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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
unselfish love which is prompted by the spirit of Christ, and the un-
meaning, deceitful pretense with which the world abounds. This base
counterfeit has misled many souls. It would blot out the distinction
between right and wrong, by agreeing with the transgressor instead of
faithfully showing him his errors. Such a course never springs from
real friendship. The spirit by which it is prompted dwells only in the
carnal heart. While the Christian will be ever kind, compassionate,
and forgiving, he can feel no harmony with sin. He will abhor evil and
cling to that which is good, at the sacrifice of association or friendship
with the ungodly. The spirit of Christ will lead us to hate sin, while
we are willing to make any sacrifice to save the sinner.
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth
walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the
understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through
the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness.” The apostle admonishes his
brethren, in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that after
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having professed the gospel they should not conduct themselves as did
the Gentiles, but should show by their daily deportment that they had
been truly converted.
“Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit
of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness.” Once they were corrupt,
degraded, enslaved by lustful passions; they were drugged by worldly
opiates, blinded, bewildered, and betrayed by Satan’s devices. Now
that they had been taught the truth as it is in Jesus, there must be a
decided change in their life and character.
The accession of members who have not been renewed in heart
and reformed in life is a source of weakness to the church. This fact is
often ignored. Some ministers and churches are so desirous of securing
an increase of numbers that they do not bear faithful testimony against
unchristian habits and practices. Those who accept the truth are not
taught that they cannot safely be worldlings in conduct while they are
Christians in name. Heretofore they were Satan’s subjects; henceforth
they are to be subjects of Christ. The life must testify to the change of
leaders. Public opinion favors a profession of Christianity. Little self-