The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-07-14

High Priest OF their profession. These,
by faith, have access to God I'm prayer
Mt the Golden Altar of Incense. These
see the light of the Golden Candlesticl
and partake OF the holy Bread Of Di-
vine Truth.
Others may approach God In the
sense of being interested In Him, desir.
ing to do His will, and of seeking to
cooperate with the Royal Priesthood
and to render service to the Lords
cause. The influence OF such an ap
proach toward God is always benefi.
cial, uplifting, cleansing. But the
point we are emphasizing is that ali
such approach to God stops short o..
the privilege OF true prayer to Him
of true relationship to Him as children.
None may pray. 'Our Father. which
art in Heaven except those*who have
approached God in His appointed way
through Christ-and who since have
been forgiven, and indicted into tie
family of God by a begetting of the
Holy Spirit. The common concept OF
the Fatherhood Of God and the brother
hood of mar Is wholly unscriptI1ral
ana sets ASIDE enrlrely the Savior ana
His important work as Advocate for
the Church in the present, and as Medi-
ator elect for the world in the future.
Wrong Views Respecting Prayer.
Nearly all Christian people in the
past have discerned the subject OF
prayer very indistinctly. Sinners have
been urged to pray; moralists, who
have never accepted Christ as their
Savior. have been chided for not pray
ing. In a general way the impression
has been given to the world that God
is very anxious to have somesgecogni-
ton on the part of humanity, and will
be glad to be approached by anybody
at any time. How strange a mistake!
Was it not God who denounced sin
and placed the penalty, or curse, Of
death upon the sinner, and cut off the
sinner from fellowship with Himself2
Has He changed? Will He ever
change? Was not the statement that
'God heareth not sinners" a correct
one?-John 9:31.
The Church Has an Advocate.
Gods arrangement whereby His con-
secrated people may approach Him ac-
ceptably is clearly stated. eve 1.-THE
Royal Priesthood have an Advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the
Righteous" Il John 2:1.) But before
the Redeemer of men will become the
Advocate for any, certain terms and
conditions are laid down. Those ap-
preaching are first Of all reminded
that "no man cometh unto the Father
but by Me"-the Advocate. And upon
inquiring respecting the terms upon
which He would be their Advocate, we
are. admonished that He serves only
those who become His disciples. IN
quiring the terms of discipleship, we
receive the answer, eff any man will
and take up his cross, and follow Me-"
Matthew 16: "a.
! Under these conditions the poorest
and the meanest Of humanity have
the privilege of approaching with cour-
e the Throne Of Heavenly Grace to
obtain mercy, and to find grace to
help in every time of need. (Hebrews
4:16) But equally certain is it that
none others have access to God, "Nei-
Their is there any other name given
under Heaven or amongst men where
by we must be saved" from u fallen
condition, than the name of Jesus.
Perhaps there is something revolu-
uonary in this thought that, while all
may worship in the sense of bowling
down and showing reverence to the
Almighty, none but the consecrated
followers Of Jesus have any assurance
whatever OF the Divine supervision of
their affairs. And none but these have
any authority for coming to God in
prayer.
One exception to this rule should be
here stated; namely, that the children
of consecrated believers, while they
are still immature of Judgment, have a
standing with God through their rela-
tionship to their parents. st. Paul
makes this very evident In his declara-
ton: 'The unbelieving husband Is
sanctifed by the wife, and the unbe-
lieving wife. is sanctiied by the hus-
band, else were your children u~nclean,
but now are they holy."-1 Cor. TIA.
The translation of this text slightly
beclouds the Apostles thought, which
Is that where either Of the parents
has become a disciple OF Jesus, the
child stands related to God, regardless
Of the standing Of the other parent.
Such children may participate in wor-
ship and in prayer. But this relation
ship manifestly terminates shortly aft
er the child shall have come to a per-
! sonal knowledge of it's responsible
ties. Thereupon 1t must make a per-
sonal covenant with the Lord, or have
its standing with the rest OF the world.
And that standing, be 1t remember
ed, does not mean liability to eternal
torment. 1t merely means alienation,
separation, from God and from His
special care and proyidences in the
present time; for the Divine arrange
ment is for the ultimate blessing OF
mankind through the Messianic King
d~om-through the Temple OF Glory and
its Royal Priesthood glorified, in its
Kingdom power for a thousand years.
Might the Truth Discouraged
Some might be inclined to say, There
are millions of people who, with more
or less formality. approach God in
prayer daily. Should we not fear that
after a truthful presentation Of the
facts these would be discouraged? Our