Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-12-29
Christians For the Rewards.

cIcO Inc HldtIOE u UeCOIIllIS HIS uISCApAGS
followers in his footsteps.
Christians For the Rewards.
Pastor Russell declared that many rep
rebate the thought that Christians should
be stimulated to faithfulness by promises
of reward, claiming that virtue is it's own
reward. But this Is theory, and those
who follow it rarely have too much of
the virtue. Instead Of seeking human
wisdom on this subject we should seek
the Divine Wisdom. Gods promises in
the Bible continually hold before the
Christian glorious hopes of grand rewards
for faithfulness. Not to be wiser than
his Teacher, Pastor Russell must do the
same His text, for example. encourages
Gods consecrated. sanity few to perse-
we're in the narrow way and to allow their
faith to be strong and confident. assured
that in the end they shall have great re-
ward The context bears this out also.
ST. Paul had been discussing the luke
Warmness of some who in former days
had endured great fight of Affections for
the sake of the Gospel of Christ. Er- ~
Some Of these had been actively in the
fight and suffered great losses from the
earthly standpoint. while others had
shared with them loyalty in that they
had remained true to the DETAINED and
dishonored ones, supporting Them ac-
knowledging them. assisting them, All
such faithfulness on the part of those who
are fully consecrated, who become New
Creatures in Christ and receive the illu-
mination of the Holy Spirit. is not only
praiseWOrthy but sure to have a reward
The Apostle declared that "God is not
unrighteous to forget your work and la
Dor Of love" St. Paul would revive the
tagging courage and kindle afresh the
sacred flame of zeal and devotion to the
Cause of the Master: hence he eXhorts his
hearers to forget not the assembling of
themselves together. as the manner of
some is, but SO much the more as they see
the day (of Christ's Kingdom, drawing
nigh. The reward is sure to be great.
St. Peter also reminded the brethren OF
the glorious hopes before them. as In
centives to faithfulness, saying, where
by are given unto us exceeding. great and
precious promises, that by these we might
become partakers of the divine nature
by the assistance they render us In the
sacrifice Of earthly interests and by their
sustaining power as we walk in the foot
steps Of Jesus self-sacriflcingly through
the valley of the shadow of death-the
pathway of the present life e Pet. 1:D.
Jesus Influenced by Reward.
Rewards may, be heavenly or earthly:
and the desire for them may be selfish or
unselfish. OF the worlds Redeemer we
him, endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is now Tin consequence set
down at the right hand" of the Majesty
on high henceforth anticipating the time
when all the opposition of sin and Satan
shall be vanquished (Ieb. 1920. Although
the Masters motive leading him to sac
rifice was benevolent one, nevertheless
in the work set before him, the rewards
undoubtedly exercised a potent influence,
<o{fh 3r,1 oiv <I,o
will of the Heavenly Father. The prom
Uses made to him were various: .@.E
(D He would be the Captain of Saliva
ton to many sons Of God who, under his
leadership, would attain joint heirship with
himself and. under him. in the glorious
Messanic Kingdom promised. 2:10.
az He was promised the heather, the
Gentiles, the peoples Of the earth. for an
| inheritance and all the earth for pos
session-a possession which it would be
his privilege to give to so many of Adam
race as would under his benefcent King
dom, be accounted worthy Of life eternal
under the terms Of the Divine Law.-Psa
2:e /.
(3) And part Of his pleasure undoubtedly
was the outworking of the Plans Of Je.
hovah-Plans which glorify the Fathers
Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power; and
which In turn would reflect Its glory upon
Jesus and all associated with him.
a. Additionally, was the Divine Prom
| Use Of his own high exaltation to the very
highest place in the Universe, next to Je
hovah-possessed of glory. honor. tmmor
| tally. the divine nature. .4
4 These joys set before our Master en-
abled him to faithfully and cheerfully
endure the cross, the ignominy. thu
shame. These things being true. It can
not be doubted that the promised re
wards Of the Church are designed by tht
same great Author Of Salvation to stim
ulate encourage and assist all who woult
walk In the footsteps Of Jesus as his fol
lowers. 9 sss 55s 1s
/ s We do not forget the modesty Of tn,
/ Rcdeeraer-how that, while faithfully do
4 Ing the Fathers will and remembering
j the promises OF his exaltation as 81 re
! ward, he humbly prayed merely that h
Il might have again the same degree Q
i honor and glory and Fellowship with hi
/. Father which he had enjoyed before Ii
undertook his work Of obedience in &C
Il 5complishlng mans salvat ton from sin an:
I death He prayed Father. glorify tho
4 me with the glory that had with the
Il before the world Was.'' But his humilit.
did not hinder the Father from fulfllini
q All of his glorious promises respectia;
him: and he answered the prayer 70 thi
il eject. saying, have GiOrfNed thee 81
Y the Gloey hefoss q woIsd 49, md