Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-04-30
death in flesh. but quickened IN spirit
made alive a spirit being.
Why Jesus Assembled on High.

I
frmed, was another step in the Divine
Plan for the salvation of the world
1t was necessary, as St Paul declared.
that Jesus should appear in the pres
ence Of God and make presentation of
His blood, the merit of His sacrifice,
the value of His sacrificial death, that
the Church might be justified through
His merit, and that the Father might
give the Church the benefit of the
cleansing which our Lord had accom-
plished for that class. Many have not
noticed that the Scriptures limit our
Lords work during the Gospel Age to
the Church class which is being select
ed, or elected, from amongst mankind.
BY faith this class are reconciled to
God through the blood of Christ. These
have an Advocate with the Father.
Jesus Christ the Righteous, and may
draw near to God with good courage.
having their hearts sprinkled from any
consciousness of evil.
The Pastor then showed that after
Jesus had ascended ON High He was
the Spiritual Seed Of Abraham, who is
TO bless all the families of the earth.
Primarily, He became the Seed of
Abraham at Jordan. when He received
the amounting and to certain extent
began the work of blessing. But when
He had risen from the dead and had
assembled to the Father He was the
| Perfected One, the complete Seed, SO
far as He Himself was concerned.
The speaker went on to demonstrate
from Scripture, however, that from the
beginning God had purposed. not only
that Jesus should be the great Savior
| and Blesser of the world, but that He
| should have company of associates.
who are to be sharers with Him in the
great work of human uplift. These are
the Gospel Church. and are to be given
| glory, honor and immortality in the
First Resurrection. Thus they also will
| become members of Abraham's Spirit
| ual Seed and share with Christ in His
Millennial Kingdom. The speaker re-
peatedly quoted from Galatians 8.
| very clear.
The Development of the Church.
| Primarily. the Seed Of Abraham, as
God meant it, was the Spiritual Seed
Christ and the Church on the Divine
plane. But there is another Seed of
Abraham, according to the f1esh-the
Jews. These also will have part in
the wort: Of blessing. Tiiis fact. Tie
! Pastor declared, is set forth in Genesis
22:16-1S. where God told Abraham that
| his seed would be as the stars of heaven
and as the sand of the seashore.
I! The Pastor then explained how some
from both Jews and Gentiles have con
| stituted this Spiritual Seed of Abra
ham. He showed that Jesus. the per
feet Man, gaze Himself Sacrifice.
laying down His earthly rights; and
| that God begot Him to a higher nature.
Being perfect, He needed no one to
make good for Him. But with the
Church it is different. Every member
| must come to Him as the Sin offering
the One who would cover their blem
sEes and imperfectionS. and represent
them as their Advocate. The early
Church were in the main of Jewish
origin. These hid found that they
could not get everlasting life by keep
ing the Law Therefore, us st. Pau!
declared. they must become dead to
it and accept Christ as their Sin-offer.
ing. and consecrate themselves, that
through His merit they might become
membeN of the Anointcd.
The Gentiles never were under tho
Law Covenant. and therefore they
came into Christ merely by the sur
render of earthly thinss-presentins
themselves living sacrifices. as did the
Jews. In return for this complete con
secration, those who thus presen
themselves by faith whether Jew o.
Gentle are begotten of the Hol.
Spirit to Heavenly hopes, aims and am
billions. Those who continue faithful
to their covenant of sacrifice unit
death will receive place in that Bod,
of Christ. which is the Church in glory
These walk by faith and not by sight
They develop the spirit of loyalty ant
obedience-loyalty to God, to righteous
ness and the brethren. and obedienc
to God and the Golden Rule. OF thi
Christ company Jesus was the Head
, | Lue ApoStlcS WERE iIS uISl-
: of the Body, and the faithful in Chris
Jesus throughout the Gospel Age ar
members in particular.
The Natural Seed of Abraham.
The Pastor next discussed the dc
, scenaants of Abraham through Isaac
the Jews. Briefly reviewing the his
tory of that remarkable people, til
speaker showed how God had blesse
them in the past. Their trying eXperi
, ences in Egypt, their journey throus
: the wilderness en- route to Canaan, AZ.
r the signs and wonders which accom-
panied them. taught the people Walt
). able lessons and strengthened thei
' faith. For centuries they dwelt in tn
, Promised Land under Gods speci:
q care, sometimes chastised and SOM,
{ times blessed. But they never got til
r blessing sought under the terms of til
Law Covenant-everasting life The
0 experiences, he pointed out. helped