Do We No Longer Have Lusts in Our Members?

Do We No Longer Have Lusts in Our Members?

The January 1, 1918, issue of The Glad Tidings presents a detailed case against the editor of Korsets Seier. We won’t get involved in their disputes, but we would like to draw attention to what they teach, which appears to bear very little resemblance to what they practice.

Both these editors teach that they are beyond Romans 7; both have skipped over to Chapter 8 where freedom and perfection reign. The problem is that although they are in the middle of Romans 8, they are judging one another for unchristian behavior.

According to them, neither of them has the law of sin in their members. Both have been liberated from this body of death. Neither one serves the law of sin with their flesh; neither one does anything that is worth hating. Everything they do is done well; it is exceedingly good. Yet, amazingly enough, one of them is now being judged for unchristian behavior. Has he now skipped back into Romans 7? It is remarkable that this doctrine of theirs is so contradictory, and yet they have polluted nearly the whole country with their ridiculous teaching while at the same time seemingly trying to knock one another out.

The Scriptures say, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” James 4:1.

Could it be that these two editors have something called “lusts in the members” after all? You could indeed be tempted to believe so, even though they teach far and wide that they are beyond that sort of thing. Or do you think that the Spirit of God acts in an unchristian manner? No, it’s just the same old flesh asserting itself again.

I guess this must be confusing for them—at least it would be for anyone with any common sense. Something must be wrong.

The editor of The Glad Tidings certainly comes out “smelling like a rose,” according to his own article; however, he has been unashamed to expose his brother, or to brand him publicly as one behaving in an unchristian way.

In Skjulte Skatter we have often pointed out the erroneous interpretations of the Scriptures that the above-mentioned papers have made. We have done this, and will continue to do this, so that people will be cautious. But in our opinion, to use an article in a paper to expose negative things about a brother whom one claims to love and pray for is less than Christian. It is just as unchristian as distorting the truth or as traveling far and wide to teach things about which you have no understanding.

It’s high time that both of these editors become as scriptural as they profess to be. They should acknowledge that they, like Paul, serve the law of sin with their flesh. Certainly we should serve the law of God with our mind. However, according to the judgment printed in The Glad Tidings, the person concerned had been serving the law of sin with his mind, and that, of course, is totally unacceptable.

When all is said and done, the truth is: “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” Rom. 7:19. Even if someone has skipped over this passage according to their teaching, it is evident that they live in the middle of it.

“Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Rom. 7:20.

Think that sin dwells in us to such an extent that we can behave in an unchristian way. Where is the liberty in this? An ungodly person does not do what he hates, but a believer does—in those areas where he does not yet have light. That is why there is no condemnation for him.

We suggest that these two editors—who despite having the same doctrine are unable to get along—should meditate carefully on Romans 6. We also suggest that they publicly acknowledge that they have been occupied with things that were too great for them, things they did not understand!

God did not say that He would send many preachers to guide us into all truth. He sent His Spirit for that work. We have also received this Spirit; and we believe, therefore we speak.

Much can be said about the editor of Korsets Seier; nonetheless, God has used him as His witness to the salvation of many sinners. This honor is not to be taken away from him.

In our opinion, it is unfitting to publicly expose this brother in such a way. If he has done anything worthy of blame, the matter should have been settled within his circle of closest friends. On the other hand, we are commanded to crush false doctrine, both in our own circle and in public, wherever we find it. We do not believe that the editor of Korsets Seier would have done what the editor of The Glad Tidings did. Mercy triumphs over judgment.