Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-08-08

Whatever our
creeds have said to
the effect that my
(AI0&9VssfIW one n ID, declining a the
tation of this Cos
pei Age would suffer eternal torture, we
are glad that the bible says nothing OF
lN glorious reward for those who now re-
nounce the world and become true, faith
full. footstep followers of Jesus. But mo-
where do the scriptures declare the un-
reasonable proposition that any declining
this offer of joint-heirship with Jesus In
His Kingdom and it's terms in the narrow
way must on account of this rejection
suffer eternal torture.
How unjust would such a proposition be
how ungodlike! How did we ever SO
seriously blunder? We know we'll
enough that we have a right, II we will.
to call in a ragged child from the street
and present 1t with a S. gold piece, but
who would he unjust enough to claim Il
right that, IL the child refused the money,
1t should he tortured?
God has no such unjust proposition for
His creatures. He has a special reward
for those who are specially drawn to Him,
by their own deeds and by the knowledge
of His mercy, and who. thus drawn, fully
surrender themselves to do His will. He
accepts these and by His grace and provi-
dences works in them to will and to do
His pleasure, and thus prepares them for
useful service and to bc ioint-heirs with
His Son in the great Mcssianic Kingdom
which soon is to bless the world as q
whole. There is something reasonable,
something tangible, something Godlike. in
this proposition. We rejoice in 1t! We
feel our hearts drawn Nearer, my God.
to Thee" Dur hearts are influenced by
such a faith. AS the apostle declares, so
we realize, Tho love of Christ constrain-
eth u.s.
Tho Transforming Work.
Note tho class the apostle mentions az
undergoing the transforming influences,
preparing them for a share in the King
dom glories. He declares in the context
that those to whom he wrote were once
alienated from God. enemies in mind by
wicked works, yet now reconciled. An,
rs every Christian knows, there is a won
derful transforming influence of the mes
sage of the love and grace of God. And
1t is this that st. Paul here declares.
Jesus first OF all through His death as
a satisfaction of. Justice made possible
the acceptance of the alienated, cons
demned ones. Next the Message of DE-
vine Grace. the call to be sons OF God,
reached the hearts of many and captured
them. The message not only works in their
hearts to will. but works powerfully also
ll tuciE UUuIeS 10 no., 10 IuC extent U Z
ability. the will of God. And 1t is these
that the apostle declares the Redeemer
will present before the Father holy, un-
blameable, unreprovablc.
The transforming work now progresses
in their minds. IN their hearts, and all
the faithful will share in the First or
Chief Observation-Disclosures in q mo-
ment, in the twinkl.ng of an eye" to per-
lection on the spirit plane. shall be
like Him, for we shall see HIM as He is."
But the apostle reminds us In the succeed
ing verse that all this glorious outcome
III dcpendent-it all hangs upon the word
Tiff we continue In the faith: IL we are
J grounded and settled, and If we be not
moved away from the hope which We have
received.
Preach to Every Creature.
The Apostle reminds us that this is not
a special, private message, but the very
identical one message, the one gospel. the
one faith once delivered to the saints
and proclaimed for every creature which
is under heaven. BY this he did not mean
to say that the gospel had been preached
In heather lands. Indeed. although more
han Is centuries have passed. the gospel
IL not yet preached to every creature un-
der heaven. What st. Paul did mean -
that the gospel. which originally was con-
fined to the Jew. was from the days OF
Cornelius, the first Gentle convert. open
to all people of. every nationality under
heaven-to4all who had the hearing .
and appreciative heart. But, alas. how
comparatively few arc in such attitude OF
mind as to ~ a~ppreciative of Gods grace.
Only the few. "a little iock." have been
found, as God 1ore-knew and Is Jesus
foretold.
The Futurs Program Different.
But God IL interested in our entire race.
He did not provide the redemption mere
~ for the sanity ones whom He specially
trary. Jesus Christ, by the grace Of God.
tasted death for every man." Hebrews
u. 9.) Hence 1t does not surprise us that
Gods plan, which begins with the calling
OF the sanity few, by no means ends with
them. Indeed their calling and election 10
with q view TO the blessing eventually of
the non-elect, the unwilling, who now
| nave ears but near not, and eyes but SEQ
| not.
These. the bible tells us, are to be dealt
| with in q different manner Force il to
be used. The power of the Messianic
Kingdom will bind Satan for q thousand
er Will also let loose all the gl0rt.
BUSINESS Of truth, righteousness. and
light. until the whole earth shall be hlled
with the knowledge Of the glory Of God
a. the waters cover the great deep: and
until none shall need to say. to his neigh
Dor, Know thou the Lord. because al
shall know Him, from the least OF them
to the greatest" ''In that day the right
e0us shall h0urish.' instead Of the wicked.
In that day evil doors will suffer stripes
and. II they do not repent. they will be
cut off In the Second Death: whereas all
the r.ghteaus shall increase their joys and
II ~ An~AessAA 4