Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 309, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1913 — EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AT JESUS' NAME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AT JESUS' NAME

Jesus the Center of God’s Favors For Church and World. The Foundation of All Blessings Was Laid at Calvary—God’s Favor to the Elect Began at Pentecost —It Will Culminate at Jesus’ Second Coming. Then Will Begin the Blessing of the Non-Elect —Christ and the Church Will Reign a Thousand Years A Royal Priesthood For the Restoration of the World to Human Perfection. Wilfully Wicked Bo Destroyed.

Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 28. Pastoi Russell spoke twice here today We report his discourse from the text, “ Unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall sw e a r.”— Isaiah 45:23. Our careless reading of this passage, said the Pastor, has led some to as-

sume that the bowing of the knee and the confession of the tongue will be a mere formality, while hearts are still ih rebellion. A careful reading, how ever, notes that these acts will be tc the glory of God. This" insures a genu ine adoration; for the Master declared that the Father seeketh only such as worship in spirit and in truth. St Paul quotes this text, and adds that it includes things in Heaven as well as on earth. In other words, the great work which Jesus, as the Father’s Representative, will yet accomplish, will bring Him fame, glory and horn age amongst angels and men. Sufferings First and Glory Afterward. The Pastor then reminded his audience that comparatively few knees bow and tongues yet confess on .earth, although Jesus has been highly exalted in Heaven. He declared that it seems necessary for God’s people to realize that much confusion and error exist, and to feel heartily ashamed of our unreasonable conclusions—human creeds. The central teaching of the Bible is that Jesus’ death was necessary as man’s Redemption-price. This is clearly set forth by the Apostles, as well as by thte types of the Law. The worldly-wise scoff at the thought that Jhe shedding is necessary to man’s forgiveness and the rolling away of the cursed Shedding of blood is merely another way of saying sacrificial death. TJre Bible assures us that the sentence/“Dying, thou shalt die,” was placed/upon Father Adam because of disobedience, and that by heredity it has come down to us—his legacy of evil, sorrow, weakness, alienation from God, death. The Pastor demonstrated that the Supreme Judge of the Universe could not %et aside the death sentence of His own Court, and yet be just. There can be no forgiveness of Original Sin. and no opportunity for life everlasting except by a redemption—a payment of the original penalty. Here we see Divine Wisdom and Mercy. God provided that Adam alone should be on trial and only he should be sentenced. Thus He prepared the way for redemption—that as by a man came death, by a Man also should come the resurrection from the dead. Not the Father, but the Son, Died. Then the Pastor showed conclusively from Scripture that the Heavenly Father did not compel the Son to die for ns; but that He presented His Plan to the Son, and the Son voluntarily carried out the work. Nor was this contract without reward. SL Paul assures us that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at God’s right hand. The speaker next showed that the Logos, the Son, a spirit being, could become man’s Redeemer only by becoming a man—“the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a Ransom for all.” The Greek word antilutron, ransom, signifies a corresponding" price. Bulls and goats could not be a corresponding price; neither could angels, nor even the Logos Himself; for they were not on the same plane of being. Thus the Scriptures explain that it was necessary for the Logos to become a Man. in order to effect a Ransom for Adam. The Pastor then pointed out the folly of Christians who delude themselves Into, thinking that the whole world has had a blessing through Christ ever since He died, and that the millions that died before He tasted death for every man have also been blessed. None but the Church class thus far have received a blessing from Jesus, and so the Scriptures point out “The Election Hath Obtained It.” Next the Pastor declared that tbs key to the matter Is found In Romans 11. There St Paul draws attention to the (act that in rejecting Jesus. Israel rejected God’s chtefest blessing, but are “still beloved for the fathers’ sake.” He says, “The Election hath' obtained It and the rest were blinded.” This elect class are to constitute-the Messianic Kingdom class. That Kingdom. Invisible to men. yefall powerful in their midst, will bring to pass all the glorious promises of the Bible. The Times of Restitution will turn the earth into a paradise, and bring mankind back into the image and likeness of God, ioftt in Eden, restored by Calvary.