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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
There is the mature science of zoology, which man now builds up by observa tion and induction. He began where we leave off. His priestly character is seen in his relationship and fellowship with God. His kingly function was exercised :in his sovereignty over the earth. He lost all this when he fell. Though human nature is now in ruins, the traces of this original endowment may be discerned. Science in its quest of truth testifies to the prophetic func tion. All the false religions groping after God are relics of the priestly char acter and all ambition and striving after power and prestige in the political and social world speak of man’s original dominion. He was made to rule. This' three-fold function can only be recov ered and exercised in union with the second man with whom God is now dealing as the federal Head of a new race. The old Adamic line with its natural order has been set aside for ever and has no longer any standing in the sight of God nor any place in the Divine purpose. WEDNESDAY, April 30. Gen. 2:7-17. Man in Eden. Man’s original state in Eden was attended by the following conditions and privileges. His physical form reflected the Divine image, his body mediately, his spirit immediately. His sensuous impulses were in subjection to the Spirit. He had dominion over the brute creation. He enjoyed con stant communion with God. His sur roundings were fitted to promote his happiness. There was provision made for trying his virtue. The tree of knowledge was one of probation only. We do not know that it was naturally hurtful. Man could be made perfect only through temptation which did not necessitate a fall. If resisted it would strengthen virtue. In that case the “able not to sin” would become the “not able to sin.” It is the devil’s doctrine to say that evil is a necessary step to good and that sin is a fall upward. A father has a perfect right to' make his son’s title to his estate depend upon £he performance of some filial duty. There was also the opportunity for securing physical immortality. The body of man was itself mortal. 1 Cor. 15:44. Sci ence shbws that physical life involves decay and loss. The tree of life was apparently provided for checking the decay of the> body and preserving its youth, Gen. 3:22. If Adam :had not fallen the body might have been devel
oped and transfigured without the inter vention of death. Physical immortality without holiness would be endless mis ery. Sinful man was therefore shut out from the tree of life until he could be prepared for it by God’s righteousness. Redemption and resurrection not only restore what was lost but give what man was originally created to attain. 1 Cor. 15:45; Rev. 22:14. We gain more in the second .Adam than we lost in the first. Concluded from Page 364 Spirit, telling you it was wrong to tell a story, and if you listened to JeSus speaking to you through His Spirit, you did not tell mother the story, but you told her the truth that you did do the thing that she did not want you to do: Now if you told the story then you made this Helper feel very bad indeed, for He stood ready to help you, but you did not listen, but told the story. Now who was it that told you to tell the story? It was Satan, and he is always telling us to do wrong things, but you know this Holy Spirit Helper is stronger than Satan, so we never need to do wrong with such a wonderful strong Helper living right in our hearts to help and lead -us at all times. This Helper will make us love Jesus and love His Word, the Bible, and He will help us to understand the Bible and to remember .it, so when we are learning verses, we can say them without look ing on the book, this Holy Spirit Helper will help us to remember those verses. Something else this Helper does, He makes us want to go out and get other boys and girls and bring them to Sun day School, and so He makes little workers out of us. Is not Jesus a kind and loving Saviour to send such a won derful helper to be with us and help us at all times While we are living down here on this earth? Closing Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we do thank thee for sending us Thy Holy Spirit to live in us and help us at all times.
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