The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-07-20


Z 4 tiess sent shock to many of his
.ers. He declared that none are
members of the Church Of Christ ex-
cept the regenerate; and that this fact
was emphasized by our Lord Jesus,
saying, Eye must be born again. If We
would be My disciples. This teaching
has practically disappeared from the
pulpit, for the reason that the hearts of
Christian people seem to be more ten
der than were those of their fathers;
they cannot bear to think of the great
mass OF their relatives, friends and
neighbors and Of the heather unregen-
crate as subjects for eternal torment
al the hands OF the Devil. Hence they
ignore the Scriptural doctrine of regen-
Grafton, and endeavor to convince
themselves that 1t cannot be necessary;
Ter they know many not regenerated,
who are deserving Of better fate.
The difficulty met with in consider
ing this question is the same which
We so often meet with on other ques-
tions namely, an error firmly held so
bases the mind as to make Bible
truths seem impossible. Now, how
ever, Bible students begin to see that
there is a regeneration promised in the
Bible for the world In the Millennium.
quite separate and distinct from the
regeneration now possible to the saint
" Church. When we get the Bible
focus upon the condition of the dead
and see that they are unconscious, or,
as the Bible says, sleeping, waiting
for the Resurrection Morn, when the
world in general will be granted OPP
portunities of regeneration, we see that
the regeneration Of the present time,
that Of the Little Flock, will not hin
der the masses from regeneration by
and by. On the contrary, the regen-
Grated Church Of the present time will
be associated with Messiah In the re-
generation of the world.
This puts a new@aspect upon the
whole matter. Those now being regen-
Grated are an elect, or select, class.
Not only have they special love for
righteousness and special hatred for
iniquity, but additionally, they exer-
else a special faith In God and His
promises. By means of these prom
ises and the trials and discipliBes of
life, these elect regenerates become
especially qualified for Gods service
now and hereafter
Hssensrated to Different Natures.
Another item to be noticed is that
the regenerating processes of the pres
ent time are with view to bringing
the Church class, the Elect OF God. to
q new nature. Their regeneration be-
gan when God impaired to them the
Holy Spirit, following their full conse-
Grafton to His service In the name and
merit Of the Redeemer The regenera-
tive process continues during their life
time, as they grow In grace, In knowl-
edge and In love-in the character-like-
ness Of Gods dear Son. This means
q transforming and renewing work, re-
ferred to by st. Paul, saying, Not by
works OF righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He
saved us, by the purifying of regenera-
ton, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. .
No we'll Informed person will dis
pute the fact that the regenerated CON.
stitute very small proportion of man
kind-nay, that they constitute a very
small proportion Of the Christian ma
lions; yea, that the regenerated consti-
tufe but q very small proportion of
the religious church membership. The
Apostle refers to the regenerate, styling
them New Creatures In Christ, and de-
clares that to these "old things have
passed away, and all things have be-
come new"-new hopes, new aims, new
ambitions, new DESIRES new affections
Such have been transformed by the re-
moving Of their minds."-2 Corinthians
Git; Romans 1872
New Creatures In Christ Jesus.
Surely 1t is not an empty statement
on the Apostles part that all these re-
generate ones are New Creatures in
Christ Jesus. The Apostle, referring
to this class. tells us that they have
been begotten by the Holy Spirit
through the Message Of Truth. Again,
st. Peter says, God hath given unto
Us [regeneratesl exceeding great and
precious promises; that by these we
might become partakers Of the Divine
nature" e Peter 1:4.) There it Isl
said the Pastor; these by nature We're
humans; but by Gods grace in Christ,
through this begetting, they become of
q different nature-"partakers of the
Divine nature" In comparison with
the world, therefore. these are New
Creatures fresh creation.
Xr& &bo Gar{ntsro. oxa~vxrhc~o
mind MS that the New Creation is mere
" an embryo and will not be perfected
until the resurrection. They inform
rs also that some, by repudiating their
covenant with the Lord and turning
wilfully to sin, may become subjects
OF the Second Death. They inform us
that many begotten Of the Spirit may
never attain the full measure of their
possibilities-may never become joint
heirs with Jesus Christ their Lord
Because Of slackness, worldly minded
ness, they may attain only to lower
spiritual degree or nature-like unto
the angels and not like unto the Son
OF God, who Is the express image of the
Fathers glorious person.
We perceive, therefore, that the steps
OF conservation and spirit-begetting are
not trifiing propositions, but serious
ones; and that with this opportunity
Of so great an exaltation go also CON
ditions, limitations, trials, testings of
faith and loyalty "If We suffer with
Him, we shall also reign with Him
'sbe glorified together."-2 Timothy
PIP; Romans SAT-.
asit on Twelve Thrones, Judging"
In our context the Redeemer assured
His faithful Apostles that, after being
tested, the worthy ones would be asso-
ciated with Himself In His Heavenly
Kingdom-His Millennial Kingdom.
These would sit on twelve thrones,
Judging or ruling. q Cor. 6:29 No doubt
some special glory and honor is pro
vided In Gods great Plan for the
twelve faithful Apostles-St Paul tax
{. ing the place of Judas Nevertheless
the Lord afterward declared that all of
His faithful followers would be grant
ed share with Him In His Millennial
Kingdom and In His glory and power.
Mark His words: ITO him that over
'cometh will grant to sit with Me in
Ny Throne"-'I will give him power
over the nations"-the Gentiles. -Reve-
lation 321; 2:26.
This Is doubly interesting to us: first,
because 1t is the reward of those who
are now regenerated and who prove
faithful to the spirit begetting which
thar now receiye-to those who eTsa-