Graham guardian., 1916-09-15

nj teaching that man was created per
feet, 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 obedi-
ence. 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 toward sin, which was
accentuated by subsequent training
and environment. Consequently the
whole world has lost Gods image to
very large degree. But notwithstand-
Ing their depravity God has a Plan
for the recovery Of whosoever will
To this end Christ died. became the
worlds Redeemer The purpose Of
the incoming Age Is to bring all the
willing and obedient back to sonship
with God. These must learn to love
righteousness and hate iniquity. They
must have character-likenes to God.
Jehovah's Plan Is very far-reaching
taking IN all mankind since Adams
creation. The entire human 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 atten-
tion Of every human being. II 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 be ac.
complished by the Heavenly Father
through Jesus Christ during the Mil
lennial Reign.
The creation Is to be delivered into
the glorious liberty Of SONS of God"
St Paul declares. (Romans S:10-23.)
All mankind may become sons of God
on the human plane. They will not be
sons Of God, however. until they be-
come perfect, as was Father Adam
before he fell. God will not recog.
ntze any imperfect being as His son.
During the Millennium whosoever will
may return to the original perfection
as 1t existed in Eden, plus all the val.
liable experiences Of the past six thou
sand years.
Tho Liberty of the Sons Of God.
Everything that God has decreed and
directed Is right. and makes for the
good of His creatures. Everything
contrary to His will is wrong, and pro-
duces evil somewhere. at some timel
to somebody. When mankind shall
have learned this lesson, it will be
something worth knowing. Mankind
will then know good from evil. They
will be fully able to discriminate be-
tween right and wrong. The liberty
then granted to them as human sons
OF God will not be freedom from obli-
CATION to do right, freedom from re-
sponsibillty 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 principles of
righteousness. Because Thou hast
loved righteousness, and hast hated in.
iquity, therefore God, even Thy God,
hath anolnted Thee with the oil Of
gladness above Thy fellows" was
Gods cOmmendation 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 ap-
preciate everything that is right. They
must love justice, mercy and every
other good quality Of character. They
must learn to hate injustice and i'm
purity. They must root out Of them
selves all anger. malice, envy. hatred.
strife. They must develop to perfec.
ton the qualities Of gentleness. kind.
ness. meekness, humility, patience,
self-control love. They must individ.
ually have Gods own character like.
ness.
This same principle holds good with
the Church of Christ, but operates DIFF.
ferently; for a different part Of Gods
Plan relates to the Church. They do
not need to wait for the Millennium to
become sons Of God Il John 3:2.)
They are altogether new creation.
They give up their earthly life to be-
come associates with their Lord Jesus
IN His Heavenly inheritance. AS He
sacrificed Himself for the world, so do
these, through the imputation of His
sacrifcial merit. They share His suf.
ferings IN order to share His glory
Romans SIT; 2 Timothy 2:11, IL.