The identity of the church is clearly seen by her faith and practice; but this is seen more by her practice than anything else because faith is understood BETTER by what is practiced. If we believe salvation is by grace then there is no room for people to become over-zealous and send out people to help the Lord do His work, that of saving souls from ruin and damnation.

There is room for His servants to be zealous for the cause sake, and to labor for the comfort and welfare of God's people here while they journey as pilgrims on earth. If the Lord carried His children to Heaven when He saved them, they would not need the church and the comforts of it. The gospel is for comfort, instruction, teaching, pointing out things for them to do, and also things for them NOT to do, for they have a will and desire to be doing something.

What they do may depend, in some manner, upon what they are taught. It will NEVER have anything to do with WHO they are. Being born of God is what causes them to be who they are. There is something taught in regeneration that the gospel CANNOT teach. The gospel cannot teach the dead, alien sinner to hunger and thirst; to love God in (his) heart and to have a Godly sorrow for sin; neither can it teach him to have confidence in God, nor to rely upon His mercy for salvation through Christ.

Faith, the gift of God, alone teaches this. God elected them to salvation; the Son redeemed them, and the Holy Ghost quickens them into life. The sinner who is saved is to observe these things. The gospel teaches him to obey the commandments of Christ; teaches him to observe "all things whatsoever I have commanded you".

The child is passive in regeneration. Being made a new creature is ALONE the work of God. Following Christ in precept and example is an act of the living led by the Holy Spirit. The dead can be carried, hauled, dragged, or pushed but the living ONLY can be LED. Elder C. M. Mills (Deceased)