Thank you for your good letter, which I am now forwarding to Aksel in Drøbak. It is a joy to hear from friends, now that we are in these lonely regions. Br. Andresen in Sarpsborg just opened his heart in a letter to me, saying that he is in debt and that it is weighing on him. I forwarded this letter to Aslaksen who sent him 50.00 kroner; I recently sent him 10.00 kroner, and we have also asked the women’s group in Horten to help him with something. Aslaksen forwarded Andresen’s letter to Aksel. I have enclosed a letter from Aksel.

God is our comfort in these days. If we did not have Him to turn to in all our endeavors, everything would look dark; but in the darkness the Lord is like the light of the noonday sun for us. Blessed is everyone who has found this light. I am happy that you are doing well and have met some people who fear God. But you also miss having someone to talk to about the inner ways. Truly, these ways are hidden and can only be revealed by entering into them, and entering into them is wisdom. Who finds this wisdom? It is not even revealed to the soul who is under grace; it is found only in those for whom grace has not been in vain, because wisdom is the life of Christ.

There is no one to talk to here. Folly is preeminent. However, in Ålesund I found two men from Kristi Menighet who were able to swallow the truth and who rejoiced in it, but I’ve only had the opportunity to meet them twice.

God is with us in the work; you can see that from Aksel’s letter. Helga Haanes is starting to wake up again. That is a joy.

I have thought about the “body” and the sin outside the body. The ungodly unite with sin outside the body, and therefore they go out from the body. They leave their own abode just as Satan did. This is also the reason ungodly people usually defile their own abode (body). Those who are fully in the body and remain there will protect it. We have been baptized by one Spirit into one body. The Spirit gathers to the body and shows the way through all of this; but the forces of wickedness lead away from the body in order to defile it. The man of sin (Antichrist), according to the spirit, will be completely removed from the body even while he remains in the body; in other words, he will sit in the temple of God (the body that is created in God’s image). How can this take place? It happens when people enjoy sin with and in their bodies. Consequently, the body gradually loses its ability to provide more pleasure, so they have to proceed deeper into the body and thereby corrupt the nobler parts (spiritually speaking). In this way, by seeking pleasure, they go out of the body little by little. But, in contrast, by denying ourselves, we gradually take more place in the body, up to the whole fullness of God. Just as someone can make progress on the inner ways through wisdom and fill their body with all of God’s knowledge, similarly an ungodly person will fill their body with all folly. This severs all connections to the body, and a person finds themself in agreement with sin on the outside. The blood of Christ, which unites the body, is not able to work. In this way, the enemies of Christ are able to be gathered as a footstool beneath His feet (i.e., outside the body). Perhaps this is difficult to comprehend, but the Spirit of God will make it more clear when we have an opportune time. We understand in part. And what we can only see dimly can only be explained dimly. However, that which is dim will soon radiate in full brightness.

Warm greetings.

Your devoted brother,

Address: Ålesund.