This giving up of our life in order to get CHRIST’S life instead, is variously spoken of as yielding ourselves to become His servants, submitting ourselves to GOD, etc. The question arises, How do we submit ourselves to GOD? It is simple. Look at your life: see what things pertain solely to the present, natural life, those things that you do by nature. Take a survey of the things that you are addicted to, which you know are not Christ-like, but which cause you condemnation, even by your own heart. Now you have doubtless done this: you have also repeatedly tried to overcome them and put them away, but have not been able to do so. But you sincerely desire to be rid of them.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 1

So at last the surrender is made. We give ourselves to the LORD, and take Him instead. How do we get Him? We cannot tell anything about the process: we only know that it is by faith. “Ye are all the children of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS.” Then we are buried with Him by baptism unto death, thus signifying the putting off of the old life, the crucifying of the old man, and the taking of CHRIST’S life, in whom we rise to walk in newness of life.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 2

If ye then be risen with CHRIST, 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. Colossians 3:1-3.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 3

But by the grace of GOD I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of GOD which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 4

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:6.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 5

That ye 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. Ephesians 4:22-24.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 6

Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of GOD. 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 7

Do not these scriptures state as plainly as can be that in becoming CHRIST’S we take His life in exchange for ours? It is not simply that CHRIST gave His life to purchase us, but that He gave His life to us; our life has been forfeited, and we are virtually dead,-dead in trespasses and sins, and He gives His life to us that we may actually have life. Henceforth, then, it is to be the life of CHRIST that meets the temptations of Satan, and labours to do the Father’s will. But JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; therefore the life which is given to us will present the same characteristics that the life of CHRIST presented when He was on the earth in person; His life in us must be as strong to do and to resist as it was when He lived in Judea.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 8

How can we live this life?-Just as we received it-by faith. Read carefully and remember the following texts:-BEST March 1, 1893, par. 9

If ye then be risen with CHRIST, seek those things which are above, where CHRIST sitteth on the right hand of GOD. Colossians 3:1.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 10

Now if we be dead with CHRIST, we believe that we shall also live with him; knowing that CHRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto GOD. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Romans 6:8-11.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 11

I am crucified with CHRIST: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 12

For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power; in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of CHRIST; buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of GOD, who hath raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2:9-12.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 13

This is the order of the new life: Having accepted CHRIST’S life, we remember that the future life is to be His, not ours. Then the same spirit of self-renunciation that led us to accept CHRIST must be ever present with us to lead us to hold Him. We must pray not only for a clean heart to be created in us, but also for a steadfast spirit to be renewed within us. And how do we hold Him?-Just the same as we accepted Him and were raised with Him; through faith in the working of GOD, who raised Him from the dead. That is, with an intense longing that His life shall be manifest in ours, we lay hold of it through our faith in the power that raised CHRIST from the dead. We know that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can quicken us, for that is why CHRIST was raised from the dead. He “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”BEST March 1, 1893, par. 14

This is that which Paul means when he expresses the desire, “that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection.” Philippians 3:10. It is what he wishes for us when he prays, “that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which he wrought in CHRIST, when He raised Him from the dead.” Ephesians 1:18-20.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 15

There can be no greater exhibition of power than that which is required to raise the dead. It is creative power. And this is the power which is given to us in CHRIST, the acceptance of which we acknowledge when we are buried with Him by baptism into His death, and are raised in Him. How true it is that “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” 2 Peter 1:3. And it is the manifestation of the power of CHRIST’S life in our lives that gives us a sure hope of eternal life with Him. For says the apostle:-BEST March 1, 1893, par. 16

Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5.BEST March 1, 1893, par. 17

February 15, 1893

May 1, 1893