January 11 PM

If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Rom. 8:9.

This is one of the most awful truths in the Bible. He who hath not the Spirit of Christ, doth not know Christ, will not believe on him, cannot love him. Then that dreadful sentence stands out against him, and living and dying so, will certainly fall upon him. “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maran-atha,” that is, under the most dreadful curse, till the Lord come to execute the severest vengeance of it. (1 Cor. 16:22.) Jesus, Master, save us from this. Holy Spirit, rather let us be destitute of every blessing, than want love to Christ. O shed a Saviour’s love abroad in our hearts, and that shall kindle ours. What is it to have the Spirit of Christ? How may we know that we have the Spirit of Christ? Consider, (1st.) the appellation here given, the Spirit of Christ. This will greatly help us to solve these questions. You may perceive what spirit a man is of, by his temper and conduct. The men of this world have the spirit of this world. Their walk and conduct show it. They set their affections on, seek all their happiness in, and expect all their comfort from the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world. So it is with us all by nature. We have not the Spirit of Christ. But when the fulness of time comes, according to his covenant engagements with God the Father, and God the Son, God the Spirit is pleased to visit our souls. Then he opens our eyes, to see both our sin and misery, and to behold the righteousness and happiness there is in Christ. He enables us to believe in Christ, to savour the things of Christ, and to cry out, None but Christ, none but Christ be my portion, in time and to eternity! Have we a sigh in our hearts after Christ, to be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? This is of the Spirit of Christ. Do we groan under a body of sin and death, and cry out, O wretched that we are, who shall deliver us? Do we thank God for Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour, justifier, and deliverer? We have the Spirit of Christ. Can we come to a throne of grace, seeing ourselves miserable sinners, yet believing the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, and the righteousness of Christ justifies from all condemnation, and therefore cry, God be merciful to me a sinner—Jesus save me or I perish? This is from the faith of Christ. This is the prayer of faith. The Spirit of Christ has inspired it. We have the Spirit of Christ. Do we delight to hear of Christ, to have fellowship with Christ, to live upon Christ, to walk with Christ, and to have the power of Christ’s grace subduing the power of sin in our hearts, lips and lives? Verily we have the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit lusteth against the flesh, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Gal. 5:17.)