Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-09-20


.S m even as your Fa-
$S S Their which is in
SSSSS sSS Heaven is per-
SSSS SS feet. - Matthew
HS&SS$SS M 54S.
# $ M#SsS The speaker out
lN#$$$sS M$$%J lined the Scrip
! f(0ASTOPIQTSSFI0l tural tea h n &
- that man was
created perfect,
in the image and likeness OF God.
Adam was God-like, in that his mind
and his heart were predisposed to
righteousness. God placed him on
trial, with the provision that he
might maintain this perfect life by
obedience But our first parents
sinned, and their mental and moral
perversity impressed itself upon
their children yet unborn. Mankind
were generated imperfect in mind
and body, with a decided bent tow
ard sin, which was accumulated by
subsequent training and environ
ment Consequently the whole world
has lost Gods image to very large
degree. But notwithstanding their
depravity God has a Plan for the re-
covery of whatsoever will. To this
end Christ died, became the world S
Redeemer. The purpose of the in
coming Age is to bring all the will
ing and obediens back to sonship
with God These must learn to love
righteousness and hate iniqulty.
They must have Observation-Disclosures
to God.
Jehovah's Plan is very far-reach-
falr in oil MI
Adams creation. The entire hui
man race are provided for in the
great Purchase price furnished by
the death of "the Man Christ Jesus.
In due time this provision will be
brought to the attention of every
human being. q Timothy 2:5, g.
Very few in the present life have
had their attention really drawn to
this subject. The whole world is
deaf and blind as respects Gods
great Plan for future Restitution,
to b accomplished by the Heavenly
Father through Jesus Christ during
the Millennial Reign.
The creation is to be delivered
Unto the glorious liberty of sons of
Cod ST. Paul declares. (Romans
I8:19-23.) All mankind may become
sons of God on the human plane.
They will not be sons of God, how
ever, until they become perfect, as
was Father Adam before he fell.
God will not recognize any imper-
feet benz as His son. During the
Millennium whatsoever will may re-
turn to the original perfection as 1T
existed in Eden, plus all the valuable
experiences of the past six thousand
years.
The Liberty of the Sons of God.
Everything that God has decreed
and directed is right, and makes for
the good of His creatures. Every
thing contrary to His will is wrong,
and produces evil somewhere, at
some time, to somebody. When man
kind shall have learned this lesson,
! it will be something worth knowing
Mankind will then know good from
evil They will be fully able to dis
criminate between right and wrong.
The liberty then granted to them as
human sons of God will not be free
dom from obligation to do right,
freedom from responsibility to God.
Everybody will always be under
obligation to do right.
One of the severest tests which
the Father placed upon our Lord
Jesus was that of loyalty to the prin-
ciples of Righteousness. Because
Thou hast loved Righteousness, and
hast hated iniquity, therefore God,
even Thy God, hath Amounted Thee
with the oil of gladness above Thy
J fellows" was Gods commentator
to Him.-Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 10.
The whole world must yet come to
the heart attitude of the perfect
Man, Christ Jesus. Those who refuse
| to do so will be cut off in the Second
Death. Mankind must learn to love
and appreciate everything that is
right. They must love justice, mer-
cy and every other good quality OF
character. They must learn to hate
injustice and impurity. They must
root out of themselves all anger,
malice, envy, hatred strife. They
must develop to perfection the quail
| ties of gentleness, kindness, meek
mss, humility, patience, self-control,
love. They must individually have
Gods own character likeness.
This same principle holds good
with the Church of Christ, but oper-
ates differently; for different part
of Gods Plan relates to the Church.
They do not need to wait for the Mil
lennium to become sons of God. I'll
John 1920. They are altogether a
new creation. They give up their
earthly life to become associates with
their Lord Jesus in His Heavenly in
heritance AS He sacrificed Himself
for the world, so do these, through
the imputation of His sacrificial
merit. They share His sufferings
in order to share His glory.-Ro-
mans SLY; 2 Timothy 2:11, IL.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT.
--O-