DECEMBER 21ST, 1896

DECEMBER 21ST, 1896

... ^[p. 6] It is an immense thing to see how we are “alive to God”. I think a great many are trying to live to God, That is, they want to reach it in their responsible life, instead of seeing that it is “in Christ Jesus”. I believe that many conceive of living to God as being in their responsible life down here; that is, they think that it is in a life of practical righteousness and holiness that they are to live to God. The “likewise” is forgotten or not understood. Christ has died unto sin, and lives unto God. He lives not only personally free from sin (He was ever this), but He is outside the whole range of sin. He lives unto God in scenes where sin can never come, and where all things are of God. His death is my title to live to God in the same sphere. Such is the grace of God that I may appropriate Christ’s death, and count that I have died to sin. It is only thus that I could reach “alive to God in Christ Jesus”. Dead to sin is not the terminus — it is the station en route — the terminus is “alive to God in Christ Jesus”.

I could not live in sin — that is, in the life of Adam — and live to God in Christ Jesus at the same time. I must have died to sin by the appropriation of Christ’s death, in order to be alive to God in Christ Jesus. “Dead to sin” is not that I abstain from sinning, but I quit the life of Adam altogether by the appropriation of Christ’s death, and count myself alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The result of this is that in my responsible life I yield myself to God, and my members as instruments of righteousness to God. It is because I know what it is to be “alive unto God” that I can do this. A good many are reversing the process. They are trying to live to God by putting the responsible life right. What a blessed thing it is to be under grace!

December 21st, 1896.