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CHILDREN OF GOD

AND

UNION WITH CHRIST

PART I

BY

SAMUEL B. SCHIEFFELIN

Writer of "The Foundations of History: A Series of First Things;"

"Milk for Babes;

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"Children's Bread;" "A Message to

Ruling Elders;" "Words to Christian Teachers;"

"People's Hymn Book," Etc.

WITH A PREFATORY NOTE BY

REV. JOHN HALL, D.D., NEW YORK.

"And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only true God
and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent."-
."-John 17:35

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THE "Fatherhood of God" is sometimes used in such a way as to suggest that all human creatures are, in the same sense, His children. Men are often tempted, in view of our nation being called Christian, and of their relation to some Church, to count themselves in the family of God. They overlook the fact that we are a fallen race, and forget that a new birth is needed in order to our being, in the Bible sense of the words, Children of God.

There is crying need for clear convictions on this matter-convictions founded on the inspired word of God. To that word the writer appeals from beginning to end, and that not by collecting detached phrases, but by presenting in their true connection, the full and clear statements of the holy oracles. He has been a life-long student of Scripture, as all who have looked into his many other books well know, and in this volume he brings the Divine light, in a reverent spirit,to the readers' mind on two of the gravest questions that can be raised: Am I a child of God? Is Christ a Saviour whom I can trust, sinner as I am?

There are teachers in our time who credit the blessed Master with all the elements of perfection in His life, and who suggest that

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AUG

1915

men are saved by their appreciating and imitating His purity, benevolence, and other virtues, Such appreciative imitation a true Christian must cultivate, but he must not ignore our Saviour's humiliation, His dying for the sins of His people, and the necessity for union with Him, in order to entrance into the ranks of God's children. Jesus is a matchless teacher, the Prophet sent of God; but He is no less the Great High Priest, through whose offering of Himself a basis is laid, on the ground of which a holy Ruler of the Universe can be just and yet the justifier of a sinner who believes in Jesus and so is in union with Him.

This essential truth is clearly set forth in this volume, in the light in which it stands out in the Old Testament and in the New, for the types and predictions of the one have their realization in the other.

Deeply impressed with the importance of these doctrines, and the need of their being presented to all men, now and at all times, I cannot but wish for this book deep and prayerful study by many. I can vouch for its harmony with scripture, not simply from my knowledge of the writer, but from having read it, and been so impressed by its truthfulness and its timeliness as to ask the privilege of writing these prefatory paragraphs. It will, I trust, be a blessing to many.

JOHN HALL.

INTRODUCTION.

"Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures" (Matt. 22: 29).

MANY, even of the children of God, think of the Lord Jesus Christ, as having left this world eighteen hundred years ago, and as being now. in heaven, as our advocate; and do not realise "that all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28: 18). "Angels and authorities being made subject unto Him" (1 Pet. 3: 22). "And by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body of the Church" (Col. 1: 17) And He is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head of all things to the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all " (Eph. 1: 20). They do not realise that the Lord Jesus Christ, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, has been ever since His ascension, and is now, with His Church; and has a living union with every individual believer in Him. He says, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18: 20). Few believe this; if more did, prayer meetings of two or three

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