take interest in its meetings, and give them the precedence over all other gatherings. Every member, according to the gift of the Spirit, should take part in them. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. * * * The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. * * * For all these worketh the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (I Cor. 12: 4, 7, II). "How is it then brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. *** For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted" (I Cor. 14: 26, 31). "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (I Thess. 5: 11). The Revised Version says, "Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do." "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5: 19). "Let the Word of Christ 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" (Col. 3: 16). If you want to grow in grace and knowledge, do not neglect the means of grace; "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is." We hear members of volunteer military companies boast that they have not missed attending a single weekly drill for years. The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has much more reason to attend regularly the weekly meetings of His church. That he may grow in grace and knowledge himself, and be fitted to be "a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Tim. 2: 3). As the Christian grows in the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge of Christ, he will not only be increasing his own spiritual joy and peace, but knowing more of Christ, and of His Word, he will be better able to bear testimony for Christ, to bring souls to Him, and to strengthen and comfor His sheep and His lambs. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Heb. 13: 20). CHILDREN OF GOD AND UNION WITH CHRIST PART II. UNION WITH CHRIST. "Abide in me and I in you," "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for apart from me ye can do "That they all may nothing."-John xv: 1-10. be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us," "I in them, and thou in me.". John xvii: 11, 21, 23, 26. INDEX.-PART II. PAGE The most important of all knowledge is to know the Lord Jesus Christ.. 125 The Lord Jesus Christ.-His name-Lord. 137 Christ our Anointed Priest. .... Union of believers, with Christ, in his death, burial and resurrection... Christ our Anointed King.... 150 ..... 159 164 172 Union with Christ-Christ our Life........ 182 members of His body.... 214 .... 227 234 Christ the Vine, believers in Him the branches... Union of believers with Christ and the Holy Spirit, and the Father, one in 242 |