The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07

of the law before his conversion. but
this was not enough to save him.
In Romans PIP, Paul says, For as
many as have sinned without law, shall
also perish without law; and as many as
have sinned under law, shall be Jucsed
by law"
Nicodemus lived up TO all the require
ments OF the law, and was a ruler OF
his people, and yet Christ said 70 him:
"Ye must be born again. born OF water
and the Spirit"
The Sciibes and Pharlsees lived up TO
the requirements of the law this was
their distinguishing characteristic.
They congratulated themselves that
they were about the only people who thor
oughly understood and kept the law, and
vet Christ said In His sermon on the
Mount, Except your Righteousness shail
exceed the the righteousness OF the Scribes
and Pharisees. ye shan IN no case enter
the Kingdom or Heaven.
Is not this enough 70 convince us that
we cannot be saved by simply living up
10 natural law?
II people can be saved by simply living
up TO the requirements Of natural law.
then there is no necessity for sending mis-
sionares 10 he+~hen lands.
Again Mr.. Parham says, that the fact
that the cross has attsacted the whole or
mankind in one way or another Is true,
as history abundantly teaches. We md
that chronology. by which we date time,
is based upon the birth Of Jesus etc.
Let me ask, what history is there that
abundantly Or even remotely teaches,
that the Cross has attracted the whole or
mankind?
There are millions Of people who have
never heard of Christ Therefore they
could not have been attracted 10 one OF
whom they had never heard or known.
The fact that our chronology Is based
upon the birth of Christ IS no proof that
all mankind has heard or known OF Him.
There are many nations or sccts who DO
not reckon time as we do from the birth
OF Christ. For instance, the year 1884,
Of the Christian era, Is the year 0Jol ac-
cording TO Jewish reckoning 66i0 Of the
Julian period; 1914 OF the Mohammedan
era. etc. 1t is plain. therefore, that these
people do not reckon time from the birth
Of Christ.
Ii seems to me that the real meaning
of the verse is about this: Christ meant
that as often as the story Of the cross and
OF His atonement for the sins of the world
was lifted up before the minds of the
people by His ministers or disciples, that
all who heard It would be drawn by the
pewer OF His Holy Spirit to accept Him
as their Saviour.
/ do not believe that there was ever a
person who heard, intelligently, for the
first time the beautiful story OF Calvary,
who did not feel the drawing power
of the Holy Spirit urging him or her 70
accept this atonement. VI course many
resist the wooings OF the Spirit, and VIII
not yield 10 the drawing power" but
nevertheless they have been drawn, and
thus this prophecy IS fulfilled.
Christ did not say that II He was lifted
up lie would save all men. but simply
said that il He was lifted up lie would
draw them. This He does by the influence
OF the Spirit whenever the story OF the
Cross is lifted up by His servants. Just
here mans free agency comes in. The
Spirit draws" but never "drags' any
body into the Kingdom OF Christ. As in
tho case OF the brazen serpent the anti
type of Calvary's scenes. those who had
been bitten were required 10 look there
on before being healed, so IN this case
men and women must voluntarily accept
Chrlst's atonement before they can be
healed OF sin. These are simply my opin-
ions Of the meaning OF the verse in ques-
tiom. I.
Richnnnnd Va Eehruary 25. 1897.