The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-04
Pastor RUSSELL Sermon

come the Bride. joint heirs with the Se-
, deemer.
/ Gods Message to us is that there is
no approach to Him except through the
Redeemer To the Redeemer we go.
to Jesus. Savior. we adore Thee. We
desire to come back into fellowship
with our God. our Creator, We desire
that He will again recognize us as His
children and again enter into covenant
relationship with us, promising us life
everlasting. full harmony with Him.
And we have heard from the Father
that the only opportunity we have is
through Thee, the Redeemer. Tell us
what we shall do-how we shall pro-
coed. The Masters answer is. II am
the Way. the Truth. and the Life: no
man cometh unto the Father but by
Mel" Yea, Lord. so we believe; so we
accept. But how shall we come by
Thee?-John 14:6.
The way Is a way of faith. 1t is
made especially narrow at the present
! time. because the Father seeketh now
| only such as have special faith in Him.
In the coming Age the darkness will
Fbe scattered. the true Light will shine.
All the blind eyes will see out of OBJ
security Then proportionatey less faith
will be necessary. But now the way is
obscure. and CORRESPONDENCE the re-
ward is great
| 81, Ix holt hot Nn1 is ole
you would not desire to come near to
Him. You already believe that God
purposes to reward these who diligent-
ly seek Him. else you would not be in
quiring the way back to His favor.
You are in the way now-the way of
righteousness. If you were able to rem
der perfect obedience to God, nothing
less would be acceptable to Him. But
knowing that you are in fallen and
imperfect condition through heredity,
the Father has provided through My
sacrifice covering for your blemishes,
so that. Notwithstanding your unwill-
ing weaknesses. you may be accepted
Of Him through Me.
! We answer, But believing this does
not still bring us into relationship with
God What shall we do? We will be
glad to do all in our power. And we
are glad to believe that our, imperfec-
tions are to be made good through Thy
sacrifice But with all these pro-
visions. how shall we proceed to get
into communication with the Father?
Show us. dear Redeemer. the way back
to the Father and to the everlasting
life which Is His gift; for we have
heard that while, THE wages of sin Is
death. the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. "-Ro-
mans 6:23.
The Master answers, The thing nee
essary for you is that l should intro
duce you to the Father and become
your Surety. making imputation to you
Of the merit of My sacrifice. If | shall
do this. you will be accepted by the
Father and be begotten of the Holy
Spirit, and thus become children of
God. heirs of God. joint-heirs with N.Y.
self In the Mllennial Kingdom.
Then the question comes up. On
what terms will l be your Advocate
with the Father? My answer Is that.
by the Fathers arrangement, l may
act as Advocate only for those who
become followers of My example. II,
therefore. you desire Me to be your Adj
vocate and to bring you into relation
ship with the Father and to make you
NV joint-heirs. the terms are those
which have already expressed: If any
man will be My disciple. let him deny
himself. and take up his cross. and fol-
low Me.-Matthew 1924.
Reconciliation, Peace, Joy, Life.
The question of coming into Gods
family at the present time is one OF
becoming disciples of Jesus. followers
In His steps in the narrow way. en-
during the opposition Of the world. the
flesh and the Adversary, and thus
demonstrating our loyalty to God. to
His Truth. to His people. and sympa-
thetic love for the entire grooming Gre
alton. If the steps, once seen. be not
taken. it will be because, having count
ed the cost. the believer has been I'M
willing to pay such price for fellow
ship with the Father and with the Son.
In such case he could expect no fur
Their progress. The inquirer would
have gone as far as possible without
entering by the strait gate into the
narrow way.
We are not intimating that he would
suffer special punishment for failing
to accept Divine favor and privilege.
He would merely be losing the things
which he had the privilege Of gaining,
after he had seen them afar off and
had been convinced respecting them.
To gain the great reward of the Lords
favor means ~. entering of the
, strait gate and tn. walking in the mar
row way-MaIJn~w TIA.
To those VINO -ccept the terms. the
crosses, the urIaS. the difficulties Of
; the way will be more or less apparen
: Mt the beginning. and will continue t.
the end of the journey. So far as the
, things seen are concerned. none are
: profted by accepting discipleship will
e the Savior. Their profits. their re
t wards. their blessings. are things un
: seen to the natural eye. For them i;
+ reserved. If faithful. the blessings o
; the future. suggested by the Apostle
saying. Eye hath not seen. ear hatl
l,,of hoo r1. ppithor have pptprp0 inf