Fragment

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Conformity to His death to Paul was martyrdom. Reasoning on it, he says, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:1010Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)). We cannot be trusted to put ourselves to death. “Delivered unto death” is God’s doing it (2 Cor. 4:1111For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:11)). He has done it (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). Paul was to be martyred—he was branded as Christ’s, ready to die. How far is it so with us? How far are we ready? We may not be called to physical death as was Paul, but are we practically bearing about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus? Let each answer for himself.