Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-10-02

Of gestation What noble characters
might thus be born into the world,
even though still imperfect, sin-stain-
ed! What a different world in many
respects we might be living in today,
If parents had recognized these prin-
cipes and felt their responsibilities
and lived up to them! Thank God,
death does not end all! and the lessons
now being learned through disappoint-
ments and tears will, we believe, in
many instances prove profitable In the
great Hereafter.
"Brethren, What Shall We Dor"
This was the question asked of the
Apostle Peter by those who heard him
preach and learned that we were sin
ners under condemnation. We should
discern that the question is not, What
shall we do to escape damnation. or
condemnation? We were born in
damnation. condemned to death as un-
worthy Of life The Divine decree Is
that no sinner may have everlasting
life. 1t is gift Of God, designed, not
for sinners, but for those who are per-
feet, sinless. Adam was condemned
to death as soon as he became a trans
gressor; and all Of his children were
born in the same condemned condi-
ton. Condemnation passed upon all
men because all are sinners. All are
imperfect, fallen. Our text tells us
that they were born in this fallen, dis
approved or condemned condition.
The question with US, then, is not,
What shall we do to escape coming
under condemnation? for the whole
world is condemned already. John
3:1SJ The question is, How shall we,
who are already condemned of God
as unworthy Of everlasting life, get
free from that condition in which we
were born and get back into that con-
dition of perfection which God will
approve, In which we should be ac-
counted worthy of everlasting life?
The Bible answers our question. 1t
tells us that God has had compassion
upon our race and has provided the
Savior. 1t explains that for God to be
just and yet grant forgiveness to the
sinner requires that One shall pay sub
stitutlonally the penalty originally
pronounced against Father Adam,
This being effected, the Redeemer will
have the right to restore to perfection
Adam and all bis posterity desirous Of
returning to God.
The Message respecting this merciful
arrangement is called the Gospel-the
Good Tidings that there Is a way of
return from sin to holiness and from
condemnation to death back to justif-
cation Of life.
"Times of Restitution"
AS we have seen, the thing needful
for all who desire to return to Gods
favor is that they may be restored to
that condition of physical perfection in
which Adam was before he sinned.
When thus restored, they would have
the same opportunity Of demonstrate
ing loyalty to God that Adam had at
first If they, when recovered, stand
the tests of loyalty and obedience,
they shall receive Gods gift Of ever
lasting life. And they shall receive 1t
through Jesus Christ; for the way
was opened up by His sacrlficial
death, "the Just for the unjust" and
their salvation accomplished by His
work Of Restitution.
Not until recently have Bible stu
dents dlsCerned how far our forefa-
theirs have been confused In respect to
the Divine Plan-through neglect Of
the Bible for fourteen hundred years.
They now see that Jesus and the
Apostles and Prophets taught that
Gods great time for dealing with the
world is yet future-under Messiahs
Kingdom. The thousand years in
which that Kingdom shall rule the
world, restraining sin, chastlsing sin
ners and helping the willing and ODE
dient back to perfection Is called by
St Peter "Tlmes OF Restitution of all
things which God hath spoken by all
His holy Prophets. Acts 1921
The restltutionary work Of those
thousand years will be accomplished
by the power OF Messiahs Kingdom
and the Elect Church Of this Gospel
Age will be associated with the Re
deemer in His Throne and In the great
work Of restoring the obedient Of man
kind to perfection. That thousand
! years is also called the time Of the
worlds resurrection or raising up
dndstdsis. Bible students now discern
that the word resurrection In the GreeE
signifies more than merely the awak
enlng from denth. II signifies the lift
ing up OF the individuals to human per
fectlon-to that which was lost by
Adam and redeemed by Jesus death,
During those Times OF Restitution
Satan IL to be bound, that he may NJ
longer deceive humanity, as he hai
been doing with false doctrines, put
ting light for darkness and darkness
for light On the contrary, the tim
when he, the Prince OF Darkness, i
cast down from influence amongs
men will be the time when Christ AM
Ills Bride, the Church, will becom
the Sun Of Righteousness to the worl,
and scatter all It's ignorance and su
persttlon. tAlatthew 1343l Respect
ing that time the Bible assures us tina
all the sln-blinded eyes shall be open
ed, and all the sln-deaf ears shall b
unstopped. and the true Message o