The Raymer enterprise., 1919-10-09

IN ] Samuel - =
the PhIlistlnes
said OF David: "Wherewith should he
reconcile himself unto his Mastsr1
Should II not be with the heads OF
these menf' Clearly. the thought was
not that David would lay aside his en-
nifty against Saul. but that David
would lead Saul to lay aside his en-.
nifty against him. by turning against
the PhIlIstInes in battle.
Again. Matthew "a reads: "Leave
there thy gift before the altar and 60
thy way; first be reconciled TO thy
brother and then come offer thy gift"
The idea is not that the man at the
altar shall lay aside his dlspleasure
against his brother. Instead. II Is the
brother who has somewhat against
him and reconciliation Is brought
about when the brother is led to lay
aside his displeasure.
So. In v. 10 Of our text. where Paul
says: "When we were enemies We
were reconciIed to God by the death
OF his Son" he can have In mind only
Gods laying aside of his enmity against
US.
This is brought out by the fact that
v. 10 is parallel TO v. 0. where he
speaks Of "belng justified by his
blood" Justification is certainly
Gods action and We conclude that rec
onciliatlon. which corresponds to II
IN our text. is also Gods action.
inemies Of God.
Again, Paul speaks Of our being ZEN
emles." Many hold this is to be un.
derstood actively. representing men as
"haters OF Cod But we submit II Is
to be understood passlvely. showing
men to be 'hated of God" This is In
accord with the reference. In the pre-
cedlng verse. TO ''the wrath OF God"
from which sinners need to be saved.
Moreover, such a sense OF enemies"
Is found in Romans IL rs: These
(Jews) are enemies for your sakes;
but as touching the election. they are
loved for the fathers sakes." Enc
mics" here. stands over against be-
loved" 50 that II signifies 'hated"
II will seem a hard saying TO some
that God has ever taken such an at.
tltude to men that he has needed to
be reconciled. But the following wise
words by Doctor Clifford. a profound
Bible scholar. are to be well pondered:
ut is no figure but deep and essen.
tial truth. that God hates sin; and
since sin is necessarily personal, the
sinner as such |. G. so far us he will
fully identifies himself with his sin. Is
hated OF God. his enemy But God
loves everything he has made. lie can
not love man as q sinner. but he loves
him as a man, even when he is SIN
ner. Human love here offers true
analogy: the more father loves his
son. the more he hates In him the
drunkard, the liar or the traitor. Thus
God, loving as his creatures those
whom he hates as self-made sinners.
deyises means whereby they may be
brought back to him."
Men make much of their laying aside
their enmity against God. Oh, thnt
there might dawn upon us the won.
der Of the fact that God. through the
death of his Son. can consistently lay
aside his wrath against his enemies
and become reconciled to them.
Human Side Of Reeoneiliation.
But now we are ready to emphasize
the fact that there Is also q manward
side Of reconciliation. II appears In
v. IL OF our text. which states that,
through Christ. ''we have now re.
ceived the reconciliation"
Well may Paul say we "joy In God"
when. by our acceptance OF Gods
mercy, the reconciliation is made mu.
tual!
MY God Is reconcIied,
His pardoning voice hear:
He owns me for His child
l can no longer fear:
With confidence l now draw nigh.
And Father. abba. Father cry"