“I do not believe what you say. I have listened to good preachers for many a day, and I never heard any of them speak like this. I feel puzzled.”
The person who uttered these words was a mild looking elderly woman. She unmistakably had life in Christ, but of liberty in Him she knew nothing.
“I have only to repeat,” said the lady to whom she spoke, “that though sin is in you, it no longer rests on you. Now remember these two little words for the rest of your life, “IN” and “ON” Your own nature, the flesh, remains unchanged; in you―that is, in your flesh―dwells no good thing; but on you God’s eternal favor rests without shade or cloud; for the Lord hath laid on Him (Christ) the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)), and as Christ now is, so are you in this world. (1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17).). No sin rests on you, for He has borne it all.”
“It makes me happy to listen to you, but if I do wrong―say, fall into some sin―I do not think I could be a saved soul at all then. I know some people that I am sure were Christians, but they got into what was wrong, and now they do not seem to be Christians at all. And this I am afraid of for myself.”
“My friend, you are making a great mistake. To walk here as Christ walked is the Christian’s standard and aim. But you are confusing Christ’s work for you and the Holy Ghost’s work in you. I gave you two little words to remember before, and now let me implore you to keep these two, FOR and IN also in your heart and mind. The work of Christ for you is a finished work; with His dying lips He pronounced it so. But the Holy Ghost’s work in you is progressive, going on in you day by day; and if the Holy Ghost be grieved, the sanctifying work will be greatly hindered.
“In the first you have neither hand, nor act, nor part. Christ alone was the actor in that scene; and He completely finished that work, and satisfied and glorified God by the wondrous death of the cross for you. But regarding the second, the Holy Ghost’s work in you, you bear a responsible part. Your relationship, as a child, with your Father, can no more be touched or broken than your little daughter being disobedient would make her less your child because she was disobedient. These truths are not my thoughts; they would not be worth the time taken in telling; were they. They are God’s revealed mind in His word, and you have but to accept and be happy, rejoicing in all that is yours in Christ.” R. H.