leave all the accompanying curses to literal Israel, or the Jews. Certainly there is not one single verse in the New Testament that even hints at “ winning the world to Christ.” Evangelical Christianity has gone astray at this point. They have made themselves “ spiritual Israel,” scrambled the Jews and the nation Israel among the nations and relegated to themselves the promise of uni versal dominion that Jehovah promised to Israel alone when that nation shall be returned to her land, having accepted the Messiah. The whole pattern of a “ Kingdom program,” “ bring in the Kingdom,” and the like begins to show up. Christendom is trying to build a Christian world with Kingdom machinery during the absence of the King. The place of national Israel, the divine prom ises accompanied by oath made to David, are set aside, Israel is junked and forgotten, and the Church struggles to move forward toward the accomplishment of an un- scriptural program by the means of unauthorized tools. Is there any wonder that the Holy Spirit has warned us in Romans 11:25-27: “ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is hap pened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Most Christians are ignorant of God’s future plans for Israel. Before we leave this subject, we attempt to account for the two types of missions just referred to the “ come” missions and the “ go ye” missions. Why must we send missionaries out during this age? The answer is not far away when we recall that this is an age of moral and spiritual night (Romans 13:11-12). Our Lord is the light of this world (kosmos) John 8:12. “ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in dark ness, but shall have the light of life.” John 9:5: “ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When this world rejected the Son of God, a deep dark ness settled upon this earth. We, the bom again be lievers are now the light of the world. During this moral and spiritual night, sinners can’t find their way to God. They are lost and must be found, blind and must be sought. We are to go forth to take to them life through the gospel. This includes the divine method of election and selection. This work therefore is only partial. It is the “ taking out” process and not a wholesale trans formation. Now look at the other side of the picture. When “ the Sun of Righteousness” shall arise with healing in his wings (Mai. 4 :2), then the shadows shall flee away “ and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” During the Kingdom age there will be a perpetual day when the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. In such conditions, men can find their way. God’s plans and demands are always reasonable to those who desire- to obey. Before we leave this subject, fearing some may doubt the meaning of the program as set forth in Acts 15:14-
18, let us turn to the book of Amos from whence the quotation is taken. Amos 9:11-15: “ In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the HOW TO HOLD A FAM ILY WORSH IP 1. Choose a regular time to hold family wor ship each day— either in the morning or evening. 2. The father will be the leader. 3. Family worship should be a happy gather ing, but remember that it must be rever ent, too. 4. Let the Bible be the center of family wor ship. The Bible reading should be clear, careful, and brief. 5. Follow a definite course of Bible reading, either going through one book at a time — e.g. one of the Gospels— or choosing passages which contain great verses or prayers, or tell of important events and prophecies. Where there are children, it is good to use the Psalms. 6. With young children it is sometimes bet ter to tell a Bible story instead of reading it, or to read from a Bible picture book, which will help to hold their interest. 7. Children should be allowed to ask ques tions if they wish. They can also recite memory verses. 8. Prayers should be short, and the children encouraged to take part. 9. Invite friends to share in your family worship when they are visiting your home. 10. Remember that the saying of grace be fore meals is part of family worship too! treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the moun tains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.” You will observe that immediately following the passage quoted from Amos is the description of a Kingdom or Millen nial scene. Once we find the key, the whole of Scripture begins to take shape.
AUGUST, 1961
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