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THE KING’S BUSINESS
stand—n o ; “ that they m ig h t understand the Scriptures.” It is not science, philosophy, socialism, commerce and culture but the Scriptures that are to teach and make, not citizens of the world, but disciples of Jesus Christ. 8. The Sum of the Matter. The gist of it all is : “ Thus it is written” (not was, but is like the I AM , its Author, “the same yesterday, today and forever” ) “ and thus it behooved Christ to suffer” (for this a “body” had been prepared Him. It was eminently proper if He were to “make re conciliation for the sins of his people,” that H e should (1) suffer and (2) rise from (among) the dead (ones) on the third day, that He might make His work effectual forever (Heb. 7 :25) and that (1) repentance (on the part of men) and (2) re mission (on the part of God) might be preached (which otherwise it could not be) in His name (not in that of the ethi cal preacher, or the reformer, or the evolu tionist, but in His Name, the only “ name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12) “among all nations” (for all have sinned,—Rom. 3 :23, and need repentance,—Acts 17:30, 31; and may be forgiven,Si John 2 :2) “ beginning at Jerusalem” (for .salvation is for the Jews,—Rom. 11:26, 27; and of the Jews,— John 4:22). “And ye are witnesses of these things” (and their testimony bears more of the signs of the eye witness and the true than any other). 9. The Promise of Power. One thing remained: understanding of the Scriptures and personal experience of the facts, even familiarity with the Lord Himself, were not enough. Though the King’s business re quires haste, “ Tarry” till we be endowed with power from on high ; but "tarry ye in Jerusalem,” the Father’s house of prayer, and tarry in reliance and in expectation of His promise. Then “ Go y e ,” “ an d lo , i a m WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.”
tian nations” , are at this writing further from the “ Beatitudes” than they have been since first evangelized. But “ out from among the nations” a countless number have rewarded the Divine messengers and in the last century and today are responding as never before. 5. His Promise. “ And" (if you go, and teach, all) lo, (emphatic) “I” (with “all power” ) “ am with you ” (individually) al ways" (uninterruptedly, everywhere) “ even” (to the uttermost) “ to the end of the world" (Gr’k, “age.” No matter how long it drags on ). The end of the earth is the limit of space, the end of the age the limit of time to.which the commission and promise ex tend. 6. The Plan of the Ages. The mission to which they were called was not a new thought but in God’s purpose from the be ginning. “ While I was yet with you” (be fore his rejection and crucifixion) “all things must be fulfilled, which were writ ten,” etc. (before His incarnation). This missionary enterprise in which the Church is engaged today was planned by God be fore the mountains on which the band with the feet beautiful “ publish glad tidings of peace” (Isa. 52:7). "Things,” said Jesus, "concerning me.” Here the Highest critic of Moses and the prophets testifies of Moses and the prophets that they wrote, that they predicted, and that they wrote of Him, and that all they wrote, and all the Psalmists sung, was concerning Him and concerned Him. 7. Jesus Opens Their Understanding. Who could be so well qualified to explain the Scriptures as He concerning whom they were written? But we have today men of “advanced” scholarship who profess to know the Scriptures better than Hel When Jesus opens the Scriptures our hearts “burn within us” (Luke 24:32), they grow cold and heavy under the “ scholarly” expositor. Missionaries must be thoroughly instructed in Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms, “concerning Him” and then they need that He should open their understandings. And not only so, but open them to under
Anh tb»8 went forth atth prrarlfrh currjj- ntljrrc,tljr îGnrî»marking with them.--JJÏarbl6:20.
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