The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-06-21

| (lKA9lOk -kUootllU This grand ex-
\ preston respecting
the glorious outcome Of the Savior's
work Is quoted by the Apostle Paul
from the Psalms lxvili, 49, The fig
ure thus thrust before our mental eye
is that of great Conqueror whose vic
tory is being heralded With the Ro-
mans we know that ii was a custom
that generals returning from wars
were granted what were termed "Tri.
umphs"-or triumphal professions.
Let us permit our mental eye 10 feast
upon the scene of our text. Jesus. in
fulGlment of the Divine Program. had
left the heavenly condition and de-
scended to earth, taking a bondman's
form or nature in order THAT He, by
the grace of God. might taste death for
every man." that He might rescue
Adam and his race from the death con
dition under Divine sentence and un
der the power of Satan
Therefore. the Redeemer counted not
Ills life precious to Him. but freely de
livered Himself up. and died. "the Just
for the UNJUST" that He might bring
mankind back into harmony icih God
His humiliation ended in death, but
His triumph began when God raised
Him from the dead by His own power.
and set Him at the right hand OF
His own Majesty-"far above angels.
principalities and powers and every
name that Is named.
LEADING Forth the Captives.
With most conquerors. in olden
times. the captives were made slaves.
Not SO, however. win be the result of
Jesus victory First of all in the pro.
cession are the saints-"the Church 81
the First-borR." Then will come COM
pany, more numerous. but less heroic
"a great multitude" uncrowned, but
with palm branches not antitypical
Priests. but antitypical Levites. asso-
ciates and servants Of the Royal
Priesthood. the Bride.
Then will follow Hebrews xi, 3S-40,
other faithful ones of the past, the
Ancient Worthless. The Prophet speaks
also of the .rebeHions house" The
classes previously specified were not
rebellious. but gladly and willingly for
sock all to do the will Of the Father
God, as the first-fruits of the triumph
of the Lamb
But during the thousand years Of
Christ's reign He will lead forth the
"rebellious house"-the world of man.
kind-not all of them. we may be sure.
for some, the Scriptures positively de-
clare will die the Second Death. be-
they will love sin and will therefore
be destroyed as enemies Of God.
"He Gave Gifts Unto Men,"
In this prophetic reference to our
Lords ascension Ii Is declared. not
only that He would lead forth multi
tude Of captives. granting them free
dom. liberty. blessings. but also that
He would confer gifts.
The Apostle proceeds to explain the
matter and tells US what gifts are
meant He says. And He gave some
Apostles. and some prophets, and
some evangelists. and some pastors
and teachers 1t behooves us to no
that Jesus gave to some Methodism.
to others Presbyterianism and to 9th.
ers Roman Catholicism. etc. No. when
we held such thoughts it was because
we failed to see. first. that there Is
but the ''one Church Of the Living God
whose names are written i'm heaven"
and second. that that one Church is
not INV of fbo t-.,pinits Sactc aud nur.
ties, but includes the sanity In all of
these. For the Lord knoweth them
that are His"
Noting carefully the Apostles argu
ment we perceive that the Master did
not give these gifts for the conversion
of the world He does specify, how
ever. what they were for. namely. for
the pcrfecting Of the saints. for the
work of the ministry. for the edifyng
of the Body Of Christ-'-the Church.
the Bride IL IL siIppuS;ible that the
Apostle erred in this statement and
that the fact Is the reverse-that these
gifts were provided for the conversion
of the world. and TINT the Apostle
thoroughly misunderstood the matteri
No. We are to he taught by the Apos.
ties. and may be sure TINT there Is nc
mistake.
The Lord from time TO time has rails
ed up evangelists. pastors and teachers
for this glorious service of preparing
the "chaste virgin" the Church. to be
the Bride In glory. but the Apostolic
Office. AZ represented In The Twelve.
specially I>,vided by the Father. has
continued and needs no replenishment
We still have their instructions as fully
rs the early Church. THAT the man Of
God may be perfect. thoroughly fur
nished unto every good work"