Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-28
Pastor Russelps Sermon

the penalty the Bible tells-so differ
ent from the penalty set before us in
the creeds OF darker past. We need
to see that the sentence is a Just one.
ere we can appreciate the Justice of
the Judge in pronounclng the sentence,
Dying, thou shalt die"
But even to get the proper concep-
ton of Gods Justice, by seeing that
the death penalty, and not a torture
penalty, was pronounced, is INSULT
ient We need to see something of
the Love Of God, said the Pastor. I'm
this was manifest the love of God
toward us, because that God sent Els
Only Begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through Him" Thus we
see Jesus at His First Advent begin
ming the fulfilling of Gods Promise for
the blessing Of humanity. We note
His obedience, self-sacrifce, loyalty
to the Father, faithfulness unto death.
even the death Of the cross" We
behold His eXaltation by the Father
His ascension up to where He was be-
fore-at the right hand Of God. And
we note that He has now still higher
ylories than He had before He came
Into the world-the Fathers reward
for His loyal obedience; as st. Paul ex-
plains, Wherefore God also hath high
ly exalted Him. philippians 80.
From Jesus lips we hear the Mes
sage Of the Kingdom-that God In
tends that ultimately Messiah shall be-
come the great King of earth, author
lied to lift up mankind from sin and
degradation, and to restore all the will
Ing and Obedient to human perfection
In worldwide Eden. Then comes
the Gospel invitation to all believers
In Jesus. The invitation is to become
joint-heirs in that Kingdom which is to
bless the world
"He That Cometh Unto God"
am convinced that many hearts are
longing for God, or, as the Psalmist
expresses 1t, my heart and my flesh
crleth out for the living God" 1t is
one thing to know about God, about
Jesus, the Divine Plan Of the Ages,
the selection Of the Church to be the
Messianic Kingdom class, and the Nil.
lennlum. in which The Christ, Head
and Body, will bless and uplift man.
kind; but it is quite another matter to
know how to come to God, how to get
into this Church class. The general
thought is, will go to some church
| will see God there But alas! God
is not to be found in every church.
Nay, we cannot even say that every
professed minister of Christ is able to
point the longing inquirer the true way
to fellowship and harmony with Je-
hOvuh.
Alas, too often it is the case that min
listers have no knowledge of this way
have never come to God themselves!
Alas, too many will be found full Of
forms and ceremonies, and some full of
hypocrisies, and some full of superstl-
tlon! 1t is no wonder, therefore, that
many have gone to church with hun
ger for God, and a desire to be taken
into His family, who have returned to
their homes discouraged. and doubtful
as respects all religion.
In some instances, they will try an.
other church Of another denomination
possibly finding themselves merely
entertained by n talented choir, singing
words not understood, or hearing an
eloquent dissertation on politics. sci
ence or evolution. Often such conclude
that their sou-hunger for God and
Truth and knowledge was abnormal
that they had better not mention the
matter for fear Of being thought ia.
nadaul Others in turn explain that
they hive sought ministers and asked
the way to God. and had been merely
joked with and turned aside from fur
ther serious thought
The Pastor declared himself not re-
sponsible for any one but himself, yet
he realized that this meant a greater
responsibility than that Of any minis
ter In the world-because through his
published sermons he comes in contact
weekly with about twelve millions of
intelligent thinking people. This was
his reason for the topic Of today. He
was anxious to lend a helping hand,
orally or by his pen, to all within his
reach. And he invited correspondence
from such
1.-THE Way, the Truth, the Life"
must tell you plainly, said the Pas.
tor, that Jehovah God is a great King
above all kings, as the Bible declares.
You well know that even If granted
an audience with an earthly king, 1t
would be after some one had intro
duced you as worthy and after you
had made preparation in the way Of
special outfit Of clothing whose cut and
quality would be determined for you.
Should we expect to rush wildly into
the presence Of the great Ruler Of the
Universe, even If we were perfect,
even If we were in covenant relation
ship with Him?
II the holy angels may appropriate
ly veil their faces in the Divine Pres
ence. crying, Holy, holy, holy. should
mortals rush In where angels fear to
tread? Further, we are imperfect sin
ful-still worse, We are under Divine
sentence, or curse, which declares that
we are unworthy Of Gods favor, fel-
lowshlp or blessing, and are cut of
How shall we overcome
such barriers?
At first It would seem to be a hope