In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 and 7-10 Paul has dealt with the subject of Christian Ministry under the figure of "A Good Soldier". He notes that a good soldier: 1) Endures hardness as he stands against the enemy, (vs. 3); 2) Avoids worldly entanglements, (vs. 4); 3) Understands God's plan for man, as demonstrated in the life and example of his Commander, (vs. 7-9); and 4) Is concerned for the whole of God's army - His "elect", (vs. 10).
    Beginning with verse 11, Paul begins to set forth the necessity of the Christian Soldier's placing an unwavering trust in Him Who is the Captain of his salvation. "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him".
    Identity with Jesus Christ must BEGIN IN DEATH; we must DIE with Him, (Rom. 6:2-11; 2 Cor. 4:10). This will involve three things: 1) Death to SELF - involving the flesh, (Gal. 2:20; 5:24); 2) Death to SIN and SINNING, (Rom. 6:2, 11; Col. 2:20, 3:3; I Pet. 2:24); and 3) Death to THE WORLD and all its allurements, (Gal. 6:14).
    Identity with Christ in His

    From these words it is obvious that Jesus, the Son of God, is concerned about our SANCTIFICATION - our holiness, purity, cleanness and consecration unto Himself as vessels that are FIT for God's service. Far too seldom, however, does one find such consecration to truth and holiness as manifests the "spirit of Christ". Yet, Paul submits the thought that "if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is NONE OF HIS!", (Rom. 8:9).
    In recent years I have been invited to a number of Bible Conferences that I could not conscientiously attend. The very invitations manifested such a proud, fundamental HIGHMINDEDNESS as would astound a Pharisee and make the Laodicean spirit seem MILD by comparison. Some that I have attended have proved so nauseating that I did not tarry long. It appears to me that, instead of being so high- mindedly PROUD of having learned that the church is "local" instead of "universal", such people OUGHT to be so HUMILIATED (to think they ever were so blinded to the clear truth of God's Word) as to realize

that there just MIGHT BE OTHER SUBJECTS (or aspects of the church itself) that need an open-minded RE-EXAMINATION in the light of the Scriptures!
    I pick up a so called EVANGELISTIC paper (for which I never subscribed) - only to discover such a stench of vilification toward some brother who disagrees (while the editor twists the Scriptures in an effort to vindicate his own questionable philosophy) as would humiliate a skunk for his INFERIOR PRODUCT! In both cases, I find a dearth of both SANCTIFICATION and THE TRUTH!
    Please note that it is THE WORD OF GOD through which men are SANCTIFIED. It is: 1) a Living Word; 2) Such an INTELLIGENT word as makes one responsible to understand what the will of the Lord is! 3) A SPIRITUAL WORD; 4) a POWERFUL Word, (Heb. 4:12); 5) a LIFE-GIVING Word, 6) a CLEANSING Word (Jn. 13:10: 15:3; Eph. 5:26) and 7) a SANCTIFYING (consecrating) Word.

    As the Father sent His Son into the world, (Jn. 17:3; 3:17; 17:25); so has He sent His people into the world, (Jn. 20:21). He had already sent forth the 70 "as sheep in the midst of wolves". They had been sent exclusively "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel". And we need to understand that THIS PRAYER (John 17) was prayed BEFORE our Lord had ever given to His church what we call THE GREAT COMMISSION!
    For the sake of His little flock Jesus SANCTIFIED (consecrated, or dedicated) Himself, (Jn. 17:19). In His BAPTISM He consecrated Himself to the death of A SINNER - though He had no sin of His own! He was the very personification of TRUTH! (Jn. 1:14, 17; 14:6). His sanctification was TO THE END that sanctification might BECOME A REALITY in the lives of His New Covenant people - His church.
    Jesus' concern for the church is obvious from John 17:20-21. How we ought to thank God that He prayed for us, as well as for His immediate disciples! It was His desire (and still is) that His people "MAY ALL BE ONE"! This will manifest a "Unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace". "As thou, Father, art in me" (the Father dwelling in the son) Jn. 10:37-38; "and I in Thee" (the Son resting in the Father's love); "that THEY ALSO may be one IN US" - that is, OUR dwelling in the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit!


    Our Lord was concerned "that the WORLD MAY KNOW that Thou hast SENT ME!" (Jn. 17:23; comp. 5:36-

38; 6:29, 38, 57; 7:28-29; 8:42; 10:34-38; 11:42). Our Lord did not come to earth as A REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE! He came to DO THE FATHER'S WILL and to FINISH the work the Father sent Him to accomplish. He came as "the express image" of the Father's PERSON, (Heb. 1:3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:14-15; Jn. 1:18; Phil. 2:6). He was the One "in whom dwelt THE FULNESS of godhood in bodily form".
What Jesus was, He desired His churches TO BECOME in the local communities where they would be planted by the Holy Spirit - that as the present, continuing, incarnation of the LIVING CHRIST, they might continue to manifest "the fulness of Him that FILLETH ALL IN ALL!" But, this will become a reality ONLY as we concern ourselves with the preaching, teaching and OUT-LIVING of the vital principles of godliness set forth IN THE PRECIOUS WORD!
    High-mindedness' is both a PERVERSION and MOCKERY of God's Word! And pretense to a SUPERIOR SPIRITUALITY is nothing short of HYPOCRISY - however loudly one may shout, or however many Scriptures he may mutilate in an effort to set himself up as something SPECIAL in God's sight!
    When "messengers of Satan" worm their way into our churches (not IF, but WHEN - for they will inevitably get in); when "wolves in sheep's clothing" creep in among THE FLOCK; let's EXCLUDE THEM FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP and get on with the task our Lord has laid upon us!
    How desperately do we need to remember that the JUDGMENT our Lord

has called us to exercise is to be toward those WITHIN THE BODY of which we are members. Judgment of those OUTSIDE our respective assemblies BELONGS TO THE LORD - Whose NAME is "JEALOUS"!
    In the meantime, let us pray with the Psalmist that the Lord may "unite our hearts to fear His name" - that we may WORSHIP HIM IN SP1PIT and IN TRUTH, and that we may SERVE HIM WITH GLADNES OF HEART! E.G.


    With what eager expectancy and joyful anticipation ought the saints of God await the coming of the King of Glory Whose absolute administration over the entire universe shall continue indisputable and undisruptible in glory, honor, majesty and power FOREVER!

"Lord of all being, throned afar,
Thy glory flames from sun and star;
Centre and soul of every sphere,
Yet to each loving heart how near.

Sun of our life, Thy quickening ray
Sheds on our path the glow of day;
Star of our hope, Thy softened
    light
Cheers the long watches of the
    night.
Our midnight is Thy smile withdrawn
Our noontide is Thy gracious dawn;
Our rainbow arch, Thy mercy's sign;
All, save the clouds of sin, are
    Thine.

Lord of all life, below, above,
Whose light is truth, Whose warmth
    IS LOVE,
Before Thy ever-blazing throne
We ask no lustre of our own."

    In the book of Proverbs one may find instruction in the ways of Divine government, based upon ten principles set forth in the first chapter (Vs. 1-6). The alternatives of wisdom and folly, righteousness and lawlessness, truth and error, the way life and the way of death are made quite clear. Life with its protections and perils is clearly traced, and the way of security and the way of shame are plainly defined.
"Oft as he jogs along the winding
    way,
Occasion comes for every man to
    say,
'This way' or 'that', and as he
    chooses then,
So shall his journey end, in night
    or day".
    The course of life is a sowing and reaping, and is naturally associated with a home, a country, a city and a business. Add to these the relationships of parents, friends, acquaintances and chums, together with kings, rulers, masters and authorities. We shall therefore look for Christ in such connections, and expect to find Him in every relationship. As a father, He begets us by the word of truth; as a friend, He sticketh closer than a brother (18:24); as a lover He abides constant at all times. In His identity He became a chum (as Dr. Bruce renders it) of publicans and sinners. When we became insolvent, He backed the bill, the utmost was exacted, and He became answerable. "He that goeth

surety for a stranger shall smart for it." And that is exactly what He did to recover us to solvency.
    Life is pictured in its infancy with the protecting and guiding control of parents. Later, in the days of youth, the choice must be made of companions. Then follows the entry into the city for transacting of business, with the many subtle allurements, and the advice necessary if success is not to be stained, and character corrupted. Under such circumstances, we need a stalwart friend. "He that hath many acquaintances must show himself friendly; and there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother", (18:24).
    We also need a stedfast lover. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity", 17:17). The boy, In describing a real friend, said: "A friend is one who knows all about me, and loves me just the same". Shakespeare has written: "Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds". When we failed and became involved, as we all have done, this Friend went surety for us. "All have sinned". "The wages of sin is death". He, by the grace of God tasted death for every man, so He tasted it for me. Christ has been revealed as the unfailing Friend,
Who became our surety.
My chains are snapped, the bonds
      of sin are broken
    And I am free,
Oh, let the triumphs of His grace
      be spoken,
   Who died for me.
     Charles J. Rolls, in Is Not this the Christ?

IDENTITY WITH CHRIST ..., CONTINUED

DEATH assures our identity with Him in RESURRECTION-LIFE; this suggests a "newness of life" through the power of His resurrection, (Rom 6:4). This RENEWAL, which comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, is likened to Christ's resurrection, (Eph. 1:19-21); by its power we are sustained in our daily - spiritual walk and warfare, (2 Cor. 4:16; Col. 3:1O;Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23-24). The effect of this renewal is IMMEDIATE; it enables us to enter into our Lord's triumph - even while living in these "mortal" bodies! (Rom. 8:11) Its ultimate end is deliverance from the body of "humiliation" unto "glorification" with Christ, (I Cor. 15:20-23; Phil. 3:20-21).
    Such spiritual renewal as enables us to live triumphantly comes through the glory of the Father; it is the Father who raised both Jesus and us, (Acts 2:32; 3:15, 26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:31; Rom. 4:24; 10:9; I Cor. 6:14; 15:15; 2 Cor. 4:14; 13:4; Gal. 1:1; Col. 2:12; I Thes. 1:10; Heb. 13:28 I Pet. 1:21). And this renewal is to the end that we may NOW be enabled to walk "in newness of (resurrection) life" - a life that has been given us from above, (Rom. 7:6; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:9-11).
"Every day the Lord Himself is
    near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear,
    and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and
    Power.

The protection of His child
    and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
'As thy days, thy strength shall
    be in measure',
This the pledge to me He made."


    Disloyalty, in the face of life's trials, will disqualify one for sharing Christ's reign. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us", (2 Tim. 2:12).
    The word here rendered "suffer" may better be understood, in the context, as "endure" - to abide under, so as to bear up courageously It MAY involve suffering. However, the basic thought is that of FAITHFUL ENDURANCE, (Jas. 1:12; 5:11) - patient waiting on the Lord (Rom. 12:12; I Pet. 2:20). It is well to recall the Master's employment of a number of parables to emphasize such faithful endurance as is essential to sharing the reign of His coming Kingdom, (Lk. 9:62; Matt. 24:4-13; etc. Phil. 3:13).
    Those who "endure" are assured the privilege of REIGNING with Him, (Lk. 22:29; Matt. 19:28; Rev. 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:3-5).
    To "DENY HIM" means to disclaim, disown, renounce or contradict. We must guard against the folly of passing over this concept as applicable only to LOST men; Paul's chief concern here is for the STED- FASTNESS of those who have been enlisted as SOLDIERS of Jesus Christ.

There are a number of ways in which we may DENY Him.
    1) By deliberately turning aside from known truth and from following His leadership.
    2) By being timid, cowardly and ashamed to stand courageously for His name, (2 Tim. 3:5; contrast Rev. 2:13; 3:8). 3) By disregarding His interests.
    4) By rejecting His lordship over our lives, (Lk. 12:9; Jn. 13:38).
    5) By the practice and promotion of immorality under the cloak of religion, (I Pet. 2:1; Jude 4).
    6) By refusing to recognize and acknowledge Him as Cod's anointed King, (I Jn. 2:22-23).
    In Matthew 10:32-33 "denial"

is set in contrast with "confessing" Him before men.
    Such as DENY the Lord will BE DENIED - disclaimed, disowned, renounced, etc. Paul is not here discussing the subject of "lost and saved"; he is discussing true Christian Ministry (service) and its ultimate reward in the coming kingdom of Christ. He would have us know that Jesus will "disclaim, disown, renounce & contradict" any claim to faithful service to Himself that is not rendered according to His command, and according to the pattern He has so clearly set forth in His Word, (Matt. 7:21-27).
    All who are LOYAL to Jesus, as Saviour & Lord, will receive the reward of an INHERITANCE in His Kingdom, (Acts 20:32; 26:18; Eph. 1:13-14; 5:5; Col. 1:2; 3:22-24; I Pet. 1:3-5; 2 Jn. 8; Rev. 11:18; 22:12; Matt. 16:27). Those who (in spite of their personal claims and opinions concerning their own fidelity) have DENIED His lordship over their lives will be so STRIPPED OF ANY CLAIM TO REWARD that they are pictured as walking in nakedness and shame instead of being "clothed in white", (Rev. 16:15 I Cor. 3:8, 14; Rev. 3:18, 4-5; 19:14, 7-8). Their life-houses will have been built upon the shifting sands of fables and human opinions; thus, they WILL NOT STAND! E.G.


    As Bro. Mitchell's condition continues to worsen. Paralysis of the throat makes it quite difficult for him to swallow. Here is an opportunity to request the sufficiency of God's sustaining grace. E.G.