The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-02-24

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 it must be acknOwl-
edged that comparatively little has
been done, or is now being done, for
mans uplift. After six thousand years
it is still true that The whole world
lieth 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 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-
t0rial experiences. TO make them fit.
righteous ami acceptable for life etcr-
nal As Il whole. Christian people are
greatly bcvildercd The tendency of
their bewiiderment is toward doubt.
skepticiSm, atheism.
The other view briefly stated is that
God never intended the salvation Of
the world, hut merely the salvation of
the Church. elect according to the fore
knowledge of God through sanctifica-
ton 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 iuiquity. and 10 go down to
the tomb Tor worSel 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 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 APP
plicable to his 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 Milleunium-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 salyaticns are distinctly
different as to kind. rs well rs respects
their plan of operation. The salvation
of the Church during this Gospel Age
| since penteCoSt-m not only
deliverance from sin and death condi-
tons 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 lin
heritance is incorruptibe 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" q Peter /. 4. 81. 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
| err
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 will
constitute the First Resurrection class
They are guaranteed that only the
blessed and holy viii have part there
in. and that all participating in that
/ First Resurrection will be Royal
Priests unto God and unto Christ. and
reign with him thousand years GIev-
station xX. 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 complete
transformation. providing them with
spirit bodies Thus it is written of
their resurrection, 1T is sOWn in weak
ness; it T. r.ised in power: 1t is sown
in dishouc. it IS raised in glory; 1t is
sown an animal body; it is raised a
spiritual body" Il Corinthians XIV, ~
A.. OF these who will share in the
Thurchs salvation the Apostle says,
1--WE shall not all sleep, but must al
be changed" because flesh and blood
cannot inherit the Kingdom of God
/ Il Corinthians XIV. 30, 81.
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. 1t will
mean a 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 Eden
home We're lost through dSobedience
to God. The Divine arrangement is
that the merit of our Lords obedi-
ence unto death. when ultimately ap.
piled for mankind. shall fully can
Gel the death sentence upon him. More
and better than this, God has prom.