River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-15

presence of the Father
i Then for a thousand years the other
captives will be following on. AS st.
Paul declares. it will be every man
in his own order" or company. or reg
iment. The ranks will ultimately in
clude the entire race of Adam and
himself. All those willing to be led
/ forth from captivity will attain again
the full liberty of the sons of God.
1 lost through Adams disobedience, and
] the right to recovery of the same-re-
/ deemed for them at Calvary.
/ But the Apostle mentions the trium-
phal entry of Jesus into Heaven it.
self merely as an incidental, prefacing
| his statement that our Lord immedi-
ately began to give gifts to men The
first gifts. bestowed at Pentecost. were
! to the Church. Indeed, all Of Jesus
| gifts thus far have been to His follow
| ers The prophecy from which the
Apostle quotes takes in the world,
however, declaring that the gifts are
for the rebellious also Psalm 6S:1S.
Jesus Gifts to the Church.
st. Paul. continuing. tells us the spe-
ciaI gifts bestowed by Jesus upon His
Church: And He gave some Apostles,
and some prophets, and some evan
| gelists. and some pastors and teach
ers." Jesus tells US about some false
apostles. We can readily suppose that
there have crept into the Church also
false teachers, false pastors, assOciat-
ing godlinesS with gain, as the Apos-
| tie explains. All the same we are to
have in mind that there are true Apos-
ties, prophets. pastors. and teachers
appointed by the Redeemer as His spe-
cial gifts to the Church. as His Spe-
cial representatives in the Church. for
their guidance and blessing.
| We further read of the object and
purpose Of these gifts: they were for
the perfecting Of the saints. for the
work of the ministry. for the edifying
Of the Body of Christ: till we all come
in the unity of the faith. and Of the
knowledge of the Son of God. unto a
perfect Man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ"
Only in proportion as Apostles.
| prophets. pastors and teachers fulfil
| this mission are they really the Lords
gifts to His Church. Consider that
these were not appointed for the
world. but for the saints-and not
merely to start them in the way of
saintship, but especially to perfect
them as saints. And this perfecting of
the saints is not merely an instruc-
| ton of them in knowledge. nor merely
| the bringing of them to an apprecia-
| ton of the joys and the peace of the
Lord. but a preparation of them for
| the work of ministry-the work of
service. All the saints are to be serv-
ants, even as the Lord Jesus. the
greatest Saint. was Servant of ALL
Whoever does not learn to be serv-
ant OF God. a servant Of righteous
ness, a servant of the brethren. will
not have learned the lessons necessary
| for a share in the Kingdom. Besides,
Tie Kingdom itself will be a service
| to mankind for human upift, and only
! those who have come to an apprecia-
| ton of the privileges of service in the
/ present conditions will be granted
share with the Lord in the more glOri-
! Gus service of the future.
The edifying Of the Body of Christ,
| in modern language. means the up
| building, the strengthening, the devel-
| opment of the Church. which is the
Body of Christ. Not merely with sin
ners and with the heather. therefore
are the pastors and teachers to be en-
gagged, but chiefly with the Church,
edifying it, strengthening it, educating
! it, with the knowledge of God. and
building it up in all the fruits and
graces of the Spirit. The Apostles
prophets, pastors and teachers who
are the Lords gifts to the Church will
be found doing this work. whatever
/ may be said of others.
How Long 1t Will Last.