The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-09

in this New Creation? The answer o.
the Bible makes the matter all the
more wonderful. for it reveals to US
that God works in Us merely by His
promises and through our own minds
and our own wills. Thus st. Peter
declares. God hath given unto us ex-
ceeding great and precious promises.
that or these we might become par
takers Of the divine nature."-Il Peter
/, 4.
Christ Has Pro. sninenee.
This New Creation had its start In
our Redeemer. He who was 1.-The be-
ginning of the creation of God" in
harmony with the Divine Plan. hum
bled Himself, laid aside His heavenly
glory and was made f1esh-became the
Man Christ Jesus. that He. by the grace
of God. might redeem the world. 1t
was in conjunction with this redemp'
dive work. when He fully submitted
Himself in baptism at Jordan to do the
Fathers will. that the Father began to
work in Him az New Creature.
When Jesus gave Himself sacriicial.
ly, when His sacrifice was accepted OF
the Father, then to Him came the be-
getting Of the Holy Spirit as New
Creature. to be the Head OF the
Church which is His Body" For three
and a half years the promises OF the OLD
Testament Scriptures contained In
great measure in types and shadows'
worked in the Redeemer to Will ana 10
do the Fathers pleasure. He was found
faithful unto death-the New Creature
growing in grace and Divine favor as
He took the various steps even to the
cross. When He cried. 1T is finished.
it signified that the sacrifice or the
nesh was finished and that the de-
yelopment Of the New Creature was
complete.
Then the work began in respect TO
His Body. the Church. otherwise called
His Bride class. Divine energy has
since been working In the Church
since Pentecost Member after mem.
Der has been called and justified and
sanctified. begotten of the Holy Spirit.
In each the work Of grace goes on.
Each, as our text declares, is Gods
workmanship. developing in meekness,
gentleness, patience, long-suffering,
brotherly kindness. love. All these
traits and qualities are being worked
out-not in the flesh, but in the heart,
In the mind.
True, the flesh does, indeed, reflect
some of the graces of the spirit-but
imperfectly. Gradually the new mind
gains control over the mortal body.
Gradually the light of God shines out
in words and deeds, through the heart
illuminated. 1t is God working.
Created For Good Works.
Our text declares that this New Gre
alton. Christ and the Church, are Gods
Workmanship created in Christ Jesus
unto good ioorks-that good work may
be done by and through them. What
good work is this which God designs
to accomplish through the Church
through Christ and His elect Bride?
1t Is the good work of blessing the
non-elect world 1t is the good work
which will progress from the time Of
the second coming of Jesus and the es-
adjustment Of His Kingdom for a
thousand years. 1t is the good work
which will ultimately uplift or resur
rect Adam and all his race from death.
ignorance. superstition. sin. If they are
willing-up to the full perfection of
human nature and Divine favor and
everlasting life. All others. unwilling.
disobedient. will be destroyed.
When the blessed work of the thou.
sand years Of Messiah's reign shall
have eleansed the world of all wilful
sin and wilful sinners and shall have
lifted up mankind to an earthly Eden
and human perfection. that will not be
the end of the Divine program for the
Church. The Apostle, in a verse pre-
ceding. tells us that in Ages to come
God will show His favor toward the
Church-not merely in the one Age in
which the Church will be permitted to
share with her Redeemer His glorious
Messianie Kingdom. "
The work beyond the Millennium is
not clearly revealed. and yet day unto
day uttereth speech and night unto
night showeth knowledge" As the
Scriptures declare. God formed not the
earth in vain. but formed it to be in
habited, so the same principle, applied
to the stars. tells US that all the thou
sands of millions of worlds have been
created for purpose. or are in process
es Of perfecting for a purpose-not in
vain. The human creation ON our plan
ct is merely hint to us Of what the
Divine purpose is respecting all those
millions Of worlds ....."
Hi ARITY. THIN ARREST