The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-07-14

EuhIsmesf ard most Eisa nfSc haracfer
"a work not only for = living remnant
Of the race. but one which viii IN
ciudc in It's blessing all the thousands
Of millions Of humanity under The ID
vine sentence. The wages of stn L.
death" Truly the Scriptures declare.
AS the heavens are higher than the
earth. so are Gods ways higher than
mans ways and Gods plans lofiier
than mans conceptions
Notice next the context. ST Paul.
after mentioning Christ a. the Head
Of the Body the Church. who IN the
xt-begofien. the first born from the
dead. that in all things he might have
the pre-emInence. adds. For II pleased
the Father that in him should all full
ness dwell" and that after having
made peace through the blood OF his
cross by him TO reconcile all things
unto himself-both the things in earth
and things In heaven" (Colossians /,
1900. The Apostle indicates the great
scope of Christ's work as IL shall be
eventually when finished. He is ap-
pointed OF the Father 10 establish peace
and righteousness throughout the Uni
verse. But he has not yet accom-
plished all Of this. He has only begun.
He has died for the sins Of the world.
as well as for the sins of the Church.
But he has not yet offered 10 Justice
the satisfaction for the worlds sins:
He first appears before God as the
great Advocate for the elect Church.
called" OF God in advance to be 1.-The
Bride, the lambs Wife, Note how
the Apostle expresses this thought In
our text. verse 81.
The Church First Reconciied.
"And you. that were sometime
alienated. and enemies In your mind
by wicked works, yet now hath he
reconciled in the body of his flesh
through death. to present you holy and
unblamable and unreprovable In his
(the Father's) sight. II ye continue in
the faith" etc.
Who are these and why are they
reconciled in advance of the remainder
of the world-brought in advance into
fellowship with the Father by the Re-
deemer as his Bride? These were by
nature children of wrath even as
Others" By nature they were alien
ated and enemies in their mind by
wicked works. They were unlike the
Redeemer. who was holy. harmless
and undefiled and separate from sin
ners." Why then did Gods grace
specially come to this classic US who
are of the Church Of Christ, accepted
in the Beloved" one? What did we do
or could we do to contribute to this
favor of God bestowed upon US? The
Apostle assures US further along the
same line, that the elect Church by
nature was not superior to the world
from which it was selected He de-
clares that it contains not many great,
not many learned. not many rich. but
chiefly the poor of this world. rich in
faith. many of them ignoble as re-
spects birth and natural advantages Of
herediity. The difference between
these and others was, first, that they
had IAN ear to hear" the Divine mes
sage Sometimes this hearing ear
came to them through sorrow and trib
ulation. In their WEAKNESS and heavi-
ness they heard the Masters voice,
Come unto me. all We that labor and
are heavy-laden and ! will give you
rest" (Matthew II. 81. They heard
this voice. while some Oh their neigh
bors more favorably situated heard it
not. But a still further blessing came
to them as they responded and drew
near to the Lord by faith and prayer.
Desiring to come nearer and nearer
they strove to put away all fhhiness
of the flesh-sin in its every form-the
while realizing that they could not
cleanse themselves. Then 1t was that
the Master informed them of the terms
upon which they might join his Church
1.-THE Body OF Christ which is the
Church" They must make full con-
secratiOn of themselves to God and to
righteousness. even unto death. They
must do this with a full understanding
that it would take them out of touch
with the world and the spirit of the
world. while bringing them into closer
relationship with the Father and with
the Son. They were assured that if
, they thus presented their little all to
God in the Redeemer's name and
merit, this great Redeemer would
serve them as their Advocate with the
Father and impute to them a sufi-
cheney of the merit of his sacrifice to
make good the deficiencies Of their
/ flesh. Thus only could the Father ac-
+ cept their sacrifice of the earthly ma
+ ture and all of its rights and beget
them with his holy Spirit to joint
heirship with their Redeemer in all the
glories and honors and blessed services
for the world In his Kingdom of Glory
which Is to be set up as soon as this
. Gospel Age shall have finished its work
of gathering out of the world the elect.
Let it not be forgotten In this con-
nection that when the world shall be
reconciled to God in the future. the
blessings of that reconciliation will
come to them while still in their fallen
state, to assist them to the recovery of