The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-04-22
AN EASTER MESSAGE
INVOCATION


people, o Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Amen
is not here; for He is risen, he sad Come
see the place where the Lord lay.
THE CERTAINTY OF THE PREExIsTENT STATE CHRIST
Any comprehensive study of the life of Jesus the
Christ must begin with His preestence This having peen
clearly substantated by the plain Word of God there will be
no danger of any ones being begued into accepting the
horrible error of Untarianism.
You will please note that Jesus Himself said in the fifth
verse of the seventeenth chapter of John, And now
Father glorify Thou Me with Thine self with the
glory which l had with Thee before the world was
And the last sentence of the of the
chapter For Thou ovedst Me before the foundation
of the world
Also in the eighth chapter of the Gospel according to
john the fiftyeghth verse, Before Abraham am
You will notice that the marginal reading is Before Abra
ham was born, am"
think the first three verses of the chapter of the
Gospel according John very plain, n the beginning
was the Word and the Word with God, and the Word
God. The was in the beginning with God All
things made by Him; and without Him was not any
thing made that hath been made
Let there be clear understanding in ZION to the
doctrine of the Chrss persistence Let be able to
ruhfuy of denying the Divinity of Lord and
Savior, Jesus, the Christ.
l want it distinctly understood that have nothing to
do with speculatons concerning Divine Truth
GoD's SPIRIT ALWAYS AGREES WITH HIS WORD
do Tor enthS OF all that has written
upon the subject of the Trinity and regard any
very foolish who attempts be above that which
written in Gods Word.
I know it is said that the Spirit of God only acts
through the Word but sometimes apart from the Word
| will readily grant to my brethren that God, through
the Spirit does speak to spirit but always in accordance
with the Word and never in contradiction of it.
If asked what believe about there being three
Personalities in the Trinity will at confess gnor
ance and grant that the asking the question knows
much as I do.
contend however, God greater than the Christ
the Bible that sad My Father greater
than l."
I also believe that God and the Christ one, for the
! Christ said, 81 and My Father one.
If you want to spend your time considering the foolish
arguments that often advanced with view to proving
that there is but Person three Personalities in the
Trinity that the Christ this that and the other thing
simply tell you that will not go outside of the Word of
God.
Having settled the question of the Chrss persistence
by referring to the plain Word of God we'll ask the
question to whether the Bible throws any light upon the
Christ in His preeXstent state?
am glad to be able to answer that it does.
THE ESSENTIAL DIVINITY OF THE CHRIST
sixth of the second chapter of Philippians
have the following language "Who being in the form
of God counted not prize to be equality with God
Cooked not it thing to be held to tenacously
There doubt that the Greek word here translated
form has reference to the essential attributes in the sixth
verse of Deity and in the seventh of humanity.
One book is said to be in the form of another
ing of course similarity Of outward appearance but the
Christ be said to be in the form of God this limited
respect.
The Christ in the form of God in that He pos
sessed of the attributes God Himself.
This brought out in that first of the first chapter
of john In the beginning the Word and the Word
with God, and the Word God' or, of the sub
stance as God
In following this second topic should notice the Mes
sanc prophecies subject which is studied at great length
by all students in Theological seminaries.
THE FIRST BIBLICAL REFERENCE TO THE COMING OF
CHRIST
1t may be interesting to beginners and to children to
know that the first statement reference to the Coming
of the Christ is in the fifteenth of the third chapter of
Genesis where God sad in speaking to the serpent 81 will
put enmy between thee and the woman and between thy
and her Seed it shall bruse thy head and thou shalt
bruise his heel
The Christ is set forth by types and
recorded the Old Testament and in both the
major prophets there many direct references
His Coming.
want to point out here that Bible students fall
into in calling Messanic prophecies many Old Tesla
ment illusions which, if carefully studied will be found to
have reference whatever to Jesus, the Christ