The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-06

fourths of these should attain eternal
life doubtless a liberal estimare) it
would signify that 100000 900
would have to be provided for. The
area of the earth's surface included
within the temperate zone is over
102, 100000 square miles. This would
afford each individual more than
four and one-half acres of surface in
which 10 move about. When it is re-
Elected that the desert is to bloom
and blossom as the rose" and the
earth is to yield her Increase pro-
ducing spontaneously the fruits and
flowers instead of the thorns, briars
and weeds; and that in all probable
ity the seas and oceans will be greatly
diminished, thus increasing the land
area. it can be readily seen that it
would oe a simple matter for the
Creator TO arrange for he bountifuI
provisions of the necessities of life for
all mankind A great deal of the
want and deprivation experienced by
the race now is caused by selfishness,
as there is sufficient produced to sup
ply the needs of ALL In that time,
selfishness will be eradicated from The
human heart.
Question.-What is the meaning of
the 5th chapter of Romans the 18th
verse, where the Apostle says, 'tNeV-
ertheiess. death reigned from Adam
to MoseS?" (F. ND
Answer.-It will be noted that the
1 9th TO the 18th verses comprise a
parenthetical statement, which the
Apostle was addressing to the Jews
mainly, because they had been given
the law, through Moses at Mt Sinai,
and they supposed that they could
keep that perfect law and obtain life
thereby, for all sin was a violation of
that law. The Apostle points out in
the 18th verse that sin was in the
world before the Mosaic law was
given. and then says that ''sin is not
imputed where there is no law" i'm
plying that a law existed prior to the
Jewish law-the law that was orig
inally written in the heart of the first
man, Adam, who had been created
perfect, in the image and likeness of
his Creator. AS proving that a law
did exist before the laws written on
tablets of stone, the Apostle says
Nevertheless, death reigned from
Adam to Moses, even over them that
had not sinned after the similitude of
Adams tranSgression" (Adam sinned
Wilfully by a direct and intelligent
violation of the Divine commands).
Sin was introduced into the world
by the first man and death by sin;
and as the result of the original
transgression, all are born in sin and
shapen in iniquity, and therefore so
none can keep the perfect law of God,
all have sinned; and consequently
death, the wages of sin, has passed
upon all. Lie can never De OBTAINED
by the deeds of the flesh, or by the |
works of law; it can be obtained |
only by faith; and that must be |
Christ, the Savior of man
kind.
Q.-John iii, 13-"And no man
hath assembled up to heaven but He |
that came down from heaven, even |
the Son of Man which is in heaven" |
What is your Interpretation of this |
Of fkN l@I
John? (M. j.
Answer.-The words (which is in |
heaven" are not contained in the old |
est Greek manuscripts, and from the |
reading of the verse it is evident that |
they are spurious, for the Lord was |
not in heaven at the time He was
speaking. AS to the meaning of the |
remaining words of this verse: it may |
startle some when it is said that very
few Christian people believe our
Lords words in this connection. The |
usual thought is that when good peo-
pie die they go direct to heaven there I
to remain with the Lord; that all of |
the righteous ones of the past imme-
diate1y assembled into heaven at death.
But the Scriptures nowhere convey
this thought. The Son of Man came |
down from heaven, for He had exist
ed in the heavens with the Father be-
fore the world was, and in obedience
to the Divine will He left the glories
of the spiritual conditions and was
made flesh, that He 'by the grace of
God should taste death for every
man." Surely His testimony should
be relied upon when He declares that
mo man hath assembled up to heaven"
st. Peter corroborated the Lords
words by saying on the day of Pente-
cost-"David is not assembled into
heaven" (Acts ii, 34.) The Scrip
lures Enthusiastically teach that none
will enter into heaven until the Lords |
return from heaven at His second as
cent. Is not the Bible the best and |
highest authority on this subject? |
Who will presume to know more than
the Lord on this matter? Therefore,
hear what the Scriptures say-Colos-
slams iii, 4; John V. %, %; John xiv,
xxi, u; Daniel xii. Ia, 13.