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“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8: 5)

Note that this depends on the previous statement, “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:4). The things of the Spirit are the commandments of God, because the law is spiritual. The flesh serves the law of sin (see Gal. 5:19-21, where the works of the flesh are described). But Christ came in the same flesh, to show the power of the Spirit over the flesh. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom. 8:8,9).

Now no one will claim that the flesh of a person is any different after his conversion from what it was before. Least of all will the converted person himself say so; for he has continual evidence of its perversity. But if he is really converted, and the Spirit of Christ dwells in him, he is not more in the power of the flesh. Even so Christ came in the same sinful flesh, yet He was without sin, because he was always led by the Spirit.

“The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). The flesh never becomes converted. It is enmity against God; and that enmity consists of opposition to His law. But Christ is our Peace. In His own flesh He abolishes the enmity, so that all who are crucified with Him are at peace with God; that is, they are subject to His law, which is in their hearts.

Waggoner, Waggoner on Romans, p.129

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“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried to the sea…the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Ps. 40:1,2,7)

Do you not remember way back in olden times they had cities of refuge? When some accident happened, as when a n ax flew off the handle and struck a man and killed him, what was the man to do? He was to strike out with all his might for the city of refuge.

If he got there he was safe, and he was perfectly free. But suppose he went out of town? Just as certain as he went out he was responsible, his blood was upon his own head. He was safe [only] as long as he stayed in the refuge. And he was to stay there until the high priest died. When the high priest died, he was perfectly free, and could go anywhere.

We have sinned. What are the wages of sin? Death. Then who is after us? Death. Who has the power of death? Satan. Then who is after us? Satan. And we “have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18).

Where is that hope? “In Christ.” Who is our city of refuge? “Christ.” Who is our enemy? Satan, death."

Now then, when we are in Christ, our refuge, can Satan touch us? He cannot.

Suppose we go out before the priesthood closes, what then? We have no protection and [Satan] will take us. Where is a person only able to meet the enemy? In the city. And in the city he does not have to meet the enemy, does he? The walls of the city meets the enemy. That shield of faith that quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked, that shield of faith which is Jesus Christ, is the walls of our city of refuge, and the fiery darts of the enemy cannot get past it at all.

Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p.204

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“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3)

There is a common idea that this means that Christ simulated sinful flesh; that He did not take upon Himself actual sinful flesh, but only what appeared to be such. But the Scriptures do not teach such a thing. “In all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in all things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17). He was “born of a woman, born under the law…that He might redeem those who were under the law” (Gal. 4:4,5).

He took the same flesh that all have who are born of woman. A parallel text to Romans 8:3,4 is found in 2 Cor. 5:21. The former says that Christ was sent “in the likeness of sinful flesh…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.” The latter says that God “made Him…to be sin for us,” although He knew no sin, “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

All the comfort that we can get from Christ lies in the knowledge that He was made in all things as we are. Otherwise we should hesitate to tell Him of our weaknesses and failures. The priest who makes sacrifices for sins must be one who “can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also beset by weakness” (Heb. 5:2).

This applies perfectly to Christ; “for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). This is why we may come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy. So perfectly has Christ identified Himself with us, that He even now feels our sufferings.

Waggoner, Waggoner on Romans, pp. 128,129

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“I counsel you to buy of Me gold refined [tried] in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Rev. 3:18)

What is tried? Faith. Are you to expect your faith to endure that test as gold passing through fire? Yes!

The trial of your faith, I care not how weak it may be, is more precious in the sight of our Wonderful Counselor than all the gold and jewels in all the safe deposit vaults that are on earth.

What does He call it? “More precious than gold that perishes” (1 Pet. 1:7). Let us then thank Him that He regards our weak, trembling faith like that. Haven’t we there one of the greatest possible encouragements that the Lord can offer?

You say, “I haven’t any faith.” Well, the Lord says you have, and I say, thank Him for what you have. I do not care how little you have, though it may be like the mustard seed, thank Him that you have it, and thank Him that it is more precious to Him than all the gold and wealth of this earth.

You are not to question whether you have faith or not. God says you have it, and it is so. By that “Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world” (Jn. 1:9), God has planted faith in every heart that is born into this world. God will cause that faith to grow exceedingly, and He will reveal His righteousness to us as it grows “from faith to faith.”

Where does faith come from? God gave it to us. Who is the Author of faith? Christ, and that Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world is Jesus Christ. This is the faith that is in every man’s heart. If each one uses the faith which he has, he will never have any lack of faith.

Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, pp. 200-202

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“We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4: 15, 16)

The gospel of God is “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3). Read the history of David, and of the kings who descended from him, and who became the ancestors of Jesus, and you will see that on the human side the Lord was handicapped by His ancestry as badly as anybody can ever be. Many of them were licentious and cruel idolaters. Although Jesus was this compassed with infirmity, He “committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth.” 1 Pet. 2:22). This is to give courage to people in the lowest conditions of life. It is to show that the power of the gospel of the grace of God can triumph over heredity.

As with Christ, so with us; it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom. He who fears reproach, or who makes his lowly birth, or his inherited traits, and excuse for his shortcomings, will fail of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ went to the lowest depths of humiliation in order that all who are in those depths might, if they would, ascend with Him to the utmost heights of exaltation.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Pet. 4: 1,2)

Waggoner, Waggoner on Romans, pp. 12, 13

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Morning Meditation has replace Soul Foods

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“For thus says the Lord: ‘You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money’” (Isa. 52:3).

When we sold ourselves what did we get? We sold ourselves for nothing. And if it costs us anything to get back, that means everlasting ruin, does it not? “You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” It cost the Lord something, however. It cost Him everything. But all this He gives us, so that it costs us nothing. The price was paid, but not by us.

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat” (Isa. 55:1). Whoever have no money, He will attend to the buying, He will see that we get the article.

“Buy from me…white garments that you may be clothed” (Rev. 3:18). The description that we have is, “that garment that is woven in the loom of heaven, in which there is not a single thread of human devising.” That garment was woven in a human body-the flesh of Christ, in the same flesh that you and I have. That was the loom in which God wove that garment for you and me to wear in the flesh, and He wants us to wear it now, as well as when the flesh is made immortal in the end.

What was the loom? Christ in His human flesh. What was made there? The garment of righteousness, the righteousness of Christ-the life that He lived-that is the garment. He wants the garment to be ours, but does not want us to forget who is the Weaver. It is not ourselves, but it is He who is with us. His character is to be in us, just as God was in Him, and His character is to be woven and transformed into us through these sufferings and temptations and trials which we meet. God is the Weaver, but not without us. It is the cooperation of the divine and human-the mystery of God in you and me-the same mystery that was in the gospel. That is the third angel’s message.

Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, pp. 206, 207

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“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19,20).

Many hesitate to make a start to serve the Lord because they fear that He will not accept them. I reply by a question: If you go to a store and make a purchase, will you receive the goods? The fact that you bought them is sufficient proof, not only that you are willing but that you are anxious to receive them.

Let us apply this to the sinner coming to Christ. “He purchased [us] with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). “He gave Himself for us” (Tit. 2: 14).

He bought the whole world of sinners, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16). Jesus said, “ The bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (Jn. 6: 51). “When we were still without strength…Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5: 6,8).

“But I am not worthy.” That means you are not worth the price paid, and you fear to come lest Christ will repudiate the purchase. You might have some fear on that score if the bargain were not sealed and the price not already paid. But you have nothing to do with the question of worth. Christ made the purchase with His eyes wide open. He is not at all disappointed when you come to Him and He finds that you are worthless. If He was satisfied to make the bargain, you should be the last one to complain.

Most wonderful of all, He bought you for the very reason that you were not worthy. His eye saw in you great possibilities, and He bought you not for what you were then or are now worth, but for what He could make of you.

We have no righteousness, therefore He bought us, “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, pp. 69-72

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“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2: 5, 13)

Jesus tells us to buy of Him “gold [refined] tried in the fire,” which is the faith which works by love, the genuine article. What is it that is to be tried with severe trials?

Your faith which is “more precious than gold.” Then, you see, as everyone’s faith is to be so tried, he needs the faith that has stood the trial. We have the testimony: “Here are those who keep the commandments of God and “have faith in Jesus? (Rev. 14:12). No, the “have” is not there. They keep the commandments of God and [keep] the faith of Jesus. This is the genuine article; that is the faith which, in Him, endured the test.

That is the faith which met every fiery trial that Satan knows with all the power he could rally. That faith endured the test. So, in the expression “buy from Me that faith that has endured,” is there not the same thought that we have learned in “this mind…which was also in Christ Jesus”? (Phil. 2:5). When that “mind” is in me that was in Him, will not that mind do in me precisely what it did in Him? How is it that we serve the law of God? “With the mind I myself serve the law of God (Rom. 7:25). Christ in this world every moment served the law of God. How did He do it? With the mind. By what process of the mind? By faith. Did not the faith of Jesus keep the commandments of God perfectly, all the time? And is not that the faith that works by love?

Isn’t that the third angels’ message when He says, “Buy from me gold refined [tried] in the fire [love and faith], and white garments [the righteousness of Christ], that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed”? (Rev. 3:18). We see how the mind that was in Christ will stand all of the trials that this world can bring. Will the mind of Christ in Him do differently from the mind of Christ in me or in any other person? No.

Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p. 205