Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-18


that they were consecrated saints Of
God and heirs Of the blessings prom
ised In the Scriptures. By inference.
rather than by direct statement. the
theory has gone forth that the penalty
for sin will be visited only upon those
who neglect to say. God forgive me-"
a few moments before they die. Not
withstanding the P.ain statements Of
the creeds, every funeral discourse
lands the dead in Heaven. 50 far as
the auditors can understand. A misin-
depreciation Of the Sayior's words to
the dying thief Is made the basis for
this absurdlty.
Let me say, then. with all kindness
toward those who are deceiving them
selves and others, that the vast maj0rl-
ty Of church members and Of preachers
are not Christians at all. according to
the Bible standards. This does not
mean that the Bible condemns them
to eternal torment. Thank God, no!
1t does mean, however, that these self
deceived ones will have neither part
nor lot In the wonderful blessing pro-
vided for Gods elect Church. II
means, further, that Gods Church Is
separate from all human institutions;
and that only sanity persons, regard
less OF denominatlonal lines. are mem
bers of the true Church, "whOse names
are written In Heaven"
Surrender self--saerifee to God,
According to the Bible. no human be-
ing is Gt for Divine fellowship or eter-
nal life. The reason Is given that all
are sinners. The explanation Of the
sin is that it was committed by Father
Adam when he was perfect. in Gods
image; and that, cut of from God the
race deteriorated, passing imperfec-
tons of mind, morals and body from
parent to child. psalm 51:5l I'm.
perfect beings would be quite out Of
place amongst the perfect; and so long
as imperfection continues, sin will con
tinue, and with 1t, necessarily, sorrow.
pain and death, sins consequences.
God declares His sympathy for the
sinner. and that He has made provision
for mans recovery from his present
deplorable state. Not only so, but Il
time has been set for the recovery;
and the Bible tells us how 1t will be oc.
complished-by Messiah and His Nil.
iennlal Kingdom. We pray, "Thy
Kingdom come" not with the thought
that God will neglect His promise to
establish that Kingdom, but by way Of
giving acknowledgment to the fact
that that Kingdom Is the hope OF the
world and Of the Church.
The Church's hope In the Kingdom
is that Of becoming sharers with Christ
In the glory, honor and work OF that
Kingdom the blessing aud upllft.
ing Of humanity out Of sin aud death.
There is no attempt being made at the
present time on Gods part to convert
the world. Few now hear the Gospel
Message. nnd still fewer believe II.
They are deuded BY the Adversary
into thinking that God has been trying
10 convert the world for six thousand
years md has been making misera'
BILE failure Of II all along; and that
whatever is done, we must do for our
selves Thus has unbellef been cultl'
vaied, and trust in God and In the
teachings Of the Bible thrust aside,
Nevertheless, the Lord declares. My
Word that has gone forth out OF My
mouth shall not return unto Me void
but II shall accomplish that which
Please, and Il shall prosper In the
thing whereto sent Il" Usalah 55;ll.l
Gods Word was sent forth to invite a
very special class OF humanlty--a class
loving righteousness and hating lnlqul
ty, weary and heavy'laden with sin
Ignorance and superstition, aud desir
ous Of coming back into harmony Will
God and being blessed VI Hin.
For nearly nineteen centuries the
Message has been going hlthcr nnt
thither, quietly, nnostentutlously TIL,
world aud the nominal churches woulC
say that II had accomplished nothing
that everything great had been accom-
plished by them. But we prefer e
stand by the Bible and to recogIz,
that Gods cOnsecrated ones have In
deed lifted up light which the worlt
has hated-a light on account Of whlcl
they have frequently been put TO death
or have had their nnmes cast out NJ
evll," or have been boycOtted, socially
or otherwise
II their hopes were merely In th'
present life, these would be making
miserable failure Of their opportunl
Ties. But not so; they are waiting 70
their reward IN the future--nt the Sec
ond Coming Of Jesus-by n share In th
First Resurrection, And even nov
their Joy, peace and fellowship will
God more thnn onset all their trials
difficulties and ostrpclsm. Besides
'To them II Is given 10 know the mys
terles Of the Kingdom OF Cod" whlcl
, to oil others are parallels aud darl
sayings. hard to he understood
shepherds Voice, "como Unto Me-"
? Tho trials nnd difficulties Of M
, pressing many today nre giving then
u bearing enr for the Great Shepherd
words, Come unto Me, all yc that In
. bor aud are henyy.lnden, and will
= give you rest" lie does not say, &c
, 10 the Lutheran Church; 10 10 the Pres