The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-07-11

OF INC poor hlp4ulNts IteAa $3.50 t-tf -
vine pscgram shines resrIeadeniiy.
Allowing Us that tie Redeesner and his
Church VIII for i thousand years DO
engaged Ia d missionary work of ne
snbIImest and most gigantic eharaeter
"a work NOT only for q livlns; reinnHnt
cf the race, hut one which VIII M
cinde In Its blessing nh The thousands
( Of millions OF humanity under the plT
Vine sentence. "The wages of sin "
DEATH Truly the Scriptures deelare,
AS the heavens are higher than the
earth. so are Gods ways higher than
mans ways and Gods plans ioftler
than mans conceptions.
Notice next the context ST Paul,
after mentioning Christ ms the Head
OF the Body, tho Church. who = tho
first-begotten, the fIrst-born from tue
aead. that In all things he might have
the pre-emlnence. adds, For It pleased
the Father that In him should nll fpl-
ness dwell.n and that otter having
made peace through the blood Of Ills
cross by him TO reconcile all things
unto himself both the things IN earth
and things in heaven tcolossians
1920. The Apostle indicates NE F;rents
scope of Christ's work as 1t shall be
eventually when finished. he Is mp,
pointed of the Gather to establish peace 1
and righteousness throughout the Uni
verse. But he Inns not yet accom-
plished all Of this. Hehas 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 TO Justice
the satisfaction for the worlds sins:
BE first appears! before God as the
great Advocate for the elect Church.
called" OF God In advance 10 be sthe
Bride, the lambs Wife, Note how
the Apostle expresses this thought in
our text. verse 81. Il
Tho Church First Reeoneiled.
"And you. that We're sometime
allennted. and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now hath che
reconciled in the body OF hts flesh
through death. to present You holyand
unblamable and unreproyable In his
the Father's) sight. II ye continue In
the faith.n etc.
Who are these aud why are they
reconciled in advance Of the remainder
Of the worId-brought In advance into
fellowship with the Father by the Re.
deemer us his Bride? These were by
nature children of wrath even us
others" BY nature they were allen
ated and enemies In their mind by
wicked works. They were unlike the !.
Redeemer. who was holy. harmless
and indebted and separate from sin
ners." Why then did Gods grace
specially come to this class--to us who
are of the Church Of Christ. saecepted
In the Beloved one? whntidid we do 4
or could we do to contribute to this
favor of God bestowed upon ,isg The
Apostle assures US further along the
same line, TINT the elect Church by
nature was not superior to the world
from which 1t was selected he de- :
clares that Il 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
heredlity. The difference between
these and others WINS. FIRST. that they
had ''an ear to heart the Divine mes.
sage. Sometimes this hearing ear;
came to them through sorrow and trib.
ulation. In their WEAKNESS and sleavI.
ness they heard the Masters voice.
Come unto me, all 20 that labor and
are heavy-laden and I Will give you
rest" tMatthew ri, 2s). They heard
this voice. while some or their neigh-
bors more fayorably situated heardsit
not. But still further blessing came
to them rs they responded and drew
near to the Lord by faith md prayer.
Desiring to come nearer and nearer
they stroye to put away all flthiness
of the flesh-sln in its every form-tiie
while realizing that they conid not
cleanse themselves. Then It was that
the Master Informed them OF the terms
upon which they might Join his Church
Tile 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 n full understanding
that It wouldHtake them out OF touch
with the world and the spirit OF tliei
world. while bringing them Into closer
relationship with tho Father and WITH
the Son. They were insured that IL
they thus presented their little ali to
God in the Redeemer's x1me and
merit, this great Redeemer would
serve them as their Advocate With the
Father and impute to them suffis
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 na.
ture and oil of Its rights and beget
them with his holy Spirit 10 Joint.
heirship with their Redeemer in ali the
glories md honors and blessed services.
for the world in his Kingdom Of GiDry
which Is to be set up soon rs this
Gospel Age shall have finished Its worl.