The Ordway new era., 1912-01-19

exceeding riches
Of His grace In His loving kindness to-
ward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians
II. =, He claimed that all Christen
dom has erred in respect to the lengths
and breadths and heights and depths
of the love Of God. which passeth all
understanding" (Ephesians Ill. 1S. 19I
This Is evidenced by our conflicting
Creeds. not one OF which Is rational
enough to be- defended by one In u
hundred Of its own clergy. who pro
fess that they believe 1t and are teach
ing 1t.
This. he declared. is driving many
noble souls away from the Bible.
which has been misinterpreted by us
all Our difficulty has been that We
looked at the unfinished parts of the
Divine Program and have neglected to
properly use the telescope Of Gods
Word. which would have enabled us to
zee the coming features Of that Plan.
without which the whole would be In.
complete and unsatisfactory both to
God and His creatures.
The Pastor reminded his hearers that
none Of us would judge of new
building by the first story Of the struc-
turc. Incomplete and surrounded by
scafrolding. On the contrary. we would
inquire for the architects drawings
and consider them prophecies of the
building to be- We should do likewise
in considering the work OF the great.
Divine Architect OF the Universe.
God purposes the development OF
the church class first, as n new crea.
tion on the spirit plane and higher than
the angels. "partakers Of the divine m.
ture." 'Ye are the Church Of the liv-
ing God. kind Of first.fruits unto God
of His creatures" I'll Peter !. 4: James
1, 1877
Then tho Worlds Salvation.
The Pastor impressed upon his hear
ers the fact that the Bible declares the
Church to be the "First, t,borns." the
FIRST fruits" of Gods creatures. Thus
does God positively declare n sec
ondary part to His great Plan Of Sal.
vntion-In which "free grace and full
est opportunity for reconciliation to
God will be granted to the non-elect.
But their salvation will be not hcav
enly, but earthly. Their resurrection
will not mean ''chnnge" OF nature.
but raising up to the perfection Of
human nature to be enjoyed IN II world
wide paradise. by nll the willing md
obedlent. Nor will the unwilling and
disol,edient he tortured to nll eternity.
but us the Scriptures declare. "Ail the
wicked will He Destroy" they shall
perish like brute beasts" in the "Sr
ond Dcath."-I Peter Il. II; Psalm Ia
II. Il. V.
In order to Judge OF the Divine char
acter we must see the Divine Program.
and not merely primary section Of IT,
The Jewish Age and its people. its
Law. its priesthood and Its Jubilee
were only rough. outline sketches Of
the Divine Plan, which had not then
even begun. The Redeemer is the
Foundation for the great structure: as
said st. Paul. "Other foundation can
no man lay than that which is laid
Jesus Christ"
| Love tho Principal Thing.
However. God of Justice. Wisdom
and Power. devoid Of Love, would be
|
BILE statue. The greatest thing amongst
men Is Love. Neither palace nor cot.
tage could be u real homo and place
Of Joy and peace and refreshment with.
nut love. We cannot even suppose the
Aeart devoid of love without suppOs-
ing It under the control of selhshncss.
and selfishness Is merely another name
for sin.
The greatest men and women who
have ever lived. and who have done the
most to bless our race. have been men
and women of heart. of Love. Surely
Love is the principal thing in all thI,
world. without which none can be tru
ly happy under any condition. but will.
which happiness is possible under NJ,
most any condition. Whence came T.,
man this quality OF Love. unless frou.
his Creator: -
Purport Of His Text.
The speaker declared that Gods Love
: will be most wonderfully displayed in
. His gracious kindness in the resurrrc,
ton of the Church. to glory, honor and
Immortality. Then will come fur
ther display Of Love Divine. all love
, excelling." when mankind in general
shall be blessed under the Messinn!c
Kingdom. But Gods Love Is grcn
and our text declares that In coming
Ages God will display the riches OF
I His grace. His love. toward us. Hi.
, Church. the Bride.
"Let us not receive the grace Of God
, In vain" Let us count the necessary
sacrifices as very reusUna bi. service