Bible Review V15: October 1916 - March 1918 - Iapsop.com

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1916 THE REDEMPTION or THE sony 99
Christian escape death? Because as Thomas a Kempis
says, "There are many believers but few disciples."
Because narrow is the gate and straitened is the way that
leadeth into life, and FEW there be that find it"~tho the
number of those who D1E'in faith may be "as
of neaveh for multitude."
down in order t-hat we may
the stars
What are the conditions laid
ENTER INTO LIFE
now, and secure a- present immortality? Tl'°ey are, first,
the complete' surrender of the body: "Present your
bodies a living, holy, well-pleasing sacrifice to God;"
and"be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by
the renewal of the mind." A gradual metamorphosis is
to take place in the body, by the renewal of the mind, or
changing of the thoughts, until every thought is brought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and we grow up
in all things into him; until we becomelpermeated and
saturated with his life, and so attain to perfect manhood,
"unto the measure of the statue of the fulness of the
Christ."
Having thus devoted our bodies, we
become really and
truly, not in name only,
TEMPLES OF THE LIVING GODand
our bodies members of :the Christ.
It is clearly evident
then,that unless we "crucify the
flesh with the
passions, and lusts
thereof," cleansing ourselves frcm all
defilement of the flesh and spirit, we commit sacrilege,
and defile the holy temple of God. The penalty for this
is- the death of the body-for if any man corrupt the temple
of God, him shall God destroy, or turn to corruption.
For this cause "it is good for a man not to touch a
woman," (A. V.) or according to We; mouth's excellent
version :"It is well for a man to abstain altogether from
marriagef" Thus we see that it is absolutely essential to
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