Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-07-12

RASI0R RUSSEll lie addeth no sor-
row with it,"
Proverbs 1922.
The blessing of the Lord, the Pas
tor declared. is lere contrasted with
the curse pronounced upon Father
Adam in Eden. That curse was
death, not eternal torment. The
blessing, therefore, will be the anti
thesis OF death-life everlasting and
return to Edenic conditions for all
who are willing and obedient. The
wilfully disobedient, however, will
come under another death sentence,
Scripturally called the Second Death,
from which there will be no recovery.
Christ dieth no more"
The speaker believes that God has
as good purpose in connection with
the creation of mankind as with that
| of the angels, and that the present
great difference between the condi-
tions of men and the holy angels is
| the difference between a condition of
sin and one of righteousness. The
angels who live in a state OF holiness
and happiness are those that kept
their first estate. This some of the
angels failed to do-the fallen an
GELS. the demons. Jude 60 Man in
his present fallen condition is sick,
mentally, morally and physically. Be
cause of sin he mas come under D.
vine curse-not a devilish curse of
eternal torment, but a Divine curse of
dea 3:17-19; Romans
6:23.
Divine curse of death.-Genesis
3:17-19; Romans 6:23.
That a universal blessing is to
come to all men is made very clear in
Scripture This blessing will come
through Jesus Christ. AS the curse
was a worldwide sentence which
reached to all of Adams prosperity,
bringing all into condemnation, so
it is the Divine purpose that a re-
lease from this condemnation shall
come to all through Christ. Our Lord
Jesus 'by the grace of God tasted
death for every man Every men;
Der of Adams race, whether living or
dead, is to experience an individual
opportunity for life eternal through
Christ's DEATH Cor. 1921, p;
Heb. 2:9; l Tim. 2:5, 6. Acts 1922,
l23.
Few Seeing Eyes and Hearing Ears.
Some Christian people claim that
now is the worlds only opportunity.
Citing the proclamation that whose
ever believeth in Christ Jesus shall
have J erlasting life, they declare
that this offer does not extend be-
yond the present existence, that re-
sponsibility to heed this offer rests
hA inI
however, that not many now under
stand even the first principles of the
great blessing which God has provid-
ed. The majority believe not, be-
cause Satan has blinded their minds
| through ignorance, superstition and
priest craft. Vast multitudes have
died without having heard of Christ
Since intelligent faith in our Redeem
er is absolutely essential to salvation,
according to Scripture, how could
| these have opportunity for salvation if
the present life ends all hooper,
Corinthians A.: Acts 4:12; John
5:25, %, 20; etc.
To His disciples our Lord intimat-
ed that few now understand Gods
arrangements. (Matthew 13:10-17.)
His time to enlighten the world has
not yet come. Only a few are now
in proper condition to be prohted by
the Truth. Therefore the Lord sees
that this knowledge is given to none
except those in the right heart atti-
tude and able to exercise faith. Up
on others Gods Message makes little
impression. Weakness of heredity
or handicaps Of training or both
hinder them.
All having hearing ears and under
standing hearts realize the blessing
mentioned in our text. During the
next Age the Lords ble&ing will
come upon the world, but will oper-
ate quite differently. Christ will take
control of all the world, will bind
Satan that he deceive the nations no
more, and will grant the blessing of
life everlasting to all who will receive
Gods gracious offer into good and
honest hearts. These approaching
Times of Refreshment st. Peter calls
Times of Restitution. (Acts 3:19-21.)
Adam and all his race willsbe offered
restitution from sickness, sorrow,
death, from mental, moral and physi-
cal disabilities-back to the image
of God which Adam lost by disobedi-
ence in Eden, but which Jesus re-
deemed for all mankind at Calvary.
But those who are Gods children
are rich now, rich in the sense of sins
forgiven, in the realization that God
no longer condemns them, that they
are His children, jointIheirs with
Christ in all His wonderful glory.
Gods blessing gives them tie spirit
of sound mind. So they go on their
way rejoicing in the hope of future
glory Corinthians go.
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