Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-07-09

ually discerned."
Then the Pastor explained that those
begotten of the Holy Spirit are Scrip
turally called children of God, heirs of
God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. If
faithful unto death. they will be glori-
fed in the First Resurrection. Mean
time they are to grow in grace, knowl-
edge. love and all other fruits and
graces of the Spirit-grow 10y 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
Gospel Age ST. Peter says that the
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 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 polished jewel he may be ready
for u glorious setting in the immortal
ity of the future. An uncut, unpublished
jewel is not worth much. Its 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
SThOco Of Of CcI
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 a 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 MOI
blot their names from His Book. These
| are to remain faithful to what they
agreed to do-to give their little all il
sacrifice. On that condition they were
accepted and had their names recorded
| But if any such deny Christ. He viii
deny them If they continue to con
| fess Him. He will confess them. II
/ confess Christ is to live for Him da,
by day-confessing Him in the way il
| which one uses time, influence, money
talents: confessing Him in business, il
| everything that is either said or done
| But if anH consecrated child of Go,
should deny Christ by seeking to liv
after the world, by neglecting tn
| Covenant of Sacrifice. such would thu
demonstrate his unworthiness of
place in the Bride class-the Church i
glory.
Should any one ask the Pastor VIII
he lays SO much stress upon conSecra
ton he would reply that. according t
Scripture. God is not now dealing wit
the world in general: that III order
bring our petitions to the Throne G
Heavenly Grace we must get into 7,
lationship with God; and that there
only one way by which this can b
done-consecration To emphasize h
point the speaker used the Illustrate
of wedding in the time of our Lore
On such occasions it was customal
for The host to furnish ali the guest
with a plain white linen carmen
which was to be Worn over their ow
garments Whether the guests wol
rich or poor rainent the wedding ga
ment covered everything. and mac
diem all brethren FOR the time bein;
for they We're guests of the same hos
Applying his Illustration. l'ast'
Russell explained chat all consecrate
Christians have accepted Gods invit
tiun to the marriage of the Lamb Il
Son of God. But no matter how we
we may arrange our own garment
each must put on the wedding ga
!. ment or else remain away from Il
feast The moment Of consecration
the moment of receiving the Robe
Christ's Righteousness, and only tho
! who continue to wear that robe w
n Al. i