The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-12-15


and obedient. rs st. Peter declares
(ActS iii. l9.2il. 1t follows. then, that
our Lord must have referred To those
called OF the Father and accepted by
himself To be chiselcd and polished
10 be taught in the School OF Christ
/ and eventually 10 become his Bride
i and joint heir Ill the Millennial King
i dom. No man will be esteemed fit for
Il share in that Milennili Kingdom.
unless he attaiHS to The glorious quail
ties of character. S1intShip. which the
Scriptures set forth as the Divine
standard COPIES OF Gods dear Son"
| fRomans viii, 29I.
Fit for the Kingdom" Let us think
for moment what these words signi-
/ fy First Of MI we recognize that, as
! sinners. we were most thoroughly
anH for any favor of God. much less
! this greatest of all favorS. joint heir
ship with his Son and .'partakerS Of
the Divine nature" III Peter i. Il. But
! that difficulty has all been overcome
/ with those who have come unto God
/ through Christ and been made partak-
! CTS tl HIS iolN fopiilt VI dtOi9tIou. vi
such we read. 1t is God that justi
6ctl' WHO is he that condemneth"
! GReuaiiS viii. :.;:3-;ii. II is Christ that
died for our sins and who now is our
Advocate Who could in any wise
come bpIwceli rs and our Savior and
uui Heavenly Father
iul this Justification is not enough.
II we We're pettcct actually instead of
/ merely rcekonediy we would MOI be nj
| for the Kingdom of God-wc would
moi he III 10 govern Others to be
kings and priests unto God and TO
reign on lile earth Utcvelation M, 6i
1 We should still he unfit 10 be the
Judges Of he world. as The Scriptures
de- lare that we shall be. saying.
Knew Ne mol that the saints shall
jlid.e tie world q Corinthians Vi, >,
oul Heavenly Father in bringing
many SOUS unto glory made the Cap
/ tlin of their salvation tJesus, perfect
through snilcflneS. Should we think
II strange that we. his younger hretll-
ren. justified through his blood. should
e required. not merely to make pro
teS>ion 81 GodlincSS. holiness. but also
ta approve or attest that sentiment To
he a part pl uur very character Is
not WHAT We as the Church OF Christ
experience very reasonable indeed /
Who would he prepared 10 teasil the
world meckneSs. patience. bro,hcrlyz
kindness, uiie suffering. love. without
first al AT Developing these Various
uualitieS III character in himself. Md
nov eutIid In develop these and lie
tested except under iuSt such schooling
lnd ,liseipliuing influences rs INV are
upon the Church ot Christ With ii
view e. making Us tit tor the curious
position q! uui nigh c:'lin@ OF t.oa ~
Christ lc,a,:
When ihr Scriptures refer I" The
Church - beng lit tor the Kingdom
and Is being the "oVercomcrS fol
whom the Kingdom is prepared. IN,
who shall hare its glofieS and hohotS
breduSc they are worthy u;eVeIatiol
Ill II. Wc are To understand Ills wot
Illness aud fitness. not that they wer'
originally 50. hut that by Gods grace
through Christ. Il transformation worl
viii eventually bring some to this glori
o,iS positinu where God himself will cs
TEEN them mortbB TO be called his chi
drcn and IL bc ioint-hcirS with hi
son. the Great King.
\ arious Kinds of Fitness.
There is ,nc certain standard II NJ
itss for the Kingdom and none Other
iii do; hui there may be quite i Va
ictN OF conditions which make ole AH
Il tor the Kingdom. one of these is
murder. VI murderer hath eieruiiI
life abiding Ia him" Il John iii, ID
He would he unfit for the Kingdom,
This would not signify. however That
me who had once been Il mnl dcfcr
might MT. hA Il sound conversion .and
by taillttutnpSs in the School ri christ
,.:seonr u member ot the Kingdom
rlaSS. Eat the word murder here used
his n broader meaning thai, Is @enei-
nllS attached To 1.-THE meaning which
81 John gave 10 the Nttd when lie
taid that whosocvcr hltclh his brother
Is II murderc. Il John ii. IL Wa
know. Their. that no brother-hatep II
lit for the Kingdom But. some may
have been Arother-halers aud hav,
been washed. cleansed. sanctiiied
brought ilitp heart relationship witt
he Lord aud lnto love of the brethren
II So, Tie implication is that they have
los he spirit of murder from theil
hearts aud are brotherh atcrs no long
~. lhe Scriptures tell us also that Il
viii he possible for Il tnan who ha.
been lisuraiively washed from his for
mel condition. OF sin-dctiemcnt ane
who has been clothed of the Lore
| SNnlholicaliN IN n robe of righteous
ness aud Whe had been hegotten OF
the hulN Spirit Of love 10 turn from
this hull commandment of love-tt
turn from he WHY OF righteousness. It
lis former condition OF sin-detilement
rhe APOSTLE Sivvs The illustration OF
Il.r SoW thai Mas washed returning e
her MllloNng IN The mirc Gil Peter Ii
- l,ai the t;iSe nj such is hopeless il
/ The step hW tukch With fun intention
and delbcrIllnn il the return to
tnurderuuS euuIition OF heart brother
hating IN With he full consent OF til,
heart. rho Apnstie. however. does init
mate that M 10 a certain point ther,
is hope OF recovery and hence n
urges all Of the faithful 10 assist these
saying. He THAI couverteth Il slime
(ouee Il brothcri from the error of hi
ways shall save Il soul from death,
Again we read. No drunkard shal
enter into the Kingdom of God" {
Corinthians vi. lu' He surely woul,
be unfit. This does not. however. i'm
ply that NIL total abstainers from iu
toxicant liquors are tit for the King
dom. Neither does it imply that
drunkard might not reform and thu
cease 10 be Il drunkard. and by tn,
Lords grace become iit for the King
dom. Moreover the word d,nnkard IL
the Bible is frequently used in a zig
urative sense II represents an addle,
condition of the mind: rs for instance
we read. that Babyion's cup made al
tho Nations drunk iRpyaiatinn witt