Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-02
Reaaiua fpr the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
.Origlnal.J
CHRIST,S OFFICES.

REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[orlglnalI
CHRIST'S OFFICES.
The beginning point of theology is the ex-
istence of God, but the love OF God is the
beginning point of soteriolOgy. "God so
loved the world that he gave his only be-
gotten son that whosoever believeth in him
Should not perish but have everlasting life"
The only begotten son of God is, in the
Scriptures, called by great many names,
each of which is significant. He is most
frequently, however, called Jesus Christ.
This is q complex name. Jesus means sa-
viour, and Christ anointed, hence Jesus
Christ means anointed saviour. AS the
anointed saviour, Jesus Christ executes
three Offices, all of which are necessary to
the salvation of sinners. He is the great
and glorious prophet, priest and king OF his
people. In the order of nature, the eXecu-
ton of the duties of prophet are tirst, the
next that of priest and then that OF king:
In fact, Jesus Christ is, always has been, ana
always will be, until the final completion OF
his mediatorial work, prophet, priest and
king, at one and the same time. ;.
Asa prophet, Jesus Christ instructs his
people in things pertaining to salvation.
He reveals to them, by his word and spirit,
the will of God. He began the discharge OF
the duties of the prophetic office immedl-
ately after the fall of man. Sin had no
sooner entered the world than Jesus Christ
appeared and revealed the way of recovery.
For period of four thousand years other
revelations were added to this first, and in
the fulness of time, the whole Bible, with
it's precious promises and fearful threaten
ings, was given to the world. Ihls Blple
claims to be a revelation of Jesus Christ and
a revelation by Jesus Christ. In it we have
a history of creation and of the fall of man,
and what is of more Importance to us as sim
ners, we have revealed to us in the Bible
the plan of redemption. AS the prophet of
his people, Jesus Christ reveals, in the Bible,
the will of God and the whole duty of man.
With correct knowledge Of what is con-
tained in the Bible we are wise; without
this knowledge, no matter what may be our
other attainments, we are grossly Ignorant.
AS a prophet, Jesus Christ makes his people
wise unto salvation. The Bible is the rev.
elation of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit
enlightens the mind, so that the revelation
can be understood.
AS suffering priest, Jesus Christ atoned
for the sins of his people, and as an inter
ceding priest, he appears in their behalf at
the right hand Of the majesty on high. By
hisobedience, he rendered satisfaction to the
preceptive demands of the law of God, and
by his death, he satisfied the penal demands
of the law. AS the Saviour of sinners, Je-
sus Christ is officiating priest, bleeding vic
tim and smoking altar. AS intercessor he
pleads his own merit in behalf of his people.
In the scheme of saving sinners, Jesus
Christ is beginning, middle and end.
AS king, Jesus Christ reigns in and over
his people. His enemies are their enemies,
and all these are vanquished by his invinci-
BILE power. AS the Saviour of sinners the
dominion of Jesus Christ is over all things
In all places. His kingdom is without
bound and it is endless in duration. He is
king of kings and lord of lords. Angels
who never sinned, and glorified spirits of
men in heaven, and believers on earth adore
and magnify him; butfallen angels and lost
spirits Of men in the world of woe fear and
dread him.
To the sinner Jesus Christ offers himself
as Saviour. The only demand he makes
is believe and be saved. The offer is made
sinner. 1t is made to every sinner where
the Bible is read or the gospel is preached.
The announcement "Whosoever believeth
shall be saved" is the promissory part of the
gospel. Jesus Christ and all the benefits and
blessings which he procured by his life of
obedience and agonizing death are offered
to every hearer of the gospel. Every one
who accepts will most certainly be saved.
1t should be remembered that the gospel
consists of two parts. 1t promises salvation
to every one who believes in Jesus Christ.
This is one part. But the gospel also an
nounces that "Whosoever believeth not
shall be damned" This is the second part,
and these two taken together, in their prop
er connection, make up the whole gospel OF
Jesus Christ.
1t is true that the ground of condemna-
ton is not refusing to believe in Jesus Christ.
Men are condemned because they are sin
ners, and since the Bible, observation and
experience all teach that all men are sinners,
all men are condemned already. The Cos
pei dispensation places all men, not, as 1t IS
often said, in q probationary state, but in q
state of merciful visitation. Damnation is
simply the execution Of the sentence of con-
domination. That none may construe the
temporary suspension of the sentence of con-
demnatiOn to mean an absolute revocation
of it, the announcement is made IN the g0s-
pei, ".Whosoever believeth not shall be
damned" In other words, it is announced
in the gospel that every believer in Jesus
Christ shall be saved from the guilt and pol
luton of sin and made an heir and joint-heir
with Jesus Christ to all the privileges and
blessings which he secured by his obedience
to the precepts and death, on account of the
penalties of Gods law.
Rejecting Jesus Christ deprives US of the
only plan which has been devised for our re-
covery, and makes our damnation certain
beyond peradventure.
The announcement, "Whosoever belleV-
eth not shall be damned" is not threaten
ing but solemn warning. Damnation is a
fixed fact, unless some remedial scheme is
devised. That scheme God, moved by love,
has devised and announced to sinners. 1t is
simply this: Jesus Christ, the son of God,
assumed our nature, and in our legal stead,
obeyod the precepts and suffered the penal.
ties of Gods law. Before we can be saved
we must believe in Jesus Christ. This is
precisely what is meant by "Whosoever be-
Iieveth not shall be damned"
@rT There are many reasons why every
man should be a Christian here are few
of the paramount ones: God commands it;
He says, "GiVe me thine heart;" and even
if we could see no good reason beyond this,
we should at once comply with this invita-
ton and command. The fact that Christ
died for us is an all-suficient reason why we
should become Christians; such an exhibit
- L., bow <lCcf nnrf