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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
or they will be left with the world, where they belong, to receive their
reward with them.
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“By their fruits ye shall know them.” All the followers of Christ
bear fruit to His glory. Their lives testify that a good work has been
wrought in them by the Spirit of God, and their fruit is unto holiness.
Their lives are elevated and pure. Those who bear no fruit have no
experience in the things of God. They are not in the Vine. Read
John
15:4, 5
: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in
Me. I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I
in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do
nothing.”
If we would be spiritual worshipers of Jesus Christ, we must sacri-
fice every idol and fully obey the first four commandments.
Matthew
22:37, 38
: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
the first and great commandment.” The first four commandments allow
no separation of the affections from God. Nor is anything allowed
to divide, or share, our supreme delight in Him. Whatever divides
the affections, and takes away from the soul supreme love to God,
assumes the form of an idol. Our carnal hearts would cling to our
idols and seek to carry them along; but we cannot advance until we
put them away, for they separate us from God. The great Head of the
church has chosen His people out of the world and requires them to be
separate. He designs that the spirit of His commandments shall draw
them to Himself and separate them from the elements of the world. To
love God and keep His commandments is far from loving the world’s
pleasures and friendship. There is no concord between Christ and
Belial. The people of God may safely trust in Him alone and without
fear press on in the way of obedience.
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