,this e,book was produced by ,charles ,aldarondo1 ,charles ,franks and ,the ,online ,distributed ,proofreading team4 ,,the ,,great ,,doctrines ,,of ,,the ,,bible ,by ,,rev4 ,,william ,,evans1 ,ph4,d41 ,d4,d4 ,,dedicated ,,to ,,my ,,wife ,,contents ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,god ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,man ,,the ,,doctrines ,,of ,,salvation ,repentance--,faith--,regeneration--,jus tification--,adoption-- ,sanctification--,prayer ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,angels ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,satan ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,last ,,things ,the ,second ,coming of ,christ--,the ,resurrection--,the ,judgment--,the ,destiny of the ,wicked--,the ,reward of the ,righteous ,,foreword4 ,the demand for this book has come from the students in the class room who have listened to these lectures on the ,great ,doctrines of the ,bible1 and have desired and requested that they be put into permanent form for the purpose of further study and reference4 ,this volume is prepared1 therefore1 primarily1 but not exclusively1 for the student1 and with his needs in mind4 ,the doctrines herein treated are dealt with from the standpoint of ,biblical rather than ,dogmatic theology4 ,this is evident from the plan which is followed in the work1 namely1 to gather together all the ,scripture passages dealing with the subject under consideration1 and from them choose a required number that may be called representative2 then seek to understand the meaning of these references by the study of the text itself as well as its context and parallel passages2 and finally1 from the selected proof-texts1 formulate the doctrinal teaching1 and place such results under appropriate headings4 ,the doctrines of ,god1 ,jesus ,christ1 and the ,holy ,spirit are more fully dealt with than the doctrines which follow4 ,this is especially true of the doctrine of ,god4 ,the reason for this is to set forth the method pursued in these studies1 and to give a pattern for the study of the doctrines to follow4 ,it is intended that the doctrines of this book should be studied side by side with the open ,bible4 ,it is for this reason that many of the ,scripture references are indicated by chapter and verse only4 ,there must be constant reference to the ,scriptures themselves4 ,this volume is in such form as to be of great service in the instruction given in ,bible classes4 ,there is probably no greater need in the ,christian church today than that its membership should be made acquainted with the fundamental facts and doctrines of the ,christian faith4 ,the ,christian layman1 therefore1 who desires a deeper knowledge of the doctrines of the ,christian faith may find all the help he needs in this book4 ,it is hoped that while it is prepared for the student1 it is nevertheless not too deep for the average layman4 ,the special indebtedness of the writer is hereby expressed to the following works3 ,what the ,bible ,teaches1 by ,r4 ,a4 ,torrey1 ,d4 ,d4 ,to this work the writer owes much with regard to the method and plan of this book4 ,systematic ,theology1 by ,a4 ,h4 ,strong1 ,d4 ,d41 has provided some rich expositions of the sacred text4 ,christian ,doctrine1 by ,dr4 ,f4 ,l4 ,patton1 has been found very helpful1 especially in connection with the subject of the ,proofs for the ,existence of ,god4 ,further recognition of indebtedness is also due to the following3 ,the ,problem of the ,old ,testament1 and ,the ,christian ,view of ,god and the ,world1 by ,dr4 ,james ,orr2 ,studies in ,christian ,doctrine1 by ,george ,knapp2 ,jesus and the ,gospel1 and ,the ,death of ,christ1 by ,prof4 ,james ,denny2 ,the ,person and ,work of ,jesus1 by ,nathan ,e4 ,wood1 ,d4 ,d4 ,there are doubtless others to whom credit is due of whom the author is not at this time conscious1 for1 after all1 we are part of all that we have seen1 and met1 and read4 ,to those unknown authors1 therefore1 our indebtedness is hereby acknowledged4 ,chicago4 ,,william ,,evans4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,god ,i4 ,,the ,,existence ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,atheism74 #a4 ,,assumed ,,by ,,the ,,scriptures4 #b4 ,,proofs ,,of ,,the ,,existence ,,of ,,god4 a7 ,universal belief in the ,existence of ,god4 b7 ,cosmological3--,argument from ,cause4 c7 ,teleological3--,argument from ,design4 d7 ,ontological3--,argument from ,being4 e7 ,anthropological3--,moral ,argument4 f7 ,argument from ,congruity4 g7 ,argument from ,scripture4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,agnosticism7 #a4 ,,the ,,spirituality ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,materialism74 #b4 ,,the ,,personality ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,pantheism74 #c4 ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,polytheism74 #d4 ,,the ,,trinity3 7,vs4 ,unitarianism74 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,attributes ,,of ,,god4 #a4 ,,the ,,natural ,,attributes3 a7 ,omniscience4 b7 ,omnipotence4 c7 ,omnipresence4 d7 ,eternity4 #b4 ,,the ,,moral ,,attributes3 a7 ,holiness4 b7 ,righteousness4 c7 ,faithfulness4 d7 ,mercy and ,loving-kindness4 e7 ,love4 ,i4 ,,his ,,existence4 #a4 ,,taken ,,for ,,granted ,,by ,,the ,,scripture ,,writers3 ,it does not seem to have occurred to any of the writers of either the ,old or the ,new ,testaments to attempt to prove or to argue for the existence of ,god4 ,everywhere and at all times it is a fact taken for granted4 ,a ,god capable of proof would be no ,god at all 7,jacobi74 ,he is the self-existent ,one 7,exod4 #c3ad7 and the ,source of all life 7,john #e3bf74 ,the sublime opening of the ,scriptures announces the fact of ,god and ,his existence3 ,in the beginning ,god 7,gen4 #a3a74 ,nor is the rise or dawn of the idea of ,god in the mind of man depicted4 ,psa4 #ad3a3 ,the fool hath said in his heart4 ,there is no ,god1 indicates not a disbelief in the existence1 but rather in the active interest of ,god in the affairs of men--,he seemed to hide ,himself from the affairs of men 7,see ,job #bb3ab-ad74 ,the ,scriptures further recognize that men not only know of the existence of ,god1 but have also a certain circle of ideas as to who and what ,he is 7,rom4 #a3ah-ai74 ,no one but a fool will deny the fact of ,god4 ,what6 no ,god8 ,a watch1 and no key for it8 ,a watch with a main-spring broken1 and no jeweler to fix it8 ,a watch1 and no repair shop8 ,a time-card and a train1 and nobody to run it8 ,a star lit1 and nobody to pour oil in to keep the wick burning8 ,a garden1 and no gardener8 ,flowers1 and no florist8 ,conditions1 and no conditioner8 ,he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh at such absurd atheism4 #b4 ,,the ,,arguments ,,for ,,the ,,existence ,,of ,,god4 ,footnote3 ,a fuller and complete presentation of these arguments for the ,existence of ,god may be found in the works of ,dr4 ,augustus ,h4 ,strong and ,dr4 ,francis ,l4 ,patten1 to whom the author is here indebted4 ,these arguments may not prove conclusively that ,god is1 but they do show that in order to the existence of any knowledge1 thought1 reason1 conscience in man1 we must assume that ,god is 7,strong74 ,it is said of the beautiful1 ,it may be shown1 but not proved4 ,so we say of the existence of ,god4 ,these arguments are probable1 not demonstrative4 ,for this reason they supplement each other1 and constitute a series of evidences which is cumulative in its nature4 ,though taken singly1 none of them can be considered absolutely decisive1 they together furnish a corroboration of our primitive conviction of ,god's existence1 which is of great practical value1 and is in itself sufficient to bind the moral actions of men4 ,a bundle of rods may not be broken even though each one separately may2 the strength of the bundle is the strength of the whole4 ,if in practical affairs we were to hesitate to act until we have absolute and demonstrable certainty1 we should never begin to move at all4 ,instead of doubting everything that can be doubted1 let us rather doubt nothing until we are compelled to doubt4 ,dr4 ,orr1 of ,glasgow1 says3 ,what we mean by the proof of ,god's existence is simply that there are necessary acts of thought by which we rise from the finite to the infinite1 from the caused to the uncaused1 from the contingent to the necessary1 from the reason involved in the structure of the universe to a universal and eternal reason1 which is the ground of all1 from morality in conscience to a moral ,lawgiver and ,judge4 ,in this connection the theoretical proofs constitute an inseparable unity--'constitute together1' as ,dr4 ,stirling declares1 but the undulations of a single wave1 which wave is but a natural rise and ascent to ,god1 on the part of man's own thought1 with man's own experience and consciousness as the object before him4 ,religion was not produced by proofs of ,god's existence1 and will not be destroyed by its insufficiency to some minds4 ,religion existed before argument2 in fact1 it is the preciousness of religion that leads to the seeking for all possible confirmations of the reality of ,god4 a7 ,universality of ,belief in the ,existence of ,god4 7#a7 ,the fact stated and proven3 ,man everywhere believes in the existence of a supreme ,being or ,beings to whom he is morally responsible and to whom propitiation needs to be made4 ,such belief may be crudely1 even grotesquely stated and manifested1 but the reality of the fact is no more invalidated by such crudeness than the existence of a father is invalidated by the crude attempts of a child to draw a picture of its father4 ,it has been claimed by some that there are or were tribes in inland ,africa that possessed no idea or conception of ,god4 ,moffat1 ,livingstone's father-in-law1 made such a claim1 but ,livingstone1 after a thorough study of the customs and languages of such tribes1 conclusively showed that ,moffat was wrong4 ,nor should the existence of such few tribes1 even if granted1 violate the fact we are here considering1 any more than the existence of some few men who are blind1 lame1 deaf1 and dumb would make untrue the statement and fact that man is a seeing1 hearing1 speaking1 and walking creature4 ,the fact that some nations do not have the multiplication table does no violence to arithmetic4 ,concerning so-called atheists in ,christian lands3 it may be questioned if there are really any such beings4 ,hume1 known as a famous sceptic1 is reported to have said to ,ferguson1 as together they looked up into the starry sky3 ,adam1 there is a ,god4 ,voltaire1 the atheist1 prayed to ,god in a thunderstorm4 ,ingersoll1 when charged with being an atheist1 indignantly refuted the charge1 saying3 ,i am not an atheist2 ,i do not say that there is no ,god2 ,i am an agnostic2 ,i do not know that there is a ,god4 ,i thank ,god that ,i am an atheist1 were the opening words of an argument to disprove the existence of ,god4 ,a new convert to atheism was once heard to say to a coterie of unbelievers3 ,i have gotten rid of the idea of a supreme ,being1 and ,i thank ,god for it4 7#b7 ,whence comes this universal belief in the existence of ,god8 aa7 ,not from outside sources1 such as reason1 tradition1 or even the ,scriptures4 ,not from reason or argument1 for many who believe in ,god have not given any time to reasoning and arguing the question2 some1 indeed1 intellectually1 could not4 ,others who have great powers of intellect1 and who have reasoned and argued on the subject are professed disbelievers in ,god4 ,belief in ,god is not the result of logical arguments1 else the ,bible would have given us proofs4 ,nor did this universal belief come from tradition1 for ,tradition1 says ,dr4 ,patton1 can perpetuate only what has been originated4 ,nor can it be said that this belief came from the ,scriptures even1 for1 as has been well said1 unless a man had a knowledge of the ,god from whom the ,scriptures came1 the ,revelation itself could have no authority for him4 ,the very idea of ,scripture as a ,revelation1 presupposes belief in a ,god who can make it4--,newman ,smith4 ,revelation must assume the existence of ,god4 bb7 ,this universal belief comes from within man4 ,all the evidence points to the conclusive fact that this universal faith in the existence of ,god is innate in man1 and comes from rational intuition4 7#c7 ,the weight and force of this argument4 ,the fact that all men everywhere believe in the existence of a supreme ,being or beings to whom they are morally responsible1 is a strong argument in favor of its truth4 ,so universal an effect must have a cause as universal1 otherwise we have an effect without any assignable cause4 ,certain is it that this argument makes the burden of proof to rest upon those who deny the existence of ,god4 b7 ,the ,argument from ,cause3 ,cosmological4 ,when we see a thing we naturally ask for the cause of that thing4 ,we see this world in which we live1 and ask how it came to be4 ,is it self-originating1 or is the cause of its being outside of itself8 ,is its cause finite or infinite8 ,that it could not come into being of itself seems obvious2 no more than nails1 brick1 mortar1 wood1 paints1 colors1 form into a house or building of themselves2 no more than the type composing a book came into order of itself4 ,when ,liebig was asked if he believed that the grass and flowers which he saw around him grew by mere chemical forces1 he replied3 ,no2 no more than ,i could believe that the books on botany describing them could grow by mere chemical forces4 ,no theory of an eternal series can account for this created universe4 ,no matter how long a chain you may have1 you must have a staple somewhere from which it depends4 ,an endless perpendicular chain is an impossibility4 ,every house is builded by some man1 says the ,bible2 so this world in which we live was built by a designing mind of infinite power and wisdom4 ,so is it when we consider man4 ,man exists2 but he owes his existence to some cause4 ,is this cause within or without himself1 finite or infinite8 ,trace our origin back1 if you will1 to our first parent1 ,adam2 then you must ask1 ,how did he come into being8 ,the doctrine of the eternity of man cannot be supported4 ,fossil remains extend back but #f1jjj years4 ,man is an effect2 he has not always existed4 ,geology proves this4 ,that the first ,cause must have been an intelligent ,being is proven by the fact that we are intelligent beings ourselves4 c7 ,the ,argument from ,design3 ,teleological4 ,a watch proves not only a maker1 an artificer1 but also a designer2 a watch is made for a purpose4 ,this is evident in its structure4 ,a thoughtful1 designing mind was back of the watch4 ,so is it with the world in which we live4 ,these ends in nature are not to he attributed to natural results1 or natural selection1 results which are produced without intelligence1 nor are they the survival of the fittest1 instances in which accident and fortuity have done the work of mind4 ,no1 they are the results of a superintending and originating intelligence and will4 d7 ,the ,argument from ,being3 ,ontological4 ,man has an idea of an infinite and perfect ,being4 ,from whence this idea8 ,from finite and imperfect beings like ourselves8 ,certainly not4 ,therefore this idea argues for the existence of an infinite and perfect ,being3 such a ,being must exist1 as a person1 and not a mere thought4 e7 ,the ,moral ,argument2 ,anthropological4 ,man has an intellectual and a moral nature1 hence his ,creator must be an intellectual and moral ,being1 a ,judge1 and ,lawgiver4 ,man has an emotional nature2 only a ,being of goodness1 power1 love1 wisdom and holiness could satisfy such a nature1 and these things denote the existence of a personal ,god4 ,conscience in man says3 ,thou shalt1 and ,thou shalt not1 ,i ought1 and ,i ought not4 ,these mandates are not self-imposed4 ,they imply the existence of a ,moral ,governor to whom we are responsible4 ,conscience1--there it is in the breast of man1 an ideal ,moses thundering from an invisible ,sinai the ,law of a holy ,judge4 ,said ,cardinal ,newman3 ,were it not for the voice speaking so clearly in my conscience and my heart1 ,i should be an atheist1 or a pantheist1 when ,i looked into the world4 ,some things are wrong1 others right3 love is right1 hatred is wrong4 ,nor is a thing right because it pleases1 or wrong because it displeases4 ,where did we get this standard of right and wrong8 ,morality is obligatory1 not optional4 ,who made is obligatory8 ,who has a right to command my life8 ,we must believe that there is a ,god1 or believe that the very root of our nature is a lie4 f7 ,the ,argument from ,congruity4 ,if we have a key which fits all the wards of the lock1 we know that it is the right key4 ,if we have a theory which fits all the facts in the case1 we know then that we have the right theory4 ,belief in a self-existent1 personal ,god is in harmony with all the facts of our mental and moral nature1 as well as with all the phenomena of the natural world4 ,if ,god exists1 a universal belief in his existence is natural enough2 the irresistible impulse to ask for a first cause is accounted for2 or religious nature has an object2 the uniformity of natural law finds an adequate explanation1 and human history is vindlcated from the charge of being a vast imposture4 ,atheism leaves all these matters without an explanation1 and makes1 not history alone1 but our moral and intellectual nature itself1 an imposture and a lie4--,patton4 g7 ,the ,argument from ,scripture4 ,a great deal of our knowledge rests upon the testimony of others4 ,now the ,bible is competent testimony4 ,if the testimony of travelers is enough to satisfy us as to the habits1 customs1 and manners of the peoples of the countries they visit1 and which we have never seen1 why is not the ,bible1 if it is authentic history1 be enough to satisfy us with its evidence as to the existence of ,god8 ,some facts need more evidence than others1 we know4 ,this is true of the fact of the existence of ,god4 ,but the ,bible history is sufficient to satisfy every reasonable demand4 ,the history of the ,jews1 prophecy1 is not explainable minus ,god4 ,if we cannot believe in the existence of ,god on the testimony of the ,bible we might as well burn our books of history4 ,a man cannot deny the truth of the testimony of the ,bible unless he says plainly3 ,no amount of testimony will convince me of the supernatural4 ,scripture does not attempt to prove the existence of ,god2 it asserts1 assumes1 and declares that the knowledge of ,god is universal1 ,rom4 #a3ai-ba1 #bh1 #cc2 #b3ae4 ,it asserts that ,god has wrought this great truth in the very warp and woof of every man's being1 so that nowhere is ,he without this witness4 ,the preacher may1 therefore1 safely follow the example of the ,scripture in assuming that there is a ,god4 ,indeed he must unhesitatingly and explicitly assert it as the ,scripture does1 believing that ,his eternal power and divinity are things that are clearly seen and perceived through the evidences of ,his handiwork which abound on every hand4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,agnosticism74 #a4 ,,the ,,spirituality ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,materialism74 ,,god ,,is ,,spirit4 a7 ,statement of the ,fact1 ,john #d3bd3 ,god is ,spirit4 ,meaning3 ,the ,samaritan woman's question1 ,where is ,god to be found8 etc4 ,on ,mt4 ,zion or ,gerizim8 ,christ's answer3 ,god is not to be confined to any one place 7cf4 ,acts #g3dh2 #ag3be1 #a ,kings #h3bg74 ,god must be worshipped in spirit as distinguished from place1 form1 or other sensual limitations 7#d3ba72 and in truth as distinguished from false conceptions resulting from imperfect knowledge 7#d3bb74 b7 ,light on ,god is ,spirit1 from other ,scriptures4 ,luke #bd3ci3 ,a spirit hath not flesh and bones1 i4 e41 has not body1 or parts like human beings2 incorporeal2 not subject to human limitations4 ,col4 #a3ae3 ,the image of the invisible ,god4 #a ,tim4 #a3ag 7,r4 ,v473 ,now unto the ,king incorruptible1 invisible4 ,these passages teach that ,god has nothing of a material or bodily nature4 ,sight sees only objects of the material world1 but ,god is not of the nature of the material world1 hence ,he cannot be seen with the material eye--at least not now4 c7 ,light ,derived from ,cautions ,against ,representing ,god by ,graven ,images3 ,deut4 #d3ae-bc2 ,isa4 #dj3be2 ,exod4 #bj3d4 ,study these passages carefully and note that the reason why images were forbidden was because no one had ever seen ,god1 and consequently could not picture how ,he looked1 and1 further1 there was nothing on the earth that could resemble ,him4 d7 ,definition of ,god is ,spirit in the ,light of ,all ,this3 ,god is invisible1 incorporeal1 without parts1 without body1 without passions1 and therefore free from all limitations2 ,he is apprehended not by the senses1 but by the soul2 hence ,god is above sensuous perceptions4 #a ,cor4 #b3f-af intimates that without the teaching of ,god's ,spirit we cannot know ,god4 ,he is not a material ,being4 ,la,place swept the heavens with his telescope1 but could not find anywhere a ,god4 ,he might just as well have swept a kitchen with his broom4 ,since ,god is not a material ,being1 ,he cannot be apprehended by physical means4 e7 ,questions and ,problems with ,reference to the ,statement that ,god is ,spirit4 7#a7 ',what is meant by statement that man was made in the image of ,god8 ,col #c3aj2 ,eph4 #d3bd declare that this image consists in righteousness1 knowledge1 and holiness of truth4 ,by that is meant that the image of ,god in man consisted in intellectual and moral likeness rather than physical resemblance4 ,some think that #a ,thess4 #e3bc indicates that the trinity of man--body1 soul1 and spirit--constitutes that image and likeness4 7#b7 ,what is meant by the anthropomorphic expressions used of ,god8 ,for example3 ,god is said to have hands1 feet1 arms1 eyes1 ears ,he sees1 feels1 hears1 walks1 etc4 ,such expressions are to be understood only in the sense of being human expressions used in order to bring the infinite within the comprehension of the finite4 ,how otherwise could we understand ,god saving by means of human expressions1 in figures that we all can understand6 7#c7 ,how are such passages as ,exod4 #bd3aj and #cc3ah-bc in which it is distinctly stated that men saw the ,god of ,israel1 to be reconciled with such passages as ,john #a3ah2 ,no man hath seen ,god at any time1 and ,exod4 #cc3bj3 ,there shall no man see me and live8 ,answer3 aa7 ,spirit can be manifested in visible form3 ,john #a3cb3 ,i saw tho ,spirit descending from heaven like a dove 7or in the form of a dove74 ,so throughout the ages the invisible ,god has manifested ,himself in visible form4 7,see ,judges #f3cd3 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord clothed ,himself with ,gideon47 bb7 ,on this truth is based the doctrine of ,the ,angel of the ,lord in the ,old ,testament3 ,gen #af3g1 #aj1 #ac4 ,note here how the ,angel of the ,lord is identified with ,jehovah ,himself1 cf4 vv4 #aj1 #ac4 ,also ,gen4 #bb3ab--,the angel of the ,lord4444 not withheld from me4 ,in #ah3a-af1 one of the three angels clearly and definitely identifies himself with ,jehovah4 ,compare chapter #ai1 where it is seen that only two of the angels have come to ,sodom2 the other has remained behind4 ,who was this one1 this remaining angel8 ,gen4#ah3ag1 #bj answers the question2 v4 #bb reads3 ,and ,abraham stood yet before the ,lord4 ,in ,exod4 #ac3ba it is ,jehovah1 while in #ad3ai it is the ,angel that went before ,israel4 ,thus was the way prepared for the incarnation1 for the ,angel of the ,lord in the ,old ,testament is undoubtedly the second person of the ,trinity4 ,this seems evident from ,judges #ac3ah compared with ,isa4 #i3f1 in both of which passages1 clearly referring to ,christ1 the name ,wonderful occurs4 ,also the omission of the definite article the from before the expression the ,angel of the ,lord1 and the substitution of an points to the same truth4 ,this change is made in the ,revised ,version4 cc7 ,what was it then that the elders of ,israel saw when it is said they saw the ,god of ,israel8 ,certainly it was not ,god in ,his real essence1 ,god as ,he is in ,himself1 for no man can have that vision and live4 ,john #a3ah is clear on that point3 ,no man hath seen ,god at any time4 ,the emphasis in this verse is on the word ,god1 and may read1 ,,god no one has seen at any time4 ,in #e3cg ,jesus says3 ,ye have neither heard his voice at any time1 nor seen his shape4 ,from ,this it seems clear that the seeing here1 the which has been the privilege of no man1 refers to the essence rather than to the person of ,god1 if such a distinction can really be made4 ,this is apparent also from the omission of the definite article before ,god1 as well as from the position of ,god in the sentence4 ,none but the ,son has really seen ,god as ,god1 as ,he really is4 ,what1 then1 did these men see8 ,evidently an appearance of ,god in some form to their outward senses2 perhaps the form of a man1 seeing mention is made of his feet4 ,the vision may have been too bright for human eyes to gaze upon fully1 but it was a vision of ,god4 ,yet it was only a manifestation of ,god1 for1 although ,moses was conversing with ,god1 he yet said3 ,if ,i have found grace in thy sight1 show me thy face4 ,moses had been granted exceeding great and precious privileges in that he had been admitted into close communion with ,god1 more so than any other member of the human race4 ,but still unsatisfied he longed for more2 so in v4 #ah he asks to see the unveiled glory of ,god1 that very thing which no man in the flesh can ever see and live2 but1 no1 this cannot be4 ,by referring to ,exod4 #cc3ah-bc we find ,god's answer3 ,thou canst not see my face4444 thou shalt see my back parts1 but my face shall not be seen4 7,num4 #ab3h throws light upon the subject1 if compared with ,exod4 #cc3aa47 ,the secret remained unseen2 the longing unsatisfied2 and the nearest approach to the beatific vision reached by him with whom ,god spake face to face1 as friend with friend1 was to be hidden in the cleft of the rock1 to be made aware of an awful shadow1 and to hear the voice of the unseen4 #b4 ,,the ,,personality ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,pantheism74 ,pantheism maintains that this universe in its ever changing conditions is but the manifestation of the one ever changing universal substance which is ,god2 thus all1 everything is ,god1 and ,god is everything2 ,god is all1 all is ,god4 ,thus ,god is identified with nature and not held to be independent of and separate from it4 ,god is1 therefore1 a necessary but an unconscious force working in the world4 ,the ,bearing of the ,personality of ,god on the ,idea of ,religion4 ,true religion may be defined as the communion between two persons3 ,god and man4 religion is a personal relationship between ,god in heaven1 and man on the earth4 ,if ,god were not a person there could be no communion2 if both ,god and man were one there could be no communion1 and1 consequently1 no religion4 ,an independent personal relationship on both sides is absolutely necessary to communion4 ,man can have no communion with an influence1 a force1 an impersonal something2 nor can an influence have any moving or affection towards man4 ,it is absolutely necessary to the true definition of religion that both ,god and man be persons4 ,god is person1 not force or influence4 a7 ,definition of ,personality4 ,personality exists where there is intelligence1 mind1 will1 reason1 individuality1 self-consciousness1 and self-determination4 ,there must be not mere consciousness--for the beast has that--but self-consciousness4 ,nor is personality determination--for the beast has this1 too1 even though this determination be the result of influences from without--but self-determination1 the power by which man from an act of his own free will determines his acts from within4 ,neither corporeity nor substance1 as we understand these words1 are necessarily1 if at all1 involved in personality4 ,there may be true personality without either or both of these4 b7 ,scripture ,teaching on the ,personality of ,god4 7,in this connection it will ,be well to refer to the ,ontological ,argument for the ,existence of ,god1 for which see p4 #ag47 7#a7 ,exod #c3ad2--;,i ,,am ,,that ,i ,,am4 ,this name is wonderfully significant4 ,its central idea is that of existence and personality4 ,the words signify ,i ,,am1 ,i ,,was1 ,i ,,shall ,,be1 so suggestively corresponding with the ,new ,testament statement concerning ,god3 ,who wast1 and art1 and art to come4 ,all the names given to ,god in the ,scripture denote personality4 ,here are some of them3 ,jehovah--,jireh3 ,the ,lord will provide 7,gen4 #bb3ac1 #ad74 ,jehovah-,rapha3 ,the ,lord that healeth 7,exod4 #ae3bf74 ,jehovah-,nissi3 ,the ,lord our ,banner 7,exod4 #ag3h-ae74 ,jehovah-,shalom3 ,the ,lord our ,peace 7,judges #f3bd74 ,jehovah-,ra-ah3 ,the ,lord my ,shepherd 7,psa4 #bc3a74 ,jehovah-,tsidkenu3 ,the ,lord our ,righteousness 7,jer4 #bc3f74 ,jehovah-,shammah3 ,the ,lord is present 7,ezek4 #dh3ce74 ,moreover1 the personal pronouns ascribed to ,god prove personality3 ,john #ag3c1 et al4 ,to know thee--we cannot know an influence in the sense in which the word know is here used4 ,statement3 ,all through the ,scriptures names and personal pronouns are ascribed to ,god which undeniably prove that ,god is a ,person4 7#b7 ,a sharp distinction is drawn in the ,scriptures between the gods of heathen and the ,lord ,god of ,israel 7,see ,jer4 #aj3aj-af74 ,note the context3 vv4 #c-i3 ,idols are things1 not persons2 they cannot walk1 speak1 do good or evil4 ,god is wiser than the men who made these idols2 if the idol-makers are persons1 much more is ,god4 ,see the sharp contrast drawn between dead idols and the living1 personal1 true and only ,god3 ,acts #ad3ae2 #a ,thess4 #a3i2 ,psa4 #id3i1 #aj4 ,statement3 ,god is to be clearly distinguished from things which have no life2 he is a living ,person4 7#c7 ,attributes of personality are ascribed to ,god in the ,scriptures4 ,god repents 7,gen4 #f3f2 grieves ,gen #f3f2 is angry #a ,kings #aa3i72 is jealous 7,deut4 #f3ae72 loves 7,rev4 #c3ai72 hates 7,prov4 #f3af74 ,statement3 ,god possesses the attributes of personality1 and therefore is a ,person4 7#d7 ,the relation which ,god bears to the ,universe and to ,men1 as set forth in the ,scriptures1 can be explained only on the basis that ,god is a ,person4 ,deism maintains that ,god1 while the ,creator of the world1 yet sustains no further relations to it4 ,he made it just as the clock-maker makes a self-winding clock3 makes it and then leaves it to run itself without any interference on ,his part4 ,such teaching as this finds no sanction in the ,bible4 ,what are ,god's relations to the universe and to men8 aa7 ,he is the ,creator of the ,universe and ,man4 ,gen4 #a3a1 #bf2 ,john4 #a3a-c4 ,these verses contain vital truths4 ,the universe did not exist from eternity1 nor was it made from existing matter4 ,it did not proceed as an emanation from the infinite1 but was summoned into being by the decree of ,god4 ,science1 by disclosing to us the marvellous power and accuracy of natural law1 compels us to believe in a superintending intelligence who is infinite4 ,tyndall said3 ,i have noticed that it is not during the hours of my clearness and vigor that the doctrine of material atheism commends itself to my mind4 7,in this connection the ,arguments from ,cause and ,design1 pp4 #af and #ag1 may be properly considered47 ,statement3 ,the ,creation of the ,universe and ,man proves the ,personality of the ,creator--,god4 bb7 ,god sustains certain relations to the ,universe and ,man which ,he has made4 ,heb #a3c--,uphold all things4 ,col4 #a3ae-ag--;,by him all things hold together4 ,psa4 #ajd3bg-cj--;,all creatures wait upon ,him for their meat in due season4 ,psa4 #ge3f1 #g--,promotion among men1 the putting down of one man and the setting up of another1 is from the hand of ,god4 ,what do we learn from these scriptures regarding the relation of ,god to this universe1 to man1 and to all ,god's creatures8 ,first4 ,that all things are held together by ,him2 if not1 this old world would go to pieces quickly4 ,the uniformity and accuracy of natural law compels us to believe in a personal ,god who intelligently guides and governs the universe4 ,disbelief in this fact would mean utter confusion4 ,not blind chance1 but a personal ,god is at the helm4 ,second4 ,that the physical supplies for all ,god's creatures are in ,his hand3 ,he feeds them all4 ,what ,god gives we gather4 ,if ,he withholds provision we die4 ,third4 ,that ,god has ,his hand in history1 guiding and shaping the affairs of nations4 ,victor ,hugo said3 ,waterloo was ,god4 ,fourth4 ,consider with what detail ,god's care is described3 ,the sparrows1 the lilies1 the hairs of the head1 the tears of ,his children1 etc4 ,see how these facts are clearly portrayed in the following scriptures3 ,matt4 #f3bh-cj2 #aj3bi1 #cj2 ,gen4 #ci3ba1 with #ej3bj2 ,dan4 #a3i2 ,job #a3ab4 ,statement3 ,the personality of ,god is shown by ,his active1 interest and participation all things1 even the smallest things1 in the universe1 the experience of man1 and in the life of all ,his creatures4 ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,god3 7,vs4 ,polytheism74 ,there are three monotheistic religions in the world3 ,judaism1 ,christianity1 and ,mahommedanism4 ,the second is a development of the first2 the third is an outgrowth of both4 ,the doctrine of the ,unity of ,god is held in contradistinction to ,polytheism1 which is belief in a multiplicity of gods2 ,tri-theism1 which teaches that there are three ,gods--that is1 that the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost are1 specifically1 three distinct ,gods2 and to ,dualism1 which teaches that there are two independent divine beings or eternal principles1 the one good1 and the other evil1 as set forth especially in ,gnostic systems1 such as ,parseeism4 a7 ,the ,scriptures ,assert the ,unity of ,god4 ,deut4 #f3d--;,hear1 ,o ,israel2 the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord2 or1 ,the ,lord our ,god1 the ,lord is one4 ,isa4 #dd3f-h--;,first4444 last4444 beside me there is no ,god4 ,isa4 #de3e--,there is none else1 there is no ,god beside me4 #a ,tim4 #b3e ,there is one ,god4 #a ,cor4 #h3d--,there is none other ,god but one4 ,that ,god is one1 that there is no other1 that ,he has no equal is the forceful testimony of above fifty passages in the ,scriptures4 ,the fundamental duty of life1 namely1 the devotion of the entire being to the ,lord1 is based upon the ,unity of ,god3 ,the ,lord4444is one 4444 therefore thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 etc4 ,no other truth of the ,scripture1 particularly of the ,old ,testament1 receives more prominence than that of the ,unity of ,god4 ,this truth is clearly pronounced also in the material universe2 it is the introduction and conclusion of all scientific researches4 ,any other representation contradicts both creation and revelation4 ,its denial is a proper object for the ridicule of every thinking man1 and of the disbelief of every orthodox ,christian4 ,let this1 then1 be our first and necessary conclusion--that ,deity1 whether creating1 inspiring1 or otherwise manifesting itself1 is one ,god2 one1 and no more4--,cerdo4 ,a multiplication of ,gods is a contradiction2 there can be but one ,god4 ,there can be but one absolutely perfect1 supreme1 and almighty ,being4 ,such a ,being cannot be multiplied1 nor pluralized4 ,there can be but one ultimate1 but one all-inclusive1 but one ,god4 ,monotheism1 then1 not ,tri-theism1 is the doctrine set forth in the ,scriptures4 ,if the thought that wishes to be orthodox had less tendency to become tri-theistic1 the thought that claims to be free would be less ,unitarian4--,moberly4 b7 ,the ,nature of the ,divine ,unity4 ,the doctrine of the ,unity of ,god does not exclude the idea of a plurality of persons in the ,godhead4 ,not that there are three persons in each person of the ,godhead1 if we use in both cases the term person in one and the same sense4 ,we believe1 therefore1 that there are three persons in the ,godhead1 but one ,god4 ,anti-trinitarians represent the evangelical church as believing in three ,gods1 but this is not true2 it believes in one ,god1 but three persons in the ,godhead4 7#a7 ,the ,scriptural use of the word ,one4 ,gen4 #b3bd--;,and they two 7husband and wife7 shall be one flesh4 ,gen4 #aa3f--,the people is one4 ,i ,cor4 #c3f-h--;,he that planteth and he that watereth are one4 #ab3ac--;,all baptized into one body4 ,john #ag3bb1 #bc--,that they may be one1 even as we are one 444 that they may be made perfect in one4 ,the word one in these scriptures is used in a collective sense2 the unity here spoken of is a compound one1 like unto that used in such expressions as a cluster of grapes1 or all the people rose as one man4 ,the unity of the ,godhead is not simple but compound4 ,the ,hebrew word for one 7yacheed7 in the absolute sense1 and which is used in such expressions as the only one1 is never used to express the unity of the ,godhead4 ,on the contrary1 the ,hebrew word echad1 meaning one in the sense of a compound unity1 as seen in the above quoted scriptures1 is the one used always to describe the divine unity4 7#b7 ,the ,divine ,name ,god is a plural word2 plural pronouns are used of ,god4 ,the ,hebrew word for ,god 7,elohim7 is used most frequently in the plural form4 ,god often uses plural pronouns in speaking of ,himself1 e4 g41 ,gen4 #a3bf--,let us make man4 ,isa4 #f3h-,who will go for us8 ,gen4 #c3bb--;,behold1 man is become as one of us4 ,some would say that the us in ,gen4 #a3bf--,let us make man1 refers to ,god's consultation with the angels with whom ,he takes counsel before ,he does anything of importance2 but ,isa4 #dj3ad--;,but of whom took he counsel1 shows that such is not the case2 and ,gen4 #a3bg contradicts this idea1 for it repeats the statement in the image of ,god1 not in the image of angels2 also that ,,god created man in ,,his ,,own image1 in the image of ,god 7not angels7 created he him4 ,the us of ,gen4 #a3bf1 therefore1 is properly understood of plural majesty1 as indicating the dignity and majesty of the speaker4 ,the proper translation of this verse should be not let us make1 but we will make1 indicating the language of resolve rather than that of consultation4 #d4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,trinity3 7,vs4 ,unitarianism74 ,the doctrine of the ,trinity is1 in its last analysis1 a deep mystery that cannot be fathomed by the finite mind4 ,that it is taught in the ,scripture1 however1 there can be no reasonable doubt4 ,it is a doctrine to be believed even though it cannot be thoroughly understood4 a7 ,the ,doctrine of the ,trinity in the ,old ,testament4 ,this doctrine is not so much declared as intimated in the ,old ,testament4 ,the burden of the ,old ,testament message seems to be the unity of ,god4 ,yet the doctrine of the ,trinity is clearly intimated in a four-fold way3 ,first3 ,in the plural names of the ,deity2 e4 g41 ,elohim4 ,second3 ,personal pronouns used of the ,deity4 ,gen4 #a3bf2 #aa3g2 ,isa4#f3h4 ,third3 ,the ,theophanies1 especially the ,angel of the ,lord4 ,gen4#af and #ah4 ,fourth3 ,the work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,gen4 #a3b2 ,judges #f3cd4 b7 ,the ,doctrine of the ,trinity in the ,new ,testament4 ,the doctrine of the ,trinity is clearly taught in the ,new ,testament2 it is not merely intimated1 as in the ,old ,testament1 but explicitly declared4 ,this is evident from the following3 ,first3 ,the baptism of ,christ3 ,matt #c3af1 #ag4 ,here the ,father speaks from heaven2 the ,son is being baptized in the ,jordan2 and the ,spirit descends in the form of a dove4 ,second3 ,in the ,baptismal ,formula3 ,matt4 #bh3ai--;,baptizing them in the name 7sing47 of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,third3 ,the ,apostolic ,benediction3 #b ,cor4 #ac3ad--,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4444love of ,god44444communion of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,fourth3 ,christ ,himself teaches it in ,john #ad3af--;,i will pray the ,father444 ,he will give you another ,comforter4 ,fifth3 ,the ,new ,testaffignt sets forth3 ,a ,father who is ,god1 ,rom4 #a3g4 ,a son who is ,god1 ,heb4 #a3h4 ,a ,holy ,spirit who is ,god1 ,acts #e3c1 #d4 ,the whole is summed up in the words of ,boardman3 ,the ,father is all the fulness of the ,godhead invisible1 ,john #a3ah2 the ,son is all the fulness of ,godhead manifested1 ,john #a3d-ah2 the ,spirit is all the fulness of the ,godhead acting immediately upon the creature1 #a ,cor4 #b3i1 #aj4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,attributes ,,of ,,god3 ,it is difficult to clearly distinguish between the attributes and the nature of ,god4 ,it is maintained by some that such a division ought not to be made2 that these qualities of ,god which we call attributes are in reality part of ,his nature and essence4 ,whether this be exactly so or not1 our purpose in speaking of the attributes of ,god is for convenience in the study of the doctrine of ,god4 ,it has been customary to divide the attributes of ,god into two classes3 the ,natural1 and the ,moral4 ,the ,natural attributes are ,omniscience1 ,omnipotence1 ,omnipresence1 ,eternity2 the ,moral attributes3 ,holiness1 ,righteousness1 ,faithfulness1 ,mercy and ,loving-kindness1 and ,love4 #a4 ,,the ,,natural ,,attributes3 a7 ,the ,omniscience of ,god4 ,god ,is a ,spirit1 and as such has knowledge4 ,he is a perfect ,spirit1 and as such has perfect knowledge4 ,by ,omniscience is meant that ,god knows all things and is absolutely perfect in knowledge4 7#a7 ,scriptures setting forth the fact of ,god's ,omniscience4 ,in general3 ,job #aa3g1 #h--;,canst thou by searching find out ,god8 ,canst thou find out the ,almighty unto perfection8 ,job's friends professed to have discovered the reason for his affliction1 for1 forsooth1 had they not found out the secrets of the divine wisdom unto perfection4 ,no1 such is beyond their human1 finite ken4 ,isa4 #dj3bh--,there is no searching of his understanding4 ,jacob's captive condition might lead him to lose trust and faith in ,god4 ,but ,jacob has not seen all ,god's plans--no man has4 ,job1 #cg3af--,the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge4 ,could ,job explain the wonders of the natural phenomena around him8 ,much less the purposes and judgments of ,god4 ,psa4 #adg3e--;,his understanding is infinite4 ,of ,his understanding there is no number1 no computation4 ,israel is not lost sight of4 ,he who can number and name and call the stars is able also to call each of them by name even out of their captivity4 ,his knowledge is not to be measured by ours4 #a ,john #c3bj--;,god knoweth all things4 ,our hearts may pass over certain things1 and fail to see some things that should be confessed4 ,god1 however1 sees all things4 ,rom4 #aa3cc--;,how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out4 ,the mysterious purposes and decrees of ,god touching man and his salvation are beyond all human comprehension4 ,in detail1 and by way of illustration3 aa7 ,his knowledge is absolutely comprehensive3 ,prov4 #ae3c--,the eyes of the ,lord are in every place1 keeping watch upon the evil and the good4 ,how could ,he reward and punish otherwise8 ,not one single thing occurring in any place escapes ,his knowledge4 #e3ba--;,for the ways of man are before the eyes of the ,lord1 and he pondereth all his goings4 ,we may have habits hidden from our fellow creatures1 but not from ,god4 bb7 ,god has a perfect knowledge of all that is in nature3 ,psa4 #adg3d--;,he telleth the number of the stars2 he calleth them all by their names4 ,man cannot 7,gen4 #ae3e74 ,how1 then1 can ,israel say1 ,my way is hid from the ,lord8 ,cf4 ,isa4 #dj3bf1 #bg4 ,matt4 #aj3bi--,one 444 sparrow shall not fall to the ground without your ,father4 ,much less would one of ,his children who perchance might be killed for ,his name's sake1 fall without ,his knowledge4 cc7 ,god has a perfect knowledge of all that transpires in human experience3 ,prov4 #e3ba--;,for the ways of man are before the eyes of the ,lord1 and he pondereth all his goings4 ,all a man's doings are weighed by ,god4 ,how this should affect his conduct6 ,psa4 #aci3b1 #c--,thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising1 thou understandest my thought afar off4 ,thou compassest my path and my lying down1 and art acquainted with all my ways4 ,before our thoughts are fully developed1 our unspoken sentences1 the rising feeling in our hearts1 our activity1 our resting1 all that we do from day to day is known and sifted by ,god4 v4 #d--,there is not a word in my tongue1 but lo1 ,o ,lord1 thou knowest it altogether4 ,not only thoughts and purposes1 but words spoken1 idle1 good1 or bad4 ,exod4 #c3g--;,i have seen the affliction4444heard the cry3 know the sorrows of my people which are in ,egypt4 ,the tears and grief which they dared not show to their taskmasters1 ,god saw and noted4 ,did ,god know of their trouble in ,egypt8 ,it seemed to them as though ,he did not4 ,but ,he did4 ,matt4 #aj3bi1 #cj--;,but the very hairs of your head are all numbered4 ,what minute knowledge is this6 ,exod #c3ai--;,and ,i am sure that the king of ,egypt will not let you go1 no1 not by a mighty hand4 ,here is intimate knowledge as to what a single individual will do4 ,isa4 #dh3ah--,o that thou hadst harkened to my commandments6 then had thy peace have been as a river1 etc4 ,god knows what our lives would have been if only we had acted and decided differently4 dd7 ,god has a perfect knowledge of all that transpires in human history4 ,with what precision are national changes and destinies foretold and depicted in ,dan4 #b and #h6 ,acts #ae3ah--,known unto ,god are all his works from the beginning of the world 7ages74 ,in the context surrounding this verse are clearly set forth the religious changes that were to characterize the generations to come1 the which have been so far literally1 though not fully1 fulfilled4 ee7 ,god knows--from1 all eternity to all eternity what will take place4 ,the ominiscience of ,god is abduced as the proof that ,he alone is ,god1 especially as contrasted with the gods 7idols7 of the heathen3 ,isa4 #dh3e-h--;,i have even from the beinning declared it unto thee2 before it came to pass ,i showed it thee44444,i have showed thee new things from this time1 even hidden things1 etc4 #df3i1 #aj--;,i am ,god4444declaring the end from the beginning1 and from ancient times the things that are not yet done1 saying1 ,my counsel shall stand1 and ,i will do all my pleasure4 ,here ,god is announcing to ,his prophets things that are to occur in the future which it is impossible for the human understanding to know or reach4 ,there is no past1 present1 future with ,god4 ,everything is one great living present4 ,we are like a man standing by a river in a low place1 and who1 consequently1 can see that part of the river only that passes by him2 but he who is aloof in the air may see the whole course of the river1 how it rises1 and how it runs4 ,thus is it with ,god4 7#b7 ,certain problems in connection with the doctrine of the ,omniscienc of ,god4 ,how the divine intelligence can comprehend so vast and multitudinous and exhaustless a number of things must forever surpass our comprehension4 ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 ,how unsearchable are his judgments1 and his ways past finding out6 7,rom4 #aa3cc74 ,there is no searching of his understanding2 it is beyond human computation4 ,we must expect1 therefore1 to stand amazed in the presence of such matchless wisdom1 and find problems in connection therewith which must for the time1 at least1 remain unsolved4 ,again1 we must not confound the foreknowledge of ,god with ,his foreordination4 ,the two things are1 in a sense1 distinct4 ,the fact that ,god foreknows a thing makes that thing certain but not necessary4 ,his foreordination is based upon ,his foreknowledge4 ,pharaoh was responsible for the hardening of his heart even though that hardening process was foreknown and foretold by ,god4 ,the actions of men are considered certain but not necessary by reason of the divine foreknowledge4 b7 ,the ,omnipotence of ,god4 ,the ,omnipotence of ,god is that attribute by which ,he can bring to pass everything which ,he wills4 ,god's power admits of no bounds or limitations4 ,god's declaration of ,his intention is the pledge of the thing intended being carried out4 ,hath he said1 and shall he not do it8 7#a7 ,scriptural declarations of the fact2 ,in general3 ,job #db3b47,r4 ,v47--,i know that thou canst do everything 7all things71 and that no purpose of thine can be restrained4 ,the mighty review of all ,god's works as it passes before ,job 7context7 brings forth this confession3 ,there is no resisting thy might1 and there is no purpose thou canst not carry out4 ,gen4 #ah3ad--;,is anything too hard for the ,lord8 ,what had ceased to be possible by natural means comes to pass by supernatural means4 7#b7 ,scriptural declaration of the fact2 ,in detail3 aa7 ,in the world of nature3 ,gen4 #a3a-c--;,god created the heaven and the earth4 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be light1 and there was light4 ,thus he spake and it was done4 ,he commanded and it stood fast4 ,he does not need even to give ,his hand to the work2 ,his word is sufficient4 ,psa4 #ajg3be-bi--;,he raiseth the stormy wind 444 he maketh the storm calm4 ,even the winds and the sea obey him4 ,god's slightest word1 once uttered1 is a standing law to which all nature must absolutely conform4 ,nahum #a3e1 #f--,the mountains quake at him 444 the hills melt 444 the earth is burned at his presence 444 the rocks are thrown down by him4 ,if such is ,his power how shall ,assyria withstand it8 ,this is ,god's comforting message to ,israel4 ,everything in the sky1 in sea1 on earth is absolutely subject to ,his control4 bb7 ,in the experience of mankind3 ,how wonderfully this is illustrated in the experience of ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,dan4 #d2 and in the conversion of ,saul1 ,acts #i2 as well as in the case of ,pharaoh1 ,exod4 #d3aa4 ,james #d3ab-ae-- 444 ,for that ye ought to say1 ,if the ,lord will1 we shall live and do this or that4 ,all human actions1 whether present or future1 are dependent upon the will and power of ,god4 ,these things are in ,god's1 not in man's1 power4 ,see also the parable of the ,rich ,fool1 ,luke #ab3af-ba4 cc7 ,the heavenly inhabitants are subject to ,his will and word3 ,dan4 #d3ce 7,r4 ,v47--,he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven4 ,heb4 #a3ad--;,are they 7angels7 not all ministering spirits1 sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation8 ,it has been said that angels are beings created by the power of ,god for some specific act of service1 and that after that act of service is rendered they pass out of existence4 dd7 ,even ,satan is under the control of ,god ,satan has no power over any of ,god's children saving as ,god permits him to have4 ,this fact is clearly established in the case of ,job 7#a3ab and #b3f74 and ,peter 7,luke #bb3ca1cb71 in which we are told that ,satan had petitioned ,god that he might sift the self-righteous patriarch and the impulsive apostle4 ,finally ,satan is to be forever bound with a great chain 7,rev4 #bj3b74 ,god can set a bar to the malignity of ,satan just as he can set a bar to the waves of the sea4 c7 ,the ,omnipresence of ,god4 ,by the ,omnipresence of ,god is meant that ,god is everywhere present4 ,this attribute is closely connected with the omniscience and omnipotence of ,god1 for if ,god is everywhere present ,he is everywhere active and possesses full knowledge of all that transpires in every place4 ,this does not mean that ,god is everywhere present in a bodily sense1 nor even in the same sense2 for there is a sense in which ,he may be in heaven1 ,his dwelling place1 in which ,he cannot be said to be elsewhere4 ,we must guard against the pantheistic idea which claims that ,god is everything1 while maintaining the ,scriptural doctrine that ,he is everywhere present in all things4 ,pantheism emphasizes the omnipresent activity of ,god1 but denies ,his personality4 ,those holding the doctrine of pantheism make loud claims to philosophic ability and high intellectual training1 but is it not remarkable that it is in connection with this very phase of the doctrine of ,god that the ,apostle ,paul says they became fools8 7,rom4 #a47 ,god is everywhere and in every place2 ,his center is everywhere2 ,his circumference nowhere4 ,but this presence is a spiritual and not a material presence2 yet it is a real presence4 7#a7 ,scriptural statement of the fact4 ,jer4 #bc3bc1 #bd-;,am ,i a ,god at hand1 saith the ,lord1 and not a ,god afar off8 ,can any hide himself in secret places that ,i shall not see him8 saith the ,lord4 ,do not ,i fill heaven and earth8 saith the ,lord4 ,did the false prophets think that they could hide their secret crimes from ,god8 ,or that ,he could not pursue them into foreign countries8 ,or that ,he knew what was transpiring in heaven only and not upon the earth1 and even in its most distant corners8 ,it was false for them to thus delude themselves--their sins would be detected and punished 7,psa4 #aj3a-ad74 ,psa4 #aci3g-ab--,whither shall ,i go from thy ,spirit1 or whither shall ,i flee from thy presence1 etc4 ,how wondrously the attributes of ,god are grouped in this psalm4 ,in vv4 #a-f the psalmist speaks of the omniscience of ,god3 ,god knows him through and through4 ,in vv4 #ac-ai it is the omnipotence of ,god which overwhelms the psalmist4 ,the omnipresence of ,god is set forth in vv4 #g-ab4 ,the psalmist realizes that he is never out of the sight of ,god any more than he is outside of the range of ,his knowledge and power4 ,god is in heaven2 ,hell is naked before ,him2 souls in the intermediate state are fully known to ,him 7cf4 ,job #bf3b2 ,jonah #b3b72 the darkness is as the light to ,him4 ,job #bb3ab-ad--;,is not ,god in the height of heaven8 4 4 4 4 ,can he judge through the dark cloud8 ,thick clouds are a covering to him that he seeth not1 etc4 ,all agreed that ,god displayed ,his presence in the heaven1 but ,job had inferred from this that ,god could not know and did not take notice of such actions of men as were hidden behind the intervening clouds4 ,not that ,job was atheistic2 no1 but probably denied to ,god the attribute of omnipresence and omniscience4 ,acts #ag3bd-bh--;,for in him we live1 and move1 and have our being4 ,without ,his upholding hand we must perish2 ,god is our nearest environment4 ,from these and many other scriptures we are clearly taught that ,god is everywhere present and acting2 there is no place where ,god is not4 ,this does not mean that ,god is everywhere present in the same sense4 ,for we are told that ,he is in heaven1 ,his dwelling-place 7#a ,kings #h3cj72 that ,christ is at ,his right hand in heaven 7,eph4 #a3bj72 that ,god's throne is in heaven 7,rev4 #ba3b2 ,isa4 #ff3a74 ,we may summarize the doctrine of the ,trinity thus3 ,god the ,father is specially manifested in heaven2 ,god the ,son has been specially manifested on the earth2 ,god the ,spirit is manifested everywhere4 ,just as the soul is present in every part of the body so ,god is present in every part of the world4 7#b7 ,some practical inferences from this doctrine4 ,first1 of ,comfort3 ,the nearness of ,god to the believer4 ,speak to ,him then for ,he listens4 ,and spirit with spirit can meet2 ,closer is ,he than breathing1 ,and nearer than hands or feet4 ,god is never so far off1 ,as even to be near2 ,he is within4 ,our spirit is the home ,he holds most dear4 ,to think of ,him as by our side is almost as untrue1 ,as to remove ,his shrine beyond those skies of starry blue4--,faber4 ,the omnipresence is not only a detective truth--it is protective also4 ,after dwelling on this great and awful attribute in ,psalm #aci1 the psalmist1 in vv4 #ag1 #ah1 exclaims3 ,how precious are thy thoughts to me44444 ,when ,i awake ,i am still with thee4 ,by this is meant that ,god stands by our side to help1 and as ,one who loves and understands us 7,matt4 #bh3bj74 ,second1 of ,warning3 ,as in the ,roman empire the whole world was one great prison to a malefactor1 and in his flight to the most distant lands the emperor could track him1 so under the government of ,god no sinner can escape the eye of the judge4 ,thus the omnipresence of ,god is detective as well as protective4 ,thou ,god seest me1 should serve as warning to keep us from sin4 d7 ,the ,eternity and ,immutability of ,god4 ,the word eternal is used in two senses in the ,bible3 figuratively1 as denoting existence which may have a beginning1 but will have no end1 e4 g41 angels1 the human soul2 literally1 denoting an existence which has neither beginning nor ending1 like that of ,god4 ,time has past1 present1 future2 eternity has not4 ,eternity is infinite duration without any beginning1 end1 or limit--an ever abiding present4 ,we can conceive of it only as duration indefinitely extended from the present moment in two directions--as to the past and as to the future4 ,one of the deaf and dumb pupils in the institution of ,paris1 being desired to express his idea of the eternity of the ,deity1 replied3 ',it is duration1 without beginning or end2 existence1 without bounds or dimension2 present1 without past or future4 ,his eternity is youth1 without infancy or old age2 life1 without birth or death2 today1 without yesterday or tomorrow4' ,by the ,immutability of ,god is meant that ,god's nature is absolutey unchangeable4 ,it is not possible that ,he should possess one attribute at one time that ,he does not possess at another4 ,nor can there be any change in the ,deity for better or for worse4 ,god remains forever the same4 ,he is without beginning and without end2 the self-existent ,i am2 ,he remains forever the same1 and unchangeable4 7#a7 ,scriptural statement of the fact3 ,the ,eternity of ,god ,hab4 #a3ab--;,art thou not from everlasting1 ,o ,lord my ,god1 mine ,holy ,one8 ,chaldea had threatened to annihilate ,israel4 ,the prophet cannot believe it possible1 for has not ,god eternal purposes for ,israel8 ,is ,he not holy8 ,how1 then1 can evil triumph8 ,psa4 #ij3b--;,before the mountains were brought forth1 or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world1 even from everlasting to everlasting1 thou art ,god4 ,short and transitory is the life of man2 with ,god it is otherwise4 ,the perishable nature of man is here compared with the imperishable nature of ,god4 ,psa4 #ajb3bd-bg--;,i said1 ,o my ,god1 take me not away in the midst of my days3 thy years are throughout all generations4 ,of old thou hast laid the foundations of the earth3 and the heavens are the work of thy hands4 ,they shall perish1 but thou shalt endure2 yea1 all of them shall wax old like a garment2 as a vesture shalt thou change them1 and they shall be changed4 ,but thou art the same1 and thy years shall have no end4 ,with the perishable nature of the whole material creation the psalmist contrasts the imperishable nature of ,god4 ,exod4 #c3ad--;,and ,god said unto ,moses1 ,i ,,am ,,that ,i ,,am4 ,the past1 present and future lies in these words for the name of ,jehovah4 ,rev4 #a3h--;,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending1 saith the ,lord1 which is1 and which was1 and which is to come1 the ,almighty4 7#b7 ,scriptural statement of the ,immutability of ,god3 ,mal #c3f--a am the ,lord1 ,i change not4 ,man's hope lies in that fact1 as the context here shows ,man had changed in his life and purpose toward ,god1 and if ,god1 like man1 had changed1 man would have been destroyed4 ,james #a3ag--,the ,father of lights1 with whom is no variableness1 neither shadow of turning4 ,there is no change--in the sense of the degree or intensity of light such as is manifested in the heavenly bodies4 ,such lights are constantly varying and changing2 not so with ,god4 ,there is no inherent1 indwelling1 possible change in ,god4 #a ,sam4 #ae3bi4--;,and also the ,strength of ,israel will not lie nor repent3 for he is not a man1 that he should repent4 ,from these scriptures we assert that ,god1 in ,his nature and character1 is absolutely without change4 ,does ,god ,repent8 ,what1 then1 shall we say with regard to such scriptures as ,jonah #c3aj and ,gen4 #f3f--;,and ,god repented of the evil1 that he said he would do unto them4 ,and it repented the ,lord that he had made man on the earth1 and it grieved him at his heart4 ,in reply we may say that ,god does not change1 but threatens that men may change4 ,the repentent attitude in ,god does not involve any real change in the character and purposes of ,god4 ,he ever hates the sin and ever pities and loves the sinner2 that is so both before and after the sinner's repentance4 ,divine repentance is therefore the same principle acting differently in altered circumstances4 ,if the prospect of punishment answers the same purpose as that intended by the punishment itself1 then there is no inconsistency in its remission1 for punishment is not an end1 it is only a means to goodness1 to the reign of the law of righteousness4 ,when ,god appears to be displeased with anything1 or orders it differently from what we expected1 we say1 after the manner of men1 that ,he repents4 ,god's attitude towards the ,ninevites had not changed1 but they had changed2 and because they had changed from sin unto righteousness1 ,god's attitude towards them and ,his intended dealings with them as sinners must of necessity change1 while1 of course1 ,god's character had in no wise changed with respect to these people1 although ,his dealings with them had4 ,so that we may say that ,god's character never changes1 but ,his dealings with men change as they change from ungodliness to godliness and from disobedience unto obedience4 ,god's immutability is not that of the stone1 that has no internal experience1 but rather that of the column of mercury that rises and falls with every change in the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere4 ,when a man bicycling against the wind turns about and goes with the wind instead of going against it1 the wind seems to change1 although it is blowing just as it was before4 --,strong4 #b4 ,,the ,,moral ,,attributes4 a7 ,the ,holiness of ,god4 ,if there is any difference in importance in the attributes of ,god1 that of ,his ,holiness seems to occupy the first place4 ,it is1 to say the least1 the one attribute which ,god would have ,his people remember ,him by more than any other4 ,in the visions of ,himself which ,god granted men in the ,scriptures the thing that stood out most prominent was the divine holiness4 ,this is clearly seen by referring to the visions of ,moses1 ,job1 and ,isaiah4 ,some thirty times does the ,prophet ,isaiah speak of ,jehovah as the ,holy ,one1 thus indicating what feature of those beatific visions had most impressed him4 ,the holiness of ,god is the message of the entire ,old ,testament4 ,to the prophets ,god was the absolutely ,holy ,one2 the ,one with eyes too pure to behold evil2 the ,one swift to punish iniquity4 ,in taking a photograph1 the part of the body which we desire most to see is not the hands or feet1 but the face4 ,so is it with our vision of ,god4 ,he desires us to see not ,his hand and finger1 denoting ,his power and skill1 nor even ,his throne as indicating ,his majesty4 ,it is ,his holiness by which ,he desires to be remembered as that is the attribute which most glorifies ,him4 ,let us bear this fact in mind as we study this attribute of the divine nature4 ,it is just this vision of ,god that we need today when the tendency to deny the reality or the awfulness of sin is so prevalent4 ,our view of the necessity of the atonement will depend very largely upon our view of the holiness of ,god4 ,light views of ,god and ,his holiness will produce light views of sin and the atonement4 7#a7 ,scriptural statements setting forth the fact of ,god's ,holiness4 ,isa4 #eg3ae--,thus saith the high and lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity1 whose name is ,holy2 ,i dwell in the high and holy place4 ,psa4 #ii3i--;,exalt the ,lord our ,god1 and worship at his holy hill3 for the ,lord our ,god is holy4 ,hab4 #a3ac--,thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil1 and canst not look on iniquity4 #a ,pet4 #a3ae1 #af --,but as he which hath called you is holy1 so be ye holy in all manner of conversation4 ,because it is written1 ,be ye holy3 for ,i am holy4 ,god's personal name is holy4 ,john #ag3aa--;,holy ,father1 keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me4 ,christ here contemplates the ,father as the ,holy ,one1 as the source and agent of that which ,he desires for ,his disciples1 namely1 holiness of heart and life1 being kept from the evil of this world4 ,is it not remarkable that this attribute of holiness is ascribed to each of the three persons of the ,trinity3 ,god the ,father1 is the ,holy ,one of ,israel 7,isa4 #da3ad72 ,god the ,son is the ,holy ,one 7,acts #c3ad72 ,god the ,spirit is called the ,holy ,spirit 7,eph4 #d3cj74 7#b7 ,the ,scriptural meaning of ,holiness as applied to ,god4 ,job #cd3aj--;,be it far from ,god1 that he should do wickedness2 and from the ,almighty that he should commit iniquity4 ,an evil ,god1 one that could commit evil would be a contradiction in terms1 an impossible1 inconceivable idea4 ,job seemed to doubt that the principle on which the universe was conducted was one of absolute equity4 ,he must know that ,god is free from all evil-doing4 ,however hidden the meaning of ,his dealings1 ,he is always just4 ,god never did1 never will do wrong to any of ,his creatures2 ,he will never punish wrongly4 ,men may1 yea1 often do2 ,god never does4 ,lev4 #aa3dc-de--,ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth1 neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them1 that ye should be defiled thereby4 ,for ,i am the ,lord your ,god2 ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves1 and ye shall be holy2 for ,i am holy3 neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth4444 ,ye shall therefore be holy1 for ,i am holy4 ,this means that ,god is absolutely clean and pure and free from all defilement4 ,the construction of the ,tabernacle1 with its holy and most holy place into which the high priest alone entered once a year2 the ,ten ,commandments1 with their moral categories2 the laws of clean and unclean animals and things--all these speak to us in unmistakable terms as to what is meant by holiness as applied to ,god4 ,two things1 by way of definition1 may be inferred from these ,scriptures3 first1 negatively1 that ,god is entirely apart from all that is evil and from all that defiles both in ,himself and in relation to all ,his creatures2 second and positively1 by the holiness of ,god is meant the consummate holiness1 perfection1 purity1 and absolute sanctity of ,his nature4 ,there is absolutely nothing unholy in ,him4 ,so the ,apostle ,john declares3 ,god is light1 and in him is no darkness at all4 7#c7 ,the manifestation of ,god's ,holiness4 ,prov4 #ae3i1 #bf--,the way of the wicked is an abomination unto the ,lord4 ,the thoughts of the wicked are an abomination unto the ,lord4 ,god hates sin1 and is its uncompromising foe4 ,sin is a vile and detestable thing to ,god4 ,isa4 #ei3a1 #b--;,behold1 the ,lord's hand is not shortened1 that it cannot save2 neither his ear heavy1 that it cannot hear4 ,but your iniquities have separated between you and your ,god1 and your sins have hid his face from you1 that he will not hear4 ,israel's sin had raised a partition wall4 ,the infinite distance between the sinner and ,god is because of sin4 ,the sinner and ,god are at opposite poles of the moral universe4 ,this in answer to ,israel's charge of ,god's inability4 ,from these two scriptures it is clear that ,god's holiness manifests itself in the hatred of sin and the separation of the sinner from himself4 ,herein lies the need of the atonement1 whereby this awful distance is bridged over4 ,this is the lesson taught by the construction of the ,tabernacle as to the division into the holy place and the most holy place4 ,prov4 #ae3i--;,but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness4 ,john #c3af--;,for ,god so loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son1 etc4 ,here ,god's holiness is seen in that ,he loves righteousness in the life of ,his children to such a degree that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son to secure it4 ,the ,cross shows how much ,god loves holiness4 ,the ,cross stands for ,god's holiness before even ,his love4 ,for ,christ died not merely for our sins1 but in order that ,he might provide us with that righteousness of life which ,god loves4 ,he died that we might be forgiven2 he died to make us good4 ,do we love holiness to the extent of sacrificing for it8 ,for other manifestations see under ,righteousness and ,justice of ,god4 7#d7 ,practical deductions from the doctrine of ,god's ,holiness4 ,first1 we should approach ,god with reverence and godly fear 7,heb4 #ab3bh74 ,in the story of ,moses' approach to the burning bush1 the smiting of the men at ,bethshemesh1 the boundary set about ,mt4 ,sinai1 we are taught to feel our own unworthiness4 ,there is too much hilarity in our approach unto ,god4 ,eccl4 #e3a-c inculcates great care in our address to ,god4 ,second1 we shall have right views of sin when we get right views of ,god's holiness4 ,isaiah1 the holiest man in all ,israel1 was cast down at the sight of his own sin after he had seen the vision of ,god's holiness4 ,the same thing is true of ,job 7#dj3c-d2 #db3d-e74 ,we confess sin in such easy and familiar terms that it has almost lost its terror for us4 ,third1 that approach to a holy ,god must be through the merits of ,christ1 and on the ground of a righteousness which is ,christ's and which naturally we do not possess4 ,herein lies the need of the atonement4 b7 ,the ,righteousness and ,justice of ,god4 ,in a certain sense these attributes are but the manifestation of ,god's holiness4 ,it is holiness as manifested in dealing with the sons of men4 ,holiness has to do more particularly with the character of ,god in itself1 while in ,righteousness and ,justice that character is expressed in the dealings of ,god with men4 ,three things may be said in the consideration of the ,righteousness and ,justice of ,god3 first1 there is the imposing of righteousness laws and demands1 which may he called legislative holiness1 and may he known as the ,righteousness of ,god2 second1 there is the executing of the penalties attached to those laws1 which may be called judicial holiness2 third1 there is the sense in which the attributes of the ,righteousness and ,justice of ,god may be regarded as the actual carrying out of the holy nature of ,god in the government of the world4 ,so that in the ,righteousness of ,god we have ,his love of holiness1 and in the ,justice of ,god1 ,his hatred of sin4 ,again ,righteousness1 as here used1 has reference to the very nature of ,god as ,he is in ,himself--that attribute which leads ,god always to do right4 ,justice1 as an attribute of ,god1 is devoid of all passion or caprice2 it is vindicative not vindictive4 ,and so the ,righteousness and ,justice of the ,god of ,israel was made to stand out prominently as contrasted with the caprice of the heathen gods4 7#a7 ,scriptural statement of the fact4 ,psalm #aaf3e--;,gracious is the ,lord1 and righteous2 yea1 our ,god is merciful4 ,the context here shows that it is because of this fact that ,god listens to men1 and because having promised to hear ,he is bound to keep ,his promises4 ,ezra #i3ae--j ,lord ,god of ,israel1 thou art righteous4 ,here the ,righteousness of ,jehovah is acknowledged in the punishment of ,israel's sins4 ,thou art just1 and thou hast brought us into the state in which we are today4 ,psa4 #ade3ag--,the ,lord is righteous in all his ways1 and holy in all his works4 ,this is evident in the rewards ,he gives to the upright1 in lifting up the lowly1 and in abundantly blessing the good1 pure1 and true4 ,jer4 #ab3a--,righteous art thou1 ,o ,lord1 when ,i plead with thee4 ,that is to say1 ,if ,i were to bring a charge against ,thee ,i should not be able to convict ,thee of injustice1 even though ,i be painfully exercised over the mysteries of ,thy providence4 ,these scriptures clearly set forth not only the fact that ,god is righteous and just1 but also define these attributes4 ,here we are told that ,god1 in ,his government of the world1 does always that which is suitable1 straight1 and right4 7#b7 ,how the ,righteousness and ,justice of ,god is revealed4 ,in two ways3 first1 in punishing the wicked3 retributive justice1 second1 in rewarding the righteous3 remunerative justice4 aa7 ,in the punishment of the wicked4 ,psa4 #aa3d-g--,the ,lord is in his holy temple1 the ,lord's throne is in heaven3 his eyes behold1 his eyelids try1 the children of men4 ,the ,lord trieth the righteous2 but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth4 ,upon the wicked he shall rain snares1 fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest4 ,this shall be the portion of their cup4 ,this is ,david's reply to his timid advisers4 ,saul may reign upon the earth and do wickedly1 but ,god reigns from heaven and will do right4 ,he sees who does right and who does wrong4 ,and there is that in ,his nature which recoils from the evil that ,he sees1 and will lead ,him ultimately to punish it4 ,there is such a thing as the wrath of ,god4 ,it is here described4 ,whatever awful thing the description in this verse may mean for the wicked1 ,god grant that we may never know4 ,in ,exod4 #i3bc-bg we have the account of the plague of hail1 following which are these words3 ,and ,pharaoh sent444for ,moses and ,aaron1 and said unto them1 ,i have sinned this time3 the ,lord is righteous1 and ,i and my people are wicked4 ,pharaoh here acknowledges the perfect justice of ,god in punishing him for his sin and rebellion4 ,he knew that he had deserved it all1 even though cavillers today say there was injustice with ,god in ,his treatment of ,pharaoh4 ,pharaoh himself certainly did not think so4 ,dan4 #i3ab-ad and ,rev4 #af3e1 #f bring out the same thought4 ,how careful sinners ought to be not to fall into the hands of the righteous ,judge6 ,no sinner at last will be able to say1 ,i did not deserve this punishment4 bb7 ,in forgiving the sins of the penitent4 #a ,john #a3i 7,r4 ,v47--,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins1 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,ordinarily1 the forgiveness of sin is associated with the mercy1 love1 and compassion of ,god1 and not with ,his righteousness and justice4 ,this verse assures us that if we confess our sins1 the righteousness and justice of ,god is our guarantee for forgiveness--,god cannot but forgive and cleanse us from all sin4 cc7 ,in keeping ,his word and promise to ,his children4 ,neh4 #i3g1 #h--,thou art the ,lord the ,god1 who didst choose ,abram444and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the ,canaanites444to his seed1 and hast performed thy words2 for thou art righteous4 ,we need to recall the tremendous obstacles which stood in the way of the fulfillment of this promise1 and yet we should remember the eleventh chapter of ,hebrews4 ,when ,god gives ,his word1 and makes a promise1 naught in heaven1 on earth1 or in hell can make that promise void4 ,his righteousness is the guarantee of its fulfillment4 dd7 ,in showing ,himself to be the vindicator of ,his people from all their enemies4 ,psa4 #abi3a-d--,many a time have they afflicted me444yet they have not prevailed against me4 ,the ,lord is righteous3 he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked4 ,sooner or later1 ,god's people will triumph gloriously as ,david triumphed over ,saul4 ,even in this life ,god will give us rest from our enemies2 and there shall assuredly come a day when we shall be where the wicked cease from troubling1 and the weary are at rest4 ee7 ,in the rewarding of the righteous4 ,heb4 #f3aj--;,for ,god is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love1 which ye have showed towards his name1 in that ye have ministered unto the saints1 and do minister4 ,those who had shown their faith by their works would not now be allowed to lose that faith4 ,the very idea of divine justice implies that the use of this grace1 thus evidenced1 will be rewarded1 not only by continuance in grace1 but their final perseverance and reward4 #b ,tim4 #d3h--;,henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness1 which the ,lord1 the righteous judge1 will give me at that day3 and not to me only1 but unto all them that love hiss appearing4 ,the righteous ,judge will not allow the faithful believer to go unrewarded4 ,he is not like the unrighteous judges of ,rome and the ,athenian games4 ,here we are not always rewarded1 but some time we shall receive full reward for all the good that we have done4 ,the righteousness of ,god is the guarantee of all this4 c7 ,the ,mercy and ,loving-kindness of ,god4 ,by these attributes is meant1 in general1 the kindness1 goodness1 and compassion of ,god1 the love of ,god in its relation to both the obedient and the disobedient sons of men4 ,the dew drops on the thistle as well as on the rose4 ,more specifically3 ,mercy is usually exercised in connection with guilt2 it is that attribute of ,god which leads ,him to seek the welfare1 both temporal and spiritual1 of sinners1 even though at the cost of great sacrifice on ,his part4 ,but ,god1 who is rich in mercy1 for his great love wherewith he loved us444,god commendeth his love towards us1 in that1 while we were yet sinners1 ,christ died for us4 7,eph4 #b3d2 ,rom4 #e3h47 ,loving-kindness is that attribute of ,god which leads ,him to bestow upon ,his obedient children ,his constant and choice blessing4 ,he that spared not his own ,son1 but freely delivered him up for us all1 how shall he not with him freely give us all things8 7,rom4 #h3cb47 7,i7 ,scriptural statement of the fact4 ,psa4 #ajc3h--,the ,lord is merciful and gracious1 slow to anger1 and plenteous in mercy4 ,for1 instead of inflicting pain1 poverty1 death--which are the wages of sin--,god has spared our lives1 given us health1 increased our blessings and comforts1 and given us the life of the ages4 ,deut4 #d3ca--7;,for the ,lord thy ,god is a merciful ,god72 he will not forsake thee1 neither destroy thee1 nor forget the covenant of thy fathers4 ,god is ready to accept the penitence of ,israel1 even now1 if only it be sincere4 ,israel will return and find ,god only because ,he is merciful and does not let go of her4 ,it is ,his mercy that forbids his permanently forsaking ,his people4 ,psa4 #hf3ae--;,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 art a ,god full of compassion1 and gracious1 long-suffering1 and plenteous in mercy and truth4 ,it was because ,god had so declared ,himself to be of this nature that ,david felt justified in feeling that ,god would not utterly forsake him in his time of great stress and need4 ,the most striking illustration of the ,mercy and ,loving-kindness of ,god is set forth in the parable of the ,prodigal ,son 7,luke #ae3aa-cb74 ,here we have not only the welcome awaiting the wanderer1 but also the longing for his return on the part of the anxious and loving father4 7#a7 ,how the ,mercy and ,loving-kindness of ,god are manifested4 ,in general3 ,we must not forget that ,god is absolutely sovereign in the bestowal of ,his blessings--,therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy 7,rom4 #i3ah74 ,we should also remember that ,god wills to have mercy on all ,his creatures--,for thou1 ,lord1 art good1 and ready to forgive1 and plenteous in mercy to all them that call upon thee 7,psa4 #hf3e74 aa7 ,mercy--towards sinners in particular4 ,luke #f3cf--;,be ye therefore merciful1 as your ,father also is merciful4 ,matt4 #e3de--,that ye may be the children1 of your ,father which is in heaven3 for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good1 and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust4 ,here even the impenitent and hard-hearted are the recipients of ,god's mercy2 all sinners1 even the impenitent are included in the sweep of ,his mercy4 ,isa4 #ee3g--,let the wicked forsake his way1 and the unrighteous man his thoughts1 and let him return unto the ,lord3 and he will have mercy upon him2 and to our ,god1 for he will abundantly pardon4 ,god's mercy is a holy mercy2 it will by no means protect sin1 but anxiously awaits to pardon it4 ,god's mercy is a city of refuge for the penitent1 but by no means a sanctuary for the presumptuous4 ,see ,prov4 #bh3ac1 and ,psa4 #ea3a4 ,god's mercy is here seen in pardoning the sin of those who do truly repent4 ,we speak about trusting in the mercy of the ,lord4 ,let us forsake sin and then trust in the mercy of the ,lord and we shall find pardon4 #b ,pet4 #c3i--,the ,lord444is longsuffering to us-ward1 not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance4 ,neh4 #i3ca--,nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them2 for thou art a gracious and merciful ,god4 ,here is mercy manifested in forbearance with sinners4 ,if ,god should have dealt with them in justice they would have been cut off long before4 ,think of the evil1 the impurity1 the sin that ,god must see4 ,how it must disgust ,him4 ,then remember that ,he could crush it all in a moment4 ,yet ,he does not4 ,he pleads2 ,he sacrifices to show ,his love for sinners4 ,surely it is because of the ,lord's mercies that we are not consumed1 and because ,his compassions fail not4 ,yet1 beware lest we abuse this goodness1 for our ,god is also a consuming fire4 ,behold1 the goodness and the severity of ,god4 ,the ,mercy of ,god is here shown in ,his loving forbearance with sinners4 bb7 ,loving-kindness towards the saints1 in particular4 ,psa4 #cb3aj--;,but he that trusteth in the ,lord1 mercy shall compass him about4 ,the very act of trust on the part of the believer moves the heart of ,god to protect him just as in the case of a parent and his child4 ,the moment ,i throw myself on ,god ,i am enveloped in ,his mercy--mercy is my environment1 like a fiery wall it surrounds me1 without a break through which an evil can creep4 ,besistance surrounds us with sorrow2 but trust surrounds us with mercy4 ,in the center of that circle of mercy sits and rests the trusting soul4 ,phil4 #b3bg--;,for indeed he was sick nigh unto death2 but ,god had mercy on him2 and not on him only1 but on me also1 lest ,i should have sorrow upon sorrow4 ,here ,god's loving-kindness is seen in healing up ,his sick children4 ,yet remember that ,he hath mercy on whom ,he will have mercy4 ,not every sick child of ,god is raised4 ,psa4 #f3d--;,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,lord1 for ,i am weak3 ,o ,lord1 heal me444,deliver my soul for thy mercies' sake 7v4 #d74 ,the psalmist asks ,god to illustrate ,his mercy in restoring to him his spiritual health4 ,from these scriptures we see that the mercy of ,god is revealed in healing ,his children of bodily and spiritual sickness4 ,psa4 #ba3g--;,for the king trusteth in the ,lord1 and through the mercy of the most ,high he shall not be moved4 ,david feels that1 because he trusts in the mercy of the ,lord1 his throne1 whatever may dash against it1 is perfectly secure4 ,is not this true also of the believer's eternal security8 ,more to the mercy of ,god than to the perseverance of the saints is to be attributed the eternal security of the believer4 ,he will hold me fast4 d7 ,the ,love of ,god4 ,christianity is really the only religion that sets forth the ,supreme ,being as ,love4 ,the gods of the heathen are angry1 hateful beings1 and are in constant need of appeasing4 7#a7 ,scriptural statements of the fact4 #a ,john #d3h-af--;,god is love4 ,god is light2 ,god is ,spirit2 ,god is love4 ,spirit and ,light are expressions of ,god's essential nature4 ,love is the expression of his personality corresponding to ,his nature4 ,it is the nature of ,god to love4 ,he dwells always in the atmosphere of love4 ,just how to define or describe the love of ,god may be difficult if not impossible4 ,it appears from certain scriptures 7#a ,john #c3af2 ,john #c3af7 that the love of ,god is of such a nature that it betokens a constant interest in the physical and spiritual welfare of ,his creatures as to lead ,him to make sacrifices beyond human conception to reveal that love4 7#b7 ,the objects of ,god's ,love4 aa7 ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's only-begotten ,son1 is the special object of ,his ,love4 ,matt4 #c3ag--,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,also ,matt4 #ag3e2 ,luke #bj3ac4 ,jesus ,christ shares the love of the ,father in a unique sense1 just as ,he is ,his ,son in a unique sense4 ,he is especially ,my chosen4 ,the ,one in whom my soul delighteth1 ,my beloved ,son1--literally3 the ,son of mine1 the beloved4 ,and we can readily understand how that ,he who did the will of ,god perfectly should thus become the special object of the ,father's love4 ,of course1 if the love of ,god is eternal1 as is the nature of ,god1 which must be the case1 then1 that love must have had an eternal object to love4 ,so ,christ1 in addressing the ,father1 says3 ,thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world4 bb7 ,believers in ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 are special objects of ,god's ,love4 ,john #af3bg--;,for the ,father himself loveth you1 because ye have loved me1 and have believed that ,i came out from ,god4 #ad3ba-bc--;,he that loveth me shall be loved of my ,father4 444,if a man love me444my ,father will love him4 #ag3bc--;,and hast loved them1 as thou hast loved me4 ,do we really believe these words8 ,we are not on the outskirts of ,god's love1 but in its very midst4 ,there stands ,christ right in the very midst of that circle of the ,father's love2 then ,he draws us to that spot1 and1 as it were1 disappears1 leaving us standing there bathed in the same loving-kindness of the ,father in which ,he ,himself had basked4 cc7 ,god loves the world of sinners and ungodly men4 ,john #c3af--;,for ,god so loved the world was a startling truth to ,nicodemus in his narrow exclusivism4 ,god loved not the ,jew only1 but also the ,gentile2 not a part of the world of men1 but every man in it1 irrespective of his moral character4 ,for ,god commendeth his love towards us1 in that1 while we were yet sinners1 ,christ died for us 7,rom4 #e3h74 ,this is wonderful when we begin to realize what a world in sin is4 ,the love of ,god is broader than the measure of man's mind4 ,god desires the salvation of all men 7#a ,tim4 #b3d74 7#c7 ,how the ,love of ,god reveals ,itself4 aa7 ,in making infinite sacrifice for the salvation of men4 #a ,john #d3i1 #aj--;,in this was manifested the love of ,god towards us1 because that ,god sent his only-begotten ,son into the world1 that we might live through him4 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that ,god loved us1 and sent his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins4 ,love is more than compassion2 it hides not itself as compassion may do1 but displays itself actively in behalf of its object4 ,the ,cross of ,calvary is the highest expression of the love of ,god for sinful man4 ,he gave not only a ,son1 but ,his only ,son1 ,his well-beloved4 bb7 ,in bestowing full and complete pardon on the penitent4 ,isa4 #ch3ag--,thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption3 for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back4 ,literally1 ,thou hast loved my soul back from the pit of destruction4 ,god had taken the bitterness out of his life and given him the gracious forgiveness of his sins1 by putting them far away from ,him4 ,eph4 #b3d1 #e--;,but ,god1 who is rich in mercy1 for his great love wherewith he loved us1 even when we were dead in sins1 hath quickened us together with ,christ1 etc4 ,verses #a-c of this chapter show the race rushing headlong to inevitable ruin4 ,but reverses the picture2 when all help for man fails1 then ,god steps in1 and by ,his mercy1 which springs from ,his great love1 redeems fallen man1 and gives him not only pardon1 but a position in ,his heavenly kingdom by the side of ,jesus ,christ4 ,all this was for1 or1 perhaps better1 in order to satisfy ,his great love4 ,love led ,him to do it4 cc7 ,in remembering ,his children in all the varying circumstances of life4 ,isa4 #fc3i--;,in all their affliction he was afflicted1 and the angel of his presence saved them3 in his love and in his pity he redeemed them2 and he bare them1 and carried them all the days of old4 ,here is retrospection on the part of the prophet4 ,he thinks of all the oppressions of ,israel1 and recalls how ,god's interests have been bound up with theirs4 ,he was not their adversary2 ,he was their sympathetic1 loving friend4 ,he suffered with them4 ,isa4 #di3ae1 #af--;,can a woman forget her sucking child8 ,yea1 they may forget1 yet will ,i not forget thee4 ,behold1 ,i have graven thee on the palms of my hands2 thy walls are continually before me4 ,it was the custom those days to trace upon the palms of the hands the outlines of any object of affection2 hence a man engraved the name of his god4 ,so ,god could not act without being reminded of ,israel4 ,god is always mindful of ,his own4 ,saul of ,tarsus learned this truth on the way to ,damascus4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,a4 ,,the ,,person ,,of ,,christ4 ,i4 ,,the ,,humanity ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,he ,,had ,a ,,human ,,parentage4 #b4 ,,he ,,grew ,,as ,,other ,,human ,,beings ,,do4 #c4 ,,he ,,had ,,the ,,appearance ,,of ,a ,,man4 #d4 ,,he ,,was ,,possessed ,,of ,a ,,body1 ,,soul1 ,,and ,,spirit4 #e4 ,,he ,,was ,,subject ,,to ,,the ,,sinless ,,infirmities ,,of ,,humanity4 #f4 ,,human ,,names ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,him4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,deity ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,divine ,,names ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,him4 #b4 ,,divine ,,worship ,,is ,,ascribed ,,to ,,him4 #c4 ,,divine ,,qualities ,,and ,,properties ,,are ,,possessed ,,by ,,him4 #d4 ,,divine ,,offices ,,are ,,ascribed ,,to ,,him4 #e4 ,,divine ,,attributes ,,are ,,possessed ,,by ,,him4 #f4 ,,christ',s ,,name ,,is ,,coupled ,,with ,,that ,,of ,,the ,,father4 #g4 ,,the ,,self-,,consciousness ,,of ,,jesus ,,christas ,,manifested3 a7 ,in ,his ,visit to the ,temple4 b7 ,in ,his ,baptism4 c7 ,in ,his ,temptation4 d7 ,in the ,calling of the ,twelve and the ,seventy4 e7 ,in the ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,b4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,christ4 #a4 ,,his ,,death4 #b4 ,,his ,,resurrection4 #c4 ,,his ,,ascension ,,and ,,exaltation4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,a4 ,,the ,,person ,,of ,,christ4 ,the close kinship of ,christ with ,christianity is one of the distinctive features of the ,christian religion4 ,if you take away the name of ,buddha from ,buddhism and remove the personal revealer entirely from his system2 if you take away the personality of ,mahomet from ,mahommedanism1 or the personality of ,zoroaster from the religion of the ,parsees1 the entire doctrine of these religions would still be left intact4 ,their practical value1 such as it is1 would not be imperilled or lessened4 ,but take away from ,christianity the name and person of ,jesus ,christ and what have you left8 ,nothing6 ,the whole substance and strength of the ,christian faith centres in ,jesus ,christ4 ,without ,him there is absolutely nothing4--,sinclair ,patterson4 ,from beginning to end1 in all its various phases and aspects and elements1 the ,christian faith and life is determined by the person and the work of ,jesus ,christ4 ,it owes its life and character at every point to ,him4 ,its convictions are convictions about ,him4 ,its hopes are hopes which ,he has inspired and which it is for ,him to fulfill4 ,its ideals are born of ,his teaching and ,his life4 ,its strength is the strength of ,his spirit4--,james ,denney4 ,i4 ,,the ,,humanity ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,the ,,scriptures ,,distinctly ,,teach ,,that ,,he ,,had ,a ,,human ,,parentage3 ,,that ,,he ,,was ,,born ,,of ,a ,,woman--,,the ,,virgin ,,mary4 ,matt4 #a3ah--,mary 444 was found with child of the ,holy ,ghost4 #b-aa--,the young child with ,mary his mother4 #ab3dg --,behold1 thy mother and thy brethren4 #ac3ee--;,is not his mother called ,mary8 ,john #a3ad--,the ,word was made flesh1 and dwelt among us4 #b3a--,the mother of ,jesus was there4 ,acts #ac3bc--,of this man's seed hath ,god 444 raised 444 44,jesus4 ,rom4#a3c--,of the seed of ,david according to the flesh4 ,gal4 #d3d--,made of a woman4 ,in thus being born of a woman ,jesus ,christ submitted to the conditions of a human life and a human body2 became humanity's son by a human birth4 ,of the seed of the woman1 of the seed of ,abraham1 and of line and lineage of ,david1 ,jesus ,christ is undeniably human4 ,we must not lose sight of the fact that there was something supernatural surrounding the birth of the ,christ4 ,matt4 #a3ah--,on this wise1 and ,luke #a3ce--,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,highest shall overshadow thee2 therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the ,son of ,god4 ,on this wise indicates that this birth was different from those recorded before it4 ,luke #a3ce is explicit about the matter4 ,to assail the virgin birth is to assail the ,virgin's life4 ,he was of the seed of the woman1 not of the man4 7,see ,luke #a3cd--;,how shall this be1 seeing ,i know not a man87 ,no laws of heredity are sufficient to account for ,his generation4 ,by a creative act ,god broke through the chain of human generation and brought into the world a supernatural being4 ,the narrative of the virgin birth need not stagger us4 ,the abundance of historical evidence in its favor should lead to its acceptance4 ,all the manuscripts in all the ancient versions contain the record of it4 ,all the traditions of the early church recognize it4 ,mention of it is made in the earliest of all the creeds3 the ,apostles' ,creed4 ,if the doctrine of the virgin birth is rejected it must be on purely subjective grounds4 ,if one denies the possibility of the supernatural in the experience of human life1 it is1 of course1 easy for him to deny this doctrine4 ,to one who believes that ,jesus was human only it would seem comparatively easy to deny the supernatural birth on purely subjective grounds4 ,the preconceptions of thinkers to a great degree determine their views4 ,it would seem that such a wonderful life as that lived by ,christ1 having as it did such a wonderful finish in the resurrection and ascension1 might1 indeed should1 have a wonderful and extraordinary entrance into the world4 ,the fact that the virgin birth is attested by the ,scriptures1 by tradition1 by creeds1 and that it is in perfect harmony with all the other facts of that wonderful life should be sufficient attestation of its truth4 ,footnote3 ,the ,virgin ,birth1 by ,james ,orr1 ,d4,d41 deals fully and most ably with this subject4 ,it has been thought strange that if1 as is claimed1 the virgin birth is so essential to the right understanding of the ,christian religion1 that ,mark1 ,john1 and ,paul should say nothing about it4 ,but does such silence really exist8 ,john says the ,word became flesh2 while ,paul speaks of ,god manifest in the flesh4 ,says ,l4 ,f4 ,anderson3 ,this argument from silence is sufficiently met by the considerations that ,mark passes over thirty years of our ,lord's life in silence2 that ,john presupposes the narratives of ,matthew and ,luke2 that ,paul does not deal with the story of ,jesus' life4 ,the facts were known at first only to ,mary and ,joseph2 their very nature involved reticence until ,jesus was demonstrated to be the ,son of ,god with power by the resurrection from the dead2 meantime the natural development of ,jesus and ,his refusal to set up an earthly kingdom have made the miraculous events of thirty years ago seem to ,mary like a wonderful dream2 so only gradually the marvelous tale of the mother of the ,lord found its way into the ,gospel tradition and the creeds of the church1 and into the innermost hearts of the ,christians of all countries4 #b4 ,,he ,,grew ,,in ,,wisdom ,,and ,,stature ,,as ,,other ,,human ,,beings ,,do4 ,,he ,,was ,,subject ,,to ,,the ,,ordinary ,,laws ,,of ,,human ,,development ,,in ,,body ,,and ,,soul4 ,luke #b3dj1 #eb1 #df--;,and the child grew1 and waxed strong in spirit1 filled with wisdom3 and the grace of ,god was upon him4 ,and ,jesus increased in wisdom and stature1 and in favor with ,god and man4 ,and4444they found him in the temple1 sitting in the midst of the doctors1 both hearing them1 and asking them questions4 ,just to what extent ,his sinless nature influenced ,his growth we may not be able to say4 ,it seems clear1 however1 from the ,scriptures1 that we are to attribute ,jesus' growth and advancement to the training ,he received in a godly home2 to the instruction given at the synagogue and the temple2 from ,his own personal study of the ,scriptures1 and from ,his fellowship and communion with ,his ,father4 ,both the human and divine element entered into ,his training and development1 which were as real in the experience of ,jesus as in that of any other human being4 ,we are told that ,jesus grew1 and increased in wisdom and stature4 ,he increased1 i4e41 ,he kept advancing2 ,he grew1 and the reflective form of the verb would seem to indicate that ,his growth was due to ,his own efforts4 ,from all this it seems clear that ,jesus received ,his training along the lines of ordinary human progress--instruction1 study1 thought4 ,nor should the fact that ,christ possessed divine attributes1 such as omniscience and omnipotence1 militate against a perfectly human development4 ,could ,he not have possessed them and yet not have used them8 ,self-emptying is not self-extinction4 ,is it incredible to think that1 although possessing these divine attributes1 ,he should have held them in subjection in order that the ,holy ,spirit might have ,his part to play in that truly human1 and yet divine1 life8 #c4 ,,he ,,had ,,the ,,appearance ,,of ,a ,,man4 ,john #d3i--;,how is it that thou1 being a ,jew4 ,luke #bd3ac--,the two disciples on the way to ,emmaus took ,him to be an ordinary man4 ,john #bj3ae--,she1 supposing him to be the gardener4 #ba3d1 #e--;,jesus stood on the shore2 but the disciples knew not that it was ,jesus4 ,the woman of ,samaria evidently recognized ,jesus as a ,jaw by ,his features or speech4 ,to her ,he was just an ordinary ,jew1 at least to begin with4 ,there is no ,biblical warrant for surrounding the head of ,christ with a halo1 as the artists do4 ,his pure life no doubt gave ,him a distinguished look1 just as good character similarly distinguishes men today4 ,of course we know nothing definite as to the appearance of ,jesus1 for no picture or photograph of ,him do we possess4 ,the apostles draw attention only to the tone of ,his voice 7,mark #g3cd2 #ae3cd74 ,after the resurrection and ascension ,jesus seems still to have retained the form of a man 7,acts #g3ef2 #a ,tim4 #b3e74 #d4 ,,he ,,was ,,possessed ,,of ,a ,,human ,,physical ,,nature3 ,,body1 ,,soul ,,and ,,spirit4 ,john #a3ad--;,and the ,word was made flesh4 ,heb4 #b3ad--;,for asmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood1 he also himself likewise took part of the same4 ,matt4 #bf3ab--,she hath poured this ointment on my body4 v4 #ch--,my soul is exceeding sorrowful4 ,luke #bc3df--;,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit4 #bd3ci--;,behold my hands and my feet1 that it is ,i myself3 handle me1 and see2 for a spirit hath not flesh and bones1 as ye see me have4 ,by his incarnation ,christ came into possession of a real human nature2 ,he came not only unto ,his own1 but came unto them in the likeness of their own flesh4 ,of course we must distinguish between a human nature and a carnal nature4 ,a carnal nature is really not an integral part of man as ,god made him in the beginning4 ,christ's human nature was truly human1 yet sinless3 ,yet without sin 7,heb4 #d3ae74 #e4 ,,he ,,was ,,subject ,,to ,,the ,,sinless ,,infirmities ,,of ,,human ,,nature4 ,matt4 #d3b--;,he was afterward an hungred4 ,john #ai3bh--;,jesus4444saith1 ,i thirst4 #d3f--;,jesus4444being wearied with his journey4 ,matt4 #h3bd--;,but he was asleep4 ,john #ai3cj--;,he bowed his head1 and gave up the ghost4 ,he mourns over ,jerusalem 7,matt4 #bc3cg72 weeps over ,his dead friend ,lazarus1 7,john #aa3ce72 craves for human sympathy in the garden 7,matt4 #bf3cf1dj72 tempted in all points like as we are 7,heb4 #d3ae74 ,there is not a note in the great organ of our humanity which1 when touched1 does not find a sympathetic vibration in the mighty range and scope of our ,lord's being1 saving1 of course1 the jarring discord of sin4 ,but sin is not a necessary and integral part of unfallen human nature4 ,we speak of natural depravity1 but1 in reality1 depravity is unnatural4 ,god made ,adam upright and perfect2 sin is an accident2 it is not necessary to a true human being4 #f4 ,,human ,,names ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,him ,,by ,,himself ,,and ,,others4 ,luke #ai3aj--,son of ,man4 ,matt4 #a3ba--,thou shalt call his name ,jesus4 ,acts #b3bb--;,jesus of ,nazareth4 #a ,tim4 #b3e--,the man ,christ ,jesus4 ,no less than eighty times in the ,gospels does ,jesus call himself the ,son of ,man4 ,even when acquiescing in the title ,son of ,god as addressed to ,himself ,he sometimes immediately after substitutes the title ,son of ,man 7,john #a3di-ea2 ,matt #bf3fc1fd74 ,while we recognize the fact that there is something official in the title ,son of ,man1 something connected with ,his relation to the ,kingdom of ,god1 it is nevertheless true that in using this title ,he assuredly identifies ,himself with the sons of men4 ,while ,he is rightly called ,,the ,son of ,man1 because1 by ,his sinless nature and life ,he is unique among the sons of men1 ,he is nevertheless ,a ,son of ,man in that ,he is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,deity ,,of ,,jesus ,,cheist4 #a4 ,,divine ,,names ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,him4 a7 ,he is ,called ,god4 ,john #a3a--,the ,word was ,god4 ,heb4 #a3h--;,but unto the ,son he saith1 ,thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is for ever4 ,john #a3ah--,the only begotten ,son 7or better only begotten ,god74 ,absolute deity is here ascribed to ,christ4 #bj3bh-,my ,lord and my ,god4 ,not an expression of amazement1 but a confession of faith4 ,this confession accepted by ,christ1 hence equivalent to the acceptance of deity1 and an assertion of it on ,christ's part4 ,rom4 #i3e--;,god blessed forever4 ,tit4 #b3ac--,the great ,god and our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 #a ,john1#e3bj--;,his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is the true ,god4 ,in all these passages ,christ is called ,god4 ,it may be argued that while ,christ is here called ,god1 yet that does not argue for nor prove ,his deity1 for human judges are also called gods in ,john #aj3ce--;,if he called them gods unto whom the word of ,god came4 ,true1 but it is then used in a secondary and relative sense1 and not in the absolute sense as when used of the ,son4 b7 ,he is ,called the ,son of ,god4 ,the references containing this title are numerous4 ,among others see ,matt4 #af3af1 #ag2 #h3bi2 #ad3cc2 ,mark #a3a2 #ad3fa2 ,luke #a3ce2 #d3da4 ,while it may be true that in the synoptic ,gospels ,jesus may not be said to have claimed this title for ,himself1 yet ,he unhesitatingly accepted it when used of ,him and addressed to ,him by others4 ,further1 it seems clear from the charges made against ,him that ,he did claim such an honor for ,himself4 ,matt4 #bg3dj1 #dc--;,for he said1 ,i am the ,son of ,god4 ,mark #ad3fa1 #fb --,art thou the ,christ1 the ,son of the ,blessed 7,luke #bb3gj--;,art thou then the ,son of ,god8 ,and ,jesus said1 ,i am4 ,in ,john's ,gospel1 however1 ,jesus plainly calls ,himself the ,son of ,god 7#e3be2 #aj3cf #aa3d74 ,indeed1 ,john's ,gospel begins with ,christ as ,god3 ,the ,word was ,god1 and ends with the same thought3 ,my ,lord and my ,god 7#bj3bh74 7,chapter #ba is an epilogue47 ,dr4 ,james ,orr says1 in speaking of the title ,son of ,god as ascribed to ,christ3 ,this title is one to which there can be no finite comparison or analogy4 ,the oneness with ,god which it designates is not such reflex influence of the divine thought and character such as man and angels may attain1 but identity of essence constituting him not ,god-like alone1 but ,god4 ,others may be children of ,god in a moral sense2 but by this right of elemental nature1 none but ,he2 ,he is herein1 the only ,son2 so little separate1 so close to the inner divine life which ,he expresses1 that ,he is in the bosom of the ,father4 ,this language denotes two natures homogeneous1 entirely one1 and both so essential to the ,godhead that neither can be omitted from any truth you speak of it4 ,if when ,he called ,himself the ,son of ,god ,he did not mean more than that ,he was a son of ,god1 why then did the high priest accuse ,him of blasphemy when ,he claimed this title 7,matt4 #bf3 #fa-fc78 ,does not ,mark #ab3f--;,having yet therefore one son1 his well-beloved1 he sent him also last unto them1 saying1 ,they will reverence my son1 indicate a special sonship8 ,the sonship of ,christ is human and historical1 it is true2 but it is more3 it is transcendent1 unique1 solitary4 ,that something unique and solitary lay in this title seems clear from ,john #e3ah--,the ,jews sought the more to kill ,him4444because he4444said4444also that ,god was ,his ,father1 making ,himself equal with ,god4 ,the use of the word only begotten also indicates the uniqueness of this sonship4 ,for use of the word see ,luke #g3ab--,the only son of his mother4 #i3ch--;,for he is mine only child4 ,this word is used of ,christ by ,john in #a3ad1 #ah2 #c3af1 #ah2 #a ,john #d3i1 and distinguishes between ,christ as the only ,son1 and the many4444children of ,god 7,john #a3ab1 #ac74 ,in one sense ,christ has no brethren3 ,he stands absolutely alone4 ,this contrast is clearly emphasized in ,john #a3ad1 #ah--only begotten ,son1 and #a3ab 7,r4 ,v47--many4444children4 ,he is the ,son from eternity3 they become sons in time4 ,he is one2 they are many4 ,he is ,son by nature2 they are sons by adoption and grace4 ,he is ,son of the same essence with the ,father2 they are of different substance from the ,father4 c7 ,he is ,called ,the ,lord4 ,acte #d3cc2 #af3ca2 ,luke #b3aa2 ,acts #i3ag2 ,matt4 #bb3dc-de4 ,it is true that this term is used of men1 e4g41 ,acts #af3cj--,sirs 7,lords71 what must ,i do to be saved8 ,john #ab3ba--,sir 7,lord71 we would see ,jesus4 ,it is not used1 however1 in this unique sense1 as the connection will clearly show4 ,in our ,lord's day1 the title ,lord as used of ,christ was applicable only to the ,deity1 to ,god4 ,the ,ptolemies and the ,roman ,emperors would allow the name to be applied to them only when they permitted themselves to be deified4 ,the archaeological discoveries at ,oxyrhyncus put this fact beyond a doubt4 ,so when the ,new ,testament writers speak of ,jesus as ,lord1 there can be no question as to what they mean4 --,wood4 d7 ,other ,divine ,names are ,ascribed to ,him3 ,the first and the last 7,rev4 #a3ag74 ,this title used of ,jehovah in ,isa4 #da3d2 #dd3f2 #dh3ab4 ,the ,alpha and ,omega 7,rev4 #bb3ac1 #af72 cf4 #a3h where it is used of ,god4 #b4 ,,divine ,,worship ,,is ,,ascribed ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the ,scriptures recognize worship as being due to ,god1 to ,deity alone3 ,matt4 #d3aj--,worship the ,lord thy ,god1 and him only4 ,rev4 #bb3h1 #i--;,i fell down to worship before the feet of the angel444,then saith he unto me1 ,see thou do it not34444 worship ,god4 ,john was not allowed even to worship ,god at the feet of the angel4 ,acts #ad3ad1 #ae2 #aj3be1 #bf--;,cornelius fell down at the feet of ,peter1 and worshipped him4 ,but ,peter took him up1 saying1 ,stand up2 ,i myself also am a man4 ,see what an awful fate was meted out to ,herod because he dared to accept worship that belonged to ,god only 7,acts #ab3bj-be74 ,yet ,jesus ,christ unhesitatingly accepted such worsnip1 indeed1 called for it 7,john #d3aj74 ,see ,john #bj3bh2 ,matt4 #ad3cc2 ,luke #bd3eb2 #e3h4 ,the homage given to ,christ in these scriptures would be nothing short of sacrilegious idolatry if ,christ were not ,god4 ,there seemed to be not the slightest reluctance on the part of ,christ in the acceptance of such worship4 ,therefore either ,christ was ,god or ,he was an imposter4 ,but ,his whole life refutes the idea of imposture4 ,it was ,he who said1 ,worship ,god only2 and ,he had no right to take the place of ,god if ,he were not ,god4 ,god himself commands all men to render worship to the ,son1 even as they do to ,him4 ,john #e3bc1 #bd--,that all men should honor the ,son1 even as they honor the ,father4 ,even the angels are commanded to render worship to the ,son4 ,heb4 #a3f--;,and let all the angels of ,god worship him4 ,phil4 #b3aj--,that at the name of ,jesus every knee should bow4 ,it was the practice of the apostles and the early church to render worship to ,christ3 #b ,cor4 #ab3h-aj--;,i besought the ,lord4 ,acts #g3ei--;,and they stoned ,stephen1 calling upon ,god1 and saying1 ,lord ,jesus1 receive my spirit4 #a ,cor4 #a3b--,them that444call upon the name of ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,the ,christians of all ages have not been satisfied with admiring ,christ1 they have adored and worshipped ,him4 ,they have approached ,his person in the attitude of self-sacrifice and worship as in the presence of and to a ,god4 ,robert ,browning quoted1 in a letter to a lady in her last illness1 the words of ,charles ,lamb1 when in a gay fancy with some friends as to how he and they would feel if the greatest of the dead were to appear suddenly in flesh and blood once more--on the first suggestion1 and if ,christ entered this room8 changed his tone at once1 and stuttered out as his manner was when moved3 ,you see --if ,shakespeare entered1 we should all rise2 if ,christ appeared1 we must kneel4 #c4 ,,he ,,possesses ,,the ,,qualities ,,and ,,properties ,,of ,,deity4 a7 ,pre-,existence4 ,john #a3a--;,in the beginning2 cf4 ,gen #a3a ,john #h3eh--;,before ,abraham was1 ,i am4 ,that is to say3 ,abraham's existence presupposes mine1 not mine his4 ,he was dependent upon me1 not ,i upon him for existence4 ,abraham came into being at a certain point of time1 but ,i am4 ,here is simple being without beginning or end4 ,see also ,john #ag3e2 ,phil4 #b3f2 ,col4 #a3af1 #ag4 b7 ,self-,existence and ,life-,giving ,power3 ,john #e3ba1 #bf--;,for as the ,father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them1 even so the ,son quickeneth whom he will4 ,for as the ,father hath life in himself1 so hath he given to the ,son to have life in himself4 #a3d--;,in him was life4 ,see also #ad3f2 ,heb4 #g3af2 ,john #ag3c-e2 #aj3ag1 #ah4 ,these scriptures teach that all life--physical1 moral1 spiritual1 eternal--has its source in ,christ4 c7 ,immutability3 ,heb4 #ac3h--;,jesus ,christ the same yesterday1 and today1 and for ever4 ,see also #a3ab4 ,all nature1 which like a garment ,he throws around ,him is subject to change and decay2 ,jesus ,christ is the same always1 ,he never changes4 ,human teachers1 such as are spoken of in the context1 may change1 but ,he1 the ,christ1 never4 d7 ,all the ,fulness of the ,godhead ,dwelt in ,him3 ,col4 #b3i--,not merely the divine perfections and attributes of ,deity1 but 7theotes7 the very essence and nature of the ,godhead4 ,he was not merely ,god-like2 ,he was ,god4 #d4 ,,divine ,,offices ,,abe ,,ascribed ,,to ,,him4 a7 ,he is the ,creator3 ,john #a3c--;,all things were made by ,him4 ,in the creation ,he was the acting power and personal instrument4 ,creation is the revelation of ,his mind and might4 ,heb4 #a3aj shows the dignity of the ,creator as contrasted with the creature4 ,col4 #a3af contradicts the ,gnostic theory of emanations1 and shows ,christ to be the creator of all created things and beings4 ,rev4 #c3ad--,the beginning of the creation of ,god1 means beginning in the active sense1 the origin1 that by which a thing begins to be4 ,col4 #a3ae--;first-born1 not made2 compare with ,col4 #a3ag1 where the for of v4 #af shows ,him to be not included in the created things1 but the origin of and superior to them all4 ,he is the ,creator of the universe 7v4 #af71 just as ,he is the ,head of the church 7v4 #ah74 b7 ,he is the ,upholder of ,all ,things3 ,col4 #a3ag2 ,heb4 #a3c4 ,the universe is neither self-sustaining nor is it forsaken by ,god 7,deism74 ,christ's power causes all things to hold together4 ,the pulses of universal life are regulated and controlled by the throbbings of the mighty heart of ,christ4 c7 ,he ,has the ,right to ,forgive ,sins4 ,mark #b3e-aj4 ,luke #g3dh--;,and he said unto her1 ,thy sins are forgiven4 ,certain it is that the ,pharisees recognized that ,christ was here assuming a divine prerogative4 ,no mere man had any right to forgive sins4 ,god alone could do that4 ,hence the ,pharisees' charge of blasphemy4 ,this is no declaration of forgiveness1 based upon the knowledge of the man's penitence4 ,christ does not merely declare sins forgiven4 ,he actually forgives them4 ,further1 ,jesus1 in the parable of the ,two ,debtors 7,luke #g71 declares that sins were committed against ,himself 7cf4 ,psa4 #ea3d--;,against thee1 thee only1 have ,i sinned74 d7 ,the ,raising of the ,bodies of ,men is ,ascribed to ,him3 ,john #f3ci1 #dj1 #ed2 #aa3be4 ,five times it is here declared by ,jesus that it is ,his prerogative to raise the dead4 ,it is true that others raised the dead1 but under what different conditions8 ,they worked by a delegated power 7,acts #i3cd72 but ,christ1 by ,his own power 7,john #aj3ag1 #ah74 ,note the agony of ,elisha and others1 as compared with the calmness of ,christ4 ,none of these claimed to raise the dead by his own power1 nor to have any such power in the general resurrection of all men4 ,christ did make such claims4 e7 ,he is to be the ,judge of ,all ,men2 ,john #e3bb--;,for the ,father judgeth no man1 but hath committed all judgment unto the ,son4 #b ,tim4 #d3a2 ,acts #ag3ca2 ,matt4 #be3ca-df4 ,the ,man of the ,cross is to be the ,man of the throne4 ,the issues of the judgment are all in ,his hand4 #e4 ,,divine ,,attributes ,,are ,,possessed ,,by ,,him4 a7 ,omnipotence4 ,matt #bh3ah--;,all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth4 ,rev4 #a3h2 ,john #ag3b2 ,eph4 ,i3#bj-bb4 ,here is power over three realms3 ,first1 all power on earth3 over disease 7,luke #d3ch-da72 death 7,john #aa72 nature1 water into wine 7,john #b72 tempest 7,matt4 #h74 ,second1 all power in hell3 over demons 7,luke #d3ce1 #cf1 #da72 evil angels 7,eph4 #f74 ,third1 all power in heaven3 7,eph4 #a3bj-bb74 ,finally1 power over all things3 7,heb4 #b3h2 #a3c2 ,matt4 #bh3ah74 b7 ,omniscience4 ,john #af3cj--,now are we sure that thou knowest all things4 #b3bd2 ,matt4 #bd2 #be2 ,col4 #b3c4 ,illustrations3 ,john #d3af-ai2 ,mark #b3h2 ,john #a3dh4 ,our ,lord always leaves the impression that ,he knew all things in detail1 both past and future1 and that this knowledge comes from ,his original perception of the events4 ,he does not learn them by acquisition4 ,he simply knows them by immediate perception4 ,such utterances as ,matt4 #bd and ,luke #ba carry in them a subtle difference from the utterances of the prophets4 ,the latter spoke as men who were quite remote in point of time from their declaration of unfolding events4 ,jesus spoke as one who is present in the midst of the events which ,he depicts4 ,he does not refer to events in the past as if ,he were quoting from the historic narrative in the ,old ,testament4 ,the only instance which casts doubt upon this view is ,mark #ac3cb4 ,the parallel passage in ,matthew omits1 in many ancient versions1 the words2 ,neither the ,son4 ,the saying in ,mark is capable of an interpretation which does not contradict this view of ,his omniscience4 ,this is an omniscience nevertheless1 which in its manifestation to men is under something of human limitation4--,wood4 ,this limitation of knowledge is no argument against the infallibility of those things which ,jesus did teach3 for example1 the ,mosaic authorship of the ,pentateuch4 ,that argument1 says ,liddon1 involves a confusion between limitation of knowledge and liability to error2 whereas1 plainly enough1 a limitation of knowledge is one thing1 and fallibility is another4 ,st4 ,paul says1 ,we know in part1 and ,we see through a glass darkly4 ,yet ,paul is so certain of the truth of that which he teaches1 as to exclaim1 ,but though we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4 ,paul clearly believed in his own infallibility as a teacher of religious truth1 and the church of ,christ has ever since regarded his epistles as part of an infallible literature4 ,but it is equally clear that ,paul believed his knowledge of truth to be limited4 ,infallibility does not imply omniscience1 any more than limited knowledge implies error4 ,if a human teacher were to decline to speak upon a given subject1 by saying that he did not know enough about it1 this would not be a reason for disbelieving him when he proceeded to speak confidently upon a totally different subject1 thereby at least implying that he did not know enough to warrant his speaking4 ,on the contrary1 his silence in the one case would be a reason for trusting his statements in the other4 ,the argument which is under consideration in the text would have been really sound1 if our ,saviour had fixed the date of the day of judgment and the event had shown him to be mistaken4 ,why stumble over the limitation of this attribute and not over the others8 ,did ,he not hunger and thirst1 for example8 ,as ,god ,he is omnipresent1 yet as man ,he is present only in one place4 ,as ,god ,he is omnipotent2 yet1 on one occasion at least1 ,he could do no mighty works because of the unbelief of men4 c7 ,omnipresence4 ,matt4 #ah3bj--;,for where two or three are gathered together in my name1 there am ,i in the midst of them4 ,he is with every missionary 7,matt4 #bh3bj74 ,he is prayed to by ,christians in every place 7#a ,cor4 #a3b74 ,prayer would be a mockery if we were not assured that ,christ is everywhere present to hear4 ,he fills all things1 every place 7,eph4 #a3bc74 ,but such an all pervading presence is true only of ,deity4 #f4 ,,his ,,name ,,is ,,coupled ,,with ,,that ,,of ,,god ,,the ,,father4 ,the manner in which the name of ,jesus ,christ is coupled with that of ,god the ,father clearly implies equality of the ,son with the ,father4 ,compare the following3 a7 ,the ,apostolic ,benediction4 #b ,cor4 #ac3ad4 ,here the ,son equally with the ,father is the bestower of grace4 b7 ,the ,baptismal ,formula4 ,matt4 #bh3ai2 ,acts #b3ch4 ,in the name1 not the names 7plural74 ,how would it sound to say1 ,in the name of the ,father and of ,moses8 ,would it not seem sacrilegious8 ,can we imagine the effect of such words on the apostles8 c7 ,other ,passages4 ,john #ad3bc--,we will come3 the ,father and ,i4 #ag3c--;,and this is life eternal that they might know thee1 the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ4 ,the content of saving faith includes belief in ,jesus ,christ equally with the ,father4 #aj3cj--;,i and my ,father are one4 ,one is neuter1 not masculine1 meaning that ,jesus and the ,father constitute one power by which the salvation of man is secured4 #b ,thess4 #b3af1 #ag--,now our ,lord ,jesus ,christ himself1 and ,god1 even our ,father444comfort your hearts4 ,these two names1 with a verb in the singular1 intimate the oneness of the ,father with the ,son4 #g4 ,,the ,,self-,,consciousness ,,of ,,jesus ,,regarding ,,his ,,own ,,person ,,and ,,work4 ,it will be interesting to search the ,gospel records to ascertain what was in the mind of ,jesus concerning ,himself--,his relation to the ,father in particular4 ,what bearing has the testimony of ,jesus upon the question of ,his deity8 ,is the present ,christian consciousness borne out by the ,gospel narratives8 ,is ,jesus ,christ a man of a much higher type of faith than ours1 yet one with whom we believe in ,god8 ,or is ,he1 equally with ,god1 the object of our faith8 ,do we believe with ,him1 or on ,him8 ,is there any indication in the words ascribed to ,jesus1 as recorded in the ,gospels1 of a consciousness on ,his part of ,his unique relation to ,god the ,father8 ,is it ,jesus ,himself who is responsible for the ,christian's consciousness concerning ,his deity1 or is the ,church reading into the ,gospel accounts something that is not really there8 ,let us see4 a7 ,as ,set ,forth in the ,narrative of ,his ,visit to the ,temple4 ,luke #b3da-eb4 ,this is a single flower out of the wonderfully enclosed garden of the first thirty years of our ,lord's life4 ,the emphatic words1 for our purpose1 are thy father1 and my ,father4 ,these are the first recorded words of ,jesus4 ,is there not here an indication of the consciousness on the part of ,jesus of a unique relationship with ,his heavenly ,father8 ,mary1 not ,joseph1 asked the question1 so contrary to ,jewish custom4 ,she said3 ,thy father2 ,jesus replied in substance3 ,did you say my father has been seeking me8 ,it is remarkable to note that ,christ omits the word father when referring to ,his parents1 cf4 ,matt4 #ab3dh2 ,mark #c3cc1 #cd4 ,my ,father6 ,no other human lips had ever uttered these words4 ,men said1 and ,he taught them to say1 ,our ,father4 ,it is not too much to say that in this incident ,christ sees1 rising before ,him1 the great truth that ,god1 and not ,joseph1 is ,his ,father1 and that it is in ,his true ,father's house that ,he now stands4 b7 ,as ,revealed at ,his ,baptism3 ,matt4 #c3ac-ag2 ,mark #a3i-ll2 ,luke #c3ba4 ,here are some things to remember in connection with ,christ's baptism3 ,first1 ,jesus was well acquainted with the relation of ,john and his ministry to the ,old ,testament prophecy1 as well as of ,john's own announcement that he was the ,messiah's fore-runner1 and that he 7,john7 was not worthy to untie the latchet of ,christ's shoes4 ,second1 to come then to ,john1 and to submit to baptism at his hands1 would indicate that ,jesus conceded the truth of all that ,john had said4 ,this is emphasized when we remember ,jesus' eulogy of ,john 7,matt4 #aa74 ,thirdly1 ,there is the descent of the ,spirit1 and the heavenly voice2 what meaning did these things have to ,jesus8 ,if ,christ's sermon in the synagogue at ,nazareth is of any help here1 we must believe that at ,his baptism1 so much more than at the age of twelve1 ,he was conscious that in thus being anointed ,he was associating ,himself in some peculiar way with the prophecy of ,isaiah1 chapters #db and #fa3 ,behold my ,servant444 ,i have put my ,spirit upon ,him4 ,all1 therefore1 that must have been wrapped up in the thought of the ,servant of the ,lord in the ,old ,testament would assuredly be quickened in his consciousness that day when the ,spirit descended upon ,him4 ,see also ,luke #d3af-ag2 ,acts #aj3 #ch2 ,matt4 #ab3bh4 ,but what did the heavenly voice signify to ,christ8 ,this is my beloved ,son takes us back to the second ,psalm where this person is addressed as the ideal ,king of ,israel4 ,the last clause--in whom ,i am well pleased--refers to ,isaiah #db1 and portrays the servant who is anointed and empowered by the endowment of ,god's ,spirit4 ,we must admit that the mind of ,jesus was steeped in the prophecies of the ,old ,testament1 and that ,he knew to whom these passages referred4 ,the ordinary ,jew knew that much4 ,is it too much to say that on that baptismal day ,jesus was keenly conscious that these ,old ,testament predictions were fulfilled in ,him8 ,we think not4 c7 ,as ,set ,forth in the ,record of the ,temptation4 ,matt4 #d3a-aa2 ,mark #a3ab1 #ac2 ,luke #d3a-ac4 ,that ,jesus entered into the temptation in the wilderness with the consciousness of the revelation ,he received1 and of which ,he was conscious at the baptism1 seems clear from the narratives4 ,certain it is that ,satan based his temptations upon ,christ's consciousness of ,his unique relation to ,god as ,his ,son4 ,throughout the whole of the temptation ,satan regards ,christ as being in a unique sense the ,son of ,god1 the ideal ,king1 through whom the kingdom of ,god is to be established upon the earth4 ,indeed1 so clearly is the kingship of ,jesus recognized in the temptation narrative that the whole question agitated there is as to how that kingdom may be established in the world4 ,it must be admitted that a careful reading of the narratives forces us to the conclusion that throughout all the temptation ,christ was conscious of ,his position with reference to the founding of ,god's kingdom in the world4 d7 ,as ,set ,forth in the ,calling of the ,twelve and the ,seventy4 ,the record of this event is found in ,matt4 #aj2 ,mark #c3ac-ai2 #f3g-ac2 ,luke #i3a-f2 #aj3a-ad4 ,this important event in the life of our ,lord had an important bearing upon ,his self-consciousness as to ,his person and work4 ,let us note some of the details3 ,first1 as to the number1 twelve4 ,is there no suggestion here with reference to the ,new ,jerusalem when the ,messiah shall sit upon the throne surrounded by the twelve apostles seated on their thrones8 ,is not ,jesus here conscious of ,himself as being the centre of the scene thus described in the ,apocalypse8 ,second1 ,he gave them power4 ,is not ,jesus here repeating what had been done for ,him at ,his baptism3 conveying super-human power8 ,who can give this power that is strong enough to make even demons obey8 ,no one less than ,god surely4 ,third1 note that the message which ,he committed to the twelve concerned matters of life and death4 ,not to receive that message would be equivalent to the rejection of the ,father4 ,fourth1 all this is to be done in ,his name1 and for ,his name's sake4 ,fidelity to ,jesus is that on which the final destiny of men depends4 ,everything rises or falls in its relation to ,him4 ,could such words be uttered and there be no consciousness on the part of the speaker of a unique relationship to the ,father and the things of eternity8 ,know you of anything bolder than this8 ,fifth1 ,he calls upon men to sacrifice their tenderest affections for ,him4 ,he is to be chosen before even father and mother 7,matt4 #aj3cd-ci74 e7 ,as ,revealed in the ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,matt4 #e-g2 ,luke #f3bj-di4 ,two references will be sufficient here4 ,who is this that dares to set ,himself up as superior to ,moses and the law of ,moses1 by saying1 ,but ,i say unto you8 ,then1 again1 listen to ,christ as ,he proclaims ,himself to be the judge of all men at the last day 7,matt4 #g3ba74 ,could ,jesus say all this without having any consciousness of ,his unique relationship to all these things8 ,assuredly not4 ,b4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the ,death of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i4 ,,its ,,importance4 #a4 ,,it ,,has ,a ,,supreme ,,place ,,in ,,the ,,christian ,,religion4 ,christianity is a religion of atonement distinctively4 ,the elimination of the doctrine of the death of ,christ from the religion that bears ,his name would mean the surrender of its uniqueness and claim to be the only true religion1 the supreme and final revelation from ,god to the sons of men4 ,it is its redemption feature that distinguishes ,christianity from any and all other religions4 ,if you surrender this distinctive ,christian doctrine from its creed1 then this supreme religion is brought down to the level of many other prevailing religious systems4 ,christianity is not merely a system of ethics2 it is the history of redemption through ,jesus ,christ1 the personal ,redeemer4 #b4 ,,its ,,vital ,,relation ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the atonement is so closely related to ,jesus ,christ1 so allied to ,his work1 as set forth in the ,scriptures1 that it is absolutely inseparable from it4 ,christ was not primarily a religious teacher1 a philanthropist1 an ethical example2 ,he was all these1 yea1 and much more--,he was first and foremost the world's ,saviour and ,redeemer4 ,other great men have been valued for their lives2 ,he1 above all1 for ,his death1 around which ,god and man are reconciled4 ,the ,cross is the magnet which sends the electric current through the telegraph between earth and heaven1 and makes both ,testaments thrill1 through the ages of the past and future1 with living1 harmonious1 and saving truth4 ,other men have said3 ,if ,i could only live1 ,i would establish and perpetuate an empire4 ,the ,christ of ,galilee said3 ,my death shall do it4 ,let us understand that the power of ,christianity lies1 not in hazy indefiniteness1 not in shadowy forms1 not so much even in definite truths and doctrines1 but in the truth1 and in the doctrine of ,christ crucified and risen from the dead4 ,unless ,christianity be more tnan ethical1 it is not1 nor can it really be ethical at all4 ,it is redemptive1 dynamic through that redemption1 and ethical withal4 #c4 ,,its ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,incarnation4 ,it is not putting the matter too strongly when we say that the incarnation was for the purpose of the atonement4 ,at least this seems to be the testimony of the ,scriptures4 ,jesus ,christ partook of flesh and blood in order that ,he might die 7,heb4 #b3ad74 ,he was manifested to take away our sins 7#a ,john #c3e74 ,christ came into this world to give ,his life a ransom for many 7,matt4 #bj3bh74 ,the very purpose of the entire coming of ,christ into the word1 in all its varying aspects1 was that1 by assuming a nature like unto our own1 ,he might offer up ,his life as a sacrifice for the sins of men4 ,the faith of the atonement presupposes the faith of the incarnation4 ,so close have been the relation of these two fundamental doctrines that their relation is one of the great questions which have divided men in their opinions in the matter3 which is primary and which secondary2 which is to be regarded as the most necessary to man's salvation1 as the primary and the highest fact in the history of ,god's dealings with man4 ,the atonement naturally arises out of the incarnation so that the ,son of ,god could not appear in our nature without undertaking such a work as the word atonement denotes4 ,the incarnation is a pledge and anticipation of the work of atonement4 ,the incarnation is most certainly the declaration of a purpose on the part of ,god to save the world4 ,but how was the world to be saved if not through the atonement8 #d4 ,,its ,,prominence ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,it was the claim of ,jesus1 in ,his conversation with the two disciples on the way to ,emmaus1 that ,moses1 and all the prophets1 indeed1 all the ,scriptures1 dealt with the subject of ,his death 7,luke #bd3bg1 #dd74 ,that the death of ,christ was the one great subject into which the ,old ,testament prophets searched deeply is clear from #a ,pet4 #a3aa1 #ab4 ,the atonement is the scarlet cord running through every page in the entire ,bible4 ,cut the ,bible anywhere1 and it bleeds2 it is red with redemption truth4 ,it is said that one out of every forty-four verses in the ,new ,testament deals with this theme1 and that the death of ,christ is mentioned in all one hundred and seventy-five times4 ,when you add to these figures the typical and symbolical teaching of the ,old ,testament some idea is gained as to the important place which this doctrine occupies in the sacred ,scriptures4 #e4 ,,the ,,fundamental ,,theme ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,paul says3 ,i delivered unto you first of all 7i4e41 first in order2 the first plank in the ,gospel platform2 the truth of primary importance7 4 4 4 that ,christ died for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3a-c74 ,there can be no ,gospel story1 message or preaching without the story of the death of ,christ as the ,redeemer of men4 #f4 ,,the ,,one ,,grand ,,theme ,,in ,,heaven4 ,moses and ,elias1 the heavenly visitors to this earth1 conversed about it 7,luke #i3cj1 #ca71 even though ,peter was ashamed of the same truth 7,matt4 #af3ba-be74 ,the theme of the song of the redeemed in heaven is that of ,christ's death 7,rev4 #e3h-ab74 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,scriptural ,,definition ,,of ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,christ4 ,the ,scriptures set forth the death of ,jesus ,christ in a four-fold way3 #a4 ,,as ,a ,,ransom4 ,matt4 #bj3bh2 #a ,pet4 l2#ah2 #a ,tim4 #b3f2 ,gal4 #c3ac4 ,the meaning of a ransom is clearly set forth in ,lev4 #be3dg-di3 ,to deliver a thing or person by paying a price2 to buy back a person or thing by paying the price for which it is held in captivity4 ,so sin is like a slave market in which sinners are sold under sin 7,rom4 #g3ad72 souls are under sentence of death 7,ezek4 #ah3d74 ,christ1 by ,his death1 buys sinners out of the market1 thereby indicating complete deliverance from the service of sin4 ,he looses the bonds1 sets the prisoners free1 by paying a price--that price being ,his own precious blood4 ,to whom this ransom is paid is a debatable question3 whether to ,satan for his captives1 or to eternal and necessary holiness1 to the divine law1 to the claims of ,god who is by ,his nature the holy ,lawgiver4 ,the latter1 referring to ,god and ,his holiness1 is probably preferable4 ,christ redeemed us from the curse of a broken law by ,himself being made a curse for us4 ,his death was the ransom price paid for our deliverance4 #b4 ,a ,,propitiation4 ,rom4 #c3be2 #a ,john #b3b2 ,heb4 #b3ag 7,r4 ,v474 ,christ is the propitiation for our sins2 ,he is set forth by ,god to be a propitiation through ,his blood4 ,propitiation means mercy-seat1 or covering4 ,the mercy-seat covering the ark of the covenant was called propitiation 7,exod4 #be3bb2 ,heb4 #i3e47 ,it is that by which ,god covers1 overlooks1 and pardons the penitent and believing sinner because of ,christ's death4 ,propitiation furnishes a ground on the basis of which ,god could set forth ,his righteousness1 and yet pardon sinful men1 ,rom4 #c3be1 #bf2 ,heb4 #i3ae4 ,christ ,himself is the propitiatory sacrifice1 #a ,john #b3b4 ,the death of ,jesus ,christ is set forth as the ground on which a righteous ,god can pardon a guilty and sinful race without in any way compromising ,his righteousness4 #c4 ,,as ,a ,,reconciliation4 ,rom4 #e3aj2 #b ,cor4 #e3ah1 #ai2 ,eph4 #b3af2 ,col4 #a3bj4 ,we are reconciled to ,god by the death of ,his ,son1 by ,his ,cross1 and by the blood of ,his ,cross--that is the message of these scriptures4 ,reconciliation has two sides2 active and passive4 ,in the active sense we may look upon ,christ's death as removing the enmity existing between ,god and man1 and which had hitherto been a barrier to fellowship 7see the above quoted texts74 ,this state of existing enmity is set forth in such scriptures as ,rom4 #h3g--;,because the carnal mind is enmity against ,god4 ,also ,eph4 #b3ae2 ,jas4 #d3d4 ,in the passive sense of the word it may indicate the change of attitude on the part of man toward ,god1 this change being wrought in the heart of man by a vision of the ,cross of ,christ2 a change from enmity to friendship thus taking place1 cf4 #b ,cor4 #e3bj4 ,it is probably better to state the case thus3 ,god is propitiated1 and the sinner is reconciled 7#b ,cor4 #e3ah-bj74 #d4 ,,as ,a ,,substitution4 ,isa4 #ec3f2 #a ,pet4 #b3bd1 #c3ah2 #b ,cor4 #e3ba4 ,the story of the passover lamb 7,exod4 #ab71 with #a ,cor4 #e3g1 illustrates the meaning of substitution as here used3 one life given in the stead of another4 ,the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all4 ,god made ,christ1 who knew no sin1 to be sin for us4 ,christ ,himself bore our sins in ,his own body on the tree--this is substitution4 ,christ died in our place1 bore our sins1 paid the penalty due our sins2 and all this1 not by force1 but willingly 7,john #aj3ag1 #ah74 ,the idea of substitution is well illustrated by the nature of the preposition used in connection with this phase of ,christ's death3 ,in ,matt4 #hj-bh ,christ is said to give ,his life a ransom for all 7also #a ,tim4 #b3f74 ,that this preposition means instead of is clear from its use in ,matt4 #b3bb--;,archelaus did reign in the room 7or in the stead7 of his father1 ,herod4 ,also in ,luke #aa3aa--,will he for a fish give him a serpent8 7,see ,heb4 #ab3b1 #af47 ,substitution1 then1 as used here means this3 ,that something happened to ,christ1 and because it happened to ,christ1 it need not happen to us4 ,christ died for our sins2 we need not die for them if we accept ,his sacrifice4 ,for further illustrations1 see ,gen4 #bb3ac2 ,god providing a ram instead of ,isaac2 also ,barabbas freed and ,christ bearing his cross and taking his place4 ,upon a life ,i did not live2 ,upon a death ,i did not die2 ,upon another's death1 another's life1 ,i risk my soul eternally4 ,,iii4 ,,unscriptural ,,views ,,of ,,christ',s ,,death4 ,there are certain so called modern views of the atonement which it may be well to examine briefly1 if only to show how unscriptural they are4 ,that the modern mind fails to see in the doctrine of the atonement what the orthodox faith has held for centuries to be the truth of ,god regarding this fundamental ,christian doctrine1 there is certainly no doubt4 ,to some minds today the death of ,jesus ,christ was but the death of a martyr1 counted in the same category as the death of ,john ,huss or ,savonarola4 ,or perchance ,christ's death was an exhibition to a sinful world of ,god's wondrous love4 ,or it may be that ,christ1 in ,his suffering of death1 remains forever the sublime example of adherence to principles of righteousness and truth1 even to the point of death4 ,or1 again1 ,calvary may be an episode in ,god's government of the world4 ,god1 being holy1 deemed it necessary to show to the world ,his hatred of sin1 and so ,his wrath fell on ,christ4 ,the modern mind does not consider ,christ's death as in any sense vicarious1 or substitutionary4 ,indeed1 it fails to see the justice as well as the need or possibility of one man1 and ,he so innocent1 suffering for the sins of the whole race--past1 present and future4 ,every man must bear the penalty of his own sin1 so we are told2 from that there is no escape1 unless1 and it is fervently hoped and confidently expected1 that ,god1 whose wondrous love surpasses all human conception1 should1 as ,he doubtless will1 overlook the eternal consequences of man's sin because of the great love wherewith ,he loves the race4 ,the love of ,god is the hope of the race's redemption4 ,what shall the ,christian church say to these things1 and what shall be her reply8 ,to the ,word of ,god must the church resort for her weapons in this warfare4 ,if the so called modern mind and its doctrinal views agree with the ,scriptures1 then the ,christian church may allow herself to be influenced by the spirit of the age4 ,but if the modern mind and the ,scriptures do not agree in their results1 then the church of ,christ must part company with the modern mind4 ,here are some of the modern theories of the atonement3 #a4 ,,the ,,accident ,,theory4 ,briefly stated1 this is the theory3 ,the ,cross was something unforeseen in the life of ,christ4 ,calvary was not in the plan of ,god for ,his ,son4 ,christ's death was an accident1 as unforeseen and unexpected as the death of any other martyr was unforeseen and unexpected4 ,to this we reply3 ,jesus was conscious all the time of ,his forthcoming death4 ,he foretold it again and again4 ,he was always conscious of the plots against ,his life4 ,this truth is corroborated by the following scriptures3 ,matt4 #af-ba2 ,mark #i3cj-cb2 ,matt4 #bj3ag-ai2 ,luke #ah3ca-cd2 ,matt1 #bj3bh2 #bf3b1 #f1 #bd1 #ci-db2 ,luke #bb3ai1 #bj4 ,further1 in ,john #aj3ag1 #ah we have words which distinctly contradict this false theory3 ,therefore doth my ,father love me1 because ,i lay down my life1 that ,i might take it again4 ,no man taketh it from me1 but ,i lay it down of myself4 ,i have power to lay it down1 and ,i have power to take it again4 ,this commandment have ,i received of my ,father4 ,in addition to this we may make mention of the many1 many references and prophecies of the ,old ,testament to the fact of ,christ's death4 ,then there is ,christ's own testimony to the fact of ,his death being predicted and foretold by the prophets 7,luke #bd3bf1 #bg1 #dd74 ,see also ,isa4 #ec2 ,psa4 #bb2 #fi4 #b4 ,,the ,,martyr ,,theory4 ,it is as follows3 ,christ's death was similar in kind to that of ,john ,huss1 or ,polycarp1 or any other noble man who has given up his life as a sacrifice for a principle and for truth4 ,to this we reply3 ,then ,christ should have so declared ,himself4 ,paul should have said so4 ,that word was used for other ,christian deaths1 why not for ,christ's8 ,then there is no mystery about the atonement1 and the wonder is that ,paul should have said anything about the mystery4 ,further1 if ,christ died as a martyr ,he might1 at least1 have had the same comforting presence of ,god afforded other martyrs in the hour of their death4 ,why should ,he be ,god-forsaken in that crucial hour8 ,is it right that ,god should make the holiest man in all the ages the greatest sufferer1 if that man were but a martyr8 ,when you recall the shrinking of ,gethsemane1 could you really--and we say it reverently--call ,jesus as brave a man facing death as many another martyr has been8 ,why should ,christ's soul be filled with anguish 7,luke #bb3ci-df71 while ,paul the ,apostle was exultant with joy 7,phil4 #a3bc78 ,stephen died a martyr's death1 but ,paul never preached forgiveness through the death of ,stephen4 ,such a view of ,christ's death may beget martyrs1 but it can never save sinners4 #c4 ,,the ,,moral ,,example ,,theory4 ,christ's death has an influence upon mankind for moral improvement4 ,the example of ,his suffering ought to soften human hearts1 and help a man to reform1 repent1 and better his condition4 ,so ,god grants pardon and forgiveness on simple repentance and reformation4 ,in the same way a drunkard might call a man his saviour by whose influence he was induced to become sober and industrious4 ,but did the sight of ,his suffering move the ,jews to repentance8 ,does it move men today8 ,such a view of ,christ's death does not deal with the question with which it is always connected1 viz41 the question of sin4 #d4 ,,the ,,governmental ,,theory4 ,this means that the benevolence of ,god requires that ,he should make an example of suffering in ,christ in order to exhibit to man that sin is displeasing in ,his sight4 ,god's government of the world necessitates that ,he show ,his wrath against sin4 ,true1 but we reply3 ,why do we need an incarnation for the manifestation of that purpose8 ,why not make a guilty1 and not an absolutely innocent and guileless man such an example of ,god's displeasure upon sin8 ,were there not men enough in existence8 ,why create a new being for such a purpose8 #e4 ,,the ,,love ,,of ,,god ,,theoey4 ,he died to show men how much ,god loved them4 ,men ever after would know the feeling of the heart of ,god toward them4 ,true1 the death of ,christ did show the great love of ,god for fallen man4 ,but men did not need such a sacrifice to know that ,god loved them4 ,they knew that before ,christ came4 ,the ,old ,testament is full of the love of ,god4 ,read ,psalm #ajc4 ,the ,scriptures which speak of ,god's love as being manifested in the gift of ,his ,son1 tell us also of another reason why ,he gave ,his ,son3 ,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have everlasting life 7,john #c3af72 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that he loved us1 and sent his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins 7#a ,john #d3aj74 ,we believe that ,christ's ,cross reveals the love of ,god1 and that throughout all these ages men have been bowed in penitence as they have caught a vision of the ,one who hung thereon4 ,but if you were to question the multitudes that have believed in ,god because of the ,cross1 you would find that what moved them to repentance was not merely1 if at all1 certainly not primarily1 that the ,cross revealed the love of ,god in a supreme way1 but the fact that there at that ,cross ,god had dealt with the great and awful fact of sin1 that the ,cross had forever removed it4 ,i examine all these views1 beautiful as some of them are1 appealing to the pride of man1 but which leave out all thought of vicarious atonement1 and say1 ',but what shall be done with my sin8 ,who shall put it away8 ,where is its sacrifice8 ,if without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin1 where is the shed blood8' ,these views are neat1 measurable1 occasionally pathetic1 and frequently beautiful1 but they do not include the agony of the whole occasion and situation4 ,they are aspect theories1 partial conceptions4 ,they do not take in the whole temple from its foundation to its roof4 ,no man must set up his judgment against that of another man in a dogmatic way1 but he may1 yea1 he must1 allow his heart to speak through his judgment2 and in view of this liberty1 ,i venture to say that all these theories of the atonement are as nothing1 most certainly shallow and incomplete to me 4 4 4 4 ,as ,i speak now1 at this very moment1 ,i feel that the ,christ on the ,cross is doing something for me1 that ,his death is my life1 ,his atonement my pardon1 ,his crucifixion the satisfaction for my sin1 that from ,calvary1 that place of a skull1 my flowers of peace and joy blossom forth1 and that in the ,cross of ,christ ,i glory4--,joseph ,parker4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,necessity ,,of ,,christ',s ,,death4 ,the necessity of the atonement lay in a twofold fact3 ,the holiness of ,god1 and the sinfulness of man4 ,the doctrine of the atonement is a related subject1 and it cannot be properly understood unless it is viewed as such4 ,it is related to certain conditions existing between ,god and man--a condition and relation which has been affected by sin4 ,it is necessary1 therefore1 to know this relation and how it has been affected by sin4 ,this relation between ,god and man is a personal one4 ,no other construction can legitimately be put upon the passages setting forth this relationship4 ,thou has searched me1 and known me4 ,i am continually with ,thee4 ,it is1 moreover1 an ethical relationship1 and that which is ethical is at the same time personal and universal1 that is to say1 that ,god's dealings with mankind are expressed in a moral constitution of universal and eternal validity4 ,these relationships are disordered by sin4 ,no matter how sin came to be here we are morally conscious1 by the testimony of a bad conscience1 that we are guilty1 and that our sin is not merely a matter of personal guilt but a violation of a universal moral law4 #a4 ,,the ,,holiness ,,of ,,god4 ,we should carefully note the emphasis laid upon the doctrine of ,god's holiness in the ,old ,testament 7see under ,attributes of ,god1 p4 #cg74 ,the ,levitical law1 the laws of clean and unclean1 the tabernacle and the temple with its outer court1 its holy and most holy place1 the priestly order and the high priest1 the bounds set around ,mt4 ,sinai1 things and persons that might not be touched without causing defilement1 sacred times and seasons1 these1 and much more1 speak in unmistakable terms of the holiness of ,god4 ,we are thus taught that if sinful man is to approach unto ,god1 it must be through the blood of atonement4 ,the holiness of ,god demands that before the sinner can approach unto and have communion with ,him1 some means of propitiation must be provided4 ,this means of approach is set forth in the shed blood4 #b4 ,,the ,,sin ,,of ,,man4 ,light and erroneous views of the atonement come from light and erroneous views of sin4 ,if sin is regarded as merely an offence against man1 a weakness of human nature1 a mere disease1 rather than as rebellion1 transgression1 and enmity against ,god1 and therefore something condemning and punishable1 we shall not1 of course1 see any necessity for the atonement4 ,we must see sin as the ,bible depicts it1 as something which brings wrath1 condemnation1 and eternal ruin in its train4 ,we must see it as guilt that needs expiation4 ,we must see sin as ,god sees it before we can denounce it as ,god denounces it4 ,we confess sin today in such light and easy terms that it has almost lost its terror4 ,in view of these two thoughts1 the holiness of ,god and the sinfulness of man1 the question naturally arises3 ,how is the mercy of ,god to be manifested so that ,his holiness will not be compromised by ,his assuming a merciful attitude towards sinful men in the granting of forgiveness1 pardon1 justification8 ,the answer is3 ,the only way in which this can be done is by means of the atonement4 #c4 ,,the ,,fulfillment ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,we may add this third thought to the two already mentioned4 ,there is a sense in which the atonement was necessary in order to the fulfillment of the predictions of the ,old ,testament--predictions inseparable from the person and work of the ,messiah4 ,if ,jesus ,christ were the true ,messiah1 then these predictions regarding ,his sufferings and death must be fulfilled in ,him 7,luke #bd3be-bg1 #dd2 ,isa4 #ec2 ,psa4 #bb2 #fi74 ,v4 ,,the ,,extent ,,of ,,christ',s ,,death4 ,was the death of ,jesus ,christ for all mankind--for every human being in the world1 or for man actually and ultimately regenerate only--the chosen ,church8 ,was it for all mankind1 irrespective of their relation to ,jesus ,christ1 or must we limit the actual benefits of the atonement to those who are spiritually united to ,christ by faith8 ,that the death of ,christ is intended to benefit all mankind seems clear from the following scriptures3 ,isa4 #ec3f2 #a ,tim4 #b3f2 #a ,john #b3b1 cf4 #b ,cor4 #e3ai2 ,rom4 #ad3ae2 #a ,cor4 #h3aa4 ,the scriptures1 which to some seem to limit the effects of the atonement1 are ,john #aj3ae1 cf4 vv #bf1 #bi2 ,eph4 #e3be-bg4 ,certain it is that the doctrine of the atonement is presented in the ,scriptures as competent to procure and secure salvation for all4 ,indeed1 not only competent but efficacious to do this very thing4 ,it might seem that there is an apparent contradiction in the above-named scriptures4 ,the atonement1 in its actual issue1 should realize and actualize the eternal purpose of ,god1 the which is set forth as a desire that all men should be saved and come to a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is testified to be the general and universal invitation of the ,scriptures to partake of the blessings of ,christ's death4 ,thus the offer of the ,gospel to all is not a pretence but a reality on the part of ,god4 ,the divine willingness that all men should share the benefits of the atonement is all-inclusive1 and really means what is offered4 ,yet on the other hand1 we can not overlook the fact that1 from another point of view the effects of the atonement--shall we say the purpose of the atonement8--seems to be limited to the sphere of the the true ,church1 so that only those who are really united to ,christ by faith actually share in the merits of the atonement4 ,let us put it this way3 ,the atonement is sufficient for all2 it is efficient for those who believe in ,christ4 ,the atonement itself1 so far as it lays the basis for the redemptive dealing of ,god with all men1 is unlimited2 the application of the atonement is limited to those who actually believe in ,christ4 ,he is the ,saviour of all men potentially 7#a ,tim4 #a3ae72 of believers alone effectually 7#a ,tim4 #d3aj74 ,the atonement is limited only by men's unbelief4 #a4 ,,for ,,the ,,whole ,,world4 ,the ,scriptures set forth this fact in the following statements3 ,and he is the propitiation for our sins3 and not for ours only1 but also for the sins of the whole world 7#a ,john #b3b74 ,christ's death was the ground on which ,god1 who is absolutely holy1 could deal with the whole race of men in mercy1 and pardon their sins4 ,john #a3bi--;,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 which taketh away the sin of the world4 ,not the sin of a few individuals1 or of an elect race1 like ,israel1 but the sin of the whole world4 ,this was a striking truth to reveal to a ,jew4 #a ,tim4 #b3f--,who gave himself a ransom for all1 to be testified in due time4 ,it is for this reason1 as the context of this passage shows1 that we may pray for all men4 ,if all men were not capable of being saved1 how then could we pray to that end8 #b4 ,,for ,,each ,,individual ,,man4 ,this is but a detailed statement of the fact that ,he died for the whole world4 ,not a single individual man1 woman1 or child is excluded from the blessings offered in the atonement4 ,heb4 #b3i--;,but we see ,jesus1 who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death1 crowned with glory and honor2 that he by the grace of ,god should taste death for every man4 ,leo the ,great 7#dfa7 affirmed that ,so precious is the shedding of ,christ's blood for the unjust1 that if the whole universe of captives would believe in the ,redeemer1 no chain of the devil could hold them4 ,general ,booth once said3 ,friends1 ,jesus shed ,his precious blood to pay the price of salvation1 and bought from ,god enough salvation to go around4 #c4 ,,for ,,the ,,sinful1 ,,unjust1 ,,and ,,ungodly4 ,sinners of all sorts1 degrees1 and conditions may have a share in the redemptive work of ,christ4 ,greece invited only the cultured1 ,rome sought only the strong1 ,judea bid for the religious only4 ,jesus ,christ bids all those that are weary and heavy-hearted and over-burdened to come to ,him 7,matt4 #aa3bh74 ,rom4 #e3f-aj--;,christ died for the ungodly444,while we were yet sinners1 ,christ died for us444,when we were enemies1 we were reconciled to ,god by the death of ,his ,son4 #a ,pet4 #c3ah--;,for ,christ also hath once suffered for sins1 the just for the unjust4 ,christ died for sinners--those in open opposition to ,god2 for the unjust--those who openly violate ,god's laws2 for the ungodly--those who violently and brazenly refuse to pay their dues of prayer1 worship1 and service to ,god2 for enemies --those who are constantly fighting ,god and ,his cause4 ,for all of these ,christ died4 #a ,tim4 #a3ae--;,christ ,jesus came into the world to save sinners2 of whom ,i am chief4 ,paul was a blasphemer1 a persecutor1 injurious 7v4 #ac71 a murderer 7,acts #bb and #bf71 yet ,god saved him2 he was included in the atonement4 ,note also that it is in this very connection that the apostle declares that the reason ,god saved him was in order that his salvation might be a pattern1 or an encouragement to other great sinners1 that ,god could and would save them1 if they desired ,him to do so4 #d4 ,,for ,,the ,,church4 ,there is a peculiar sense in which it may be said that ,christ's death is for the ,church1 ,his body1 the company of those who believe in ,him4 ,there is a sense in which it is perfectly true that ,christ's death avails only for those who believe in ,him2 so in that sense it can be said that ,he died for the ,church more particularly4 ,he is the ,saviour of all men1 specially of those that believe 7#a ,tim4 #d3aj74 ,herein lies the truth that is contained in the theory of a limited atonement4 ,eph4 #e3be-bg--;,christ also loved the church1 and gave himself for it4 ,not for any one particular denomination2 not for any one organization within any four walls2 but for all those whom ,he calls to ,himself and who follow ,him here4 ,gal4 #b3bj--,the ,son of ,god1 who loved me1 and gave himself for me4 ,here the individual member of the ,church1 the body of ,christ1 is specifically mentioned as being included in the efficacy of the atonement4 ,when ,luther first realized this particular phase of the atonement1 he was found sobbing beneath a crucifix1 and moaning3 ,mein ,gott1 ,mein ,gott1 ,fur ,mich6 ,fur ,mich6 #a ,cor4 #h3aa--;,and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish1 for whom ,christ died8 ,also ,rom4 #ad3ae4 ,note the connection in which this truth is taught4 ,if ,christ was willing to die for the weak brother--whom we1 perchance1 sneer at for his conscientious scruples--we ought to be willing to deny ourselves of some habit for his sake4 ,how all-inclusive1 all-comprehensive1 far-reaching is the death of ,christ in its effects6 ,not a few1 but many shall be saved4 ,he gave his life a ransom for many4 ,god's purposes in the atonement shall not be frustrated4 ,christ shall see of the travail of ,his soul1 and shall be satisfied4 ,many shall come from the north1 the south1 the east and the west and sit down in the kingdom4 ,in that great day it will be seen 7,rev4 #g3i-ae74 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,effects ,,of ,,christ',s ,,death4 #a4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,physical ,,or ,,material ,,universe4 ,just as the material universe was in some mysterious manner affected by the fall of man 7,rom4 #h3ai-bc1 ,r4 ,v471 so also is it affected by the death of ,jesus ,christ1 which is intended to neutralize the effect of sin upon the creation4 ,there is a cosmical effect in the atonement4 ,the ,christ of ,paid is larger than the second ,adam--the ,head of a new humanity2 ,he is also the center of a universe which revolves around ,him1 and is in some mysterious way reconciled by ,his death4 ,just how this takes place we may not be able definitely to explain4 ,col4 #a3bj--;,and1 having made peace through the blood of his cross1 by him to reconcile all things unto himself2 by him1 ,i say1 whether they be things in earth1 or things in heaven4 ,some day there shall be a new heaven and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness 7#b ,pet4 #c3ac74 ,see also ,heb4 #i3bc1 #bd2 ,isa4 #aa and #ce4 #b4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,world ,,of ,,men4 a7 ,the ,enmity ,existing ,between ,god and ,man is ,removed3 ,rom4 #e3aj2 ,col4 #a3bj-bb4 ,for explanation1 see under ,scriptural ,definition of the ,atonement 77,,ii4#c1 p4 #gb74 ,the ground of enmity between ,god and man--whether in the active or passive sense of reconciliation--is removed by ,christ's death4 ,the world of mankind is1 through the atonement1 reconciled to ,god4 b7 ,a ,propitiation for the ,world's ,sin ,has ,been ,provided3 #a ,john #b3b2 #d3aj4 ,see under ,propitiation 7,,ii4 #b1 p4 #ga74 ,the propitiation reaches as far as does the sin4 c7 ,satan's ,power ,over the ,race ,has ,been ,neutralized3 ,john #ab3ca1 #cb--,now is the judgment of this world3 now shall the prince of this world be cast out4 ,and ,i1 if ,i be lifted up from the earth1 will draw all men unto me4 ,also ,john #af3i1 #aj2 ,col4 #b3aj4 ,the lifting up of ,christ on the ,cross meant the casting down of ,satan4 ,satan no longer holds undisputed sway over the sons of men4 ,the power of darkness has been broken4 ,man need no longer be the slave of sin and ,satan4 d7 ,the ,question of the ,world's ,sin is ,settled3 ,it need no longer stand as a barrier between ,god and man4 ,strictly speaking1 it is not now so much of a sin question as it is a ,son question2 not1 ,what shall be done with my sin8 but1 ,what shall ,i do with ,jesus1 which is called ,christ8 ,the sins of the ,old ,testament saints1 which during all the centuries had been held1 as it were1 in abeyance1 were put away at the ,cross 7,rom4 #c3be1 #bf74 ,sins present and future were also dealt with at the ,cross4 ,by the sacrifice of ,himself1 ,christ forever put away sin 7,heb4 #i3bf74 e7 ,the ,claims of a ,broken ,law ,have ,been ,met1 and the ,curse ,resting upon ,man ,because of a ,broken ,law ,removed4 ,col4 #b3ad--;,blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us1 which was contrary to us1 and took it out of the way1 nailing it to his cross4 ,thus every claim of the holy law of ,god1 which sinful man had violated1 had been met4 ,gal4 #c3ac--;,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us3 for it is written1 ,cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree4 7,see v4 #aj for the description of the curse47 ,the wages of sin1 and the curse of sin1 is death4 ,christ by ,his death on the ,cross1 paid that debt1 and removed that curse4 f7 ,justification1 ,adoption1 ,sanctification1 ,access to ,god1 an ,inheritance1 and the ,removal of ,all ,fear of ,death--,all ,this is ,included in the ,effect of the ,death of ,christ in the ,behalf of the ,believer4 ,rom4 #e3i2 ,gal4 #d3c-e2 ,heb4 #aj3aj2 #aj3ai1 #bj2 #i3ae2 #b3ad1 #ae4 ,how comforting1 how strengthening1 how inspiring are these wonderful aspects of the effects of the death of our ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ6 #c4 ,,the ,,effect ,,of ,,christ',s ,,death ,,on ,,satan4 ,see under c7 above4 ,the devil must submit to the victory of ,christ4 ,the dominion of ,satan1 so far as the believer in ,christ is concerned1 is now at an end3 his dominion over the disobedient sons of men1 too1 will soon be at an end4 ,christ's death was the pronouncement of ,satan's doom2 it was the loss of his power over men4 ,the power of the devil1 while not yet absolutely destroyed1 has been neutralized 7,heb4 #b3ad74 ,the evil principalities and powers1 and ,satan himself1 did their worst at the ,cross1 but there they received their deathblow 7,col4 #b3ad1 #ae74 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i4 ,,its ,,important ,,place ,,in ,,the ,,christian ,,religion4 #a4 ,,it ,,holds ,a ,,unique ,,place ,,in ,,christianity4 ,christianity is the only religion that bases its claim to acceptance upon the resurrection of its founder4 ,for any other religion to base its claim on such a doctrine would be to court failure4 ,test all other religions by this claim and see4 #b4 ,,it ,,is ,,fundamental ,,to ,,christianity4 ,in that wonderful chapter on the resurrection 7#a ,cor4 #ae7 ,paul makes ,christianity answer with its life for the literal truth of the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ4 ,that the body of the founder of the ,christian religion did not lie in the grave after the third day is fundamental to the existence of the religion of ,christ3 ,and if ,christ be not risen1 then is our preaching vain1 and your faith is also vain 7v4 #ad74 ,if ,christ be not raised 4 4 4 ye are yet in your sins 7v4 #ag74 ,then they also which are fallen asleep in ,christ are perished 7v4#ah74 ,remove the resurrection from ,paul's ,gospel1 and his message is gone4 ,the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ is not an appendage to ,paul's ,gospel2 it is a constitutive part of it4 ,the importance of this doctrine is very evident from the prominent part it played in the preaching of the ,apostles3 ,peter--,acts #b3bd1 #cb2 #c3ae2 #d3aj2 #e3cj2 #aj3dj2 #a ,peter #a3ba1 #bc4 ,paul--,acts #ac3cj1 #cd2 #ag3ca2 #a ,cor4 #ae2 ,phil4 #c3ba4 ,it was belief in such preaching that led to the establishment of the ,christian church4 ,belief in the resurrection of ,christ was the faith of the early church 7,acts #d3cc74 ,the testimony to this great fact of ,christian faith was borne in the midst of the fiercest opposition4 ,nor was it controverted1 although the grave was well known and could have been pointed out4 ,it was in this fact that ,christianity acquired a firm basis for its historical development4 ,there was not only an ,easter ,message1 there was also an ,easter ,faith4 ,our ,lord's honor was1 in a sense1 staked upon the fact of ,his resurrection4 ,so important did ,he regard it that ,he remained forty days upon the earth after ,his resurrection1 giving many infallible proofs of the great fact4 ,he appealed to it again and again as evidence of the truth of ,his claims3 ,matt4 #ab3ci1 #dj2 ,john #b3bj-bb4 ,both the friends and the enemies of ,christianity admit that the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ is vital to the religion that bears ,his name4 ,the ,christian confidently appeals to it as an incontrovertible fact2 the sceptic denies it altogether as a historical reality4 ,if the resurrection really took place1 says an assailant of it1 then ,christianity must be admitted to be what it claims to be--a direct revelation from ,god4 ,if ,christ be not risen1 says the ,apostle ,paul1 then is our preaching vain1 and your faith is also vain4 ,the one tries all he can to do away with the proofs submitted for the accepted fact2 the other plainly says that if the resurrection cannot be believed1 then ,christianity is nothing but a sham4 ,if the resurrection of ,christ can be successfully denied1 if it can be proven to be absolutely untrue1 then the whole fabric of the ,gospel falls to pieces1 the whole structure of the ,christian religion is shaken at its foundation1 and the very arch of ,christianity crumbles into dust4 ,then it has wrought only imaginary changes1 deluded its most faithful adherents1 deceived and disappointed the hopes of its most devoted disciples1 and the finest moral achievements that adorn the pages of the history of the ,christian church have been based upon a falsehood4 ,nor must we ignore the prominent place the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ occupies in the ,scriptures4 ,more than one hundred times is it spoken of in the ,new ,testament alone4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,jesus ,,christ ,,actually ,,died4 ,some who disbelieve in the resurrection of ,christ assert that ,jesus merely swooned1 and that pitying hands took ,him down from the cross1 thinking that ,he had died4 ,the cool air of the tomb in which ,he was placed revived ,him1 so that ,he came forth from the tomb as though ,he had really risen from the dead4 ,the disciples believed that ,he had really died and risen again4 ,this theory is false for the following reasons3 ,jesus ,christ appeared to the disciples after the third day1 not as a weak1 suffering1 half-dead man1 but as a conquering1 triumphant victor over death and the grave4 ,he never could have made the impression upon the disciples that ,he did1 if ,he had presented the picture of a sick1 half-dead man4 ,from ,john #ai3cc-cg we learn that when the soldiers pierced the side of ,christ1 there came forth blood and water4 ,physiologists and physicists agree that such a condition of the vital organs1 including the heart itself1 precludes the idea of a mere swoon1 and proves conclusively that death had taken place4 ,joseph of ,arimathaea asked permission to bury the body of ,jesus because he knew that ,jesus had been pronounced dead 7,matt4 #bg3eg1 #eh74 ,when the news was brought to ,pilate that ,christ had died1 it is said that ,pilate marvelled if he were already dead3 and calling unto him the centurion1 he asked him whether he had been any while dead4 ,and when he knew it of the centurion1 he gave the body to ,joseph 7,mark #ae3dd1 #de74 ,the women brought spices to anoint a dead body1 not a half-dead ,christ 7,mark #af3a74 ,the soldiers pronounced ,him dead3 ,but when they came to ,jesus1 and saw that he was dead already1 they brake not his legs 7,john #ai3cc74 ,jesus ,christ ,himself1 ,he who is the ,truth1 testifies to the fact that ,he had really died3 ,rev4 #a3ah--;,i am he that liveth1 and was dead4 #b4 ,,the ,,fact ,,that ,,christ',s ,,body ,,was ,,actually ,,raised ,,from ,,the ,,dead4 ,the resurrection of ,christ is not a spiritual resurrection1 nor were his appearances to the disciples spiritual manifestations4 ,he appeared to ,his disciples in a bodily form4 ,the body that was laid in ,joseph's tomb came forth on that first ,easter morn twenty centuries ago4 ,some maintain that it is not vital to belief in the resurrection of ,christ that we insist on a literal resurrection of the body of ,jesus2 all that we need to insist on is that ,christ was ever afterwards known to be the victor over death1 and that ,he had the power of an endless life4 ,so it comes to pass that we have what is called an ,easter ,message1 as contrasted with an ,easter ,faith which believes in the literal resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the dead4 ,faith has by no means to do with the knowledge of the form in which ,jesus lives1 but only with the conviction that ,he is the living ,lord4--,harnack in ,what is ,christianity8 ,according to this theory1 belief in ,christ's resurrection means nothing more than belief in the survival of the soul of ,jesus--that somehow or other ,jesus was alive1 and lived with ,god1 while ,his body yet saw corruption in the grave4 ,we reply3 ,this cannot be1 for all the facts in the ,gospel narratives contradict such a theory4 ,let us examine these narratives4 a7 ,we are ,confronted by the ,fact of an ,empty ,tomb4 ,matt4 #bh3f2 ,mark #af3f2 ,luke #bd3c1 #ab2 ,john #bj3a1 #b4 ,the fact that the tomb was empty is testified to by competent witnesses --both friends and enemies3 by the women1 the disciples1 the angels1 and the ,roman guards4 ,how shall we account for the absence of the body of ,jesus from the tomb8 ,that it had not been stolen by outside parties is evident from the testimony of the soldiers who were bribed to tell that story 7,matt4 #bh3aa-ae74 ,such a guard never would have allowed such a thing to take place4 ,their lives would have been thereby jeopardized4 ,and if they were asleep 7v4 #ac71 how could they know what took place8 ,their testimony under such circumstances would be useless4 ,the condition in which the linen cloths were found lying by those who entered the tomb precludes the possibility of the body being stolen4 ,had such been the case the cloths would have been taken with the body1 and not left in perfect order1 thereby showing that the body had gone out of them4 ,burglars do not leave things in such perfect order4 ,there is no order in haste4 ,then again1 we have the testimony of angels to the fact that ,jesus had really risen as foretold 7,matt4 #bh3f2 ,mark #af3f74 ,the testimony of angels is surely trustworthy 7,heb4 #b3b74 b7 ,there are ,other ,resurrections ,mentioned in the ,gospel ,records which were ,undoubtedly ,bodily ,resurrections4 ,matt4 #i3ah-bf2 ,luke #g3aa-ah2 ,john #aa3a-dd4 ,these incidents throw light upon the resurrection of ,jesus4 ,why did the officers say that they were afraid that his disciples should come by night and steal him away if they did not refer to the body of ,jesus8 ,they surely could not steal ,his soul4 c7 ,those ,who ,saw ,him ,after the ,resurrection ,recognized ,him as ,having the ,same ,body as ,he ,had ,before1 ,even to the ,wound ,prints4 ,john #bj3bg2 ,luke #bd3cg-ci4 ,it is true that there were occasions on which ,he was not recognizable by the disciples1 but such occasions were the result of the eyes of the disciples being holden in order that they might not know him4 ,there was divine intervention on these occasions4 ,does ,christ still retain the prints of the nails8 ,is ,he still the ,lamb as though it had been slain8 7,rev4 #e and #f74 d7 ,there ,can ,be ,no ,doubt of the ,fact that the ,apostle ,paul ,believed in the ,bodily ,resurrection of ,christ4 ,the ,corinthians1 to whom the apostle wrote that wonderful treatise on the resurrection 7#a ,cor4 #ae71 were not spending their time denying a spiritual resurrection2 nor was the apostle spending his time trying to produce convincing arguments for a spiritual resurrection4 7,see also ,rom4 #h3aa47 e7 ,it is ,clear also from ,christ's ,own ,testimony ,before and ,after the ,resurrection4 ,matt4 #ag3bc2 ,luke #bd3ci2 ,rev4 #a3ah4 ,no other construction can legitimately be put upon these words than that ,christ here refers to the resurrection of ,his body4 f7 ,the ,apostolic ,testimony ,corroborates this ,fact4 ,acts #b3bd-cb2 #a ,pet4 #a3c1 #ba2 #c3ba4 ,peter was at the tomb2 he it was who stepped inside and saw the linen cloths lying4 ,his testimony ought to be beyond question as to the fact at issue4 g7 ,the ,record of the ,appearances of ,christ ,prove a ,literal1 ,physical ,resurrection4 ,matt4 #bh3i1 #aj2 ,john #bj3ad-ah1 cf4 ,mark #af3i2 ,luke #bd3ac-cb2 ,john #ba1 etc4 ,all these appearances bear witness to the fact that it was not an incorporeal spirit or phantom1 but a real1 bodily ,christ that they saw4 ,he could be seen1 touched1 handled2 ,he was recognizable2 ,he ate and drank in their presence4 h7 ,lastly1 ,many ,passages in the ,scriptures ,would ,be ,unintelligible ,except on the ,ground of a ,bodily ,resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the ,grave4 ,rom4 #h3aa1 #bc2 ,eph4 #a3ai1 #bj2 ,phil4 #c3bj1 #ba2 #a ,thess4 #d3ac-ag4 #c4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection ,,body ,,of ,,christ4 a7 ,it was a ,real ,body2 not a ,ghost1 nor a ,phantom4 ,that the resurrection body of ,jesus was not a phantom1 but a body composed of flesh and bones is evident from ,luke #bd3cf-dc4 ,it could be touched 7,john #bj3bj71 and bore the marks of ,his passion 7,john #bj3bd-bi74 ,the likeness to ,his earthly body was not wholly parted with4 ,,note3 ,does this throw any light on the matter of recognition in heaven8 ,has ,jesus ,christ still this body in the glory8 ,shall we know ,him by the prints8 b7 ,yet the ,body of ,jesus was more than a mere ,natural ,body4 ,it bore marks and possessed attributes which proclaimed a relation to the celestial or supra-terrestrial sphere4 ,for example3 ,it could pass through barred doors 7,john #bj3ai71 thus transcending physical limitations4 ,it was not recognizable at times 7,luke #bd3 #ac-af2 ,john #bj3ad1 #ae2 #ba3d1 #ab2 ,mark #af3ab74 ,this fact may be accounted for in two ways3 ,first1 supernaturally--their eyes were holden2 ,second1 that in that risen life the spiritual controls the material rather than as here1 the material the spiritual2 so that the spirit could change the outward form of the body at will and at any given time4 ,yet1 note how ,jesus had power to make ,himself known by little acts1 such as the breaking of the bread1 and the tone of ,his voice4 ,do we carry these little characteristics into the other life8 ,shall we know our loved ones by these things8 ,then again1 ,jesus was able to vanish out of sight of ,his friends 7,luke #bd3ca2 ,john #bj3ai1 #bf2 ,luke #bd3ea2 ,acts #a3i74 ,and so ,he could be in different places at very short intervals of time4 ,can we explain these facts8 ,no1 not fully4 ,yet we must not be so material as to totally disbelieve them4 ,daily1 indeed1 are men being forced to recognize that the world holds more mysteries than they formerly imagined it to do4 ,probably physicists are not so sure of the impenetrability of matter1 or even of the conservation of energy1 as they once were2 and newer speculations on the etheric basis of matter1 and on the relation of the seen to the unseen universe 7or universes7 with forces and laws largely unknown1 open up vistas of possibility which may hold in them the key to phenomena even as extraordinary as those in question4--,james ,orr4 c7 ,christ's ,resurrection ,body was ,immortal4 ,not only is it true that ,christ's body has not seen death since ,his resurrection1 but it cannot die again4 ,rom4 #f3i1 #aj2 ,rev4 #a3ah1 cf4 ,luke #bj3cf4 ,the lesson for us from this3 ,christ is the first-fruits 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bj74 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,credibility ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,christ4 ,credibility refers to the acceptance of a fact in a manner that deserves belief2 it is belief based upon good authority1 reliable facts1 and competent witnesses4 ,credulity is belief in a thing without respect to the strength or weakness1 reliability or unreliability of the authority1 facts1 or witnesses2 it is a believing too readily1 and with no reason for the faith or hope4 ,the resurrection of ,christ is a fact proven by competent evidence1 and deserving of intelligent acceptance and belief4 ,it is a doctrine buttressed by many infallible proofs4 ,the lines of proof for the credibility of ,christ's resurrection which may be followed in harmony with our purpose are as follows3 #a4 ,,the ,,argument ,,from ,,cause ,,and ,,effect4 ,certain things1 conditions1 institutions exist in our midst today2 they are effects of causes1 or a cause2 what is that cause8 ,among these we may mention-- a7 ,the ,empty ,tomb4 ,that was an effect2 what was its cause8 ,how did that grave become empty8 7,see under ,,ii4 a71 p4 #hg74 ,the fact of an empty tomb must be accounted for4 ,how do we account for it8 ,renan1 the ,french sceptic1 wittingly said1 and yet how truly3 ,you ,christians live on the fragrance of an empty tomb4 b7 ,the ,lord's ,day4 ,the ,lord's ,day is not the original ,sabbath4 ,who dared change it8 ,for what reason1 and on what ground was it changed8 ,ponder the tenacity with which the ,jews held on to their ,sabbath given in ,eden1 and buttressed amid the thunders of ,sinai4 ,recall how ,jews would sooner die than fight on the ,sabbath day 7cf4 ,titus' invasion of ,jerusalem on the ,sabbath74 ,the ,jews never celebrated the birthdays of great men2 they celebrated events1 like the ,passover4 ,yet1 in the ,new ,testament times we find ,jews changing their time-honored seventh day to the first day of the week1 and1 contrary to all precedent1 calling that day after a man--the ,lord's ,day4 ,here is an effect1 a tremendous effect2 what was its cause8 ,we cannot have an effect without a cause4 ,the resurrection of our ,lord was the cause for this great change in the day of worship4 c7 ,the ,christian ,church4 ,we know what a grand and noble institution the ,christian church is4 ,what would this world be without it8 ,its hymns1 worship1 philanthropy1 ministrations of mercy are all known to us4 ,where did this institution come from8 ,it is an effect1 a glorious effect2 what is its cause8 ,when the risen ,christ appeared unto the discouraged disciples and revived their faith and hope1 they went forth1 under the all-conquering faith in a risen and ascended ,lord1 and preached the story of ,his life1 death1 resurrection1 ascension1 and coming again4 ,men believed these teachings2 gathered themselves together to study the ,scriptures1 to pray1 to worship ,christ1 and to extend ,his kingdom among men4 ,this is how the church came into existence4 ,its cause was the resurrection of ,christ4 d7 ,the ,new ,testament4 ,if ,jesus ,christ had remained buried in the grave1 the story of ,his life and death would have remained buried with ,him4 ,the ,new ,testament is an effect of ,christ's resurrection4 ,it was the resurrection that put heart into the disciples to go forth and tell its story4 ,sceptics would have us believe that the resurrection of ,christ was an afterthought of the disciples to give the story of ,christ's life a thrilling climax1 a decorative incident which satisfies the dramatic feeling in man1 a brilliant picture at the end of an heroic life4 ,we reply3 ,there would have been no beautiful story to put a climax to if there had been no resurrection of the ,christ of the story4 ,the resurrection does not grow out of the beautiful story of ,his life1 but the beautiful story of ,christ's life grew out of the fact of the resurrection4 ,the ,new ,testament is the book of the resurrection4 #b4 ,,the ,,argument ,,from ,,testimony4 a7 ,as to the ,number of the ,witnesses4 ,the resurrection of ,christ as a historical fact is verified by a sufficient number of witnesses3 over five hundred 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c-i74 ,in our courts1 one witness is enough to establish murder2 two1 high treason2 three1 the execution of a will2 seven1 an oral will4 ,seven is the greatest number required under our law4 ,christ's resurrection had five hundred and fourteen4 ,is not this a sufficient number8 b7 ,as to the ,character of the ,witnesses4 ,the value of the testimony of a witness depends much upon his character2 if that is impeached1 then the testimony is discounted4 ,scrutinize carefully the character of the men who bore witness to the fact of ,christ's resurrection4 ,impeach them if you can4 ,they are unassailable on ethical grounds4 ,no honorable opponent of the ,gospel has ever denied this fact4 ,their moral greatness awakened an ,augustine1 a ,francis of ,assisi1 and a ,luther4 ,they have been the unrivalled pattern of all mature and moral manhood for nearly two thousand years4 ,in law much is made of the question of motive4 ,what motive could the apostles have had in perpetrating the story of ,christ's resurrection upon people8 ,every one of them 7except one7 died a martyr's death for his loyalty to the story of ,christ's resurrection4 ,what had they to gain by fraud8 ,would they have sacrificed their lives for what they themselves believed to be an imposture8 ,nor are we to slight the testimony to ,christ's resurrection that comes to us from sources other than that of the inspired writers of the ,new ,testament4 ,ignatius1 a ,christian1 and a contemporary of ,christ1 a martyr for his faith in ,christ1 in his ,letter to the ,philadelphians1 says3 ,christ truly suffered1 as ,he also truly raised up ,himself4 ,i know that after the resurrection ,he was in the flesh1 and ,i believe ,him to be so still4 ,and when ,he came to those who were with ,peter1 ,he said to them1 ',take1 handle me1 and see that ,i am not an incorporeal phantom6' ,tertullian1 in his ,apolegeticus1 says3 ,the fame of our ,lord's remarkable resurrection and ascension being now spread abroad1 ,pontius ,pilate1 according to an ancient custom of communicating novel occurrences to the emperor1 that nothing might escape him1 transmitted to ,tiberius1 ,emperor of ,rome1 an account of the resurrection of our ,lord from the dead444,tiberius referred the whole matter to the ,senate1 who1 being unacquainted with the facts1 rejected it4 ,the integrity of this passage is unquestioned by even the most sceptical critics4 ,alleged ,discrepancies4 ,footnote3 ,the following extract from ,dr4 ,orr's book1 ,the ,resurrection of ,jesus1 will throw some light on the matter of differences in testimony1 while maintaining the credibility of the fact itself4 ,an instructive example is furnished in a recent issue of the ,bibliotheca ,sacra4 ,a class in history was studying the ,french ,revolution1 and the pupils were asked to look the matter up1 and report next day by what vote ,louis ,,xvi was condemned4 ,nearly half the class reported that the vote was unanimous4 ,a considerable number protested that he was condemned by a majority of one4 ,a few gave the majority as #ade in a vote of #gba4 ,how utterly irreconcilable these reports seemed6 ,yet for each the authority of reputable historians could be given4 ,in fact1 all were true1 and the full truth was a combination of all three4 ,on the first vote as to the king's guilt there was no contrary voice4 ,some tell only of this4 ,the vote on the penalty was given individually1 with reasons1 and a majority of #ade declared for the death penalty1 at once or after peace was made with ,austria1 or after confirmation by the people4 ,the votes for immediate death were only #cfa as against #cfj4 ,history abounds with similar illustrations4 ,as an example of another kind1 reference may be made to ,rev4 ,r4 ,j4 ,campbell's volume of ,sermons ,addressed to ,individuals1 where1 on pp4 #ade-f and pp4 #aha-b1 the same story of a ,brighton man is told with affecting dramatic details4 ,the story is no doubt true in substance2 but for 'discrepancies'--let the reader compare them1 and never speak more 7or ,mr4 ,campbell either7 of the ,gospels6 ,the seeming differences in the testimony of the witnesses to the resurrection may be largely1 if not altogether reconciled by a correct knowledge of the manner and order of the appearances of ,christ after ,his resurrection4 ,the following order of appearances may help in the understanding of the testimony to the resurrection3 #a4 ,the women at the grave see the vision of angels4 #b4 ,the women separate at the grave to make known the news --,mary ,magdalene going to tell ,peter and ,john1 who doubtless lived close by 7for it seems that they reached the grave in a single run74 ,the other women go to tell the other disciples who1 probably1 were at ,bethany4 #c4 ,peter and ,john1 hearing the news1 run to the grave1 leaving ,mary4 ,they then return home4 #d4 ,mary follows2 lingers at the grave2 gets vision of the ,master1 and command to go tell the disciples4 #e4 ,the other women see ,christ on the way4 #f4 ,christ appears to the two on the way to ,emmaus4 #g4 ,to ,simon ,peter4 #h4 ,to the ten apostles1 and other friends4 #i4 ,to the apostles at ,tiberias4 #aj4 ,to the apostles and multitude on the mount4 #aa4 ,to the disciples and friends at the ascension4 #ab4 ,to ,james 7#a ,cor4 #ae3g74 #ac4 ,to ,paul 7#a ,cor4 #ae3h74 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,results ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,as ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ ,,himself4 ,rom4 #a3d--;,and declared to be the ,son of ,god with power1 according to the spirit of holiness1 by the resurrection from the dead4 ,to declare means to mark off1 to define1 to set apart 7,acts #aj3db2 ,heb4 #d3g74 ,,note3 ,christ was not made the ,son of ,god by the resurrection1 but declared such4 ,had ,christ remained in the grave as other men had done1 there would then have been no reasonable ground to impose faith in ,him4 ,the empty tomb testifies to the deity of ,christ4 ,matt4 #ah3ch-db2 ,john #b3ac-bb4 ,in these scriptures ,jesus ,christ bases ,his authority for ,his teaching and the truth of all ,his claims on ,his resurrection from the dead4 7,cf4 under ,i4 #b1 in this chapter1 p4 #hd47 ,see also ,matt4 #bh3f--,risen1 as he said4 #b4 ,,as ,,to ,,the ,,believer ,,in ,,jesus ,,christ4 a7 ,assures ,him of ,his ,acceptance with ,god4 ,rom4 #d3be--,who was delivered for our offences1 and was raised again for our justification4 ,so long as ,christ lay in the grave there was no assurance that ,his redemptive work had been acceptable to ,god4 ,the fact that ,god raised ,jesus from the dead was evidence that the ,father was satisfied with the sacrifice ,christ had made for the sins of men4 ,of righteousness1 because ,i go unto my ,father 7,john #af3aj74 ,believing sinners may now rest satisfied that in ,him they are justified4 ,this thought is illustrated by the picture of the ,jews waiting outside the temple for the coming out of the high priest 7,luke #a3ba71 thereby indicating that their sacrifice had been accepted4 b7 ,assures of ,him an ,interceding ,high ,priest in the ,heavens4 ,rom4 #h3cd--,who is he that condemneth8 ,it is ,christ that died1 yea rather1 that is risen again1 who is even at the right hand of ,god1 who also maketh intercession for us4 ,also ,heb4 #g3be4 ,salvation was not completed at the ,cross2 there is still need of daily forgiveness1 and so of the continual presenting of the shed blood before the mercy-seat4 ,the accusations of ,satan still need to be answered 7,zec4 #c3a-e2 ,job #a and #b2 ,heb4 #g3be74 ,we need a ,moses1 not only to deliver us from bondage1 but also to plead for us and intercede for us because of our sins committed in the wilderness journey4 ,herein is our assurance of forgiveness of sins committed after conversion--that our great ,high ,priest is always heard 7,john #aa3db71 and that ,he prays constantly for us that our faith fail not 7,luke #bb3cb74 ,our temporary falls shall not condemn us1 for our ,priest intercedes for us4 c7 ,assures ,him of ,all ,needed ,power for ,life and ,service4 ,eph4 #a3ai-bb--,the exceeding greatness of his power 4 4 4 which he wrought in ,christ1 when he raised him from the dead1 and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places1 far above all principality1 and power1 and might1 4 4 4 and gave him to be the head over all things to the church4 ,also ,phil4 #c3aj4 ,there are two standards in the ,bible by which ,god's power is gauged3 ,in the ,old ,testament1 when ,god would have ,his people know the extent of ,his power1 it is according to the power by which ,he brought ,israel out of ,egypt 7,micah #g3ae72 in the ,new ,testament1 the unit of measurement of ,god's power is ,according to the working of his mighty power1 which he wrought in ,christ 4 4 4 when he raised him from the dead4 ,the connection of ,phil4 #c3aj gives the believer the promise and assurance not only of present power and victory1 but also of future glorification4 ,if we desire to know what ,god is able to do for and through us we are invited to look at the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ4 d7 ,the ,assurance of ,his ,own ,resurrection and ,immortality4 #a ,thess4 #d3ad--;,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 #b ,cor4 #d3ad--,knowing that he which raised up the ,lord ,jesus shall raise up us also by ,jesus1 and shall present us with you4 ,john #ad3ai--;,because ,i live1 ye shall live also4 #c4 ,,as ,,to ,,the ,,world4 a7 ,the ,certainty of a ,resurrection4 #a ,cor4 #ae3bb--;,as in ,adam all die2 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 ,paul is here discussing a bodily1 and not a spiritual1 resurrection 7see under ,,ii4 #b d71 p4 #hh74 ,as in ,adam all men die physically1 so in ,christ all men are raised physically4 ,the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ guarantees the resurrection of all men 7see under ,resurrection1 p4 #bde74 b7 ,the ,certainty of a ,judgment ,day4 ,acts #ag3ca--;,because he hath appointed a day1 in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained2 whereof he hath given assurance unto all men1 in that he hath raised him from the dead4 ,the resurrection of ,christ is ,god's unfailing testimony to the fact of a coming day of judgment for the world4 ,the one is as sure as the other4 ,the ,ascension and ,exaltation of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,these ,,terms4 ,when we speak of the ,ascension of ,christ we refer to that event in the life of our risen ,lord in which ,he departed visibly from ,his disciples into heaven4 ,this event is recorded in ,acts #a3i-aa--,this same ,jesus which is taken up from you into heaven1 etc4 ,by the ,exaltation of ,jesus ,christ we mean that act of ,god by which the risen and ascended ,christ is given the place of power at the right hand of ,god4 ,phil4 #b3i--,wherefore ,god also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name4 ,eph4 #a3bj1 #ba--,which he 7,god7 wrought in ,christ1 when he raised him from the dead1 and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places1 far above all principality and power4 ,see also ,heb4 #a3c4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,scriptural ,,data ,,for ,,the ,,doctrine4 ,foregleams of this truth were granted to the prophets of the ,old ,testament times1 ,psa4 #aaj3a2 #fh3ah4 ,they saw ,christ in prophetic vision not only as the meek and lowly ,one1 but as the ascended and glorified ,lord4 ,our ,lord ,himself1 on many occasions1 foretold ,his ascension and exaltation4 ,these events were constantly before ,his mind's eye3 ,luke #i3ea2 ,john #f3fb2 #bj3ag4 ,the ,new ,testament writers record the event3 ,mark #af3ai2 ,luke #bd3ea2 ,john #c3ac2 ,acts #a3i-aa2 ,eph4 #d3h-aj2 ,heb4 #aj3ab4 ,stephen1 in his dying moments1 was granted a vision of the exalted ,christ4 ,he saw the ,son of ,man standing on the right hand of ,god 7,acts #g3ee1 #cf74 ,the apostles taught and preached these great truths3 ,peter1 ,acts #b3cc1 #cd2 #e3ca2 #a ,peter #c3bb4 ,paul3 ,eph4 #d3h-aj2 ,heb4 #d3ad2 #a ,tim4 #c3af4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,necessity ,,of ,,the ,,ascension ,,and ,,exaltation ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the nature of the resurrection body of our ,lord necessitated ,his ascension and exaltation4 ,such a body could not be subject to ordinary laws2 it could not permanently abide here4 ,christ's unique personality also required such an exit from the world4 ,should not the exit of ,christ from this world be as unique as ,his entrance into it8 ,then1 again1 consider the sinlessness of ,his life4 ,if a miraculous exit was granted to men like ,elijah and ,enoch1 who were sinful men1 why should we marvel if such was granted to ,christ8 ,indeed it seems perfectly natural1 and quite in keeping with ,his whole life that just such an event as the ascension and exaltation should form a fitting finish to such a wonderful career4 ,the ascension and exaltation were necessary to complete the redemptive work of ,christ4 ,his work was not finished when ,he arose from the dead4 ,he had not yet presented the blood of the atonement in the presence of the ,father2 nor had ,he yet been given ,his place at the right hand of the ,father as the bestower of all spiritual gifts1 and especially the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the apostles were thus able to furnish to an unbelieving and inquisitive world a satisfactory account of the disappearance of the body of ,christ which had been placed in the tomb1 and which they claimed to have seen after the resurrection4 ,where is your ,christ8 the scoffing world might ask4 ,we saw ,him ascend up into the heaven1 and ,he is now at the ,father's right hand1 the apostles could reply4 ,it was further necessary in order that ,christ might become an ideal object of worship for the whole human race4 ,we should not forget that ,christ's earthly ministry was a purely local one3 ,he could be but in one place at a time4 ,those who worshipped at ,his feet in ,jerusalem could not1 at the same time1 worship ,him in any other place4 ,this was the lesson1 doubtless1 that the ,master desired to teach ,mary when she would fain hold on to ,him1 and when ,he said1 ,touch me not4 ,mary must worship now by faith1 not by sight4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,ascension ,,and ,,exaltation ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,it ,,was ,a ,,bodily ,,and ,,visible ,,ascension4 ,acts #a3i-aa2 ,luke #bd3ea4 ,it was the same ,christ they had known in life1 only glorified1 who had tarried with them now for the space of forty days1 who had delivered unto them certain commandments1 and whose hands were even then outstretched in blessing that they saw slowly vanishing from their view up into the heavens4 ,it was a body of flesh and bones1 not flesh and blood4 ,so will be our translation 7#a ,cor4 #ae3ea1 #eb74 #b4 ,,he ,,passed ,,up ,,through ,,the ,,heavens4 ,heb4 #d3ad 7,r4 ,v472 ,eph4 #d3aj2 ,heb4 #g3bf4 ,whatever and how many created heavens there may be between the earth and the dwelling place of ,god1 we may not know1 but we are here told that ,christ passed through them all1 and up to the highest heaven1 indeed was made higher than the heavens4 ,this means that ,he overcame all those evil principalities and powers that inhabit these heavenlies 7,eph4 #f7 and who doubtless tried their best to keep ,him from passing through the heavens to present ,his finished work before the ,father4 ,just as the high priest passed through the vail into the holy place1 so ,christ passed through the heavens into the presence of ,god4 #c4 ,,he ,,took ,,his ,,place ,,at ,,the ,,right ,,hand ,,of ,,the ,,father4 ,he was exalted to the right hand of ,god4 ,eph4 #a3bj--,set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places1 far above all principality and power4 ,col4 #c3a--;,christ sitteth on the right hand of ,god4 ,this place was not taken by ,christ without conflict with these evil principalities and powers4 ,but ,he made a show of them openly1 triumphing over them in it 7,col4 #b3ae74 ,see also ,acts #e3ca4 ,what is meant by the right hand of ,god8 ,is it a definite place1 or is it simply a figure of speech denoting a place of authority and power8 ,why can not both things be included8 ,god has ,his dwelling place in heaven1 and it is not incredible to believe that from the throne there ,christ exercises ,his divine prerogatives4 ,stephen saw ,christ standing at the right hand of ,god in heaven4 ,the right hand of ,god assuredly indicates the place of the accuser whom ,christ casts out 7,zec4 #c3a2 ,rev4 #ab3aj72 the place of intercession which ,christ now occupies 7,rom4 #h3cd72 the place of acceptance where the ,intercessor now sits 7,psa4 #aaj3a72 the place of highest power and richest blessing 7,gen4 #dh3ac-ai72 the place of power 7,psa4 #aaj3e74 ,all these powers and prerogatives are ,christ's by reason of ,his finished work of redemption4 ,v4 ,,the ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,ascension ,,and ,,exaltation ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,he ,,has ,,entered ,,heaven ,,as ,a ,,forerunner4 ,heb4 #f3bj--,whither the forerunner is for us entered1 even ,jesus4 ,the forerunner is one who enters into a place where the rest are to follow2 one who is sent before to make observations2 a scout1 a spy4 ,the ,levitical high priest was not a forerunner2 no one could follow him4 ,but where ,christ goes ,his people may go also4 #b4 ,,he ,,has ,,gone ,,to ,,prepare ,a ,,place ,,for ,,his ,,people4 ,heb4 #i3ba-bd2 ,john #ad3b4 ,he is there making all necessary preparations for the coming of ,his bride1 the ,church4 ,in some way it seems that the heavenly sanctuary had been defiled by sin4 ,it was necessary1 therefore1 that ,christ purge it with ,his blood4 ,what a home that will be if ,he prepares it6 #c4 ,,he ,,is ,,now ,,appearing ,,before ,,god ,,in ,,our ,,behalf4 ,heb4 #i3bd--,to appear in the presence of ,god for us4 ,he is there to act as ,high ,priest in our behalf2 to present the blood of atonement4 ,before the throne my ,surety stands4 ,and yet not so much before the throne as on the throne4 ,he is the ,kingly ,priest4 ,with authority ,he asks1 and ,his petitions are granted4 #d4 ,,he ,,has ,,taken ,,his ,,place ,,at ,,the ,,father',s ,,right ,,hand ,,that ,,he ,,may ,,fill ,,all ,,things1 ,,awaiting ,,the ,,day ,,when ,,he ,,shall ,,have ,,universal ,,dominion4 ,eph4 #d3aj4 ,he fills all things with ,his presence1 with ,his work1 with ,himself4 ,he is not a local ,christ any longer 7cf4 ,jer4 #bc3bd74 ,heb4 #aj3ab1 #ac2 ,acts #c3bj1 #ba--;,he shall send ,jesus ,christ 4 4 4 4 whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things4 ,having won ,his victory1 ,christ is now waiting for all the spoils to be gathered4 ,he is expecting1 not doubting1 but assuredly waiting2 already ,his feet are upon the neck of the enemy4 ,the ,apocalypse pictures ,christ entering upon the actual possession of ,his kingdom4 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,results ,,of ,,the ,,ascension ,,and ,,exaltation ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a4 ,,it ,,assures ,,us ,,of ,a ,,free ,,and ,,confident ,,access ,,into ,,the ,,presence ,,of ,,god4 ,heb4 #d3ad-af 7,r4 ,v47--,having then a great high priest1 who hath passed through the heavens1 ,jesus the ,son of ,god1 let us hold fast our confession4 4 4 4 4 ,let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace4 ,our great ,high ,priest is before the throne to present petitions1 secure pardons for ,his people1 and to communicate blessings in answer to their faith and prayers4 ,we may have a free and fearless confidence in our approach to ,god4 #b4 ,,an ,,assured ,,hope ,,of ,,immortality4 #b ,cor4 #e3a-h describes the longing of the ,christian to be clothed with a body after he has been called upon to lay aside this earthly tabernacle4 ,he has no desire for a bodiless existence4 ,the ascension and exaltation of ,christ assures the believer that as ,christ1 so he also will take his place in heaven with a body like unto ,christ's own glorious body4 #c4 ,,it ,,gives ,,the ,,believer ,,confidence ,,in ,,god',s ,,providence ,,to ,,believe ,,that ,,all ,,things ,,are ,,working ,,together ,,for ,,his ,,good ,seeing that ,christ1 the believer's ,head1 is exalted far above all things in heaven and earth1 it is possible for the believer to be master of circumstances1 and superior to all his environment 7,eph4 #a3bb2 cf4 ,col4 #a3ae-ah74 #d4 ,,christ ,,has ,,been ,,made ,,head ,,over ,,all ,,things ,,for ,,the ,,church4 ,that is to say1 that everything is subject to ,christ1 and that for the ,church's sake4 ,eph4 #a3bb 7,r4 ,v47--,and he put all things in subjection under his feet1 and gave him to be head over all things to the church4 ,christ is the fullness of the ,father for the ,church 7,col4 #a3ai2 #b3i1 #aj74 ,christ bestows the ,holy ,spirit upon the ,church 7,acts #b3cc-cf2 ,john #g3cg-ci74 ,he receives for1 and bestows upon the ,church spiritual gifts 7,eph4 #d3h-ab74 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,i4 ,,the ,,personality ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #a4 ,,personal ,,names ,,given ,,to ,,the ,,spirit4 #b4 ,,personal ,,pronouns ,,used ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 #c4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,associated ,,with ,,the ,,father ,,and ,,the ,,son4 #d4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,possesses ,,personal ,,characteristics4 #e4 ,,personal ,,acts ,,are ,,ascribed ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #f4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,is ,,subject ,,to ,,personal ,,treatment4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,deity ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #a4 ,,divine ,,names ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,the ,,spirit4 #b4 ,,divine ,,attributes4 #c4 ,,divine ,,works4 #d4 ,,name ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,associated ,,with ,,names ,,of ,,the ,,deity4 #e4 ,,comparison ,,of ,,old ,,testament ,,passages ,,with ,,some ,,in ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,names ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #a4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #b4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,grace4 #c4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,burning4 #d4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,truth4 #e4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,life4 #f4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,wisdom ,,and ,,knowledge4 #g4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,promise4 #h4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,glory4 #i4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,of ,,christ4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #a4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,world4 a7 ,the ,universe4 b7 ,the ,world of ,mankind4 #b4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,believer4 #c4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,scriptures4 #d4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,v4 ,,offences ,,against ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 #a4 ,,by ,,the ,,sinner4 a7 ,resisting4 b7 ,insulting4 c7 ,blaspheming4 #b4 ,,by ,,the ,,believer4 a7 ,grieving4 b7 ,lying to4 c7 ,quenching4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,we are living in the ,age of the ,spirit4 ,the ,old ,testament period may be called the ,age of the ,father2 the period covered by the ,gospels1 the ,age of the ,son2 from ,pentecost until the second advent of ,christ1 the ,age of the ,spirit4 ,all matters pertaining to the doctrine of the ,holy ,spirit should1 therefore1 be of special interest to us who live in this age of special privilege4 ,yet how ignorant is the average ,christian concerning matters pertaining to the ,spirit4 ,the ,christian church today needs to heed ,paul's exhortation3 ,now concerning spiritual gifts 7or1 perhaps better1 matters pertaining to the ,spirit71 ,i would not have you ignorant4 ,may it not be that the reason why the sin against the ,holy ,spirit is so grievous is because it is a sin committed in the light and with the knowledge of the clearest and fullest revelation of the ,godhead4 ,we cannot1 therefore1 afford to remain in ignorance of this all-important doctrine4 ,i4 ,,the ,,personality ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,it seems strange that it should be necessary to discuss this phase of the subject at all4 ,indeed1 in the light of the last discourse of the ,master 7,john #ad-af71 it seems superfluous1 if not really insulting4 ,during all the ages of the ,christian era1 however1 it has been necessary to emphasize this phase of the doctrine of the ,spirit 7cf4 ,arianism1 ,socinianism1 ,unitarianism74 #a4 ,,why ,,is ,,the ,,personality ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,questioned8 a7 ,because1 as ,contrasted with the ,other ,persons of the ,godhead1 the ,spirit ,seems ,impersonal4 ,the visible creation makes the personality of ,god the ,father somewhat easy to conceive2 the incarnation makes it almost1 if not altogether1 impossible to disbelieve in the personality of ,jesus ,christ2 but the acts and workings of the ,holy ,spirit are so secret and mystical1 so much is said of ,his influence1 graces1 power and gifts1 that we are prone to think of ,him as an influence1 a power1 a manifestation or influence of the ,divine nature1 an agent rather than a ,person4 b7 ,because of the ,names ,given to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he is called breath1 wind1 power4 ,the symbols used in speaking of the ,spirit are oil1 fire1 water1 etc4 ,see ,john #c3e-h2 ,acts #b3a-d2 ,john #bj3bb2 #a ,john #b3bj4 ,it is not strange that in view of all this some students of the ,scriptures may have been led to believe1 erroneously of course1 that the ,holy ,spirit is an impersonal influence emanating from ,god the ,father4 c7 ,because the ,holy ,spirit is not usually ,associated with the ,father and the ,son in the ,greetings and ,salutation of the ,new ,testament4 ,for illustration1 see #a ,thess4 #c3aa--,now ,god himself and our ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 direct our way unto you4 ,yet we must remember1 in this connection1 that the ,apostolic ,benediction in #b ,cor4 #ac3ad does associate the three persons of the ,trinity1 thereby asserting their personality equally4 d7 ,because the ,word or ,name ,spirit is ,neuter4 ,it is true that the same ,greek word is translated wind and ,spirit2 also that the ,authorized ,version uses the neuter pronoun itself1 when speaking of the ,holy ,spirit 7,rom4 #h3af1 #bf74 ,as we shall see later1 the ,revised ,version substitutes himself for itself4 ,the importance of the personality of the ,spirit1 and of our being assured of this fact is forcibly set forth by ,dr4 ,r4 ,a4 ,torrey3 ,if the ,holy ,spirit is a ,divine ,person and we know it not1 we are robbing a ,divine ,being of the love and adoration which are ,his due4 ,it is of the highest practical importance whether the ,holy ,spirit is a power that we1 in our ignorance and weakness1 are somehow to get hold of and use1 or whether the ,holy ,spirit is a personal ,being 4 4 4 4 who is to get hold of us and use us4 ,it is of the highest experimental importance4 4 4 4 4 ,many can testify to the blessing that came into their lives when they came to know the ,holy ,spirit1 not merely as a gracious influence 4 4 4 4 but as an ever-present1 loving friend and helper4 #b4 ,,method ,,of ,,proof4 ,it is difficult to define personality when used of the ,divine ,being4 ,god cannot be measured by human standards4 ,god was not made in the image of man1 but man in the image of ,god4 ,god is not a deified man2 man is rather a limited ,god 7a little 4 4 44 less than ,god4 ,heb4 #b3g1 ,r4 ,v474 ,only ,god has a perfect personality4 ,when1 however1 one possesses the attributes1 properties and qualities of personality1 then personality may be unquestionably predicated of such a being4 ,does the ,holy ,spirit possess such properties8 ,let us see4 a7 ,names that ,imply ,personality are ,given to the ,spirit4 ,the ,comforter3 ,john #ad3af2 #af3g4 ,comforter means one who is called to your side--as a client calls a lawyer4 ,that this name cannot be used of any abstract1 impersonal influence is clear from the fact that in #a ,john #b3a the same word is used of ,christ4 7,see ,rom4 #h3bf74 ,again in ,john #ad3af the ,holy ,spirit1 as the ,paraclete1 is to take the place of a person--,christ ,himself1 and to personally guide the disciples just as ,jesus had been doing4 ,no one but a person can take the place of a person2 certainly no mere influence could take the place of ,jesus ,christ1 the greatest personality that ever lived4 ,again1 ,christ1 in speaking of the ,spirit as the ,comforter1 uses the masculine definite article1 and thus1 by ,his choice of gender1 teaches the personality of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there can be no parity between a person and an influence4 b7 ,personal ,pronouns are ,used of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,john #af3g1 #h1 #ac-ae3 ,twelve times in these verses the ,greek masculine pronoun ekeinos 7that one1 ,he7 is used of the ,spirit4 ,this same word is used of ,christ in #a ,john #b3f2 #c3c1 #e1 #g1 #af4 ,this is especially remarkable because the ,greek word for spirit 7pneuma7 is neuter1 and so should have a neuter pronoun2 yet1 contrary to ordinary usage1 a masculine pronoun is here used4 ,this is not a pictorial personification1 but a plain1 definite1 clear-cut statement asserting the personality of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,note also that where1 in the ,authorized ,version1 the neuter pronoun is used1 the same is corrected in the ,revised ,version3 not itself1 but ,himself 7,rom4 #h3af1bf74 c7 ,the ,holy ,spirit is ,identified with the ,father and the ,son--and1 indeed1 with ,christians--in ,such a ,way as to ,indicate ,personality4 ,the ,baptismal ,formula4 ,matt4 #bh3ai4 ,suppose we should read1 ,baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the wind or breath4 ,would that sound right8 ,if the first two names are personal1 is not the third8 ,note also3 ,in the name 7singular71 not names 7plural71 implying that all three are ,persons equally1 ,the ,apostolic ,benediction4 #b ,cor4 #ac3ad4 ,the same argument may be used as that in connection with the ,baptismal ,formula1 just cited4 ,identification with ,christians4 ,acts #ae3bh4 ,for it seemeth good to the ,holy ,ghost1 and to us4 ,shall we say1 ,it seemeth good to the wind and to us8 ,it would be absurd4 #aj3ch--;,how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and with power4 ,shall we read1 ,anointed 44 with power and power8 ,rom4 #ae3ac--,that ye may abound in hope1 through the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,shall we read1 ,that ye may abound in hope1 through the power of the power8 ,see also ,luke #d3ad4 ,would not these passages rebel against such tautological and meaningless usage8 ,most assuredly4 d7 ,personal ,characteristics are ,ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is represented as searching the deepest and profoundest truths of ,god1 and possessing knowledge of ,his counsels sufficiently to understand ,his purposes 7#a ,cor4 #b3aj1 #aa74 ,could a mere influence do this8 ,see also ,isa4 #aa3c2 ,i ,pet4 #a3aa4 ,spiritual gifts are distributed to believers according to the will of the ,spirit 7#a ,cor4 #ab74 ,here is wisdom1 prudence and discretion1 all of which are distinguishing marks of personality4 ,the ,spirit not only bestows spiritual gifts1 but bestows them discreetly1 according as ,he thinks best4 ,see ,john #c3h also4 ,the ,spirit is said to have a mind1 and that implies thought1 purpose1 determination3 ,rom4 #h3bg1 cf4 v4 #g4 ,mind is an attribute of personality4 e7 ,personal ,acts are ,ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit speaks3 ,rev4 #b3g 7cf4 ,matt4 #ag3e--;,hear ye him47 ,it is the ,spirit who speaks through the apostles 7#aj3bj74 ,speech is an attribute of personality4 ,the ,spirit maketh intercession3 ,rom4 #h3bf 7,r4 ,v471 cf4 ,heb4 #g3be2 ,i ,john #b3a1 #b1 where ,christ is said to make intercession4 ,acts #ac3b2 #af3f1 #g2 #bj3bh4 ,in these passages the ,holy ,spirit is seen calling missionaries1 overseeing the church1 and commanding the life and practice of the apostles and the whole church4 ,such acts indicate personality4 f7 ,the ,holy ,spirit is ,susceptible to ,personal ,treatment4 ,he may be grieved 7,eph4 #d3cj72 insulted 7,heb4 #aj4bi72 lied to 7,acts #e3c72 blasphemed and sinned against 7,matt4 #ab3ca1 #cb74 ,indeed1 the sin against the ,holy ,spirit is a much more grievous matter than the sin against the ,son of ,man4 ,can such be said of an influence8 ,can it be said even of any of the sons of men8 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,deity ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,by the ,deity of the ,holy ,spirit is meant that the ,holy ,spirit is ,god4 ,this fact is clearly set forth in the ,scriptures1 in a five-fold way3 #a4 ,,divine ,,names ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,in ,acts #e3d1 the ,spirit is called ,god4 ,and this in opposition to man1 to whom1 alone1 ,ananias thought he was talking4 ,can any statement allege deity more clearly8 ,in #b ,cor4 #c3ah--,we 4444 are transformed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as from the ,lord the ,spirit 7,r4 ,v474 ,here the ,spirit is called the ,lord4 ,for the meaning of ,lord see under the ,deity of ,christ1 p4 #fj4 #b4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,possesses ,,divine ,,attributes4 ,he is eternal in his nature 7,heb4 #i3ad1 ,r4 ,v472 omnipresent 7,psa4 #aci3g-aj72 omnipotent 7,luke #a3ce72 omniscient 7#a ,cor4 #b3aj1 #aa74 ,for the meaning of these attributes1 see under the ,doctrine of ,god and ,jesus ,christ1 pp4 #bh and #fc4 #c4 ,,divine ,,works ,,are ,,ascribed ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,creation 7,gen4 #a3b2 ,psa4 #ajd3cj1 ,r4 ,v472 ,job #cc3d--,the ,spirit of ,god hath made me1 and the breath of the ,almighty hath given me life4 ,regeneration 7,john #c3e-h72 ,resurrection 7,rom4 #h3aa74 #d4 ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,is ,,associated ,,with ,,that ,,of ,,the ,,father1 ,,and ,,of ,,the ,,son4 ,see under ,personality of the ,spirit1 p4 #ajg4 ,the same arguments which there prove the ,personality of the ,spirit may be used here to prove the ,deity of the ,spirit4 ,it would be just as absurd to say1 ,baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of ,moses--thus putting ,moses on an equality with the ,father and the ,son--as it would be to say1 ,baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the wind--thus making the wind as personal as the ,father and the ,son4 ,the ,spirit is on an equality with the ,father and the ,son in the distribution of spiritual gifts 7#a ,cor4 #ab3d-f74 #e4 ,,passages ,,which ,,in ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,,refer ,,to ,,god ,,are ,,in ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,made ,,to ,,refer ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,compare ,isa4 #f3h-aj with ,acts #bh3be-bg2 and ,exod4 #af3g with ,heb4 #c3g-i4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,names ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,just as the ,father and the ,son have certain names ascribed to them1 setting forth their nature and work1 so also does the ,holy ,spirit have names which indicate ,his character and work4 #a4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,luke #aa3ac--;,how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him8 ,rom4 #a3d--,the ,spirit of holiness4 ,in these passages it is the moral character of the ,spirit that is set forth4 ,note the contrast3 ,ye1 being evil1 and the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit is holy in ,himself and produces holiness in others4 #b4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,grace4 ,heb4 #aj3bi--;,and hath done despite unto the ,spirit of grace4 ,as the executive of the ,godhead1 the ,spirit confers grace4 ,to resist the ,spirit1 therefore1 is to shut off all hope of salvation4 ,to resist ,his appeal is to insult the ,godhead4 ,that is why the punishment mentioned here is so awful4 #c4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,burning4 ,matt4 #c3aa1 #ab--;,he shall baptize you with the ,holy ,ghost1 and with fire4 ,isa4 #d3d--,when the ,lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of ,zion4444 by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning4 ,this cleansing is done by the blast of the ,spirit's burning4 ,here is the searching1 illuminating1 refining1 dross-consuming character of the ,spirit4 ,he burns up the dross in our lives when ,he enters and takes possession4 #d4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,truth4 ,john #ad3ag2 #ae3bf2 #af3ac2 ,i ,john #e3f4 ,as ,god is ,love1 so the ,spirit is ,truth4 ,he possesses1 reveals1 confers1 leads into1 testifies to1 and defends the truth4 ,thus ,he is opposed to the spirit of error 7#a ,john #d3f74 #e4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,life4 ,rom4 #h3b--;,for the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death4 ,that which had been the actuating principle of life1 namely1 the flesh1 is now deposed1 and its controlling place taken by the ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit is thus the dynamic of the believer's experience that leads him into a life of liberty and power4 #f4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,wisdom ,,and ,,knowledge4 ,that the references in ,isa4 #aa3b2 #fa3a1 #b are to be understood as referring to the ,spirit that abode upon the ,messiah1 is clear from ,luke #d3ah where ,spirit is capitalized4 ,christ's wisdom and knowledge resulted1 in one aspect of the case1 from ,his being filled with the ,spirit4 ,wisdom and understanding refer to intellectual and moral apprehension2 ,counsel and might1 the power to scheme1 originate1 and carry out2 ,knowledge and the fear of the ,lord1 acquaintance with the true will of ,god1 and the determination to carry it out at all costs4 ,these graces are the result of the ,spirit's operations on the heart4 #g4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,promise4 ,eph4 #a3ac--,ye were sealed with that holy ,spirit of promise4 ,the ,spirit is the fulfillment of ,christ's promise to send the ,comforter1 and so ,he is the promised ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit also confirms and seals the believer1 and thus assures him that all the promises made to him shall be completely fulfilled4 #h4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,glory4 #a ,pet4 #d3ad--,the spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you4 ,what is glory8 ,glory as used in the ,scripture means character4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,one who produces godlike character in the believer 7cf4 #b ,cor4 #c3ah74 #i4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god1 ,,and ,,of ,,christ4 #a ,cor4 #c3af--,the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you4 ,rom4 #h3i--,now if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his4 ,the fact that the ,spirit is sent from the ,father and the ,son1 that ,he represents them1 and is their executive1 seems to be the thought conveyed here4 #aj4 ,,the ,,comforter 7p4 #aji74 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,the ,work of the ,spirit may be summed up under the following headings3 ,his work in the universe2 in humanity as a whole2 in the believer2 with reference to the ,scriptures2 and1 finally1 with reference to ,jesus ,christ4 #a4 ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,world4 a7 ,with ,regard to the ,universe4 ,there is a sense in which the creation of the universe may be ascribed to ,god's ,spirit4 ,indeed ,psa4 #cc3f--;,by the word of the ,lord were the heavens made2 and all the host of them by the breath 7,spirit7 of his mouth1 attributes the work of creation to the ,trinity1 the ,lord1 the ,word of the ,lord1 and the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,the creation of man is attributed to the ,spirit4 ,job #cc3d--,the ,spirit of ,god hath made me1 and the breath of the ,almighty hath given me life4 ,it would be proper1 doubtless1 to say that the ,father created all things through the agency of the ,word and the ,spirit4 ,in the ,genesis account of creation 7#a3c7 the ,spirit is seen actively engaged in the work of creation4 ,not only is it true that the ,spirit's agency is seen in the act of creation1 but ,his power is seen also in the preservation of nature4 ,isa4 #dj3g--,the grass withereth1 the flower fadeth1 because the spirit of the ,lord bloweth upon it4 ,a staggering declaration4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,the ,spirit comes in the fierce east wind with its keen1 biting blast of death4 ,he comes also in the summer zephyr1 which brings life and beauty4 b7 ,with ,regard to ,humanity as a ,whole4 ,john #af3h-aa--;,and when ,he is come1 he will reprove the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment2 of sin1 because they believe not on me2 of righteousness1 because ,i go unto my ,father and ye see me no more2 of judgment1 because the prince of this world is judged4 ,here are three great facts of which the ,spirit bears witness to the world3 the sin of unbelief in ,christ2 the fact that ,christ was righteous and absolutely true in all that ,he claimed to be2 the fact that the power of ,satan has been broken4 ,of sin3 the sin in which all other sins are embraced2 of righteousness3 the righteousness in which all other righteousness is manifested and fulfilled2 of judgment3 the judgment in which all other judgments are decided and grounded4 ,of sin1 belonging to man2 of righteousness1 belonging to ,christ2 of judgment1 belonging to ,satan4 ,john #ae3bf--,the ,spirit of truth 444 shall testify of me4 ,acts #e3cb--;,and we are his witnesses of these things2 and so is also the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to constantly bear witness of ,christ and ,his finished work to the world of sinful and sinning men4 ,this ,he does largely1 although hardly exclusively1 through the testimony of believers to the saving power and work of ,christ3 ,ye also shall bear witness 7,john #ae3bg74 #b4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,in ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,believer4 a7 ,he ,regenerates the ,believer4 ,john #c3c-e--;,born of 444 the ,spirit4 ,tit4 #c3e--,the444 renewing of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,sonship1 and membership in the kingdom of ,god1 come only through the regenerating of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is the ,spirit that quickeneth4 ,just as ,jesus was begotten of the ,holy ,ghost1 so must every child of ,god who is to be an heir to the kingdom4 b7 ,the ,spirit ,indwells the ,believer4 #a ,cor4 #f3ai--,your body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you4 ,also #c3af2 ,rom4 #h3i4 ,every believer1 no matter how weak and imperfect he may be1 or how immature his ,christian experience1 still has the indwelling of the ,spirit4 ,acts #ai3b does not contradict this statement4 ,evidently some miraculous outpouring of the ,spirit is intended there1 the which followed the prayer and laying on of the hands of the apostles4 ,now if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his4 ,no man can say that ,jesus is the ,lord1 but by the ,holy ,ghost 7,rom4 #h3i2 #a ,cor4 #ab3c74 c7 ,the ,spirit ,seals the ,believer with ,assurance of ,salvation4 ,eph4 #a3ac1 #ad--;,in whom also after that ye believed1 ye were sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise2 which is the earnest of our inheritance4 ,also #d3cj--,sealed unto the day of redemption4 ,this sealing stands for two things3 ownership and likeness 7#b ,tim4 #b3ai-ba74 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,spirit of adoption which ,god puts into our hearts1 by which we know that we are ,his children4 ,the ,spirit bears witness to this great truth 7,gal4 #d3f2 ,rom4 #h3ad1 #af74 ,this sealing has to do with the heart and the conscience--satisfying both as to the settlement of the sin and sonship question4 d7 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,infills the ,believer4 ,acts #b3d--;,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,eph4 #e3ah--;,be filled with the ,spirit4 ,the filling differs somewhat from the indwelling4 ,we may speak of the baptism of the ,spirit as that initial act of the ,spirit by which1 at the moment of our regeneration1 we are baptized by the ,spirit into the body of ,christ2 the ,spirit then comes and takes up ,his dwelling within the believer4 ,the filling with the ,spirit1 however1 is not confined to one experience1 or to any one point of time exclusively2 it may be repeated times without number4 ,there is one baptism1 but many infillings with the ,spirit4 ,the experience of the apostles in the ,acts bears witness to the fact that they were repeatedly filled with the ,spirit4 ,whenever a new emergency arose they sought a fresh infilling with the ,spirit 7cf4 ,acts #b3d with #d3ca showing that the apostles who were filled on the day of ,pentecost were again filled a few days after74 ,there is a difference between possessing the ,spirit1 and being filled with the ,spirit4 ,all ,christians have the first2 not all have the second1 although all may have4 ,eph4 #d3cj speaks of believers as being sealed1 whereas #e3ah commands those same believers to be filled 7to be being filled again and again7 with the ,spirit4 ,both the baptism and the infilling may take place at once4 ,there need be no long wilderness experience in the life of the believer4 ,it is the will of ,god that we should be filled 7or1 if you prefer the expression1 be baptized7 with the ,spirit at the moment of conversion1 and remain filled all the time4 ,whenever we are called upon for any special service1 or for any new emergency1 we should seek a fresh infilling of the ,spirit1 either for life or service1 as the case may be4 ,the ,holy ,spirit seeks--so we learn from the story of the ,acts--for men who are not merely possessed by but also filled with the ,spirit1 for service 7#f3c1 #e2 #i3ag2 #aa3bd74 ,possession touches assurance2 infilling1 service4 e7 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,empowers the ,believer for ,life and ,service4 ,rom4 #h3b--;,for the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death 7also vv4 #i-aa74 ,there are two natures in the believer3 the flesh and the ,spirit 7,gal4 #e3ag74 ,but while the believer is still in the flesh1 he does not live after the flesh 7,rom4 #h3ab1 #ac74 ,the ,holy ,spirit enables the believer to get constant and continual victory over sin4 ,a single act of sin a believer may commit2 to live in a state of sin is impossible for him1 for the ,spirit which is within him gives him victory1 so that sin does not reign over him4 ,if sinless perfection is not a ,scriptural doctrine1 sinful imperfection is certainly less ,scriptural4 ,the eighth chapter of ,romans exhibits a victorious life for the believer2 a life so different from that depicted in the seventh chapter4 ,and the difference lies in the fact that the ,holy ,spirit is hardly1 if at all1 mentioned in the seventh chapter1 while in the eighth ,he is mentioned over twelve times4 ,the ,spirit in the heart is the secret of victory over sin4 ,then note how the ,holy ,spirit produces the blessed fruit of the ,christian life 7,gal4 #e3bb1 #bc74 ,what a beautiful cluster of graces6 ,how different from the awful catalogue of the works of the flesh 7vv4 #ai-ba74 ,look at this cluster of fruit4 ,there are three groups3 the first1 in relation to ,god--love1 joy1 peace2 the second1 in relation to our fellowman--longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness2 the third1 for our individual ,christian life--faith1 meekness1 self-control4 f7 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,guide of the ,believer's ,life4 ,he guides him as to the details of his daily life1 ,rom4 #h3ad2 ,gal4 #e3af1 #be-,walk in the ,spirit4 ,there is no detail of the believer's life that may not be under the control and direction of the ,spirit4 ,the steps 7and1 as one has well said1'the stops'7 of a good man are ordered by the ,lord4 ,the ,holy ,spirit guides the believer as to the field in which he should labor4 ,how definitely this truth is taught in the ,acts #h3bg-bi2 #af3f1 #g2 #ac3b-d4 ,what a prominent part the ,spirit played in selecting the fields of labor for the apostles6 ,every step in the missionary activity of the early church seemed to be under the direct guidance of the ,spirit4 g7 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,anoints the ,believer4 ,this anointing stands for three things3 ,first1 for knowledge and teaching4 #a ,john #b3bg--;,but the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you1 and ye need not that any man teach you2 but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things1 and is truth 4 4 4 ye shall abide in him4 ,also #b3bj4 ,it is not enough to learn the truth from human teachers1 we must listen to the teaching of the ,spirit4 #a ,cor4 #b3i-ad teaches us that there are some great truths that are spiritually discerned2 they cannot be understood saving by the ,spirit-filled man1 for they are spiritually discerned4 ,see also ,john #ad3bf2 #af3ac4 ,second1 for service4 ,how dependent ,christ was upon the ,holy ,spirit for power in which to perform the duties of life is clear from such passages as ,luke #d3ah--,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 because he hath anointed me to preach1 etc4 ,also ,acts #aj3ch--;,how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and with power3 who went about doing good4 ,ezekiel teaches a lesson by his vivid picture of the activity of ,god portrayed in the wheels within wheels4 ,the moving power within those wheels was the ,spirit of ,god4 ,so in all our activity for ,god we must have the ,spirit of power4 ,third1 for consecration4 ,three classes of persons in the ,old ,testament were anointed3 the prophet1 the priest1 and the king4 ,the result of anointing was consecration--,thy vows are upon me1 ,o ,god2 knowledge of ,god and ,his will--,ye know all things2 influence--fragrance from the ointment4 ,just as the incense at ,mecca clings to the pilgrim when he passes through the streets1 so it is with him who has the anointing of the ,spirit4 ,all his garments smell of myrrh1 and aloes1 and cassia4 ,he has about him the sweet odor and scent of the ,rose of ,sharon and the ,lily of the ,valley4 #c4 ,,the ,,relation ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,to ,,the ,,scriptures4 a7 ,he is the ,author of the ,scriptures4 ,holy men of ,god spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,spirit4 #b ,pet4 #a3bj1 #ba4 ,the ,scriptures came by the inbreathing of ,god1 #b ,tim4 #c3af4 ,hear what the ,spirit saith to the churches1 ,eev4 #b and #c4 ,it was the ,spirit who was to guide the apostles into all the truth1 and show them things to come 7,john #af3ac74 b7 ,the ,spirit is also the ,interpreter of the ,scriptures4 #a ,cor4 #b3i-ad4 ,he is the ,spirit of wisdom and revelation1 ,eph4 #a3ag4 ,he shall receive of mine and show it unto you1 ,john #af3ad1 #ae4 7,see under the ,inspiration of the ,bible1 p4 #aid47 #d4 ,,the ,,relation ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,how dependent ,jesus ,christ was1 in ,his state of humiliation1 on the ,holy ,spirit6 ,if ,he needed to depend solely upon the ,spirit can we afford to do less8 a7 ,he was ,conceived by the ,holy ,spirit1 born of the ,spirit1 ,luke #a3ce4 b7 ,he was led by the ,spirit1 ,matt4 #d3a4 c7 ,he was ,anointed by the ,spirit for ,service1 ,acts #aj3ch4 d7 ,he was ,crucified in the ,power of the ,spirit1 ,heb4 #i3ad4 e7 ,he was ,raised by the ,power of the ,spirit1 ,rom4 #a3d2 #h3aa4 f7 ,he gave ,commandment to ,his ,disciples and ,church ,through the ,spirit1 ,acts #a3b4 g7 ,he is the ,bestower of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,acts #b3cc4 ,v4 ,,offences ,,against ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,scarcely any phase of the doctrine of the ,spirit is more solemn than this4 ,it behooves us all1 believer and unbeliever alike1 to be careful as to how we treat the ,holy ,spirit4 ,sinning against the ,spirit is fraught with terrific consequences4 ,for convenience sake we are classifying the offences against the ,spirit under two general divisions1 namely1 those committed by the unbeliever1 and those committed by the believer4 ,not that there is absolutely no overlapping in either case4 ,for1 doubtless1 in the very nature of the case there must be4 ,this thought will be kept in mind in the study of the offences against the ,spirit4 #a4 ,,offences ,,committed ,,by ,,the ,,unbeliever4 a7 ,resisting the ,holy ,ghost4 ,acts #g3ea-,ye do always resist the ,holy ,ghost4 ,here the picture is that of the ,holy ,spirit attacking the citadel of the soul of man1 who violently resists the gracious attempts of the ,spirit to win him4 ,in spite of the plainest arguments1 and the most incontestable facts this man wilfully rejects the evidence and refuses to accept the ,christ so convincingly presented4 ,thus is the ,holy ,ghost resisted4 7,see ,acts #f3aj47 ,that this is a true picture of resistance to the ,holy ,spirit is clearly seen from ,stephen's recital of the facts in ,acts #g3ea-eg4 b7 ,insulting1 or ,doing ,despite unto the ,holy ,spirit4 ,heb4 #aj3bi 7cf4 ,luke #ah3cb74 ,it is the work of the ,spirit to present the atoning work of ,christ to the sinner as the ground of his pardon4 ,when the sinner refuses to believe or accept the testimony of the ,spirit1 he thereby insults the ,spirit by esteeming the whole work of ,christ as a deception and a lie1 or accounts the death of ,christ as the death of an ordinary or common man1 and not as ,god's provision for the sinner4 c7 ,blaspheming the ,holy ,spirit4 ,matt4 #ab3ca1cb4 ,this seems to be the most grievous sin of all1 for the ,master asserts that there is no forgiveness for this sin4 ,sins against the ,son of ,man may be forgiven because it was easily possible1 by reason of ,his humble birth1 lowly parentage1 etc41 to question the claims ,he put forth to deity4 ,but when1 after ,pentecost1 the ,holy ,spirit came1 and presented to every man's conscience evidence sufficient to prove the truth of these claims1 the man who then refused to yield to ,christ's claims was guilty of resisting1 insulting1 and that amounts to blaspheming the testimony of the whole ,godhead1 of which the ,spirit is the executive4 #b4 ,,offences ,,committed ,,by ,,the ,,believer4 a7 ,grieving the ,spirit4 ,eph4 #d3cj1 #ca2 ,isa4 #fc3aj 7,r4 ,v474 ,to grieve means to make sad or sorrowful4 ,it is the word used to describe the experience of ,christ in ,gethsemane2 and so the sorrow of ,gethsemane may be endured by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit is the most sensitive person of the ,godhead4 ,he is called the ,mother--heart of ,god4 ,the context of this passage 7v4#ca7 tells us how the ,spirit may be grieved3 by foolish talking and jesting4 ,whenever the believer allows any of the things mentioned in this verse 7and those stated also in ,gal4 #e3ag-ai7 to find place in his heart and expression in his words and life2 when these things abide in his heart and actively manifest themselves1 then the ,spirit is sad and grieved4 ,indeed to refuse any part of our moral nature to the full sway of the ,spirit is to grieve ,him4 ,if we continue to grieve the ,spirit1 then the grief turns into vexation 7,isa4 #fc3aj74 b7 ,lying to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,acts #e3c1 #d4 ,the sin of lying to the ,spirit is very prominent when consecration is most popular4 ,we stand up and say1 ,i surrender all when in our hearts we know that we have not surrendered all4 ,yet1 like ,ananias1 we like to have others believe that we have consecrated our all4 ,we do not wish to be one whit behind others in our profession4 ,bead carefully in this connection the story of ,achan 7,joshua #g71 and that of ,gehazi 7#b ,kings #e3bj-bg74 c7 ,quenching the ,spirit4 #a ,thess4 #e3ai-,quench not the ,spirit4 ,the thought of quenching the ,spirit seems to be used in connection with fire3 ,smoking flax shall he not quench 7,matt4 #ab3bj72 ,quench the fiery darts 7,eph4 #f3af74 ,it is therefore related more to the thought of service than to that of life4 ,the context of #a ,thess4 #e3ai shows this4 ,the manifestation of the ,spirit in prophesying was not to be quenched4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is seen as coming down upon this gathered assembly for praise1 prayer1 and testimony4 ,this manifestation of the ,spirit must not be quenched4 ,thus we may quench the ,spirit not only in our hearts1 but also in the hearts of others4 ,how8 ,by disloyalty to the voice and call of the ,spirit2 by disobedience to ,his voice whether it be to testify1 praise1 to do any bit of service for ,god1 or to refuse to go where ,he sends us to labor--the foreign field1 for example4 ,let us be careful also lest in criticizing the manifestation of the ,spirit in the testimony of some believer1 or the sermon of some preacher1 we be found guilty of quenching the ,spirit4 ,let us see to it that the gift of the ,holy ,ghost for service be not lost by any unfaithfulness1 or by the cultivation of a critical spirit on our part1 so that the fire in our hearts dies out and nothing but ashes remain--ashes1 a sign that fire was once there1 but has been extinguished4 ,from what has been said the following may be summarily stated3 ,resisting has to do with the regenerating work of the ,spirit2 ,grieving has to do with the indwelling ,holy ,spirit2 ,quenching has to do with the enduement of the ,spirit for service4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,man ,i4 ,,the ,,creation ,,and ,,original ,,condition ,,of ,,man4 #a4 ,,image ,,and ,,likeness ,,of ,,god4 #b4 ,,physical--,,mental--,,moral--,,spiritu al4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,man4 #a4 ,,the ,,scriptural ,,account4 #b4 ,,various ,,interpretations4 #c4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,fall4 #d4 ,,the ,,results ,,of ,,the ,,fall4 a7 ,on ,adam1 and ,eve4 b7 ,on the ,race4 7#a7 ,various ,theories4 7#b7 ,scriptural ,declarations4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,man4 ,i4 ,,the ,,creation ,,and ,,original ,,condition ,,of ,,man4 #a4 ,,man ,,made ,,in ,,the ,,image ,,and ,,likeness ,,of ,,god4 ,gen4 #a3bf--;,and ,god said1 ,let us make man in our image1 after our likeness4 #i3f--;,for in the image of ,god made he man4 ,what is meant by the terms image and likeness8 ,image means the shadow or outline of a figure1 while likeness denotes the resemblance of that shadow to the figure4 ,the two words1 however1 are practically synonymous4 ,that man was made in the image and likeness of ,god is fundamental in all ,god's dealings with man 7#a ,cor4 #aa3g2 ,eph4 #d3ba-bd2 ,col4 #c3aj2 ,james #c3i74 ,we may express the language as follows3 ,let us make man in our image to be our likeness4 a7 ,the ,image of ,god ,does ,not ,denote ,physical ,likeness4 ,god is ,spirit2 ,he does not have parts and passions as a man4 7,see under ,doctrine of ,god2 ,the ,spirituality of ,god1 pp4 #ai1 #bj74 ,consequently ,mormon and ,swedenborgian views of ,god as a great human are wrong4 ,deut4 #d3ae contradicts such a physical view of ,god 7see p4 #ai1 b1 c74 ,some would infer from ,psa4 #ag3ae--;,i shall be satisfied1 when ,i awake1 with thy likeness1 that in some remote way1 a physical likeness is suggested4 ,the ,r4 ,v41 however1 changes somewhat the sense of this verse1 and reads3 ,i shall be satisfied1 when ,i awake1 with beholding thy form4 ,see also ,num4 #ab3h1 ,r4 ,v4 ,it is fair to believe1 however1 that erectness of posture1 intelligence of countenance1 and a quick1 glancing eye characterized the first man4 ,we should also remember that the manifestations in the ,old ,testament1 and the incarnation must throw some light upon this subject 7see p4 #bj74 b7 ,nor ,are the ,expressions ,image and ,likeness ,exhausted ,when ,we ,say ,that ,they ,consisted in ,man's ,dominion ,over ,nature1 and the ,creation of ,god in ,general4 ,indeed the supremacy conferred upon man presupposed those spiritual endowments1 and was justified by his fitness1 through them1 to exercise it4 c7 ,positively1 ,we ,learn from ,certain ,scriptures in ,what ,this ,image and ,likeness ,consisted4 ,eph4 #d3bc1 #bd--;,and be renewed in the spirit of your mind2 and that ye put on the new man1 which after ,god is created in righteousness and true holiness 7,b4 ,v41 holiness of truth74 ,col4 #c3aj--;,and have put on the new man1 which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him4 ,it is clear from these passages that the image of ,god consists in knowledge1 righteousness1 and holiness2 moral1 not physical likeness4 d7 ,the ,original ,man ,was ,endowed with ,intellectual ,faculties4 ,he had sufficient intelligence to give names to the animals as they were presented before him 7,gen4 #b3ai1 #bj74 ,adam had not only the power of speech1 but the power of reasoning and thought in connection with speech4 ,he could attach words to ideas4 ,this is not the picture1 as evolution would have us believe1 of an infantile savage slowly groping his way towards articulate speech by imitation of the sounds of animals4 e7 ,the ,original ,man ,possessed ,moral and ,spiritual ,faculties4 ,consider the moral test in ,genesis #c4 ,adam had power to resist or to yield to moral evil4 ,sin was a volitional thing4 ,christ1 the second ,adam1 endured a similar test 7,matt4 #d74 ,from all this it is evident that man's original state was not one of savagery4 ,indeed there is abundant evidence to show that man has been degraded from a very much higher stage4 ,both the ,bible and science agree in making man the crowning work of ,god1 and that there will be no higher order of beings here on the earth than man4 ,we must not forget that while man1 from one side of his nature1 is linked to the animal creation1 he is yet supra-natural--a being of a higher order and more splendid nature2 he is in the image and likeness of ,god4 ,man has developed not from the ape1 but away from it4 ,he never was anything but potential man4 ,no single instance has yet been adduced of the transformation of one animal species into another1 either by natural or artificial selection2 much less has it been demonstrated that the body of the brute has ever been developed into that of the man4 ,the links that should bind man to the monkey have not been found4 ,not a single one can be shown4 ,none have been found that stood nearer the monkey than the man of today4--,agassiz4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,man4 ,the doctrine of the ,fall of ,man is not peculiar to ,christianity2 all religions contain an account of it1 and recognize the great and awful fact4 ,had there been no such account as that found in ,genesis #c1 there would still have remained the problem of the fall and sin4 ,yet1 the doctrine of the fall has a relation to ,christianity that it does not have to other religions1 or religious systems4 ,the moral character of ,god as seen in the ,christian religion far surpasses the delineation of the ,supreme ,being set forth in any other religion1 and thus heightens and intensifies its idea of sin4 ,it is when men consider the very high character of ,god as set forth in ,christianity1 and then look at the doctrine of sin1 that they find it hard to reconcile the fact that ,god1 being the moral ,being ,he is1 should ever allow sin to come into the world4 ,to some minds these two things seem incompatible4 #a4 ,,the ,,scriptural ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,man4 ,the third chapter of ,genesis gives the fullest account of this awful tragedy in the experience of mankind4 ,other scriptures3 ,rom4 #e3ab-ai2 ,i ,tim4 #b3ad2 ,gen4 #f3e2 #h3ca2 ,psa4 #ad2 ,rom4 #c3aj-bc4 ,the purpose of the ,genesis narrative is not to give an account of the manner in which sin came into the world1 but how it found its advent into the human race4 ,sin was already in the world1 as the existence of ,satan and the chaotic condition of things in the beginning1 strikingly testify4 ,the reasonableness of the narrative of the fall is seen in view of the condition of man after he had sinned with his condition when he left the hand of the ,creator4 ,compare ,gen4 #a3bf with #f3e1 and ,psa4 #ad4 ,if the fall of man were not narrated in ,genesis we should have to postulate some such event to account for the present condition in which we find man4 ,in no part of the ,scripture1 save in the creation account as found in the first two chapters of ,genesis1 does man appear perfect and upright4 ,his attitude is that of rebellion against ,god1 of deepening and awful corruption4 #b4 ,,various ,,interpretations ,,of ,,the ,,narrative ,,of ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,man4 ,some look upon the whole narrative as being an allegory4 ,adam is the rational part of man2 ,eve1 the sensual2 the serpent1 external excitements to evil4 ,but the simplicity and artlessness of the narrative militates against this view4 ,others1 again1 designate the narrative as being a myth4 ,it is regarded as a truth invested in poetic form2 something made up from the folklore of the times4 ,but why should these few verses be snatched out of the chapter in which they are found and be called mythical1 while the remaining verses are indisputably literal8 ,then there is the literal interpretation1 which takes the account as it reads1 in its perfectly natural sense1 just as in the case of the other parts of the same chapter4 ,there is no intimation in the account itself that it is not to be regarded as literal history4 ,it certainly is part of a historical book4 ,the geographical locations in connection with the story are historic4 ,the curse upon the man1 upon the woman1 and upon the ground are certainly literal4 ,it is a fact that death is in the world as the wages of sin4 ,unquestionably ,christ1 and the other ,scripture writers regard the event as historical and literal3 of4 ,matt4 #ai3d2 ,mark #aj3f2 #b ,cor4 #aa3c2 ,i ,tim4 #b3ac-ae2 ,i ,cor4 #ae3ef4 #c4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,fall4 ,it must be kept in mind that ,adam and ,eve were free moral agents4 ,that while they were sinless beings1 it was yet possible for them to sin1 just as it was possible for them not to sin4 ,a careful reading of the narrative leads to the following remarks3 ,the sin of our first parents was purely volitional2 it was an act of their own determination4 ,their sin was1 like all other sin1 a voluntary act of the will4 ,it came from an outside source1 that is to say1 it was instigated from without4 ,there was no sin in the nature of the first human pair4 ,consequently there must have been an ungodly principle already in the world4 ,probably the fall of ,satan and the evil angels had taken place already4 ,the essence of the first sin lay in the denial of the divine will2 an elevation of the will of man over the will of ,god4 ,it was a deliberate transgressing of a divinely marked boundary2 an overstepping of the divine limits4 ,in its last analysis1 the first sin was1 what each and every sin committed since has been1 a positive disbelief in the word of the living ,god4 ,a belief of ,satan rather than a belief in ,god4 ,it is helpful to note that the same lines of temptation that were presented to our first parents1 were presented to ,christ in the wilderness 7,matt4 #d3a-aa71 and to men ever since then 7#a ,john #b3ae-ag74 ,satan's program is short and shallow after all4 #d4 ,,the ,,results ,,of ,,the ,,fall4 a7 ,on ,our ,first ,parents--,adam and ,eve4 ,the results of sin in the experience of our first parents were as follows3 ,the ground was cursed1 so that henceforth it would not yield good alone 7,gen4 #c3ag74 ,sorrow and pain to the woman in child-bearing1 and subjection of woman to the man 7,gen4 #c3af74 ,exhausting physical labor in order to subsist 7,gen4 #c3ai74 ,physical and spiritual death 7,gen4 #c3ai2 #c3c2 #e3e2 ,rom4 #e3ab74 ,of course1 with all this came also a fear of ,god1 a shame because of sin1 a hiding from ,god's presence1 and finally1 an expulsion from the garden 7,gen4 #c3h-aa1 #cb-bd74 b7 ,on the ,race--,various ,theories4 ,there are three general views held with regard to the effect of ,adam's sin upon the race4 ,before looking at the strictly ,scriptural view in detail1 let us briefly state these three theories3 ,that ,adam's sin affected himself only2 that every human being born into the world is as free from sin as ,adam was4 ,the only effect the first sin had upon the race was that of a bad example4 ,according to this theory man is well morally and spiritually4 ,this view of the case is false because the ,scriptures recognize all men as guilty and as possessing a sinful nature2 because man1 as soon as he attains the age of responsibility commits sinful acts1 and there is no exception to this rule2 because righteousness is impossible without the help of ,god1 otherwise redemption would be by works of righteousness which we have done1 and this the ,scripture contradicts4 ,according to this view man is perfectly well4 7,the ,pelagian theory47 ,that while ,adam's sin1 as guilt1 is not imputed to man1 he is yet destitute of original righteousness1 and1 without divine help1 is utterly unable to attain it4 ,god1 however1 bestows upon each individual1 at the dawn of consciousness1 a special gift of ,his ,spirit1 which is sufficient to enable man to be righteous1 if he will allow his will to co-operate with ,god's ,spirit4 ,according to this view man is only half sick1 or half well4 ,this view also is false because the ,scriptures clearly state that man is utterly unable to do a single thing to save himself4 7,the ,semi-,pelagian theory47 ,that because of the unity of the race in ,adam1 and the organic unity of mankind1 ,adam's sin is therefore imputed to his posterity4 ,the nature which man now possesses is like to the corrupted nature of ,adam4 ,man is totally unable to do anything to save himself4 ,according to this theory man is not only not well1 nor half well1 but totally dead4 7 ,the ,augustinian theory47 ,,scriptural ,,teaching4 7#a7 ,all men1 without respect of condition or class1 are sinners before ,god4 ,rom4 #c3i1 #aj1 #bb1 #bc2 ,psa4 #ad2 ,isa4 #ec3f4 ,there may be a difference in the degree1 but not in the fact of sin4 ,all men1 ,jew and ,gentile1 have missed the mark1 and failed to attain to ,god's standard4 ,there is none righteous1 no1 not one4 7#b7 ,this universal sinful condition is vitally connected with the sin of ,adam4 ,rom4 #e3ab--,wherefore1 as by one man sin entered into the world1 and death by sin2 and so death passed upon all men1 for that all have sinned4 ,for the judgment was by one to condemnation 7#e3af74 ,for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners 7#e3ai74 ,all men were in ,adam when he sinned2 fallen he1 fallen they4 ,herein lies the truth of the organic unity of the race4 ,in ,adam all die4 ,two questions are raised here3 ,how can man be held responsible for a depraved nature8--this touches the matter of original sin2 and ,how can ,god justly impute ,adam's sin to us8--this deals with the question of the imputation of sin4 7#c7 ,the whole world rests under condemnation1 wrath1 and curse4 ,rom4 #c3ai--,that every mouth may be stopped1 and all the world may become guilty before ,god4 ,gal4 #c3aj2 ,eph4 #b3c4 ,the law of ,god demands a perfect obedience2 but no son of man can yield such obedience2 hence the curse of a broken law rests upon those breaking it4 ,the wrath of ,god abides on all not vitally united by faith to ,jesus ,christ 7,john #c3cf74 7#d7 ,unregenerate men are regarded as children of the devil1 and not sous of ,god4 #a ,john #c3h-aj2 ,john #h3dd--,ye are of your father the devil4 #a ,john #e3ai--;,and we know that we are of ,god1 and the whole world lieth in wickedness 7in the wicked one1 ,r4 ,v474 7#e7 ,the whole race of men are in helpless captivity to sin and ,satan4 ,rom4 #g1 chapter entire2 ,john #h3ca-cf2 ,eph4 #b3c4 7#f7 ,the entire nature of man1 mentally1 morally1 spiritually1 physically1 is sadly affected by sin4 ,the understanding is darkened 7,eph4 #d3ah2 #a ,cor4 #b3ad72 the heart is deceitful and wicked 7,jer4 #ag3i1 #aj72 the mind and conscience are defiled 7,gen4 #f3e2 ,titus #a3ae72 the flesh and spirit are defiled 7#b ,cor4 #g3e72 the will is enfeebled 7,rom4 #g3ah72 and we are utterly destitute of any ,godlike qualities which meet the requirements of ,god's holiness 7,rom4 #g3ah74 ,what does all this mean8 ,a4 ,h4 ,strong1 in his ,systematic ,theology1 explains the matter somewhat as follows3 ,it does not mean the entire absence of conscience 7,john #h3i72 nor of all moral qualities 7,mark #aj3ba72 nor that men are prone to every kind of sin 7for some sins exclude others74 ,it does mean1 however1 that man is totally destitute of love to ,god which is the all absorbing commandment of the law 7,john #e3db72 that the natural man has an aversion to ,god 7,rom4 #h3g72 that all that is stated under 7#f7 above is true of man2 that man is in possession of a nature that is constantly on the downgrade1 and from the dominion of which he is totally unable to free himself 7,rom4 #g3ah1 #bc74 ,illustration with caption3 ,handwritten notations of ,rev4 ,william ,evans1 ,ph4,d4 ,d4,d4 ,,the ,,doctrines ,,of ,,salvation ,a4 ,,repentance4 ,b4 ,,faith4 ,c4 ,,regeneration4 ,d4 ,,justification4 ,e4 ,,adoption4 ,f4 ,,sanctification4 ,g4 ,,prayer4 ,,the ,,doctrines ,,of ,,salvation4 ,a4 ,,repentance4 ,i4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,the ,,doctrine4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,repentance4 #a4 ,,as ,,touching ,,the ,,intellect4 #b4 ,,affecting ,,the ,,emotions4 #c4 ,,will4 a7 ,confess ,sin4 b7 ,forsake ,sin4 c7 ,turn to ,god4 ,,iii4 ,,how ,,repentance ,,is ,,produced4 #a4 ,,divine ,,side4 #b4 ,,human ,,side4 #c4 ,,question ,,of ,,means4 ,,iv4 ,,results ,,of ,,repentance4 #a4 ,,godward4 #b4 ,,manward4 ,a4 ,,repentance4 ,i4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,the ,,doctrine4 ,the prominence given to the doctrine of ,repentance in the ,scriptures can hardly be overestimated4 ,john the ,baptist began his public ministry1 as did ,jesus also1 with the call to repentance upon his lips 7,matt4 #c3a1 #b2 #d3ag74 ,when ,jesus sent forth the twelve and the seventy messengers to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of heaven1 ,he commanded them to preach repentance 7,luke #bd3dg2 ,mark #f3ab74 ,foremost in the preaching of the apostles was the doctrine of repentance2 ,peter1 7,acts #b3ch72 ,paul1 7,acts #bj3ba74 ,the burden of the heart of ,god1 and ,his one command to all men everywhere1 is that they should repent 7#b ,pet4 #c3i2 ,acts #ag3cj74 ,indeed1 failure on the part of man to heed ,god's call to repentance means that he shall utterly perish 7,luke #ac3c74 ,does the doctrine of repentance find such a prominent place in the preaching and teaching of today8 ,has the need for repentance diminished8 ,has ,god lessened or changed the terms of admission into ,his kingdom8 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,repentance4 ,there is a three-fold idea involved in true repentance3 #a4 ,,as ,,touching ,,the ,,intellect4 ,matt4 #ba3bi--;,he answered and said3 ,i will not2 but afterward he repented1 and went4 ,the word here used for repent means to change one's mind1 thought1 purpose1 views regarding a matter2 it is to have another mind about a thing4 ,so we may speak of it as a revolution touching our attitude and views towards sin and righteousness4 ,this change is well illustrated in the action of the ,prodigal ,son1 and of the ,publican in the well-known story of the ,pharisee and the ,publican 7,luke #ae and #ah74 ,thus1 when ,peter1 on the day of ,pentecost1 called upon the ,jews to repent 7,acts #b3ad-dj71 he virtually called upon them to change their minds and their views regarding ,christ4 ,they had considered ,christ to be a mere man1 a blasphemer1 an impostor4 ,the events of the few preceding days had proven to them that ,he was none other than the righteous ,son of ,god1 their ,saviour and the ,saviour of the world4 ,the result of their repentance or change of mind would be that they would receive ,jesus ,christ as their long promised ,messiah4 #b4 ,,as ,,touching ,,the ,,emotions4 #b ,cor4 #g3i--,now ,i rejoice1 not that ye were made sorry1 but that ye sorrowed to repentance2 for ye were made sorry after a godly manner1 that ye might receive damage by us in nothing4 ,the context 7vv4 #g-aa7 shows what a large part the feelings played in true ,gospel repentance4 ,see also ,luke #aj3ac2 cf4 ,gen4 #f3f4 ,the ,greek word for repentance in this connection means to be a care to one afterwards1 to cause one great concern4 ,the ,hebrew equivalent is even stronger1 and means to pant1 to sigh1 to moan4 ,so the publican beat upon his breast1 indicating sorrow of heart4 ,just how much emotion is necessary to true repentance no one can definitely say4 ,but that a certain amount of heart movement1 even though it be not accompanied with a flood of tears1 or even a single tear1 accompanies all true repentance is evident from the use of this word4 ,see also ,psa4 #ch3ah4 #c4 ,,as ,,touching ,,the ,,will ,,and ,,disposition4 ,one of the ,hebrew words for repent means to turn4 ,the prodigal said1 ,i will arise4444 and he arose 7,luke #ae3ah1 #bj74 ,he not only thought upon his ways1 and felt sorry because of them1 but he turned his steps in the direction of home4 ,so that in a very real sense repentance is a crisis with a changed experience in view4 ,repentance is not only a heart broken for sin1 but from sin also4 ,we must forsake what we would have ,god remit4 ,in the writings of ,paul repentance is more of an experience than a single act4 ,the part of the will and disposition in repentance is shown3 a7 ,in the ,confession of ,sin to ,god4 ,psa4 #ch3ah--;,for ,i will declare mine iniquity3 ,i will be sorry for my sin4 ,the publican beat upon his breast1 and said1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner 7,luke #ah3ac74 ,the prodigal said1 ,i have sinned against heaven 7,luke #ae3ba74 ,there must be confession to man also in so far as man has been wronged in and by our sin 7,matt4 #e3bc1 #bd2 ,james #e3af74 b7 ,in the ,forsaking of ,sin4 ,isa4 #ee3g--,let the wicked forsake his way1 and the unrighteous man his thoughts2 and let him return unto the ,lord4 ,prov4 #bh3ac2 ,matt4 #c3h1 #aj4 c7 ,in ,turning ,unto ,god4 ,it is not enough to turn away from sin2 we must turn unto ,god2 #a ,thess4 #a3i2 ,acts #bf3ah4 ,,iii4 ,,how ,,repentance ,,is ,,produced4 #a4 ,,it ,,is ,a ,,divine ,,gift4 ,acts #aa3ah--,then hath ,god also to the ,gentiles granted repentance unto life4 #b ,tim4 #b3be--;,if ,god peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth4 ,acts #e3cj1 #ca4 ,repentance is not something which one can originate within himself1 or can pump up within himself as one would pump water out of a well4 ,it is a divine gift4 ,how then is man responsible for not having it8 ,we are called upon to repent in order that we may feel our own inability to do so1 and consequently be thrown upon ,god and petition ,him to perform this work of grace in our hearts4 #b4 ,,yet ,,this ,,divine ,,gift ,,is ,,brought ,,about ,,through ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,means4 ,acts #b3cg1 #ch1 #da4 ,the very ,gospel which calls for repentance produces it4 ,how well this is illustrated in the experience of the people of ,nineveh 7,jonah #c3e-aj76 ,when they heard the preaching of the word of ,god by ,jonah they believed the message and turned unto ,god4 ,not any message1 but the ,gospel is the instrument that ,god uses to bring about this desired end4 ,furthermore1 this message must be preached in the power of the ,holy ,spirit 7#a ,thess4 #a3e-aj74 ,rom4 #b3d--,or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering2 not knowing that the goodness of ,god leadeth thee to repentance8 ,also #b ,pet4 #c3i4 ,prosperity too often leads away from ,god1 but it is the divine intention that it should lead to ,god4 ,revivals come mostly in times of panic4 ,rev4 #c3ai2 ,heb4 #ab3f1 #aj1 #aa4 ,the chastisements of ,god are sometimes for the purpose of bringing ,his wandering children back to repentance4 #b ,tim4 #b3bd1 #be4 ,god oftentimes uses the loving1 ,christian reproof of a brother to be the means of bringing us back to ,god4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,results ,,of ,,repentance4 #a4 ,,all ,,heaven ,,is ,,made ,,glad4 ,luke #ae3g1 #aj4 ,joy in heaven1 and in the presence of the angels of ,god4 ,makes glad the heart of ,god1 and sets the bells of heaven ringing4 ,who are those in the presence of the angels of ,god8 ,do the departed loved ones know anything about it8 #b4 ,,it ,,brings ,,pardon ,,and ,,forgiveness ,,of ,,sin4 ,isa4 #ee3g2 ,acts #c3ai4 ,outside of repentance the prophets and apostles know of no way of securing pardon4 ,no sacrifices1 nor religious ceremonies can secure it4 ,not that repentance merits forgiveness1 but it is a condition of it4 ,repentance qualifies a man for a pardon1 but it does not entitle him to it4 #c4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,is ,,poured ,,out ,,upon ,,the ,,penitent4 ,acts #b3ch--,repent444 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,impenitence keeps back the full incoming of the ,spirit into the heart4 ,b4 ,,faith4 ,i4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,the ,,doctrine4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,definition ,,of ,,faith4 #a4 ,,in ,,general3 a7 ,knowledge4 b7 ,assent4 c7 ,appropriation4 #b4 ,,in ,,particular3 a7 ,towards ,god4 b7 ,towards ,christ4 c7 ,in ,prayer4 d7 ,in the ,word of ,god4 #c4 ,,relation ,,of ,,faith ,,to ,,works4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,source ,,of ,,faith4 #a4 ,,the ,,divine ,,side4 #b4 ,,the ,,human ,,side4 #c4 ,,means ,,used4 ,,iv4 ,,some ,,results ,,of ,,faith4 #a4 ,,saved4 #b4 ,,joy ,,and ,,peace4 #c4 ,,do ,,great ,,works4 ,b4 ,,faith4 ,i4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,the ,,doctrine4 ,faith is fundamental in ,christian creed and conduct4 ,it was the one thing which above all others ,christ recognized as the paramount virtue4 ,the ,syrophoenician woman 7,matt4 #ae7 had perseverance2 the centurion 7,matt4 #h71 humility2 the blind man 7,mark #aj71 earnestness4 ,but what ,christ saw and rewarded in each of these cases was faith4 ,faith is the foundation of ,peter's spiritual temple 7#b ,pet4 #a3e-g72 and first in ,paul's trinity of graces 7#a ,cor4 #ac3ac74 ,in faith all the other graces find their source4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,definition ,,of ,,faith4 ,faith is used in the ,scriptures in a general and in a particular sense4 #a4 ,,its ,,general ,,meaning3 a7 ,knowledge4 ,psa4 #i3aj--;,and they that know thy name will put their trust in thee4 ,rom4 #aj3ag--,so then faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the word of ,god4 ,faith is not believing a thing without evidence2 on the contrary faith rests upon the best of evidence1 namely1 the ,word of ,god4 ,an act of faith denotes a manifestation of the intelligence3 ,how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard8 ,faith is no blind act of the soul2 it is not a leap in the dark4 ,such a thing as believing with the heart without the head is out of the question4 ,a man may believe with his head without believing with his heart2 but he cannot believe with his heart without believing with his head too4 ,the heart1 in the ,scriptures1 means the whole man--intellect1 sensibilities1 and will4 ,as a man thinketh in his heart4 ,why reason ye these things in your hearts8 b7 ,assent4 ,mark #ab3cb--;,and the scribe said unto him1 ,well1 ,master1 thou hast said the truth4 ,so was it with the faith which ,christ demanded in ,his miracles3 ,believe ye that ,i am able to do this8 ,yea1 ,lord4 ,there must not only be the knowledge that ,jesus is able to save1 and that ,he is the ,saviour of the world2 there must be also an assent of the heart to all these claims4 ,those who1 receiving ,christ to be all that ,he claimed to be1 believed in ,him1 became thereby sons of ,god 7,john #a3ab74 c7 ,appropriation4 ,john #a3ab2 #b3bd4 ,there must be an appropriation of the things which we know and assent to concerning the ,christ and ,his work4 ,intelligent perception is not faith4 ,a man may know ,christ as divine1 and yet aside from that reject him as ,saviour4 ,knowledge affirms the reality of these things but neither accepts nor rejects them4 ,nor is assent faith4 ,there is an assent of the mind which does not convey a surrender of the heart and affections4 ,faith is the consent of the will to the assent of the understanding4 ,faith always has in it the idea of action--movement towards its object4 ,it is the soul leaping forth to embrace and appropriate the ,christ in whom it believes4 ,it first says3 ,my ,lord and my ,god1 and then falls down and worships4 ,a distinction between believing about ,christ and on ,christ is made in ,john #h3cj1 #ca1 ,r4 ,v4--,many believed on him4444 ,jesus therefore said to those ,jews that had believed him4 ,s4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,faith ,,in ,,particular3 a7 ,when ,used in ,connection with the ,name of ,god4 ,heb4 #aa3f--;,but without faith it is impossible to please him2 for he that cometh to ,god must believe that he is1 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him4 ,also ,acts #bg3bb-be2 ,rom4 #d3ai-ba with ,gen4 #ae3d-f4 ,there can be no dealings with the invisible ,god unless there is absolute faith in ,his existence4 ,we must believe in ,his reality1 even though ,he is unseen4 ,but we must believe even more than the fact of ,his existence2 namely1 that ,he is a rewarder1 that ,he will assuredly honor with definite blessing those who approach unto ,him in prayer4 ,importunity will1 of course1 be needed 7,luke #aa3e-aj74 ,there must be confidence in the ,word of ,god also4 ,faith believes all that ,god says as being absolutely true1 even though circumstances seem to be against its fulfillment4 b7 ,when ,used in ,connection with the ,person and ,work of ,christ4 ,recall the three elements in faith1 and apply them here4 ,first1 there must be a knowledge of the claims of ,christ as to ,his person and mission in the world3 ,as to ,his person--that ,he is deity1 ,john #i3ce-ch2 #aj3cj2 ,phil4 #b3f-ll4 ,as to ,his work--,matt4 #bj3bh2 #bf3bf-bh2 ,luke #bd3bg1 #dd4 ,second1 there must be an assent to all these claims1 ,john #af3cj2 #bj3bh2 ,matt4 #af3af2 ,john #f3fh1 #fi4 ,third1 there must be a personal appropriation of ,christ as being all that ,he claims to be1 ,john #a3ab1 #h3ba1 #bd2 #e3bd4 ,there must be surrender to a person1 and not mere faith in a creed4 ,faith in a doctrine must lead to faith in a person1 and that person ,jesus ,christ1 if salvation is to be the result of such belief4 ,so ,martha was led to substitute faith in a doctrine for faith in a person 7,john #aa3be74 ,it is such faith--consisting of knowledge1 assent1 and appropriation --that saves4 ,this is believing with the heart 7,rom4 #aj3i1aj74 c7 ,when ,used in ,connection with ,prayer4 ,three passages may be used to set forth this relationship3 #a ,john #e3ad1 #ae2 ,james #a3e-g1 ,mark #aa3bd4 ,there must be no hesitation which balances between belief and unbelief1 and inclines toward the latter--tossed one moment upon the shore of faith and hope1 the next tossed back again into the abyss of unbelief4 ,to doubt means to reason whether or no the thing concerning which you are making request can be done 7,acts #aj3bj2 ,rom4 #d3bj74 ,such a man only conjectures2 he does not really believe4 ,real faith thanks ,god for the thing asked for1 if that thing is in accord with the will of ,god1 even before it receives it 7,mark #aa3bd74 ,note the slight3 that man4 ,we must recognize the fact that knowledge1 assent1 and appropriation exist here also4 ,we must understand the promises on which we base our prayer2 we must believe that they are worth their full face value2 and then step out upon them1 thereby giving substance to that which1 at the moment may be unseen1 and1 perchance1 nonexistent1 so far as our knowledge and vision are concerned1 but which to faith is a splendid reality4 d7 ,when ,used in ,connection with the ,word and ,promise of ,god4 ,first1 we should know whether the particular promise in question is intended for us in particular4 ,there is a difference in a promise being written for us and to us4 ,there are dispensational aspects to many of the promises in the ,bible1 therefore we must rightly divide1 apportion1 and appropriate the ,word of ,god 7cf4 ,i ,cor4 #aj3cb74 ,second1 when once we are persuaded that a promise is for us1 we must believe that ,god means all ,he says in that promise2 we must assent to all its truth2 we must not diminish nor discount it4 ,god will not1 cannot lie 7,titus #a3b74 ,third1 we must appropriate and act upon the promises4 ,herein lies the difference between belief and faith4 ,belief is mental2 faith adds the volitional2 we may have belief without the will1 but not faith4 ,belief is a realm of thought2 faith is a sphere of action4 ,belief lives in the study2 faith comes out into the market-places and the streets4 ,faith substantiates belief--gives substance1 life1 reality1 and activity to it 7,heb4 #aa3a74 ,faith puts belief into active service1 and connects possibilities with actualities4 ,faith is acting upon what you believe2 it is appropriation4 ,faith counts every promise valid1 and gilt-edged 7,heb4 #aa3aa72 no trial can shake it 7#aa3ce72 it is so absolute that it survives the loss of its own pledge even 7#aa3ag74 ,for illustration1 see ,i ,kings #ah3da-dc4 #c4 ,,the ,,relation ,,of ,,faith ,,to ,,works4 ,there is no merit in faith alone4 ,it is not mere faith that saves1 but faith in ,christ4 ,faith in any other saviour but ,christ will not save4 ,faith in any other gospel than that of the ,new ,testament will not save 7,gal4 #a3h1 #i74 ,there is no contradiction between ,paul and ,james touching the matter of faith and works 7cf4 ,james #b3ad-bf2 ,rom4 #d3a-ab74 ,paul is looking at the matter from the ,godward side1 and asserts that we are justified1 in the sight of ,god1 meritoriously1 without absolutely any works on our part4 ,james considers the matter from the manward side1 and asserts that we are justified1 in the sight of man1 evidentially1 by works1 and not by faith alone 7#b3bd74 ,in ,james it is not the ground of justification1 as in ,paul1 but the demonstration4 ,see under ,justification1 ,,ii4 #d1 p4 #aei4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,source ,,of ,,faith4 ,there are two sides to this phase of the subject--a divine and a human side4 #a4 ,,it ,,is ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,triune ,,god4 ,god the ,father3 ,rom4 #ab3c2 ,i ,cor4 #ab4 ,this is true of faith both in its beginning 7,phil4 #a3bi7 and its development 7#a ,cor4 #ab74 ,faith1 then1 is a gift of ,his grace4 ,god the ,son3 ,heb4 #ab3b--,looking unto ,jesus the author and finisher of our faith4 7,illustration1 ,matt4 #ad3cj1 #ca--,peter taking his eyes off ,christ47 ,i ,cor4 #ab2 ,luke #ag3e4 ,god the ,spirit3 ,gal4 #e3bb2 ,i ,cor4 #ab3i4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the executive of the ,godhead4 ,why then1 if faith is the work of the ,godhead1 are we responsible for not having it8 ,god wills to work faith in all ,his creatures1 and will do so if they do not resist ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,we are responsible1 therefore1 not so much for the lack of faith1 but for resisting the ,spirit who will create faith in our hearts if we will permit ,him to do so4 #b4 ,,there ,,is ,,also ,a ,,human ,,side ,,to ,,faith4 ,rom4 #aj3ag--,so then faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the word of ,god4 7cf4 the context1 vv4 #i-ba47 ,acts #d3d--;,howbeit many of them which heard the word believed4 ,in this instance the spoken word1 the ,gospel1 is referred to2 in other cases the written ,word1 the ,scriptures1 are referred to as being instrumental in producing faith4 ,see also ,gal4 #c3b-e4 ,it was a looking unto the promises of ,god that brought such faith into the heart of ,abraham 7,rom4 #d3ai74 ,prayer also is an instrument in the development of faith4 ,luke is called the human ,gospel because it makes so much of prayer1 especially in connection with faith3 #bb3cb--;,but ,i have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not4 #ag3e--;,and the apostles said unto the ,lord1 ,increase our faith4 ,see also ,mark #i3bd2 ,matt4 #ag3ai-ba4 ,our faith grows by the use of the faith we already have4 ,luke #ag3e1 #f2 ,matt4 #be3ci4 ,,iv4 ,,some ,,results ,,of ,,faith4 #a4 ,,we ,,are ,,saved ,,by ,,faith4 ,we1 of course1 recall that the saving power of faith resides not in itself1 but in the ,almighty ,saviour on whom it rests2 so that1 properly speaking1 it is not so much faith1 as it is faith in ,christ that saves4 ,the whole of our salvation--past1 present1 and future1 is dependent upon faith4 ,our acceptance of ,christ 7,john #a3ab72 our justification 7,rom4 #e3a72 our adoption 7,gal4 #c3bf72 our sanctification 7,acts #bf3ah72 our keeping 7#a ,pet4 #a3e71 indeed our whole salvation from start to finish is dependent upon faith4 #b4 ,,rest1 ,,peace1 ,,assurance1 ,,joy4 ,isa4 #bf3c2 ,phil4 #d3f2 ,rom4 #e3a2 ,heb4 #d3a-c2 ,john #ad3a2 #a ,pet4 #a3h4 ,fact1 faith1 feeling--this is ,god's order4 ,satan would reverse this order and put feeling before faith1 and thus confuse the child of ,god4 ,we should march in accord with ,god's order3 ,fact leads1 ,faith with its eye on ,fact1 following1 and ,feeling with the eye on ,faith bringing up the rear4 ,all goes well as long as this order is observed4 ,but the moment ,faith turns his back on ,fact1 and looks at ,feeling1 the procession wabbles4 ,steam is of main importance1 not for sounding the whistle1 but for moving the wheels2 and if there is a lack of steam we shall not remedy it by attempting by our own effort to move the piston or blow the whistle1 but by more water in the boiler1 and more fire under it4 ,feed ,faith with ,facts1 not with ,feeling4--,a4 ,t4 ,pierson4 #c4 ,,do ,,exploits ,,through ,,faith4 ,heb4 #aa3cb-cd2 ,matt4 #ba3ba2 ,john #ad3ab4 ,note the wonderful things done by the men of faith as recorded in the eleventh chapter of ,hebrews4 ,read vv4 #cb-dj4 ,jesus attributes a kind of omnipotence to faith4 ,the disciple1 by faith1 will be able to do greater things than his ,master4 ,here is a mighty ,niagara of power for the believer4 ,the great question for the ,christian to answer is not ,what can ,i do8 but ,how much can ,i believe8 for all things are possible to him that believeth4 ,c4 ,,regeneration1 ,,or ,,the ,,new ,,birth4 ,i4 ,,its ,,nature4 #a4 ,,not ,,baptism4 #b4 ,,not ,,reformation4 #c4 ,a ,,spiritual ,,quickening4 #d4 ,,an ,,impartation ,,of ,a ,,divine ,,nature4 #e4 ,a ,,new ,,and ,,divine ,,impulse4 ,,ii4 ,,its ,,necessity4 #a4 ,,universal4 #b4 ,,the ,,sinful ,,condition ,,of ,,man ,,demands ,,it4 #c4 ,,the ,,holiness ,,of ,,god ,,demands ,,it4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,means4 #a4 ,,the ,,divine ,,side4 #b4 ,,the ,,human ,,side4 #c4 ,,the ,,means ,,used4 ,c4 ,,regeneration1 ,,or ,,the ,,new ,,birth4 ,it is of the utmost importance that we have a clear understanding of this vital doctrine4 ,by ,regeneration we are admitted into the kingdom of ,god4 ,there is no other way of becoming a ,christian but by being born from above4 ,this doctrine1 then1 is the door of entrance into ,christian discipleship4 ,he who does not enter here1 does not enter at all4 ,i4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,regeneration4 ,too often do we find other things substituted by man for ,god's appointed means of entrance into the kingdom of heaven4 ,it will be well for us then to look1 first of all1 at some of these substitutes4 #a4 ,,regeneration ,,is ,,not ,,baptism4 ,it is claimed that ,john #c3e--;,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 and ,titus #c3e--,the washing of regeneration1 teach that regeneration may occur in connection with baptism4 ,these passages1 however1 are to be understood in a figurative sense1 as meaning the cleansing power of the ,word of ,god4 ,see also ,eph4 #e3bf--,with the washing of water by 7or in7 the word2 ,john #ae3c--;,clean through the word4 ,that the ,word of ,god is an agent in regeneration is clear from ,james #a3ah1 and #a ,pet4 #a3bc4 ,if baptism and regeneration were identical1 why should the ,apostle ,paul seem to make so little of that rite 7#a ,cor4 #d3ae1 and compare with it #a ,cor4 #a3ad78 ,in the first passage ,paul asserts that he had begotten them through the ,gospel2 and in #a3ad he declares that he baptized none of them save ,crispus and ,gaius4 ,could he thus speak of baptism if it had been the means through which they had been begotten again8 ,simon ,magus was baptized 7,acts #h71 but was he saved8 ,cornelius 7,acts #aa7 was saved even before he was baptized4 #b4 ,,reformation ,,is ,,not ,,regeneration4 ,regeneration is not a natural forward step in man's development2 it is a supernatural act of ,god2 it is a spiritual crisis4 ,it is not evolution1 but involution--the communication of a new life4 ,it is a revolution--a change of direction resulting from that life4 ,herein lies the danger in psychology1 and in the statistics regarding the number of conversions during the period of adolescence4 ,the danger lies in the tendency to make regeneration a natural phenomenon1 an advanced step in the development of a human life1 instead of regarding it as a crisis4 ,such a psychological view of regeneration denies man's sin1 his need of ,christ1 the necessity of an atonement1 and the regenerating work of the ,holy ,spirit4 #c4 ,,regeneration ,,is ,a ,,spiritual ,,quickening1 ,a ,,new ,,birth4 ,regeneration is the impartation of a new and divine life2 a new creation2 the production of a new thing4 ,it is ,gen4 #a3bf over again4 ,it is not the old nature altered1 reformed1 or re-invigorated1 but a new birth from above4 ,this is the teaching of such passages as ,john #c3c-g2 #e3ba2 ,eph4 #b3a1 #aj2 #b ,cor4 #e3ag4 ,by nature man is dead in sin 7,eph4 #b3a72 the new birth imparts to him new life--the life of ,god1 so that henceforth he is as those that are alive from the dead2 he has passed out of death into life 7,john #e3bd74 #d4 ,,it ,,is ,,the ,,impartation ,,of ,a ,,new ,,nature--,,god',s ,,nature4 ,in regeneration we are made partakers of the divine nature 7#b ,pet4 #a3d74 ,we have put on the new man1 which after ,god is created in holiness and righteousness 7,eph4 #d3aa2 ,col4 #c3aj74 ,christ now lives in the believer 7,gal4 #b3bj74 ,god's seed now abides in him 7#a ,john #c3i74 ,so that henceforth the believer is possessed of two natures 7,gal4 #e3ag74 #e4 ,a ,,new ,,and ,,divine ,,impulse ,,is ,,given ,,to ,,the ,,believer4 ,thus regeneration is a crisis with a view to a process4 ,a new governing power comes into the regenerate man's life by which he is enabled to become holy in experience3 ,old things are passed away2 behold all things are become new 7#b ,cor4 #e3ag74 ,see also ,acts #af3ad1 and ,ezek4 #cf3be-bg1 #a ,john #c3f-i4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,imperative ,,necessity ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,birth4 #a4 ,,the ,,necessity ,,is ,,universal4 ,the need is as far reaching as sin and the human race3 ,except a man 7lit4 anybody7 be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god 7,john #c3c1 cf4 v4 #e74 ,no age1 sex1 position1 condition exempts anyone from this necessity4 ,not to be born again is to be lost4 ,there is no substitute for the new birth3 ,neither circumcision availeth anything1 nor uncircumcision1 but a new creature 7,gal4 #f3ae74 ,the absolute necessity is clearly stated by our ,lord3 whatever is born of the flesh1 must be born again of the ,spirit 7,john #c3c-g74 #b4 ,,the ,,sinful ,,condition ,,of ,,man ,,demands ,,it4 ,john #c3f--,that which is born of the flesh is flesh--and it can never1 by any human process1 become anything else4 ,can the ,ethiopian change his skin1 or the leopard his spots8 then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil 7,jer4 #ac3bc74 ,they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god 7,rom4 #h3h72 in our flesh dwelleth no good thing 7,rom4 #g3ah74 ,the mind is darkened so that we cannot apprehend spiritual truth2 we need a renewing of the mind 7,rom4 #ab3b74 ,the heart is deceitful1 and does not welcome ,god2 we need to be pure in heart to see ,god4 ,there is no thought of ,god before the eyes of the natural man2 we need a change in nature that we may be counted among those who thought upon ,his name4 ,no education or culture can bring about such a needed change4 ,god alone can do it4 #c4 ,,the ,,holiness ,,of ,,god ,,demands ,,it4 ,if without holiness no man shall see the ,lord 7,heb4 #ab3ad72 and if holiness is not to be attained by any natural development or self-effort1 then the regeneration of our nature is absolutely necessary4 ,this change1 which enables us to be holy1 takes place when we are born again4 ,man is conscious that he does not have this holiness by nature2 he is conscious1 too1 that he must have it in order to appear before ,god 7,ezra #i3ae74 ,the ,scriptures corroborate this consciousness in man1 and1 still further1 state the necessity of such a righteousness with which to appear before ,god4 ,in the new birth alone is the beginning of such a life to be found4 ,to live the life of ,god we must have the nature of ,god4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,means ,,of ,,regeneration4 #a4 ,,regeneration ,,is ,a ,,divine ,,work4 ,we are born1 not of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god 7,john #a3ac74 ,it was of ,his own will he begat us 7,jas4 #a3ah73 ,our regeneration is a creative act on the part of ,god1 not a reforming process on the part of man4 ,it is not brought about by natural descent1 for all we get from that is flesh4 ,it is not by natural choice1 for the human will is impotent4 ,nor is it by self-effort1 or any human generative principle4 ,nor is it by the blood of any ceremonial sacrifices4 ,it is not by pedigree or natural generation4 ,it is altogether and absolutely the work of ,god4 ,practically speaking1 we have no more to do with our second birth1 than we had to do with our first birth4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,divine ,agent in our regeneration4 ,for this reason it is called the renewing of the ,holy ,ghost 7,tit4 #c3e74 ,we are born of the ,spirit 7,john #c3e74 #b4 ,,and ,,yet ,,there ,,is ,a ,,human ,,side ,,to ,,the ,,work4 ,john #a3ab and #ac bring together these two thoughts--the divine and the human in regeneration3 ,those who received ,him 7i4 e41 ,christ74444were born of ,god4 ,the two great problems connected with regeneration are the efficiency of ,god and the activity of man4 a7 ,man ,is ,regenerated by ,means of the ,acceptance of the ,message of the ,gospel4 ,god begat us by the word of truth 7,james #a3ah74 ,we are born again1 says ,peter 7#a ,ep4 #a3bc71 of incorruptible seed1 by the word of ,god4 ,we are begotten through the gospel 7#a ,cor4 #d3ae74 ,these scriptures teach us that regeneration takes place in the heart of man when he reads or hears the ,word of ,god1 or the ,gospel message1 or both1 and1 because of the ,spirit working in the ,word as well as in the heart of man1 the man opens his heart and receives that message as the ,word of life to his soul4 ,the truth is illuminated1 as is also the mind1 by the ,spirit2 the man yields to the truth1 and is born again4 ,of course1 even here1 we must remember that it is the ,lord who must open our hearts just as ,he opened the heart of ,lydia 7,acts #af3ad74 ,but the ,word must be believed and received by man4 #a ,pet4 #a3be4 b7 ,man ,is ,regenerated by the ,personal ,acceptance of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is the clear teaching of ,john #a3ab1 #ac and ,gal4 #c3bf4 ,we become children of ,god by faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,when a man1 believing in the claims of ,jesus ,christ receives ,him to be all that ,he claimed to be--that man is born again4 ,man therefore is not wholly passive at the time of his regeneration4 ,he is passive only as to the change of his ruling disposition4 ,with regard to the exercise of this disposition he is active4 ,a dead man cannot assist in his own resurrection1 it is true2 but he may1 and can1 like ,lazarus1 obey ,christ's command1 and ,come forth6 ,psa4 #ij3af1 #ag illustrates both the divine and human part3 ,let thy work appear unto thy servants1 and then the work of our hands establish thou it4 ,god's work appears first1 then man's4 ,so ,phil4 #b3ab1ac4 ,d4 ,,justification4 ,i4 ,,its ,,meaning4 #a4 ,,relatively4 #b4 ,,scripturally4 #c4 ,,pardon--,,righteousness4 ,,ii4 ,,its ,,method4 #a4 ,,not ,,by ,,law4 #b4 ,,by ,,god',s ,,free ,,grace4 #c4 ,,the ,,blood ,,of ,,christ4 #d4 ,,faith4 ,d4 ,,justification4 ,i4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,justification4 #a4 ,,relatively4 ,it is a change in a man's relation or standing before ,god4 ,it has to do with relations that have been disturbed by sin1 and these relations are personal4 ,it is a change from guilt and condemnation to acquittal and acceptance4 ,regeneration has to do with the change of the believer's nature2 ,justification1 with the change of his standing before ,god4 ,regeneration is subjective2 ,justification is objective4 ,the former has to do with man's state2 the latter1 with his standing4 #b4 ,,according ,,to ,,the ,,language ,,and ,,usage ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,according to ,deut4 #be3a it means to declare1 or to cause to appear innocent or righteous2 ,rom4 #d3b-h3 to reckon righteous2 ,psa4 #cb3b3 not to impute iniquity4 ,one thing at least is clear from these verses1 and that is1 that to justify does not mean to make one righteous4 ,neither the ,hebrew nor ,greek words will bear such meaning4 ,to justify means to set forth as righteous2 to declare righteous in a legal sense2 to put a person in a right relation4 ,it does not deal1 at least not directly1 with character or conduct2 it is a question of relationship4 ,of course both character and conduct will be conditioned and controlled by this relationship4 ,no real righteousness on the part of the person justified is to be asserted1 but that person is declared to be righteous and is treated as such4 ,strictly speaking then1 ,justification is the judicial act of ,god whereby those who put faith in ,christ are declared righteous in ,his eyes1 and free from guilt and punishment4 #c4 ,,justification ,,consists ,,of ,,two ,,elements4 a7 ,the ,forgiveness of ,sin1 and the ,removal of ,its ,guilt and ,punishment4 ,it is difficult for us to understand ,god's feeling towards sin4 ,to us forgiveness seems easy1 largely because we are indifferent towards sin4 ,but to a holy ,god it is different4 ,even men sometimes find it hard to forgive when wronged4 ,nevertheless ,god gladly forgives4 ,micah #g3ah1ai--,who is a ,god like unto thee1 that pardoneth iniquity1 and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage8 he retaineth not his anger forever1 because he delighteth in mercy 4 4 4 4 he will subdue our iniquities2 and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea4 ,see also ,psa4 #acj3d4 ,what a wondrous forgiveness6 ,forgiveness may be considered as the cessation of the moral anger and resentment of ,god against sin2 or as a release from the guilt of sin which oppresses the conscience2 or1 again1 as a remission of the punishment of sin1 which is eternal death4 ,in ,justification1 then1 all our sins are forgiven1 and the guilt and punishment thereof removed 7,acts #ac3ch1 #ci2 ,rom4 #h3a74 ,god sees the believer as without sin and guilt in ,christ 7,num4 #bc3ba2 ,rom4 #h3cc1 #cd74 b7 ,the ,imputation of ,christ's ,righteousness1 and ,restoration to ,god's ,favor4 ,the forgiven sinner is not like the discharged prisoner who has served out his term and is discharged from further punishment1 but with no rights of citizenship4 ,no1 justification means much more than acquittal4 ,the repentant sinner receives back in his pardon1 the full rights of citizenship4 ,the ,society of ,friends called themselves ,friends1 not because they were friends one to another but because1 being justified1 they counted themselves friends of ,god as was ,abraham 7#b ,chron4 #bj3g1 ,james #b3bc74 ,there is also the imputation of the righteousness of ,jesus ,christ to the sinner4 ,his righteousness is unto all and upon all them that believe 7,rom4 #c3bb74 ,see ,rom4 #e3ag-ba2 #a ,cor4 #a3cj4 ,for illustration1 see ,philemon #ah4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,method ,,of ,,justification4 #a4 ,,negatively3 ,,not ,,by ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,law4 ,rom4 #c3bj--,therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight2 for by the law is the knowledge of sin4 ,therefore implies that a judicial trial has taken place and a judgment pronounced4 ,at the bar of ,god no man can be counted righteous in ,his sight because of his obedience to law4 ,the burden of the ,epistle to the ,romans is to set forth this great truth4 ,as a means of establishing right relations with ,god the law is totally insufficient4 ,there is no salvation by character4 ,what men need is salvation from character4 ,the reason why the law cannot justify is here stated3 ,for by the law is the knowledge of sin4 ,the law can open the sinner's eyes to his sin1 but it cannot remove it4 ,indeed1 it was never intended to remove it1 but to intensify it4 ,the law simply defines sin1 and makes it sinful1 yea1 exceedingly sinful1 but it does not emancipate from it4 ,gal4 #c3aj gives us a further reason why justification cannot take place by obedience to the law4 ,the law demands perfect and continual obedience3 ,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them4 ,no man can render a perfect and perpetual obedience1 therefore justification by obedience to the law is impossible4 ,the only thing the law can do is to stop the mouth of every man1 and declare him guilty before ,god 7,rom4 #c3ai1 #bj74 ,gal4 #b3af1 and #c3aj1 ,rom4 #c3bh1 are very explicit in their denial of justification by law4 ,it is a question of ,moses or ,christ1 works or faith1 law or promise1 doing or believing1 wages or a free gift4 #b4 ,,positively3 ,,by ,,god',s ,,peee ,,grace--,,the ,,origin ,,or ,,source ,,of ,,justification4 ,rom4 #c3bd--;,being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,freely denotes that it is granted without anything done on our part to merit or deserve it4 ,from the contents of the epistle up to this point it must be clearly evident that if men1 sinful and sinning1 are to be justified at all1 it must be by his free grace4 #c4 ,,by ,,the ,,blood ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ--,,the ,,ground ,,of ,,justification4 ,rom4 #c3bd--;,being justified 4 4 4 4 through the redemption that is in ,christ ,jesus4 #e3i--,much more then1 being now justified by his blood4 #b ,cor4 #e3ba 7,r4 ,v47--,him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf2 that we might become the righteousness of ,god in him4 ,the bloodshedding of ,christ is here connected with justification4 ,it is impossible to get rid of this double idea from this passage4 ,the sacrifices of the ,old ,testament were more than a meaningless butchery--,without shedding of blood is no remission of sin 7,heb4 #i3bb74 ,the great sacrifice of the ,new ,testament1 the death of ,jesus ,christ1 was something more than the death of a martyr--men are justified by his blood 7,rom4 #e3i74 #d4 ,,by ,,believing ,,in ,,jesus ,,christ--,,the ,,condition ,,of ,,justification4 ,gal4 #b3af--,knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law1 but by the faith of ,jesus ,christ1 or as the ,revised ,version margin has it3 ,but only through faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,rom4 #c3bf--,to declare1 ,i say1 at this time his righteousness2 that he might be just1 and the justifier of him which believeth in ,jesus4 ,him that believeth in ,jesus is contrasted with as many as are of the works of the law 7,gal4 #c3aj74 ,when ,paul in ,romans #d3e says3 ,now to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 he gives the death-blow to ,jewish righteousness4 ,his faith is counted for righteousness2 that pictures the man who1 despairing of all dependence upon his works1 casts himself unreservedly upon the mercy of ,god1 as set forth in ,jesus ,christ1 for his justification4 ,thus it come to pass that all that believe are justified from all things1 from which ye could not be justified by the law of ,moses 7,acts #ac3ci74 ,the best of men need to be saved by faith in ,jesus ,christ1 and the worst need only that4 ,as there is no difference in the need1 neither is there in the method of its application4 ,on this common ground all saved sinners meet1 and will stand forever4 ,the first step1 then1 in justification is to despair of works2 the second1 to believe on him that justifieth the ungodly4 ,we are not to slight good works1 for they have their place1 but they follow1 not precede justification4 ,the workingman is not the justified man1 but the justified man is the workingman4 ,works are not meritorious1 but they meet with their reward in the life of the justified4 ,the tree shows its life by its fruits1 but it was alive before the fruit or even the leaves appeared4 7,see under ,faith1 ,,ii4 #c1 p4 #adh1 for further suggestions regarding the relation between faith and works47 ,summing up we may say that men are justified judicially by ,god4 7,rom4 #h3cc72 meritoriously by ,christ1 7,isa4 #ec3aa72 mediately by faith1 7,rom4 #e3a72 evidentially by works1 7,james #b3ad1 #ah-bd74 ,,the ,,doctrines ,,of ,,salvation ,e4 ,,adoption4 ,i4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,adoption4 #a4 ,,etymologically4 #b4 ,,scripturally4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,adoption4 #a4 ,,eternal4 #b4 ,,when ,,one ,,believes4 #c4 ,,complete ,,at ,,resurrection4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,blessings ,,of ,,adoption4 #a4 ,,filial4 #b4 ,,experimental4 ,,iv4 ,,some ,,evidences ,,of ,,sonship4 #a4 ,,guidance4 #b4 ,,confidence4 #c4 ,,access4 #d4 ,,love ,,for ,,the ,,brethren4 #e4 ,,obedience4 ,e4 ,,adoption4 ,regeneration begins the new life in the soul2 justification deals with the new attitude of ,god towards that soul1 or perhaps better1 of that soul towards ,god2 adoption admits man into the family of ,god with filial joy4 ,regeneration has to do with our change in nature2 justification1 with our change in standing2 sanctification1 with our change in character2 adoption1 with our change in position4 ,in regeneration the believer becomes a child of ,god 7,john #a3ab1ac72 in adoption1 the believer1 already a child1 receives a place as an adult son2 thus the child becomes a son1 the minor becomes an adult 7,gal4 #d3a-g74 ,i4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,adoption4 ,adoption means the placing of a son4 ,it is a legal metaphor as regeneration is a physical one4 ,it is a ,roman word1 for adoption was hardly1 if at all1 known among the ,jews4 ,it means the taking by one man of the son of another to be his son1 so that that son has the same position and all the advantages of a son by birth4 ,the word is ,pauline1 not ,johannine4 ,the word is never once used of ,christ4 ,it is used of the believer when the question of rights1 privileges1 and heirship are involved4 ,it is peculiarly a ,pauline word 7,gal4 #d3e2 ,rom4 #h3ae1 #bc2 #i3d2 ,eph4 #a3e74 ,john uses the word children1 not sons1 because he is always speaking of sonship from the standpoint of nature1 growth1 and likeness 7cf4 #a ,john #c3a1 ,r4 ,v474 ,exodus #b3aj and ,heb4 #aa3bd1 furnish two splendid illustrations of the ,scriptural sense and use of adoption4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,time ,,when ,,adoption ,,takes ,,place4 #a4 ,,in ,a ,,certain ,,sense ,,it ,,is ,,eternal ,,in ,,its ,,nature4 ,eph4 #a3d1 #e--;,before the foundation of the world we were predestinated unto the adoption of children4 ,we need to distinguish between the foreordaining to adoption1 and the actual act of adoption which took place when we believed in ,christ4 ,just as the incarnation was foreordained1 and yet took place in time2 and just as the ,lamb was slain from before the foundation of the word1 and yet actually only on ,calvary4 ,why then mention this eternal aspect of adoption8 ,to exclude works and to show that our salvation had its origin solely in the grace of ,god 7,rom4 #i3aa2 #aa3e1 #f74 ,just as if we should adopt a child it would be a wholly gracious act on our part4 #b4 ,,it ,,takes ,,place ,,the ,,moment ,,one ,,believes ,,in ,,jesus ,,christ4 #a ,john #c3b--;,beloved1 now are we the sons of ,god4 ,gal4 #c3bf--;,for ye are all the children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4 ,see also ,john #a3ab4 ,sonship is now the present possession of the believer4 ,strange as it may be1 inconceivable as it may seem1 it is nevertheless true4 ,the world may not think so 7v4 #a71 but ,god says so1 and the ,christian believing it1 exclaims1 ,i'm the child of a ,king4 ,formerly we were slaves2 now we are sons4 #c4 ,,our ,,sonship ,,will ,,be ,,completed ,,at ,,the ,,resurrection ,,and ,,coming ,,again ,,of ,,our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,rom4 #h3bc--,waiting for the adoption1 to-wit1 the redemption1 of the body4 ,here in this world we are incognito2 we are not recognized as sons of ,god4 ,but some day we shall throw off this disguise 7#b ,cor4 #e3aj74 ,it doth not appear1 it hath not yet appeared what we shall be2 the revelation of the sons of ,god is reserved for a future day4 ,see also ,i ,john #c3a-c4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,blessings ,,of ,,adoption4 ,the blessings of adoption are too numerous to mention save in the briefest way4 ,some of them are as follows3 ,objects of ,god's peculiar love 7,john #ag3bc71 and ,his fatherly care 7,luke #ab3bg-cc74 ,we have the family name 7#a ,john #c3a2 ,eph4 #c3ad1 #ae71 the family likeness 7,rom4 #h3bi72 family love 7,john #ac3ce2 #a ,john #c3ad72 a filial spirit 7,rom4 #h3ae2 ,gal4 #d3f72 a family service 7,john #ad3bc1 #bd2 #ae3h74 ,we receive fatherly chastisement 7,heb4 #ab3e-aa72 fatherly comfort 7,isa4 #ff3ac2 #b ,cor4 #a3d71 and an inheritance 7#a ,pet4 #a3c-e2 ,rom4 #h3ag74 ,,iv4 ,,some ,,evidences ,,of ,,sonship4 ,those who are adopted into ,god's family are3 ,led by the ,spirit 7,rom4 #h3d2 ,gal4 #e3ah74 ,have a childlike confidence in ,god 7,gal4 #d3e1 #f74 ,have liberty of access 7,eph4 #c3ab74 ,have love for the brethren 7#a ,john #b3i-aa2 #e3a74 ,are obedient 7#a ,john #e3a-c74 ,f4 ,,sanctification4 ,i4 ,,its ,,meaning4 #a4 ,,negatively--,,separation ,,from ,,evil4 #b4 ,,positively--,,dedication ,,unto ,,god4 #c4 ,,used ,,of ,,the ,,divine ,,nature4 ,,ii4 ,,when ,,it ,,takes ,,place4 #a4 ,,instant4 #b4 ,,progressive4 #c4 ,,complete4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,means4 #a4 ,,divine4 #b4 ,,human4 #c4 ,,means ,,used4 ,f4 ,,sanctification4 ,if ,regeneration has to do with our nature1 ,justification with our standing1 and ,adoption with our position1 then ,sanctification has to do with our character and conduct4 ,in ,justification we are declared righteous in order that1 in ,sanctification1 we may become righteous4 ,justification is what ,god does for us1 while ,sanctification is what ,god does in us4 ,justification puts us into a right relationship with ,god1 while ,sanctification exhibits the fruit of that relationship--a life separated from a sinful world and dedicated unto ,god4 ,i4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,sanctification4 ,two thoughts are prominent in this definition3 separation from evil1 and dedication unto ,god and ,his service4 #a4 ,,separation ,,from ,,evil4 #b ,chron4 #bi3e1 #ae-ah--,sanctify now yourselves1 and sanctify the house of the ,lord ,god 4 4 4 4 and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy places4 4 4 4 ,and the priests went into the inner part of the house of the ,lord1 to cleanse it1 and brought out all the uncleanness4 4 4 4,then they went in to ,hezekiah the king1 and said1 ,we have cleansed all the house of the ,lord4 #a ,thess4 #d3c--;,for this is the will of ,god1 even your sanctification1 that ye should abstain from fornication4 ,see also ,heb4 #i3c2 ,exod4 #ai3bj-bb2 ,lev4 #aa3dd4 ,it is evident from these scriptures that sanctification has to do with the turning away from all that is sinful and that is defiling to both soul and body4 #b4 ,,separation ,,or ,,dedication ,,unto ,,god4 ,in this sense whatever is set apart from a profane to a sacred use1 whatever is devoted exclusively to the service of ,god1 is sanctified4 ,so it follows that a man may sanctify his house to be holy unto the ,lord1 or he may sanctify unto the ,lord some part of a field of his possession 7,lev4 #bg3ad1 #af74 ,so also the first-born of all the children were sanctified unto the ,lord 7,num4 #h3ag74 ,even the ,son of ,god ,himself1 in so far as ,he was set apart by the ,father and sent into the world to do ,god's will1 was sanctified 7,john #aj3cf74 ,whenever a thing or person is separated from the common relations of life in order to be devoted to the sacred1 such is said to be sanctified4 #c4 ,,it ,,is ,,used ,,of ,,god4 ,whenever the sacred writers desire to show that the ,lord is absolutely removed from all that is sinful and unholy1 and that ,he is absolutely holy in ,himself they speak of ,him as being sanctified3 ,when ,i shall be sanctified in you before their eyes 7,ezek4 #cf3bc74 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,sanctification4 ,sanctification may be viewed as past1 present1 and future2 or instantaneous1 progressive1 and complete4 #a4 ,,instantaneous ,,sanctification4 #a ,cor4 #f3aa--;,and such were some of you3 but ye are washed1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 and by the ,spirit of our ,god4 ,heb4 #aj3aj1 #ad--;,by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4 4 4 4 ,for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified4 ,by the death of ,jesus ,christ the sanctification of the believer takes place at once4 ,the very moment a man believes in ,christ he is sanctified1 that is1 in this first sense3 he is separated from sin and separated unto ,god4 ,for this reason all through the ,new ,testament believers are called saints 7#a ,cor4 #a3b1 ,r4 ,v42 ,rom4 #a3g1 ,r4 ,v474 ,if a man is not a saint he is not a ,christian2 if he is a ,christian he is a saint4 ,in some quarters people are canonized after they are dead2 the ,new ,testament canonizes believers while they are alive4 ,note how that in #a ,cor4 #f3aa sanctified is put before justified4 ,the believer grows in sanctification rather than into sanctification out of something else4 ,by a simple act of faith in ,christ the believer is at once put into a state of sanctification4 ,every ,christian is a sanctified man4 ,the same act that ushers him into the state of justification admits him at once into the state of sanctification1 in which he is to grow until he reaches the fulness of the measure of the stature of ,christ4 #b4 ,,progressive ,,sanctification4 ,justification differs from ,sanctification thus3 the former is an instantaneous act with no progression2 while the latter is a crisis with a view to a process--an act1 which is instantaneous and which at the same time carries with it the idea of growth unto completion4 #b ,pet4 #c3ah--;,but grow in 7the7 grace1 and in the knowledge of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 #b ,cor4 #c3ah--,we are transformed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as from the ,lord the ,spirit4 ,the tense is interesting here3 ,we are being transformed from one degree of character1 or glory1 to another4 ,it is because sanctification is progressive1 a growth1 that we are exhorted to increase and abound 7#a ,thess4 #c3ab71 and to abound more and more 7#d3a1 #aj7 in the graces of the ,christian life4 ,the fact that there is always danger of contracting defilement by contact with a sinful world1 and that there is1 in the life of the true ,christian1 an ever increasing sense of duty and an ever-deepening consciousness of sin1 necessitates a continual growth and development in the graces and virtues of the believer's life4 ,there is such a thing as perfecting holiness 7#b ,cor4 #g3a74 ,god's gift to the church of pastors and teachers is for the purpose of the perfecting of the saints in the likeness of ,christ until1 at last1 they attain unto the fulness of the divine standard1 even ,jesus ,christ 7,eph4 #d3aa-ae74 ,holiness is not a mushroom growth2 it is not the thing of an hour2 it grows as the coral reef grows3 little by little1 degree by degree4 ,see also ,phil4 #c3aj-ae4 #c4 ,,complete ,,and ,,final ,,sanctification4 #a ,thess4 #e3bc1 ,r4 ,v4--,and the ,god of peace himself sanctify you wholly2 and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire1 without blame at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,wholly means complete in every part1 perfect in every respect1 whether it refers to the ,church as a whole1 or to the individual believer4 ,some day the believer is to be complete in all departments of ,christian character--no ,christian grace missing4 ,complete in the spirit which links him with heaven2 in the body which links him with earth2 in the soul as being that on which heaven and earth play4 ,maturity in each separate element of ,christian character3 body1 soul1 and spirit4 ,this blessing of entire and complete sanctification is to take place when ,christ comes3 #a ,thess4 #c3ac--,to the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before ,god1 even our ,father1 at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ with all his saints4 ,it is when we shall see ,him that we shall be like ,him 7#a ,john #c3b74 ,how explicitly ,paul puts the matter in ,phil4 #c3ab-ad1 ,r4 ,v4 --,not that ,i have already obtained1 or am already made perfect3 but ,i press on1 if so be that ,i may lay hold of that for which also ,i was laid hold on by ,christ ,jesus4 ,brethren1 ,i count not myself yet to have laid hold3 but one thing ,i do1 forgetting the things which are behind1 and stretching forward to the things which are before1 ,i press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,means ,,of ,,sanctification4 ,how are men sanctified8 ,what means are used1 and what agencies employed to make men holy and conform them into the likeness of ,christ8 ,the agencies and means are both divine and human3 both ,god and man contributing and co-operating towards this desired end4 #a4 ,,from ,,the ,,divine ,,side3 ,,it ,,is ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,triune ,,god4 a7 ,god the ,father4 #a ,thess4 #e3bc1 #bd1 ,r4 ,v4--,and the ,god of peace himself sanctify you wholly4 4 4 4 ,faithful is he that calleth you1 who will also do it4 ,god's work is here contrasted with human efforts to achieve the preceding injunctions4 ,just as in ,hebrews #ab3b1 and ,philippians #a3f1 the ,beginner of faith is also the ,finisher2 so is it here2 consequently the end and aim of every exhortation is but to strengthen faith in ,god who is able to accomplish these things for us4 ,of course there is a sense in which the believer is responsible for his progress in the ,christian life 7,phil4 #c3ab1 #ac71 yet it is nevertheless true that1 after all1 it is the divine grace which works all in him 7,phil4 #b3ab1 #ac74 ,we cannot purify ourselves1 but we can yield to ,god and then the purity will come4 ,the ,god of peace1 ,he who reconciles us--is the ,one who sanctifies us4 ,it is as if the apostle said3 ,god1 by ,his mighty power will do for you what ,i1 by my admonitions1 and you by your own efforts1 cannot do4 ,see also ,john #ag3ag--,sanctify them through thy truth4 ,christ addresses ,god as the ,one who is to sanctify the disciples4 b7 ,jesus ,christ the ,son4 ,heb4 #aj3aj1 ,r4 ,v4--,by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4 ,the death of ,jesus ,christ separates the believer from sin and the world1 and sets him apart as redeemed and dedicated to the service of ,god4 ,this same truth1 namely1 the sanctification of the church as based on the sacrificial death of ,christ1 is set forth in ,eph4 #e3be1 #bg--;,christ loved the church1 and gave himself up for it2 that he might sanctify it4 ,christ is made unto us 4 4 4 sanctification 7#a ,cor4 #a3cj74 ,see also ,heb4 #ac3ab1 ,r4 ,v4 c7 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,sanctifies4 #a ,pet4 #a3b--;,elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god the ,father1 through sanctification of the ,spirit4 #b ,thess4 #b3ac--4 4 4 4 ,because ,god hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the ,spirit and belief of the truth4 ,the ,holy ,spirit seals1 attests1 and confirms the work of grace in the soul by producing the fruits of righteousness therein4 ,it is the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus who gives us freedom from the law of sin and death 7,rom4 #h3b74 ,he is called the ,holy ,spirit1 not only because ,he is absolutely holy ,himself1 but also because he produces that quality of soul-character in the believer4 ,the ,spirit is the executive of the ,god-head for this very purpose4 ,it is the ,spirit's work to war against the lusts of the flesh and enable us to bring forth fruit unto holiness 7,gal4 #e3ag-bb74 ,how wonderfully this truth is set forth in the contrast between the seventh and eighth chapters of ,romans4 ,note the unsuccessful struggle of the former1 and the victory of the latter4 ,note also that there is no mention of the ,holy ,spirit in the seventh1 while ,he is mentioned about sixteen times in the eighth chapter4 ,herein lies the secret of failure and victory1 sin and holiness4 #b4 ,,from ,,the ,,human ,,side4 a7 ,faith in the ,redemptive ,work of ,jesus ,christ4 #a ,cor4 #a3cj1 ,r4 ,v4--,but of him are ye in ,christ ,jesus1 who was made unto us wisdom from ,god1 and righteousness1 and sanctification1 and redemption4 ,christ is indeed all these things to us1 but1 in reality1 ,he becomes such only as we appropriate ,him for ourselves4 ,only as the believer1 daily1 yea1 even momentarily1 takes by faith the holiness of ,jesus1 ,his faith1 ,his patience1 ,his love1 ,his grace1 to be his own for the need of that very moment1 can ,christ1 who by ,his death was made unto him sanctification in the instantaneous sense1 become unto him sanctification in the progressive sense--producing in the believer ,his own life moment by moment4 ,herein lies the secret of a holy life--the momentarily appropriation of ,jesus ,christ in all the riches of ,his grace for every need as it arises4 ,the degree of our sanctification is the proportion of our appropriation of ,christ4 ,see also ,acts #bf3ah4 b7 ,the ,study of the ,scriptures and ,obedience ,thereto4 ,john #ag3ag--,sanctify them through thy truth3 thy word is truth4 ,eph4 #e3bf--,that he might sanctify and cleanse it 7i4e41 the ,church7 with the washing of water by the word4 ,john #ae3c--,now ye are clean through the word which ,i have spoken unto you4 ,our sanctification is limited by our limitation in the knowledge of and our lack of obedience to the ,word of ,god4 ,how does the ,word of ,god sanctify8 ,by revealing sin2 by awakening conscience2 by revealing the character of ,christ2 by showing the example of ,christ2 by offering the influences and powers of the ,holy ,spirit1 and by setting forth spiritual motives and ideals4 ,there is no power like that of the ,word of ,god for detaching a man from the world1 the flesh and the devil4 c7 ,various ,other ,agencies4 ,heb4 #ab3ad1 ,r4 ,v4--,follow after 4 4 4 the sanctification without which no man shall see the ,lord4 ,to follow after means to pursue1 to persecute1 as ,saul of ,tarsus pursued and followed the early ,christians4 ,one cannot become a saint in his sleep4 ,holiness must be the object of his pursuit4 ,the lazy man will not be the holy man4 ,heb4 #ab3aj1 #aa3 ,god chastens us for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness4 ,chastisement ofttimes is intended to produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness4 ,rom4 #f3ai-cb2 #b ,cor4 #f3ag1 #g3a4 ,sanctification is brought about in the life of the believer by his separating himself deliberately from all that is unclean and unholy1 and by presenting1 continually and constantly1 the members of his body as holy instruments unto ,god for the accomplishment of ,his holy purposes4 ,thus by these single acts of surrender unto holiness1 sanctification soon becomes the habit of the life4 ,g4 ,,prayer4 ,i4 ,,its ,,importance4 ,,ii4 ,,its ,,nature4 #a4 ,,as ,,seen ,,in ,,its ,,historic ,,development4 #b4 ,,scriptural ,,terms4 ,,iii4 ,,its ,,possibility4 #a4 ,,the ,,revelation ,,of ,,god4 #b4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,son4 #c4 ,,the ,,assistance ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 #d4 ,,the ,,promises4 #e4 ,,christian ,,testimony4 ,,iv4 ,,its ,,objects4 #a4 ,,god ,,the ,,father4 #b4 ,,christ ,,the ,,son4 #c4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,v4 ,,its ,,method4 #a4 ,,posture4 #b4 ,,time ,,and ,,place4 ,,vi4 ,,hindeances ,,and ,,helps4 #a4 ,,hindrances4 #b4 ,,helps--,,essentials4 ,g4 ,,prayer4 ,i4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,prayer4 ,even a cursory perusal of the ,scriptures will reveal the large and important place which the doctrine of ,prayer finds therein4 ,the ,christian life cannot be sustained without it2 it is the ,christian's vital breath4 ,its importance is seen when we recall3 ,that the neglect of prayer is grievous to the ,lord 7,isa4 #dc3ba1 #bb2 #fd3f1 #g1 ,r4 ,v474 ,that many evils in life are to be attributed to the lack of prayer 7,zeph4 #a3d-f2 ,dan4 #i3ac1 #ad1 cf4 ,hosea #g3ac1 #ad2 #h3ac1 #ad74 ,that it is a sin to neglect prayer 7#a ,sam4 #ab3bc74 ,that to continue in prayer is a positive command 7,col4 #d3b1 ,r4 ,v42 #a ,thess4 #e3ag2 we are commanded to take leisure or a vacation for prayer3 #a ,cor4 #g3e74 ,that it is ,god's appointed method of obtaining what ,he has to bestow 7,dan4 #i3c2 ,matt4 #g3g-aa2 #i3bd-bi2 ,luke #aa3ac74 ,that the lack of the necessary blessings in life comes from failure to pray 7,james #d3b74 ,that the apostles regarded prayer as the most important employment that could engage their time or attention 7,acts #f3d2 ,rom4 #a3i2 ,col4 #a3i74 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,prayer4 ,it is interesting to trace the development of prayer in the ,scriptures4 ,in the life of the patriarch ,abraham prayer seems to have taken the form of a dialogue--,god and man drawing near and talking to each other 7,gen4 #ah2 #ai72 developing into intercession 7,gen4 #ag3ah2 #ah3bc1 #cb71 and then into personal prayer 7,gen4 #ae3b2 #bd3ab72 ,jacob1 7,gen4 #bh3bj2 #cb3i-ab1 #bd2 ,hosea #ab3d74 ,the patriarchal blessings are called prayers 7,gen #di3a2 ,deut4 #cc3aa74 ,during the period of the ,law4 ,not very much prominence is given to formal prayer during this period4 ,deut4 #bf3a-ae seems to be the only one definitely recorded4 ,prayer had not yet found a stated place in the ritual of the law4 ,it seems to have been more of a personal than a formal matter1 and so while the ,law may not afford much material1 yet the life of the lawgiver1 ,moses1 abounds with prayer 7,exod4 #e3bb2 #cb3aa2 ,num4 #aa3aa-ae74 ,under ,joshua 7#g3f-i2 #aj3ad71 and the judges 7c4 #f7 we are told that the children of ,israel cried unto the ,lord4 ,under ,samuel prayer seems to have assumed the nature of intercession 7#a ,sam4 #g3e1 #ab2 #h3af-ah72 personal 7#a ,sam4 #ae3aa1 #ce2 #af3a74 ,in ,jeremiah 7#ae3a7 ,moses and ,samuel are represented as offering intercessory prayer for ,israel4 ,david seems to regard himself as a prophet and priest1 and prays without an intercessor 7#b ,sam4 #g3ah-bi74 ,the prophets seem to have been intercessors1 e4g41 ,elijah 7#a ,kings #ah74 ,yet personal prayers are found among the prophets 7,jer4 #bj--;both personal and intercessory2 #cc3c2 #db3d2 ,amos #g74 ,in the ,psalms prayer takes the form of a pouring out of the heart 7#db3d2 #fb3h2 #ajj3b1 title74 ,the psalmist does not seem to go before ,god with fixed and orderly petitions so much as simply to pour out his feelings and desires1 whether sweet or bitter1 troubled or peaceful4 ,consequently the prayers of the psalmist consist of varying moods3 complaint1 supplication1 confession1 despondency1 praise4 ,true prayer consists of such elements as adoration1 praise1 petition1 pleading1 thanksgiving1 intercession1 communion1 waiting4 ,the closet into which the believer enters to pray is not only an oratory --a place of prayer1 it is an observatory--a place of vision4 ,prayer is not ,a venture and a voice of mine2 but a vision and a voice divine4 ,isa4 #fc3g2 #fd3ab1 illustrates all essential forms of address in prayer4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,possibility ,,of ,,prayer4 ,this possibility consists in five things3 #a4 ,,the ,,revelation ,,of ,,god ,,which ,,christ ,,has ,,brought ,,to ,,us4 ,john #a3ah--,no man hath seen ,god at any time2 the only-begotten ,son1 which is in the bosom of the ,father1 he hath declared him4 ,matt4 #aa3bg--4 4 4 4 ,neither knoweth any man the ,father1 save the ,son1 and he to whomsoever the ,son will reveal him4 ,christ reveals ,god as a personal ,god1 as a ,being who sees1 feels1 knows1 understands1 and acts4 ,belief in the personality of ,god is absolutely necessary to true prayer 7,heb4 #aa3f74 ,christ reveals ,god as a sovereign ,god 7,matt4 #ai3bf7--,with ,god all things are possible4 ,god is sovereign over all laws2 ,he can make them subservient to ,his will1 and use them in answering the prayers of ,his children4 ,he is not bound by any so-called unchangeable laws4 ,christ revealed ,god as a ,father 7,luke #aa3ac74 ,in every instance in the life of ,christ whenever ,he addresses ,god in prayer it is always as ,father4 ,the fact of the fatherhood of ,god makes prayer possible4 ,it would be unnatural for a father not to commune with his child4 #b4 ,,the ,,sacrificial ,,work ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,heb4 #aj3ai-bb1 ,r4 ,v4--,having therefore1 brethren1 boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of ,jesus1 by the way which he dedicated for us1 a new and living way1 through the veil1 that is to say1 his flesh2 and having a great priest over the house of ,god2 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith4 ,it is because of the death of ,christ1 which removed the barrier that stood between ,god and us so that ,he could not consistently hear and answer our prayers1 that ,he can now hear and answer the petitions of ,his children4 #c4 ,,the ,,inspiration ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,ghost4 ,rom4 #h3bf--,likewise the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmities3 for we know not what we should pray for as we ought3 but the ,spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,see also ,jude #bj4 ,the thought is this3 ,even though we are assured that there is a personal ,god to hear us1 and although we have the confidence that the barrier of sin which stood between us and ,god has been removed1 so that we now desire to pray1 we often are hindered because we either do not know what to say or what to ask for4 ,we may ask too ardently for wrong things1 or too languidly for the things we most need4 ,and so we are afraid to pray4 ,the assurance that this verse gives us is that the ,holy ,spirit will pray within us1 and will indict the petition1 helping us in our prayer life4 #d4 ,,the ,,many ,,promises ,,of ,,the ,,bible4 ,we are told that there are over #cc1jjj of them4 ,each promise is yea and amen in ,jesus ,christ2 ,he is the guarantee and the guarantor of them all4 ,they are not given to mock but to encourage us3 ,hath he said and shall he not do it8 ,hath he spoken and shall he not make it good8 ,see ,john #ad3ac2 #ae3g2 #a ,john #e3ad1 #ae2 ,luke #aa3i1 etc4 #e4 ,,the ,,universal ,,christian ,,testimony4 ,christians1 by the millions1 the world over1 can and do testify to the fact that ,god both hears and answers prayer4 ,the credibility1 character1 and intelligence of the vast number of witnesses make their testimony indisputable and incontrovertible4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,objects ,,of ,,prayer--,,to ,,whom ,,to ,,pray4 #a4 ,,to ,,god4 ,neh #d3i2 ,acts #ab3e--,prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto ,god for him3 ,god is holy--hence there must be no impurity in the life of the one praying2 righteous1 hence no crookedness2 truthful1 hence no lying or hypocrisy2 powerful1 hence we may have confidence2 transcendent1 hence reverence in our approach4 #b4 ,,to ,,christ4 ,acts #g3ei--,lord ,jesus1 receive my spirit4 #b ,cor4 #ab3h1 #i2 #b ,tim4 #b3bb4 #c4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,rom4 #h3ae1 #af sets forth the relation of the ,holy ,spirit and prayer1 as do also ,zech4 #ab3aj2 ,eph4 #f3ah2 ,jude #bj4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is ,god 7,acts #e3c1 #d2 ,matt4 #bh3ai2 #b ,cor4 #ac3ad71 hence is to be worshipped 7,matt4 #d3aj2 ,rev4 #bb3i74 ,the normal mode of prayer is prayer in the ,spirit1 on the ground of the merits of the ,son1 to the ,father3 ,in the ,spirit1 through the ,son1 to the ,father4 ,v4 ,,the ,,method ,,or ,,manner ,,of ,,prayer4 #a4 ,,with ,,regard ,,to ,,the ,,posture ,,of ,,the ,,body4 ,the soul may be in prayer no matter what is the attitude of the body4 ,the ,scriptures sanction no special bodily posture4 ,christ stood and prayed 7,john #ag3a71 knelt 7,luke #bb3da71 ,he also fell on his face on the ground 7,matt4 #bf3ci72 ,solomon knelt 7#a ,kings #h3ed72 ,elijah prayed with his elbows on his knees and his face buried in his hands2 ,david prayed lying on his bed 7,psa4 #fc3f72 ,peter prayed on the water 7,matt4 #ad3cj72 the dying thief1 on the cross 7,luke #bc3db74 #b4 ,,time ,,and ,,place4 ,time3 ,stated times 7,dan4 #f3aj2 ,psa4 #ee3af1 #ag2 ,acts #c3a2 #b3df2 #aj3i1 #cj74 ,special occasions3 ,choosing the twelve 7,luke #f3ab1 #ac74 ,before the cross 7,luke #bb3ci-df74 ,after great successes 7,john #f3ae1 cf4 ,mark #f3df-dh74 ,early in the morning 7,mark #a3ce74 ,all night 7,luke #f3ab74 ,times of special trouble 7,psa4 #ha3g1 cf4 ,exod4 #b3bc2 #c3g2 #ad3aj1 #bd74 ,at meals 7,matt4 #ad3ai2 ,acts #bg3ce2 #a ,tim4 #d3d1 #e74 ,place of ,prayer3 ,inner chamber 7,matt4 #f3f72 amid nature 7,matt4 #ad3bc2 ,mark #a3ce74 ,in the church 7,john #ag3a2 ,psa4 #ie3f74 ,before the unsaved 7,acts #af3be2 #bg3ce74 ,in all places 7#a ,tim4 #b3h1 ,r4 ,v474 ,,vi4 ,,hindrances ,,and ,,helps ,,to ,,prayer4 #a4 ,,hindrances4 ,indulged known sin 7,psa4 #ff3ah2 ,isa4 #ei3a1 #b74 ,wilful disobedience to known commandments 7,prov4 #bh3i74 ,selfishness 7,james #d3c74 ,unforgiving spirit 7,matt4 #e3bb1 #bc2 #f3ab74 ,lack of faith 7,heb4 #aa3f2 ,james #a3f74 ,idols in the heart 7,ezek4 #h3e-ah2 #ad3a-c74 #b4 ,,helps--,,essentials ,,to ,,prevailing ,,prayer4 ,sincerity 7,psa4 #ade3ah2 ,matt4 #f3e74 ,simplicity 7,matt4 #f3g1 cf4 #bf3dd74 ,earnestness 7,james #e3ag2 ,acts #ab3e2 ,luke #bb3dd74 ,persistence 7,luke #ah3a-h2 ,col4 #d3b2 ,rom4 #ab3ab1 ,r4 ,v474 ,faith 7,matt4 #ba3bb2 ,james #a3f74 ,unison with others 7,matt4 #ah3ai1 #bj74 ,definiteness 7,psa4 #bg3d2 ,matt4 #ah3ai74 ,effort 7,exod4 #ad3ae74 ,in the name of ,jesus 7,john #af3bc2 #ad3ac1 #ad74 ,with fasting 7,acts #ac3b1 #c2 #ad3bc74 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,church ,i4 ,,definition2 ,,distinctions4 #a4 ,,old ,,testament4 #b4 ,,new ,,testament4 #c4 ,,the ,,church2 ,,christendom2 ,,kingdom4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,founding ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #a4 ,,in ,,prophecy ,,and ,,promise4 #b4 ,,historically ,,founded4 ,,iii4 ,,membership ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,conditions of ,entrance2 ,characteristics4 #a4 ,,repentance ,,and ,,baptism4 #b4 ,,faith ,,in ,,the ,,deity ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #c4 ,,regeneration4 #d4 ,,public ,,confession ,,of ,,christ--,,baptism4 #e4 ,,adherence ,,to ,,the ,,apostles' ,,doctrine4 #f4 ,,characteristics4 ,,iv4 ,,figures ,,under ,,which ,,the ,,church ,,is ,,presented4 #a4 ,,the ,,body ,,of ,,christ4 #b4 ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,god4 #c4 ,,the ,,bride ,,of ,,christ4 ,v4 ,,the ,,ordinances ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #a4 ,,baptism4 #b4 ,,the ,,lord',s ,,supper4 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,vocation ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #a4 ,,to ,,worship ,,god4 #b4 ,,to ,,evangelize ,,the ,,world4 #c4 ,,perfect ,,each ,,member4 #d4 ,,to ,,witness4 #e4 ,,future ,,glory4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,there is great danger of losing sight of the ,church in the endeavor to emphasize the idea of the ,kingdom of ,heaven or ,christendom4 ,we are prone to think it a small thing to speak of the ,church2 the ,kingdom and ,christendom seem so large in comparison4 ,we are tempted to distinguish and contrast ,churchism1 as it is sometimes called1 and ,christianity1 to the disparagement of the former4 ,it is well to remember that ,jesus ,christ positively identifies ,himself with the ,church 7,acts #i7 and not with ,christendom2 ,he gave up ,his life that ,he might found the ,church 7,eph4 #e3be74 ,the ,apostle ,paul sacrificed himself in his endeavors to build up the ,church1 not ,christendom4 ,he speaks of his greatest sin as consisting in persecuting the ,church of ,god 7#a ,cor4 #ae3i74 ,the supreme business of ,god in this age is the gathering of the ,church4 ,some day it will be complete 7,eph4 #d3ab71 and then the age will have served its purpose4 ,i4 ,,definitions2 ,,distinctions4 #a4 ,,old ,,testament ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,word4 ,lev4 #d3ac--;,and if the whole congregation of ,israel sin through ignorance1 and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly 4 4 4 4 ,the ,hebrew word for assembly means to call or assemble1 and is used not only for the act of calling itself1 but also for the assembly of the called ones4 ,in this sense ,israel is called a church1 an assembly1 because called out from among the other nations to be a holy people 7,acts #g3ch1 the church in the wilderness74 ,there is always a religious aspect associated with this particular call4 #b4 ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,word4 ,it is from the ,new ,testament primarily1 if not really exclusively1 that the real meaning and idea of the ,church is derived4 ,the ,christian ,church is a ,new ,testament institution1 beginning with ,pentecost1 and ending1 probably1 with the rapture4 ,two words are of special importance in this connection3 a7 ,ecclesia1 from ,two ,greek ,words ,meaning ,to ,call ,out ,from4 ,this word is used in all about #aaa times in the ,new ,testament4 ,it is used in a secular sense in ,acts #ai3ci--;,it shall be determined in a lawful assembly2 of ,israel in the wilderness 7,acts #g3ch71 and of the assembly of believers in ,christ 7,matt4 #af3ah2 #ah3ag2 #a ,cor4 #a3b2 ,eph4 #e3be-bg74 ,in keeping with this idea the saints are said to be the called-out ones 7,rom4 #h3cj2 #a ,cor4 #a3b2 cf4 #b ,cor4 #f3ag74 b7 ,kuriakon--,that ,which ,belongs to the ,lord4 ,so we have the supper of the ,lord 7#a ,cor4 #aa3bj72 the day of the ,lord 7,rev4 #a3aj74 ,see also ,luke #bb3be and ,rom4 #ad3h1 #i1 as illustrating that over which the ,lord has dominion and authority4 ,to sum up then3 ,the ,church is composed of the body of believers who have been called out from the world1 and who are under the dominion and authority of ,jesus ,christ4 c7 ,the ,growth of the ,church ,idea in the ,new ,testament4 ,at first there was but one ,church at ,jerusalem4 ,the meetings may have been held in different houses1 yet there was but one ,church with one roster3 so we read of the total membership consisting at one time of #abj 7,acts #a3ae71 again of #c1jjj 7#b3da71 and still again of #e1jjj 7#d3d71 to which there were daily additions 7#b3dg74 ,the apostles were at the head of the ,church 7#b3da-dg74 ,see ,acts1 cc4 #a and #b1 for a fuller account of the first ,church4 ,the second stage in the growth of the ,church was its spread throughout ,judea and ,samaria1 as recorded in ,acts #h4 ,antioch1 in ,syria1 then became the head of the ,gentile ,church 7,acts #ac3a71 as ,jerusalem was the head of the ,jewish ,church 7,acts #ae72 ,paul representing the ,church at ,antioch1 and ,peter and ,james at ,jerusalem4 ,the assembly at ,antioch was called the church just as truly as was the assembly at ,jerusalem 7#aa3bb2 #ac3a74 ,because of the missionary activities of the apostles1 especially ,paul1 churches sprang up in different cities1 especially in ,asia ,minor1 e4g41 ,corinth1 ,galatia1 ,ephesus1 and ,philippi4 ,in view of all this the term church came to be used of the ,church universal1 that is1 the complete body of ,christ as existing in every place 7#a ,cor4 #ae3i2 ,gal4 #a3b1 #ac2 ,matt4 #af3ah72 of local churches in any one place 7,col4 #d3af2 ,phil4 #d3ae2 #a ,cor4 #a3b1 etc472 of single meetings1 even where two or three met together 7,matt4 #ah3ai2 ,col4 #d3ae2 ,phil4 #a3b2 ,rom4 #af3e74 ,it is evident1 then1 from what has here been said1 that by the term church is included all that is meant from the ,church ,universal to the meeting of the church in the house4 ,wherever ,god's people meet in the name of ,christ to worship1 there you have the ,church4 #c4 ,,distinctions3 a7 ,the ,church and the ,kingdom4 ,the ,church 7which is the mystery7 and the ,kingdom in mystery are now contemporary4 ,the ,kingdom will be fully manifested at the coming of ,christ4 ,the ,church is within the ,kingdom2 probably the regenerate are the children of the kingdom4 ,the ,kingdom is comprised of both good and bad 7,matt4 #ac72 the ,church1 of real saints only4 ,the ,jews rejected the ,kingdom under ,christ and the apostles4 ,that ,kingdom1 now rejected1 will be set up again when the ,messiah comes4 ,this conception will help us to understand the parables of ,matthew #ac1 as well as the ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,the tares are sown not in the ,church1 but in the field1 which is the world4 ,the ,church may be looked upon as part of the ,kingdom of ,god1 just as ,illinois is part of the ,united ,states4 ,the ,kingdom is present1 in a sense1 just as the ,king is present in the hearts of his own people4 ,there is a difference between the ,church and ,christendom1 just as there is a difference between possessing and professing ,christians4 ,baptized ,christendom is one thing1 and the ,church of ,christ is another4 b7 ,the ,church ,visible and ,invisible3 ,actual and ,ideal4 ,the ,church ,visible is composed of all those whose names are enrolled upon its roster2 ,invisible1 of those whose names are written in the ,lamb's book of life2 ,actual1 people imperfect1 yet aiming after perfection1 alive here on the earth2 ,ideal1 departed saints who are now triumphant in heaven 7,heb4 #ab3bc74 ,there is a ,church in heaven just as there is one upon the earth2 indeed1 it is but a part of the one ,church2 called the ,church militant while upon the earth1 and the ,church triumphant in heaven4 c7 ,the ,church ,local and ,universal4 ,by the first is meant the ,church in any particular place1 such as the church at ,corinth2 by the latter1 the ,church as found in every place 7#a ,cor4 #a3b74 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,founding ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #a4 ,,foretold ,,by ,,christ4 ,matt4 #af3af-ah--4 4 4 4 ,on this rock ,i will build my church4 ,here is the ,church in prophecy and promise2 the first mention of the ,church in the ,new ,testament4 ,note the distinction here recognized between the ,kingdom and the ,church4 ,the ,church is to be founded on ,peter's confession of ,jesus ,christ as the ,son of the living ,god4 ,no supremacy is here given to ,peter1 as a comparison of these verses with ,john #bj3ai-bc1 and ,matt4 #ah3ah--;in which the same privilege of the binding and loosing is given to the whole ,church and to all the apostles--will show4 ,in ,matthew #ah3ae-bj our ,lord recognizes the fact of the ,church1 and also that it has the divine seal and sanction in the exercising of the power of the keys4 #b4 ,,historically ,,founded ,,by ,,the ,,apostles4 ,acts #a-b3dg4 ,the promise and prophecy of ,matt4 #af3af-ah is here fulfilled4 ,here is the account of the first ,christian ,church in its glorious beginning1 and as it actually existed in ,jerusalem4 ,when a man became regenerate by believing in ,jesus ,christ he was thereby constituted a member of the ,church4 ,there was no question as to whether he ought to join himself to the ,church or not2 that was a fact taken for granted4 ,so we read that the ,lord was adding to the ,church daily such as were being saved4 ,the ,church was already a concrete institution to which every believer in ,christ united himself4 ,the ,apostles' doctrine formed the standard of faith--a fulfillment of ,christ's prophecy and promise in ,matthew #af3af-ah3 ,on this rock ,i will build my church1 etc4 ,the ,church had stated places of meeting3 the upper room 7,acts #a3ac71 the temple 7#e3ab71 the homes of members 7#b3df1 #ab3ab71 and the synagogue2 stated times of meeting3 daily 7#b3df71 each ,lord's ,day 7#bj3g71 the regular hours of prayer 7#c3a2 #aj3i72 a regular church roll3 #abj 7#a3ae71 #c1jjj 7#b3da71 #e1jjj 7#d3d72 daily additions 7#b3dg74 ,that there were definitely1 regularly organized churches is clear from the fact that the ,apostle ,paul addressed many of his epistles to churches in different localities4 ,the letters to the ,corinthians 7e4g41 #a ,ep4 #ab-ad7 show that the churches had already recognized certain forms of service and liturgy2 those to ,timothy and ,titus presume a regularly organized congregation of believers4 ,that there is a ,church in the world is clear from #a ,cor4 #e3i-ac4 ,the ,christian ,church is as much an entity as the ,gentile1 or the ,jew 7#a ,cor4 #aj3cb74 ,the existence of church officers proves the existence of the ,church in an organized form3 bishops and deacons 7,phil4 #a3a71 elders 7,acts #bj3ag71 the presbytery 7#a ,tim4 #d3ad74 ,church letters were granted to members 7,acts #ah3bg74 ,,iii4 ,,membership ,,in ,,the ,,church--,,its ,,conditions ,,and ,,characteristics4 #a4 ,,repentance ,,and ,,baptism ,,required ,,of ,,all ,,its ,,members4 ,acts #b3ch-da--,then ,peter said unto them1 ,repent1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,then they that gladly received his word were baptized3 and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls4 #b4 ,,faith ,,in ,,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,divine ,,redeemer4 ,matt4 #af3af-ah2 ,acts #b3ch1 #ci4 ,peter's entire sermon in ,acts #b illustrates this fact4 #c4 ,,saved-,,regenerated4 ,acts #b3dg--4 4 4 4 ,and the ,lord added to the church such as should be saved4 ,cf4 ,john #c3c1 #e4 ,it was essential that the members of the early ,church should be added unto the ,lord before they were added to the ,church 7#e3ad2 #aa3bd74 #d4 ,,baptism ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,the ,,triune ,,god ,,as ,,an ,,open ,,confession ,,of ,,christ4 ,matt4 #bh3ai--;,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,acts #b3ch-da2 #aj3dg1 #dh2 #bb3af3 cf4 ,rom4 #aj3i1 #aj4 #e4 ,,adherence ,,to ,,the ,,apostolic ,,doctrine4 ,acts #b3db--;,and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship4 ,cf4 ,on this rock ,i will build my church 7,matt4 #af3af-ah72 also ,eph4 #b3bj4 #f4 ,,characteristics ,,of ,,membership ,,in ,,the ,,early ,,church4 ,the members were known as believers 7,acts #d3cb72 brethren 7#aa3bi2 #ab3ag2 ,rom4 #a3ac--the absolute equality of all believers1 cf4 ,matt4 #bc3h-aj72 ,christians 7,acts #aa3bf2 #bf3bh72 saints 7#i3ac2 #a ,cor4 #a3b2 ,rev4 #ac3g72 elect 7,mark #ac3bg2 ,rom4 #h3cc2 ,eph4 #a3d74 ,,iv4 ,,figures ,,under ,,which ,,the ,,church ,,is ,,set ,,forth ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures4 #a4 ,,the ,,body1 ,,of ,,which ,,christ ,,is ,,the ,,head4 ,two ideas are contained in this symbol3 a7 ,the ,relation of the ,church to ,christ1 ,who ,is ,its ,head4 ,eph4 #a3bb1 #bc2 ,col4 #a3ah2 #b3ai4 ,the ,church is an organism1 not an organization4 ,there is a vital relation between ,christ and the ,church1 both partaking of the same life1 just as there is between the physical head and the body4 ,we cannot join the ,church as we would a lodge or any mere human organization4 ,we must be partakers by faith of ,christ's life before we can become members of ,christ's ,church1 in the true sense4 ,as the ,head of the ,church ,christ is its ,guardian and ,director 7,eph4 #e3bc1 #bd72 the ,source of its life1 filling it with ,his fulness 7,eph4 #a3bc72 the ,centre of its ,unity and the ,cause of its growth 7,eph4 #d3ae2 ,col4 #b3ai74 b7 ,the ,relation of the ,members ,one to ,another4 #a ,cor4 #ab3ab-bg2 ,rom4 #ab3d1 #e2 ,eph4 #d3a-d1 #ae1af4 #b4 ,a ,,temple1 ,a ,,building1 ,a ,,habitation1 ,a ,,dwelling-,,place ,,for ,,god',s ,,spirit4 ,eph4 #b3bj1 #ba2 #a ,cor4 #c3i-ag2 #a ,tim4 #c3ae2 #a ,pet4 #b3d-h2 ,rev4 #ba3c2 #a ,cor4 #f3ai4 ,of this building ,christ is the cornerstone1 and the prophets and apostles the foundation4 ,in #a ,cor4 #c ,christ is the chief cornerstone and the apostles the builders2 the whole building is held in place by ,christ4 #c4 ,,the ,,bride ,,of ,,christ4 #b ,cor4 #aa3b2 ,eph4 #e3be-bg2 ,rev4 #ai3g2 #bb3ag4 ,christ is the ,bridegroom 7,john #c3bi74 ,this is a great mystery 7,eph4 #e3cb74 ,the ,bride becomes the wife of the ,lamb 7,rev4 #ba3b74 ,v4 ,,the ,,ordinances ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #a4 ,,baptism4 ,matt4 #bh3ai1 #bj2 ,mark #af3af2 ,acts #b3ch1 #da2 #h3cf-dj2 #aj3dg1 #dh4 #b4 ,,the ,,lord',s ,,supper4 ,acts #b3db1 #df2 #bj3g--;,and upon the first day of the week1 when the disciples came together to break bread1 ,paul preached unto them1 ready to depart on the morrow2 and continued his speech until midnight4 #a ,cor4 #aa3bj-cd4 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,vocation ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #a4 ,,to ,,worship ,,god ,,and ,,to ,,glorify ,,him ,,on ,,the ,,earth3 ,eph4 #a3d-f--;,according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world1 that we should be holy and without blame before him in love3 ,having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by ,jesus ,christ to himself1 according to the good pleasure of his will4 ,to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved4 #b4 ,,to ,,evangelize ,,the ,,world ,,with ,,the ,,gospel3 ,matt4 #bh3ai1 #bj--;,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,acts #b2 #e3db2 #f3e-h2 ,eph4 #c3h2 ,acts #ae3g4 #c4 ,,to ,,develop ,,each ,,individual ,,christian ,,until ,,he ,,attains ,,unto ,,the ,,fulness ,,of ,,the ,,stature ,,of ,,christ3 ,eph4 #d3aa-ae4 ,hence the gift of pastors1 teachers1 etc4 ,herein lies the value of church attendance--it promotes growth2 failure to attend leads to apostasy 7,heb4 #aj3be-bh71 cf4 #a ,thess4 #e3aa2 #a ,cor4 #ab4 #d4 ,a ,,constant ,,witness ,,for ,,christ ,,and ,,his ,,word3 ,acts #a3h--;,but ye shall receive power1 after that the ,holy ,ghost is come upon you3 and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in ,jerusalem1 and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost part of the earth4 #h3a1 #d4 #e4 ,,the ,,future ,,glory ,,of ,,the ,,church3 ,eph4 #c3aj1 #ba2 ,eev4 #g3i-ag4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,i4 ,,names ,,and ,,titles4 #a4 ,,the ,,bible4 #b4 ,,the ,,testaments4 #c4 ,,the ,,scriptures4 #d4 ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god4 ,,ii4 ,,inspiration4 #a4 ,,definition4 #b4 ,,distinctions4 a7 ,revelation4 b7 ,illumination4 c7 ,reporting4 #c4 ,,views3 a7 ,natural ,inspiration4 b7 ,christian ,illumination4 c7 ,dynamic ,theory4 d7 ,concept ,theory4 e7 ,verbal ,inspiration4 f7 ,partial ,inspiration4 g7 ,plenary ,inspiration4 #d4 ,,the ,,claims ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures ,,themselves3 a7 ,the ,old ,testament4 b7 ,the ,new ,testament4 #e4 ,,the ,,character 7,,or ,,degrees7 ,,of ,,inspiration4 a7 ,actual ,words of ,god ,himself4 b7 ,actual ,words ,communicated by ,god to ,men4 e7 ,individual ,freedom in ,choice of ,words--,to ,what ,extent8 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,i4 ,,the ,,bible--,,its ,,names ,,and ,,titles4 #a4 ,,the ,,bible4 ,our ,english word ,bible comes from the ,greek words biblos 7,matt4 #a3a7 and biblion 7diminutive form7 7,luke #d3ag71 which mean book4 ,ancient books were written upon the biblus or papyrus reed1 and from this custom came the ,greek name biblos1 which finally came to be applied to the sacred books4 ,see ,mark #ab3bf2 ,luke #c3d2 #bj3db2 ,acts #a3bj2 #g3db4 ,the ,bible is not merely a book1 however4 ,it is ,,the ,,book--the ,book that from the importance of its subjects1 the wideness of its range1 the majesty of its ,author1 stands as high above all other books as the heaven is high above the earth4 #b4 ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,new ,,testaments4 ,see ,luke #bb3bj2 #a ,cor4 #aa3be2 #b ,cor4 #c3f1 #ad2 ,heb4 #i3ae2 #ab3bd4 ,the word ,testament means ,covenant1 and is the term by which ,god was pleased to designate the relation that existed between ,himself and ,his people4 ,the term ,covenant was first of all applied to the relation itself1 and afterward to the books which contained the record of that relation4 ,by the end of the second century we find the ,old ,covenant and the ,new ,covenant as the established names of the ,jewish and ,christian ,scriptures2 and ,origen1 in the beginning of the third century1 mentioned the divine ,scriptures1 the so-called ,old and ,new ,covenants4 ,the ,old ,testament deals with the record of the calling and history of the ,jewish nation1 and as such it is the ,old ,covenant4 ,the ,new ,testament deals with the history and application of the redemption wrought by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and as such it is the ,new ,covenant4 #c4 ,,the ,,scripture1 ,,and ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,the ,bible is also called ,the ,scripture 7,mark #ab3aj2 #ae3bh2 ,luke #d3ba2 ,john #b3bb2 #g3ch2 #aj3ce2 ,rom4 #d3c2 ,gal4 #d3cj2 #b ,pet4 #a3bj71 and ,the ,scriptures 7,matt4 #bb3bi2 ,mark #ab3bd2 ,luke #bd3bg2 ,john #e3ci2 ,acts #ag3aa2 ,rom4 #a3b2 #b ,tim4 #c3ae2 #b ,pet4 #c3af74 ,these terms mean that the ,scriptures are ,holy ,writings4 ,by the early ,christians the most common designation for the whole ,bible was ,the ,scriptures4 #d4 ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god4 ,of all the names given to the ,bible1 ,the ,word of ,god 7,mark #g3ac2 ,rom4 #aj3ag2 #b ,cor4 #b3ag2 ,heb4 #d3ab2 #a ,thess4 #b3ac7 is doubtless the most significant1 impressive1 and complete4 ,it is sufficient to justify the faith of the weakest ,christian4 ,it gathers up all that the most earnest search can unfold4 ,it teaches us to regard the ,bible as the utterance of divine wisdom and love--as ,god speaking to man4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,inspiration ,,of ,,the ,,bible4 #a4 ,,what ,,is ,,meant ,,by ,,the ,,term ,,inspiration4 ,this question is best answered by ,scripture itself4 ,it defines its own terms4 ,let us turn1 then1 to the ,law and to the ,testimony4 ,in #b ,tim4 #c3af--;,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god4 ,the word inspired means literally ,god-breathed4 ,it is composed of two ,greek words--theos,god2 and pneinto breathe4 ,the term given by inspiration signifies1 then1 that the writings of the ,old ,testament1 of which ,paul is here speaking1 are the result of a certain influence exerted by ,god upon their authors4 ,the meaning of the word breathed1 as here used1 is brought out very forcibly by the comparison of two other words translated in the same way4 ,the one is the ,greek word psucheinto breathe gently1 while in #b ,tim4 #c3af the term denotes a forcible respiration4 ,the other is the ,hebrew word ah-ayrhto breathe unconsciously1 while #b ,tim4 #c3af denotes a conscious breathing4 ,inspiration1 then1 as defined by ,paul in this passage1 is the strong1 conscious inbreathing of ,god into men1 qualifying them to give utterance to truth4 ,it is ,god speaking through men1 and the ,old ,testament is therefore just as much the ,word of ,god as though ,god spake every single word of it with ,his own lips4 ,the ,scriptures are the result of divine inbreathing1 just as human speech is uttered by the breathing through a man's mouth4 #b ,pet4 #a3ba--;,for not by the will of man was prophecy brought at any time1 but being borne by the ,holy ,spirit1 the holy men of ,god spoke4 7,this is a literal rendering1 and brings out the sense more clearly47 ,the participle moved may be translated when moved1 so this passage teaches that holy men of ,god wrote the ,scripture when moved to do so by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,further1 the participle is passive1 and denotes to be moved upon4 ,this distinctly teaches that the ,scripture was not written by mere men1 or at their suggestion1 but by men moved upon1 prompted1 yea indeed1 driven by the promptings of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this declaration of ,peter may be said to intimate that the ,holy ,ghost was especially and miraculously present with and in the writers of the ,scriptures1 revealing to them truths which they did not know before1 and guiding them alike in their record of these truths1 and of the transactions of which they were eye and ear witnesses1 so that they were enabled to present them with substantial accuracy to the minds of others4 ,the statements of the ,scriptures regarding ,inspiration may be summed up as follows3 ,holy men of ,god1 qualified by the infusion of the breath of ,god1 wrote in obedience to the divine command1 and were kept from all error1 whether they revealed truths previously unknown or recorded truths already familiar4 ,in this sense1 all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 the ,bible is indeed and in truth the very ,word of ,god1 and the books of the ,bible are of divine origin and authority4 #b4 ,,the ,,distinction ,,between ,,inspiration1 ,,revelation1 ,,illumination1 ,,and ,,verbatim ,,reporting4 a7 ,the ,distinction ,between ,inspiration and ,revelation4 ,it is of the greatest importance1 in considering the theme of ,inspiration1 to distinguish it clearly from ,revelation4 ,the most cursory perusal of the ,scriptures reveals the fact that they consist of two different kinds of records3 first1 records of truth directly revealed and imparted to the mind of the writer by ,god1 and which he could have learned in no other manner 7such1 for example1 as the story of ,creation72 and second1 records of events that occurred within the writer's own observation1 and of sayings that fell upon his own ears 7such as ,moses' account of the ,exodus1 ,paul's account of his interview with ,peter at ,antioch74 ,in the one case1 the writer records things that had not been revealed to man before2 in the other case1 he records facts which were as well known to others as to himself4 ,now1 ,revelation is that act of ,god by which ,he directly communicates truth not known before to the human mind4 ,revelation discovers new truth1 while ,inspiration superintends the communicating of that truth4 ,all that is in the ,bible has not been directly revealed to man4 ,it contains history1 and the language of men1 even of wicked men4 ,but there is absolutely no part of the ,bible record that is not inspired4 ,the history recorded in the ,bible is true4 ,the sacred writers were so directed and influenced by the ,spirit that they were preserved1 in writing1 from every error of fact and doctrine4 ,the history remains history4 ,things not sanctioned by ,god1 recorded in the ,bible1 are to be shunned 7#b ,tim4 #c3af74 ,nevertheless1 all these things were written under the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this is ,inspiration4 ,this distinction should be definitely and clearly understood1 for many of the most plausible arguments against the full inspiration of the ,scriptures have arisen from the fact that this has been either unrecognized or ignored4 ,though all ,scripture is inspired1 it does not stamp with divine authority every sentiment which it reports as uttered by the men of whom it speaks1 nor does it mark with divine approval every action which it relates as performed by those with whose biographies it deals4 ,in the book of ,job1 for example1 ,inspiration gives with equal accuracy the language of ,jehovah1 the words of ,satan1 and the speeches of ,job and his three friends2 but it does not therefore place them all on the same level of authority4 ,each speaker is responsible for his own utterances4 ,neither ,satan1 ,job1 nor his three friends spoke by inspiration of ,god4 ,they gave utterance to their own opinions2 and all that ,inspiration vouches for is that no one of them is misrepresented1 but that each one spoke the sentiments that are attributed to him in ,scripture4 ,so1 again1 the fact that ,david's cruelty to the ,ammonites is recorded in the book of ,kings does not imply that ,god approved it any more than ,he approved the king's double crime of murder and adultery1 which displeased ,him4 ,the inspiration of the ,book vouches only for the accuracy of the record4 b7 ,the ,distinction ,between ,inspiration and ,illumination4 ,spiritual ,illumination refers to the influence of the ,holy ,ghost1 common to all ,christians4 ,no statement of a truth about ,god or spiritual things can be understood by a man unless the ,holy ,spirit takes it and reveals it to him4 ,it is only the spiritual man who can understand spiritual things4 ,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit 7#a ,cor4 #b3ad74 ,no learning of the schools can lead him to know ,god4 ,flesh and blood cannot reveal ,god to men 7,matt4 #af3ag74 ,there is a vast difference between a divine revelation of the mind of ,god and a divine action on the mind of man4 ,the former is ,revelation2 the latter is ,spiritual ,illumination4 ,those who hold to the illumination theory to account for the origin of the ,bible revelation claim that there is in every man an intuitive faculty that grasps the supernatural1 that lays hold of ,god and spiritual things2 and that whatever insight into the nature and being of ,god is given man1 is produced by the divine ,spirit playing upon this spiritual faculty in man1 illuminating and irradiating it1 so that it sees the perfection of ,god and is enabled to penetrate into ,his will4 ,according to this view1 the ,bible is the result of the meditations of godly men whose minds were acted upon by ,god4 ,any revelation of divinity of which man is the recipient1 comes in this manner4 ,subjective illumination ,god has carried on since the world began1 and is still carrying on by a great variety of methods4 ,the ,scriptures are not in any way the oracles of ,god1 nor do they come to us as direct1 logical utterances of the divine mind4 ,the patriarchs1 prophets and apostles of old so deeply meditated on ,god and the things of ,god that their spiritual faculties were enlarged and illuminated to such a degree that they conceived of these visions of ,god1 ,his nature1 ,his will1 etc41 as recorded in the ,scriptures4 ,now1 it is true1 doubtless1 that a man may be granted a very deep insight into the nature and being of ,god by spiritual meditation4 ,that a fire does burn in the ,bible1 we do not deny4 ,throughout all ages of the ,jewish and ,christian churches men have lit their spiritual torches at this fire1 and in their light they have seen ,him who is invisible4 ,this fire still burns1 and to-day the devout student may catch its flame if1 with uncovered head1 with shoeless feet1 and with humble spirit1 he stands before the bush that ever burns and yet is never consumed4 ,but this working of the truth of ,god on the mind of man is not ,god's revelation of ,his mind to man which the ,bible professes to be4 ,the ,bible must of necessity be not merely a repository or receptacle of spiritual influences fitted to act upon the mind2 it must be--it is--,god making ,himself known to men4 ,it is ,god speaking to man through men4 ,in contradistinction to the illumination theory we have instances in the ,bible in which ,god made revelations of ,himself1 ,his truth1 and ,his will to men who were by no means at the time meditating upon ,god4 ,see e4g43 ,john #aa3di-eb--;,and one of them1 named ,caiaphas1 being the high priest that same year1 said unto them1 ,ye know nothing at all1 nor consider that it is expedient for us1 that one man should die for the people1 and that the whole nation perish not4 ,and this spake he not of himself3 but being high priest that year1 he prophesied that ,jesus should die for that nation2 and not for that nation only1 but that also ,he should gather together in one the children of ,god that were scattered abroad4 ,see also ,num4 #bb3cd1 #ce4 c7 ,the ,distinction ,between ,inspiration and ,verbatim ,reporting4 ,inspiration is not necessarily ,verbatim ,reporting4 ,it is not absolutely necessary to make such a claim to prove the inspiration of the ,scriptures4 ,verbatim ,reporting is1 in a sense1 a mere mechanical operation4 ,it would have robbed the writers of their individuality1 and made them mere machines4 ,but no2 the ,holy ,spirit used the memories1 the intuitions1 the judgments1 and indeed the idiosyncrasies of the writers1 so that while each recorded that part of the event or discourse which 7as we may express it7 adhered to himself1 he was enabled to give it with substantial accuracy4 #c4 ,,various ,,theories ,,of ,,inspiration4 ,it will be in order here to note briefly various theories of inspiration2 for it must be known that all students do not agree as to the degree of inspiration that characterized the writers of the ,scripture4 ,when a man says1 ,i believe in the inspiration of the ,bible1 it will be quite in place in these days to ask him what he means by inspiration4 ,following are some of the views of inspiration held at the present day4 a7 ,natural ,inspiration4 ,this theory identifies inspiration with genius of a high order4 ,it denies that there is anything supernatural1 mysterious1 or peculiar in the mode of the ,spirit's operation in and upon the ,scripture writers4 ,it claims that they were no more inspired than were ,milton1 ,shakespeare1 ,mahomet1 or ,confucius4 ,such a theory we absolutely reject4 ,for if such be the character of the inspiration possessed by the ,scripture writers1 there is nothing to assure us that they were not liable to make the same errors1 to teach the same false views of life1 to give expression to the same uncertainties concerning the past1 the present1 and the future as did these shining lights of mere human genius4 ,when ,david said1 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord spake by me1 and ,his word was in my tongue1 he meant something more than the prayer which forms the gem of ,paradise ,lost4 ,when ,isaiah and his brethren said1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 they claimed something higher than that they were speaking under the stirrings of poetic rapture4 ,when ,paul said to the ,corinthians1 ,which things also we speak1 not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth1 but which the ,holy ,ghost teacheth 7#a ,cor4 #b3ac71 he used the language to which you will find no parallel in the literature of mere human genius4 ,and no man of candor or intelligence can pass from the writings even of the unapproachable ,shakespeare into the perusal of the ,bible without feeling that the difference between the two is not one simply of degree1 but of kind2 he has not merely ascended to a loftier outlook in the same human dwelling1 but he has gone into a new region altogether4 ,there is a certain unknown quality in this ,book which clearly distinguishes it from all others2 and if we may take its own explanation of the matter1 that unknown quality is its divine inspiration4 b7 ,universal ,christian ,inspiration1 or ,illumination4 ,according to this theory1 the inspiration of the ,bible writers was the same as has characterized ,christians of every age2 the ordinary ,christian of to-day is inspired as much as was the ,apostle ,paul4 ,if this be the true view1 there seems to be no plausible reason why a new ,bible should not be possible to-day4 ,and yet no individual1 however extreme his claims to inspiration may be1 has even ventured such a task4 c7 ,mechanical1 or ,dynamic ,inspiration4 7,see ,verbatim ,eeporting1 page #aih47 ,this theory ignores the human instrumentality in the writing of the ,scriptures altogether1 and claims that the writers were passive instruments mere machines1 just as insensible to what they were accomplishing as is the string of the harp or lyre to the play of the musician4 ,how1 then1 do we account for the differences in style of the various writers1 the preservation of their individualities1 their idiosyncrasies8 ,it seems evident that ,scripture cannot be made to harmonize with the application of this theory4 d7 ,concept1 or ,thought ,inspiration4 ,this theory claims that only the concepts1 or thoughts1 of men were given by inspiration4 ,it will be examined more fully later4 ,concept ,inspiration is opposed by e7 ,verbal ,inspiration4 ,here it is claimed that the very words of ,scripture were given by the ,holy ,spirit2 that the writers were not left absolutely to themselves in the choice of words they should use4 7,see page #bjd47 f7 ,partial ,inspiration4 ,the favorite way of expressing this theory is1 ,the ,bible contains the ,word of ,god4 ,this statement implies that it contains much that is not the ,word of ,god1 that is1 that is not inspired4 ,a serious question at once arises3 ,who is to decide what is and what is not inspired8 ,who is to be the judge of so vital a question8 ,what part is inspired1 and what part is not8 ,who can tell8 ,such a theory leaves man in awful and fatal uncertainty4 g7 ,plenary1 or ,full1 ,inspiration4 ,this is the opposite of ,partial ,inspiration4 ,it holds all ,scripture to be equally inspired1 as stated on page #bjj4 ,it bases its claim on #b ,tim4 #c3af4 ,the ,revised ,version translation of #b ,tim4 #c3af is erroneous4 ,the reader might infer from it that there is some ,scripture that is not inspired4 ,if ,paul had said1 ,all ,scripture that is divinely inspired is also profitable1 etc41 he would virtually have said1 ,there is some ,scripture1 some part of the ,bible1 that is not profitable1 etc41 and therefore is not inspired4 ,this is what the spirit of rationalism wants1 namely1 to make human reason the test and judge and measure of what is inspired and what is not4 ,one man says such and such a verse is not profitable to him1 another says such and such a verse is not profitable to him2 a third says such and such is not profitable to him4 ,the result is that no ,bible is left4 ,is it possible that anyone need be told the flat and sapless tautology that all divinely-inspired ,scripture is also profitable8 ,paul dealt in no such meaningless phrases4 ,the word translated also does not mean also here4 ,it means and4 ,its position in the sentence shows this4 ,again1 the ,revised rendering is shown to be openly false because the revisers refused to render the same ,greek construction elsewhere in the same way1 which convicts them of error4 ,in ,hebrew #d3ac we read3 ,all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of ,him with whom we have to do4 ,the form and construction of this verse is identical with that of #b ,tim4 #c3af4 ,were we1 however1 to translate this passage as the revisers translated the passage in ,timothy1 it would read3 ,all naked things are also open to the eyes of ,him with whom we have to do4 ,all naked things are also open things6 ,all uncovered things are also exposed things6 ,there is no also in the case4 ,again1 #a ,tim4 #d3d3 ,every creature of ,god is good and nothing is to be rejected4 ,according to the principles the revisers adopted in rendering #b ,tim4 #c3af1 this passage would read3 ,every good creature of ,god is also nothing to be rejected4 ,the ,greek language has no such meaningless syntax4 ,the place of the verb is1--which must be supplied1--is directly before the word inspired1 and not after it4 ,the great rationalistic scholar1 ,de,wette1 confessed candidly that the rendering the revisers here adopted cannot be defended4 ,in his ,german version of the text1 he gave the sense thus3 ,every sacred writing1 i4e41 of the canonical ,scriptures1 is inspired of ,god and is useful for doctrine1 etc4 ,bishops ,moberly and ,wordsworth1 ,archbishop ,trench1 and others of the ,revision committee1 disclaimed any responsibility for the rendering4 ,dean ,burgon pronounced it the most astonishing as well as calamitous literary blunder of the age4 ,it was condemned by ,dr4 ,tregelles1 the only man ever pensioned by the ,british government for scholarship4 ,in accordance with this weight of testimony1 therefore1 we hold to the rendering of the ,authorized ,version1 and claim that all ,scripture is equally and fully inspired of ,god4 #d4 ,,the ,,claims ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures ,,to ,,inspiration4 ,that the writers of the ,scriptures claimed to write under the direct influence of the ,spirit of ,god there can be no doubt4 ,the quality or degree of their insspiration may be called into question1 but surely not the fact of it4 ,let us examine the testimony of the writers themselves4 a7 ,the ,claims of ,old ,testament ,writers to ,inspiration4 7,we use the word ,inspiration here as including ,revelation47 ,compare and examine the following passages3 ,exod4 #d3aj-ae--;,and ,moses said unto the ,lord1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i am not eloquent1 neither heretofore1 nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant2 but ,i am slow of speech1 and of a slow tongue4 ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,who hath made man's mouth8 or who maketh the dumb1 or deaf1 or the seeing1 or the blind8 have not ,i the ,lord8 ,now therefore go1 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and teach thee what thou shalt say4 ,and he said1 ,o my ,lord1 send1 ,i pray thee1 by the hand of him whom thou wilt send4 ,and the anger of the ,lord was kindled against ,moses1 and he said1 ,is not ,aaron the ,levite thy brother8 ,i know that he can speak well4 ,and also1 behold1 he cometh forth to meet thee2 and when he seeth thee1 he will be glad in his heart4 ,and thou shalt speak unto him1 and put words in his mouth1 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and with his mouth1 and will teach you what ye shall do4 ,deut4 #d3b--,ye shall not add unto the word which ,i command you1 neither shall ye diminish ought from it1 that ye may keep the commandments of the ,lord your ,god which ,i command you4 ,jer4 #a3g-i--;,but the ,lord said unto me1 ,say not1 ,i am a child3 for thou shalt go to all that ,i shall send thee1 and whatsoever ,i command thee thou shalt speak4 ,be not afraid of their faces2 for ,i am with thee to deliver thee1 saith the ,lord4 ,then the ,lord put forth his hand1 and touched my mouth4 ,and the ,lord said unto me1 ,behold1 ,i have put my words in thy mouth4 ,also ,ezek4 #c3d2 ,micah #c3h4 ,these are but a few of the many passages in which the inspiration of the writers is affirmed and claimed4 ,note further that the words ,god said occur ten times in the first chapter of ,genesis4 ,it is claimed that such expressions as ,the ,lord said1 ,the ,lord spake1 ,the word of the ,lord came1 are found #c1hjh times in the ,old ,testament4 ,these writers1 claiming to be the revealers of the will of ,god1 almost always commenced their messages with the words1 ,thus saith the ,lord4 ,that they were not deceived in their claims is evident from the minuteness and detail as to names1 times and places which characterized their messages1 and from the literal fulfillment of these oracles of ,god4 b7 ,the ,claims of the ,new ,testament ,writers to ,inspiration4 ,it is worthy of note here to observe that inspiration is claimed by ,new ,testament writers for ,old ,testament writers as well as for themselves4 ,read and compare the following passages3 #b ,pet4 #a3bj1 #ba--,knowing this first1 that no prophecy of the ,scripture is of any private interpretation4 ,for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man2 but holy men of ,god spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost4 #a ,pet4 #a3aj1 #aa--,of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently1 who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you3 searching what1 or what manner of time the ,spirit of ,christ which was in them did signify1 when it testified beforehand the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glory that should follow4 ,acts #a3af--,men and brethren1 this scripture must needs have been fulfilled1 which the ,holy ,ghost by the mouth of ,david spake before concerning ,judas1 which was guide to them that took ,jesus4 ,acts #bh3be--;,and when they agreed not among themselves1 they departed1 after that ,paul had spoken one word1 ,well spake the ,holy ,ghost by ,esaias the prophet unto our fathers4 #a ,cor4 #b3ac--,which things also we speak1 not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth1 but which the ,holy ,ghost teacheth2 comparing spiritual things with spiritual4 #a ,cor4 #ad3cg--;,if any man think himself to be a prophet1 or spiritual1 let him acknowledge that the things that ,i write unto you are the commandments of the ,lord4 #a ,thess4 #b3ac--;,for this cause also thank we ,god without ceasing1 because1 when ye received the word of ,god which ye heard of us1 ye received it not as the word of men1 but1 as it is in truth1 the word of ,god1 which effectually worketh also in you that believe4 #b ,peter #c3a1 #b--,this second epistle1 beloved1 ,i now write unto you2 in both which ,i stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance3 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets1 and of the commandment of us the apostles of the ,lord and ,saviour4 ,matt4 #aj3bj--;,for it is not ye that speak1 but the ,spirit of your ,father which speaketh in you4 ,mark #ac3aa--;,but when they shall lead you1 and deliver you up1 take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak1 neither do ye premeditate2 but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour1 that speak ye1 for it is not ye that speak1 but the ,holy ,ghost4 ,see also ,luke #ab3ab2 #ba3ad1 #ae2 ,acts #b3d4 ,it is evident from these and many other passages of ,scripture that the writers of both the ,old and ,new ,testaments were conscious of having received revelations from ,god1 and considered themselves inspired of ,god to write the ,scriptures4 ,they felt while writing that they were giving expression to the infallible truth of ,god1 and were conscious that the ,holy ,spirit was moving them to the work4 #e4 ,,what ,,is ,,the ,,natuee ,,of ,,the ,,inspiration ,,that ,,characterized ,,the ,,writers ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures1 ,,and ,,in ,,what ,,degree ,,were ,,they ,,under ,,its ,,influence8 ,much has been said and written in answer to this question4 ,were the thoughts or concepts alone inspired1 or were the words also inspired8 ,were the words dictated by the ,holy ,spirit1 or were the writers left to choose their own words8 ,these are the knotty questions current today regarding the ,inspiration of the ,bible4 ,we may say with certainty that a7 ,at least ,some of the ,words of ,scripture are the ,identical ,words ,written or ,spoken by ,god ,himself4 ,note ,exodus #ch3af--,the writing was the writing of ,god2 ,exodus #ca3ah--,written with the finger of ,god4 ,compare also ,deuteronomy #aj3b1 #d2 #i3aj2 ,exodus #bd3ab4 ,see also #a ,chronicles #bh3ai 7,r4 ,v47--,all this1 said ,david1 have ,i been made to understand in writing from the hand of ,jehovah2 ,daniel #e3e--,there came forth the finger of a man's hand and wrote4 ,in the ,new ,testament ,god is heard speaking both at the baptism and the transfiguration of ,jesus1 saying1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased2 hear ye him4 ,it is clearly evident from these passages that some part of the inspired record claims to be a record of the exact words of ,god4 b7 ,it is ,also very ,definitely ,stated in ,scripture that ,god ,put into the ,mouths of ,certain ,men the ,very ,words ,they ,should ,speak1 and ,told ,them ,what ,they ,should ,write4 ,exod4 #d3aj-ae--;,and ,moses said unto the ,lord1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i am not eloquent1 neither heretofore1 nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant3 but ,i am slow of speech1 and of a slow tongue4 ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,who hath made man's mouth8 or who maketh the dumb1 or deaf1 or the seeing1 or the blind8 have not ,i the ,lord8 ,now therefore go1 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and teach thee what thou shalt say4 ,and he said1 ,o my ,lord1 send1 ,i pray thee1 by the hand of him whom thou wilt send4 ,and the anger of the ,lord was kindled against ,moses1 and he said1 ,is not ,aaron the ,levite thy brother8 ,i know that he can speak well4 ,and also1 behold1 he cometh forth to meet thee3 and when he seeth thee1 he will be glad in his heart4 ,and thou shalt speak unto him1 and put words in his mouth3 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and with his mouth1 and will teach you what ye shall do4 ,exod4 #cd3bg--;,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,write thou these words3 for after the tenor of these words ,i have made a covenant with thee and with ,israel4 ,num4 #ag3b1 #c--,speak unto the children of ,israel1 and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers1 of all their princes according to the house of their fathers1 twelve rods3 write thou every man's name upon his rod4 ,and thou shalt write ,aaron's name upon the rod of ,levi3 for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers4 ,isa4 #h3a1 #aa1 #ab--,moreover the ,lord said unto me1 ,take thee a great roll1 and write in it with a man's pen concerning ,maher-shalal-hash-baz4 ,for the ,lord spake thus to me with a strong hand1 and instructed me that ,i should not walk in the way of this people1 saying1 ,say ye not1 ,a confederacy1 to all them to whom this people shall say1 ,a confederacy2 neither fear ye their fear1 nor be afraid4 ,jer4 #a3g--;,but the ,lord said unto me1 ,say not1 ,i am a child3 for thou shalt go to all that ,i shall send thee1 and whatsoever ,i command thee thou shalt speak4 ,jer4 #g3bg--,therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them2 but they will not hearken to thee2 thou shalt also call unto them2 but they will not answer thee4 ,jer4 #ac3ab--,therefore thou shall speak unto them this word3 ,this saith the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 ,every bottle shall be filled with wine3 and they shall say unto thee1 ,do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine8 ,jer4 #cj3a1 #c--,the word that came to ,jeremiah from the ,lord1 saying4 ,thus speaketh the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 saying1 ,write thee all the words that ,i have spoken unto thee in a book4 ,jer4 #cf3 #a1 #b1 #d1 #aa1 #bg-cb--;,and it came to pass in the fourth year of ,jehoiakim the son of ,josiah king of ,judah1 that this word came unto ,jeremiah from the ,lord1 saying1 ,take thee a roll of a book1 and write therein all the words that ,i have spoken unto thee against ,israel1 and against ,judah1 and against all the nations1 from the day ,i spake unto thee1 from the days of ,josiah1 even unto this day4 ,then ,jeremiah called ,baruch the son of ,neriah2 and ,baruch wrote from the mouth of ,jeremiah all the words of the ,lord1 which he had spoken unto him1 upon a roll of a book4 ,when ,michaiah the son of ,gemariah1 the son of ,shaphan1 had heard out of the book all the words of the ,lord4 4 4 4 ,then the word of the ,lord came to ,jeremiah1 after that the king had burned the roll1 and the words which ,baruch wrote at the mouth of ,jeremiah1 saying1 ,take thee again another roll1 and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll1 which ,jehoiakim the king of ,judah hath burned4 ,and thou shalt say to ,jehoiakim king of ,judah1 ,thou saith the ,lord2 ,thou hast burned this roll1 saying1 ,why hast thou written therein1 saying1 ,the king of ,babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land1 and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast8 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord of ,jehoiakim king of ,judah2 ,he shall have none to sit upon the throne of ,david3 and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat1 and in the night to the frost4 ,and ,i will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity2 and ,i will bring upon them1 and upon the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 and upon the men of ,judah1 all the evil that ,i have pronounced against them2 but they hearkened not4 ,then took ,jeremiah another roll1 and give it to ,baruch the scribe1 the son of ,neriah1 who wrote therein from the mouth of ,jeremiah all the words of the book which ,jehoiakim king of ,judah had burned in the fire2 and there were added besides unto them many like words4 ,also ,ezek4 #b3g2 #c3aj1 #aa2 #bd3b2 #cg3af2 ,hab4 #b3b2 ,zech4 #g3h-ab4 #a ,cor4 #ad3cg--;,if any man think himself to be a prophet1 or spiritual1 let him acknowledge that the things that ,i write unto you are the commandments of the ,lord4 ,rev4 #b3a1 #h1 #ab1 #ah--,unto the angel of the church of ,ephesus write2 ,these things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand1 who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candle-sticks 4 4 4 4 ,and unto the angel of the church in ,smyrna write2 ,these things saith the first and the last1 which was dead1 and is alive 4 4 4 4 ,and to the angel of the church in ,pergamos write2 ,these things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges 4 4 4 4 ,and unto the angel of the church in ,thyatira write2 ,these things saith the ,son of ,god1 who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire1 and his feet are like fine brass4 ,also #c3a2 #g3ad4 ,rev4 #aj3d--;,and when the seven thunders had uttered their voices1 ,i was about to write3 and ,i heard a voice from heaven saying unto me1 ,seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered1 and write them not4 ,to sum up these two arguments1 then1 let us say1 regarding the nature of the inspiration of the sacred writings1 that part of them claim to be the very words and writings of ,god ,himself1 spoken by ,his own mouth1 or written by ,his own hand3 that another part claim to be the record of words spoken to certain men who wrote them down just as they were spoken4 ,and yet if this is all that is involved in inspiration1 shall we not be robbed of a very beautiful and helpful fact1 namely1 that the ,holy ,spirit saw fit to preserve the characteristics of the writers8 ,do not the works of ,james1 the faith of ,paul1 and the love of ,john appeal to us in their own peculiar way8 ,this leads to the statement that c7 ,in a ,certain ,sense1 and in ,respect to ,some ,parts of the ,scripture1 the ,authors ,were 7,humanly ,speaking7 ,left to ,choose ,their ,own ,words in ,relating ,divine ,truth4 ,this was by no means true of all the sacred writings4 ,there are instances recorded of men who spoke without knowing what they were saying2 and of men and animals speaking without knowledge of the substance of their message3 ,john #aa3di-eb--;,and one of them1 named ,caiaphas1 being the high priest that same year1 said unto them1 ,ye know nothing at all1 nor consider that it is expedient for us1 that one man should die for the people1 and that the whole nation perish not4 ,and this spake he not of himself2 but being high priest that year1 he prophesied that ,jesus should die for that nation2 and not for that nation only1 but that also he should gather together in one the children of ,god that were scattered abroad4 ,num4 #bb3bh-cj--;,and the ,lord opened the mouth of the ass1 and she said unto ,balaam1 ,what have ,i done unto thee1 that thou hast smitten me these three times8 ,and ,balaam said unto the ass1 ,because thou has mocked me3 ,i would there were a sword in mine hand1 for now would ,i kill thee4 ,and the ass said unto ,balaam1 ,am not ,i thine ass1 upon which thou hast ridden ever since ,i was thine unto this day8 was ,i ever wont to do so unto thee8 ,and he said1 ,nay4 ,dan4 #ab3h1 #i--;,and ,i heard1 but ,i understood not3 then said ,i1 #j my ,lord1 what shall be the end of these things8 ,and he said1 ,go thy way1 ,daniel3 for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end4 ,and yet the gift of inspiration admitted of personal1 diligent1 and faithful research into the facts recorded--,luke #a3a-d4 ,this fact allowed the expression of the same thought in different words1 such differences 7by no means discrepancies7 between the accounts of inspired men as would be likely to arise from the different standpoint of each4 ,examples3 ,matt4 #bf3bf1 #bg--;,and as they were eating1 ,jesus took bread1 and blessed it1 and brake it1 and gave it to the disciples1 and said1 ,take1 eat2 this is my body4 ,and he took the cup1 and gave thanks1 and gave it to them1 saying1 ,drink ye all of it4 ,luke #bb3ai1 #bj--;,and he took bread1 and gave thanks1 and brake it1 and gave unto them1 saying1 this is my body which is given for you2 this do in remembrance of me4 ,likewise also the cup after supper1 saying1 ,this cup is the new testament in my blood1 which is shed for you4 #a ,cor4 #aa3bd1 #be--;,and when he had given thanks1 he brake it1 and said1 ,take1 eat2 this is my body1 which is broken for you2 this do in remembrance of me4 ,after the same manner also he took the cup1 when he had supped1 saying1 ,this cup is the new testament in my blood2 this do ye1 as oft as ye drink it1 in remembrance of me4 ,matt4 #c3ag--;,and lo a voice from heaven1 saying1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,mark #a3aa--;,and there came a voice from heaven1 saying1 ,thou art my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,luke #c3bb--;,and the ,holy ,ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him1 and a voice came from heaven1 which said1 ,thou art my beloved ,son2 in thee ,i am well pleased4 ,the ,spirit employed the attention1 the investigation1 the memory1 the fancy1 the logic1 in a word1 all the faculties of the writer1 and wrought through them4 ,he guided the writer to choose what narrative and materials1 speeches of others1 imperial decrees1 genealogies1 official letters1 state papers or historical matters he might find necessary for the recording of the divine message of salvation4 ,he wrought in1 with1 and through their spirits1 so as to preserve their individuality to others4 ,he used the men themselves1 and spoke through their individualities4 ,the gold was ,his2 the mould was theirs4 ,,did ,,inspiration ,,affect ,,the ,,words ,,used8 ,if the question be asked whether or not inspiration affected the words1 it must be answered in the affirmative4 ,it is hardly possible that inspiration could insure the correct transmission of thought without in some way affecting the words4 ,yet it affected the words not directly and immediately by dictating them in the ears of the writers1 but mediately1 through working on their minds and producing there such vivid and clear ideas of thoughts and facts that the writers could find words fitted to their purpose4 ,we must conclude1 therefore1 that while from the divine side the ,holy ,spirit gave through men clearly and faithfully that which ,he wished to communicate1 from the human side that communication came forth in language such as men themselves would naturally have chosen4 ,this may seem to some to be an impossibility1 and they would allege that if the words were affected by inspiration at all1 there must have been dictation4 ,but the must is a non sequitur4 ,it is admitted that ,god works ,his purposes in the world through the ordinary actions of men1 while yet no violence is done to their freedom4 ,it is admitted1 also1 that ,god1 through the gracious operations of ,his ,holy ,spirit1 works in the hearts of ,his people so as to develop in each of them the new man1 while yet the individuality of each is preserved2 and the type of piety is just as distinct in each ,christian as the style is in each of the sacred writers4 ,these cases are so nearly parallel as to suggest that all denials of the possibility of inspiration without the destruction of the individual characteristics are as unphilosophical as they are unwarranted4 ,we may therefore safely say that in a very real sense the words as well as the thoughts have been given1 whether mediately or immediately1 under the influence of the divine ,spirit4 ,we claim that the ,bible is in deed and in truth the very ,word of ,god2 that it is the ,word of ,god in the language of men2 truly divine1 and at the same time truly human2 that it is the revelation of ,god to ,his creatures2 that infallible guidance was given to those who wrote it1 so as to preserve them from error in the statement of facts2 that what the writers of the ,scriptures say or write under this guidance is as truly said and written by ,god as if their instrumentality were not used at all2 that the ideas expressed therein are the very ideas the ,holy ,ghost intended to convey2 that ,god is in the fullest sense responsible for every word4 ,this is what the ,bible claims for itself4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,angels4 ,i4 ,,their ,,existence4 #a4 ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,jesus4 #b4 ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,the ,,apostles4 ,,ii4 ,,their ,,nature4 #a4 ,,created ,,beings4 #b4 ,,spiritual ,,beings4 #c4 ,,great ,,power ,,and ,,might4 #d4 ,,various ,,grades4 #e4 ,,the ,,number ,,of ,,angels4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,angels4 #a4 ,,time ,,and ,,cause4 #b4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,fallen ,,angels4 #c4 ,,the ,,judgment ,,of ,,fallen ,,angels4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,angels4 #a4 ,,their ,,heavenly ,,ministry4 #b4 ,,their ,,earthly ,,ministry4 a7 ,in ,relation to the ,believer4 b7 ,in ,relation to ,christ's ,second ,coming4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,angels4 ,we are not to think that man is the highest form of created being4 ,as the distance between man and the lower forms of life is filled with beings of various grades1 so it is possible that between man and ,god there exist creatures of higher than human intelligence and power4 ,indeed1 the existence of lesser deities in all heathen mythologies presumes the existence of a higher order of beings between ,god and man1 superior to man and inferior to ,god4 ,this possibility is turned into certainty by the express and explicit teaching of the ,scriptures4 ,it would be sad indeed if we should allow ourselves to be such victims of sense perception and so materialistic that we should refuse to believe in an order of spiritual beings simply because they were beyond our sight and touch4 ,we should not thus shut ourselves out of a larger life4 ,a so-called liberal faith may express unbelief in such beings4 ,does not such a faith 787 label itself narrow rather than liberal by such a refusal of faith8 ,does not a liberal faith mean a faith that believes much1 not little--as much1 not as little1 as possible8 ,i4 ,,their ,,existence4 #a4 ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,jesus4 ,matt4 #ah3aj--;,for ,i say unto you1 ,that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my ,father which is in heaven4 ,mark #ac3cb--;,but of that day and that hour knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels which are in heaven4 #h3ch2 ,matt4 #ac3da2 #bf3ec4 ,these are a sufficient number of passages1 though they are by no means all1 to prove that ,jesus believed in the existence of angels4 ,jesus is not here speaking in any accommodative sense4 ,nor is ,he simply expressing a superstitious belief existing among the ,jews at that time4 ,this was not the habit of ,jesus4 ,he did not fail to correct popular opinion and tradition when it was wrong1 e4g41 ,his rebuke of the false ceremonialism of the ,pharisees1 and the unbelief of the ,sadducees in the resurrection4 ,see also the ,sermon on the ,mount 7,matt4 #e3bj-cg74 #b4 ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,paul1 ,,and ,,other ,,apostles4 #b ,thess4 #a3g--;,and to you who are troubled1 rest with us1 when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with ,his mighty angels1 ,col4 #b3ah--,let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels4 ,is not one of the principal reasons for the writing of the ,epistle to the ,colossians to correct the gnostic theory of the worshipping of angels8 ,see also ,eph4 #a3ba1 ,col4 #a3af4 ,john believed in an angelic order of beings3 ,john #a3ea2 ,rev4 #ab3g2 #bb3i4 ,peter3 #a ,pet4 #c3bb2 #b ,pet4 #b3aa4 ,see also ,jude #i2 ,luke #bb3dc2 ,mark #h3ch2 ,heb4 #ab3bb4 ,these and numerous other references in the ,scriptures compel the candid student of the ,word to believe in the existence of angels4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,natuee ,,of ,,angels4 #a4 ,,they ,,abe ,,created ,,beings4 ,col4 #a3af--;,for by him were all things created1 that are in heaven1 and that are in earth1 visible and invisible1 whether they be thrones1 or dominions1 or principalities1 or powers2 all things were created by him1 and for him4 ,angels are not the spirits of the departed1 nor are they glorified human beings 7,heb4 #ab3bb1 #bc74 ,neh4 #i3f--,thou1 even thou1 art ,lord alone2 thou hast made heaven1 the heaven of heavens1 with all their host4 #b4 ,,they ,,are ,,spiritual ,,beings4 ,heb4 #a3ad--;,are they not all ministering spirits8 ,psa4 #ajd3d--,who maketh his angels spirits2 his ministers a flaming fire4 ,it is thought by some that ,god creates angels for a certain purpose1 and when that purpose is accomplished they pass out of existence4 ,but that there are many1 many angels in existence all the time is clear from the teaching of the ,scriptures4 ,although the angels are spirits1 they nevertheless oft-times have appeared to men in visible1 and even human form 7,gen4 #ai2 ,judges #b3a2 #f3aa-bb2 ,matt4 #a3bj2 ,luke #a3bf2 ,john #bj3ab74 ,there seems to be no sex among the angels1 although wherever the word angel is used in the ,scriptures it is always in the masculine form4 #c4 ,,they ,,are ,,beings ,,of ,,great ,,might ,,and ,,power4 #b ,pet1 #b3aa--,whereas angels1 which are greater in power and might 7than man74 ,psa4 #ajc3bj--;,angels that excel in strength4 ,one angel was able to destroy ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 and other guilty cities2 one angel smote the first-born1 and rolled away the great stone from the mouth of the tomb4 ,one angel had power to lay hold of that old dragon1 the devil 7,rev4 #bj3b1 #aj72 one angel smote a hundred and fourscore and five thousand ,assyrians 7,isa4 #cg3cf74 ,their power is delegated2 they are the angels of ,his might 7#b ,thess4 #a3g71 the ministers through whom ,god's might is manifested4 ,they are mighty1 but not almighty4 #d4 ,,there ,,are ,,various ,,ranks ,,and ,,orders ,,of ,,angels4 ,we read of ,michael1 the archangel 7,jude #i2 #a ,thess4 #d3af72 angels1 authorities1 and powers--which are supposedly ranks and orders of angels 7#a ,pet4 #c3bb2 ,col4 #a3af74 ,in the ,apocryphal books we find a hierarchy with seven archangels1 including ,michael1 ,gabriel1 ,raphael1 ,uriel4 ,the fact that but one archangel is mentioned in the ,scriptures proves that its doctrine of angels was not derived1 as some supposed1 from ,babylonian and ,persian sources1 for there we find seven archangels instead of one4 #e4 ,,the ,,number ,,of ,,angels4 ,heb4 #ab3bb1 ,r4 ,v4--,innumerable hosts of angels4 ,cf4 #b ,kings #f3ag2 ,matt4 #bf3ec2 ,job #be3c4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,angels4 ,originally all angels were created good4 ,the ,scriptures speak of a fall of angels--the angels that sinned4 #b ,pet4 #b3d--;,for if ,god spared not the angels that sinned1 but cast them down to hell1 and delivered them into chains of darkness1 to be reserved unto judgment4 ,jude #f--;,and the angels which kept not their first estate1 but left their own habitation1 he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day4 #a4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,angels4 ,some maintain that it took place before the creation recorded in ,genesis #a3b--;between verses one and two2 that it was this fall which made the original creation 7,gen4 #a3a7 waste and void4 ,this view can neither be proven nor refuted1 nevertheless the great and awful fact of a fall of angels remains4 7,see under ,doctrine of ,satan1 p4 #bbe1 for fall of angels in connection with the fall of ,satan47 #b4 ,,the ,,cause ,,of ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,angels4 ,peter does not specify the sin4 ,jude says they kept not their first estate1 but left their own habitation4 ,this1 taken in connection with ,deut4 #cb3h1 which seems to indicate that certain territories or boundaries were appointed unto the angels1 and ,gen4 #f3a-d1 which speaks of the sons of ,god 7which some suppose to refer to angels1 which1 however1 is questionable71 might seem to imply that the sin of the angels consisted in leaving their own abode and coming down to cohabit with the daughters of men4 ,thus their sin would be that of lust4 ,to some expositors the context in ,jude would seem to warrant such a conclusion1 inasmuch as reference is made to the sins of ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,but this can hardly be true1 for a close study of the text in ,genesis #f shows that by the sons of ,god are meant the ,sethites4 ,this would seem to be the true interpretation2 if so1 then the sin recorded in ,genesis #f would be 7#a7 natural and not monstrous2 7#b7 ,scriptural1 and not mythical 7cf4 ,num4 #be2 ,judges #c3f2 ,rev4 #b3ad1 #bj-bb contains sins of a similar description72 7#c7 accords with the designations subsequently given to the followers of ,god 7,luke #c3ch2 ,rom4 #h3ad2 ,gal4 #c3bf72 7#d7 has a historical basis in the fact that ,seth was regarded by his mother as a 7the7 son of from ,god1 7#e7 in the circumstance that already the ,sethites had begun to call themselves by the name of ,jehovah 7,gen4 #d3bf72 7#f71 finally1 it is sufficient as a hypothesis1 and is therefore entitled to the preference 7after ,lange74 ,there are still others who say that the sin of the angels was pride and disobedience4 ,it seems quite certain that these were the sins that caused ,satan's downfall 7,ezek4 #bh74 ,if this be the true view then we are to understand the words1 estate or principality as indicating that instead of being satisfied with the dignity once for all assigned to them under the ,son of ,god1 they aspired higher4 #c4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,fallen ,,angels4 ,they oppose ,god's purposes 7,dan4 #aj3aj-ad72 afflict ,god's people 7,luke #ac3af2 ,matt4 #ag3ae1 #af72 execute ,satan's purposes 7,matt4 #be3da2 #ab3bf1 #bg72 hinder the spiritual life of ,god's people 7,eph4 #f3ab72 try to deceive ,god's people 7#a ,sam4 #bh3g-bj74 #d4 ,,the ,,judgment ,,of ,,the ,,fallen ,,angels4 ,jude #f2 #b ,pet4 #b3d2 ,matt4 #be3da1 show that there is no hope of their redemption4 ,their final doom will be in the eternal fire4 ,according to #a ,cor4 #f3c it would seem as though the saints were to have some part in the judgment of fallen angels4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,angels4 #a4 ,,their ,,heavenly ,,ministry4 ,isa4 #f2 ,rev4 #e3aa1 #ab2 #h3c1 #d--priestly service and worship4 #b4 ,,their ,,earthly ,,ministry4 ,to the angels has been committed the administration of the affairs material to sense1 e4g41 showing ,hagar a fountain2 appearing before ,joshua with a drawn sword2 releasing the chains from ,peter1 and opening the prison doors2 feeding1 strengthening1 and defending the children of ,god4 ,to the ,holy ,spirit more particularly has been committed the task of imparting the truth concerning spiritual matters4 ,in general3 ,angels have a relation to the earth somewhat as follows3 ,they are related to winds1 fires1 storms1 pestilence 7,psa4 #ajc3bj2 #ajd3d2 #a ,chron4 #ba3ae1 #af1 #bg74 ,the nation of ,israel has a special relationship to angels in the sense of angelic guardianship 7,dan4 #ab3a2 ,ezek4 #i3a2 ,dan4 #aa3a74 ,in particular3 ,angels have a special ministry with reference to the church of ,jesus ,christ--the body of believers4 ,they are the saints' ministering servants 7,heb4 #a3ad7--they do service for ,god's people4 ,illustrations3 ,to ,abraham 7,gen4 #ai72 to ,gideon 7,judg4 #f72 to ,mary 7,luke #a72 to the shepherds 7,luke #b72 to ,peter 7,acts #ab72 to ,paul 7,acts #bg74 a7 ,they ,guide the ,believer4 ,they guide the worker to the sinner 7,acts #h3bf71 and the sinner to the worker 7,acts #aj3c74 ,note3 ,the angel guides1 but the ,spirit instructs 7#h3bi74 ,are angels interested in conversions8 7,luke #ae3aj74 ,how they watch our dealing with the unsaved6 b7 ,they ,cheer and ,strengthen ,god's ,people4 #a ,kings #ai3e-h2 ,matt4 #d3aa2 ,luke #bb3dc2 cf4 ,acts #bg3d-ce2 #e3ai4 c7 ,they ,defend1 ,protect1 and ,deliver ,god's ,servants4 ,dan4 #f3bb2 ,acts #e3ai2 #b ,kings #f3ah2 ,gen4 #ai3aa2 ,acts #ab3h-ll2 #bg3bc1 #bd4 d7 ,they ,are ,eyewitnesses of the ,church and the ,believer4 #a ,tim4 #e3ba--;in matters of preaching1 the service of the church1 and soul-saving1 the angels look on--a solemn and appalling thought4 #a ,cor4 #d3i--the good angels are spectators while the church engages in fierce battle with the hosts of sin4 ,this is an incentive to endurance4 #a ,cor4 #aa3aj--;,because of the angels4 ,is there intimated here a lack of modesty on the part of the women so shocking to the angels1 who veil their faces in the presence of ,god when they worship4 e7 ,they ,guard the ,elect ,dead4 ,luke #af3bb2 ,matt4 #bd3ca4 ,just as they guarded ,christ's tomb1 and as ,michael guarded ,moses' tomb 7,jude #i74 f7 ,they ,accompany ,christ at ,his ,second ,coming4 ,separating the righteous from the wicked 7,matt4 #be3ca1 #cb2 #b ,thess4 #a3g1 #h74 ,executing ,god's wrath upon the wicked 7,matt4 #ac3ci-db1 ,r4 ,v4 ,how this is done1 no human pen can describe4 ,the most fearful imagery of the ,bible is connected with the judgment work of angels 7cf4 ,revelation2 fire1 hail1 blood1 plague of locusts1 poison of scorpions1 etc47--whether actual or symbolic1 it is awful4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,satan4 ,i4 ,,his ,,existence ,,and ,,personality4 #a4 ,,existence4 #b4 ,,personality4 ,,ii4 ,,his ,,place ,,and ,,power4 #a4 ,a ,,mighty ,,angel4 #b4 ,,prince ,,of ,,power ,,of ,,the ,,air4 #c4 ,,god ,,of ,,this ,,world4 #d4 ,,head ,,of ,,kingdom ,,of ,,darkness4 #e4 ,,sovereign ,,over ,,death4 ,,iii4 ,,his ,,character4 #a4 ,,adversary4 #b4 ,,diabolos4 #c4 ,,wicked ,,one4 #d4 ,,tempter4 ,,iv4 ,,our ,,attitude ,,towards ,,satan4 #a4 ,,limited ,,power ,,of ,,satan4 #b4 ,,resist ,,him4 ,v4 ,,his ,,destiny4 #a4 ,a ,,conquered ,,enemy4 #b4 ,,under ,,eternal ,,curse4 ,,vi4 ,,demons4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,satan4 ,throughout the ,scriptures ,satan is set forth as the greatest enemy of ,god and man4 ,too long has ,satan been a subject of ridicule instead of fear4 ,seeing the ,scriptures teach the existence of a personality of evil1 man should seek to know all he can about such a being4 ,much of the ridicule attached to the doctrine of ,satan comes from the fact that men have read their fancies and theories into the ,scriptures2 they have read ,milton's ,paradise ,lost but have neglected the ,book of ,job2 they have considered the experiences of ,luther instead of the ,epistles of ,peter and ,jude4 ,to avoid skepticism on the one hand1 and ridicule on the other we must resort to the ,scriptures to formulate our views of this doctrine4 ,i4 ,,the ,,existence ,,and ,,personality ,,of ,,satan4 #a4 ,,his ,,existence4 ,to science the existence of ,satan is an open question2 it neither can deny nor affirm it4 ,satan's existence and personality can be denied therefore only on purely a priori grounds4 ,the ,bible1 however1 is very clear and positive in its teaching regarding the existence of a personality of evil called the devil4 ,it is popular in some circles today to spell devil with the d left off1 thus denying his real existence4 ,matt4 #ac3ai1 #ci--,then cometh the wicked one 4 4 4 4 ,the enemy that sowed them is the devil4 ,john #ac3b--,the devil having now put it into the heart of ,judas ,iscariot1 ,simon's son1 to betray him4 ,see also ,acts #e3c2 #b ,cor4 #aa3c1 #ad2 #b ,pet4 #b3d2 ,jude #f4 ,how ,satan came to be is not quite as clear a fact as that he exists4 ,in all probability he was once a good angel4 ,it is claimed by scholarly and reliable interpreters that his fall is portrayed in ,ezekiel #bh3ab-ai2 cf4 ,isa #ad3ab-ad4 ,that he was once in the truth but fell from it is evident from ,john #h3dd4 ,his fall 7,luke #aj3ah7 was probably in connection with the fall of angels as set forth in such passages as #b ,pet4 #b3d2 ,jude #f4 ,pride 787 was one of the causes 7#a ,tim4 #c3f2 ,ezek4 #bh3ae1 #ag74 ,this fact may account for the expression ,satan and his angels 7,matt4 #be3da74 ,paul doubtless refers to the fact that ,satan was once an angel of light 7#b ,cor4 #aa3ad74 ,whenever ,satan is represented under the form of a serpent1 we are to understand such expressions as describing him after his fall4 ,there is certainly no ground for presenting the evil one as having horns1 tail1 and hoofs4 ,this is only to bring into ridicule what is an exceedingly serious fact4 ,a careful consideration of all the scriptures here given will assure the student that ,satan is not a figment of the imagination1 but a real being4 #b4 ,,his ,,personality4 ,john #h3dd--,ye are of your father the devil1 and the lusts of your father ye will do4 ,he was a murderer from the beginning1 and abode not in the truth1 because there is no truth in him4 ,when he speaketh a lie1 he speaketh of his own2 for he is a liar1 and the father of it4 #a ,john #c3h--;,he that committeth sin is of the devil2 for the devil sinneth from the beginning4 ,satan is here set forth as a murderer1 a liar1 a sinner--all elements of personality4 ,he had the power over death 7,heb4 #b3ad71 and is the prince of this world 7,john #ad3cj74 ,the narrative of ,satan in ,job4 7cc4 #a1 #b7 strongly emphasizes his personality4 ,he is as much a person as the sons of ,god1 ,job1 and even ,god himself4 ,zech4 #c3a1 #b2 #a ,chron4 #ba3a2 ,psa4 #aji3f also emphasize the fact of ,satan's personality4 ,throughout all these ,scriptures the masculine personal pronoun is used of ,satan1 and attributes and qualities of personality are ascribed to him4 ,unless we veto the testimony of the ,scriptures we must admit that ,satan is a real person4 ,how can any one read the story of the temptation of ,christ 7,matt4 #d3a-aa7 and fail to realize both parties in the wilderness conflict were persons--,christ1 a person2 ,satan1 a person8 ,such offices as those ascribed to ,satan in the ,scriptures require an officer2 such a work manifests a worker2 such power implies an agent2 such thought proves a thinker2 such designs are from a personality4 ,our temptations may be said to come from three sources3 the world1 the flesh1 and the devil4 ,but there are temptations which we feel sure come from neither the world nor the flesh1 e4g41 those which come to us in our moments of deepest devotion and quiet2 we can account for them only by attributing them to the devil himself4 ,that old serpent1 the devil1 has spoken with fatal eloquence to every one of us no doubt2 and ,i do not need a dissertation from the naturalist on the construction of a serpent's mouth to prove it4 ,object to the figure if you will1 but the grim1 damning fact remains4 --,joseph ,parker4 ,there can scarcely be any doubt as to the fact that ,christ taught the existence of a personality of evil4 ,there can be but three explanations as to the meaning of ,his teaching2 first1 that ,he accommodated ,his language to a gross superstition1 knowing it to be such--if this be true then what becomes of ,his sincerity2 second1 that ,he shared the superstition not knowing it to be such--then what becomes of ,his omniscience1 of ,his reliability as a ,teacher from ,god8 third1 that the doctrine is not a superstition1 but actual truth--this position completely vindicates ,christ as to ,his sincerity1 omniscience and infallibility as the ,teacher sent from ,god4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,place ,,and ,,power ,,of ,,satan4 #a4 ,a ,,mighty ,,angel4 ,he was such1 and probably is yet4 ,jude #h1 #i--,they speak evil of dignities4 ,yet ,michael the archangel1 when contending with the devil1 he disputed about the body of ,moses1 durst not bring against him a railing accusation1 but said1 ,the ,lord rebuke thee4 ,daniel #aj shows that ,satan has power to oppose one of the chief angels 7vv4 #ab1 #ac in particular74 ,in ,luke #aa3ba ,christ calls ,satan a strong man armed4 ,he is the prince of this world 7,john #ad3cj74 #b4 ,,prince ,,of ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,the ,,air4 ,eph4 #b3b--,the prince of the power of the air1 the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience4 ,cf4 #f3aa1 #ab4 ,he is also prince of the demons or fallen angels1 ,matt4 #ab3bd2 #i3cd2 ,luke #aa3ad-ah4 ,there is doubtless an allusion here to the fact that the world of evil spirits is organized1 and that ,satan is at its head4 #c4 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,this ,,world4 #b ,cor4 #d3d--;,in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not4 ,he is the prince of this world 7,john #ab3ca2 #ad3cj2 #af3aa2 cf4 ,eph4 #b3a1 #b2 #a ,john #e3ai74 ,satan is not only the object of the world's worship1 but also the moving spirit of its godless activities4 #d4 ,,he ,,heads ,a ,,kingdom ,,which ,,is ,,hostile ,,to ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,of ,,christ4 ,acts #bf3ah--,to open their eyes1 and to turn them from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 ,col4 #a3ac--,who hath delivered us from the power of darkness1 and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear ,son4 ,the kingdom of light is headed by a person--,jesus ,christ2 the kingdom of darkness1 by a person--,satan4 ,the one is a person equally with the other4 #e4 ,,has ,,sovereignty ,,over ,,the ,,realm ,,of ,,death4 ,heb4 #b3ad--,that 4 4 4 4 he might destroy him that had the power of death1 that is1 the devil4 ,it would seem as if the souls of the unregenerate dead are 7or were7 to some extent under ,satan's dominion4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,character ,,of ,,satan4 ,we may judge of the nature and character of the evil one by the names and titles ascribed to him4 #a4 ,,the ,,adversary1 ,,or ,,satan4 ,zech4 #c3a--;,and he showed me ,joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the ,lord1 and ,satan standing at his right hand to resist him4 7,see vv4 #a-e47 #a ,pet4 #e3h--,your adversary the devil4 ,luke #aj3ah4 ,see for use of the word3 ,num4 #bb3bb4 ,by adversary is meant one who takes a stand against another4 ,satan is the adversary of both ,god and man4 #b4 ,,the ,,devil1 ,,diabolos4 ,matt4 #ac3ci--,the enemy 4 4 4 4 is the devil4 ,john #h3dd--,ye are of your father the devil4 ,this name is ascribed to ,satan #cc times at least in the ,new ,testament1 and indicates an accuser or slanderer 7,rev4 #ab3i74 ,he slanders ,god to man 7,gen4 #c3a-g71 and man to ,god 7,job #a3i2 #b-d74 #c4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,one4 ,matt4 #ac3ai--,then cometh the wicked one4 ,matt4 #f3ac 7,r4 ,v472 #a ,john #e3ai 7,r4 ,v474 ,this title suggests that ,satan is not only wicked himself1 but is also the source of all wickedness in the world4 #d4 ,,the ,,tempter4 ,matt4 #d3c--;,and when the tempter came to him4 ,see ,gen4 #c3a-f4 ,none escape his temptations4 ,he is continually soliciting men to sin4 ,in this connection we may speak of the cunning and malignity of ,satan 7,gen4 #c3a74 ,satan transforms himself into an angel of light 7#b ,cor4 #aa3ad74 ,this phase of his work is well illustrated in the temptation of ,christ 7,matt4 #d3a-aa71 and the temptation of ,eve 7,gen4 #c74 ,he fain would help ,christ's faith1 stimulate ,his confidence in the divine power1 and furnish an incentive to worship4 ,the ,scriptures speak of the wiles or subtle methods of the devil 7,eph4 #f3aa1 #ab74 ,the old serpent is more dangerous than the roaring lion4 ,satan's subtlety is seen in tempting men in their weak moments 7,matt4 #d3a-aa2 ,luke #bb3dj-df72 after great successes 7,john #f3ae1 cf4 vv4 #a-ad72 by suggesting the use of right things in a wrong way 7,matt4 #d3a-aa72 in deluding his followers by signs and wonders 7#b ,thess4 #b3i1 #aj74 ,,iv4 ,,our ,,attitude ,,towards ,,satan4 #a4 ,,so ,,far ,,as ,,the ,,believer ,,is ,,concerned ,,his ,,power ,,is ,,limited4 ,job #a3i-ab2 #b3d-f4 ,satan had to ask leave of ,god to try ,job4 ,john #ab3ca2 #af3aa4 ,satan hath been already judged1 i4e41 his power and dominion over believers was broken at the cross1 by reason of ,christ's victory there4 ,he had to ask permission to enter even swine 7,matt4 #h3cj-cb74 ,satan is mighty1 but not almighty4 #b4 ,,he ,,is ,,to ,,be ,,resisted4 #a ,pet4 #e3h1 #i--;,be sober1 be vigilant2 because your adversary the devil1 as a roaring lion1 walketh about seeking whom he may devour2 whom resist steadfast in the faith4 ,james #d3g--,resist the devil1 and he will flee from you4 ,this resistance is best accomplished by submitting to ,god 7,rom4 #f3ag-cc2 ,james #d3g71 and by putting on the whole armor of ,god 7,eph4 #f3aj-bj74 ,v4 ,,the ,,destiny ,,of ,,satan4 #a4 ,,he ,,is ,a ,,conquered ,,enemy4 ,that is1 so far as the believer is concerned2 ,john #ab3ca2 #af3i1aj2 #a ,john #c3h2 ,col4 #b3ae4 #b4 ,,he ,,is ,,under ,a ,,perpetual ,,curse4 ,gen4 #c3ad1 cf4 ,isa4 #fe3be4 ,there is no removal of the curse from ,satan4 #c4 ,,he ,,is ,,finally ,,to ,,be ,,cast ,,alive ,,into ,,the ,,lake ,,of ,,fire1 ,,there ,,to ,,be ,,tormented ,,for ,,ever ,,and ,,ever4 ,matt4 #be3da2 ,rev4 #bj3aj--;,and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone1 where the beast and the false prophet are1 and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever4 ,,vi4 ,,demons4 7,see under ,fallen ,angels1 p4 #bag47 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,last ,,things4 ,a4 ,,the ,,second ,,coming ,,of ,,christ4 ,b4 ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,c4 ,,the ,,judgment4 ,d4 ,,the ,,destiny ,,of ,,the ,,wicked4 ,e4 ,,the ,,reward ,,of ,,the ,,righteous4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,last ,,things4 ,under this caption are treated such doctrines as the ,second ,coming of ,christ1 the ,resurrection of both the righteous and wicked1 the ,judgments1 ,final ,awards1 and ,eternal ,destiny4 ,a4 ,,the ,,second ,,coming ,,of ,,cheist4 ,i4 ,,its ,,importance4 #a4 ,,prominence ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures4 #b4 ,,the ,,christian ,,hope4 #c4 ,,the ,,christian ,,incentive4 #d4 ,,the ,,christian ,,comfort4 ,,ii4 ,,its ,,nature4 #a4 ,,personal ,,and ,,visible ,,coming ,,to ,,the ,,earth4 #b4 ,,different ,,views4 #c4 ,,distinctions4 ,,iii4 ,,its ,,purpose4 ,,with ,,reference ,,to-- #a4 ,,the ,,church4 #b4 ,,the ,,unregenerate4 #c4 ,,the ,,jews4 #d4 ,,the ,,enemies ,,of ,,god4 #e4 ,,the ,,millennium4 ,,iv4 ,,its ,,date4 #a4 ,,day ,,and ,,hour ,,unknown4 #b4 ,,recognizing ,,the ,,signs4 #c4 ,,imminent4 ,a4 ,,the ,,second ,,coming ,,of ,,christ4 ,i4 ,,its ,,importance4 #a4 ,,its ,,prominence ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures4 ,it is claimed that one out of every thirty verses in the ,bible mentions this doctrine2 to every one mention of the first coming the second coming is mentioned eight times2 #cah references to it are made in #baf chapters2 whole books 7#a and #b ,thess41 e4g47 and chapters 7,matt4 #bd2 ,mark #ac2 ,luke #ca1 e4g47 are devoted to it4 ,it is the theme of the ,old ,testament prophets4 ,of course1 they sometimes merge the two comings so that it is not at first sight apparent1 yet the doctrine is there4 7#a ,pet4 #a3aa74 ,jesus ,christ bore constant testimony to ,his coming again 7,john #ad3c2 ,matt4 #bd and #be2 ,mark #ac2 ,luke #ba2 ,john #ba3bb74 ,the angels1 who bore such faithful testimony to ,christ's first advent1 bear testimony to ,his second coming 7,acts #a3aa2 cf4 ,heb4 #b3b1 for the faithfulness of their testimony74 ,the apostles faithfully proclaimed this truth 7,acts #c3ai1 #bj2 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag2 ,heb4 #i3bh2 #a ,john #b3bh2 ,jude #ad1 #ae74 #b4 ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,christ ,,is ,,bidden ,,to ,,look ,,forward ,,to ,,christ',s ,,second ,,coming ,,as ,,its ,,great ,,hope4 ,titus #b3ac--,looking for that blessed hope1 and the glorious appearing of the great ,god and our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 #b ,pet4 #c3ab4 ,the one great event1 that which supersedes all others1 towards which the ,church is to look1 and for which she is to ardently long1 is the second coming of ,christ4 ,g#c4 ,,it ,,is ,,set ,,forth ,,as ,,the ,,doctrine ,,which ,,will ,,prove ,,to ,,be ,,the ,,greatest ,,incentive ,,to ,,consistent ,,living4 ,matt4 #bd3dd-df2 ,luke #ba3cd-cf--;,and take heed to yourselves1 lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting1 and drunkenness1 and cares of this life1 and so that day come upon you unawares4 4 4 4 ,watch ye therefore1 and pray always1 that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass1 and to stand before the ,son of man4 #a ,john #b3bh2 #c3c4 ,the test which the church should apply to all questions of practice3 ,would ,i like to have ,christ find me doing this when ,he comes8 #d4 ,,it ,,is ,a ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,greatest ,,comfort ,,to ,,the ,,believer4 #a ,thess4 #d3ad-ah4 ,after stating that our loved ones who had fallen asleep in ,christ should again meet with us at the coming of our ,lord1 the apostle says1 ,wherefore comfort one another with these words4 ,why then should such a comforting and helpful doctrine as this be spoken against8 ,many reasons may be suggested3 the unreadiness of the church2 preconceived views 7#b ,pet4 #c3d72 extravagant predictions as to time2 lack of knowledge of the ,scriptures4 ,may not the guilt on our part for rejecting the second coming of ,christ be as great if not greater than that of the ,jews for rejecting ,his first coming8 ,,ii4 ,,what ,,is ,,meant ,,by ,,the ,,second ,,coming ,,of ,,christ4 #a4 ,a ,,personal ,,and ,,visible ,,coming4 ,acts #a3aa--,ye men of ,galilee1 why stand ye gazing up into heaven8 ,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven4 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag--;,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven4 ,rev4 #a3g4 ,from these scriptures we learn that by the second coming of ,christ is meant the bodily1 personal1 and visible coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ to this earth with ,his saints to reign4 #b4 ,,erroneous ,,views ,,concerning ,,the ,,second ,,coming ,,of ,,christ4 a7 ,that the ,second ,coming ,means ,christ's ,coming at ,death4 ,this cannot be the meaning1 because-- ,death is not attended by the events narrated in #a ,thessalonians #d3af1 #ag4 ,indeed the second coming is here set forth as the opposite of death for the dead in ,christ shall rise from the dead when ,christ comes again4 ,according to ,john #ad3c1 ,christ comes for us1 and not we go to ,him3 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself4 ,john #ba3ba-bc--,peter seeing him 7,john7 saith to ,jesus1 ,lord1 and what shall this man do8 ,jesus saith unto him1 ,if ,i will that he tarry till ,i come1 what is that to thee8 ,follow thou me4 ,then went this saying abroad among the brethren1 that that disciple should not die2 yet ,jesus said not unto him1 ,he shall not die2 but1 if ,i will that he tarry till ,i come1 what is that to thee8 #a ,corinthians #ae3ej-eg declares that at the second coming of ,christ we overcome1 not succumb to1 death4 ,see ,john #h3ea2 ,matt4 #af3bh4 ,the foolishness of such interpretation is seen if we substitute the word death for the second coming of ,christ in such places where this coming is mentioned1 e4g41 ,phil4 #c3bj2 ,matt4 #af3bh--,verily ,i say unto you1 ,there be some standing here1 which shall not taste of death1 till they see the ,son of man coming in his kingdom4 b7 ,that the ,second ,coming ,means the ,coming of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there is no doubt but that the coming of the ,holy ,spirit is a coming 7,john #ad3ba-bc71 but it is by no means the second coming1 and for the following reasons3 ,many of the testimonies and promises of the second coming were given after ,pentecost1 e4g41 ,phil4 #c3ba2 #b ,tim4 #d3h2 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag2 #a ,cor4 #ae3ea1 #eb4 ,christ does not receive us unto ,himself1 but comes to us1 at ,pentecost4 ,in the second coming ,he takes us1 not comes to us4 ,the events of #a ,thessalonians #d3af1 #ag did not occur on the day of ,pentecost1 nor do they occur when the believer receives the ,holy ,spirit4 c7 ,that the ,second ,coming refers to the ,destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,reply3 ,the events of #a ,thessalonians #d3af1 #ag did not take place then4 ,john #ba3ba-bc1 and ,rev4 #bb3bj were written after the destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,from all that has been said then1 it seems clear that the second coming of ,christ is an event still in the future4 #c4 ,,the ,,need ,,of ,,recognizing ,,the ,,distinction ,,between ,,christ',s ,,coming ,,for ,,his ,,saints ,,and ,,with ,,his ,,saints4 ,there is a distinction between the presence and the appearing of ,christ3 the former referring to ,his coming for1 and the latter with ,his saints4 ,we should remember1 further1 that the second coming covers a period of time1 and is not the event of a single moment4 ,even the first coming covered over thirty years1 and included the events of ,christ's birth1 circumcision1 baptism1 ministry1 crucifixion1 resurrection1 etc4 ,the second coming will also include a number of events such as the rapture1 the great tribulation1 the millenium1 the resurrection1 the judgments1 etc4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,second ,,coming4 #a4 ,,so ,,far ,,as ,,it ,,concerns ,,the ,,church4 #a ,thess4 #d3ac-ag2 #a ,cor4 #ae3ej-eb2 ,phil4 #c3bj1 #ba1 ,r4 ,v42 #a ,john #c3b4 ,when ,christ comes again ,he will first raise the righteous dead1 and change the righteous living2 simultaneously they shall be caught up to meet the ,lord in the air to be with ,him for ever4 ,eph4 #e3bc1 #cb2 #b ,cor4 #aa3b2 ,rev4 #ai3f-i2 ,matt4 #be3a-aj4 ,the ,church1 the ,bride of ,christ1 will then be married to her ,lord4 ,matt4 #be3ai2 #b ,tim4 #d3h2 #a ,pet4 #e3d2 #a ,cor4 #c3ab-ae2 #b ,cor4 #e3aj4 ,believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness in service at ,his coming4 7,see under ,the ,final ,beward of the ,righteous1 page #bff47 #b4 ,,so ,,far ,,as ,,it ,,concerns ,,the ,,unconverted ,,nations ,,and ,,individuals4 ,matt4 #bd3cj2 ,rev4 #a3g2 ,matt4 #be3ca1 #cb2 ,rev4 #bj3aa1 #ab2 ,isa4 #bf3ba2 #b ,thess4 #a3g-i4 ,a distinction must be recognized between the judgment of the ,living ,nations1 and that of the ,great ,white ,throne4 ,these are not the same1 for no resurrection accompanies the judgment of the ,living ,nations1 as in the case of the throne judgment4 ,further1 one thousand years elapse between these two judgments 7,rev4 #bj3g-aa74 ,again1 one is at the beginning of the ,millennium1 and the other at its close4 #c4 ,,with ,,reference ,,to ,,the ,,jews4 ,the ,jews will be restored to their own land 7,isa4 #aa3aa2 #fj7 in an unconverted state2 will rebuild the temple1 and restore worship 7,ezek4 #dj-dh72 will make a covenant with ,antichrist for one week 7seven years71 in the midst of which they will break the covenant 7,dan4 #i3bg2 #b ,thess4 #b72 they will then pass through the great tribulation 7,matt4 #bd3ba1 #bb1 #bi2 ,rev4 #c3aj2 #g3ad72 are converted 7as a nation7 at the coming of ,christ 7,zech4 #ab3aj2 ,rev4 #a3g72 become great missionaries 7,zech4 #h3ac-bc72 never more to be removed from the land 7,amos #i3ae2 ,ezek4 #cd3bh74 #d4 ,,with ,,regard ,,to ,,antichrist1 ,,and ,,the ,,enemies ,,of ,,god',s ,,people4 #b ,thess4 #a3g-i2 ,rev4 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj4 ,these shall be destroyed by the brightness of ,his coming2 will be cast finally into the bottomless pit4 #e4 ,,to ,,set ,,up ,,the ,,millennial ,,reign ,,on ,,the ,,earth4 ,the ,millennium means the thousand years reign of ,christ upon the earth 7,rev4 #bj3a-d74 ,some think that it is the continuation of the ,kingdom ,age broken off by the unbelief of the ,jews at the time of the ,apostles4 ,the ,millennium begins with the coming of ,christ with ,his saints2 with the revelation of ,christ after the great tribulation 7,matt4 #bd3bi1 #cj72 at the close of the seventieth week of ,daniel4 ,for illustration1 see ,rev4 #ai3aa-ad2 ,dan4 #g3ba1 #bb2 ,zech4 #ad3c-i4 ,then comes the destruction of ,antichrist1 the binding of ,satan1 and the destruction of the enemies of ,god's people 7,rev4 #ai3bj2 #bj3a-c1 #aj74 ,the ,judgment of the ,living ,nations 7,matt4 #be74 ,the conversion and missionary activity of the ,jews 7,zech4 #h3ac-bc2 cf4 ,acts #ae3ad-ag74 ,then1 we may have a converted world1 but not now1 nor in this age2 ,israel1 not the ,church1 then concerned4 ,the nature of the ,millennium3 ,it is a ,theocracy3 ,jesus ,christ ,himself is the ,king 7,jer4 #bc3e2 ,luke #a3cj-cc74 ,the ,apostles will1 doubtless1 reign with ,christ over the ,jews 7,isa4 #ff2 ,matt4 #ai3bh72 the ,church1 over the ,gentile nations 7,luke #ai3aa-ai2 ,heb4 #b3f1 #g74 ,the capitol city will be ,jerusalem 7,isa4 #b3a-d74 ,pilgrimages will be made to the ,holy ,city 7,zech4 #ad3af74 ,the reign of ,christ will be one of righteousness and equity 7,isa4 #aa3d2 ,psa4 #ih3i74 ,a renovated earth 7,rom4 #h3ai-ca2 ,isa4 #fe3ag2 c4 #ce74 ,the events closing the ,millennium are apostasy and rebellion 7,rev4 #bj3g-i72 the destruction of ,satan 7,rev4 #bj3aj72 the ,great ,white ,throne judgment 7,rev4 #bj3aa-ae72 a new heaven and a new earth 7,rev4 #ba and #bb74 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,christ',s ,,second ,,coming4 ,we need to carefully distinguish between ,christ's coming for ,his saints--sometime called the rapture or parousia2 and ,his coming with ,his saints--the revelation or epiphany4 ,in considering the matter of the signs of ,christ's coming we need to pay particular attention to and distinguish between those signs which have been characteristic of and peculiar to many generations1 and have1 consequently1 been repeated2 and those which are to characterize specifically the near approach of the coming of ,christ4 ,christians are not altogether in the dark concerning these facts3 ,luke #ba3bi-cc--,so likewise ye1 when ye see these things come to pass1 know ye that the kingdom of ,god is nigh at hand 7v4 #cf74 ,also #a ,thess4 #e3a-h--;,but ye1 brethren1 are not in darkness1 that that day should overtake you as a thief 7v4 #d74 #a4 ,,no ,,one ,,knows ,,the ,,day ,,nor ,,the ,,hour4 ,matt4 #bd3cf-db--;,but of that day and hour knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels of heaven1 but my ,father only 7v4 #cf74 ,mark #ac3cb1 cf4 ,acts #a3g4 ,the ,scriptures tell us enough regarding the time of ,christ's coming to satisfy our faith1 but not our curiosity4 ,these statements of the ,master should be sufficient to silence that fanaticism which is so anxious to tell us the exact year1 month1 and even the day when ,christ will come4 ,this day is hidden in the counsels of ,god4 ,jesus ,himself1 by a voluntary unwillingness to know1 while in ,his state of humiliation1 showed no curiosity to peer into the chronology of this event4 ,we should not nor ought we to want to know more than ,christ did on this point4 ,can it be that that day was not yet fixed in the counsels of the ,father1 and that its date depended1 somewhat at least1 upon the faithfulness of the ,church in the evangelization of the world8 ,we know not certainly4 ,the ,revelation which ,jesus gave to ,john would seem to teach that that day1 which was at one time hidden from ,christ1 is now1 in ,his state of exaltation1 known to ,him4 #b4 ,,yet1 ,,we ,,must ,,not ,,foeget ,,that ,,while ,,we ,,may ,,not ,,know ,,the ,,exact ,,day ,,or ,,hour ,,of ,,christ',s ,,coming1 ,,we ,,may ,,know ,,when ,,it ,,is ,,near ,,at ,,hand4 7,matt4 #bd3cf-db2 #a ,thess4 #e3a-e47 ,there are certain signs which indicate its nearness3 ,general apostasy and departure from the faith 7#a ,tim4 #d3a2 #b ,tim4 #c3a-e2 ,luke #ah3h74 ,a time of great heaping up of wealth 7,james #e3a-i74 ,a time of great missionary activity 7,matt4 #bd3ad74 ,consider the missionary activity of the last century4 ,is it not marvellous8 ,is it a sign of ,his coming8 ,the modern history of the ,jews throws much light on the question of the nearness of ,christ's coming4 ,the following facts are interesting in this connection3 ,the large number of ,jews returning to ,palestine2 the waning of the power of the ,turkish government1 which has held ,palestine with an iron hand and has excluded the ,jew2 the plans already before the nations to give the ,holy ,land to the ,jews by consent of the powers2 the early and latter rain in ,palestine2 railroads1 electric lights1 etc41 now in the land long desolate--the fig-tree is budding1 and the hour of the coming is at hand4 ,it should not be forgotten in this connection that many of the signs mentioned refer primarily to the coming of ,christ with ,his saints4 ,but if that stage of the coming be near then surely the first stage of it must be4 ,other signs have reference to the first stage in the one great event of ,his coming1 which is known as the rapture or ,christ's coming for ,his saints4 #c4 ,,it ,,seems ,,clear ,,from ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures ,,that ,,there ,,is ,,nothing ,,to ,,prevent ,,the ,,coming ,,of ,,christ ,,for ,,his ,,saints ,,at ,,any ,,moment4 ,by this is meant that there is nothing1 so far as we can sea from the teaching of the ,scriptures and the signs of the times1 to hinder the introduction of the ,day of the ,lord1 or the ,second ,coming of ,christ looked upon as a great whole--a series of events1 by ,christ's coming to take ,his own people unto ,himself4 ,in other words1 there is nothing to hinder the rapture or parousia--the epiphany1 manifestation1 or revelation is something for a later day4 ,some objections are offered to this view1 the which it will be well to examine and answer even though briefly4 ,first1 ,that the ,gospel has not been preached into all the world 7,matt4 #bd3ad71 therefore the coming of ,christ is not imminent4 ,reply3 ,we must understand the emphatic words of the text3 ,by end is meant the end of the age2 but the rapture1 or ,christ's coming for ,his saints1 of which we are here speaking as being imminent1 is not the end of the age4 ,by world is meant the inhabited earth2 by ,gospel1 good news2 by witness1 not conversion but testimony4 ,even if these events are to precede the rapture1 have they not all been fulfilled8 ,see ,acts #b3e2 #h3d2 ,rom4 #aj3ah2 ,col4 #a3f1 #bc1 for the answer1 which is certainly in the affirmative4 ,we must give the same meaning to the word world in ,romans and ,colossians that we do to ,matt4 #bd3ad4 ,further1 is the ,church the only witness8 ,see ,rev4 #ad3f4 ,if the rapture is not the end of the age1 and if an angel can proclaim the ,gospel1 why cannot part of the work of witnessing be carried on after the rapture8 ,second1 ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john were told that they should not taste of death until they had seen the coming of ,christ's kingdom 7,matt4 #af3bh2 ,mark #i3a2 ,luke #i3bg74 ,reply3 ,true1 but was not this fulfilled when they saw ,christ on the ,transfiguration ,mount8 ,peter1 who was there1 in his second epistle 7#a3af-ah7 distinctly says it was thus fulfilled4 ,third1 ,the disciples were told that they shall not have gone over all the cities of ,israel until the ,son of ,man be come 7,matt4 #aj3bc74 ,reply3 ,mark #f3cj1 ,luke #i3aj shows that they did not finish all the cities1 nor is there evidence anywhere that they ever did1 for ,israel rejected the message of the kingdom4 ,may it not be that under the restoration of the ,jews and the preaching of the two witnesses 7,rev4 #aa7 this shall be accomplished8 ,fourth1 ,christ said ,this generation shall not pass1 till all these things be fulfilled4 ,see ,matt4 #bd3cd2 ,luke #ba3cb2 ,mark #ac3cj4 ,reply3 ,what is meant by a generation8 ,some would say forty years1 consequently the ,master referred to the destruction of ,jerusalem1 which event was the second coming of ,christ4 ,but this is not necessarily the case4 ,the word generation may refer to the ,jewish race2 cf4 the use of the same ,greek word in ,matt4 #aa3af2 #af3d2 ,mark #h3ch2 ,luke #g3ca2 #af3h2 #ag3be2 ,phil4 #b3ae2 ,psa4 #bb3cj2 #bd3f4 ,and in this connection consider carefully the wonderful preservation of the ,jewish race4 ,other nations have passed away1 having lost their identity2 the ,jew remains--that generation 7race7 has not yet passed away1 nor will it till all these things be fulfilled4 ,,footnote3 ,jesus is ,coming1 by ,w4,e4,b41 is heartily recommended as an exceedingly helpful book on this subject4 ,the author is indebted thereto4 ,b4 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,dead4 ,under this caption is included the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked1 although1 as will be seen later1 they do not occur at the same time4 ,i4 ,,this ,,doctrine ,,clearly ,,taught ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures4 #a4 ,,in ,,the ,,old ,,testament4 #b4 ,,in ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection4 #a4 ,,literal ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,bodies ,,of ,,all ,,men4 #b4 ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,body ,,necessary ,,to ,,complete ,,salvation4 #c4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection ,,body4 a7 ,in ,general4 b7 ,the ,body of the ,believer4 c7 ,the ,body of the ,unbeliever4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection4 #a4 ,,of ,,the ,,righteous4 #b4 ,,of ,,the ,,wicked4 ,i4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,a ,,resurrection ,,clearly ,,taught ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures4 #a4 ,,in ,,the ,,old ,,testament4 ,it is set forth in various ways3 ,in ,word3 ,job #ai3be-bg--;,for ,i know that my redeemer liveth1 and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth3 and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god3 whom ,i shall see for myself1 and mine eyes shall behold1 and not another2 though my reins be consumed within me4 ,also ,psa4 #af3i2 #ag3ae2 ,dan4 #ab3a-c4 ,in ,figure3 ,gen4 #bb3e with ,heb4 #aa3ai--;,accounting that ,god was able to raise him up1 even from the dead2 from whence also he received him in a figure4 ,in ,prophecy3 ,isa4 #bf3ai--,thy dead men shall live1 together with my dead body shall they arise4 ,awake and sing1 ye that dwell in the dust4 ,the words men and together with may be omitted--,thy dead 7ones7 shall live4 ,these words are ,jehovah's answer to ,israel's wail as recorded in vv4 #ag1 #ah4 ,even if they refer to resurrection of ,israel as a nation1 they yet teach a bodily resurrection4 ,see also ,hosea #ac3ad4 ,in ,reality3 #a ,kings #ag 7,elijah72 #b ,kings #d3cb-ce 7,elisha and the ,shunamite's son72 #ac3ba 7,resurrection through contact with the dead bones of ,elisha74 ,the ,old ,testament therefore distinctly teaches the resurrection of the body4 ,mark #i3aj1 which might seem to indicate that the apostles did not know of a bodily resurrection1 is accounted for by their unwillingness to believe in a crucified ,christ4 #b4 ,,in ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 ,in ,word3 ,note the teaching of ,jesus in ,john #e3bh1 #bi2 c4 #f entire1 note especially vv4 #ci1 #dj1 #dd1 #ed2 ,luke #ad3ac1 #ad2 #bj3ce1 #cf4 ,the teaching of the apostles3 ,paul1 ,acts1 #bd3ae2 #a ,cor4 #ae2 #a ,thess4 #d3ad-af2 ,phil4 #c3aa2 ,john1 ,rev4 #bj3d-f2 #ac4 ,in ,reality3 ,the resurrection of saints 7,matt4 #bg3eb1 #ec72 of ,lazarus 7,john #aa72 of ,jesus ,christ 7,matt4 #bh74 ,our ,lord's resurrection assured them of what till then had been a hope imperfectly supported by ,scriptural warrant1 and contested by the ,sadducees4 ,it enlarged that hope 7#a ,pet4 #a3c71 and brought the doctrine of the resurrection to the front 7#a ,cor4 #ae74 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection4 #a4 ,a ,,literal ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,bodies ,,of ,,all ,,men--,a ,,universal ,,resurrection4 ,john #e3bh--,marvel not at this3 for the hour is coming1 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice1 and shall come forth4 #a ,cor4 #ae3bb--;,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 ,the apostle is speaking of physical death in ,adam1 and physical resurrection in ,christ4 ,revelation #bj3ab1 and #b ,corinthians #e3aj both show the necessity of the raising of the body in order that judgment may take place according to things done in the body4 ,see also ,job's hope 7#ai3be-bg72 ,david's hope 7,psa4 #af3i74 ,an objection is sometimes made to the effect that we literalize these scriptures which are intended to be metaphorical and spiritual4 ,to this we reply3 ,while the exact phrase1 resurrection of the body1 does not occur in the ,bible1 yet these scriptures clearly teach a physical rather than a spiritual resurrection4 ,indeed ,john #e3be-bi draws a sharp contrast between a spiritual 7v4 #be7 and a literal 7v4 #bh7 resurrection4 ,see also ,phil4 #c3ba2 #a ,thess4 #d3ac-ag4 #b ,tim4 #b3ah--,who concerning the truth have erred1 saying that the resurrection is passed already1 indicates that the early church believed in a literal resurrection4 ,surely there is no reference here to a spiritual resurrection such as we read of in ,ephesians #e3ad4 ,acts #bd3ae speaks of a resurrection of the just and the unjust--this cannot refer to a spiritual resurrection surely4 ,if the resurrection were spiritual then in the future state every man would have two spirits--the spirit he has here1 and the spirit he would receive at the resurrection4 ,the term spiritual body describes1 not so much the body itself1 as its nature4 ,the spiritual body is body1 not spirit1 hence should not be considered as defining body4 ,by the term spiritual body is meant the body spiritualized4 ,so there is a natural body--a body adapted and designed for the use of the soul2 and there is a spiritual body--a body adapted for the use of the spirit in the resurrection day4 #b4 ,,the ,,redemption ,,of ,,the ,,body ,,is ,,included ,,in ,,our ,,complete ,,redemption4 ,rom4 #h3aa-bc--;,and not only they1 but ourselves also1 which have the first fruits of the ,spirit1 even we ourselves groan within ourselves1 waiting for the adoption1 to wit1 the redemption of our body 7v4 #bc74 ,see also #a ,cor4 #f3ac-bj4 ,in ,john #f3ci and ,job #ai3be-bg we are taught that the dust into which our bodies have decayed will be quickened1 which indicates a physical resurrection4 ,this conception of the value of the body is doubtless what leads to the ,christian's care for his dead loved ones and their graves4 ,the believer's present body1 which is called the body of his humiliation 7,phil4 #c3ba7 is not yet fitted for entrance into the kingdom 7#a ,cor4 #ae3ej74 ,paul's hope is not for a deliverence from the body1 but the redemption of it 7#b ,cor4 #e3d74 #c4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection ,,body4 a7 ,in ,general4 ,because the ,scripture teaches a literal resurrection of the body it is not necessary to insist on the literal resurrection of the identical body--hair1 tooth1 and nail--that was laid under the ground4 ,the idea that at the resurrection we are to see hands flying across the sea to join the body1 etc41 finds no corroboration in the ,scriptures4 ,such an idea is not necessary in order to be true to the ,bible teaching4 ,mere human analogy ought to teach us this 7#a ,cor4 #ae3cf1 #cg7--thou sowest not that body which shall be4 ,the identity is preserved--that is all that we need to insist upon4 ,what that identity tie is we may not yet know4 ,after all it is not so much a question of material identity as of glorified individuality4 ,the growth of the seed shows that there may be personal identity under a complete change of physical conditions4 ,four things may be said about the resurrection body3 first1 it is not necessarily identical with that which descended into the grave2 second1 it will have some organic connection with that which descended into the grave2 third1 it will be a body which ,god1 in ,his sovereignty1 will bestow2 fourth1 it will be a body which will be a vast improvement over the old one4 b7 ,the ,body of the ,believer4 ,phil4 #c3ba 7,r4 ,v47--,who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation1 that it may be conformed to the body of his glory1 according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself4 ,see also #a ,john #c3b2 #a ,cor4 #ae3di4 ,what was the nature and likeness of ,christ's resurrection body which our resurrection body is to resemble8 ,it was a real body 7,luke #bd3ci72 recognizable 7,luke #bd3ca2 ,john #bj3af72 powerful 7,john #bj3ai74 ,summing up these passages1 we may say that the resurrection body of the believer will be like the glorified body of ,christ4 ,characteristics of the believer's resurrection body as set forth in #a ,cor4 #ae3 ,it is not flesh and blood 7vv4 #ej1 #ea2 cf4 ,heb4 #b3ad2 #b ,cor4 #e3a-f2 ,luke #bd3ci7--;flesh and bones1 so not pure spirit2 a real body4 ,it is incorruptible 7v4 #dc7--no decay1 sickness1 pain4 ,it is glorious 7v4 #dc71 cf4 the ,transfiguration 7,matt4 #ag72 ,rev4 #a3ac-ag4 ,it has been said that ,adam and ,eve1 in their unfallen state1 possessed a glorious body4 ,the face of ,stephen was glorious in his death 7,acts #f3ae74 #b ,cor4 #c3ah4 ,it is powerful 7v4 #dc7--not tired1 or weak2 no lassitude2 cf4 now spirit is willing1 but the flesh is weak2 not so then4 ,it is a spiritual body 7v4 #dd74 ,here the soul is the life of the body2 there the spirit will be the life of the body4 ,it is heavenly 7v4 #dg-di74 c7 ,the ,resurrection ,body of the ,unbeliever4 ,the ,scriptures are strangely silent on this subject4 ,it is worthy of note that in the genealogies of ,genesis #e no age is attached to the names of those who were not in the chosen line4 ,is there a purpose here to ignore the wicked8 ,in the story of the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus no name is given to the godless rich man2 why8 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,the ,,resurrection4 #a4 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,righteous4 ,john #f3ci1 #dj1 #dd--,the last day4 ,this does not mean a day of twenty-four hours1 but a period of time4 ,it will be safe1 usually1 to limit the word day to a period of twenty-four hours only where numeral1 ordinal1 or cardinal occurs in connection therewith1 like fourth day1 etc4 ,when the day of grace1 day of judgment1 this thy day1 etc41 are mentioned1 they refer to periods of time either long or short1 as the case may be4 #a ,cor4 #ae3bc--;,but every man in his own order3 ,christ the firstfruits2 afterwards they that are ,christ's at his coming4 #a ,thess4 #d3ad-ag4 ,in both these passages the resurrection of the believer is connected with the coming of ,christ4 ,this event ushers in the last day2 it is treated as a separate and distinct thing4 #b4 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,wicked4 ,as there is a difference in the issue 7,john #e3bh1 #bi2 ,dan4 #ab3b1 cf4 literal ,hebrew rendering below7 so there is as to time between the resurrection of the righteous and that of the wicked4 ,phil4 #c3aa--;,if by any means ,i might attain unto the resurrection of 7lit4 out of7 the dead4 ,it was no incentive to ,paul simply to be assured that he would be raised from the dead2 for he knew that all men would be thus raised4 ,what ,paul was striving for was to be counted worthy of that first resurrection--of the righteous from among the wicked4 ,the resurrection out from among the dead is the resurrection unto life and glory2 the resurrection of the dead is to shame and contempt everlasting4 #a ,cor4 #ae3ba-bd4 ,note the expressions used1 and their meaning3 ,then1 meaning the next in order1 the ,greek denoting sequence1 not simultaneousness--each in his own cohort1 battalion1 brigade 7cf4 ,mark #d3bh--;,first the blade1 then the ear1 after that the full corn in the ear74 ,nineteen hundred years have already elapsed between ,christ the firstfruits and they that are ,christ's4 ,how many years will elapse between the resurrection of they that are ,christ's and that of the wicked 7the end7 we may not be able to definitely state1 but certainly long enough for ,christ to have put all enemies under his feet 7v4 #be74 ,three groups or ranks are here mentioned3 ,christ1 they that are ,christ's1 the end 7the resurrection of the wicked74 7,cf4 vv4 #e1 #f1 #g--,seen of ,cephas1 then of the twelve3 after that 4 4 4 after that 4 4 4 then 4 4 4 and last of all he was seen of me also47 ,first ,christ1 afterwards 7later than7 they that are ,christ's then 7positively meaning afterwards1 a new era which takes place after an interval7 cometh the end4 ,dan4 #ab3b--;,and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake1 some 7lit4 those who awake at this time7 to everlasting life1 and some 7lit4 those who do not awake at this time7 to shame and everlasting contempt4 ,some of the most eminent ,hebrew scholars translate this passage as follows3 ,and 7at that time7 many 7of thy people7 shall awake 7or be separated7 out from among the sleepers in the earth dust4 ,these 7who awake7 shall be unto life eternal1 but those 7who do not awake at that time7 shall be unto contempt and shame everlasting4 ,it seems clear from this passage that all do not awake at one 7this7 time1 but only as many as are written in the book 7#ab3a74 ,eevelation #bj3d-f shows that at least a thousand years--whatever period of time may be thereby designated--elapses between the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked4 ,john #e3bh1 #bi2 ,dan4 #ab3b2 ,rev4 #bj3ab all show that the resurrection of the wicked is always connected with the judgment1 and that takes place at the close and not at the beginning of the ,day of the ,lord4 ,whatever difficulties may present themselves in connection with the resurrection1 whatever obstacles of a miraculous or supernatural nature may present themselves in connection therewith are to be met by remembering the truth enunciated by ,christ in connection with this very subject3 ,matt4 #bb3bi--,ye do err1 not knowing the scriptures1 nor the power of ,god4 7,cf4 v4 #bc4--,the same day came to him the ,sadducees1 which say that there is no resurrection1 etc41 and the following verses for the setting of v4 #ci47 ,c4 ,,the ,,judgment4 ,i4 ,,the ,,fact ,,of ,,the ,,judgment4 #a4 ,,as ,,taught ,,in ,,the ,,old ,,testament4 #b4 ,,as ,,taught ,,in ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 #c4 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,conscience4 #d4 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,christ',s ,,resurrection4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,judge--,,christ4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,judgment4 #a4 ,,judgment ,,at ,,the ,,cross4 #b4 ,,the ,,daily ,,judgment4 #c4 ,,future ,,judgment4 a7 ,of the ,saints4 b7 ,of the ,living ,nations4 c7 ,of the ,great ,white ,throne4 d7 ,of the ,fallen ,angels4 e7 ,of ,israel4 ,c4 ,,the ,,judgment4 ,i4 ,,the ,,fact ,,of ,,the ,,judgment4 #a4 ,,distinctly ,,taught ,,in ,,the ,,old ,,testament4 ,psa4 #if3ac--;,for he cometh1 for he cometh to judge the earth3 he shall judge the world with righteousness1 and the people with his truth4 ,while this passage refers more particularly to the rewarding of the righteous1 yet the idea of judgment is here4 ,both reward and punishment are involved in the idea of judgment4 #b4 ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 ,acts #ag3ca--;,because he hath appointed a day1 in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained2 whereof he hath given assurance unto all men1 in that he hath raised him from the dead4 ,heb4 #i3bg4 ,just as it is appointed unto men once to die so it is appointed unto men to appear before the judgment4 ,there is no more escape from the one than from the other4 ,it is part of the burden of both the ,old and ,new ,testament message that a day of judgment is appointed for the world4 ,god's kingdom shall extend universally2 but a judgment in which the wicked are judged and the righteous rewarded is necessary and in order that the kingdom of everlasting righteousness may be established upon the earth4 #c4 ,,the ,,conscience ,,of ,,all ,,mankind ,,corroborates ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,the ,,scriptures ,,with ,,regard ,,to ,,the ,,certainty ,,of ,a ,,coming ,,judgment4 ,this is true of both the individual and universal conscience4 ,the discoveries of tablets as well as the history of all peoples establish this fact4 ,this is enforced by ,eccl4 #aa3i2 #ab3ad--;a book which is in a very real sense a book of worldly philosophy1 narrating1 as it does1 the experiences and observations of a man who judged all things from the view-point of under the sun1 i4e41 without special reference to any revelation from above4 #d4 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,is ,a ,,sure ,,and ,,certain ,,proof ,,which ,,god ,,has ,,given ,,to ,,men ,,of ,a ,,coming ,,judgment4 ,acts #ag3ca 7quoted above74 ,here is assurance in the sense of proof or ground of evidence4 ,the context is suggestive3 ,god had long borne with the sins of men1 and in a sense1 overlooked them4 ,therefore men have thought that ,god would continue to do so4 ,but no1 this shall not be2 there is a day of judgment coming1 the evidence of which lies in the fact of the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,judge--,,christ4 ,john #e3bb1 #bc1 #bg2 #b ,tim4 #d3a2 #b ,cor4 #e3aj2 ,acts #aj3db2 #ag3ca4 ,the ,man of the ,cross is the ,man of the ,throne4 ,note the expression ,because he is the ,son of ,man4 ,that indicates ,his fitness to judge3 ,he can sympathize4 ,but ,he is equal with the ,father4 ,this too indicates ,his competency to judge1 for it implies omniscience4 ,the texts which speak of ,god as judging the world are to be understood as referring to ,god the ,son4 ,no appeal can be made from the ,son to the ,father4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,judgment4 ,the erroneous idea that there is to be one great general judgment which is to take place at the end of the world1 when all mankind shall stand before the great white throne1 is to be guarded against4 ,the judgments of the ,bible differ as to time1 place1 subjects1 and results4 #a4 ,,there ,,is ,a ,,judgment ,,that ,,is ,,already ,,past--,,the ,,judgment ,,at ,,the ,,cross4 ,john #e3bd2 #ab3ca2 #b ,cor4 #e3ba2 ,gal4 #c3ac2 #a ,pet4 #c3bd4 ,at this judgment bar ,satan was judged and his power over the believer broken4 ,here also the sins of the believer were judged and put away4 #b4 ,,there ,,is ,a ,,present ,,judgment ,,which ,,is ,,taking ,,place ,,daily ,,in ,,the ,,life ,,of ,,the ,,believer4 #a ,cor4 #aa3ca1 #cb2 #e3e2 #a ,tim4 #a3bj2 cf41 for illustration1 #b ,sam4 #g3ad1 #ae2 #ab3ac1ad4 ,this continual judgment must be going on in the life of the believer or there will be judgment from ,god because of the consequent failure to grow in grace4 ,there must be constant and continual judging of sin as it comes up in the believer's life 7#a ,john #a3e-g74 #c4 ,,there ,,is ,a ,,future ,,judgment4 a7 ,of the ,saints4 #a ,cor4 #c3h-af2 #b ,cor4 #e3aj2 #a ,cor4 #d3e4 ,this is to be a judgment with reference to the works1 not the salvation1 of the believer4 ,it is called the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,that the saints are here referred to is clear from #b ,cor4 #e3a1 #e1 #g1 #i2 also #a ,cor4 #d3e which says that those who are judged shall have praise of ,god4 ,this is not true of the wicked4 ,this is a judgment1 not for destiny1 but for adjustment1 for reward or loss according to our works1 for position in the kingdom2 every man according as his work shall be4 b7 ,of the ,living ,nations4 ,matt4 #be3ca-df4 ,this judgment will take place at the coming of ,christ with ,his saints4 ,note three things in this chaper3 first1 the marriage supper of the ,lamb 7w4 #a-ac72 second1 the judgment of the saints 7vv4 #ad-cj72 third1 the judgment of the living nations 7vv4 #ca-df74 ,this is not a general judgment of good and bad1 for there are three classes here4 ,my brethren can hardly refer to the saints1 for then it would be inasmuch as ye have done it unto yourselves1 ye have done it unto me4 ,nor is the ,church in this judgment1 for she is already translated and rewarded as we have seen4 ,the ,church no more belongs to the nations than does ,israel4 ,the nations are those who deal with ,israel through the great tribulation4 ,the brethren are probably the ,jewish remnant who have turned to ,christ during the great tribulation and whom the ,antichrist has severely persecuted as also have many of the wicked nations1 like ,russia today4 ,this is a judgment of nations that are living2 there is no mention of the dead4 c7 ,of the ,great ,white ,throne4 ,rev4 #bj3aa-ae4 ,it is called the final judgment and takes place at the close of the millennium1 after the judgment of the living nations 7,matt4 #be74 ,it is a judgment of the dead2 no mention is made of the living in connection therewith4 ,note the difference between the judgments of the ,living ,nation and of the ,great ,white ,throne3 the former at the beginning1 the latter at the close of the millennium2 one deals with the living1 the other with the dead2 one deals with conduct towards the brethren1 the other with general sins recorded in the books4 d7 ,of ,israel4 ,ezek4 #bj3cc-dd2 ,psa4 #ej3af-bb4 ,takes place probably at the end of the great tribulation4 e7 ,of the ,fallen ,angels4 ,jude #f2 #b ,pet4 #b3d4 ,believers are associated with ,christ in this judgment 7#a ,cor4 #f3c74 ,d4 ,,the ,,final ,,destiny ,,of ,,the ,,wicked4 ,i4 ,,preliminary ,,considerations4 #a4 ,,difference ,,between ,,future ,,of ,,the ,,righteous ,,and ,,wicked4 #b4 ,,difficulty ,,of ,,figurative ,,language4 #c4 ,,disparity ,,in ,,number ,,of ,,the ,,saved ,,and ,,lost4 #d4 ,,prophecy ,,vs4 ,,history4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,die ,,in ,,their ,,sins4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,are ,,not ,,annihilated4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,are ,,raised ,,from ,,the ,,dead ,,for ,,judgment4 ,v4 ,,the ,,punishment ,,described4 #a4 ,,death4 #b4 ,,eternal4 #c4 ,,punishment4 #d4 ,,fire4 #e4 ,,darkness4 ,d4 ,,the ,,final ,,destiny ,,of ,,the ,,wicked4 ,every view of the world has its eschatology4 ,it cannot help raising the question of the whither1 as well as of the what and the whence8 '#j1 my ,lord1' said ,daniel to the angel1 'what shall be the end of these things8' 7#ab3h74 ,what is the end1 the final destiny of the individual8 ,does he perish at death1 or does he enter into another state of being2 and under what conditions of happiness or woe does he exist there8 ,what is the end1 the final aim of the great whole1 that far-off divine event towards which the whole creation moves8 ,it is vain to tell man not to ask these questions4 ,he will ask them1 and must ask them4 ,he will pore over every scrap of fact1 or trace of law1 which seems to give an indication of an answer4 ,he will try from the experience of the past1 and the knowledge of the present1 to deduce what the future shall be4 ,he will peer as far as he can into the unseen2 and1 where knowledge fails1 will weave from his hopes and trusts pictures and conjectures4 ,the ,christian view of the world also has its eschatology4 ,the ,christian view1 however1 is positive1 where that of science is negative2 ethical1 where it is material2 human1 where it is cosmogonic2 ending in personal immortality1 where this ends in extinction and death4 ,the eschatology of ,christianity springs from its character as a teleological religion--it seeks to grasp the unity of the world through the conception of an end or aim4--,james ,orr4 ,this is probably the hardest of all the doctrines of ,christianity to be received4 ,if we ask the reason why1 we receive various answers4 ,some would tell us that this doctrine is unwelcome to many because they feel themselves guilty1 and their conscience tells them that unless they repent and turn to ,god this awful doom awaits them4 ,others believe that it is because the thought of future punishment strikes terror to people's hearts1 and therefore this doctrine is repulsive to them4 ,to others again1 the thought of future anguish seems utterly incompatable with the fatherly love of ,god4 ,yet it is acknowledged to be a remarkable fact that both ,jesus and ,john1 who more than any one else in the ,new ,testament represent the element of love in their lives and teaching1 speak most of the future anguish of the wicked4 ,that future punishment of the wicked holds a prominent place in the teachings of the ,scriptures there can be no reasonable doubt4 ,what is between the covers of the ,bible is the preacher's message4 ,yet great care must be exercised in the teaching or proclamation of this doctrine4 ,after all it is not the saying of hard things that pierces the conscience of people2 it is the voice of divine love heard amid the thunder4 ,yet there must be no consciousness of cowardice in proclaiming the doctrine of future retribution1 however awful its delineation may be4 ,fear is a legitimate motive to which we may appeal1 and while it may be classed among the lower motives1 it is nevertheless true that it is the only motive that will effectively move some people to action4 ,,some ,,recognized ,,facts4 ,there are certain preliminary facts which should be recognized in the discussion of this subject3 #a4 ,that it shall be well with the righteous1 and woe to the wicked 7,isa4 #c3aj1 #aa74 ,that there is to be retribution for sin and a reward for the righteous must be held to be beyond question1 and must be recognized as an unchangeable law4 ,one cannot very well meddle with that truth without serious danger4 ,so long as a man persistently1 willingly and knowingly continues in his sin he must suffer for it4 ,that suffering the ,bible calls eternal death4 #b4 ,we must recognize that much of the language of the ,scripture dealing with this condition is couched in figurative terms4 ,but the condition is none the less real because of that1 for1 generally speaking1 the reality is more severe than the figure in which it is set forth4 ,yet we need caution here1 and must distinguish between the things that are stated in clear unmistakable language and those that are set forth in words symbolic and figurative4 #c4 ,the disparity in the number of saved and lost4 ,there is a danger lest we should be unmindful of the problems connected with this doctrine1 such as that seeming fewness of the saved2 the condition of the heathen who have not had a chance to hear the ,gospel2 and the difference in privilege and opportunity among those who live in so-called ,christian lands4 #d4 ,prophecy vs4 ,history4 ,we must recognize that it is more difficult to deal with facts which lie in the future than with those lying in the past4 ,prophecy is always more difficult to deal with than history4 ,the past we may sketch in details1 the future but in broad outlines4 ,our treatment of themes that deal with the future must1 in the very nature of the case be very different than it would be were we dealing with the things of the past4 ,history and prophecy must be handled differently4 ,in dealing with the history of ,god's past revelations--with the ages before the ,advent1 with the earthly life and revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 with the subsequent course of ,god's providence in the ,church--we are dealing with that which has already been4 ,it stands in concrete reality before us1 and we can reason from it as a thing known in its totality and its details4 ,but when the subject of revelation is that which is yet to be1 especially that which is yet to be under forms and conditions of which we have no direct experience1 the case is widely altered4 ,here it is at most outlines that we can look for2 and even these outlines will be largely clothed in figure and symbol2 the spiritual kernel will seek material investiture to body itself forth2 the conditions of the future will require to be presented largely in forms borrowed from known relations4 ,the outstanding thoughts will be sufficiently apparent1 but the thoughts in which these thoughts are cast will partake of metaphor and image4--,james ,orr4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,are ,,said ,,to ,,die ,,in ,,their ,,sins4 ,john #h3ba1 #bd--,then said ,jesus again unto them1 ,i go my way1 and ye shall seek me1 and shall die in your sins3 whither ,i go1 ye cannot come4 ,i said therefore unto you1 that ye shall die in your sins3 for if ye believe not that ,i am he1 ye shall die in your sins4 ,rom4 #f3bc--;,for the wages of sin is death4 ,see ,rev4 #bj3ad1 #ae2 #ba3h4 ,the death spoken of here does not mean cessation of existence any more than eternal life means the beginning of existence4 ,eternal life does not mean merely to live for ever1 but to live in a state of blessedness for ever4 ,eternal life deals not so much with quantity as with quality of existence4 ,just so with eternal death4 ,it is a quality of existence1 not cessation of being4 ,even in this life death can co-exist with life3 ,but she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth 7#a ,tim4 #e3f72 ,eph4 #b3a4 ,what men call life ,god calls death4 ,there are two things which the believer gets3 at his regeneration1 eternal life2 at his resurrection1 immortality2 but in both instances he already has life and existence4 ,so it is in the case of the wicked3 the second death does not mean cessation of existence1 for he is dead already1 now in this life 7#a ,tim4 #e3f2 ,eph4 #b3a2 ,john #e3bd1 #be74 ,rev4 #ba3h describes what death1 as here used1 means3 ,but the fearful1 and the unbelieving444 shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone3 which is the second death4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,are ,,not ,,annihilated4 ,the texts most strongly urged as teaching the annihilation theory1 if rightly interpreted1 will be seen to refer to removal from off the earth1 and not to future retribution4 ,here are the principal passages3 ,psa4 #cg3bj--;,but the wicked shall perish1 and the enemies of the ,lord shall be as the fat of lambs3 they shall consume2 into smoke shall they consume away4 ,this psalm is written for the encouragement of ,israel and against her enemies and their power on the earth4 ,this earthly power shall be utterly broken1 and be of no more account than the smoke of a burnt sacrifice4 ,the great truth taught here is that the earth is the inheritance of the saints1 and that the wicked shall have no part in it4 ,obadiah #af-- 4 4 4 ,and they shall be as though they had not been4 ,these words are taken from the vision regarding ,edom1 and refer to the destruction of the ,edomites and their land1 and not to the future of the wicked in the next life4 ,in speaking of the everlasting punishment with which the wicked will be visited1 as recorded in #b ,thess4 #a3i1 the annihilationist would say that reference is made to the results or consequences of that punishment and not to the punishment itself4 ,but the ,scriptures state that it is the punishment itself1 and not the consequences1 that is everlasting4 ,no such interpretation as that put upon these passages by those holding the annihilation theory can be maintained by sound exegesis4 ,what need is there of a resurrection if the wicked are to be annihilated at death1 or why should they be raised from the dead if only to be at once extinguished for ever8 ,again1 there is no such thing as unconscious punishment4 ,you cannot punish anything that is unconscious4 ,can you punish a stone or a house8 ,punishment can take place only where there is consciousness on the part of the one suffering4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,wicked ,,are ,,to ,,be ,,punished4 ,rom4 #b3h1 #i--;,but unto them that are contentious1 and do not obey the truth1 but obey unrighteousness1 indignation and wrath1 tribulation and anguish1 upon every soul of man that doeth evil1 of the ,jew first1 and also of the ,gentile4 ,wrath indicates the settled mind of ,god towards the persistently wicked 7,john #c3cf72 indignation1 the outbreak of that wrath at the day of judgment2 tribulation1 severe affliction 7,matt4 #ac3ba2 #bd3i2 ,rev4 #g3ad72 anguish1 torturing confinement in a strait place without relief1 as in a dungeon1 or in stocks4 ,god grant that we may never know what these terms fully mean4 ,matt4 #be3da1 #df--,then shall he say also unto them on the left hand1 ,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels4 ,and these shall go away into everlasting punishment4 #b ,thess4 #a3g-i--,when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power4 ,see also ,mark #i3dc-ej which speaks of the wicked being cast into hell1 into the fire that never shall be quenched3 where their worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched4 ,there are certain important words in these scriptures which demand our attention1 and which we need to understand in order to get right views of the doctrine we are now considering4 ,they are as follows3 #a4 ,,eternal4 ,we read of eternal or everlasting punishment1 everlasting fire4 ,it is objected that the word eternal or everlasting does not mean forever4 ,this may be true4 ,but we are all willing to admit that when this word qualifies the condition of the righteous it means for ever1 without end1 e4g41 the righteous shall go into life eternal4 ,the same word1 however1 qualifies the punishment of the wicked1 e4g41 these shall go away into everlasting punishment4 ,fairness demands that we make the joy of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked--both qualified as they are by the same ,greek word--of the same duration4 ,if there is an end to the reward of the righteous1 there is also to the penalty of the wicked4 ,the one lasts as long as the other4 ,if destruction means annihilation1 then there is no need of the word eternal to qualify it4 ,further the ,scriptures present the punishment of the wicked not only as eternal 7or age-long7 but as enduring for ever and ever1 or unto the ages of the ages 7,rev4 #ai3c2 #bj3aj2 #ad3aa1 ,r4 ,v474 ,here is a picture of ages tumbling upon ages in eternal succession4 #b4 ,,punishment4 ,the meaning of this word will be found under the previous division 7,,iii7 dealing with the subject of ,annihilation4 #c4 ,,fire4 ,this is one of the most constant images under which the torment and misery of the wicked is represented4 ,fire is a symbol of the divine judgment of wrath 7,matt4 #e3bb74 ,in ,matthew #c3aj the godless are represented as a tree hewn down and cast into the fire2 in #c3ab the chaff 7godless7 is burned with unquenchable fire2 in #ac3db the wicked are said to be cast into a furnace of fire4 ,is the fire spoken of here literal fire8 ,it is an accepted law of language that a figure of speech is less intense than the reality4 ,if fire is merely a figurative expression1 it must stand for some great reality1 and if the reality is more intense than the figure1 what an awful thing the punishment symbolized by fire must be4 ,it is contended that fire must necessarily consume2 that nothing could continue to exist in fire4 ,is it not remarkable that the ,baptist uses the word unquenchable' 7,greek1 asbestos7 when speaking of this fire8 ,is any light thrown on the question by the incident of the three ,hebrew children in the fiery furnace8 ,did they consume1 or did they withstand the fire8 7,dan4 #c3bg74 ,in the parable of the ,tares 7,matt4 #ac3cf-dc7 our ,lord speaks of the tares being burned up4 ,when ,christ retired to the house after delivering the parable1 his disciples asked ,him to explain to them what ,he meant by the figures of speech ,he used in the parable4 ,this request ,he granted4 ,he explained the figurative language of the parable2 every figurative word in it except that of fire4 ,he said3 ,the field is the world2 the good seed are the children of the kingdom2 but the tares are the children of the wicked one2 the enemy that sowed them is the devil2 the harvest is the end of the world2 and the reapers are the angels4 ,as therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire1 so shall it be at the end of this world4 4 4 4 ,and they shall cast them into a furnace of fire3 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth4 ,why did not the ,master explain what he meant by the figurative word fire8 ,he explained all the other figurative words1 why not this one8 ,did ,he forget8 ,or did ,he intend that ,his disciples should have the impression that ,he was speaking of literal fire8 ,here was ,his opportunity to explain ,his use of words1 for the disciples were asking for just that very thing4 ,was there any significance in the fact that ,jesus did not explain the word fire8 ,whether we believe in literal fire or not1 we certainly ought to ask for a reason for the ,master's failure to literalize the figurative word fire4 #d4 ,,darkness4 ,this word is used to describe the condition of the lost3 ,cast into outer darkness3 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ,seven times these terms are found together3 ,matt4 #h3ab2 #ac3db1 #ej2 #bb3ac2 #bd3ea2 #be3cj2 ,luke #ac3bh4 ,the picture is that of a banquet which was usually held at night4 ,the wicked are thrust out from the light1 joy1 and festivity into the darkness and gloom without1 as into the remote gloom and anguish of a dungeon in which are found agony1 wrath1 and despair4 ,is this a description of hell --absence of spiritual light2 separation from the company of the saved2 lamentation2 impotent rage8 ,e4 ,,the ,,final ,,reward ,,of ,,the ,,righteous4 ,i4 ,,the ,,believer ,,never ,,dies4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,believer ,,goes ,,to ,,be ,,with ,,christ4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,body ,,of ,,the ,,believer ,,is ,,raised ,,from ,,the ,,dead4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,believer ,,is ,,rewarded4 ,v4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,believer',s ,,reward4 #a4 ,,the ,,crowns ,,of ,,scripture4 #b4 ,,the ,,seven ,,overcomes 7,,rev4 #b ,,and #c74 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,new ,,condition ,,and ,,abode ,,of ,,life ,,for ,,the ,,saints4 #a4 ,,new ,,sphere ,,of ,,life4 #b4 ,a ,,new ,,home4 #c4 ,,new ,,conditions4 ,e4 ,,the ,,final ,,reward ,,of ,,the ,,righteous4 ,if1 says the ,apostle ,paul1 in this present life we have a hope resting on ,christ1 and nothing more1 we are more to be pitied than all the rest of the world 7#a ,cor4 #ae3ai74 ,the idea is that if this hope in ,christ which the believer has is a delusive hope1 with no prospect of fulfillment in the future1 the ,christian is indeed in a sad state4 ,he has chosen a life of self-denial2 he will not indulge in the pleasures of the world1 and if there are no pleasures in the darkness into which he is about to enter1 then he has miscalculated1 he has chosen a life that shall end in self-obliteration4 ,if he has no home to go to1 no ,god to welcome him1 no ,king to say1 ,well done1 exchange mortality for life1 then he is indeed in a pitiable plight4 ,but such is not the case4 ,the hope of the ,christian enters beyond the vail1 into the very presence of ,god ,himself1 and endures throughout all the eternities4 ,i4 ,,the ,,christian ,,never ,,dies4 #a ,john #h3ea--,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,if a man keep my saying1 he shall never see death4 #aa3be1 #bf--;,jesus said unto her1 ,i am the resurrection1 and the life3 he that believeth in me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live3 and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die4 ,believest thou this8 ,what ,jesus means here is not that the believer shall not pass through the experience that we call death1 but that in reality it is not death1 at least1 not in the sense in which it is death to the unbeliever4 ,jesus has taken the sting out of death4 ,how sharply the contrast between death and the experience through which the believer passes is presented in #a ,thess4 #d3ac1 #ad--;,but ,i would not have you to be ignorant1 brethren1 concerning them which are asleep1 that ye sorrow not1 even as others which have no hope4 ,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 ,jesus died--,he tasted the awfulness of death2 the believer in ,him falls asleep4 ,cf4 ,john #aa3aa--,our friend ,lazarus sleepeth4 ,we have no ground in these words for the modern doctrine of soul-sleeping4 ,christ did not mean to say that the soul is unconscious between the time of death and the resurrection4 ,for1 when the disciples did not understand ,his figurative language1 ,he told them plainly1 ,lazarus is dead 7#aa3aa-ae74 ,what ,jesus meant was that death is something like that which takes place when we go to sleep4 ,what takes place when we go to sleep8 ,surely the current of life does not cease1 but flows on1 and when we awake we feel better and stronger than before4 ,there is a shutting out of all the scenes of the world and time4 ,just so it is in the case of the believer's death4 ,three ideas are contained in the word sleep3 continued existence1--for the mind is active even though the body is still2 repose--we lose our hold on and forget the things of the world2 wakening--we always think of sleep as followed by awakening4 ,the word see in ,john #h3ea means that the believer shall not gaze at death protractedly1 steadily1 exhaustively4 ,death is not the objective of his gaze4 ,the believer's outlook is that of life not death4 ,the death of the body is to be reckoned no more as death than the life of the body is life 7#a ,tim4 #e3f74 ,the believer's back is turned upon death2 he faces and gazes upon life4 ,the temporary separation of the soul and body does not even interrupt1 much less impair1 the eternal life given by ,jesus4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,believer ,,goes ,,to ,,be ,,with ,,christ4 #b ,cor4 #e3f1 ,r4 ,v4--,being therefore always of good courage1 and knowing that1 whilst we are at home in the body1 we are absent from the ,lord4 ,phil4 #a3bc1 ,r4 ,v4--,but ,i am in a strait betwixt the two1 having the desire to depart and be with ,christ2 for it is very far better4 ,the experience 7death-sleep7 through which the believer passes ushers him at once into the presence of ,christ4 ,it takes him instantly to be at home with the ,lord4 ,surely there can be no hint of unconsciousness or the sleeping of the soul in these words4 ,it would seem from ,paul's words in #b ,corinthians #e3a-e that some kind of spiritual body is given to the believer during the period of his waiting for the resurrection body4 ,what ,paul longs for is not to be in a bodiless state1 but to put on another body which shall not be subject to death4 ,at home with the ,lord--that is what death 787 means to the believer4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,body ,,of ,,the ,,believer ,,is ,,raised ,,from ,,the ,,dead4 ,see under the ,doctrine of the ,resurrection for the full discussion of the believer's resurrection body1 its characteristics1 etc4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,believer ,,shall ,,receive ,,his ,,final ,,reward ,,in ,,the ,,future4 #a ,matt4 #be3bj-bc--;,and so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents1 saying1 ,lord1 thou deliveredst unto me five talents3 behold1 ,i have gained beside them five talents more4 ,his lord said unto him1 ,well done1 thou good and faithful servant3 thou hast been faithful over a few things1 ,i will make thee ruler over many things3 enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,he also that had received two talents came and said1 ,lord1 thou deliveredst unto me two talents3 behold1 ,i have gained two other talents beside them4 ,his lord said unto him1 ,well done1 good and faithful servant3 thou hast been faithful over a few things1 ,i will make thee ruler over many things3 enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,luke #ai3ab-ai4--;,he said therefore1 ,a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom1 and to return4 ,and he called his ten servants1 and delivered them ten pounds1 and said unto them1 ,occupy till ,i come4 ,but his citizens hated him1 and sent a message after him1 saying1 ,we will not have this man to reign over us4 ,and it came to pass1 that when he was returned1 having received the kingdom1 then he commanded these servants to be called unto him1 to whom he had given the money1 that he might know how much every man had gained by trading4 ,then came the first1 saying1 ,lord1 thy pound hath gained ten pounds4 ,and he said unto him1 ,well1 thou good servant3 because thou hast been faithful in a very little1 have thou authority over ten cities4 ,and the second came saying1 ,lord1 thy pound hath gained five pounds4 ,and he said likewise to him1 ,be thou also over five cities4 ,matthew #bd exhorts us to watch and wait for ,christ's coming2 chapter #be shows us how we may obey this exhortation4 ,chapter #be illustrates to us1 in the parable of the ,virgins 7vv4 #a-ac7 the necessity of caring for the inward spiritual life2 while the parable of the ,talents 7vv4 #ad-cj71 emphasizes the necessity of activity for ,christ while awaiting ,his return4 ,while both parables deal with the matter of the rewarding of the saints1 they nevertheless present the subject from different viewpoints4 ,the parable of the ,pounds was delivered before the entry into ,jerusalem2 that of the ,talents1 three days after2 the ,pounds1 to the multitudes2 the ,talents1 to the disciples4 ,the ,pounds was given because the people thought that the kingdom would immediately appear1 hence the idea of a long journey4 ,in the ,pounds there is opposition to ,christ2 in the ,talents1 none4 ,in the ,talents unequal sums are multiplied in the same proportion2 in the ,pounds1 equal sums in differed proportions4 ,the parable of the ,pounds was uttered to repress impatience2 that of the ,talents1 to stimulate activity until ,christ should return4 ,the talents are distributed not capriciously but according to each man's ability to handle them4 ,he who had five talents was able to use five1 and was therefore held responsible for the use of this number2 so with the two1 and the one4 ,the question is not so much ,how many talents have ,i received1 but ,to what use am ,i putting them8 ,the rewards for faithfulness are the same in each case--,be thou ruler over many cities4 ,in the parable of the ,pounds it is different4 ,all start out with the same number of pounds4 ,as men differ in their use of them1 in their fidelity1 zeal and labor1 so they differ in spiritual gains and rewards 7ten cities1 five cities74 ,the reward of the believer will be in proportion to the faithfulness of his service for ,god with the use of the talents with which ,god has endowed him4 ,the rewards therefore will differ according to the faithfulness or unfaithfulness of our service and life4 ,faith in ,jesus ,christ saves the believer1 but his position in the future life together with the measure of his reward will depend upon his faithfulness in the use of the gifts with which he has been endowed by ,god4 ,thus it comes to pass that a man may be saved yet so as by fire1 i4e41 saved because of his faith in ,christ1 but minus his reward4 ,see #a ,cor4 #c3aj-ae--;,in discharge of the task which ,god graciously entrusted to me1 ,i--like a competent master-builder--have laid a foundation1 and others are building upon it4 ,but let every one be careful how and what he builds4 ,for no one can lay any other foundation in addition to that which is already laid1 namely1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,and whether the building which anyone is erecting on that foundation be of gold or silver or costly stones1 of timber or hay or straw--the true character of each individual's work will become manifest4 ,for the day of ,christ will disclose it1 because that day is soon to come upon us clothed in fire1 and as for the quality of every one's work--the fire is the thing which will test it4 ,if any one's work--the building which he has erected--stands the test1 he will be rewarded4 ,if any one's work is burned up1 he will suffer the loss of it2 yet he will himself be rescued1 but only1 as it were1 by passing through the fire4 7,translation from ,weymouth's ,new ,testament47 ,while this passage has its primary reference1 probably1 to ,christian teachers and preachers1 and touches the matter of doctrines that are taught1 it nevertheless has a fitting and true application to the life and work of every believer4 ,v4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,believer',s ,,reward4 #a4 ,,he ,,shall ,,receive ,a ,,crown4 ,the ,scriptures speak of a number of crowns3 ,the ,crown of ,life 7,james #a3ab2 ,rev4 #b3aj1 compare context which speaks of death72 of ,glory 7#a ,pet4 #e3d2 cf4 ,john #ag3bb2 ,heb4 #b3i72 of ,righteousness 7#b ,tim4 #d3h71 the full realization of the imputed and inwrought righteousness of ,christ2 of ,rejoicing 7#a ,thess4 #b3ai71 at the sight of converts that have been won by one's ministry for ,christ2 of ,gold 7,rev4 #d3d72 ,incorruptible 7#a ,cor4 #i3be71 as compared with the perishable crowns of the ,greek games2 ,thy crown 7,rev4 #c3aa71 that which is laid up for you1 and which should not be lost by unfaithfulness2 the summing up of all the previous expressions--all are characteristic of thy crown4 #b4 ,,the ,,seven ,,overcomes ,,in ,,revelation 7cc4 #b1 #c474 a7 #b3g--;,eat of the ,tree of ,life1 ,which is in the ,midst of the ,paradise of ,god4 ,the tree of life1 which has been practically unmentioned since ,genesis #c1 where it was lost through sin1 is here restored in accordance with the restitution of all things in ,christ4 ,this figure expresses participation in life eternal--the believer shall die no more4 b7 #b3aa--,shall ,not be ,hurt of the ,second ,death4 ,he who is born but once--of the flesh--dies twice3 physically1 and eternally4 ,he 7the believer7 who is born twice--of the flesh and of the spirit--dies but once2 that is1 he passes through only that physical dissolution of soul and body which is called death4 ,the second death means1 to say the least1 utter exclusion from the presence of ,god4 ,to say that the believer shall not be hurt of the second death is equivalent to saying that he shall eternally behold the face of the ,father which is in heaven4 c7 #b3ag--;,he shall ,receive a ,stone with a ,new ,name ,written ,thereon2 ,to the ,believer also will be ,given to ,eat of the ,hidden ,manna4 ,this figure may mean that to the believer is given the white stone of acquittal4 ,in courts of justice in those days a black stone was given to the condemned4 ,reference may here be made to the white stone 7diamond87 which was not among the stones in the high priest's ephod1 and thought by some to be the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,the partaking of the hidden manna may refer to the fact that they who had resisted the eating of meat offered in sacrifice to idols would1 as a reward1 be allowed to feast on the bread of ,god1 the divine food4 ,the new name mentioned may stand for a new nature and character which the believer will possess in that new country4 d7 #b3bf1 #bg--;,authority ,over the ,nations4 ,there is doubtless a reference here to the reign of the saints with the ,lord ,jesus ,christ on the millenial earth4 ,those that have suffered with ,him shall also reign with ,him4 e7 #c3d1 #e--;,he ,shall ,be ,arrayed in ,white ,garments1 and ,his ,name ,shall in ,no ,wise be ,blotted ,out of the ,book of ,life4 ,white garments undoubtedly refers to the righteousness of the saints4 ,in the ,old ,testament days to be blotted out of the book of life meant to forfeit the privileges of the ,theocracy--to be shut out forever from ,god's favor4 ,here the certainty of the believer's eternal security is assured4 ,christ will rejoice over him and gladly confess that ,he knows him as one who belonged to ,him and served and confessed ,him on the earth4 f7 #c3ab--,the ,believer ,will ,be a ,pillar in the ,temple of ,god2 ,he ,shall ,go ,out ,no ,more2 ,god ,will ,write ,upon ,him ,his ,own ,new ,name4 ,philadelphia1 the place in which was situated the church to whom these words were written1 was subject to earthquakes1 and quite frequently the massive pillars of the temple were shattered4 ,it shall not be so with the believer--he shall never be moved4 ,he will go in and out no more--no possibility of falling then4 ,he will have the name of ,god written upon him--no danger of anyone else making claim to him4 ,then the believer's period of probation will have passed away2 he shall have a permanent and eternal place in the kingdom of the ,father4 g7 #c3ba1 ,r4 ,v4--,i ,will ,give to ,him to ,sit ,down ,with ,me in ,my ,throne4 ,not on or upon but in my throne4 ,christ will exalt us with ,himself4 ,james and ,john wanted to sit by ,christ's side in the coming kingdom4 ,here is something infinitely better--to sit with ,him in ,his throne4 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,believer ,,will ,,enter ,,into ,a ,,new ,,condition ,,and ,,abode ,,of ,,life4 #a4 ,a ,,new ,,sphere ,,of ,,life ,,for ,,the ,,saints4 ,new ,heavens and a new ,earth3 ,paradise regained2 new spiritual environment2 new physical conditions4 ,not surrounded by the temptations and defects of this mortal life4 ,no more sea--to the ,jew a symbol of unmixed peril1 trouble1 and restlessness4 #b4 ,a ,,new ,,home ,,for ,,the ,,saints4 ,rev4 #ba-bb3e--;,a picture of the ,holy ,city1 the ,new ,jerusalem1 which is to be the final and eternal abode of the people of ,god4 ,within the ,new ,heavens and on the ,new ,earth is the ,holy ,city4 ,note some characteristics of the ,holy ,city3 ,its ,name3 ,new ,jerusalem--what music to the ear of the ,jew1 who for so long had been without a city of his own6 ,its ,walls 7#ba3ag73 high1 secure1 safe against all assaults4 ,its ,gates 7#ba3ae1 #ba73 guarded by angels2 names on gates2 only saints enter4 ,its ,foundations 7v4#ad73 the ,apostles of the ,lamb2 lustrous 7#ah74 ,its ,citizens3 of the nations that are saved 7citizens' characteristics #ba3f1 #g2 #bb3ad1 ,r4 ,v42 contrast with #ba3h1 #bg74 ,its ,magnitude3 #dhjj stadia 7the earthly ,jerusalem being but #cc stadia74 ,its ,glory 7#aa-bc73 what costliness6 #c4 ,,new ,,conditions ,,of ,,life ,,for ,,the ,,redeemed4 ,god's home is there 7#ba3c72 thus the believer has uninterrupted communion with ,god4 ,some things that used to be have all passed away3 death1 mourning1 curse1 tears1 sorrow1 night--all have gone4 ,new created things appear3 the river of life1 the tree of life1 new service1 new relationships1 new light 7#bb3d74 ,,and ,,after ,,these ,,things ,i ,,heard ,a ,,great ,,voice ,,of ,,much ,,people ,,in ,,heaven1 ,,saying1 ,,alleluia2 ,,salvation1 ,,and ,,glory1 ,,and ,,honour1 ,,and ,,power1 ,,unto ,,the ,,lord ,,our ,,god3 ,,and ,,the ,,four ,,and ,,twenty ,,elders ,,and ,,the ,,four ,,beasts ,,fell ,,down ,,and ,,worshipped ,,god ,,that ,,sat ,,on ,,the ,,throne1 ,,saying1 ,,amen2 ,,alleluia4 ,,and ,a ,,voice ,,came ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,throne1 ,,saying1 ,,praise ,,our ,,god1 ,,all ,,ye ,,his ,,servants1 ,,and ,,ye ,,that ,,fear ,,him1 ,,both ,,small ,,and ,,great4 ,,and ,i ,,heard ,,as ,,it ,,were ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,a ,,great ,,multitude1 ,,and ,,as ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,many ,,waters1 ,,and ,,as ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,mighty ,,thunderings1 ,,saying1 ,,alleluia3 ,,for ,,the ,,lord ,,god ,,omnipotent ,,reigneth4 ,,let ,,us ,,be ,,glad ,,and ,,rejoice1 ,,and ,,give ,,honour ,,to ,,him3 ,,for ,,the ,,marriage ,,of ,,the ,,lamb ,,is ,,come1 ,,and ,,his ,,wife ,,hath ,,made ,,herself ,,ready4 ,,and ,,to ,,her ,,was ,,granted ,,that ,,she ,,should ,,be ,,arrayed ,,in ,,fine ,,linen1 ,,clean ,,and ,,white3 ,,for ,,the ,,fine ,,linen ,,is ,,the ,,righteousness ,,of ,,saints4