the acts of the apostles-第90章
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God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation。 He is to
regard the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to him。 Thus he will
find the wisdom which is divine。
The knowledge of God as revealed in Christ is the knowledge that all who are
saved must have。 This is the knowledge that works transformation of
character。 Received into the life； it will re…create the soul in the image
of Christ。 This is the knowledge that God invites His children to receive；
beside which all else is vanity and nothingness。
In every generation and in every land the true foundation for character
building has been the samethe principles contained in the word of God。 The
only safe and sure rule is to do what God says。 〃The statutes of the Lord
are right；〃 and 〃he that doeth these things shall never be moved。〃 Psalms
19：8； 15：5。 It was with the word of God that the apostles met the false
theories of their day； saying； 〃Other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid。〃 1 Corinthians 3：11。
At the time of their conversion and baptism the Colossian believers pledged
themselves to put away beliefs and practices that had hitherto been a part
of their lives； and to be true to their allegiance to Christ。 In his letter；
Paul reminded them of this； and entreated them not to forget that in order
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to keep their pledge they must put forth constant effort against the evils
that would seek for mastery over them。 〃If ye then be risen with Christ；〃 he
said； 〃seek those things which are above； where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God。 Set your affection on things above； not on things on the earth。
For ye are dead； and your life is hid with Christ in God。〃
〃If any man be in Christ； he is a new creature： old things are passed away；
behold； all things are become new。〃 2 Corinthians 5：17。 Through the power of
Christ； men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit。 They have
renounced selfishness。 The profane have become reverent； the drunken sober；
the profligate pure。 Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have become
transformed into the image of God。 This change is in itself the miracle of
miracles。 A change wrought by the Word； it is one of the deepest mysteries
of the Word。 We cannot understand it； we can only believe； as declared by
the Scriptures； it is 〃Christ in you； the hope of glory。〃
When the Spirit of God controls mind and heart； the converted soul breaks
forth into a new song； for he realizes that in his experience the promise of
God has been fulfilled； that his transgression has been forgiven； his sin
covered。 He has exercised repentance toward God for the violation of the
divine law； and faith toward Christ； who died for man's justification。
〃Being justified by faith；〃 he has 〃peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ。〃 Romans 5：1。
But because this experience is his； the Christian is not
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therefore to fold his hands； content with that which has been accomplished
for him。 He who has determined to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that
all the powers and passions of unregenerate nature； backed by the forces of
the kingdom of darkness； are arrayed against him。 Each day he must renew his
consecration； each day do battle with evil。 Old habits； hereditary
tendencies to wrong； will strive for the mastery； and against these he is to
be ever on guard； striving in Christ's strength for victory。
〃Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth；〃 Paul wrote to the
Colossians； 〃in the which ye also walked sometime； when ye lived in them。
But now ye also put off all these： anger； wrath； malice； blasphemy； filthy
communication out of your mouth。 。 。 。 Put on therefore； as the elect of
God； holy and beloved； bowels of mercies； kindness； humbleness of mind；
meekness； long…suffering； 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 letter to the Colossians is filled with lessons of highest value to all
who are engaged in the service of Christ； lessons that show the singleness
of purpose and the loftiness of aim which will be seen in the life of him
who rightly represents the Saviour。 Renouncing all that would hinder him
from making progress in the upward way or that would
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turn the feet of another from the narrow path； the believer will reveal in
his daily life mercy； kindness； humility； meekness； forbearance； and the
love of Christ。
The power of a higher； purer； nobler life is our great need。 The world has
too much of our thought； and the kingdom of heaven too little。
In his efforts to reach God's ideal for him； the Christian is to despair of
nothing。 Moral and spiritual perfection； through the grace and power of
Christ； is promised to all。 Jesus is the source of power； the fountain of
life。 He brings us to His word； and from the tree of life presents to us
leaves for the healing of sin…sick souls。 He leads us to the throne of God；
and puts into our mouth a prayer through which we are brought into close
contact with Himself。 In our behalf He sets in operation the all…powerful
agencies of heaven。 At every step we touch His living power。
God fixes no limit to the advancement of those who desire to be 〃filled with
the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding。〃
Through prayer； through watchfulness； through growth in knowledge and
understanding； they are to be 〃 strengthened with all might； according to
His glorious power。〃 Thus they are prepared to work for others。 It is the
Saviour's purpose that human beings； purified and sanctified； shall be His
helping hand。 For this great privilege let us give thanks to Him who 〃hath
made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light： who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness； and hath translated us into
the kingdom of His dear Son。〃
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Paul's letter to the Philippians； like the one to the Colossians； was
written while he was a prisoner at Rome。 The church at Philippi had sent
gifts to Paul by the hand of Epaphroditus； whom Paul calls 〃my brother； and
companion in labor； and fellow soldier； but your messenger； and he that
ministered to my wants。〃 While in Rome； Epaphroditus was sick； 〃nigh unto
death： but God had mercy on him；〃 Paul wrote； 〃and not on him only； but on
me also； lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow。〃 Hearing of the sickness of
Epaphroditus； the believers at Philippi were filled with anxiety regarding
him； and he decided to return to them。 〃He longed after you all；〃 Paul
wrote； 〃and was full of heaviness； because that ye had heard that he had
been sick。 。 。 。 I sent him therefore the more carefully； that； when ye see
him again； ye may rejoice； and that I may be the less sorrowful。 Receive him
therefore in the Lord with all gladness； and hold such in reputation：
because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death； not regarding his
life； to supply your lack of service toward me。〃
By Epaphroditus； Paul sent the Philippian believers a letter； in which he
thanked them for their gifts to him。 Of all the churches； that of Philippi
had been the most liberal in supplying Paul's wants。 〃Now ye Philippians
know also；〃 the apostle said in his letter； 〃that in the beginning of the
gospel； when I departed from Macedonia； no church communicated with me as
concerning giving and receiving； but ye only。 For even in Thessalonica ye
sent once and again unto my necessity。 Not because I desire a gift： but I
desire
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fruit that may abound to your account。 But I have all； and abound： I am
full； having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you；
an odor of a sweet smell； a sacrifice acceptable； well…pleasing to God。〃
〃Grace be unto you； and peace； from God our Father； and from the Lord Jesus
Christ。 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you； always in e
