The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-06-30

nine? Only one hath returned to giye
glory to Luke 17:17, 1S
Leprosy, said the Pastor, has long
been regarded as incurable, and theye.
fore used as an illustration of sin,
which also is incura BILE. AS only the
Masters word could heal leprosy, $50
only a Divine remedy can cure sin. an
olden times lepers were required ito
separate themselves from others, and
whenever approached to cry, I'm
clean!' So sinners by Divine decree
are isolated from the pure, the holy.
The Pastor then reminded his heqr-
ers that humanity constitutes butt q
small proportion of Gods great family,
amongst whom are angels, cherubitn.
seraphim, etc, who always have fel
lowship with God and with each other.
But while the Scriptures declare that
mankind are sinners by heredity. AL
do not appreciate their condition, nor
cry aloud, Unclean! God wishes eseh
to realize that he comes short OF the
Divine standard of perfection what
God would bless with everlasting life,
While the Bible declares that all are.
sinners, yet it does not unreasonafly
say there is no difference. 1t does say,
however, that the slightest degree OF
sin means that we are sinners; and
that the person with the least talpf
would need the Savior-need to be
cleansed. Each must see his sin aud
cry, Unclean! Lord, save, or ! perish.
Many of us. said the Pastor, when
reading our Bibles forgot that perish
means to die. to lose life. Nothing pm
the word signifies to be tortured to hll
eternity ..rhe wages of sin Is death,
destruction -annihilatio If youplease.s
Had God not made provision for map s
recovery, there wohfd have been 20.
future life for the race. Death would
have been as hopeless state as lepgo:s
sy is hopeless disease. from wiafn
there is no Yecovery.
Jesus yybs Good Physician
Jesus alone can cure this leprosy LOT
sin. God has SD arranged the Qa7 r.
AS the penalty Of sin Vpal pa
means death. SO se-
pay
HIsteu 1egaI1y 81 q "a
race could serve as a redeemer, be-
cause all were born in sin, and there;
fore as subject to the penalty as Adm
himself. Nor could any be born
less, because the life of the race eas1e
from Adam.
| Whoever would redeem mankind
must have life separate from that of
Adam, and be willing to sacrifice It pm
Adams behalf. Any Of the angels
could have become mans redeeinef.
had God made them the proposition,
and any had chosen to accept it. But,
He gave the first opportunity to- the
very highest of His creatures, Els.
Only Begotten Son-the 1sogos. of
whom it is written that He was the
Beginning of the creation of God. tae
First-born of every creature.
Pastor Russell then showed conciu-
sively that not even Jehovah Himself
could demand that one holy creature
should die to redeem humanity; and
that if the Logos had chosen not TO DC
cept the Fathers proposition. it doubt
less would have been extended to oh
ers. But such was the Sons love aid
loyalty that to know Gods will was to
further it cheerfully. ST. Paul explains
that the Redeemer's faithfulness abd
loyalty in doing Gods will to the OK
tent Of laying down the human life lie
came the basis Of His still higher eN-
altation-above His prehuman condi
ton. Thus Jesus has been qualified il
be made Prince and a Savior, aIls,
to grant forgiveness to all who co1he
unto the Father through Him.
What Sin Forgiveness Means.
Forgiveness of sins has two aspecF
(D the cancellation of the legal cob
demnation: and e, the recovery of tie
sinner from his degradation. .Jeshs
came into the world to accomplish both
these results BY His death He couJd
legally satisfy Divine Justice. giviAg
His life as instead of Adams forfeitf I'D
life. Then. raised from the dead. with
plenitnde cf power. He would use thu
power for the recovery of mankiad
from the mental. moral and physief
degradation brought about by sin.
The Pastor then showed two CLASH
Of sinners saved The mass of nah
kind will need the severe lessons pf
Messiah's Kingdom to show how obedi-
ence to God will bring gradual r.
covery from sin and death back to PEI