The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-08-03
fii 9 Z ffiEfS Q. oss q
BY Prof. A. ID. Fort..er.

Paul held that the Son was of the
same divine nature as the Father.
tie maintains the divinity of Christ,
even where he speaks of his incarna-
ton, by avoiding terms of literal
humanity. "He emptied himself. TAX
ing the form of servant, being
made in the likeness of men: and be-
ing found in fashion as q man. he
humbled himself, becoming obedient
even unto death, yea, the death of
the cross" Phil. 2:7f) "Eor what
the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flesh, God, sending
his cwn son in the likeness of sinful
flesh and for sin, condemned SIN in
the flesh: that the ordinance of the
law might be fulfilled in Us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit" Rom.8 8:3f). Paul held the
familiar Primitive Christian twofold
doctrine that Jesus Christ was both
Son Of God and Son CT David. The
Davidic Sonship IS stated only in one
passage, in the Epistle of the Ro-
mans. but the statement is explicit:
his Son, who was born Of the seed
Of David according to the nesh'
(Rom. 1:3). Gal.l.4, God sent forth
his Son, born of woman, born un-
der the law" seems to be in the same
direction, but is indefinite as to the
Eavidc lineage.
One might think that these two
passages were a plain assertion of
the humanity of Jesus. They are
so, in a sense. Paul believed in the
humanity of Jesus. But it was only
according to the flcsh," that is, Paul
made distinction between the hu-
manity of Jesus and the humanity Of
sll others. Jesus was q divine,
heavenly Being sent for divine
mission to the world had temporarily
condescendcd to an incarnate state.
In this state he was still divine in
personality and work, sinless in
character. Perhaps we could make
some approach to PauTs idea by
saying that the humanity of Jesus
was actual, but not literal, he was
man, but not man.
Paul's letters contain no reference
to the idea Ct q miraculous conccp-
ton Of Jesus, which is found in the
GOSPEL CT Matthew and Luke. Per
haps he DID not speculate or how God
accomplished his birth from a woman
ard at the same time preserved him
sinlcss.
The spiritual character Of Jesu.
is made much Of throughout Paul's
teachings. Oftentimcs he is spoken
of as a spirit. "The last Adam be
cane lifegiving spirit" (Cor.15:45).
At cthcr times he is Identified wills
tie spirit in an absolute sense. "Now
the Lord is the spirit: and where the
spirit Of the Lord is, there IS Liberty
| (2Cor.3:17). A man who lives in
close fellowship with God is called
e spiritual man. Tbs term was
surely applicable to ,esus." Now the
natural man rcceiveth not the things
Of the spirit Of God: for they are
foolishness unto HIM; and he cannot
know them because they are spiritu-
| ally judged. But he that is spiritual
| jrdgeth all things, ard he himself is
judged of no man (Cor.2: 2:14f). Some
times Paul speaks Of the spirit of
God. "But yc are not in the flesh,
but in the spirit, if so be that the
spirit of God dwellcth in you. But
if any man hath not the spirit OF
Christ he is none Of his (Rom8:9).
In some passages the mcckness OF
Jesus is beautifully portrayed "Now
l Paul myself entrcat you by the
meekness and gcntlencss Of Christ,
who in your presence am lowly among
you, but being absent am of good
courage toward you" (Cdw1O:D.
"Put ON therefore, as Gods elect,
holy and beloved, a heart of COM
passion, kindness, lowliness, meek
ness, long suffering" (Col. 3:12).
with all lowiness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one
another in love; giving diligence to
keep the unity of the spirit in the
bond of peace (Eph.421.)