Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 236, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1912 — Age of Faith—Age of Works. [ARTICLE]

Age of Faith—Age of Works.

Pastor Russell declared the present Age the Age of faith and the on-com-ing period of Messiah’s Kingdom the Age of works. He cautioned his hearers, nevertheless, that, in harmony with what he had already shown In the Scriptures, this does not mean that no works are now required nor that in the future Age no faith will be required. The standard or test now is faith and not works. The standard or test of the next Age will be works, not faith. The reason of this difference, he said, was manifest: because of the fallen condition of the entire race none could do perfect works now, and. If judged by works, all would be condemned afresh. Hence God now in dealing with the Church requires them to walk by faith and not by sight In the next Age. during Messiah’s reign, he claimed that all the clouds and darkndss, all the Ignorance and superstition, will pass away before the rising Sun of Righteousness. As a result faith in the next Age will be a very simple matter. Knowledge will be so great that faith will take second place. Then good works will gradually become the test and mankind will gradually rise out of Imperfection of mind and body. All the willing and obedient will be able to do better and better until finally, by the time of the close of Messiah’s reign, all the willing and obedient will be perfected and able to do perfect works. And their judgment Will be according to works.