24
A New Life (Revival and Beyond)
well as from the curse and condemnation of the law. Through the
work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer
becomes fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us,
and His righteousness is upon us. Without this no soul will be entitled
to heaven. We would not enjoy heaven unless qualified for its holy
atmosphere by the influence of the Spirit and the righteousness of
Christ.
In order to be candidates for heaven we must meet the requirement
of the law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and
thy neighbour as thyself” (
Luke 10:27
). We can do this only as we
grasp by faith the righteousness of Christ. By beholding Jesus we
receive a living, expanding principle in the heart, and the Holy Spirit
carries on the work, and the believer advances from grace to grace,
from strength to strength, from character to character. He conforms
to the image of Christ, until in spiritual growth he attains unto the
measure of the full stature in Christ Jesus. Thus Christ makes an end
of the curse of sin, and sets the believing soul free from its action and
effect.
[26]
Is There Anything Between Me and God?
Christ alone is able to do this, for “in all things it behoved Him
to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being
tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted” (
Hebrews 2:17,
18
). Reconciliation means that every barrier between the soul and
God is removed, and that the sinner realizes what the pardoning love
of God means. By reason of the sacrifice made by Christ for fallen
men, God can justly pardon the transgressor who accepts the merits
of Christ. Christ was the channel through which the mercy, love, and
righteousness might flow from the heart of God to the heart of the
sinner. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness” (
1 John 1:9
)....
Every soul may say: “By His perfect obedience He has satisfied
the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him
as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By