Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-02-26
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

ECU A0ASS hCAt tOuug AZ Jul idA BCSb gu
ditorium to the "Bible Students Con
vention." The large audience scenes
deeply interested. He said
Some apply the first text only ant
think of the Divine Program as beinl
merely an endeavor TO rescue mankind
from sin and death to Righteousness
and eternal life in the present time
Such as hold this view are much con
fused. because it must be acknowl
edged that comparatively little has
been done. or is now being done, fol
mans uplift. After six thousand years
1T IS still true that 1.-THE whole world
Illeth in the Wicked One" Darkness
covers the earth and gross darkness
the heathen." In order to have any
confidence at all in this theory those
who bold it are Obliged to greatly low
er their standards. They are forced to
hope that God will admit millions OF
unfit people, crude, rude. ignorant and
wicked to eternal life and happiness,
or perchance provide for them Purga-
torial experiences, to make them fit.
righteous and acceptable for life eter-
nal AS a whole, Christian people are
greatly bewildered. The tendency of
their bewilderment is toward doubt,
skepticism, atheism.
The other view briefly stated Is that
God never intended the salvation OF
the world. but merely the salvation of
the Church, elect according to the fore
knowledge of God through sanctifca-
tion Of the Spirit and belief in the
Truth. Those who hold this theory
have great confusion also, because it
seems incomprehensible that God
would make no provision for thou
sands of millions" of Adams race, but
arrange for them to be born in sin,
shapen in iniquity, and TO so down to
the tomb Tor worse) without a clear
knowledge of God and his purposes
and will respecting them.
AS we have already frequently set
forth, both Of the described theories
are erroneous. The Scriptures set
forth two salvations. entirely separate
and distinct. They are different as re-
spects time, In that the one Salvation
began to be spoken by our Lord" at
his First Advent. and began to be ap-
plicable to Ills Church at Pentecost,
and will wholly cease at his Second
Coming In the end of this Age. The
other salvation neither applied before
our Lords First Advent nor during
this Gospel Age. but will apply to all
mankind. except the Church, during
the Millennlum-the thousand years
OF the reign of Christ and the Church,
specially designed for the blessing of
the world and its uplifting out OF sin
and death conditions.
These two salvations are distinctly
different as to kind. as well as respects
their plan OF operation. The salvation
of the Church during this Gospel Age
since Pentecost- not only a
dellverance from sin and death condi-
tions 70 eternal life, but provides that
the eternal life will be on the heaven
ly or spiritual plane aud not on the
earthly or human plane Of existence.
Thus the Apostle declares that our "in-
heritance is incorrupHble and unde-
filed and fadeth not away and Is re-
served In heaven for us, who are kept
by the power of God through faith
unto salvation" Il Peter I, {, %. Our
Lord also told that in the resurrection
we shall be like unto the angels. The
Apostle also declares that ultimately
we shall be partakers OF the divine
nature and like our Lord and Redeem
er.
Hence. all who participate in this
salvation of this Gospel Age are Scrip
turally spoken of as New Creatures in
Christ Jesus. whose citizenship Is In
heaven" These are assured that at
the Lords Second Coming they win
constitute the First Resurrection class,
They are guaranteed that only the
blessed and holy viii have part there
I'm. and that all participating in that
First Resurrection will be Royal
Priests unto God and unto Christ, and
reign with him thousand years (Rey-
alation Xxx. @. They are assured that
the transformation Of mind which
they now experience through the be-
getting OF the holy Spirit will, In their
resurrection. result In complete
transformation, providing them with
spirit bodies. Thus It is written OF
their resurrection. 1T Is sown In weak
ness; Il Is raised IN power: II is sown
I'm dishonor; Il Is raised In glory; II is
sown an animal body; II is raised
spiritual body" q Corinthians XIV, A.
~. OF those who will share In the
Church's salvation the Apostle says,
1--WE shall not all sleep, but must all
be changed" because "desh and blood
cannot inherit the Kingdom OF God"
Il Corinthians xv. 90, 5l.
The worlds salvation which will FOL.
low viii be wholly different from this,
IL win not include a change OF nature
from earthly 20 spirit nature. Il win
mean rescue from sin and death TO
che earthly perfection OF the original
man. IN the Image and likeness Of
his Creator. aud surrounded by ev-
cry necessary blessing FOR his com
fort Human perfection ana the Eden
home were lost through disObedienee
10 God The Divine arrangement Is
that the merit OF our lords ohedi-