The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-04-25

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(RASI0R RUSSELDl clared that while
So the Bible every
where emphasizes the importance of
Jesus death yet Christians today seem
to be perpleXed upon the subject. Some
claim that neither His life nor His
death was different from that of other
men Others claim that Jesus came
into the world to show mankind how to
live and die for good cause. 9th
ers bewildered declare that they see no
relationship between Jesus death and
what they have been taught Is the pen
atty for sin: viz. eternal torment.
In general, said the Pastor. there is
confusion upon the subject. and only
those who get the proper focus on the
question of why Christ died can be
mentally at rest. and enter sympathet-
ically into the great Plan of God. OF
which the death Of Jesus for human re-
demption is a part.
The Pastor protested against the too
common practise of accepting portion
of the Bible and rejecting the remain
der. He declared that any man wise
enough to criticise the inspired Word
should be accepted as an inspired au-
thority, capable Of writing better
statement Of the Divine Plan. He be-
lieves that the Holy Scriptures. as st
Paul declares, were written aforetime
by holy men for the admonition of the
Church. because God wishes His people
to understand His arrangements. We
should hold fast 1.-The faith once deliv-
cred to the saints" and not allow the
God of none effect. He reminded his
hearers that Jesus reproved the Phari-
sees for neglecting the Word of God
and preferring the traditions Of men.
Our English Bible. said he. does not
profess to be the Word Of God. but
merely translation Of it. If there
fore we find mistranslations which mis-
represent the original Scriptures. we
should correct these. and admit that
the TRANSACTIONS are not inspired.
Jesus Died to Meet Mans Penalty.
Orthodox creeds do not dispute that
there is penalty against mankind.
These creeds agree that Adam. father
of humanity. was created perfect, In
the moral image of his Maker: but that
he sinned and came under a penalty
because of that sin All mankind. hav-
ing inherited life from him. share his
condemnation to death. God. having
sentenced man to death. cannot con-
sistently deal with the sinner. Hence
He arranged that Jesus should recover
Adam and his posterity from that con-
demnation-in order that they might
have opportunity to return to harmony
with Him, and thus to everlasting life.
This. said the Pastor, is clearly set
forth in both Old and New Testaments.
If we could forget our creeds and the
false theories which they inculcate.
these Scriptures would guide us with
out difficulty Christendom is hand1-
capped by creeds of the Dark Ages.
which confuse us. For instance, these
creeds teach that Gods curse against
mankind is eternal torment.
1.-THE Wages of Sin Is Death"
Most emphatically the Bible declares
the wages of sin to be death-not tor
ment, Lest any should think that only
the body dies. but that the soul con
tinues to live. the Scriptures say, 1.-THE
soul that sins shall die" God Is able
to destroy both soul and body in Ge-
henna"-the Second Death. The pen
atty against Adam, Dying, thou shalt
die" signifies the death of his soul
his entire being. Under that sentence
Adam and his race. unless redeemed.
would have no future life.
But God from the very beginning
purposed to redeem man from this
death sentence. He purposed to send
forth His Son to pay mans 2edemp-
ton price-to die for man. Christ's
redemptive work would restore mans
soul from the power of the tomb by
resurrection from the dead. ST. Paul
expresses this matter in few words,
saying. "As by man came death mot
eternal tormentl. by man came also
the resurrection of the dead. For as
all in Adam die, even so shall all in
Christ be made alive But every man
In his own order"
The favors which God has promised
to man through Christ will come in
due season They will make earth a
Paradise again. with nothing to hurt or
destroy. All mankind will then be
privileged to return, If willing, to the
image of God. lost by Adam, but re-
51.,,od hv ThriSf