Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1912 — THE SAVIORS TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE SAVIORS TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES

THE GREAT QUESTION. Mark viii, 27—ix, I—Nov. 17. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of fAe Living God.’’—Matthew rvi, 16. fOR a considerable period of Hi it ministry our Lord did not declare Himself, even to His disciples, to be the Messiah. Undoubtedly lie chose the wiser course. He did, however, wish His disciples to know, and He approached the question by asking, “Who do men say that I am?’’ He got their reply. Then came the point of the question: “But who ’ say yc that I am?" St. Peter auswered,“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said, “Blessed art thou. Simon, son of Jonah, for tlesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but My Father which is in Heaven.”

Forthwith Jesus began to explain to the beloved Twelve the experiences that lay before Him— J and Ills,death and , resurrection. Doubtless all of the Apos- v ties were disap- , pointed, but only 1 St Peter had the j courage to express himself, saying. “Be, it far from Thee,

Lord, tills shall not happen.” In tills course St. Peter was opposing the Divine will and Plan, of which the death of Jesus was the very Center or Hub. To make the matter very emphatic Jesus said to St. Peter, “Get thee behind Me, adversary, thy words savor not of the things of God, but the tilings of men.” Then lie began to make clear to Ills followers what had not been "meat in due season” to tell them clearly before, namely, that whoever desired to be His disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow in the footsteps of the Redeemer. lie who will faithfully lose his life for Jesus’ sake will save It—will gain the reward of life on the spirit plane.

“What Shall It Profit a Man?” God has provided a future life for every man through the Redemption accomplished by Jesus, but only the noble of heart, of character, of life, who will accept this great blessing through the Divinely appointed way, will get it. If they selfishly seek soi r the whole world, the selfishness thus developed will make them unfit for the eternal life. For what would a man take In exchunge for the loss of his life? Would he consider wealth or fame or name for a few years in the present time worthy of exchange at profit, if it were to cost him eternal glory, eternal life? Surely not. We are therefore to have iu mind that character-build-ing is absolutely essential to our attaining eternal life. Whoever becomes a follower of the Lord and hopes to gain the prize of everlasting life and glory on the spirit plane must come out fully and courageously and acknowledge Jesus and Ills words. To be ashamed of the Truth, of the Divine Plan, of what we find to be the teachings of God’s Word, because it is unpopular with men, la to offend the Lord and to prove ourselves unworthy of Ills favor. The Great Question. -ii-Jt-Tbe great question of eighteen centuries ago Is tl»e great question of today: Who is Jesus? If as some claim. He was merely a good man, a most able Teacher, then He was not the

Christ, for the Christ. although the embodiment of all those qualities, was more, much more. To be the Christ, He must have been the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a Ransom price for

all, to be testified in due time. (I Tiinothy ii* 5,0.) And that signifies that He must have been, not of ordinary birth, but extraordinary, born from above, because if born in the ordinary course of nature ne would be like others of Adam's sons, subject to the sentence of death and hence unable to save either Himself or others. But if He was the Christ, the Sent of God, who left the glory of the Father and was made flesh, that He might “taste death for every man,” then we behold Him as the great Redeemer of the world, whose death was necessary as a Ransom, or corresponding price, to secure the release of mankind from the death sentence and to make possible the resurrection of Adam and his race. v-j More than this, the word Christ signifies the Anointed. The Bible declares that the Anointed Lord shall be the Great King, Prophet and Priest, whose Kingdom shall last for a thousand years, and shall destroy sin and all who love sin, and Hft up all humanity willing to return into harmony with God. This is who Jesus is, according to the Scriptures—the Messiah. And His present work is the gathering of a Bride class, to be His Joint-heir in His glorious Kingdom, which will be set up soon after, the Elect Church shall have been completed by the glorious change , of the First Resurrection. What think ye of Messiah? What think ye of His invitation to become His associate in His glory and Kingdom? What think ye of the cost of self-denial, self-sacrifice? What thtnir ye of the great reward? /

"Thou art the Christ."

"Get thee' behind Me, adversary."