is our high and heavenly calling! A little bit of victory here and a little bit there is a human concept not based on the authority of the Scriptures. Let us read James 2:10 and believe it with all of our heart. Then we will be forever finished with the usual, tragic misunderstanding. We suffer inevitable damage to our soul if we are bound by a single sin in a single area. And if this one sin gains the upper hand, it is enough to hinder us from entering the kingdom of God. This is all it takes to destroy us. My extensive experience confirms this fully. With my own eyes I have seen that one after the other, even several in a row, have been ruined or have landed outside because of a single sin— that is, a single sin in a single area—in spite of their good points and partly in spite of their great zeal. Sinning in a single area is enough to cut us down. Unfortunately, most people lack this light, and as a result they can easily end up very badly. The fear of God and the utmost seriousness are absolutely necessary. I have seen brothers who gave a very hopeful impression, but sin in a single area led them outside, with some of them falling away from God while others also became hardened. For example, a few of them were destroyed because of unrighteousness in money matters. Being unrighteous in financial matters is not offset by all the good in other areas. Inevitably you will be inevitably destroyed, sooner or later, if you are not wholeheartedly converted. Others have damaged or even destroyed themselves by transgressing this law of life: “Judge not!” They gave in to this sinful desire to judge or criticize others with the result that they became hard and bitter in their minds. They criticized and judged others to such an extent that they, in a manner of speaking, sentenced themselves to death and of course, consequently lost fellowship with others. However, they could have had many other good qualities. But as the Word says, this is of no avail. The Word says that they are guilty of everything. It isn’t that difficult to understand that all sin is connected. One sin draws another sin along with it. It starts with one sin and continues with others. Your life is in mortal danger if you have anything whatsoever to do with a single sin. Others were hurt by or even ruined by the evil sin that goes by the name of envy. They gave in to the temptation to become great or even be the greatest. They looked askance at another brother who was regarded as greater than they, and consequently became hard, bitter, and evil, and left for that reason. Thus all the good things they said and did were in vain as far as their personal lives were concerned. This is of the utmost seriousness! The ominous steps they took! It is also evident that it is very difficult to genuinely repent of such evil, although it is possible. Therefore let us fear the Lord and be vigilant against our sinful inclinations! Even a person’s lack of a desire to work, or laziness, can ruin his salvation and happiness in spite of all his good qualities. In one way, it is almost unbelievable, and yet it is true, because this is also a flagrant transgression of one of the laws of the Spirit of life. We could continue to mention each single sinful area like this. Any kind of sin is enough to destroy everything. A simple picture can illustrate this perfectly. An excellent vessel constructed from good material will lose its entire liquid content through one single hole in the bottom, even though the rest of it is in perfect order. Likewise, if we think of a ship with a hole in the bottom, a hole in a single plank will cause the ship to fill with water in spite of the many other planks that are in good condition. Thus all the other things that are in order and possibly in excellent condition are a false comfort when one part is damaged. Blessed is everyone who takes this matter to heart with deadly earnestness! This is the meaning of James 2:10.Elias Aslaksen

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:15-16. Jesus was the disciples’ Helper as long as He was in their midst. However, He knew that after His resurrection, He would ascend into heaven. Therefore, because He cared for them and loved them, He said to them that He would pray His Father to send them a Helper who would be with them forever. They were to be His witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth; for that reason they needed a Helper who would empower them and lead them. Acts 1:8. This is also holds true in our days. We shall follow Jesus and become like Him; therefore we need a Helper to guide us into all the truth. “Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17. The world lives in darkness. Religious people also live in darkness, and even if they do receive the Holy Spirit, they will not do as He says. All those who walk in the light thank the Father for the Holy Spirit, whom they have received as a gift, showing Him the sincerest gratitude by loving Him and listening to what the Spirit says and acting accordingly. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26. Thus the Holy Spirit is the Mediator for every disciple who will be in the bride; He teaches him and reminds him of everything that Jesus has said. He threatens no one; on the contrary, He works untiringly according to the laws of liberty in order to lead each individual to perfection. In the new covenant, we have the church where Jesus has appointed apostles, prophets, shepherds, evangelists and teachers, so that the saints can be fully equipped for the work of ministry for the edification of the body of Christ. Eph. 4:11-12. Therefore no one should lack anything, as far as that goes, but everyone receives all the help he needs from the Holy Spirit and from the servants in the church who are in our midst. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Gal. 5:22-23. First of all, we have received the Spirit, and if we let Him work freely with us, we will receive all the fruits of the Spirit. Now all these fruits are ours—they belong to us—and we can let those with whom we meet and associate benefit from them. We have a right to do that, and it is a joy always to have such especially good-tasting fruits with you. And when they ask, “Where do these fruits come from,” we must be thankful for the Holy Spirit’s work that has resulted in such desirable and lovely fruits. I would like to ask one question: Is the Holy Spirit permitted to work like this with you, brother and sister? If not, repent while there is time, or you will end up as one who despises God’s gift.Andreas Nilsen