Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-06-25

OF the Un1L9d
Kingdom and the Conttnent-Pastor
Russell Is on the Atlantic homeward
bound. The Pastors text today was,
"Even when we were dead in sins,
God hath ~quickened us together with
Christ. "-Ephesians %. Il
The discourse began with a review
Of Adams trial in Eden. The speaker
demonstrated that man was created
perfect, in the image and likeness OF
his Creator; but that he disobeyed
God and brought upon himself the
curse Of death. Since Adams poster
ity were all born after his fall, it nat
urally follows that they partake Of his
im~perfection. All mankind are under
the death sentence.
The Pastor then discussed the propo-.
sition which the Bible sets before hui
mainly. That proposition is not one of
Heaven or He'll, but Of life or death.
To those who r In harmony with
God and delight to do His will. He is
pleased to give life everlasting. But
to those not in harmony. He has de-
creed to give death eternal. For such
there is no place in all His Universe.
God does not expect humanity to do
perfectly in their present fallen condi-
ton, the speaker declared. The Law
was given to Israel for the very pur-
pose of proving to them, and incidental
ly to all men. that by the deeds of the
Law no flesh can be justified in His
sight" No fallen being can keep Gods
perfect Law. Therefore no nan could
have life everlasting If God had not
done something for us. What He has
done is "the old, old story Of Jesus
and His love"-the Heavenly Fathers
love, also. ~
Inc thought that God Is very angry
WITH us. and was about to consign the
entire race to eternal torment when
Jesus stepped in and rescued us, is inn
proper. This view represents our
Heavenly Father as most unloving and
unjust, in that when He knew we were
imperfect He held as accountable for
what we could not do. All Bible stu
dents are losing this wrong conception.
Permitting Sin and Causing Sin.
Pastor Russell then showed the wide
difference between permitting and
causing sin. For God to have caused
sin would have been for God to do
evil. He vas not responsible for the
entrance of sin into the world. He per-
mitted Satan to pursue his downward
course, In order that the angels might
see the results of sin. When Mother
Eve came under temptation, God did
not interfere. He also permitted Fa-
Their Adam to disobey. Thus Sin and
Death entered the world, with their
tremendous influences for evil.
The reign Of Sin and Death has illus
trated certain principles, and has dem
onstrated the necessity for obedience
to God. It has also proved that there
can be nc happiness aside from perfect
harmony with our Creator. Both men
and angels have learned that whoever
sins viii suffer.
Next was shown the purpose OF the
Law Covenant made with Israel at
Sinai, The terms Of that Covenant
were that IL Israel would keep Gods
Law, eventually all the world would
come under their sway. But they soon
found that they could not obey His
commandments. Then God arranged
an annual Atonement Day, on which
sacrifices were offered to cover their
sins for one year. Although they tried
to live without sin, yet generation att
er generation died. At last they real
lied that they had entered into a con-
tract which they could not keep.
The Church Alive In christ.
Later, God promised to give them a
New Covenant, more favorable to
them. The difference between these
covenants will be In regard to the Me
diator. Moses offered typical sacri-
fees. which could not remove sin. But
the Meiiator9of the New Covenant viii
be empowered to lift the death curse
and restore man to the image OF God.
This New Law Covenant, the Pastor
explained, cannot be inaugurated until
its Mediator-Christ the Head, and tho
Church the Body is completed.
throughout this Gospel Age the great
antitypical Moses has been offering the
better sacrifices When these have
been finished, the New Covenant Will
be inaugurated. That time. he be
Heves. Is very near.
The church. once dead In trespass-
es and sins.n like the remainder OF
humanity, have been made alive.
through The impntation 81 sesus tner-
Il, Ia advance OF mankind. Gods pur.
pose In thus unickening them ts that
He Is selectinGa ctasssto be associated!
with our Lord III the Kingdom