The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-05-04
LAW AND GRACE
by I. A. Park. pastor Of the Pres
byterian Church. Sunday, April 30
THE law was given by Moses
but grace and truth came By
Iaetfc rhrfef fohn 4.47


refrain from sin.
A study Of the character Of God
convineingly reveals the fact that
He delights to deal in tender mo-
tives; but sometimes this cannot be.
The parents are often forced to use
harsh means in the home, not be-
cause they do not love the child,
but because the interest of the
child demands it. God uses harsh
motives. but only because the best
interests OF the human race de-
mand il.
The text sets before us two terms
for our study, namely: Law" and
Grace" Law represents the more
harsh and grace the. more tender
motives of life. We make a very
great mistake when we confuse the
two terms. BY law we understand
the expression Of Gods will rela-
tive to what man ought to be, while
grace exhibits to us what God is.
Thus we see the terms are widely
different, one setting forth what
man ought to be, and the other de-
claring TO us what God is.
Reign of Law.
In the beginning God created
three sorts Of creatures; angels He
created, pure spirits, without flesh
and blood, and we consider He ere
ated them for heaven; animals He
created flesh and blood without
spirits, and we conclude shey were
created for earth and not for heav-
en-; man He created both flesh and
spirit, and we conclude He created
| HIM for both earth and heaven.
These we're all created for one pur-
pose, and that to honor their Gre
ator.
Drifting back in our imagination
six thousand years, we hear the
great choirs of earth and heaven
blending their voices in one accord,
and that to sing their Creators
praise. Our soil is thrilled with
the sweet strains as each creature
runs perfectly the great scale in
the oratorio of life: not discord
to be heard, but all is perfect har-
imony. Ere we have listened long,
| however, we hear a discord in
heaven; an angel has failed to run
the scale and discord is the result.
He is cast over the battlements of
heaven and takes his place where
he can influence the inhabitants of
earth. We listen again, and soon
we hear the same discord in Eden
Man has failed, and he is cast out
of Eden.
Now God does not care for the
discords of life, so He begins at
once, consistent with mans free
agency, to rid the earth of them.
AS Adam and Eve. with heavy
hearts turn from the garden the
Lord makes a romise. "The wo-
mans seed shall bruise the SER
ent's head" With this promise as
their inspiration they, with be-
clouded vision, go forth and en-
deavor, as best they can, TO pick
out the notes of harmony from the
scale of human life. The law has
been broken and since it is stern
and unbending in its demands there
| can be no hope of salvation by the
deeds of the law. When God spoke
TO Abraham in Ur of the Chaldee
he does not say, Thou shalt do
this" and Thou shalt not do that"
The voice says, Il will give Ca
naan is not conditioned on anything
man can do, but is the gift of God
Through faith in and obedience to
the One who shall bruise the SER
pent's head, man shall have the
best of earth and heaven.
The scene shifts and we behold
Israel at Sinai. God calls Moses to
the top of the mount and tells him
what he demands in legal way
from the nation. Moses brings this
message and the people say: "All
that the Lord commands us, we will
do" Was there ever such pre-
sumption? We have just seen
there is no hope in the law, but Is
rael is willing TO attempt it, so they
are summoned before the law in
statutory form. God comes down
on the mount and writes the law
for them, then gives glimpse of
His holiness and power. The old
mountain shakes, the lightning
flashes, and Gods voice is heard
The result is, Israel trembles with
fear and begs that God will not
speak again, lest they die. Why
such change? Israel had seen a
display of Gods holiness and they
knew they were not worthy to
stand before Him.
Reign OF Grace.
Scarcely has the echo of the last
thunder peal died on the mountain
until God begins to talk with Israel
about a new dispensation. Israel
us now convinced of the impossible
ity Of keeping the law, so they are
ready to hear of some other way OF
salvation. Jehovah commands that
a tabernacle shall be made for His
dwelling place among men. One
part of this is to be yelled and
called the Holy of Holies," and in
this shall be placed an ark, the yis-
lble symbol of Gods presence. Now
what IS an arkg We go back to the
time when Noah was commanded
to build an ark. This ark was TO
preserve Noah and his family from
the flood. When Moses was three
months old he was put in an ark
and hidden from the wicked king.