The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15
Easter ;
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fso,ected FOR The Times Dispatcf.)
.Now Is Christ risen from the dead ana
become the first fruits Of then, that siei:..
For since by man came dealh' Ny i'l'
came also the resurrection OF me ueau
e For AS In Adam all die, even so IN christ
shau ali t,e made alive. But every man
IN his own order: Christ the first fruits;
fterward they that are Christ at His
coming.--1 Cor. Ky. 20. 20.
This IS the grand theme for to-day
nchrist Is risen from the dead" ana
Il He is risen, the resurrection OF the
BODY must be possible. His resurrection
implies and insures ours.
They, therefore, who are fallen asleep
IN Christ nre safe Them also VIII lie
hiring with Him when He returns. moi
1ost.n only gone before" to await US
at the general resurrection OF. the dead.
Their union to Christ, their Interest IN
Christ, secures for them a participation
In His resurrection. In addition to what
ever present benefit it may confer; we
NAV rest assured that their resurrection
will lie one With His.
1t Is a question of grave import, and 1t
turns on this simple but most serious
and welghty alternative: Either CHRIST
is not raised, and they which are fallen
asleep in Him are persisted or Christ is
1,ised and become the first fruit Of them
that slept.
Faith untes us to Christ and Identifies
us with Him. 1t commits US to share Els
fortune; 1t involves us in His destiny.
The union to Christ (Which would be de-
struction IL Christ were not risen) is
our life and glory. We are one
in Him, and His resurrection is also ours
You are in Adam (the man by whom came
denth) as hts natural seed. You canno'
help YOURSELF you are in him, whether
v YOU illl or not But you are In Christ
by his special act of grace towards you
and the work of grace in YOU
You believe in Him, and by that act,
He and you are henceforth inseparably
one. Whatever He is, you are to be.
Therefore, as in Adam all die, even SO :
NAV rather much moreD in Christ shall
all Ire made alive.
It is yours in due time, In due order.
And it is most fitting 1t should be SO.
The sheaf OF the first fruit at the
Passover, severed from the ripening crop
Of which 1t was the pledge and earnest,
had its place apart. 1t was itself alone.
wavered before the Lord and accepted
by Him in behalf Of the people. Then
in due course and order came the general
harvest, The heaf IF the first fruits of
the harvest is now: For Christ Is risen
and become the first fruits of them that
Slept
He is Himself alone. the first fruits.
That is His position, rank and order.
All must gladly concede It, as with the
eve OF faith they behond The rich har-
vest home that 1t heralds, sanctines and
blesses.
"Afterward they that are Chrlst's at
His coming. lie who presents Himself
as the first fruit. will Himself present
you as the harvest. lie is to return when
the harvest is ripe and ready to be
gathered. Then the relation in which He
stands to His people, and they to Him.
will be goriously unfolded and complete.
Now He is risen for them. Then they
risen, they rise as He has risen; they
rise to be as He is and where He IS
Ills resurrection is not complete until they
rise in Him, 1t is His body still lying
in the tomb wherever His saints arr
laid. ii is His body that lies unhuriet
ON the plains or in the deep. wherever ln'
bones of His saints are scattered The,
,ie In His care and under His eye Ant
when at His coming the earth and tn
sea shall give up their dead, the Lore
taking His risen saints with Him shall
present them as Himself, without spo
and fau!tess," before the throne OF Hi
Father,
This, representation, union, subordlna
ton are the cement and seal Of our con
nection, with Christ and His resurrection
While you live believing in Film; whe
you die falling asleep in Him; you ar
represented by Christ, united TO Chris,
subordinate under Christ. Christ for yol
you in Christ; Chris, before you, sue
is the threefold cord binding Christ an
His chosen ones together,
"Well, therefore, may We sing for 30.
Christ the Lord is risen to-day He
risen, and become the author of eterni
!ite 10 all who obey Him. He is rise
and become the first fruits OF them wi
have fallen asleep in Him. They and "
are safe In Him ROW and forever more
For 'the Lord Himself shall descer
from Heaven with shout, With. the roit
o! the archange and with the trump
God; and the dead in Christ shall "
first, then we that are alive and n
main. shall be caugh, up together vii
them in tile clouds to meet the Lord
the a;r. and SO shall we ever be wi
tho Lord"
Glorious hope' Glorious promise! al