This revised and enlarged edition of Victorious Life Studies should not
go forth without grateful acknowledgment for an abundant answer to the
prayer that whatever errors of statement or of judgment might be found
they should not hinder the blessing that God intended from these little
“studies.” There is not alone thanksgiving to the Lord of answered
prayer, but to those who shared in the prayer for blessing, and it is
hoped that the increasing circle of those who are finding new riches of
grace in our sufficient Saviour may continue to ask God’s guidance and
blessing upon all attempts to put into print the message of victory in
Christ.
Changes have been made here and there which affect the use of certain
theological expressions which were not accurately used, and which would
serve to confuse the truth. While none of these corrections, so far as
I know, changes the vital truth that was intended to be expressed, the
further study of terms used in Scripture, and terms used theologically
that are not in the Scriptures, leads to a conviction that it is
helpful to avoid the use of any term the meaning of which is not clear
to the one who uses it.
While these studies were not intended as a comprehensive treatment of
the subject, it was thought well to take advantage of the call for a
second edition by adding two studies, one to consider the relation of
the work of the Holy Spirit to the life of victory in Christ, the other
to ask what the Scriptures mean by freedom from sin.
After outlining these studies in preparation for this new edition,
it was my privilege to be associated in Victorious Life Conferences
throughout the country with Dr. A. J. Ramsey, who is now giving his
whole time to the work of the Victorious Life Testimony. So far as may
be possible in such a word as this I wish to acknowledge the great debt
of gratitude I owe to Dr. Ramsey, whose masterly expositions of Romans
and First John, and other Scriptures dealing with the sin question,
have served to confirm and clarify the glorious truth of God’s plan
of victory over sin which a direct study of his Word will disclose to
every earnest seeker. With a first-hand knowledge of classical and New
Testament Greek which ranks with the leading teachers of that language,
with an intimate knowledge of the ramifications of all the theological
systems as well as the false “faiths,” Dr. Ramsey for eighteen years
has been studying the Scriptures against the back-ground of an
experience of the fulness of the Holy Spirit which transformed his own
life and ministry. The result is that from all over the land have come
insistent calls that he should put into print some of the results of
this study which has given a new Bible to scores of ministers and other
Christian workers where the message has been spoken.
* * * * *
Accordingly, Dr. Ramsey is hoping soon to prepare leaflets that will
discuss such questions as “What is Sin?” “The Body of Sin: Who has It?”
“The Old Man: Who is He?” “The Law of Sin: Who Obeys It?” “The Carnal
Mind: What Is It?” “Is Romans Seven Christian?” “Is First John One
Eight for Christians?” Others will deal with the conflict of “flesh and
Spirit,” and the question whether a Christian has two natures, and it
is planned later to issue a brief exposition of Romans. The studies in
this little volume necessarily deal with some of these questions but as
far as possible I have sought to avoid encroaching upon the distinctive
contribution that Dr. Ramsey will bring in the careful exegesis of
these Scriptures, and the scientific handling of the psychology and
ethics that are involved as well as the theology.
To Dr. Ramsey I am indebted for a number of the changes in phraseology,
but most of all for the glad confirmation that the truths so self
evident in the Scriptures, but so obscured in the writings of men,
do rest upon an irrefutable theology, an exegesis of Scripture that
cannot be gainsaid. It is this that has given courage to speak plainly
on some vital points that need clearing up. And it is a matter for
encouragement to every humble student of the Word that without the
equipment of a specially gifted mind and a scientific training, it is
possible to arrive at both the understanding and experience of the
simple plan of salvation from sin.
Shall we also remember as these pages are read that while the Holy
Spirit does use human teachers to help us to know His truth, it is our
responsibility to make the truth our own by seeing it in the Word for
ourselves. Let us have nothing in our experience or our understanding
of salvation merely as a result of what any man has said or written
regarding the Word of God: let us have a glad original experience of
Christ through searching for ourselves whether these things are so.
_June 19, 1920._