Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 236, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1912 — The Present Grace Age. [ARTICLE]

The Present Grace Age.

Everything that God has arranged for human salvation is properly said to be of His grace. God is not bound by justice to do anything at all for humanity; therefore whatever is done is of Grace or unmerited favor. The next Age also will indirectly be an Age of Grace in that all the blessings that will go to mankind In the way of earthly Restitution will be,unmerited, so far as they are concerned. But the Grace of that time wlll more particularly be the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, because all those blessings win come from His having met the demands of Justice on man’s behalf. But the present Age is peculiarly one of Divine Grace because the call of the Church and the great blessing she is to receive as the Bride of Christ is something more than was purchased by the death of Jesus. Jesus merely purchased human rights and human nature for mankind by the sacrifice of His own human rights and human nature. God’s grace is manifest now in that the Church is called to a glory, honor, immortality. Divine nature, which she never had and never lost and which was never redeemed by JeSus* sacrifice or otherwise. The merit of Jesus applied to the Church now in response to faith and obedience justifies us in God's sight to the extent of permitting us to present our bodies living sacrifices. But Grace provides that this sacrificing on our part shall be counted in as though it were a part of Jesus’ sacrifice. [ !t “yhst Not of Yourselves.” How shall we understand this statement? Surely God does not exercise faith for us and then consider it something oil our part which He is willing to reward. The explanation is this: Faith is possible only where it has a basis of knowledge. In proportion as Divine providence grants us knowledge of Divine things it is possible for us to exercise faith proportionately. And our works in harmony with such faith demonstrate the sincerity of our faith. The same principle continues throughout this Christian Age. Grace opens the way for Knowledge paves the way for faith and begetting of the Holy Spirit to the extent of opportunity should demonstrate the degree and quantity and sincerity and loyalty of the faith. The present Age is the test time for the Church. Perfect faith is possible to be attained and must be attained, if we would have the highest blessing God Is now offering. And |f we have that highest faith, God will see it in our works and endeavors, however imperfect they may appear to others. . e.