Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-25

power. and might. and dominion. and even
name that is named" I'D to the throne OF tn
FRther.-Eph. 1:21.
ST Paul quotes from David's prophecy, say
Ing. Thou hast assembled on high. thou has
led captivity captive: thou hast received gifl
for men; yea. for the rebelliouS also, that TIT
Lord God might dwell amcng Them (Psa
6S.lS) St. Paul quotes this Gave gifts u
men," The Scriptures represent that all tn
blessings which our Loru Jesus Is TO snet
forth. first upon His church for its perfectini
the spirit plane. and secondly, thpSugl
the church upon the world. "the rebellion
also" of the Father though through thu
Son Our Lord received the dignity, olessint
and power Of the Father. as st. Peter tell
U.S. and then shed forth mart Of what w
had received upon the waiting church in thi
upper room at Pentecost. The blessing still
continues with all vino are His all who com,
into the position OF justification by faith AMI
sanctificetion OF heart.
GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN,
We might have had room for speculation
to what Kind Of gifts tina Lord bestowed
had not the apostle LSoceeded to specify ant
to leave without a question Of doubt IA !
says He gave some tthe gift to be- apostles
and some prophets. and some evangelists. ana
some pastors and teachers. This declara
ton is in harmony with another from thi
same pen. to the effect that ''God hath So
the various members in the body OF Christ
the church. as 1t hath pleased him.. Tit
Scriptures dearly teach that but twelve wer'
set TO be apostles: that the office is not, a
claim. PROLONGED in the bishops. caret
nails and popes. The Scriptures tell US OF I'M
twelve APOSTLES Of the Lamb" whose name
are written in heaven. and OF The twelve foun
dations of the Jerusalem. Another pio
ture Of the same thing in Revelation repre-
sents the church as woman upon her heat
twelve stars. no more. no less. one beint
chosen in place Of one Of the original Judas
who lost. that the twelve might "a
teachers and evangelists is evidently greater
VIC are not for a moment to doubt that tni
Lord has the supervision of this matter ant
has been giving the gifts to the churcl
aQh IL
were necessary and believers were pre-
pared. 70 make use Of their assistance. Her
all apostles? Are all prophets7 Are al
teGchers? His intimation assUreoly is thai
all are not so recognized Of the Lord; thai
God makes His own selection-and 1t is FOL
His people to hear. to recognize His voice ant
TO follow the same and not to follow tia
voice OF strangers
AN IMPORTANT TRUTH NEGLECTED.
Alasi that an important truth is slightedi
that the Lords people have forgotten thai
He Himself is the Head Of the church; thai
by His appointment the twelve apostles art
the channels OF His blessing: that onlJ
through them do the streams Of truth 81
forth, and that evangelists. pastors and teach.
ers are to be needed only they can shoT
that their messages from this fountsit
spring. Would that every consecrated Christ
clearly sets forth. namely. that all the teach;
inEs represented in the name Of the Lord and
the apostles are to be proven. to see whetaef
or not they dc proceed from these fountaim
and without admlxture and adulteration.
"PERFECTING OF THE sTINTs."
For what purpose did the Lord give thesi
gifts unto men? For the conversion OF thi
world. someone answers. Yes, we reply, but
not directly SO. We must be guided by the
apostle If we would know the truth of The
matter. He says distinctly that these gifd
were for the perfecting of the saints for thu
work of the ministry. for the edification of the
body Of Christ. till all vvme into unity q
faith and of the knowledge of the Son Of
God, unto fulI-grown men. unto the measurt
Of the stature Of the fullness Of Christ Eph
l:11-1S.
According to this it is a mistake to suppose
that Gods will is accomplished in the mert
preaching of the first principles OF the doc.
trines of Christ. The apostle explains thai
our first standing in Christ is that of babes
but that need to be nourished, strengthen.
ed. developed to perfection, to the condition
would find fault with the sentiments Of mel
today on this subject: that he would tell "
that the doctrines Of Christ not sufficient
produce the finished Christian character which
the Lord desires. Men are to become saint
first. and then to attain perfecting az
saints. Fnli conservation, therefore, is a inert
beginning Of the matter and not the end of III
We must ''go unto perfection"
He says that the saints are to be perfected
for the work of ministry" To whom are they
to minister? We answer that the saints have
indeed some opportunity for serving one an
other in the present life; yea, and some op.
the special work Of opportunity or service
will be that Of the future, when, as thf
Royal Priesthood in glory, they shall be as
ISOLATED with the great High Priest, Jesus, in
His millennial kingdom work Of blessing all
mankind. AS the prophet says, Yea, the re-
bellious also" The rebellious are not now
being dealt with, only the willing and obe-
dient. the meek. the teachable, the willing:
The rebellious will be dealt with by force and
with stripes during the millennium and: a.
st. Peter says, 1T shall come to pass that
every soul which will not hear that prophet
shall be destroyed from among the people"
(Acts S:2s)-in the Second Death.
we see a special reason why these gifts Of the
Lord should be now granted to the willina
will need to learn obedience themselves before
they can properly become the teachers, judges
kings and priests unto God. governing tbs
world OF mankind to uplift humanity out Of
degradation and sin and death.
UNTO A PERFEC MAN"
st. Paul says that these gifts through apps.
church to the condition of a perfect NAM
unto the measure Of the stature Of the full
ness of Christ" He does not mean that each
individual Is TO become Of Christs measure
and stature and character. Nothing Of this
kind is possible nor has even been accom-
plished His meaning is that from the divine
standpoint Of intention the Christ, Of which
Jesus is the head. has many members. posse
bly, one hundred and forty-four thousand. and
that these members. when all completed az
the end Of the age. will constitute the perfect
mantle Great Prophet.
This Is the same new man Of which the
apostle speaks saying that the head and some
the members were Gentle origin. that Of ths
twain he might make one new man" Eph.
2:15) This is the same body that the apostle
refers to n I Corinthians. 18TH when he says
that 1.-The eye cannot say to the hand, have
no need of thee; nor again. the head TO ths
feet. have need Of you. Nay, much more,
those members Of the body, which seem to be
more feeble. are necessary" That body COM
plete will be be the great Prophet Priest ana
King. our Lord the head and His perfected
saints the members. Through the kingdom
then TO be established the gifts and blessings
will proceed through Abraham's seed to all
the families Of the earth; yea, unto 1.-The
beIlious also Will come fullest knowledge,
fullest opportunity for reconciliation TO the
Father through the death Of His Son. Thus
seen our Lords ascension to be Lord of all
is close to the care of the gospel program.
Conond NIocS Harria Uas