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Our Life is Hid with Christ in God through Baptism,
October 20
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3
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Great responsibility comes to those who have been baptized in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Strive to understand
the meaning of the words, “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ
in God.” In the new life upon which you have entered, you are pledged
to represent the life of Christ. Having put on the new man, “which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him,” “put
on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:
even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put
on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God
rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye
thankful.”
The old sinful life is dead; the new life entered into with Christ by the
pledge of baptism. Practise the virtues of the Saviour’s character. Let His
wisdom dwell in you richly in all wisdom; “teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
... The sins that were practised before conversion, are to be put off, with
the old man. With the new man, Christ Jesus, are to be put on “kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.
Those who, in the spirit and love of Jesus, will become one with Him,
will be in close fellowship one with another, bound up by the silken cords
of love.... “All ye are brethren” will be the sentiment of every child of
faith.... All will be equally one with Christ
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43
Letter 32, 1907
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44
Manuscript 28, 1897
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