Epistle 357
The true Christian life requires submission to Jesus and living in his power and spirit, which brings us out of death and sin and into everlasting life.
George Fox emphasizes the necessity for true Christians to live in the power, spirit, grace, and truth of God, contrasting this with the life of Adam before the fall and those who claim to be Christians yet do not hear God's voice. He asserts that to embody the life of the saints, one must bow to Jesus, acknowledging His authority and the sacrifice He made on the cross for humanity's sins. Fox highlights that true faith requires a transformation that leads believers out of darkness and into the everlasting light and life provided by Christ. He calls for a complete submission to Jesus, the foundation of faith, from whom all grace and truth flow. Ultimately, he stresses that all actions must be done in the name of Jesus, leading to the glory of God the Father.
Text
Dear friends,--All live the life of the true christians, and not the life of old Adam, that went from God's command and voice; nor like the Jews, and such as have got the name of christians, that say, there is no hearing of God and Christ's voice now, which are out of the life, power, and spirit, grace, and truth, and image of God, that the true christians were in, and Adam and Eve before they fell [Gen 1:27]; so that none can live the life of the true christians, and the holy prophets and apostles, except they are in the same power and spirit, grace and truth, and faith and image that they were in, which is a life above the world and its God, in whom there is no truth, no life, light, nor power of the living God abiding in them.
And therefore, before any can live the life of the saints, they must bow to the name of Jesus [Phil 2:10], their saviour, in his light, grace, and truth, and power, and spirit, which cometh from him, who submitted himself to the shameful death of the cross [Phil 2:8], and destroyed death and his power [Heb 2:14], who had no sin, nor guile in his mouth [1Pet 2:22], and is risen again for our justification [Rom 4:25], and so hath tasted death for every man [Heb 2:9], and given himself a ransom for all [1 Tim 2:6], that all should now bow at his name, Jesus, a saviour; and so to his power and authority bow, who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him [Mat 28:18]. So all men have bowed under death and sin by transgression.
And Christ hath submitted to the cross and death for them, and hath borne their stripes for sin and iniquity [Isa 53:5], who had no sin, neither knew any, to bring us out of death and sin. Therefore, every one must bow at the name of Jesus, (as before,) whatsoever they do in word or deed, it must be done in the name of Jesus; and before that they can confess to Jesus Christ [Phil 2:11], to the glory of God the Father, they must all bow at the name of Jesus, and bow <165> to his grace, and truth, light, spirit, and power that cometh by Jesus, which they know; him the fountain, the rock and foundation to build upon, who brings out of death and darkness into light and life, and a kingdom and a world that is everlasting; and there to have food and clothing that is everlasting.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- The True Christian Life
- Submission to Jesus
- The Power of Jesus
- Confession to Jesus Christ
- Must bow at the name of Jesus
- Must bow to his grace and truth
Key Quotes
“So all men have bowed under death and sin by transgression.” — George Fox
“Therefore, every one must bow at the name of Jesus, (as before,) whatsoever they do in word or deed, it must be done in the name of Jesus;” — George Fox
“him the fountain, the rock and foundation to build upon, who brings out of death and darkness into light and life, and a kingdom and a world that is everlasting;” — George Fox
Application Points
- We must submit to Jesus in all aspects of our lives, including our words and deeds.
- We must recognize Jesus as the fountain, rock, and foundation of our faith.
- We must live in the power and spirit of Jesus, which brings us out of death and darkness into light and life.