Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.2

That is what Christ did to deliver us. Now read in Romans:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.3

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.4

Just as he also himself likewise did that to deliver us, so we also ourselves likewise are to yield, in order to be delivered. And when we do so, we are delivered. He did that in order to deliver us, who all our lifetime were subject to bondage; we do that, and then we are free from the bondage, and sin has no more dominion over us. Thus Romans 6:11-14 is the response of faith in the individual, to Christ’s action as in Hebrews 2:14, 15.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.5

But the Lord did more for him than to raise him from the dead, and he has done more for us in him than to raise us from the dead. He died; he was raised from the dead. We died with him, and what then? Did we rise with him? Have we a resurrection with him? Have we life from the dead in him? We are crucified with him; we died with him; we are buried with him; and he was raised from the dead. Then what of us? — We are risen with him. But God did more for him then to raise him from the dead. God did more with him then to raise him from the dead. He raised him, and also seated him at his own right hand in heaven. What of us? Do we stop short? — No, sir. Are we not in him? As we are in him while he was alive on the earth, as we are in him on the cross, as we are in him in death, as we are in him in the resurrection, so we are in him in the ascension, and we are in him at the right hand of God.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.6

That would follow, anyway, from what we read last night; but let us read this itself in the Scriptures, and see that it is certainly so. As we have followed God’s working in him so far, shall we follow it all the way? Last night and in the lessons before, we were glad to go with him through temptation, and gain the victory. We were glad last night with him to go to the cross, and find ourselves crucified there, so that we could say in genuine faith: “I am crucified with Christ.” We were glad to go into the grave with him, into death with him, so that it can be a genuine reckoning of faith to reckon ourselves also to be dead indeed. We are glad of all that. Let us be glad also to come forth from death with him, in order that we may live a new life as he. And when we have came forth with him from the dead - for “if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” — let us rise with him as he is risen - not only from the dead, but to where he is. If God says so, if he proposes to carry us there, and to carry the subject that far, shall we go? — Assuredly, yes. Let us not think strange of it if he should; let us follow with him there just as freely as we followed with him against temptation, and to the cross, and into death.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.7

Therefore take the second chapter of Ephesians, beginning with the fourth verse:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.8

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.9

Quicken is to make alive, make us alive together with Christ. Next verse:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.10

“And hath raised us up together.” Together with whom? — Christ. “And made us sit together.” With whom? — Christ. Where? — “Made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” The word “places” is supplied there in our version. It is also supplied in Ephesians 1:2; 1:20.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.11

In the Greek it is epouraniois, and in the verbal translation is rendered “the heavenlies.” God has given us life together with him: God has raised us up together, and made us sit together with him, wherever he sits. Where then does he sit? — “He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” “When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3. God “has raised us up together with him; and made us sit together with him,” where he sits.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.12

Now the German makes it plainer than our Authorized Version, and plainer than this translation of the Greek even:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.13

Da wir tot waren in den Sunden, hat er uns samt Christo [that word samt means along with. And that is the Greek word literally. The Greek means “along with” “together” and “at the same time;” and so the German words give it] - hat er uns samt Christo lebendig gemacht [made alive us along with him],... und hat uns samt ihm auferwecket [along with him waked up, and not simply waked up like a man that is asleep and gets his eyes open, but still lies there, but waked up in such a way that he gets up. So that we with him are given life from the dead, and he has waked us up in such a way that we get up and rise with him.] und samt ihm in das himmlische Wesen gesetzt, in Christo Jesu.GCB February 26, 1895, page 363.14

I have drawn out the definition of that word Wesen in full here, and it signifies essence, existence, being, manner of being, nature, character, disposition, air demeanor, conduct; means of existence, property, estate, economy; existing arrangement, system, concern.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.1

So he has made us sit with Christ in heaven; in the heavenly existence; in the heavenly essence; made us sit together with him in the heavenly being; in the heavenly manner of being; in the heavenly nature; in the heavenly character; in the heavenly disposition; in the heavenly air; in the heavenly demeanor; in the heavenly conduct; he has made us sit together with him in the heavenly means of existence - for “our life is hid with Christ in God;” our means of existence is in heaven — “Give us this day our daily bread” — the heavenly means of existence, heavenly property, estate, economy, existing arrangement, the existing order of things. We belong to heaven, to the heavenly system altogether.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.2

That is where God has put us in Christ. So then, as we, along with him, in the heavenly existence, essence, air, disposition, and all, are made to sit in Christ Jesus, shall we sit there in him?GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.3

In other words, shall we rise? What is the word? — Arise; shine. Arise first, and then shine. We cannot shine until we rise. But what will this truth do for us? Will it not raise us? How high? Do you not see that it takes us out of this world, and puts us along with Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom? Is it not plain, then, that Jesus Christ has brought heaven to earth to him who believes? Therefore it is written, he “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” The kingdom of heaven is likened unto this so and so; the kingdom of heaven is like unto so and so; the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand. Well, what is that kingdom of heaven? He translates us into it; has translated us into it. Shall we reside there, and enjoy its blessed atmosphere, and enjoy the disposition, the air, all the system and manner of existence that belong there, and belong to us there?GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.4

Now we cannot raise ourselves even to this height; we are to submit to the truth, and it will raise us. Look at it again. In the first chapter of Ephesians, beginning with the fifteenth verse:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.5

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers [and this is the prayer]; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.6

To how many? To whom? For how many is this prayer written? Will you take the prayer, then, yourself this evening? and accept the thing that is prayed for on your behalf? Whose word is it, anyway? Is it merely a prayer of a man? Is it not the word of God? Then is not the word of Jesus Christ by his Spirit expressing his will and his wish concerning us as to what we shall have? Let us accept it, then. It is his will. Read on:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.7

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; 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 [toward us] who believe.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.8

He wants us to know what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe. And the Greek word there is the word from which comes our word “dynamite.”GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.9

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, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly [existence, in heaven].GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.10

The German is; “Seated at his right in heaven.”GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.11

Now that power of God raised up Jesus Christ, and set him at his right in heaven. Every soul of us will say that; but he wants you and me to know the working of that power in ourselves which raised up Christ, and seated him there. When we know the working of that power in us that raised up Christ, and seated him there, what will it do for us? — It will raise us up, and seat us there. (Continued on page 365.)GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.12

EDITORIAL NOTES

No Authorcode

THE committees for the Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association were announced in the meeting of the Health Reform Institute as follows:—GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.13

On Resolutions - D. T. Jones, N. C. McClure, A. O. Tait.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.14

On Nominations - H. P. Holser, J. Fargo, R. C. Porter.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.15

THE delegates to the Conference are invited to the Sanitarium to dinner today (Tuesday) at 12:30. Dinner will be spread in the Dormitory dining hall. After the repast, teams will be provided to convey those who are unable to walk, to the Haskell Home.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.16

A CORRECTION. — On page 341, in the second paragraph of the “General Conference Proceedings,” it should read C. H. Jones, chairman of the Committee on Nominations.GCB February 26, 1895, page 364.17

REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

February 27, 1895 - EXTRA, NO. 15