It was a blessing to have you here with us, but the time flew by, and once again we had to part. How blessed it will be over there, where we never will be parted again.

It is a great joy to see your zeal and faithfulness in our common Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. It strengthens confidence in our fellowship, since we know that zeal firmly establishes us in hope. And yet, it is not as if the word of God has failed; because there is a zeal that is expressed outwardly but that works inwardly upon us, so that what is written may be fulfilled: “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” That which is divided is not perfect, for which reason our zeal should not burn excessively over that which is in part, but instead we should take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ and put that which is in part in its place in the whole—that which is perfect. Those things that most certainly and most quickly bring us away from that which is “divided” are the most perfect.

I have read your letter to Br. Ellefsen, and I rejoice over the light God has given you, dear brother. I was also pleased to read your article in Skjulte Skatter; most people will probably not understand it correctly, even though it actually explains the truth accurately.

When it concerns putting off dead works, or in other words, outward works, I believe that through the body, laws have been given by which these works can be eliminated, and that a person has no right to undertake anything beyond these laws.

The first law concerns the works of the flesh (manifest sins). Gal. 5. These come about when the flesh desires and covets. We are drawn and enticed by our own desires. When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. We are to abstain from these works.

The second concerns deeds of the body, which are to be put to death by the Spirit.

Anything we undertake outside of these two laws, which have to do with ceasing from works (evil works), must be bondage of one sort or another. That’s why the Holy Spirit and the apostles didn’t give many commandments to the Gentiles. They only asked them to abstain from sacrifices to idols, from adultery, from what was strangled, and from blood. Because of how we were created, it is inevitable that the body of sin will be nourished rather than being committed into death, if we go beyond the laws established through and in the body.

Several of the brothers and sisters in Sarpsborg now want to leave the group there (according to a telephone call that Andresen made to Aksel) because they don’t think that Pettersen is really able to discern what is going on. It is a great pity that we won’t be able to help such people. There are a lot of people there who aren’t really interested, and it would be pointless for those who are interested to drag them along against their will. From what I understand, they are no longer willing to wait for Pettersen to figure things out for himself.

They also need some guidance in Porsgrunn, but Sarpsborg is the first priority. You need to present yourself for service. God only uses those who present themselves. Already in the fall, Andresen said that he really wanted you to come to Sarpsborg. His address is: Johs. Andresen, 52 Oscarsgate.

Warm greetings from us here.

Your devoted brother,

Please pass this letter on to Br. Hansen in Kristiania, with my warmest greetings.