The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-05-26


clares that while the Church of Christ
is no more perfect in the flesh than is
the Jew, yet God is dealing differently
with the Church. He is scrutinizing
their hearts and judging them accord
ing to their intentions. If He sees that
in the heart the Christian is striving to
love his neighbor as himself and to do
unto others as he would be done by
He is pleased; and He has made ar
engagements whereby those who are
thus striving may remain in His fami-
ly despite their failures and shortcom-
ings. These they may confess, and
they may ask forgiveness for Jesus
sake and be forgiven.
How the Christian Fulfils the Law.
The Pastor then showed that God
has made a provision for the Church
which He did not make for the Jews
Israel was under a typical Law, with
a typical mediator, who could not Offer
real atonement for their weaknesses
and have them judged according to
the mind But, through Jesus Christ
the Father has made this very ar
rangement for the Church; and they
are judged according to their inten
tons, according to their will. There
fore, when they are living up to the
Golden Rule to the best of their abii
ty. the righteousness of the Law is
reckoned as fulfilled in them. AS the
Apostle says, The righteousness OF
the Law is fulfilled in us, who wall
not after the flesh, but after the Spir
it," Even though we can never fully
catch up with the spirit of that Law
after which we are walking, yet ''tht
blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleans
eth us from all sin"
The Christian, however. has in his
VOW of conservation agreed to do more
than merely keep the Golden Rule
He has coyenanted to give up all OF
his earthly interests, to do the will OF
pours for those who follow in the foot
steps of Jesus. Whatever the conse
Grated Christian sees to be the will Of
God respecting him he is to do-he il
to drink that cup" doing so with a.
much pleasure as possible, delightini
to do the Fathers will. even though
the cup be bitter.
The Pastor emphasized this point by
reference to the experiences of th,
Master. Shortly before His death
James and John had requested tina
they might be privileged to sit. the on,
ON His right hand and the other on Hi,
left, in His Messianic Kingdom. i
was not selfishness that prompted tn,
request, but deep love and apprecia
ton of their Lord. james and JOIN
were so earnest. so Jealous. that thu
Lord especially loved them In repl,
to their request, Jesus asked. Are "
able to drink of the cup that shal
drink of. and to be baptized with tho
baptism that | am baptized with :
This is the condition of discipleship
You cannot be in the Throne unIes,
you drink the cup.
Baptized With christ's Baptism.
The Pastor then demonstrated con
clusiyely that the b. ptism to which oul
Lord referred in His reply TO the re
quest made by james and John wa,
not water baptism. He quoted anoth
er saying of Jesus on the same subjec
81 have a baptism to be baptiZe.
with; and how am I strnitened unit
1t be- accomplished That baptism
was accomplished when on the cross
He cried. 1T is Finished" This, ths
speaker declared. is the baptism which
every true follower Of the Master mus
undergo immersion Of ones own vii
into that Of the Heavenly Father TIL,
water baptism is a symbol of that bap
tism, but the real baptism of Christ was
His immersion into BEAUTIFULLY, com
pletely, giving up His life to do the Fa
theirs will
Whoever would be with the Master
in His Throne must be so fully con
secrated to do the Divine will. so read,
to drink our Lords cup, that he viii
accept whatever the Father may per
NIT to come to him. He is not to poul
his own cup, and say that he will d.
thus and SO; nor Is he to bury himself
This is beautifully pictured in the wa
ter baptism There the candidate give.
himself into the hands of the admins
traitor, and submits his will to that Of
the other. Symbolically he says, Lord
into Thy hands l commit myself. Take
me, bury me-in whatever way Thor
dost think best"
Figuratively. the Lord lays hold OF
one thus consecrated and lets hin
down into death; and it is of His pow
er that this one will be raised up Il
the perfect life beyond the veil-tG
glory, honor and Immortality, sharing
His resurrection, the First Resurrec
ton. But only those who are buried il
the likeness of His death will be RAISED
in His likeness. Thus this picture Of
baptism corresponds exactly to tn,
Scripture which reads, 81 beseech you
brethren, by the mercies of God, tina
we present your bodies a living sacri
fee, holy, acceptable unto God-youl
reasonable service
The Pastor went on to- explain tha
this Is something more than merely
the Golden Rule, which calls only fol
justice, not sacrifice. Those who drinl
of the cup of Christ must ignore sell
and its preferences. They must sub
nit to injustice for the sake of Christ
they must sacrifice also. If they sui
fer with Him they shall also reign witt
Him: and the sufferings of the presen
time are not worthy to be compare.
with the glory which shall lie reveale,
in the Lords saints.
The Importance of the Symbol.
Pastor Russell considers the syn
bolic baptism of great Importance r.
acknowledged that great confusion cN
lists among Christian people Oh tn
subject. but holds that the real bli
tism of the human will into the DiYih
will is the alI-important mntter. h.
whoever knows about the true symbt
and then refuses to be immersed. the,
by proves that he is not fully dead
his own will. Those who have nevt
perceived that immersion in water
the only true symbol are not under oh
legation. however Thus ii has bee
with many true Christian people VIII
have had the real Immersion in.,
Christ. Bet when these come to Sc
the matter as the Scriptures present j,
they are responsible according to the
knowledge
Contrary to his custom. the Paste
here depressed and related his person
experience in regard to baptism. 30 4
of Christian parents. he had been sprih
killed. in infancy. But when. years after
ward. he came to see the subject in I'll
light of the Scriptures. he had Sc
we're fight with himself before he be.
came obedient to the Word. Excuse
after excuse presented itself to h.