Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-07-09


matter which he
designates ''the mystery" as if all 9TH
ers We're subordinate to it. The text
tells US just what it is.
Our Inheritance.
First, the Gentiles are now "fellow
heirs with the Jews. In the Old
Testament it was shown that the Gen
tiles would some day be blessed
through Israel as the channel, the
Gentiles taking a subordinate place;
now it appears that in this dispensa-
ton the Gentiles are to be blessed side
by side with the Jews, as fellow heirs.
Moreover, the Inheritance is differ
ent from that especially promised to
Israel, who looked for bursting barns
as the reward of righteousness and ex-
pected to inherit the earth. Now, we
are blessed with all spiritual blessings
our Inheritance is incorruptible, un.
defiled and fadeth not away q Peter
1:4). Indeed, it is made clear we are
to be joint-heirs with Jesus Christ
(Rom. SID! Our thoughts stagger
as we hear the words of our Lord:
ITO him that overcometh will grant
to sit with me in my throne" (Rev.
3:2I. The Jews expected to be
blessed under Messiah's sway, but
what heart ever conceived such priv
ilege as is involved in being fellow
heirs!
The Mystical Body.
Next, Jews and Gentiles are to be
fellow members of the body" (R. w
| No Old Testament saint ewes
dreamed of such a thing as is here set
forth. Christ is now risen, the glori-
| fed Head of the Church. Believers
are members of his mystical body. As
| joined to the Head, they draw life
from him as do the branches from the
vine. But they are also joined to one
another as fellow members of the body
in a union such as the world has
| nc .er dreamed of. This has been
brought about by the Spirit given at
Pentecost: "For by one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body, whether we
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be
bond or free; and have been all made
to drink of one Spirit q Cor. II :13)
Just as we manifest ourselves through
our bodies, so Christ will, even in th'
ages to come, manifest himself through
the church, which is his body.
Finally, Jews and Gentiles are nov
"fellow-partakers Of the promise il
Christ Jesus through the gospel |!
The Jews expected to be blessed un
der the Messiah; here it is made clea
we are now blessed Sin Christ" in vi
tai union with him. Moreover, tn
promise In the gospel is different fror
such promises made to Abraham a
that he should possess the gate Of hi
enemies. What the final fulflment Q
the promise In the gospel shall NEAR
who can imagine? -
, No wonder Paul was elated, ye
, humbled, that the apostleship of thi
, mystery was committed to him, '1es
than the least of all saints" and this
he talks about "the unsearchabl
riches Of Christ. No wonder he wishe
: "to make all men see what is the fe
! lowship (R. v, dispensation) Of tn
mystery" And, finally, he tells us tbs
the purpose Of making known God
wondrous dealing with men in tt
church in this dispensation is ''ths
now unto the principalities and poy
9 ers in heavenly places might be mad
. known by the church the manifol
: | yriSdoY,, of Codv fv 10Y
O Such a gospel is worth suffering fl
> and the apostle concludes: "Wher
4 fore I desire that We faint not at m
4 tribulations for you, which is yol
n glory" ". 1S).
Do we appreciate with him ''tf
mystery?" Do we know "the unsearc
able riches of Christi" Well may v
lay to heart a story thus related
: Bishop Moule: MAY it be with !
! somewhat as it was, a hundred yea
. ago and more, with DR.. William Co
e yers, vicar of Helmsley, in Yorkshir
Earnest, conscientious, but as yet spi
itually unilluminated, he toiled amol
n his parishioners with vast diligenC
but always inwardly disappointed. o.
day, reading his E:ble, he lit up,
a these words, The unsearchable rich
20 of Christ They struck him with
profound surprise and strange mi
giving; could Christ, who had seem
~ to him hitherto a Figure in his til
I. ology so august yet so Ineligible,
familiar, be the Christ Of these word
And he did not rest until he had foul
him indeed in the glory of his saly
- ton, and had felt life transfigured
his light"