May 1927
279
T h è
K i n g ’ s
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Foreign and Mixed Courts within the pale of the Conces sions, are of little value to Britain once China demon strates her ability to deal justly with foreigners. T he C h inese F eeling The Chinese, on the other hand, feel that the various privileges obtained at varying times by'foreigners are an offense against her dignity and the growing national con sciousness and integrity of her nation. Because of these privileges China feels herself despised and not given a fair hearing in the councils of the world. Britain seems willing to meet China more than half way, but the Nationalists of South China, who at present seem to be the strongest party in that country, have been making demands upon Britain which, if granted, would greatly lessen the influence of the latter in all Asia. For .some time the Nationalists seem to be wielding a strong diplomatic weapon in their boycott of British goods, as a result of which British merchants have suffered heavy losses. But while trade counts much with Britain, her sense of honor is not to be despised. It is possible that in the long run the Nationalists may discover that their boycott has proven to be a dangerous and costly weapon, and that it was folly to have thus played into the hands of the Russian Bolsheviks. Who knows but that the Chino-Russian-Haman may yet be hung on the gallows he prepared for the British Mordecai? At any rate, one thing is certain, Britain and the other nations are not going to “skedaddle” out of China like whipped dogs under the lash of the Nationalists, backed by the Jewish Bolshevists of Russia. It seems, therefore, that the end of this Chinese trouble is not yet in sight, even though the Nationalists should win the war. Have you noticed that Jesus is called the “Bread of God” before He is called the “Bread of Life” ? It sug gests that God was first satisfied in Him before His creat ures could be. For this reason Jesus first vindicated the divine righteousness, met all the claims of heaven’s throne, satisfied God’s heart by living a perfect life. In Him the Father was “well pleased” (Mt. 17:5). Having ful filled in every detail the Father’s law, He then bore its penalty to the full for us and the God-man was a perfect substitute for all men. Therefore to the believer He is “made righteousness” (1 Cor. 1:30). We are “the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Because His righteousness is accepted, “we are accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6). “We are complete in Him” (Col. 2:10). His righteous ness is our answer before God. If righteousness with God depended upon the best five minutes of my life, it could not admit me to heaven. The gravest mistake a man can make is to think his own righteousness will be acceptable with God (Rom. 10:3-4). Drop every thought of human merit and find shelter in what Christ is and has done. He will be the Bread of Life to you because He is first of all the Bread of God. In Him, not only is righteousness imputed, but it will be imparted. God’s Bread “The bread of God” (John 6 :33; cf. v. 35).
The L ight-House Church W E are publishing herewith an interesting and suggestive picture—an old church in Norfolk, England, the tower of which is used as a lighthouse. For many years it has .been the only guide for boats entering Blakeney harbor. We would to God that we could get pastors everywhere to take a long look at this lighthouse church—and think it through! The present generation seems to comprehend religion simply as a system of moral principles, by the observance of which, the race will be lifted out of the mire. In this connection, the words of. Dr. J. C. Massee, pastor of Tremont Temple, Boston, are much to the point: “It is significant that in the Epistle to the Romans Paul has no word that has in it a hint of social service, welfare work, socialism, or of social and political regeneration by social means, even by humanitarian means. He seriously proposes the redemp tion of the city and of the world by a gospel of free grace. Social service may have its place as a by-product of the church and its message, but social service is not and cannot be a means of salvation. At its best it is a result of salvation. The Gospel proposes to recover men from their state of sin, to restore them to fellowship with God, to put them on their feet with the con sciousness of the right and. the power to live within the plan and purpose of God, and to restore to them a normal moral life rein forced by the Spirit of God, thus enabling them to live cleanly, to labor worthily, and to maintain in themselves a moral integrity which is the salt of human society. “The church is a lighthouse, and her only business is to keep the light shining. For in the radiance of that light men. lost men, find the path home again. “I know that men get uneasy and think that we may not trust wholly to the light, but I am fully persuaded and earnestly con vinced that we have done our best service to the state when we have preserved and preached the pure Gospel of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ."
“Upon a life I did not live, Upon a death I did not die; Another’s death, Another’s life, I risk my soul eternally.”
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