The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-03-02
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

Tampa, Fla, Feb. 20.-Pastor G. L.
Russell of Brooklyn Tabernacle preach
ed twice here today in our largest au-
ditorium to the "Bible Students Con
vention." The large audience seemed
deeply interested. He said
Some apply the first text only and
think Of the Divine Program as being
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 1t must be acknowl-
edged that comparatively little has
been done, or is now being done, for
mans uplift. After six thousand years
1t is still true that THE whole world
Ileth In the Wicked One" Darkness
covers the earth and gross darkness
the heather" In order to have any
confidence at all In this theory those
who hold 1t 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 tit
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 saDctiflca-
ton of the Spirit and belief in the
Truth. Those who hold this theory
have great confusion also, because 1t
seems incomprehensible that God
would make no provision for thou
sands of millions" OF Adams race. but
arrange for them 10 be born In sin,
shapen in iniquity, and to go down to
the tomb Tor worse) without a clear
knowledge OF God aud 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 situations. 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 his Church at Pentecost,
and will wholly cease ut 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 Millennium-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 az to kind. as well as respects
their plan of operation The salvation
of the Church during this Gospel Age
since peniecost-m means not only u
deliyerance from sin and death cendi-
lions to eternal life, but provides that
the eternal life will be on the heaven
ly or spiritual plane and not on the
earthly or human plane of existence.
Thus the Apostle declares that our "in-
heritance Is incorruptible and unde
filed and fadeth not away and is re
served In heaven for us. who are KEEP,
by the power of God through faith
unto salvation" q Peter |. 4. 3D. Oul
Lord also told that IN the resurrection
we shall be like unto the angels The
Apostle also declares that ultimatel,
we shall be partakcrs OF the divine
nature and like our Lord and Redeem
or.
Hence. all who participate In this
salvation of this Gospel Age are Scrip
turally spoken Of as New Creatures Ii
Christ Jesus, whose citizenship Is IN
heaven" II are assured that al
the Lords Second Coming they will
constitute the First Resurrection class
They are guaranteed that only the
in. and that all participating IN that
First Resurrection will be Roya
Priests unto God and unto Christ. and
reign with him a thousand years REV
citation Xxx. G., 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 n complete
transformation, providing them with
spirit bodies Thus II is written of
their resurrection. at Is sown In weak
ness; 1t Is raised In power; II is sown
In dlshonor; II is raised in glory 1t is
sown an animal body: 1t is raised a
spiritual body" Il Corinthians XIV. A.
Al. OF those who Will share In the
Chureh's salvation the Apostle says,
1--WE shall not all sleep. but must all
be changed" because flesh and blood
cannot inherit the Kingdom OF God
q Corinthians Nv, 90, sly.
The worlds salvation which will fol
low will be wholly different from this
1t will not include change of nature
from earthly to spirit nature. Ii will
mean rescue from sin and death to
the earthly perfection OF the original
man, IN the image and likeness OF
his Creator. and surrounded by ev
cry necessary blessing for his com
fort Human perfection and the Elder
home were lost through disobedienc,
TO God The Divine arrangement Il
that the merit of our Lords obedi
ence unto death. when ultimately ap
Piled for mankind shall fully can
eel the death sentence upon him. Nor,
and better than this. God has prom
ised that the same Sine Offering shall
seal New Covenant between him
self and mankind. The blessings OF
that New Covenant arrangement will
then Immediately begin. The great
Redeemer Will thenceforth be the
great Mediator OF that New Cove
nant. The whole world Of mankind
Will be fully under his supervision
and government for their blessing
their correction In Righteousness. theii
uplifting out Of sin and death con.
ditions-back. back. back, to all that
was lost In Eden. All Of this was
the original design OF the Great Gre
ator. All Of this will be outworked
through the Great Redeemer. All OF
fhta - -. ~