The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-28
Pastor RuSSell's Sermon

started the query. How could those
atoms of matter be re-coIlected for the
resurrection Of that bodys
ST. Fanl answers the query, saying,
"Thou sowest not that body which
shall be-" q Corinthia rs 1872 He
declares that in the resurrection God
VIII give some spirit body and others
a human body We are not question
ing the Divine Power TO do anything,
but merely calling attention to the fact
chat what the Bible says on this sub
ject is thoroughly in harmony with rea-
son. and that our neglect OF the Bible
testimony got rs into confusion-charg-
ing absnrdities to the Word OF God.
Christ's Soul Not Left In ShsoI.
st. Paul's teaching is that the resur-
rectton for the world In general con-
sists of re-awakening from the sleep
OF death. in body similar to the one
which died; and that when thus awak-
ened. each member OF the race shall
have full opportunity of being raised
again TO the image OF God, 10 which
our race was crested, from which We
all fell through Adam, and a return to
which has been provided for us
through the death of Jesus. The time
set apart for this work is thousand
years-Messiah's slillennial Reign.
st. Paul speaks Of better resurrec-
ton coming to the Ancient Worthless,
who proved their loyalty to God. Gle
brews 1852 Their reward will be
that instead Of being awakened In an
| imperfect condition. to rise gradually
with the rest Of the world. they will
be awakened in a perfect condition
Another class that will not share with
the world in the gradual resurrection
Is the Church--not the nominal church
or mere professors. but the real Church
OF Christ-thOse who walk in the foot
steps Of Jesns to the best OF their
ability. This class had its beginning
at Pentecost.
There, through the merit OF Christs
sacrifice. God began the acceptance
OF the Elect to be the Bride of Christ,
jOint-heir in His Messianic Kingdom.
Their special blessing begins by their
being begotten Of the Holy Spirit con-
stituting their start as spirit beings.
Thenceforth their portion is to become
dead to all earthly things and alive TO
all Heavenly hopes. ambitions. etc.
As their change of nature began
when they received the Holy Spirit. ic
will be completed in the First Resur-
rection. when they will be given per-
feet. spirit bodies. st. Paul says, speak
ing OF this class. ."NNe shall all be
changed; for flesh and blood cannot
inherit the Kingdom OF God" Il Cor
fnthians 1851, 5O) This is the gori.
Gus hope set before us In the Gospel.
Opportunity to gain a part in this
First Resurrection is limited to this
Gospel Age. Only faithful followers
OF Jesus have any promise of a share
IN 1t.-Revelation 20:4.
unbslisf Stasssrs Some.
All familiar with their Bible know
well that the doctrine of the Resurrec-
| tion Of the Dead is one Of it's funda-
mentals. But their faith staggers at
| tiIC InouSitL VI IuC VI tIiE
! Dead. and this leads them to deny the
entire matter. They do not tell us
that they do not believe in the Resur-
rection Of the Dead: but they teach
that nobody is dead-that when people
appear to die they are really more
alive than they We're before. Unwilling
to admit that the really dead could be
brought back to life. they claim that
death is a transition from lower form
Of life to a higher one.
| After one takes this position. the
whole Bible becomes twisted. When
ever we deny the death penalty We
deny the Bible, whether we wish to do
the soul that sinneth shall experience
transition. but THE soul that sinneth.
it shall die" Ezekiel 1874. 200 The
Bible does not say that the wages OF
sin is transition. but 'The wages of sin
is DEATH" (Romans $3.50 God did not
say to Father Adam and Mother Eve.
Because Of your disobedience Won shall
experience transition. but I'VE shall
surely DIE" Whoever would be loyal
to the Bible must face this question.
II he repudiates the Bible position he
gets more and more into darkness
Those who say that death is not
death, must logically ask themselves.
Where do those go who seem to die.
but really become more alive? Then
come in human speculations: for the
Bible declares that the dead are dead
Jesus said. mo man hath assembled into
Heaven" John 3:13J St. Peter said
that David the Prophet had not as
cended to Heaven.-Acts 2:34.
The Scriptures declare that the dead
are asleep waiting for the morning OF
the resurrection. The preaching OF the
Apostles in substance was that there is
no hope of future life except by res
direction of the dead; and that there
could be no resurrection had not
Christ's death made possible the resur-
rection hope for mankind.--1 Corinth-
ians 15:12-22.
God Able to Raise the Dead.
Whoever realizes Gods Power as
manifested In the creation should have
no doubt whatever of His Power to
resurrect the dead being. or soul. God
is so high and has Power so much
greater than ours that we cannot com.