Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1914 — BROOKLYN TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

BIBLE-ST UPY’ON

WHAT DOTH JEHOVAH REQUIRE? Matthew 7:24-29—March 29." "What doth Jehorah require of thee, but to do justly and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?" -Alirah 6:S. sought to impress upon 4 His hearers that it was not suf- ■ ficicnt to hear that a Kingdom of God. was coming to bring blessings to the world, and that a Kingdom class was being called to be Messiah’s joint-heirs in that Kingdom. Action would be necessary on their part if they would attain this high privilege which God had granted them. Jesus gave an illustration, saying

that those who heai obeyed it would be like a Wise man who built upon the rock, where rains would not wash away the foundation. Th e storms of life and the great erisis, death, are sure to come. Amidst these trials there will be calmness, security and confidence for such

as have accepted the Lord’s arrangement and have walked to the best of their ability in Jesus’ footsteps.

“Other Foundation Can No Man Lay.” On the Other band, Jesus iutimatod that many who heard Ills words and expressed great appreciation of them, would fail to take the proper steps to attain the glorious Kingdom privileges which lie presented. They would allow custom, habit, love of pleasure, love of ease, the spirit of the world, to hinder them, from making full devotion of themselves to God. Such did not build their faith upon the proper foundation. Perhaps some built upon the Law. and thought to commend themselves to God by their own endeavors, without the imputation of Christ's merit. Such would be greatly mistaken Other foundation can no man lay than that which God has laid—Jesus Christ. HI death is our redemption-price; aud’lii - appearance in glory as our Advocat - is to make good our unintentional shortcomings. With all such, the day of trial will surely come; and their faith structure, being without proper foundation, will give way. They will suffer loss of all their hopes This, however, does not signify, as many once supposed, that they will go to eternal torment. Evidently nearly all Christians, misled by the creeds of the Dark Ages, have read Into God's Word things which It does not contain.

Compare Bt. Paul’s Parable. The Apostle Paul used a similar illustration. Those building upon that foundation with the gold, silver and precious stones of Divine Truth—developing faith and character In harmony with the Divine requirements—will suffer no loss in the great trialod.ly at the end .of this Age. But others who build with the wood, hay and stubble of human tradition and self complaeency. will have their entire faith structure consumed. 1 Corinthians 8:10-15.) Nevertheless the Apostle tells us that even these, if they have built upon Christ, will t hemselves be saved, yet so as by fire. They will be what is termed a tribulation class, described in Revelation 7:14-17. Vhe class building with gold, silver and precious stones, will be a Little Flock, a Royal Priesthood. But the class building upon the Itock without proper materials will be the Great company, the antitype of the Levites. They will serve God through the priestly class. “The People Were Astonished.” No wonder the people were astonished at such doctrines as Jesus set forth ! His teachings had a positiveness quite different from the speculations and wonderings of the scribes and Pharisees. So it is always with the Truth. Wherever there is confusion and mystery, we may be sure that there is error and ignorance. Hence the necessity that all who preach Christ should have the anointing, or ordination to preach, which God alone gives through the begetting of the Holy Spirit

Our Golden Text. The Prophet Micah addressed our Golden Text to the people of Israel, and therefore his message was given

from the standpoint of the Law. Nevertheless iio Jew ever fulfilled the Law except Jesus, because all except Him were fallen and imperfect He alone was “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners.” \ During Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom. this same Law

giv e n to Israel through Moses will be given to the whole world of mankind through Messiah. The requirements will be to do justly, to love kindness, to walk humbly with God. The reason why Messiah’s ministration of this Law will be a success, while Moses’ ministration was a failure so far as bringing any one to perfection was concerned, is that Messiah’s Kingdom will be fully prepared and authorized to forgive sinners and to help them back to the image and likeness ot God, originally represented in Father Adam. The right to thus forgive sin and lift the sinner out of degradation, belongs to Messiah, by virtue of His sacrifice.

“The Rock of Christ Jesus.”

"Saved So as by Fire."