Who will develop, this higher nature – many or few of those who enter the covenant?

We answer: All of them, except those who openly ignore the value of the “blood of the covenant wherewith they were sanctified,” i.e., set aside and ignore the value of Christ’s death – as their ransom or purchase and we believe this will be a small number.

So, to speak, Jesus enters the covenant for us. He agrees to guarantee that our part of the contract shall be fulfilled. All such sealed ones are (sanctified),  set apart, from the world and dealt with differently; even as ours is a different hope and calling from the worlds. We have been begotten of God, are now in our embryo condition; and all will ultimately come to birth in His likeness who abide under the blood of the covenant, but if any of these members of “the household of faith” go forth from their house upon which is the blood of the Paschal Lamb, these will be destroyed. (Exod 12:22, 23.)

We see then, that the only ones who do not reach the birth [resurrection] among all who are begotten and sealed by the Spirit are those who renounce the “blood of the covenant” and withdraw themselves from its protection, they sin against light, knowledge, and against the Spirit’s direction and leading therefore it is called “The sin against the Holy Ghost which hath never forgiveness.”

Aside from these, the entire household of faith (those in covenant relationship with the Father) being begotten of the Spirit are all, children of God; and are all ultimately to reach his likeness. “He who begun the good work in us will complete it.” But there will be a difference in our positions according to the way in which we “run the race set before us.” All who run will ultimately reach the end of the race, but the prize, of our high calling in Christ Jesus will be obtained only by those who “so run that they may obtain.” This prize is to be the Bride of Christ, to be made one with Him, and therefore, to “Sit with Him in His throne” and to “inherit all things.”

In what way, do we become overcomers and gain the victory, and win the prize of being part of the bride?

By presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, by crucifying our fleshly will and nature, becoming dead, so that our own will, will neither be known nor done by us, but in everything we must seek to know and do the will of Christ. When dead, you will seek to eat, drink, talk and be clothed, not as the world might dictate, nor your own tastes and desires, but according to the best information you can obtain of the will of God concerning you. This is a hard work and it involves much pain to the old nature to be thus crucified and ignored.

It is so difficult a task that we never could accomplish it unaided. But we hear the voice of Him that saith: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” “Seek and you shall find.” “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even your faith.” According to our faith in God, we draw supplies of strength. We desire to overcome, we seek his grace, we find it and as we become daily more filled with the new divine nature (divine disposition) the victory over the old nature becomes much easier. This is the first company, the bride – the body. Like their head, Jesus they have been willing sacrifices.

The second or great company are of the household also. They have made the same covenant to die, but poor frail humanity shrinks from becoming a “speckled bird,” a target for this world’s sneers and ridicule. They love the favor of God and the favor of man also. They restrain themselves from presumptuous sins, and console themselves that they are far better than many others. They have not the power of faith to lay hold of God’s promised assistance. “How can you believe who receive honor one of another and seek not, the honor that cometh from God only.” (Matt 5:44.) Thus “through fear of death (sacrificial death) they are all their lifetime subject to bondage;” these will be freed from their bondage soon; they are to go into the great time of trouble, be “delivered over to Satan (the adversary) for the destruction of the flesh (which they would not willingly crucify) that the spirit (the new life in them) may be saved.” They love the present world, to some extent, therefore do not overcome it. But Jesus, who became the surety for all believers, will not suffer the Divine nature (the holy disposition) begun in them to become extinct.

Oh, how great and loving is the plan of God. How grand the prospect of restitution for the world, to the likeness of Perfect Earthly man. But how much grander our hope of being elevated from this to the “new creation.” Who would not lay aside every weight, and run with patience for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.” R131