Jacob knew that he had wronged Esau, and that the wrong had been growing, and rankling in the breast of Esau all these years. And he knew that he could not meet Esau as he was.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.2

Jacob needed power with Esau. He had no physical power; there were no four hundred men with him; there was no power with him with which to defend himself against Esau.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.3

Jacob needed power with which to overcome Esau, and he knew it, and he took the true way to obtain POWER,—the way of God; the way of repentance; the way of consecration; the way of Christianity.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.4

Jacob, that night of wrestling, and the morning of clinging, gained power with Esau by gaining power with God. And if you wish power with MEN, with your greatest enemy, who is coming to meet you to-day, to-morrow, or the next day,—if you wish power with that man, gain power with God to-day.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.5

Power with God is the way, and the only true way, to POWER WITH MEN. Thou hast “power with God and with men,” said the Lord to Jacob, when he must meet the vengeful Esau.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.6

After that they met as brothers. Esau met Jacob as a brother instead of as an enemy, and did him all the kindness he could and they went on together as brethren. And that is the way things always go with men when one finds power with God.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.7

“Christian Naturalization” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 35, p. 556.

PATRIOTISM is not only love of the country of one’s birth, but also love of the country of one’s naturalization.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.8

Christian patriotism therefore is not only love of the country of one’s Christian birth, but also of one’s Christian naturalization.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.9

Naturalization is that procedure through which persons born in another country—aliens, foreigners—become citizens of a certain country of their choice.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.10

Is there, then, anything in Christian experience that corresponds to naturalization? Is there such a thing as Christian naturalization? Read Ephesians 2:11: “Wherefore remember, that being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and STRANGERS from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.11

So, you were aliens, were you not? Aliens become citizens of a government by naturalization. And, when in the act of being naturalized they take the oath of allegiance to the new government, the new sovereign, here are the specifications. I copied them the other day from a gentleman’s certificate of naturalization. You and I were aliens. We have become naturalized into the commonwealth of Israel, the kingdom of God. And now, what is involved? Read—ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.12

This to certify, etc., that J----B----“on being admitted to citizenship by this court, took the oath to support the Constitution of the United States of America, and that he then did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the emperor of Germany;” etc., etc.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.13

If he had been British subject, it would have read, “and particularly to the queen of Great Britain and of India.”ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.14

How much did he have to renounce?—“All allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatsoever.” And what in particular?—“And particularly to the emperor of Germany.” You see that sweeps the board.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.15

And how fully? and for how long?—“Absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity.” Thus he is to turn his back “absolutely” upon all his former “allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty WHATSOEVER.” That is in general. And in particular, to the one to whom he was particularly subject. That is, in earthly governments, the way aliens are naturalized.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.16

Now how is it with us who “were aliens”?—“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but FELLOW CITIZENS with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.” Ephesians 2:10, 20. Thank the Lord.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.17

And how does our naturalization in the commonwealth of Israel, our being made fellow citizens with the saints, stand as to allegiance? In this did you renounce and abjure, and have you renounced and abjured, “absolutely and forever,” “all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the”—prince of this world?ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.18

Are you a Christian patriot?ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.19

“Studies in Galatians. Galatians 1:3-5” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 35, p. 556.

Verses 3-5

“GRACE be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom lie glory forever and over. Amen.”ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.20

“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Such is the salutation in every epistle by Paul except that to the Hebrews; and, slightly varied, in both by Peter.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.21

Yet it is not by any means a mere form. These epistles have come to us by the word of God, which they are in truth. This salutation, then, though often repeated,—yea, even because often repeated;—comes to us as the word of God in greeting and full assurance of his favor and peace everlastingly held forth to every soul.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.22

Grace is favor. The word of God, then, extends his favor to every soul who ever meads it, or who hears it.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.23

His very name is Gracious—extending grace. His name is only what he is. And what he is, he is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” With him is “no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Therefore by him grace, boundless favor, is always extended to every soul. Oh, that all would only believe it!ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.24

“And peace.” He is the “God of peace.” There is no true peace, but that of God. And “there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” “The wicked are like the troubled sea, which can not rest.”ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.25

But all the world lieth in wickedness, yet the God of peace speaks peace to every soul. For Christ, the Prince of peace, “our peace,” hath made both God and man one, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, to make in himself of two—God and man—one new man, so making peace—“making peace through the blood of his cross.” Ephesians 2:14, 15, Colossians 1:20. “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,” he “came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh:” peace to you all. Therefore, always and forevermore, his salutation to every soul is, Peace to thee. And all from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ!ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.26

Oh, that every one would believe it; so that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding could keep the heart and mind through Christ Jesus.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.27

“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” Let it; that is all he asks of you. Don’t refuse it, and beat it back; let it.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.28

“Who gave himself for our SINS. O brother, sister, sinner, whosoever you be, laden with sin though you be, Christ gave himself for your sins. Let him have them. He bought them—your sins—with the awful price of his crucified self. Let him have them.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.29

He does not ask you to put all your sins away before you can come to him and be wholly his. He asks you to come, sins and all; and he will take away from you, and put away forever, all your sins. He gave himself for you, sins and all; he bought you, sins and all; let him have what he bought, let him have his own, Iet him have you, sins and all.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.30

He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.” Notice that to deliver us from this present evil world, he gave himself for our sins. That shows that all that there is of this present evil world to each one of us, is for our sins.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.31

And they were “our sins.” They belonged to us. We were responsible for them. And so far as we were concerned, this present evil world lay in “own personal selves, in our sins. But, bless the Lord, he gave himself for us, sins and all; he gave himself for our sins, ourselves and all; and that he did in order that he might deliver us from this present evil world.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.32

Would you like to be delivered from this present evil world?—Let him have yourself, sins and all which he bought, and which therefore by full right belong to him. Please do not rob him of what is his own, and so still remain in this present evil world, when at the same time you would like to be delivered from this present evil world. Please do not commit the additional sin of keeping what does not belong to you.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.33

As they were our sins, and he gave himself for them, it follows plainly enough that he gave himself to us for our sins. Then, when he gave himself for your sins, your sins became his; and when gave himself to you for your sins, he became yours. Let him have your sins, which are his, and take to them him, who is yours. Blessed exchange; for him you have as your very own, all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and all “according to the will of God.” Thank the Lord.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.34

Why should there not be to him “glory forever and ever”? And why should not you and all people say. Amen?ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.35

The Scriptures came not “by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me.” 2 Samuel 22:2. Then the Scriptures are the words of the Holy Spirit. Then if you will the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and to be perfectly sure that he speaks to you, just open your Bibles and read.ARSH August 29, 1899, page 556.36

“Editorial Note” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 35, p. 557.

THE word of God is quick and powerful. “Quick” signifies “living.” The word of God is living. Is it that to you? When you and I receive that word so that it is in us, we have life. Only so much of the word of God as you get in you, will do you any good. Christ lived by the word of God. The word of God is living and powerful. So then if you find yourself weak, and ready to fall, what is the matter?—You lack the word of God. “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”ARSH August 29, 1899, page 557.1

August 22, 1899

September 5, 1899