The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-09

which COO hath before ordained that
we should walk In them" (Eph. ii, .. lOh
Ever since Brother Luther's day and
his vigorous preaching OF justification
by faith Christian believers have been
more or less perplexed In their en-
dearors to harmoniZe the Scriptural
declaration respecting faith and works
as related to salvation Pastor Rus
sell believes that in the clearer light
God is shedding upon the pathway of
His people today through the Bible
they are enabled to comprehend with
absolute clearness matters once fOggy.
This. he claimed. does not signify
that our forefathers were less loyal to
God nor less logical in the operation
of their minds IL does, however. agree
with the Scriptural declaration that
we are living in the time when the
wise of Gods people are 10 understand
the Message previously more or less
hidden. but now. in due time, to be
revealed. = Revelation <, Z.
The logical thought which appeals
most strongly to every mind is that
good works must be the basis of Divine
favor aud bad works the basis of dis
favor This led up to the child-sum-
mary of preaching. namely. BE good
and go 10 heaven: be bad and go to
-" Our Catholic friends. said the
Pastor, carry the matter Of good works
to such an extent that they claim that
some have laid up such surplus Of good
works aud Divine favor therefor that
they are able to appropriate some OF
these to others; hence the claim that
they may be appealed TO in prayer and
may give of their merit to others as
bounty or donation
The Scriptural proposition Is plain:
II Is that no man is perfect. that ALL
through the fall are impaired in mind
and body. SO that none can do perfect
works. Their very best works would
te unacceptable to d-imperfect. In
stead of ignoring their imperfectons
God provided a Redeemer. whose obe-
dience unto death He accepts as sac
ritice for the sins Of Adam and his
race. Evidently all imperfections or
word or act resulting from that DISC
bedience and fall will be completely
forgiven The race will be reconciled
to God Divine blessings will come to
humanity and the earth. instead of the
curse now resting upon them. The Ell
feet will he to give all mankind the
fullest opportunity for rising up out or
sin and degrade tion. imperfection. sor
- nH
norance. superstition. etc. back to the
full perfection that Father Adam pos,
sesSed at first.
But in order to regain all those bless
ings lost each member of the race will
be required to appreciate the privileges
of life eternal and Divine favor and
will be obliged also to show his ap-
probation by striving against sin and
cooperating with the Savior in the up
lifting arrangements which will pre-
vail for thousand years. during the
Messianic Kingdom.
Present Age Salvation by Faith.
1t ia In the present Age only that
salvation is TO be by faith and not by
works. True. the world in the next
Age will not be faithless while making
their progress in good works and being
judged according to their works. They
will he full of faith. but there will be
abundant basis for faith. knowledge
will make their pathway clear az day.
Demonstration will prove to them such
things as Gods people In the present
time must accept by faith-"For we
walk by faith and not by sight"
This Gospel Age. from the time of
Jesus first advent until the second
advent, Is the Age Of Faith In con-
trast with the unsuccessful Age Of
Works preceding and the to-be success
fui Age Of works to follow. The Pas
tor showed that during the Law Age.
from Moses to Jesus. the requirement
was works: HE that doeth these
things shall live by them" (Leviticus
xviii. 5; Romans <. D., lsraers failure
was because of inability to do things
perfectly-the things contained in the
Law given to them at Mt. Sinai.
The New Law Covenant. which will
be inaugurated by Messiah's Kingdom.
will be on exactly the same lines rs the
old one, namely. works: He that do.
eth these things shall live by them"
The difference will be that Christ Him.
self will be the Mediator Of the New
Law Covenant. both able and willing
70 render all necessary assistance to alt
who will come back into harmony with
the Father by Him. On the other hand.
Moses, the mediator OF the old Law
Covenant, while ever willing to help
his people, was not able to do so. be-
cause his mediation was based upon
only typical sacrifices of bulls and
goats and not upon the real sacrifice
of Christ. which alone Is able to make
full satisfaction for sin.
I'VE Walk by Faith and Not by Siaht."
The Apostle was here discussing the
terms and conditions by which God is
willing to accept the Church class of
this Gospel Age. These. in the Scrip
lures. are called the Elect or select
ones OF the race. God Is calling and
drawing these out Of the world for a
special purpose and under special con-
ditions. one OF which is that only such
as have great faith can belong to the
select class.
There are some SO born, under the
fallen conditions. that they have great
difficulty In experiencing faith. even a
little. and only after thorough train.