A Presentation of Perfection - Media Sabda Org

In January an article was printed by Smith called "Purity and Progress." The author challenged
his readers to start seeking for holiness immediately after conversion. He thought that there was
never any virtue in procrastination concerning spiritual matters. He said,
Heart purity is not to be expected as an end of progress, but it is to be sought at once
(if even an operation should be necessary) in order to ensure the soul's progress. As
we do not wait for the growth of the flowers to kill off the weeds, so the root of
bitterness must be eradicated from our hearts to insure the budding and the bloom of
the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley there. [36]
Later in the article Smith said that heart purity insured spiritual progress in at least three ways:
(1) by perfecting our vision; (2) by stripping us of every weight that would hinder our ascent; (3) by
inhabitation of the Spirit. He put a lot of focus on the Holy Spirit when he wrote,
The pure in heart are never without His presence. He supplies ever-expanding vistas,
ever-enriching love, and ever-empowering energy for the pursuit, the pleasure, and
the performance of the ever-enlarging life in Christ. [37]
"Peter's Fiery Baptism" is an article written by John Duryea. In this writing Duryea contrasted the
life of Peter before and after the experience of Pentecost as recorded in the Book of Acts. It was
pointed out how Peter denied knowing and serving Christ, and how later Peter asked forgiveness
from Christ and was eventually baptized by the fire of the Holy Ghost. Duryea believed that the
Pentecostal experience stabilized Peter for life. Here was what the Holy Spirit fire did:
The fire of Pentecost changed Peter to such an extent that we find there was no more
fluctuation in his experience and life and when the final test came and he was to be
crucified, he did not flinch but requested that he be crucified head downward, feeling
he was not worthy to be crucified as his Lord. [38]
An article appeared in June and it talked about "God's Standard of Holiness." A. M. Hills quickly
told his audience what God's standard was:
God has revealed Himself as our Father. He has us in training for the skies, and plans
to live with us in His palace forever. He tells us that no sin can ever cast a shadow
on that holy place, and "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Holiness in the
soul of the believer is necessitated by His holiness. He could not be himself and
demand less, and be a holy soul. [39]
Hills reminded his readers that as sanctified believers they were to live holy, be perfect, walk as
Christ walked without sin, be not of the world, do greater works than Christ did, and to love as He
loved. In his conclusion he made a final plea: