Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-15
THE GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE

then hopeless respects DIVINE approNal anu
eternal life?-Romans 1:11-A
THE GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE
In our moment of perplexity we heard GODS
message speaking peace through Jesus Christ
our Lord" The message of peace is that what
we could not do our selves In the way Oh
lifting ourselves up to divine approval God has
provided shall be done for Us through our LOU
Jesus Christ. Our failure TO keep the law mars
us rs unworthy of eternal lie, ana worm y.
the wages of sin--not eternal torment, put
death God in mercy concluded TO OFFER Us eter
nal life us a gift-because OF our not ac'ualH
meriting ii under his legal requirements mus
we read, ''The wages OF sin Is deathi out Lns
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Rom. 6:23. What We could NOT
Obtain legally under the divine requirements 600
prefers to us as a gift. But the gift is con
ditional one as expressed in the words, through
Jesus Christ our Lord" Only those VINO accept
Jesus Christ ''the way, the TRUTH ana Tue
life' may have Gods gift Of eternal IRE
Hence it Will be that it is wholly mis-
take to suppose that the heather at home OF
abroad can get eternal life. the gift OF God, In
ignorance OF Christ All the Scriptures CONFIRM
this and declsre not only that We cannot save
ourselves by obedience to the terms or 6od
law. but that there is none other name under
heaven given among men. whereby we must De
saved''-through faith in His name-tnrough
faith in His blood.-Acts. 4:l2.
But how is this done justly? And, why does
God so limit His gift of eternal life?
Gods law represents Himself and cannot
change He cannot REQUIRE less than perfection.
To 10 so would re to fill the universe to all
eternity with depraved and imperfect beings
God has a higher plan than this and declares,
'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways. lisa,
e5:9. He explains that His ultimate purpose IS
that there shall be no imperfect creature In ali
His universe. All whose hearts are loyal TO MIN
and the principles of His government shail De
perfected and all others sholl be destroyed IN
the second death. Thus. eventually, every knee
shall bow and every tongue confess TO the glory
of God. Then every creature which IL In heav-
en-, and EARTH and under the earth, shall
be heard saying blessing, and honor and glory
and power be unto Him who stitch upon the
throne. and unto the Lamb forever.-Rev., 5:1S.
"YOU ARE BOUGHT WITH PRICE"
Possibly God could have arranged some other
would not have required the death Of Jesus
as the ransom price. the purchase price, the re-
demption price for sinners. But the fact that
this method was adopted by our great Creator
assures US that other method would have been
so wise, so just, beneficial. No other method
would have fully demonstrated Gods wis
dom, Justice, loye and power.
In brief then Gods arrangement is that all
OF His human creatures shall have opportunity
of full return TO harmony With himself pro-
vi,led they wish TO do so, provided their hearts,
their Wills are fully responsive 20 the letter
and spirit of His law-the requirements set fortn
in our text. God has provided In Jesus Tor
the satisfaction OF Divine justice as respec's
all of the condemned race who desire to return
to His favor.
We agree with all the orthodox creeds Of
Christendom Inat only repentace from sin ana
an endeavor to put it away from our thoughts
and words and deeds, combined with faith In the
Redeemer's sacrifice and full conservation 81
heart and life to do the Fathers withholding
short of this attainment viii gain the salvation
which God Is now holding out to mankind. 10
such the spostle explains that the Righteousness.
the full demands OF the law of God His full
requirement, lis fulfilled in US who are walking
not after the flesh, but after the spirit" from,
SAY From the moment OF our conservation
and beCetting of the Holy Spirit God deals
with this class with sons. He trains them
I'm the school of Chrlst, disciplining Christening,
conservation vows and the loyalty OF their
hearts To those who prove faithful the great
reward IL promised-glOry. honor, immortality,
His millcnnial kingdom and its work OF bless
ing all the families Of the earth.-Gal., S:S;
Rev. 1921.
Is i'm respect To what shall be done with the
unsaintly--with those who do not present them
selves to Cod and who are not begotten again
Of the HOLY Spirit Our creeds Of the dark
ages miHeprescnted ths teachings of the Bible
in respect TO these and told us that they are
all to be consigned for hundreds or thousands
of years TO purgatory or for all eternity in hell
torment Not such is the teaching OF Gods
Word, but the very reverse. as we have pre-
ia thee and in thy seed shall all the families
of the earth be damned, but the reverse OF
this, that they shall all be blassed. All the
Hind eyes shall be opened. All the deaf ears
shall be unstopped. For the blest thousands
years of Christ's reign the worlds uplifting
or resurrection will proceed, while the knowl-
edge of the glory Of God shall fill the whole
earth. The angels the plains of Bethlehem
did not declare to the shepherds, Fear greatly,
for behold. bring you bad tidings OF treat
misery which shall be unto all people Ihei-
message was the reverse OF this: Fear nor;
behold we bring you good tidings of great
joy which shall be unto all people" Lake.
2:1OD God. who had q due time Tor calling
natural Israel and who had also due time
for calling spiritual Israel, has due time
for mailing known the riches OF His grace to
fha mankind
elect OF spiritual Israel and of natural lsrt"l
are to he the channels Of this Divine grac"
and mercy which. during the millenniaI age.
will flow as a river Of salvation, TO which all