The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-12-14


(Romans viii. 29).
Fit for the Kingdom Let us think
for a moment what these words signi
fy. First of all we recognize that, as
sinners. we were most thoroughly
unit for any favor of God. much less
this greatest of all favors. joint-heir-
ship with his Son and ''partakers OF
the Divine nature" I'll Peter |, A.. But
that difficulty has all been overcome
with those who have come unto God
through Christ and been made partak-
ers of his holy Spirit Of adoption. OF
such we read, 1T Is God that justi-
feth! Who Is he that condemneth"
(Romans viii, 1884. 1t is Christ that
died for our sins and who now is our
Advocate. Who could in any wise
come between us and our Savior and
our Heavenly Father?
But this Justification is not enough.
If we were perfect actually instead Of
merely .reckonedly we would not be ut
for the Kingdom Of God-we would
not be fit to govern others-to be
kings and priests unto God and to
reign on the earth" (Revelation Xxx, 81.
We should still be unit to be the
judges of the world. as the Scriptures
declare that we shall be, saying,
Know We not that the saints shall
Judge the world q Corinthians vi, p.
Our Heavenly Father In bringing
many sons unto glory made the Cap
tain of their salvation (JesusD perfect
through suferings. Should we think
1t strange that we, his younger breth-
rem, justified through his blood. should
be required, not merely to make pro-
fession OF Goodness. holiness. but also
to approve or attest that sentiment to
be a part of our veiJ character! Is
not what we as the Church Of Christ
experience very reasonable indeed
who would be prepared to teach the
world meekness. patience, brotheriy-
kindness. long-suffering. love, without
first of all developing these various
qualities of character in himself? And
how could he develop these and be
tested except under just such schooling
and disciplining influences as now are
upon the Church Of Christ with q
view to making us fit for the glorious
position of our high calling Of God In
Christ JesusI
When the Scriptures refer to the
Church as being dit for the Kingdom
and as being the ''overcomers" for
whom the Kingdom is prepared, and
who shall share its glories and honors,
because they are worthy Revelation
iii. A., we are to understand this wor-
thiness and fitness. not that they were
originally so, but that by Gods grace,
through Christ, transformation work
will eventually bring some to this glori
Gus position where God himself will es-
teen them toorthv to be called his chill
dren, and to be joint-heirs with his
Son, the Great King.
Various Kinds of Fitness.
There is one certain standard of IT.
ness for the Kingdom and none other
will do; but there may be quite va
riety Of conditions which make one IN
1T for the Kingdom. One of these is
murder. mo murderer hath eternal
life abiding in him" Il John i'll, 15).
He would be unfit for the Kingdom.
This would not signify, however, that
one who had once been a murderer
might not, by a sound conversion and
BY faithfulness In the School OF Christ,
become a member Of the Kingdom
class. But the word murder here used
has a broader meaning than is gener-
Ill hoI 70 ho ruh f0h
st. John gave to the word when he
said that whatsoever hateth his brother
Is a murderer Il John Ii. III. We
know. then, that no brother-hater is
fit for the Kingdom. But. some may
have. been brother-haters and have
been washed. cleansed. sanctihed,
brought into heart-relationship with
the Lord and into love of the brethren.
If SO, the implication Is that they have
lost the spirit of murder from their
hearts and are brother-haters no long.
er. The Scriptures tell us also that 1t
will be possible for man who has
been figuratively washed from his for
mer condition of sin-deflement and
who has been clothed Of the LORD
symbolically in a robe OF righteous
ness and who had been begotten Of
the holy Spirit of love to turn from
this holy commandment Of Iove-to
turn from the way of righteousness, to
his former condition of sin-deflement
The Apostle gives the illustration OF
the SOW that was washed returning to
her wallowing In the mire I'll Peter Il.
22,. But the case of such is hopeless II
the step be taken with full intention
and deliberation-if the return to a
murderous condition Of heart-brother-
hating-be with the full consent OF the
heart. The Apostle, however, does init
mate that up to certain point there
is hope Of recovery and hence he
urges all of the faithful to assist these.
saying, HE that converteth sinner
(once a brother from the error OF bis
ways shall save soul from death"
Again we read. mo drunkard shall
enter into the Kingdom of God" Il
Corinthians vi. 10D. He surely would
be unfit. This does not. however, i'm
ply that all total abstainers from In
toxicant liquors are DIT for the King
dom. Neither does it imply that a
drunkard might not reform and thus
cease to be a drunkard. and by the
Lords grace. become it for the King
dom. Moreover the word druHk1rd In
the Bible Is frequently used in tig-
urative sense. 1t represents an added
condition Of the mind; as for instance.
we read, that Babylon's cup made all
the nations drunk Revelation xviii,
2-3,. This signifies that fellowship
with false doctrines has permeated,
Influenced. bewildered the world In
general Gods people partaking OF
Christ's cup Of suffering are said to
receive "the spirit of sound mind
clearness of understanding respecting
the Divine character and Plan and the
principles of righteousness. All VINO
will be fit for the Kingdom may be
expected to have considerable clear
ness Of understanding respecting d.
vine things. They are to know God,
and by receiving his Spirit, they are
to have understanding OF the deep
things of Cod" which the natural man
cannot understand Il Corinthians Il.
1914. OF this our Lord spoke, saying,
'.This is life eternal. that they might
know thee the only true God. and Je-
sus Christ. whom thou hast sent"
The Importance of Fidelity.
Pride is another quality OF the heart
which would render its possessor I'M
ft for the Kingdom of God. We read
that the Lord ''resisteth the proud and
giveth grace to the humble" q Peter v,
81. Pride is one of the things which
God hates 1t is a foe to righteous
ness in general and leads captive
many into sin. When we read that