October 1929
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
465
continue thou in the things which thou hast, learned, and hast been assured of, knowing o f whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child [Greek, a babe] thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14,15). To sum up, the Christian system is coherent, com plete and effectual. Man was created in the divine image, and therefore in a state of moral and spiritual integrity; through the abuse of his freedom, he sinned and thus -lost the divine image, rendering himself an alien from the life of God; in the fulness of time God sent His Son to re deem His fallen creatures, thus removing all the judicial obstacles in the way of his salvation; then the Holy Spirit came to apply the objective redemption wrought by the active and passive obedience of the incarnate Son of God, to regenerate man, to create saving faith in his soul, re
store the divine image in him, to give him inner certifica tion of truth and salvation, and thus bring him back into holy and happy fellowship with his Creator. Is not that a complete system and a rational philosophy ? If it were generally accepted, and were permitted to be an energizing moral and spiritual force in men’s lives, human hearts would be stabilized and comforted, and the race would advance rapidly in true civilization. Then, too, the per plexed minds of men would experience the divine solu tion of their fundamental problems. Nor would such peace of mind in any way or measure curtail men’s activities and researches, but would turn them into other and more fruitful channels, because then men’s souls would be at peace, “in tune with the infinite.” And so for every one the great and satisfying experience of the apostle would be realized: “Godliness with content ment is great gain.”
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What Think Ye of Christ? B y C hallie E . G raham (Sheridan, Mo.)
“What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?”— Matt. 22:42. Kj&jggbifltijf HIS is the broadest, deepest and loftiest question Cver put t0 man' ® ' s *ar ak°ve aP others for the man who is unredeemed. To think’ of ^ ¡ ¡ £ 3 Christ is a personal and individual duty. It is SM # a matter of transcendent importance. Our con- X-01 duct toward Him must always be regulated by our views of Him. . “A s a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” It is not the part of a wise mail to ignore such a question as this. Thinking affects character. Ideals control life. Thought is a mighty power vested in man, for which God holds him responsible. It is supremely important that we think of Christ. And how important it is that we have right thoughts of Him. What we think of Him influences our lives in every realm. Many lives are ruined for want of thinking. Everything depends on what we think of Jesus Christ. Nothing but a right conception of Him will set the life right. And as we settle this question our eternal destiny is decided for weal or woe. What think ye of the birth of Christ? The Scriptures, in speaking of His birth, say: “Therefore, the Lord him self shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7 :14). “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us” (Matt. 1 :23J. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince o f Peace” (Isa. 9:6). “Now the birth o f Jesus Christ was on this wise : When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child o f the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, arid not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel o f the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not
to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is con ceived in her is o f the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:18-21; also Luke 1:26-35; 2:1-14). Earthly rulers are born in palaces, amid all of splendor, pomp and grandeur; but Jesus Christ was born in a lowly stable, surrounded by the beasts of the field. At what other birth did angels leave their home in the starry skies and come to earth to sing their glory song ? Or, when did a star unmoor itself from its station in the heavens and move with precision to the place of birth, thus pointing out where the Infant lay ? The fact is, His birth is unlike all others, as He Himself is different from all others. As He stands out by Him self in everything, so does He in the character of His birth. What think ye of Christ as a boy ? At twelve years of age, we find him in the temple asking the learned rabbis questions and startling them by the things that He said. Such wisdom baffled them. It outclassed the wisdom of Israel’s well-trained teachers. He was no man of letters. He held no university degree, and yet His wisdom utterly astonished them. When censured by His parents for tarrying in the city of Jerusalem after the Passover feast, He replied, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Thus early He knew He was sent of God upon a great mission, and was already resolved to do His will in all things. After going back to Nazareth, we are told that He was obedient unto His parents, that He grew in stat ure and wisdom and in favor with God and men. He developed physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. His was the perfect boyhood that developed into the perfect manhood. What think ye of Christ as a teacher ? One day His enemies sent officers to arrest Him; they found Him teaching the multitudes. W,hen they returned without Him, they were asked why they did not bring Him, and replied, “Never man spake like this man.” And this has been the universal testimony of men throughout the ages. His teachings have never had to be revised in nine-
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