Deeper Life #319

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

—John 20:23

OUR LORD SAID IN MATTHEW 16:19, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” This is a section of Scripture that scares Protestants, simply because a misuse has been made of it by the Roman Catholic Church. But we are not called upon to safeguard truth; we are called to let truth safeguard us.

The characteristic, then, of discipleship is spiritual life, which is as solid and as real as natural life. The view that looks on spiritual life as an acquirement of the intellect, and an accomplishment that is gained from prayer and consecration, is altogether foreign to the New Testament. Spiritual life is life proceeding from the Holy Spirit, whom we received when we were born again from above.

Prayer Thought: Life eternal is my hope! Oh, what anticipation and expectation!

SUGGESTED READING: Matthew 16:13–20