Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-10-27

q! 3: Advocate with thu
Father, Jes u.
..= .: - Christ the Right
llA2IQKkgSSEllJJ eous."-1 John 81
The speaker re
viewed, from the standpoint of cour
of law. the Divine Plan for human sal
walton. He showed that the perfect
man Adam was on trial for everlast
ing life before the Supreme Judge OF
the Universe; that Adam failed t.
clear himself of the charge of disobedi
ence, and that the Court had passed
upon him the extreme penalty of the
Divine Law-death. He explained
that, as privilege by Divine arrange.
ment, our Lord Jesus became suitable
to be a Ransom-price for Adam and
the unborn race condemned to death
In him; that our Lord provided that
Ransom-price by Divine arrangement
by His sacrificial death. He deposited
that Ransom price in the hands of Di-
vine Justice. as sufficient to secure the
release Of the whole world from death,
and the cancellation of Adamic con-
demnation, as soon as the Church has
been glorified. Meantime, our Lord Is
the Advocate Of the Church, to whom
Is imputed the merit of His death.
For some time the speaker has been
deeply impressed with the thought
that no one can have proper under
standing and appreciation of the d.
vine Plan unless he has taken the
steps Of repentance from sin, Of faith
in Christ's atoning sacrifice, and Of
full conservation to God One living in
unrepented-of sin Is in no condition to
receive Heavenly things; for God has
declared that none of the wicked
shall understand" dan. 12:1O) He
does not wish His great Plan of the
Ages to be understood by the wicked or
even by those who prefer earthly things.
The Divine Message speaks peace to
those who are In trouble and who are
looking to God for the Righteousness
which He will pxovide. Some have
made great mistake In thinking that
preaching is a hammer whereby to
break mems hearts. The Lord has com.
missioned no one to do so. During the
great Time Of Trouble, even now COM
ing upon the world, many hard hearts
will be broken and thus brought into
a humble. teachable condition. where
the Voice Of God may be heard. Dur
ing the incoming Age the Lord will
take away the stoniness Of heart from
mankind and give them hearts of 6esh
instead.-Ezekie, 1l:19-21: 96:25-27
The Work Of the Advocate.
But now, in advance OF Messiah's
Kingdom, God is seeking those whose
hearts are already broken. isaiah
61:1-3) Whoever would become fol.
lower Of Jesus must not only turn from
sin, but must give to God both himself
and all that he has or hopes to have.
He must renounce bis human nature
In order to be begotten to the spiritual
nature. to be thenceforth a New Crea
ture In Christ. e Corinthians $40
Then Jesus becomes his Advocate; and
he receives the imputation Of the merit
of Christ's sacrificial DEATH as cover.
ing Of all his natural imperfections.
An advocate is lawyer, an attor.
ney, representative at law court
All mankind, represented in Father
Adam, stood before Gods Court, and
were sentenced to death in Him. q
Corinthians 1921 II any Of the
Adamic race would now come back
to the Divine Court and ask that the
record Of sin be blotted out as far as
he was concerned, the Heavenly Court
would say, I'VE cannot receive you;
for We do not receive sinners. The
only way to approach u is through
the Advocate whom we have provided
Jesus Christ"
Our Lord became tho Church's Ad-
vocate when He ascended on High and
appeared In the Divine presence for
His followers. Hebrews 9:24) A
lawyer goes into court and appears for
his client, giving his name ~ that
clients representative. Thenceforth
the court refers to the lawyer what
ever it has to say regarding that par
ticuar case. 1t was the Divine ar
rangement that our Lord appear for
tbs who's Church at once. God had
.,foreordained the number Of
the Elect and the character which they
must attain. Romans $40. 80; 12:1)
The work Of the entire Gospel Age Is
10 f1nd this class. 49,,
When Christ appeared in the Heav-
enly Court for His Church, He made
! presentation Of His sacri6cjal merit
On their behalf. He advocates their
cause by imputing to them the merit
Df His sacrifice, thus making them
in the Fathers presence
Ind acceptable as sons Of God. Be-
,ause Of this advocacy those who o4sr
themselves in full conservation to God
through the Redeemer are begoften %
New Creatures in Christ @1a