service" (Romans 12:1).

THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE

TEXT: "_My beloved is mine, and I am his._"--Sol. Song 2:16.

"_I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine._"--Sol. Song 6:3.

"_I am my beloved's and his desire is toward me._"--Sol. Song 7:10.

These three texts should be read together, and the significant change
found in each text as the thought unfolds should be studied carefully.
They remind one of three mountain peaks one rising higher than the
other until the third is lifted into the very heavens. Indeed, if one
should live in the spirit of this third text he would enjoy what Paul
has described as a life in the heavenly places, and his picture of
Christ would be surpassingly beautiful. At the same time the three
texts give us a complete picture of a true Christian life. The first
text may be regeneration, the second text consecration, and the third
text sanctification.

The Jews counted this Book, the Song of Solomon, as exceedingly sacred.
They hid it away until the child had come to maturity before he was
allowed to read it, and it was to them the holy of holies of the Old
Testament Scripture. These texts are also like the division of the
ancient tabernacle. There was first of all the outer court where the
altar of sacrifice was to be found--and this must be constantly kept in
mind, for no one can say "my beloved is mine" until he has passed the
altar of sacrifice. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are
adopted into the membership of the family of God.

The second division was the holy place, where was found the laver.
Here the priests made themselves clean, and they could not minister in
the presence of Jehovah until they had been made clean from all earthly
defilement. This second text gives us the same thought, for here the
writer changes the order exactly and says, "I am my beloved," instead
of saying, "My beloved is mine." This is consecration and the
consecration of a clean life. God will not accept or use that which is
unclean, and it is only as we come to the place where we allow him to
have full control of our lives that we realize we are his.

The third division of the tabernacle was the holy of holies, where the
high priest made his way once a year that he might stand in the
presence of Jehovah. In this third text, where the writer says, "I am
my beloved's, and his desire is towards me," we have come to the place
in our experience where if his desire for us controls our