〃whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 1 Thessalonians 5：23。 Again he writes to believers：
〃I beseech you therefore； brethren； by the mercies of God； that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice； holy； acceptable unto God。〃 Romans 12：1。 In
the time of ancient Israel every offering brought as a sacrifice to God was
carefully examined。 If any defect was discovered in the animal presented； it
was refused； for God had commanded that the offering be 〃without blemish。〃
So Christians are bidden to present their bodies； 〃a living sacrifice； holy；
acceptable unto God。〃 In order to do this； all their powers must be
preserved in the best possible condition。 Every practice that weakens
physical or mental strength unfits man for the service of his Creator。 And
will God be pleased with anything less than the best we can offer？ Said
Christ： 〃Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart。〃 Those who do
love God with all the heart will desire to give Him the best service of
their life； and they will be constantly seeking to bring every power of
their being into harmony with the laws that will promote their ability to do
His will。 They will not； by the indulgence of
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appetite or passion； enfeeble or defile the offering which they present to
their heavenly Father。
Peter says： 〃Abstain from fleshly lusts； which war against the soul。〃 1
Peter 2：11。 Every sinful gratification tends to benumb the faculties and
deaden the mental and spiritual perceptions； and the word or the Spirit of
God can make but a feeble impression upon the heart。 Paul writes to the
Corinthians： 〃Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit； perfecting holiness in the fear of God。〃
2 Corinthians 7：1。 And with the fruits of the Spirit〃love；
joy； peace； long…suffering； gentleness； goodness； faith； meekness〃he
classes 〃temperance。〃 Galatians 5：22； 23。
Notwithstanding these inspired declarations； how many professed Christians
are enfeebling their powers in the pursuit of gain or the worship of
fashion； how many are debasing their godlike manhood by gluttony； by wine
drinking； by forbidden pleasure。 And the church； instead of rebuking； too
often encourages the evil by appealing to appetite； to desire for gain or
love of pleasure； to replenish her treasury； which love for Christ is too
feeble to supply。 Were Jesus to enter the churches of today and behold the
feasting and unholy traffic there conducted in the name of religion； would
He not drive out those desecrators； as He banished the money…changers from
the temple？
The apostle James declares that the wisdom from above is 〃first pure。〃 Had
he encountered those who take the precious name of Jesus upon lips defiled
by tobacco； those whose breath and person are contaminated by its foul odor；
and who pollute the air of heaven and force all about them to inhale the
poisonhad the apostle come in contact with a practice so opposed to the
purity of the gospel； would he not have denounced it as 〃earthly； sensual；
devilish〃？ Slaves of tobacco； claiming the blessing of entire
sanctification； talk of their hope of heaven； but God's word plainly
declares that 〃there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth。〃
Revelation 21：27。
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〃Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you；
which ye have of God； and ye are not your own？ for ye are bought with a
price： therefore glorify God in your body； and in your spirit； which are
God's。〃 1 Corinthians 6：19； 20。 He whose body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit will not be enslaved by a pernicious habit。 His powers belong to
Christ； who has bought him with the price of blood。 His property is the
Lord's。 How could he be guiltless in squandering this entrusted capital？
Professed Christians yearly expend an immense sum upon useless and
pernicious indulgences； while souls are perishing for the word of life。 God
is robbed in tithes and offerings； while they consume upon the altar of
destroying lust more than they give to relieve the poor or for the support
of the gospel。 If all who profess to be followers of Christ were truly
sanctified； their means； instead of being spent for needless and even
hurtful indulgences； would be turned into the Lord's treasury； and
Christians would set an example of temperance； self…denial； and
self…sacrifice。 Then they would be the light of the world。
The world is given up to self…indulgence。 〃The lust of the flesh； and the
lust of the eyes； and the pride of life〃 control the masses of the people。
But Christ's followers have a holier calling。 〃Come out from among them； and
be ye separate； saith the Lord； and touch not the unclean。〃 In the light of
God's word we are justified in declaring that sanctification cannot be
genuine which does not work this utter renunciation of the sinful pursuits
and gratifications of the world。
To those who comply with the conditions； 〃Come out from among them； and be
ye separate； 。 。 。 and touch not the unclean；〃 God's promise is； 〃I will
receive you； and will be a Father unto you； and ye shall be My sons and
daughters； saith the Lord Almighty。〃 2 Corinthians 6：17； 18。 It is the
privilege and the duty of every Christian to have a rich and abundant
experience in the things of God。 〃I am the light of
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the world；〃 said Jesus。 〃He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness；
but shall have the light of life。〃 John 8：12。 〃The path of the just is as
the shining light； that shineth more and more unto the perfect day。〃
Proverbs 4：18。 Every step of faith and obedience brings the soul into closer
connection with the Light of the world； in whom there 〃is no darkness at
all。〃 The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon the servants
of God； and they are to reflect His rays。 As the stars tell us that there is
a great light in heaven with whose glory they are made bright； so Christians
are to make it manifest that there is a God on the throne of the universe
whose character is worthy of praise and imitation。 The graces of His Spirit；
the purity and holiness of His character； will be manifest in His witnesses。
Paul in his letter to the Colossians sets forth the rich blessings granted
to the children of God。 He says： We 〃do not cease to pray for you； and to
desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding； that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing； being fruitful in every good work； and increasing in the knowledge
of God； strengthened with all might； according to His glorious power； unto
all patience and long…suffering with joyfulness。〃 Colossians 1：9…11。
Again he writes of his desire that the brethren at Ephesus might come to
understand the height of the Christian's privilege。 He opens before them； in
the most comprehensive language； the marvelous power and knowledge that they
might possess as sons and daughters of the Most High。 It was theirs 〃to be
strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man；〃 to be 〃rooted and
grounded in love；〃 to 〃comprehend with all saints what is the breadth； and
length； and depth； and height； and to know the love of Christ； which passeth
knowledge。〃 But the prayer of the apostle reaches the climax of privilege
when he prays that 〃ye might be filled with all the fullness of God。〃
Ephesians 3：16…19。
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Here are revealed the heights of attainment that we may reach through faith
in the promises of our heavenly Father； when we fulfill His requirements。
Through the merits of Christ we have access to the throne of Infinite Power。
〃He that spared not His own Son； but delivered Him up for us all； how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things？〃 Romans 8：32。 The Father
gave His Spirit without measure to His Son； and we also may partake of its
fullness。 Jesus says； 〃If ye then； being evil； know how to give good gifts
unto your children： how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to them that ask Him？〃 Luke 11：13。 〃If ye shall ask anything in My
name； I will do it。〃 〃Ask； and ye shall receive； that your joy may be full。〃
John 14：14； 16：24。
While the Christian's life will be characterized by humility； it should not
be marked with sadness and self…depreciation。 It is the privilege of
everyone so to live that God will approve and bless him。 It is not the will
of our heavenly Father that we should be ever under condemnation and
darkness。 There is no evidence of true humility in going with the head bowed
down and the heart filled with thoughts of self。 We may go to Jesus and be
cleansed； and stand before the law without shame and remorse。 〃There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus； who walk
not after the flesh； but after the Spirit。〃 Romans 8：1。
Through Jesus the fallen sons of Adam become 〃sons of God。〃 〃Both He that
sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one： for which cause He
is not ashamed to call them brethren。〃 Hebrews 2：11。 The Christian's life
should be one of fa