River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-16

are fooliShneSS unto him; neither can
he know them, because they are spirit
ually discerned."
Then the Pastor explained that those
begotten of the Holy Spirit are Scrip
turally called children of God, heirs of
Cod. joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. If
fed in the First Resurrection Mean
time they are to grow In grace. knowl-
tdge. love and all other fruits and
graces of the Spirit-grow by their
trials. by their obedience, by striving
against the world. the flesh and the
Devil. All this must be done before
this class will be ready for their resur-
rection change. In the present time,
however, all who are begotten Of the
Holy Spirit not only belong to the
Church in general, with all others of
the people of God, this one Brother
hood of Christ on the spiritual plane,
but they are also reckoned as members
of the Body of Christ on the feshly
plane-the earthly plane.
From this viewpoint. Christ has been
suffering in the flesh throughout the
L. l.
Prophets of Israel testified beforehand
of the sufferings of The Christ and Of
the glory to follow; and hence he urges
the Church to arm themselves with the
same mind that Jesus had. st. Paul
speaks of filling up that which is be-
hind Of the Affections of The Christ
all the members of His Body After
these sufferings are filled up. then the
glory will follow. The sufferings are
not yet complete.
The speaker went on to explain how
trials and discipline are means of de-
veloping Christian character, preparing
the child of God for future service in
the Kingdom. The privilege of suffer
ing with Christ in the flesh Is some
thing to be appreciated. Whoever has
trials in the flesh because Of Christ.
because of being His disciple, has oc-
casion for rejoicing. Such should con-
tinue faithful, in order that by and by
as a polished jewel he may be ready
for a glorious setting in the immortal
jewel is not worth much. It's real
worth is brought forth in the cutting
So the Lord gives His jewels the cut
ting and polishing necessary to en-
able them to reflect the glorious light
Of the goodness of God.
Jewels do not all require the same
amount of polishing. declared the Pas
tor A small diamond can be cut and
polished more easily than can large
one Those of the people of God who
undergo severe trials and Affections
may hope that they will be accounted
large jewels in the hands of the Lord.
The larger the diamond, the more work
in cutting and polishing.
Confessing or Denying Christ.
Then the Pastor discussed the terms
upon which one may make his calling
and election sure to position In the
glorified Body of Christ beyond the
veil. From the time when ones con-
secration is accepted by the Father
and he is begotten of the Holy Spirit.
his name Is written in the Lambs
Book of Life as member of the Body
of Christ To these our Lord declares
that If they are faithful He will not
blot their names from His Book. These
are to remain faithful to what they
agreed to dO-to give their little all In
sacrifice. On that condition they were
accepted and had their names recorded.
But if any such deny Christ, He will
deny them If they continue to con-
fess Him, He will confess them. To
confess Christ is to live for Him day
by day-confessing Him in the way in
which one uses time, influence, money
talents; confessing Him in business, in
everything that is either said or done
But If any consecrated child of God
should deny Christ by seeking to live
after the world, by neglecting the
Covenant of Sacrifice, such would thus
demonstrate his unworthiness Of a
place in the Bride claSS-the Church In
glory.
Should any one ask the Pastor why
be lays SO much stress upon consecra-
ton, be would reply that, according to
Scripture, God is not now dealing with
the world in general; that in order to
bring our petitions to the Throne Of
Heavenly Grace we must get Into re-
lationship with God; and that there is
only one way by which this can be
done-consecration. To emphasize his
point the speaker used the illustration
of a wedding In the time of our Lord
On such occasions 1t was customary
for the host to furnish all the guests
with a plain white linen garment
which was to be worn over their own
garments Whether the guests wore
rich or poor raiment, the wedding gar
ment covered everything, and made
them all brethren for the time being:
for they were guests Of the same host.
Applying his illustration, Pastor
Russell explained that all consecrated
Christians have accepted Gods invita-
ton to the marriage Of the Lamb-the
Son of God. But no matter how well
we may arrange our own garments.
each must put on the wedding gar
ment or else remain away from the
feast The moment Of conservation Is