Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-29
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fore our minds Is that of the Tabernacle aud
the priests conducting the service. He points
out that our Lord Jesus as the great anti
typical High Priest has made an atonement
for the sins Of all believers, and that there
fore believers who have turned from sin may
come to the heavenly Father courageously-not
in fear nothing doubling. They may come
in fear even when they realize tnen resf
ize they have fallen short OF the Lords stand
ard, and of their own standard; they may re
alize that itsis throne OF grace, OF mercy:
their imperfections and obtain a blessing, ana
bear song away.
grace, because still in SIM because they have
not yet turned their backs upon sin, because
they have not yet accepted Christ as their
Redeemer, their Saviour, and because, there-
fore. he is not their High Priest The Apostle
says, "Hc hath appeared in the presence OF
God for us''-believers. He has an arrange
and by he will appear on behalf OF all, but
as yet the new and living why is opened only
desire 10 come to the Father through him.
No loving and practicing sin has any invl-
tation to this throne Of grace. he must learn
first the exceeding sinfuness OF sin; ne must
become sin-Rick before he will realize his need
of or have an appreciation for the good physl-
clan and the balm which he alone can supply
for the healing OF the soul.
Find Grace to Help.
The Apostle not only declares that believers
giveness Of unwilling sins, imperfections. hut
that additional they may find grace to nell
in every time Of need grace to hedp In every
time OF need Hebrews Nv, 16). Surely this Is
true as every developed Christian must know.
Hence, the faithful approach the throne OF
grace with courage, not only when they have
trespasses to confess and apologies TO make,
and forgiveness to ask, but also as they think
of the trials. temptations and difficulties aloug
the way, and Of the day. They learn TO seek
fertilization against SIN, against their own
weaknesses. against the encroachments OF the
world, the flesh and the adversary. They OBJ
tain these blessings by their Fellowship Win
fha Tor - fFS bafr
ly things and the sinful things IL brings 20
them a fresh realization of the Fathers love
and care. 1t reminds them repeatedly OF their
call Of thu Lord 10 be HIS disciples, and Of the
terms ami conditions upon which they are ac-
cepted. 1t brings before them repeatedly the
glorious standard above all standards-the Dl'
vine II reminds them Of the Saviour's words,
,Be 70 like unto your Father which is In
heaven, who is kind TO the evil and the good
and extends his mercies to the just and the IN
Just" 1t reminds them afresh that they should
pray. Forgive us our tresrasses as we Tor
give those who trcspess against u.s. and thus
IT tends to make their hearts ard minds more
tender, gentle, more torgiving toward ali
with whom they have to do.
81 PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD"
We have seen who may and who may not
pray, according to the limitations Of the Lords
Word; that no one is invited to pray except the
Christ. We have how the people of God
may pray for the forgiveness Of their own tres
passes, and have Divine mercy and help, and
how they may give thanks on behalf OF them
selves and each olher But may they, pray TO
God for sinners, for the world? Undoubtedly the
majority OF Christians would answer yes; but
If we find the Scriptural answer TO the Query,
1t is, No Our Lords words in His prayer to
the Father on the same night in which he wiz
betrayed were, Il pray not for the world, but
for those whom Thou has given me" John
xvii, 3D. Our Lord the great exemplar for
all of His followers, who are exhorted to walk
in His footsteps II He prayed not for the
But what is the philosophy OF this? Did Je-
sus love the world? Yes, verify. He so loved
sinners. Why. then, did He not pray for those
whom He loved and for whom He diedI We
answer, because It is not the Divine plan to
save people by praying for them, but. as the
apostle declared, 1t pleased God that through
the preaching OF the cross of Christ belicV-
ers should be saved, though this course may
seem foolish to the worldly. God has made a
great plan of salvation, which eventually will
reach tho whole world of mankind-eVery Great.
ure. He does not need. therefore. that either
our Lord Jesus or we should pray for the world
for He has every arrangement made on their be.
half that love and Justice could provide. The
time for blessing the world has not yet come
The present is the time for blessing the
church, believers who are now being called out
of the world-to separate themselves as Gods
peculiar people. 1t was for these that Jesus
prayed, and for these. therefore, we. following
His example, should pray. Their afflictions are
His Affections, and hence Affections. be
cause II one member of the body OF Christ suf
fer, all the other members suffer with r.
Hence, as the apostle says, we should pray oIfe
for the other, ms we'll as labor TO assist each
other, and to build one another up in the most
holy faith, for this is the viii Of God. This Is
the plan of God-that during the present age
the elect class should be called and tested and
chosen, In order that in the next age they with
Christ In His Millennial Kingdom may be the
divine agency for the blessing OF all the fami
Why should we not pray for the conversion OF
our families. and neIghbors and friends? Be
cause 1t is not for us to ask the Lord to select
according TO our judgment those who shall be OF
his elect Little Flock, hts Bride class Divine
rules are In operation. and 1t is for TO 60
operate with them. We may tell the good tidlna
to our friends, neighbors families we maj
exemplify the gospel in our daily lives. and
thus bring to hear uLon our friends the things
of the truth. which God has ordained shall he
the sanctifying power-"Sancitfy them through
thy truth; thy Word is Truth"
We may, however, ask OF the Lord wisdom
and grace whereby we may serve him accept
ably. whereby VIC may present his message
faithfully as his ambassadors. and whereby we
may be more and more burning and shining
lights and living epist1es known and read OF the
dear friends whom we would love to serve arc,
10 bring to him. We might even ask for the
Lords blessing upon favored opportunities fov
presentation OF the Truth. and for the wisdom
which our Lord exhorted to exercise, sayin.
that should be wise as serpents and harG.
less as doves In the presentation Of his message
The exhortation IN nrey for, enemies. and
for rulers and magistrates. are not in conflict
with the foregoing because our prayer for our
enemies would be that whereas they might b.
Justly entitled to stripes account Of injury
done to us, we would be willing to forgive
them, that the trespass might not be laid to
thelT charBe' nut tnls would not be asking the
Lord for some miraculous power upon them for
their conversion to be his disciples. And when
the Apostle exhorts that prayer be made for
magistrates. he makes no Suggestion OF praying
for their conversion. Init "a Their that their gov
eminent might be ordered as to inAure to the
benefit the blessing. Of the Lords elect
church-"thRt we may lead quiet and peaceful
life. in all goodness and honesty" (Timothy
II. o.
close with the exhortation that we all seek
TO appreciate moro and more the great privilege
which We emily as Christians. Of coming 10 the
name Of our Ior dand head into the presence
or The Emperor Of the Universe. to get his