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Spiritual Life

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 15.

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Spiritual Life.

THE emphatic words of Jesus, "ye must be born again," express the great need of humanity. This "must" admits of no exceptions. From the time of its utterance it rings through the ages, "ye must," "ye must," because ye are dead in trespasses and sins; and without holiness no man shall see the Lord. That holiness is attainable only through the Lord Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." Those dead in sins, and in a ruined condition, may have life in Christ, and the holiness that crowns everlasting life. Thus, while Jesus says, "ye must be born again," he has opened the way, and given his life-giving Spirit to accomplish the change. This "must" is followed by the "come unto me and live." The thirsty are pressed to take the water of life freely. All the pressing invitations are followed by precious promises. While we must, we may, we can. "I give unto them eternal life." They that are born again are born of the Spirit, and are the sons of God, having eternal life begun in them.
Most of my readers hope that they have been born again, and will have life eternal. "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." And if any man be born of Christ he is a new creature. "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." That newness of life is manifested in hating the things once loved, and loving the things once hated. The carnal life yields its power to the spiritual life, and this rules the affections of the heart and the actions of the life. What a wondrous change! As happy as it is wondrous!
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." The change is inward, and felt by its pressure as new inspirations. Its fruit is outward, seen of all. "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." "By their fruits ye shall know them." By them also we know ourselves. Do these prove that we are born again?—Pilgrim, in Sabbath Recorder.