Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1913 — SACRIFICES NOT REQUIRED BY GOD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SACRIFICES NOT REQUIRED BY GOD

Sacrifices Under Jewish Law and Their Antitypes. Pastor Russell’s Preaching—Why Not “Fashionable”—Why It Is Doctrinal., Eating God’s Word —Unrequired and Undesirable Sacrifices Acceptable Sacrifices —The Rewards of Accepted Sacrifices—TJie “Better Sacrifices.”

Washington, D. C., Oct 19. —We report one of Pastor Russell’s discourses for today from the text, “Sacrifices and offering and bdrnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldst not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the “Law.”—

Hebrews 10:87 ~ .■ '' / ■ ■ ~ Before discussing his text, the Pastor answered the queries of thos#Who ask why he does not preach “fashionable” sermons—digests of leading magazine articles, dissertations on scientific progress, public parks, better housing for the poor, discourses on intemperance, the social evil. etc. His reply is that he has a different ordination, which reads, “The Spirit of the Lord .God is upon me; because He hath anointed me to preach, good tidings to the meek.” The Master and the Apostles set the standard which he believes should be followed. He follows their example, not considering himself wise enough to improve upon their methods. Jesus’ ‘ preaching was along the simplest doctrinal lines, because none of His hearers were begotten of the Holy Spirit. The Divine thought is expressed that beginners in the Christian way should “desire the sincere milk of the Word,” whereas advanced Christians should feed upon strong meat. Nothing else can satisfy souls hunger’ig and thirsting after righteousness. Unrequired and Undesirable Sacrifices. The Pastor then discussed his text St Paul is quoting from the fortieth Psalm. Through the Prophet David, God declared that the sacrifices of the Law, which could never really cancel sin, were not to His pleasement Christ is here represented as noting that the typical sacrifices could not remove sin, but that His own body had been especially prepared as a Sin-Of-fering, to provide the better sacrifice necessary to redeem Adam *and his race. - Further, we read of the Master’s consecration at thirty years of age. Everything written in the Law and in the Prophets respecting the bearing of the penalty of Adam’s sin by a Savior, Jesus pledged Himself to carry out “Then said I, Lo, I come to! do Thy will, O God.” The Pastor then showed that St Paul points out that the unacceptable sacrifices were those of the Law; and that when Jesus offered Himself as the antitypical sacrifice, it meant the taking away of the first or typical, to put into their place the antitypical. “Better Sacrifices” —Plural. Pastor Russell reminded his hearers that the Atonement Day sacrifices were plural, and that the Apostle ; speaks —of-—“better -sacrifices —than these.” This same lesson he declared to be set forth elsewhere In Scripture; namely, that from the beginning it had been the Divine purpose, that our Lord should have associates, who would pass through similar experiences. The Pastor cited many Scriptural proofs’ of this assertion. Christ is styled “the Captain of our salvation,” “the the “High Priest of our profession,” etc. The Church are the under-priests, now sacrificing, preparing as He did. for the glorious future work. These priests St Peter styles a Royal Priesthood, because they will have kingly power combined with priestly service. Holy and Acceptable Sacrifices. Pastor Russell next explained why Israel’s Atonement Day sacrifices were merely types. The Law read, “A man’s life for a man’s life.” Hence a bullock and a goat could never be acceptable to God as a substitutionary sacrifice for Adam and his family. Then the Pastor demonstrated that God prepared Jesus with, an acceptable body; and our Lord “offered, up Himself” an acceptable sacrifice. Divine acceptance wns manifested: (1) At Jesus’ consecration, by the Impartation of the Holy Spirit; (2) By Jesus’ resurrection, born of the Spirit to glory and immortality. As in -the Atonemejit Day sacrifice there was an offering of a bullock, representing Jesus’ death, so there was a subsequent offering of a goat, typify ing the Church’s sacrifice. Jesns’ sacrifice continued during the three and a halfvyears of His ministry, and ended with His death. Forty days after, He ascended on High. Then He made application of the merit of Hie sacrifice on behalf of all who desire tx become His footstep followers. Those in the upper room at Pentecost were tbe first to be begotten of the Holy Spirit and to become acceptable sacrifices. Since then, others have been received from every nation. Soon the foreordained number of such sacriflcers, or priests, will have completed the JBody of Christ beyond the veil. Forth with the Messianic Kingdom will U established ror the blessing of all.