The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-11

luenth.' Irulystne scriptures ueclnre,
As the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are Gods ways higher than
mans ways and Gods plans loftier
than mans conceptions.
Notice next the context. st. Paul.
after mentioning Christ as the Head
of the Body. the Church, who is the
frst-begotten. the first-born from the
dead. that in all things he might have
the pre-eminence, adds, "For 1t 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 !,
1920. The Apostle indicates the great
scope of Christ's work as 1t shall be
eventually when finished. He is ap-
pointed Of the Father to establish peace
and righteousness throughout the Uni
verse; But he has not yet accom-
pllshed all of this. He has only begun.
He has died for the sins Of the world,
as we'll as for the sins of the Church.
But he has not yet offered to 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 "the
Bride, the Lambs Wife" Note how
the Apostle expresses this thought in
our text, verse 81.
| Tho Church First ReeoneiIed.
"And you, that were sometime
allenated, 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
Qbe Father's) sight, IL 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 sim
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 1t was selected. He de-
clares that 1t 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
had IAN ear to hear" the Divine mes
sage Sometimes this hearing ear
came to them through sorrow and trib-
nlation. In their weariness and heavi-
ness they heard the Masters voice,
"Come unto me. all ye that labor and
are heavy-laden and l will give you
rest" (NIatthew xi. 2Sl. They heard
this voice. while some OIL their neigh
bors more favorably situated heard 1t
not But 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 flthiness
of the flcsh-sln in its every form-~the
while realizing that they could not
cleanse themselves. Then Il was that
the Master Informed them of the terms
upon which they might join his Church
-"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 full understanding
that 1t 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 II
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 n sufH
cheney of the, merit of his sacrifice tc
make good the deficiencies Of theil
flesh. Thus only could the Father ac
cept their sacrifice of the earthly ma
ture and all of its rights and bege
them with his holy Spirit to joint
heirship with their Redeemer In all tn,
glorles 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 wQrl
, of gathering out of the world the elect
Let It not be forgotten In this con
nectlon that when the world shall b,
reconciled to God In the future, the
blessings of that reconciliation viii
come TO them while still In their faler
state. 10 assist them TO the recovery Of
all that was lost in Adam. Hence oul
: influence even with the worldly SHOULD
be to encourage them towards as higl
standards Of righteousness as posi-
BILE. knowing that whatever they may
attain In the present life will be tina
, much Of an advantage to them In tn,
future life. and that In proportion {,
their degradation will be their difiicul