Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-03-02
Pastor RusseIIs Sermon

our forefathers saw the height q
Gods love for the holy angels ana a. y
condescension to the SANITY Of u NJ. I.
put they did not see its deptbs tn,
did not see that the Redemptlon ocoon.
plished by Jesus is ultimately 70 rooo1 eo
down to and embrace the var,
humblest and most degraded Of bpmor -
kind. How the precious scrIntnra,
which tell of Jesus as the Saviour II
the world, as well as of the Church
escaped our notice, who can exnla,n
But surely glad are we that now ~,
can see clearly that the Redeemer !.
Propitiation for our sins, the Churcb,s
sins, and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole world
This fuller appreciation Of tba
lengths and breadths and heights and
depths Of love Divine is coming 10
Christian people as a benediction from
heaven, Just at the time when many
are Higher Critically repudiating tbe
Bible and Its God as unworthy of he.
lief. The true view of Gods Word
we have intimated, namely, that ALI
the families of the earth are TO he
blessed by Messiah's Kingdom and
that the Church, in process of election
for the past eighteen centuries il 70
be sharer with her Lord in that King.
dom.
Is 1t any wonder that this glori.
GUS view Of our Creator and His plan
for human salvation is inspirIng-sanc-
trying to the hearts Of all who have
the hearing ear to receive it! Is II nor
in full accord with the earliest state
ment of the Gospel, Through thy Seed
shall all the families Of the earth be
blessed?" Is it not the claim Of tbe
Church and Of the Bible that the saint.
ly believers of the Gospel Age consti-
tute the spiritual Seed of Abraham. the
Bride of Messiah "the Body Of Christ
which is the Church? And have we
not also the assurance, "Tf We be
Christ's, then are We Abraham's Seed.
and heirs according to the promiseYo-
Galatians Ill, 10, 20.
From the Horrible Pit.
Another view Of the heights and
depths Of Gods love is that which rec
ognizes us as race fallen from hu-
man perfection into the mire of sin
whose qulcksands are swallowing up
mankind at the rate of 10000 every
day. The Divine Program shows two
salvations for the groanlng creation.
The first of these is the most wonder
full; 1t is now in progress, and we urge
all who have the hearing ear to lay |
aside every weight and every beset- |
ting sin that they may attain this spe-
cial salvation offered to the Church.
By faith, through the medium Of ex-
ceeding great and precious promises,
God is now lifting the obedient "elect"
from the original pit of sin and death,
from the mental degradation in which
we all were as Adams race; and to
some extent they are being lifted also
from this degradation.
The transforming work begins with
each believer In Jesus who presents
himself living sacrifice to walk in
the Masters footsteps. Even though
these may not generally be Of the
wealthy and educated and higher So
cial classes, the power of the Holy
Spirit operating through the Divine
promises gradually beauties not only
the characters but to some extent the
features of those who rejoice to take
up their cross and follow the Savior
However uncouth and rude or care,
less or savage they may have been be-
fore, the transforming influence of the
Holy Spirit develops In them the fruits
Of the spirit -meekness, gentleness, pa
Hence, longsufferlng, brothery-ldnd-
ness. love; and these things continuing
IN them and abounding more and more,
and attesting their faithfulness unto
ieath, make these neither barren nor
lnfrultful in the knowledge Of God
md in the character-llkeness Of Jesus;
Ind hence the Resurrection change will
Usher them into the everlasting King
iom Of their Saviour-to be sharers In
Ills glory, honor and immortality far
above angels, prlncipalities and pow
srs and every name that is named
Do we not here see wonderful depths I
rom which these are rescued and won {
lerful heights to which they are yet to
'e lifted by Divine grace and its ar i
angements on their behalf! Surely q
III mankind who see this glorious ar /
angement of our God can glorlfy Elm /
IN this account. G
sod's Original Design to Be Carried l
Out. q
For the world a somewhat similar and S
et very different blessing is outlined in @
he Divine Plan Of the Ages Our poor t
ace in some quarters of the world I
allen from the Image Of God almost }
the level of the brute, sadly needs
ne uplifting, restricting, restituHonary {
Influences which Messlah's glorious I
Kingdom will bring to them. To what r
eights will man be raised? Oh, not a
o high as the Church, the elect Bride o
the Lamb-not so high as cherublm r
: even as angels, but very high, never $
heless-bock to all that was lost in b
den. d
How our hearts glow with gratitude O
oward God as we perceive that his
rlgina design for His human crea- j
nres is yet to he carried out to the &
'tter! "TIis Word that is gone forth II
ut Of His mouth shall not return unto u
lin void. but It shall prosper in the d
HIM ttfhAWnA,.N. Hauiah u