Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1914 — REPENTANCE FIRST THEN CONSECRATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REPENTANCE FIRST THEN CONSECRATION

Nona But the New Creature Can Understand God’s Plan. The Gospel la For the Broken-Hearted. “Tift Meek Will He Teach In the Way”—Turning From Sin—Turning to God—The Brotherhood of Christ. Suffering With Christ—Rejoicing In and Denying Christ—Purpose of Trials and Afflictions—The Glory to Follow.

Asbury Park, N. J., June 28.—Pastor Russell addressed a large convention of Bible Students here today, to' he set forth the philosophy of the untold sufferings of true Chris- i tians throughout the Gospel Dispensation. Part IV. of THE PHOTO-

DRAMA OF CREATION on exhibition* at. home and abroad, depicts the unwritten history of the Church of Christ and shows the cost of “following His steps.” The Pastor's text was, “Jehovah hath appointed Me to preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken-hearted.**—lsaiah 61:1. The Gospel Message, the Pastor declared, is for the meek, for the brokenhearted—the only class which God wishes to have now. He is seeking those who desire to be Christ's jointheirs In the Messianic Kingdom. Therefore the Message is unsuited to the hard-hearted. Only the tenderhearted care to know about God’s love and mercy, the forgiveness of sins, the privilege of returning to the Father and of having Jesus as their Savior. The Pastor believes that it is a mistake to. go out into the highways and byways to convert the very wickedblasphemers, etc.—thinking that these are the ones for whom the Gospel is : intended. The Scriptures do not authorize any such idea. Those living in sin unrepented of are not in proper condition to receive God’s great Plan of the Ages, the speaker declared. God has said that “none of the wicked shall understand.” He does not wish them to do so. God’s Message speaks peace to those who are in trouble and who are seeking the righteousness which He provides. The Gospel is not a sledge hammer with which to break men’s hearts, he said. He knows of no Scriptural commission for God’s people to break hearts. On the contrary, he thinks that the Devil does most of such work. The Two Conversions. Next it was demonstrated that there are two.conversions; one a turning dway from sin, and the other a turning to God. The latter is the principal conversion. Only those who take the step of full consecration to God receive the Holy Spirit and obtain a clear view of the Divine Plan. The Pastor showed that those begotten of the Holy Spirit not only belong to the Church, the Brotherhood of Christ on the spiritual plane, but are also reckoned as members of the Body of Christ on the earthly plane. From this viewpoint, he claimed, Christ has suffered in the flesh throughout this Gospel Age- St. Peter declares that the Prophets foretold the ■ sufferings of The Christ and the glory to follow. St Paul speaks of filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ After these sufferings the glory will follow. Trials'and discipline develop Christian character, preparing the .child of God for future service in the Kingdom. Whoever suffers In the flesh because of being Christ’s disciple has occasion for rejoicing. Such should continue faithful, that by and by as a polished jewel he may be ready for a glorious setting in the promised Immortality.

Confessing or Denying Christ. The terms of membership in the glorified Body of Christ were next discussed. ' After one has been spirit-be-gotten, his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life as a member of the Body of Christ Our Lord has promised that if these are faithful their agreement to sacrifice their little all He will not blot out their names from that Book. But if any such deny Him, He will deny them. To confess Christ is to live for Him day by day—confessing Him in the use of time, influence, money, talents—in every word and act Should any consecrated child of God deny Christ by neglecting his Covenant, such would demonstrate his unworthiness of membership tn the glorified Church. Importance of Consecration. Great stress is laid upon consecration, the Pastor declared, because -it is the only way of coming into relationship with God and of approaching the Heavenly Throne with assurance that our petitions will be granted. He illustrated his point by reference to the ancient custom of a host to furnish plain white fobes for his guests to wear over their own garments when present at a wedding. All consecrated Christians have accepted God's Invitation to the Marriage ot the Lamb. Each must wear the Robe of Christ’s Righteousness or else forego the feast The only way to get rid of sins ta through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and full consecration to do God's willeven unto death.