February, !936
T H E
K I N G ' S
B U S I N E S S
47
that ruined mass. What happens to a structure when it is destroyed? It is made unfit for the purpose for which it was built. What, then, happens to a man when he suffers everlasting destruction ? He has made himself unfit for the purpose for which he was created, and therefore he must be eternally separated from the presence of God. God’s Word describes eternal death with such pregnant words 'as “ eternal,” “ punishment,” “ fire,” and “ darkness.” Truly, we could not find words to;portray this awful state. Yes, “ the wages of sin is death’S-spiritual, physical, and eternal. But God be praised that we are not left with this statement. His Word goes infinitely beyond, and says that Christ came to earth “ that he . . . should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2 :9). His death was not merely for a few select men, but on behalf of “ every man.” Thus He satisfied the law o f justice that demands the payment of the penalty of sin. Were we to pay our own penalty, we must suffer eternal death, but “ the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53 :6 ). Accepting Him as our Sin- Bearer, we are set free. Now, in triumph, we may freely exult with Pau l: “ O death, where is thy sting?” Eternal PUNISHMENT The Doom 6 f the Finally Impenitent B y H. A. IRONSIDE* Chicago^ Illinois “ These shall go away into everlasting punishment: hut the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 2 5 :46). I n IgHESE closing words o f the Olivet discourse, our blessed Lord indicates unmistakably a great difference in the final destiny o f the righteous and the unrighteous, of the saved and the lost. No one desires for one moment to limit the duration o f the term aionious, translated “ eternal,” when it is used to qualify the word “ life.” But many there are who would rob the same word of all its real meaning when it is translated “ everlasting” and is linked with the noun “ pun ishment.” And this desire, o f course, is readily understood. All who have hope in Christ are glad to know that they who now possess eternal life as a divinely imparted gift shall eventually enter into a sphere where that life will forever have its fullest possible manifestation. But know ing how easy it is to sin, and that many will positively refuse to be saved from their sins, there are not wanting many sincere Christians who have hope that aionious may be more limited in respect to the punishment o f the wicked than to the life of the righteous. That their position is illogical, and thoroughly un- scriptural, can, however, be demonstrated easily. I nterpreting S cripture by S cripture The best way to find out the exact meaning of any controverted term is to notice carefully how it is used by the Holy Spirit Himself in the Scriptures o f truth; and as the word in question is frequently, employed by the inspired writers o f the New Testament, it is comparatively easy to arrive at its meaning. The following references are given, that we may take in its use at a glance: “ Everlasting punishment” (Matt. 2 5 :46). “ Everlasting life” (John 3 :16). “ Eternal life” (John 3:15 ). *Pastor, Moody Memorial Church.
RESULT o f SI£J? B y LEONARD H. PRENTICE* Cavalier, NortlriDakota I lived at home with my parents, for many years there was no death in our family. But one day, the Angel of Death came to our home and took one whom we dearly loved. Then, for the first time, I came to a full realization of the grim reality of death. Let us not lose sight o f the fact, however, that death is not an end, but rather a separation. A fter physical death has occurred, life and consciousness continue. So clear, in fact, is man’s consciousness in the spiritual realm that Paul in his marvelous “ third heaven” experience was able to say: “ Whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth” (2 Cor. 12:2). Death sets a limit for man’s decision for Christ. There is no “ second chance,” for the Scriptures clearly state: “ It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judg ment” (Heb. 9 :27)..! Realizing these facts, “ what manner o f persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godli ness” (2 Pet. 3 :11 ). Christ died in the sinner’s place, suffering the penalty that belonged to the sinner, and now there remains for the believer in Christ only the “ shadow o f death.” E ternal D eath ) Eternal death is eternal separation from God. This state is the culmination of spiritual death, for “ sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas. 1:15), Eternal death is the third installment of the “ wages of sin,” but it is unlike either of the two that precede it, for eternal death may be avoided. Each one of us was born spiritually dead. We had no voice in the matter. Apart from any choice of ours, we were born— spiritually dead. Each one of us must die physically. Again we are given no choice, for we cannot escape the experience o f death unless Christ comes to take us, with His church, to Himself. But eternal death is different—-it can be prevented. And the man who suffers this awful end does so because he insists upon paying the penalty for his own sin. The Scriptures speak o f eternal death as the “ lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10) and the “ second death” (Rev. 20:14). It is second in that it follows the first death. The first is not an end; neither is the second. There are those who would tell us that the unsaved are annihilated, and that a merciful and loving God could not have a place o f eternal punishment. In proof, they say that the Scriptures speak of “ everlasting destruction.” They quote 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9 : “ In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel o f our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence o f the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” But is destruction annihilation? I once lived in Los Angeles, California, and was well acquainted with the portions o f Los Angeles and Long Beach that were terribly shaken in that last earthquake. If we had to examine the ruins o f any one o f those buildings, undoubtedly we would, have agreed that the building was destroyed but still in existence. Each brick, each nail, each piece of glass, although no longer useful, was still there in *Pastor, First Baptist Church.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online