Continued
Paul says there were some of the brethren at Corinth that did not have that “righteousness” (or rightness) that would keep them from sinning. He said some did not have it. Then there were some who did have it. He further said that to those who did not have it, it was a “shame” to them. Does not this scathing rebuke of the apostle fall with too much force among the brethren under the last message? Is it not high time to awake out of sleep, (laodicea) and come nearer to the praying Master? I once heard a minister say that “the difference between a sinner and a Christian is this: A Christian sins, and repents of it, and is sorry for it. A sinner sins, and does not repent, and is not sorry for sin.” How many there are whose ideas of the Christian life are no higher than that! To be a Christian is to be like Christ in life. Did Christ sin and repent? Who will affirm it? Christianity is a life—a life hid with Christ in God. It is not profession, ritualism, creed, or dogma. Matthew says: “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:21 Not in their sins, but from,them. Christ says: “The prince of this world [the Devil] cometh and hath nothing in me.” Jn. 14:30 That is, there was nothing wrong in him—Christ. If we are in Christ, when the Devil comes to us, will he find anything in us?— Most certainly not.
Dear reader, do not feel sad, and say the standard is too high. It is just where God put it. May I not entreat you to plead for the “new name” and the new nature? When we are “partakers of the divine nature,” the future of our lives will not be that of sinning and repenting. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” 1John 2:1. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” Chap. 3:6. No one can say that he does sin who abides in Christ. But the question may be asked, Can any one abide in him? We will let the apostle answer: “And now, little children, abide in him.” Chap. 2:28. If we could not abide in him, it would be solemn mockery for the Lord to ask us to do so. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” 1John 3:6 When it can be said of the Church that it abides in him, and sins not, then Zion will come up out of the wilderness, leaning upon the arm of her Beloved, “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” Song of Solomon 6:10 Then the message will go with mighty power, and the gospel lamp of life and liberty will be speedily hung out on the four corners of the earth, where the four angels are holding the four winds—the witness will be complete, the end will come, and the redeemed will be gathered home.
“0 beautiful home, far away in the skies,
My spirit is longing for thee,
Impatient on angelic pinions to rise
Thy glories immortal to see.”
Why should we excuse sin, any longer? There is balm in Gilead; there is a great Physician there. The health of the daughter of Zion may be recovered. “Wilt thou, be made whole ?” Then look to Calvary.
“Not running brook nor floes nor sea
Can wash the dismal stain away.”
“He that committeth sin is of the Devil.” 1John3:8 Oh! who does not covet a sinless life? “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” 1John3:9 Why ?—”For his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin [morally speaking] because he is born of God.” Paul told the Romans that they had yielded themselves servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, and that it was a shame to them (see Rom. 6 : 19-21); but he also noted the change that had taken place in them, for he says: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Verse 22. Brethren, there can be no mistake about the kind of fruit we will bear, if we are “made free from sin.”
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Sept 2, 1890