"THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE" continued
From 1 Tim. 6:14-16 we learn that the immortal or divine nature was originally the possession of divinity only. We read: "He [Jesus] in his time [the Millennial age] will show who is the blessed and only potentate--the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see." All other beings, angels, men, beasts, birds, fish, etc., are but vessels holding each its measure of life, and all differing in character, capacity, and quality according to the organism which it has pleased the Creator to provide for each.
Further, we learn that Jehovah, who alone possessed immortality originally, has highly exalted his Son, our Lord Jesus, to the same divine, immortal nature; hence he is now the express image of the Father's person. (Heb. 1:3)
So we read, "As the Father hath LIFE IN HIMSELF [God's definition of "immortality"--life in himself--not drawn from other sources, nor dependent on circumstances, but independent, inherent life], so hath he given to the Son to have LIFE IN HIMSELF." (John 5:26)
IMPORTANT: This shows that our Lord WAS NOT a divine being prior to his exaltation.
However since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, there now are two beings that possess immortality; and, amazing grace! The same offer is made to the Bride of the Lamb, being selected during the Gospel age. Yet not all professed believers who are nominally of the Church will receive this great prize (as many have been taught to imagine), but only that "little flock" of over-comers who so run as to obtain it; who follow closely in the Master's footsteps; who, like him, walk the narrow way of sacrifice, EVEN UNTO DEATH. These, when born from the dead in the resurrection, will have the divine nature and form. This immortality, the independent, self-existent, divine nature, is the life to which the narrow way leads.
This class is not to be raised from the tomb human beings; for we are assured by the Apostle that, though sown in the tomb natural bodies, they will be raised spiritual bodies. These all shall be "changed," and even as they once bore the image of the earthly, human nature, they shall bear the image of the heavenly. But "it doth not yet appear what we shall be"--what a spiritual body is; but "we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him," and share in "the glory to be revealed." 1 John 3:2; Col. 1:27; 2 Cor. 4:17; John 17:22; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Thess. 2:14
Not only is this high calling to a change of nature confined exclusively to the Gospel age, but it is the only offer of this age. Hence our Lord's words quoted at the beginning of this chapter include on the broad road to destruction all that are not on the way to the only prize being offered now (Which includes not only the entire world of non-believers, but likewise the vast majority of professed believers, those not fully consecrated). All others are still on the broad road--these only (the fully consecrated) have as yet escaped the condemnation that is on the world. This, the only way of life now open, because of its difficulty, finds few who care to walk in it. The masses of mankind in their weakness prefer the broad, easy way of self-gratification.
The narrow way, while it ends in life, in immortality, might be called a way of death, since its prize is gained only through the sacrifice of the human nature EVEN UNTO DEATH. It is the narrow way of death to life. Being reckoned free from the Adamic guilt and the death penalty, the consecrated voluntarily surrender or sacrifice those human rights, reckoned theirs, which in due time they, with the world in general, would have actually received.
As "the man Christ Jesus" laid down or sacrificed his life for the world, so these become joint-sacrificers with him.
This does NOT imply that his sacrifice was insufficient and that others were needed; but while his is all-sufficient, these are permitted to serve and to suffer with him in order to become his bride and joint-heir.
So, then, while the world (and the nominally professing church) is under condemnation to death, and is dying with Adam, this "little flock," through the process of faith reckonings and sacrifice, already described, are said to die with Christ. They sacrifice and die with him as human beings, in order to become partakers of the divine nature and glories with him; for we believe that if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together. Rom. 8:17 and 2 Tim. 2:11, 12 (A210-212)
Continued with next post.
