Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-04-24

8z3z&z&4A&A MNW( PRODUCED his dis
lRASI0RzRUSSELDj course with the
statement that the
call of the Gospel Age is separate and
apart from the salvation provided for
the Gospel Age God has been gather
ing out of the world a class which He
declares shall be a royal diadem-not
ON His head, as if an added glory, but
in His hand, representative of power.
By manifesting what He has done
with the Church, Jehovah will show
forth His own praises. in that He will
| reveal features of His character never
before exhibited.
The permission of sin, the Pastor
maintained, has given opportunity for
God to develop His great Plan for the
eradication of evil. The Almighty
could easily have prevented Satan
from bringing sin into the Universe;
but He foresaw the glorious results
which He will eventually accomplish
through the permission of evil. There
fore He did not interfere when Satan
tempted our first parents, but permit
ted all mankind to be born in an i'm
perfect and sinful condition.
Then the Pastor showed how Adam'B
disobedience brought death into the
world. He next explained how Jesus
death guarantees the cancellation of
Adams penalty, and the establishment
of the Messianic Kingdom for the re-
covery of the race from sin and death
To assist the Redeemer in the great
work of human uplift, he asserted, God
purposed to select from amongst man
kind Il Church class. So a call went
forth for those who would separate
themselves from the world, take up
their cross and follow Jesus.
"ZeaIous of Good Works"
For nearly nineteen centuries, the
Pastor declared God has been gather
ing this people from various nations.
As the Apostle tells US. these are "a
peculiar people, Jealous of good works"
These good works, the speaker claim
ed, are not the building of hospitals,
asylums, schools, etc, but the same
kind of good works in which our Lord
Scriptures assert that Jesus event |
about doing good" In line with this |
is the Apostles injunction. do good /
unto all men, especially to the House
hold of Faith
Pastor Russell then pointed out the /
qualifications which constitute the ba-
sis of selection. God desires those
whose hearts are right. Here the
speaker depressed a little to explain
that this does not mean that the non
elect are 20 be thrown to devils and
roasted to all eternity. God is not pre-
meditating evil against even those who
are His enemies through wicked works,
but is merely calling a class to assist
the Redeemer in recovering mankind
from sin and death conditions.
According to the Scriptures, the Pas
tor declared, God is not now choosing
many rich, learned and noble, to con-
stitute the Church class. The rich
have plenty to satisfy their hearts, and
therefore do not feel their need. The
rather look down upon the
average of humanity as not knowing
any better than to believe the story of
mans fall and other Bible stories. He
deplored the fact that the world in
what they think is wisdom ignore
Gods Word. in which His Plan for
mans recovery from degradation, sin
and death is closely connected with
The fall of man and the redemption eff
fected by Jesus death on Calvary
Whoever omits this part of the Bible
oses the connecting link. and cannot
perceive Gods Plan of salvation.
The Bible says that not many noble
ire called. The speaker showed that
he undetermined know that they are
morally above the average. and there I
ore have a self-satisfied feeling which (
prevents their realizing their need of !
Savior. |
aye Are His Workmanship"
The Pastor next discussed the class [
whom God has accepted and forgiven (
through Jesus blood AS the trans S
orming work of the Holy Spirit goes
n in their hearts, they become noble /
haracters. Nobility of heart is what t
iod desires-loyalty TO Him. to right d
business. to truth. to the brethren. Y
The speaker lkened the Lords work 4
4 this class TO that of the lapidary. t
IS a diamond properly cut will radi- v
te the glories of the sunshine. so Gods a
swels, when cut and polished. will I
how forth His praises In the First G
resurrection these jewels will be s
lounted in the gold of The Divine ma F
ire and placed in Gods diadem.