Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-26

apostles who walked in His steps OF devotion
to God and to Righteousness and in selr-sacrlfice
in the interest of others
What a beautiful picture our text then gives
us of the Holy Spirits operation upon our
hearts, sealing us, marking us, continually deep
ening the impression. eventually transforming
us. until, by the final change OF the first resur
rectiCn. the sealing processes shall have been
accomplished. Then the glorious promises on
Gods Word having beer fully realized. we shall
be like our Lord the spirit plane and share-s
of His glory. Then shall be granted the privi-
lege OF association with Him in His MillennIai
kingdom work for the UPLIFTING, the restitution.
the blessing, Of Israel and all the families OF
the earth. But let US not forget that no one
is sealed with the Holy Spirit Of promise. except
be has turned from sin and accepted our Lord
Jesus as his Redeemer and who has, additional
ly, consecrated unto death all his human rights
and interests Of every kind-to sacrifice the
same guided by the Holy Spirit Of the Lord.
The grieving Of the Holy Spirit, then, would
signify that the sealing processes would discon-
tinue; that the work would not be accomplished;
that the Word and prOvidences OF God wouid
not prove effective In the heart which had
grieved the Spirit. In other words, II is re-
qured that this work of scaling shall be fully
with consent Cco-operationl, else II cannot
proceed. The apostle intimates that self-wIII
the world. would have this blighting effect.
This Il shown in the context preceding. which
should be fully studied.
1t is not our wish 10 discourage anybody In
any measure of well-dOing. On the contrary, We
encourage all with the Scriptural assurance that
not single act Of kindness done to one OF the
least Of the Lords disciples will fail OF its
ward-even cup Of cold water. 1t is our duty,
however, 10 call attention, not only TO the
before His church. but also with equal persist
ency TO call attention 10 the particular terms
upon which IL may be secured. IL is not IN
vain that the apostle wrote: IF We do these
things. We shall never fall for so an entrance
stall be ministered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting Kingdom Of our Lord and Saviour
the apostle calls our attention TO some who nave
grieyed the Holy Spirit wherewith they were
sealed unto the day of deliverance, saying:
But he that lacketh these things is blind and
cannot see afar off (has lost his spiritual
sight and has forgotten that he purged
from his old sins III Peter, is 81 so, then
dear brethren, let us give the more earnes;
heed to the Word Of the Lord lest we should
let the blessed message and blessed Influence
slip gradually from us and we become castaways
a. respects the kingdom blessing, whatever else
we might or might rot attain.
THE SEALING OPERATION
Gods holy spirit. in effectng this sealing of
our hearts, in making this impress OF the divine
character upon us as new creatures, uses va
rlous means. One Of these is the word OF God.
Its instructions, encouragements. warnings and
promises constitute a power OF God upon the
hearts of those who love righteousness and hate
lnlquity and who are striving to serve the Lord
with willing and self-sacrifcing hearts. The
word Of God may reach others and influence
them more or less this way that, but only
upon this special class does il exercise this
sealing power. Another agency for the impress
ing of the divine will, 1.-THE mind Of Christ"
denceS. These. however. can be rightly under
stood only by those enlightened by the word the
Bible. and can be rightly applied only by the
meek. the humble. the trustful. who have made
the conservation and are seeking to make their
calling and election sure. The holy Spirit
these different means Of deHeIoping in the con
secrated ones the mind Of Christ the spirit OF
God, the holy Spirit; and the sealing thus ef-
fected marks each individual as one OF the Lords
Jewels" one OF the Lords members" in pre-
paratton for a share with the Lord in the
heavenly kingdom; There is blessing expert
enced in conjunction with the sealing itself. a
joy, peace, rest Of heart, which the world
can neither give take away. However,
these blessings Of the present time are merely
foretnste and earnest OF the great inheri-
lance which is to be their with the completion
Of their experiences in the school OF Christ.
In the end OF this age all OF these faithful ones
mot many. "a little flock" will reach the
end of the journey. and. by the First Resur-
rection. be changed in a moment in the twink
ling OF an eye" into the glorious likeness OF
the Redeemer. Tint wonderful moment will he
in the early dawn Of the Millennial day. which
is the day Of redemption. the day OF deliver
DELIVERANCE FOR THE WORLD.
But while the church will be the first to be
blessed in that deiivernDce day, the scriptures
that others also will he delivered
''the grooming creation" but the church will De
the Body Of Christ. the blessings of restitution
opportunities viii be extended to all others.
That will be earth's great Deliverance day.
or. SHOWN in the Jewish types. 1t will be the
anti typical jubilee year. in which the worlI
Will be released from it's bondage to sin and
death AS st. james declares james 1:1sl.
the Church is "A kind Of. first-fruits unto God
Of his creatures" But the first-fuits will
have a great ure-emnence. in that the first
Resurrection will bring them snrltrIal perfection
aE we'll ss share in the Millennial kingdom.
Theirs will he an instantaneous change while
the opportunities Of the world will be thnt OF
gradual uplifting from sin and death conditions
TO the perfection Of manhood such as Adam en-
loved before he sinn"d. and in worldwide
Eden home.