Safeguarding the New Experience
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have within them the elements of everlasting life, because they are
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that are
in the world through lust. Jesus said, “This is the Father’s will which
hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him
that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him,
may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (
John
6:39, 40
).
The Child of God a Laborer With God
All spiritual life is derived from Jesus Christ. “As many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (
John 1:12
).
But what is the sure result of becoming a child of God? The result is
that we become laborers together with God. There is a great work to
be done for your own soul’s salvation, and to qualify you to win others
from unbelief to a life sustained by faith in Christ Jesus: “Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that believeth on me [with a casual faith?—No,
with an abiding faith that works by love and purifies the soul] hath
everlasting life. I am that bread of life.... I am the living bread which
came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for
ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for
the life of the world.... Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last
day.... It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there
are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning
who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And
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he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me,
except it were given unto him of my Father” (
John 6:47, 48, 51, 53,
54, 63-65
).
When Jesus spoke these words, He spoke them with authority,
assurance, and power. At times He manifested Himself in such a way
that the deep movings of His Spirit were sensibly realized. But many
who saw and heard and participated in the blessings of the hour, went
their way, and soon forgot the light He had given them.