Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-06-27

by Il. He teaches that Christians
should submit themselves 20 those In
authority over them, whether govern
mental or industrial, for the Lords
sake, and thye should do 1t even In
the case Of those masters that are not
good and gentle, but forward" In
the course of the argument he adduces
the example Of Christ. who, although
without sin, was reviled, but did not
revile again, and whose sufferings
were carried to the extent Of the cross.
The description Of these sufferings Is
fourfold, each one of the four particu-
lars illustrating a different aspect OF
the salvation men may receive
through him.
The Strange Law OF Tokyo.
First, he tells US his sufferings
were substitutionary," Who his own self
bare our sins In his own body in the
tree" 1t Is not long ago since there
was an ordinance in Tokyo, Japan, to
the effect that no foreigner could take
up his residence there without provid-
ing for himself native substitute,
who, In the event OF his violating any
law, would suffer the penalty in his
stead. AS soon as he arrived the ques-
ton would be put to him, who stands
for your" Jesus Christ stands for all
who put their trust in him.
In the second place, he tells us that
the design of Christs sufferings was
that men might live unto righteous
ness" that Is that they might become
enabled to live that kind of life set
before them in the preceding verses.
know lad who, when he does any
thing very questionable and his con-
science begins to trouble him, always
asks his mother, "Will that keep me
out of heavenY II the answer Is in
| the negative he is satisfied. But the
salvation of Jesus Christ is not for the
purpose merely of getting into heaven,
but Of living right at the present time.
Tho croquet Ball.
There used to be a rule In croquet
that when you struck your opponents
| ball you were dead" upon II so far as
that play was concerned. The Chris
scented by the ball. while sin is the
mallet In Satan's hand. Sin has struck
! the believer once In the person of his
substitute, Jesus Christ, and can not
| strike him again. When Christ died.
| he died to sin In the sense that II could
never again bring him to the place Of
| Judgment, and II Is the teaching of the
| New Testament that the believer died
| in him in the same sense. 1t Is this
| fact which sets the believer free to
live life OF righteousness, and 1t Is
the apprehension Of 1t as fact
through the Holy Spirit, that COM
municates the power and inspiration
to him so to live.
The third thing Peter tells us about
the sufferings Of Christ Is their ne
cessity. 'Ye were as sheep going as
tray" Travellers In the Orient tell US
that the tendency Of sheep Is always
| to 60 farther and farther astray; and
so man, II left to himself. never will
return to God of his own accord. No
| process of education or evolution will
ever bring him there. Man Is not a
member of a rising but fallen and q
falling race, and he who delays to re-
ceive the son of God now will be farth-
er away from him tomorrow than he
is today. Hence the urgency OF the
gospel invitation that now Is the ac-
cepted time, today the day of saliva
| ton"
Finally, he teaches us the result OF
| Christ's sufferings. "Ye are now re-
turned to the Shepherd and Bishop Of
your Souls" Returned" signifies that
man in Christ is brought back to that
place Of fellowship with God he enjoy
ed before the fall. Indeed. his fellow
ship now Is on q surer foundation.
There was q contingency in the case
OF the first Adam. but there Is none In
that Of the second. The latter has
kept the law as well as paid the pen
atty for those who receive him, and
their restored condition Is thus eter-
nally secure.
Let me exhort you therefore to re-
ceive the Saviour by q definite act
of faith today, that the peace Of God
may become yours-the peace that
springs from the knowledge that your
sins are forever put away. And thus
receiving the Holy Spirit as the furth-
err gift of God. you will have power to
live Q life Of Righteousness unto him.