The Way to the Father

This faith requires obedience (deeds); otherwise it dies and is no more. A soul in this state ought to have two things in particular in mind: paying heed and faithfulness.

My walk of faith—advancing in sanctification—is from light to light, so that the body of sin, which by grace through faith is anchored in the body of Christ on the cross, is gradually being destroyed at the same time as the light, the divine nature, increases. In this state we sigh under the burden and eagerly await the redemption of the body (Rom. 7:24, 8:23; 2 Cor. 5:4) because we are forever finished with corruptible things. However, our hope is steadfast; therefore we pray patiently and joyfully as we are being molded into the image of Christ in His death. In this way we die continually in weakness according to the flesh, but we are also raised with power to the same degree invisibly by faith now (the growth of the body) and visibly (in its totality) at the appearing of Christ.

As the soul dies to the law as a tutor, so he dies to sin in its true sense. This occurs in a moment. Sin denotes a deed. Dying to sinning is not sanctification. Sanctification begins after I have been set free from sin (Rom. 6:22), although it does denote a certain kind of cleansing. John 15:2-3. The difference is this: Instead of it indicating a cleansing from sinful deeds, it indicates the destruction of the root of sin (the body of sin) as death is working in the soul by faith as God reveals His knowledge and His light. During this process I do not commit sin since that which is sinful is surrendered into death as soon as the light shines—unless I fall (unbelief). Yet it has been there (in me) all the time, but I did not know it; therefore it was not sin to me (Jas. 4:17), for the light is the law, and sin is transgression of the law. This is what is written in 1 John 1:8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” We have sin in the sense that we have a body of sin, but to sin—to commit sin—is something totally different! It is dark where I do not have light—the knowledge of God—and in this darkness I do (without being aware of it) what is wrong. These deeds are called “deeds of the body” (Rom. 8:13) that do not result in condemnation, in contrast to the works of the flesh which are sin and whose wages are death. Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rom. 6:23. However, the deeds of the body must constantly be put to death by the Spirit if we desire to live in the Spirit with a pure conscience, for if this is not done— agreeing with the light (judgment—Psalm 94:15) when God reveals a matter to me—it will from that moment on be a work of the flesh, which is sin.

The person who speaks spitefully or indifferently about the law that has been given by God is either in total darkness (blind) or defiled by the powers of darkness (nearsighted). Among the latter there are now many people who live in a false (harmful and corrupting) liberty. When there is talk about freedom, it is a question of freedom from what? Freedom from the evil or from the good? From sin or from righteousness? From folly or from wisdom? Not all freedom is good!!! But freedom from sin, from everything that is evil and useless—that is good! Jeremiah testified about some people who had made themselves free, saying, “I will not serve . . . .” Ch. 2:20, 31. Instead of serving in and for the good, they ran on their own ways—hither and thither—to seek love, i.e., in order to satisfy their lusts. This is the liberty most people have in these days. Flee from it! For the corruption that is in the world comes from the lusts. 2 Pet. 1:4. You, on the other hand, take up your cross without fail and follow your Lord and Master by giving up and forsaking everything, denying yourself, bringing your body into subjection, and by being frugal and moderate in all things (1 Cor. 9:25-27; 1 Tim. 6:6), then you will be free from Satan and all his followers together with all their works of darkness, folly, and utter madness. This is a blessed liberty! Every one who fears God with all of his heart will obtain this liberty. If he does not, then his “godly fear” is only hypocrisy! Blessed is he who has experienced this! The shout of a King is not far from him, for there is righteousness in his house. Num. 23:21; Ps. 118:15.

Only one way has been made from darkness to light, from the world to the Father who is the eternal God—it is the way of the cross. Hallelujah! Everything that is in me praises God!