The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-08-30

llRASIS)R- RUSStlllJ "There is one God,
and one Mediator
between God and man, the Man Christ
Jesus. who gave Himself a Ransom
for all. to be testified in due time"
Many wonder why God does not for
give sin freely without requiring the
death of Christ as Il basis for recOncil-
iation. We are to forgive those who
trespass against US, because we do not
occupy the place of Creator and Judge
towards our fellows, and because we
ourselves are sinners like others For
the Creator to forgive sin and remit
its penalty Internationally would be
to admit either that the Law and pen.
atty were too severe or that man was
imperfect In his creation and able
to keep perfect law.
Justice Cannot Admit Either Premise.
Divine Justice cannot admit either
premise. Man was created every
good" and the Law was reasonable,
and the penalty just. For God to have
overriddcn the justice of His own de-
cree would have opened the door for
transgressions on the part of angels.
for each creature might justly claim
the privilege of sin and forgiveness.
This would vitiate justice. Instead
God manifested His love by providing
satisfaction for mans sin. a substi.
tute under the penalty-Jesus
The Logos was made flesh. and died
willingly: 'for the joy that was set be-
fore Him lie endured the cross" The
JOY included the work mentioned in
our text and also His own exaltation
to the right hand of Divine Majesty.
Thus the Man Christ Jesus laid down
an unforfeited human life and received
the divine nature and glory far above
angels. The human life laid down is
TO he "a ransom for all. to be testified
in due time" q Timothy ii. c. But
that due time has not yet come nor has
that sacrifice been appropriated for
mankind. Hence "the sin Of the world"
Is not yet taken away. although as the
Mediator. Jesus has laid the price of
human redemption in the hands Of Di-
vine Justice.
Jesus awaits the gathering of the
Church. over whom He Is Head. He,
with the Church. His Body, will con-
stitute the great Mediator. who will in.
augurate the New Covenant, after com.
plotting His "better sacrifices" QHe-
brews tx. 23J The first Of these was
His own flesh; the remainder Is the
flesh Of His Church; thus He said to
Saul Of Tarsus. 81 am Jesus whom
thou persecutest." See also Epheslans
v. 3O-32.
When the foreordained number of
His members shall have passed to Him
beyond the veil, then the great Medi.
atOr will be completed. Then blood.
atonement will be applied on behalf of
the world. and Divine Justice will ac-
cept that ransOm-price. Thereafter the
world will be free from the death sen
tence. Forthwith Christ will establish
His Kingdom for restoring all that was
lost In Adam.
No longer will 1t be true that the
world lies in the Wicked One; thence
forth the world will be under Messiah's
Kingdom. Satan will be bound. The
knowledge Of the Lord will ill the
earth. and every creature will have op-
portunity of return to the Fathers
House. The wilfully dlsobedient viii
be destroyed in the Second Death.
1--WE Have an Advocate"
II will IN olsarvad that tho Church
is separate and distinct from the world
and developed as the Body Of the Medi-
ator The Church Is called to become
partaker of her Redeemer's sufferlngs
and His divine nature. She was. by
nature. children of wrath even as 9th
ers." hence needs Divine mercy also.
The invitation OF this Age Is to suf-
fer with Christ. to sacrifice earthly In.
terests and hopes. to be dead to the
world with Him. and thus to be made
sharers with Him In His heavenly
glory and Kingdom.
But none is worthy to offer sacrifice
nor could God accept imperfect sacri-
fees; hence the Divine provision is
that We present our bodies to the High
Priest for sacrifice. He then becomes
our Advocate. and, In harmony with
the Divine will. accepts us as His
flesh" and sacrifices us as such. imput-
ing to US of His own merit to cover
our blemishes. Thus the Church Is
accepted In the Beloved" Thus suf
fering with Him as His members We
receive also share with Him In His
reward as members OF the Body Of
Messiah. the Mediator, Prophet. Priest
and King. through whom Gods bless
Ings are soon to be dispensed TO the en-
tire grooming creation. under the terms
of the New Covenant. An apprecia-
ton Of the Divine arrangement helps
US greatly to estimate our privilege Of
suffering with Him, that We may also
reign with Him.