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The
Apostle Urged Believers To This
Second Grace
THE CORINTHIANS
Paul
addressed them as "brethren ;" "the church
of God;" "God's husbandry;" "God's
building." "But of him are ye in Christ
Jesus."—1 Cor. 1:30. "Babes in Christ."
—1 Cor. 3:1. They had "believed, and were
baptized." Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 3:5. This is sufficient
proof that they were not backslidden when Paul wrote his
epistle to them. A few of them had already attained to the
experience of entire sanctification (1 Cor. 1:2), but the
majority were yet carnal. 1 Cor. 3:1-3. This does not
imply that they had lost the grace of God, and had become
carnal, but ye are "yet carnal;" that is, ye
have allowed inbred carnality to remain in you until the
present time.
Paul urged
these brethren on to the experience of perfect holiness.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect."
—2 Cor. 13:11. "And this also we wish, even your
perfection."—Ver. 9. "Having therefore these p
r o m i s e s, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God."—2 Cor. 7:1. "And
in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before,
that ye might have a second benefit." "second
grace."—Margin. 2 Cor. 1:15. Here we see that Paul
not only urged these brethren by letter, but earnestly
desired to come unto them that they might receive this
"second grace."
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