The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-06-14

CRASI0R:.RUSSELDl tie is addressing
the Church OF
Christ, not the world The resurrec
tion to which he refers begins now in
the hearts and the minds of the New
Creatures in Christ, and eliminates in
the great change from human to spir
itual conditions of which he speaks
that resurrection life here and progress
with 1t will not experience the great
change to life on the spirit plane.
Death tho Great Enemy.
The speaker deplored that the Bible
is so little understood, and explained
that this is partly because of the mis-
deep that only the clergy can under
stand its mysteries, but mainly be
cause of the errors foiSted upon us
during the~Dark Ages. Therefore the
Scriptural teaching that death is the
penalty of sin Is everywhere rejected.
and we are instructed that the penalty
of sin is eternal torment. Both com
mon sense and the Bible are thus ig
nored.
The facts set forth in the Bible are
that death Is the great enemy of man
kind; that it is here because Of sin:
that unless God helps us, there would
be no future life for us; and that Gods
provision IS that all mankind shall be
restored from death through the Ran.
som-price given by our Lord Jesus
Christ. q Corinthians 1921, 90 But
for Him to die and then make no ap-
plication of His merit for us would
leave us in as terrible condition as be
fore. Therefore God has provided that
our Lord should not only die, but also
be raised from the dead. Romans 4:2i.
2J) The time set apart for the worlds
recovery from sin and death cOndi.
tions Is the period Of Messiahs Reign
Of thousand years.
The Church Risen With Christ.
Then the Pastor explained clearly
the difference between the Church of
Christ and the world. These are still
under condemnation of sin and death.
but the Church have escaped the Legal
phase of the condemnation, although
they still have the weaknesses result
ing from the death condition. God is
taking the Church out of the world
to be given the very highest degree of
spirit nature.-2 Peter ! a.
Reverting to his text, the speaker
showed that the Apostle mentions the
resurrection of the Church as having
already begun. All who belong to that
Church should know that they have
part in this resurrection life. But to
be risen with Christ they must be dead
with Him. @ Timothy 2:11, ~ Who.
ever shares His death will also share
His resurrection. All the Church class
must follow His steps. They should
seek to know Gods will in all things
what they should eat, wear, say and
do This course faithfully pursued will
give them what the Apostle terms "the
spirit of a sound mind"
This class must be dead to self-will
Our Will is our wish, and our wishes
represent our personality. If we yield
our wishes to another, we give up our
will to that extent. God purposes to
have an Order of the Royal Priesthood,
every member of which will be fully
submissive to the great High Priest.
GUS TO yield our will to any one else.
The Power Of Christ's Resurrection.
The Pastor illustrated his theme by
reference to the life of st. Paul. The |
Apostle desired membership in the
Body of Christ above all things else.
philippians 3:S, 81 The word Christ
means anointed; and the name applies
not only to the Head of the Church, |
but to the Body also. God is raising |
up great Anointed One. He raised |
up Jesus first; and throughout the Cos. |
pei Age He has been raising up the |
members. All things earthly are but |
loss and dross in comparison to the |
wonderful privilege Of being members |
of The Christ; for to Christ God has |
promised the Kingdom and glory, hon. !
or. immortallty-the Divine nature.
The Apostle perceived that Jesus had |
fulfilled the Fathers will in all His |
experiences; and thus knowing, he |
wished to have the same experiences. |
He knew that he could not enter into |
Christ's resurrection unless he entered |
into Christ's death. Only those who !
suffer with Christ can reign with Him.
This knowledge made st. Paul very
different from others Of his day. We
look back and see how much he pos
sessed OF the Masters words and dis
position. His was a wonderful exam
pie to those who are fully copsecrated
to God and striving to live the new
life until their trial Is finished in the
First Resurrection.