Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1916 — TWO BUNDS OF GOD’S HEROES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TWO BUNDS OF GOD’S HEROES

Hebrews U:t—l2.t—hlarch IS. Faith Heroes of the Jewish Age—Faith Heroes of the Gospel Age—The House of Servants The House of Sons. Earthly Promises—Heavenly Promises—Resurrection to Perfect Human Nature—Resurrection to Divine Nature—The Christian Race Course. "Let us with patience run the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith.’'—Hebrews 12:2. C'hE Bible puts faith before works, because no works can be acceptable to God unless inspired by faith. (Hebrews 11:6.) The Bible brings to our attention two distinct classes of Faith Heroes, both pleasing to God and both to be highly rewarded by Him. One of these classes preceded Jesus’ day; the other follows His day. The first class are therefore known as the Ancient Worthies; the latter class, with Jesus as their Head, are styled the Sons of God. This distinction or division of God’s servants, although clearly marked in the Scriptures, has been overlooked by the Lord’s people until recent years. No matter how faithful or loyal Enoch, Abraham, David. Jeremiah, etc..

were, they could not be recognized by God as members of the House of Sons, because they lived before Jesus tasted death for every man. Adam was recognized as a son of God. (Luke 3:38.) From the time that sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedi-

ence, God recognized none of the human family as Ilis sons. "All were sinners,” until Jesus came and died, “the Just for the unjust,” that He might bring us back to God and oi>en to us the door of sonship. In Hebrews 3:5, 6 the distinction is clearly marked between the noble brethren before the Cross, the last of whom was John the Baptist, and the noble brethren since the Cross, the first of whom were the Apostles. That John the Baptist was the last of the Ancient Worthies is attested by the Master. — Luke 7:28. Two Sets of Promises. St. Paul makes this distinction between the Ancient Worthies and the Christian Worthies in today’s lesson. After naming many of the prominent ones of the past, he declares that they were pleasing to God* noble, praiseworthy, because of their faith. Then he calls attention to the fact that they never received'the promises which God made to them. Prior to Jesus* day God did not promise The promises to the Ancient Worthies -were all earthly; as that made to Abraham in Genesis 13:14-17. St. Stephen calls attention to the fact that this promise to Abraham is still unfulfilled. He declares that Abraham never received enough of tliat land promised him to set his foot upon. On this promise he predicates the resurrection of Abraham, that in God's due time he may inherit the land and that his faithful posterity will Inherit it after him.—Acts 7:5. On the hand, the New Testament promises are only spiritual—- “ Heavenly promises,” “things above.” The Christian Worthies are promised a share with Jesus in the Heavenly Kingdom which He is to establish at Ills Second Coming. They are to be Ills joint-heirs, a Kingdom of Priests, a I!oyal Priesthood; while the promise to the Ancient Worthies is that they shall lie made “princes in all the earth.” (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 2:0: Revelation 20:6; Psalm 45:10.1 The Christian Heroes are to have a change from human nature to Divine, the beginning of this change beirig the Holy Spirit begetting in the present time, and its completion being that of the resurrection. (1 Corinthians i5:42-4 4.i But the Ancient Worthies, not receiving the beget!ln ,of the Holy Spirit to a new nature, will have a different resurrection—to human perfection. In Verses 39 and 40 St. Paul contrasts these two classes of Faith Heroes. The Christian Race-Course. In the two closing versds of today’s Study the Apostle addresses the Church. lie would have us consider the Ancient Worthies—what they endured. how faithful and loyal they wore.; He would have us consider them as though they were a cloud of

witnesses watching us, to whom has been given this still greater privilege of becoming sons of God on the Divine plans*—John 1:12; 2 Peter 1:4. lie pictures before us a great race-eou rse, in which we are runners. He pictures Jesus as the

Leader gone before, as the One through whom we have entered the race and who has promised us grace sufficient. He pictures Jesus’ loyalty and the Father’s faithfulness in highly rewarding Jesus, seating Him at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Then he urges us to run perseverlngly and patiently; for only such as attain the character-likeness of their Leader in this narrow way may hope to share His glory.—Romans 8:29.

Showing Heavenly Rewards.

Showing Earth ly Rewards,