“KNOWING this, that our old than is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”MEDM November 18, 1908, page 915.1

Plainly, therefore, the Lord intends that we shall not serve sin, and, accordingly, has made provision that this intention shall be fulfilled.MEDM November 18, 1908, page 915.2

“The body of sin” must be “destroyed,” in order that henceforth we shall “not serve sin.” If the body of sin is not destroyed, if sin is not taken up by the root, we shall certainly still serve sin, whatever our profession or desire.MEDM November 18, 1908, page 915.3

Indeed, if I desire not to serve sin, if I desire to live without sinning, and yet do not desire it enough to have the body of sin destroyed, to have sin completely uprooted, whatever the cost, or however painful the process, then my desire is not sincere, and can not possibly be realized. I am simply tickling my fancy with a mirage.MEDM November 18, 1908, page 915.4

No; the body of sin must be destroyed,—nothing short of destruction will do,—in order that we shall not serve sin. See; too, what “destroy” means: “To pull down; to build; demolish; to overthrow; lay waste; ruin; make desolate; to kill; slay; extirpate; to bring to naught; put an end to; annihilate; obliterate entirely; cause to cease, or cease to be.”MEDM November 18, 1908, page 915.5

The Lord has made full provision for this destruction of the body of sin; it must be accomplished by crucifixion. “Our old man is crucified,” “that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” That is the straight, sure course to freedom from the service of sin.MEDM November 18, 1908, page 916.1

But thank the Lord, we do not have to go this way alone. “Our old man is crucified with him.” He was made “in the likeness of sinful flesh” for us. He was “in all things made like unto his brethren.” He “was in all points tempted like as we are.” “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” And he was crucified. He was crucified for us. He was crucified as us. He was “the last Adam.” He was humanity. And in him the old Adam—the old, sinful humanity—was crucified. And “our old man is crucified with him,” in order “that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”MEDM November 18, 1908, page 916.2

Are you indeed crucified with him? Have you given up yourself to crucifixion, do you give yourself up to destruction, that you may be delivered from the service of sin? Is your desire to be freed from sinning so sincere that you freely give yourself up to crucifixion,—that you abandon yourself to destruction? If it is, then you can easily know the triumph that there is in knowing that the body of sin is destroyed, and that henceforth you shall not serve sin.MEDM November 18, 1908, page 916.3

Why is this verse of Scripture written, if it is not intended that you shall not serve sin? And when it is written to show you this the Lord’s intention, then of what good is that to you, what good can it ever be to you, if that intention is not fulfilled in you, and you are not kept from the service of sin?MEDM November 18, 1908, page 916.4

October 21, 1908

November 25, 1908