Thus, they continued in their sin and the worship of idols. Just like today, when a calamity strikes, people momentarily reform. Soon they return to their former sins. We see this in our history: Hurricane Katrina, 9/11/2001, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. In this chapter, Ezekiel prophesies against the land of Palestine and its inhabitants. Certain destruction was inevitable.

The first section is "A Desolation Determined." vv. 1-7 Through Ezekiel's message appears to be directed to the mountains of Israel, its intended audience was actually those who still remained in the land. God proclaims the utter destruction of the land, and the principle reason is the people's idolatry. I remember preaching in India and actually passing the idol shop. I watched idols being made. People would go to the market and buy a "god" to worship. While that seems foolish to us, people do the same thing today in their houses, cars, boats, clothes, etc. Idols today are not physically bowed down to, except in the heart. Idolatry is a matter of the affections of the heart. It involves a rejection of God's authority over the individual's life. A person might not bow before a heathen god, but he may still have set his will for the gratification of his own desires.

The northern tribes of Israel were carried into captivity in 721B.C. Later, the southern kingdom of Judah was overrun by the Babylonian army in 606B.C. There was a second invasion in 597B.C. and thousands of Jews, including Ezekiel,  were taken to the land of the Chaldeans. The Israelites had fallen into practicing the religion of the Canaanites, and had erected stars to idols throughout the land. Ezekiels was to "set" his face against these places. Men and women of God need to set their faces against the idols and sins of today. God was going to bring a "sword" and destroy the high places of idolatry and that "sword" was the Babylonian army. A third invasion would result in the utter destruction of the land. Only the poorest would remain. When the Babylonian army swept in, the people fled to their idols for safety. People were killed as they called on their idols to save them. The people would be slaughtered in the midst of the land. The destruction of the idols testified to their nothingness. However, the next section promised that a remnant would remain. That remnant would be the hope of restoration.

The second section is "A Remnant Repentant." vv. 8-10 The last portion of the lesson reveals that even in the midst of judgment, God extends mercy. A remnant will escape. God deals in judgment to bring men to a place of repentance. He awakens men to the fact that He alone is God, and that they are accountable to Him. He reveals the vileness of sin and His attitude toward sin. Such a revelation should produce humility and the turning away from sin.

In verse 8, God promises to leave a remnant. They would be "scattered through the countries." Yet, God would keep His promise to Abraham that his seed would be as the sand of the seashore. The remnant would escape the sword and forsake their sin of idolatry. After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews who returned to Palestine never engaged in idol worship again.

The heart of man is often portrayed as the seat of the affections, i.e. the origin of drives, desires, and appetites. Those taken in captivity would reach a point of hating their sin, which would lead to humility and then to repentance. While all deserved destruction, it was the mercy of God that a remnant was spared. It is the same with us today. It is not until you get to a place of loathing your sin that you repent and turn to God. I am convinced that no one turns to God until they see themselves for what they are, a wicked sinner. Then, you humble yourself, repent and through the grace and mercy of God, you are born again. Thank God for His saving a remnant today! Are you in that remnant?

The Golden Text is: "And the idols he shall utterly abolish." (Isaiah 2:18) Isaiah spoke of a day when all idolatry would cease. When the Jews returned from the Babylonian Captivity, they were completely cured of idolatry. It is pure folly to worship an idol or place your heart affections on temporal things. One day we will all face the judgment of God. We are to place our confidence in the one true God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live a victorious life over sin and make heaven our eternal home.

My summary points:
1. Idolatry brings judgment.
2. God's mercy saved a remnant.
3. We will face God's judgment one day and we need to be ready.

Next week's lesson: "Restoration Promised." Ezekiel 11: 14-21.

Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.

Salvation Study: The Maintenance of Salvation

BLJ: We will spend a few days talking about salvation. Let me blunt. I am convinced that many people attending church are not saved. They go to church because of the social benefits and friendships they make. Yet, they lack the deep commitment to Jesus Christ. As we study a work by Rev. Kenneth Fay, search your soul. Are you saved?

THE MAINTAINANCE OF SALVATION

An Old Question--"Can I be a Christian without joining the Church or attending worship?"

Answer--"Yes, it is possible. It is something like being: A student who will not go to school--A soldier who will not join the army--A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote--A salesman without customers --An explorer with no base camp--A businessman on a deserted island --An author without readers--A scientist who does not share his findings --A bee without a hive." --Author unknown

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).

A poet once wrote:

"There is a spot to me more dear
Than native vale and mountain;
A spot for which affection's tear
Springs grateful from its fountain.

'Tis not where kindred souls abound,
Tho' that is almost heaven:
But where I first my Savior found,
And felt my sins forgiven."

That is indeed a cherished memory. But however precious, a question now arises. How is this new life to be maintained? We wish to state the spiritual disciplines which were especially ordained of God to develop and maintain that divine life. They are those exercises which set the soul to "seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness" and pursue that "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." These are known as the means of grace.

1. The Word of God

"Now they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine." This doctrine is nothing other than the Word of God which we have in the holy scriptures. These early Christians searched the scriptures diligently. So must we. You and I will never grow in holiness unless we are prepared to devote time, indeed much time, in reading, hearing, and meditating upon the Word of God. If our new life is to be properly nurtured, we will need the right kind of food--and it is this that above and before all else that we find in the Holy Bible. God's Word is our "daily bread." It was our Lord's delight and meditation. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," he said (St. Matthew 4:4). "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:1-3). D. L. Moody once said to a young Christian as he gave him a copy of the Bible, "Young man, this book will keep you from sin; but sin will keep you from this book." "Continue steadfast in...the doctrine." Read the Bible regularly, systematically, thoughtfully, reverently, prayerfully, expectantly, and humbly (St. John 5:39).

2. Church Fellowship

"They continued steadfastly in the apostles' fellowship" (Acts 2:42). "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). The church is a family. "The household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). The head of this family is God and as children we are taught to call Him "our Father." Jesus is our Elder Brother, for "he is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11). That Christian who refuses to belong to the family of God on earth is not acting like a family member, but like an orphan without relatives.

Again, the church is an army. Each Christian is a soldier serving under the banner of the cross. Jesus, our mighty General, leads this army in a war against evil. What if every soldier in the nation's army should decide he did not want to belong to a regiment, a battalion, or a company; that each would fight the enemy all by himself? It would mean certain defeat--would it not? We need the church.

The church is a hospital. Here Christ the great Physician works to heal and restore, bind and build, comfort the sorrowing while administering medicine through its services to all who are torn or weakened by Sin or Satan.

The church is a school where Christ as the Master Teacher instructs His disciples in the moral principles of life. Here we "learn of Him" and "grow wise unto salvation." Thank God for the church. Make friends of God's children. Especially cultivate the fellowship of older saints. Moody advised, "Seek the presence of mature Christians; they have been along the road before you: they know its pitfalls and its dangers; they know its blessings and its ministries; keep close beside them and learn from them."

3. The Breaking of Bread

"They continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42). St. Paul explains this precious means more fully by stating, "the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ( 1 Corinthians 10:16).

And again--"as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show forth the Lord's death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). This sacred memorial has proven a vital source of grace to generations of Christians, and many of the writer's deepest spiritual impressions have come by this beautiful means.

When Bunyan's Pilgrim partakes of the Lord's Supper in the House Beautiful, he says, "now the table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well refined; and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the Hill: as, namely, about what He had done, and wherefore He did what He did, and why He had builded that House. It made me love Him the more." Let us avail ourselves of this essential means of maintaining our spiritual life.

4. Prayers

"They continued steadfastly in prayers" (Acts 2:42). We need scarcely mention that prayer is the Christian's vital breath, his native air, and that no one can survive spiritually without praying. What a great blessing the prayer meetings have been. Many a fainting soul has taken courage to press on as a result of the prayer service. Prayer together is always sure to lift and aid the Christian. Jesus prayed continuously and He taught His disciples to pray.

Divine wisdom comes in answer to prayer (James 1:5). The peace of God is granted by prayer (Philippians 4:7). The heavenly Father's blessing came by prayer (St. Matthew 6:6). Divine healing comes through prayer (James 5:14-16). Divine justice comes through prayer (St. Luke 18:1-8). Supernatural strength comes through prayer (Isaiah 40:31 ). Deliverance comes by prayer (Psalms 34:6) . And on and on the Bible numbers the heavenly blessings our Lord delights to shower upon those who pray. Be sure, therefore, to take prayer seriously. Make it your business to pray. Go apart with God and seek His face. Wait much upon the Lord. Pray at church, with your family, with your special friends, but keep always at prayer. Prayer is where the victory is. How well Andrew Murray expressed this when he wrote the following: "When a general chooses the place from which he intends to strike the enemy, he pays most attention to those points which he thinks most important in the fight. Thus it was on the battlefield of Waterloo, a farm house, which Wellington immediately saw was the key to the situation. He did not spare his troops in his endeavor to hold that point; the victory depended upon it. And it is the same in the conflict between the believer and the powers of darkness. The inner chamber is the place where the decisive victory is obtained." Surely prayer is a must to our victory.

Reader, these are the four divinely ordained means by which the inner spiritual life is nourished and maintained. The world, the flesh, and the devil will your heavenward march oppose. Of this you may be certain. But look to "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," and by the application of these means "follow after holiness, looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God" (Hebrews 12:15).

If you faithfully do your part, the Lord, to be sure, will do His, and one day together you shall stand triumphant on the summit of victory. Praise His name!

Salvation Study: The Miracle of Salvation

BLJ: We will spend a few days talking about salvation. Let me blunt. I am convinced that many people attending church are not saved. They go to church because of the social benefits and friendships they make. Yet, they lack the deep commitment to Jesus Christ. As we study a work by Rev. Kenneth Fay, search your soul. Are you saved?

THE MIRACLE OF SALVATION

The God that stopped the sun on high,
And sent the manna from the sky,
Laid flat the walls of Jericho,
And put to flight old Israel's foe,
Why can't He answer prayer today,
And drive each stormy cloud away?
Who turned the water into wine,
And healed a helpless cripple's spine,
Commanded tempests, "Peace be still,"
And hungry multitudes did fill,
His power is just the same today,
So why not labor, watch and pray?
He conquered in the lion's den,
Brought Lazarus back to life again,
He heard Elijah's cry for rain,
And freed the sufferers from pain,
If he could do those wonders then,
Let's prove our mighty God again!
Why can't the God Who raised the dead
Gave little David, Goliath's head,
Cast out the demons with a word,
Yet sees the fall of one wee bird,
Do signs and miracles today
In the same, old-fashioned way?

-- Martin Luther

St. John gives six identifying marks of the miracle of salvation.
They are as follows:

1. THE NEW CREATURE LIVES ABOVE SIN.

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (1 John 3:9). "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not" (5:18), for he has gone out of the "sin business." By reason of his new nature he no longer follows the habits of sin, that is, "A wilful transgression of a known law" (Wesley). He no longer swears, cheats, steals, lies or knowingly breaks God's moral law. But if he should sin and is pained thereby he hastily repents and puts that sin away. His life is transformed, his ambitions have changed, his ways are different. A miracle has taken place.

2. THE NEW CREATURE LABORS FOR SANCTIFICATION.

"Everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him" (1 John 2:29). One born of God, but not yet wholly sanctified soon realizes that he has an enemy within--the old, depraved Adamic nature. It stirs when provoked and brings darkness to the soul as the carnal tendencies display themselves in wrong feelings of many sorts. The child of God is grieved by these inner conflicts and longs for deliverance. The newborn child of God attempts to suppress and control the carnal nature within until such time as he reaches the point of death to old self and full and final consecration to Christ when the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire purges his heart of all that is carnal and fills him with holy power. Until the second great crisis occurs, the child of God cries to God for deliverance from his indwelling corruption. When a professed Christian is indifferent to his need of a clean heart, one has every reason to question the genuineness of his conversion for truly such will long and labor for a sanctified heart.

3. THE NEW CREATURE LEAVES CORRUPT SOCIETY.

"Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4). As light comes to him he casts away all that is not of the Father as if it were a deadly serpent. Along with his new birth has come new desires. He has lost his relish for the pleasure of sin. He no longer conforms to the world with its fashions and follies, with its sinful pleasures and its corrupted ideals. Old associates no longer desire his company. They may ridicule him and declare he has gone off the "deep end," but this does not move him. He turns a deaf ear to their chatter and joyfully shoulders his cross. One is convinced of the miracle of salvation when he views his radiant face and hears him singing "Take the world but give me Jesus."

4. THE NEW CREATURE LOATHES THE SUGGESTIVE.

"He that is begotten of God keepeth himself" (I John 5:18), and "purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). He guards carefully his new found treasure. He does not want to grieve God in any way. Therefore, he "abstains from the very appearance of evil," dressing in modest clothes, keeping his conversation clean and his business dealings honest. He strives for deep spirituality and to this end watches and prays. He is indeed a miracle of saving grace!

5. THE NEW CREATURE LOVES THE SAINTS.

"We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14). The saints he used to shun he now embraces. They come to mean more to him than even his own worldly flesh and blood. There is no poverty, illiteracy, eccentricity or unpopularity that dampens his love for the saints. That mutual bond which binds them to the Father ties them together. All the born again ones are brothers and sisters in the Lord. They value each other's company, prayers, and council. Their voices blend in song--"Blest be the be that binds our hearts in Christian love." Their love for each other is a strong proof of the miraculous element in salvation.

6. THE NEW CREATURE LOVES THE SAVIOR.

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God " (1 John 5:1). He knows that Jesus alone wrought this wonderful change. He testifies to the fact that Jesus did it. Christ becomes the object and center of his affections because his affections have been drastically altered. His deepest affections, which once reached out for worldliness and sin, now are obsessed with their heavenly attachment. He sings:

"My Jesus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou,
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now."

"Oh! the love which drew salvation's plan! Oh! the grace which brought it down to man! Oh! the mighty that God did span, at Calvary!" Oh, yes, but these are the mere beginnings of the marvelous grace of God. His children will forever be delighting themselves with new and further discoveries of this mercy they received when first they did believe.

It has been suggested that:--

Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it, and make it worth $6,000--that's genius.

Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars--that's capital.

Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and make it worth $20.00--that's money.

A mechanic can take material that is worth only $5.00 and make it worth $50.00--that's skill.

An artist can take a forty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth $1,000--that's art.

God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in the blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity --that's SALVATION!

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue.
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o'er flow,
Flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know; as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.

-- Wade Robinson

Salvation Study: The Mercy of Salvation

BLJ: We will spend a few days talking about salvation. Let me blunt. I am convinced that many people attending church are not saved. They go to church because of the social benefits and friendships they make. Yet, they lack the deep commitment to Jesus Christ. As we study a work by Rev. Kenneth Fay, search your soul. Are you saved?

THE MERCY OF SALVATION

Isa 55:6-8 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Saint Paul declared, "God is rich in mercy" (Ephesians 2:4). Some Christians now believe that Nikita S. Khrushchev, one time Dictator of the U.S.S.R., has been saved. It is not incredible that the "Bloody Butcher," as he was called, has found mercy. Even Hitler or Mussolini might have found forgiveness had they repented, for "God is rich in mercy." God has demonstrated great forgiveness to great sinners and granted great favors times without number. "It must be great mercy, or no mercy," said John Bunyan, "for little mercy will never serve my turn!"

What hope this brings to men today! There are reportedly nineteen thousand suicides in the United States annually, besides other thousands which are successfully disguised as accidental. At present there are said to be over five million alcoholics in the United States. Everywhere we turn, the demons of drink and dope, lust and lunacy, murder and madness are driving millions to despair and suicide and at last to the unending torments of hell. It is a grim picture, but there is good news. Listen! "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). Commenting on this verse, the sainted Richard Baxter once said, "I am thankful it says 'whosoever' rather than 'Richard Baxter,' as sweet as that might sound, for then at the last I might have discovered God meant some other Richard Baxter. Now I know He means me!" Yes, God's mercy is available to all!

Rejected mercy, however, remains the tragedy of our age. A noted surgeon received a phone call at two o'clock in the morning. A hospital authority, twenty miles away, explained that a young man, following a car accident, lay near death. He was the only surgeon within calling distance that could possibly get there in time. Would he come? Hurriedly he dressed and drove to the city, where he stopped for a traffic light. Suddenly his car door jerked open and a gun was jammed into his ribs.

"Drive!" a man ordered, closing the door behind him. All attempts to explain the urgency of his mission were futile.

"Drive! " he snapped. Somewhere on a quiet street in that city his captor ordered the car stopped and the surgeon to "get out!" Again, all attempts to explain were silenced at gunpoint. Helplessly he watched as the gunman, who was dressed in a brown coat and gray trousers with a cap pulled down over his eyes, drove away in his car. A taxi was hailed after a lapse of time and finally the surgeon reached the hospital. Outside "Emergency" a nurse appeared and said, "I'm sorry Doctor..., you are too late...the boy is dead." Saddened, he turned to leave. "Doctor," the nurse whispered, "his father is brokenhearted. Would you speak to him...please?"

There in the waiting room, face in hands and sobbing, sat the grieving father. Suddenly a look of amazement spread across the surgeon's face. Could he believe his eyes? The man was wearing a brown coat, gray trousers, and a cap was at his side. This was the man who had taken the surgeon's car! This was the man who had forced into the night the only man that could save his son!

The lesson this true story illustrates is important. You, unsaved friend, have the "death-rattle" in your soul and are now facing the fearful prospects of eternity. God has sent His Son to save you. Christ pleads with you not to turn Him away. DO NOT, then, make the fatal mistake of forcing from your life the only ONE who can save you! How fearful it will be to face Him on the judgment morning, knowing you have spurned His mercy! How dreadful to be thrust into eternity's night to weep with the damned and live with your memory and remorse ---forever!

Why make this mistake? Is there anything in life worth bartering your soul for? Of course not! Then bow before this waiting, insulted, yet pleading Christ and ask Him to save you. But do it NOW! Remember delay can be as fatal as denial! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).