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Selected Messages Book 1
This faith works by love and purifies the soul. It works in the life of
the follower of Christ true obedience to God’s commandments; for
love to God and love to man will be the result of vital connection with
Christ. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”
(
Romans 8:9
).
Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches” (
John 15:5
). Can
we conceive of a more intimate relation than this implies? The fibers
of the branch are identical with those of the vine. The communication
of life, strength, and nourishment from the trunk to the branches is
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unobstructed and constant. The root sends its nourishment through
the branches. Such is the believer’s relation to Christ, if he abides
in Christ and draws his nourishment from Him. But this spiritual
relation between Christ and the soul can be established only through
the exercise of personal faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please
him” (
Hebrews 11:6
); for it is faith that connects us with the power of
heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness.
“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (
1 John
5:4
). Faith familiarizes the soul with the existence and presence of
God, and, living with an eye single to the glory of God, more and more
we discern the beauty of His character, the excellence of His grace.
Our souls become strong in spiritual power; for we are breathing the
atmosphere of heaven, and realizing that God is at our right hand, that
we shall not be moved. We are rising above the world, beholding Him
who is the chief among ten thousand, the one altogether lovely, and by
beholding we are to become changed into His image.
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