The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-01-21

Man Whom lie Hath Ordained (Acts xvi. ]
80, 3D.
ooO.---.-.-.-.-.~.-.-.-.
his disciples. The jew then had this
advantage over the Gentle up to that
time lie had Gods promises. lie
knew the Law OF God. He was profit.
ed by striving to do the impossible
thing OF keeping 1t perfectly. Had
God not chosen the nation of Israel to
bring them under the schooling pro-
Ccsses OF the Law Covenant Galatians
iii. pa he would have "winkcd" at
their ignorance, etc, as he did with
the transgrcssions of other nations up
TO that time
"Now Commandeth All Men,"
What is the secret of this change on
Gods purt-from winking at the sins
and impcrfections OF the world to com
handing them TO repent? If it was
just TO wink at their sins for thou
sands Of years, why did not God con-
tinue to wink at them? The Apostle
answers the question, telling us that
this change in Gods dealing which
sent forth the message that the world
should repent was based upon the fact
that his eternal purposes had by that
time reached the stage of development
which justified such a message. The
Son of God had left the glory of the
Father which he had before the world
was; he had humbled himself to be-
come n man. AS the man Christ Jesus
he had been ohedicnt to the Heavenly
Fathers wish and had laid down his
| life sacriticially-that it might first
benefit conseCrated believers during
this Gospel Age; secondly that it
might bless the world of mankind
during the Millcnnial Age.
For time these good tdlngs were
confined to the Jewish nation, but
| three and half years after the cruel
| fiXon the limit of lsraels favor re-
| speeding the message came to an end,
and then the good tidings of great JOY
was permitted to go to all the Genties
on the same terms that the Jews had
| enjoyed
The Gospel or good news" consists
! of the information that God in his
mercy has provided that the death sell
| tence upon Adam and his race shall
not be perpetual; that there shall be
a resurrection of the dead, both of the
| just and of the unjust; that the pro-
vision for this has already been made
in and through the death of the Re-
deemer Is it inquired what advan-
| tage would there be in n resurrection
of the dead if Herewith all We're to
be placed back just where they are
at present? The answer is that there
would be no advantage in such res
direction. II the Jew could not keep
| the Law. and if the very beStinten-
toned of the Gentiles have found them
selves to be imperfect and their efforts
to stand approved before God in the
! present life to be failures, what good
could result from merely awakening
them from the sleep of death? Would
it not be wiser and better everyway
to let them perish like the brute beast?
We answer that Gods Word reveals
a very grand outcome to his Plan of
Salvation. The word resurrection. as
Scripturally used. signifies much more
than to be merely resuscitated. 1t sig
|
out of all sin and death conditions, up,
up, up to perfection-to all that was
lost by Father Adam and redeemed in
the Calvary sacrifice.
God Hath Appointed Day"
This. then. is the meaning of the
Apostles argument. BY providing the
Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of
the Church and the world God has
made possible fresh trial or judg-
ment for Adam and his race. Adams
first Judgment or trial day was in
Eden. There he lost everything by his
disobedience and brought upon him
self and all of his race Divine sentence
to death Christ has appeared that he
might redeem Adam and his race, for
the very purpose Of giving them in
dividually another full, fair trial or
judgment for life everlasting or death
everlasting.
That general judgment day men
toned by st. Paul in our text is neither
a damuatiOn day nor twenty-four
hour day. 1t is the thousand year day
of Christine period of his mediatOriaI
reign, in the which Satan will be
bound all evil influences be removed
and the light of the knowledge o. the
glory of God be made to fill the whole
earth. St Peter reminds us, Beloved
, be not ignorant of this one thing, that
one day with the Lord is as a thou
sand years" I'll Peter iii, 81. This is
the key to the expressions, THE day
Of Christ" The day of judgment"
etc. The Millennial day will be a day
of judgment or trial in the sense that
all mankind, the living aud the dead
will then be brought to full knowledge
OF God and to full opportunity to re,
gain by resurrection processes a com
plete upift from all weaknesses, i'm
PROJECTIONS, etc, which have resulted
from our share in Adams sin aud our
own weakness and ignorance. Sins tc
the extent that they were willful will
TO the same extent be punishable and
receive Just recompense of reward
} Hebrews ii, y. Every good endeavoI