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Show GOD'S STANDARD I SS PERFECTION I Christian Must Develop Giiar- I actor-Likeness to Christ. I Tho Deoira For Harmony With God a jH Part of Man's Original Perfection! Some Naturally Drawn to God Faith the First Step Consecration the Sec- ond Step Then Growth In Grac4 mA and Knowledge Lessons In tha School of Christ Justice the Foun frnM dation of Character Love Must B IH the Superstructure. ' mwl jEHp!iB tor Russell preach IP&S' '"C i ed. a very interest- mmi. 'D3 discourse to- WKti$$&m da? on Holiness, v9mW: "'mi HLs text wus' 1 tH Ho who hath call- 'PASTQfo fcUSS ELLl minded Wsaudfc ' ence that the JmjM Scriptures explicitly declare ttmt our Creator made man in His own image and pronounced him very good. Apart of ourl first parents' perfection was their desire for harmony with God; JmjM but after Adam's disobedience they were cut off from Divine fellowship as a part of the penalty of sin. This alienation from their Creator wag doubtless a most grievous trial. jH As centuries rolled on aicl Adam'g posterity became more and more de- jH praved, the original character-likeness VmjM to God became indistinct In some the desire for God is so feeble that they are easily satisfied by pleasure or by vLWM sensuality. Many are separated from God through Ignorance, superstition JmjM and the doctrines of demons, as the Bible declares. Misunderstanding our gracious Creator, they are driven away, and blinded by "the god of this world'4 JLWM Then the Pastor showed that with VmjM some of the race the desire for God and righteousness has prevailed above the stupefying Influence of the world, tho flesh and tho Devil. This class are WmM drawn by the natural Inclination of their minds Godward, and are in a fa-vorable fa-vorable 'condition to hear God's voice speaking peace to them and pointing mM them to Jesus Christ as the Way, the JmjM Truth and the Life. vLjM Tho Call of the Goapol Age. Next the Pastor pointed out from Scripture the first two steps to bo taken by those who desire to come back into harmony with God. The first step is that of faith in Jesus as their Redeemer. Those who desire to take JmjM it must recognize that they are sin- WmM Tiers, that Jesus' death on Calvary was sacrificial, and that Its grand outcome will be the establishment of the Mes- UmjM sianic Kingdom for uplifting mankind vmjM out of sin and death conditions. Those who have sufficient faith td take the first step may then take the second consecration. After they have presented their all in sacrifice time, talent, wealth, etc. then our Lord lni-putcs lni-putcs to them Individually His merit, thus making them holy and acceptable to God, who Immediately begets them of His Holy Spirit to a new nature. VmjM Thenceforth they are New Creatures, to whom "old things have passed away and all things become new." But there are Imperfections of the flesh, which may occasionally crop out These the New Creature must promptly notice, for tbe New Creature is the new will, which henceforth regulates the body. WmM The Pastor fears that some Chris- jH tians have not realized what a contract WmM they have on hand. All the consecrat-ed, consecrat-ed, he declared, must remember that their first obligation is to subdue them-6elves. them-6elves. While any may give valuable suggestions to others, yet the responsl-blllty responsl-blllty for the body rests with each as a JNew Creature. Some are Imperfect in mM one direction, others In another. "There is none righteous none perfect." Tho Nov Creature3 In School. Then the Pastor showed that those whom God has begotten of His Holy Spirit as New Creatures enter tho School of Christ for character-develop-mcnt. There they must grow in grace, knowledge and love. As St Paul ex-plains, ex-plains, they must be mentally trans formed, made ready for the Kingdom mM of God. Thereafter matters are to be decided, not according to their own preferences, but according to the prin-ciples prin-ciples of justice and Jove by rules al- jH together different from those that for-meriy for-meriy regulated them. Everything done by those in the IH School of Christ must be squared by IH the Rule of Justice, the speaker con-tinued. con-tinued. Many of the Lord's people evl- jH dently have not fully realized thar they mustjpractkc the Golden Rule to the full extent of their ability- Failure on the part of some to recognize this principle, be declared, has caused the way of the Lord to be spoken evil of sometimes. If a Christian falls to pay his debts or Is careless as to bow be IH involves himself. It is because this jH principle of justice does not stand out prominently enough before his mind. LvM If as an old creature he has habitually ignored the lines of justice and shirked responsibilities, this will not do for him as a New Creature. The cultivation of the principles of justice In act, word and thought must be the Christian's daily concern. Who- jH ever thinks unjustly will act unjustly. in spite of himself. The New Creature must always think of others calmly. without prejudice, giving them tho wM benefit of every doubt. |