Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/203

 ity to God, a living sacrifice, side by side with that of Jesus, it is accepted of God ; and in that very act the spiritual life is begun. Such find themselves at once thinking and a&ing as the new [transformed] mind prompts, even to the cruci- fixion of the human desires. From the moment of conse- cration these are reckoned of God as "new creatures."

Thus to these embryo " new creatures ' ' old things [human desires, hopes, plans, etc.] pass away, and all things become new. The embryo "new creature " continues to grow and develop, as the old human nature, with its hopes, aims, de- sires, etc., is crucified. These two processes progress simul- taneously, from the time consecration begins until the death of the human and the birth of the spiritual result. As the Spirit of God continues to unfold, through his Word, more and more of his plans, he thus quickens even our mortal bodies (Rom. 8 : n), enabling these mortal bodies to ren- der him service ; but in due time we will have new bodies spiritual, heavenly, adapted in all respe&s to the new, divine mind.

The Urth of the "new creature" is in the resurrection (Col. i : 1 8); and the resurre&ion of this class is designated the first (or choice) resurre&ion. (Rev 20 : 6.) It should be remembered that we are not actually spirit beings until the resurre&ion, though from the time we receive the spirit of adoption we are reckoned as such. (Rom. 8 : 33-25 ; Eph. i : 13, 14; Rom. 6: 10, n.) When we become spirit beings adtually, that is, when we are born of the Spirit, we will no longer be fleshly beings ; for " that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"

This birth to the spiritual nature in the resurre&ion must be preceded by a begetting of the Spirit at consecration, just as surely as the birth of the flesh is preceded by a be- getting of the flesh. All that are born of the flesh in the likeness of the first Adam, the earthly, were first begotten

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