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March 2nd, 1916
Received by James Padgett
Washington D.C.
I am here, Jesus.
I desire to write tonight on the subject of how the redeemed soul
is saved from the penalties which sin and error has brought upon
it.
When the soul is in a condition of sin and error it is not responsive
to the inflowing of the Holy Spirit, and in order to get into a
condition of receptivity to these influences it must have an awakening
as to its actual condition of enslavement by these things; and until
such an awakening comes to it there is no possibility of its receiving
the Love of God into it, and of turning its thoughts to the Truths
of God and to the practices of life that will help it in its progress
towards a condition of freedom.
I would not have mankind believe that any soul is compelled to
stay in this condition of slavery to sin until the Holy Spirit comes
to it with the Father's Love to bestow it in all abundance, for
the mission of the Holy Spirit is not to awaken man's soul to a
realization of sin and death, but merely to bring to that soul this
Love when it, the soul, is ready to receive it.
The awakening must come from other causes that influence the mind
as well as the soul, and cause them to realize that the life man
lives is not the correct life or one in accord with the demands
of the laws of God, or with the real longings of their own hearts
and souls. Until this awakening comes the soul is really dead so
far as its having a consciousness of the existence of the truths
of its redemption is concerned, and such death means a continuance
in such thoughts of sin and evil, and in the life which leads only
to condemnation and death for long long years, it may be.
But to come nearer to my point of discourse. The
soul that is existing in sin and error will have, sooner or later,
to pay the penalties for such sin and error, and there is no escape
from the payment of these penalties except in the redemption that
the Father has provided by the New Birth. These penalties are only
the natural results of the operation of God's laws and they must
be endured until the full penalty is paid. Even though a man may
progress to higher condition of soul excellence and have much happiness,
yet he must pay the last farthing and thus release himself from
these penalties.
With much love,
I am your friend and brother,
Jesus.
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