1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
But says one, you seem to agree with each, and disagree witheach; how is this? They cannot all be right and wrong at thesame time. Well not altogether right, but partly right, as in theillustration. We are glad to see that each has enough ground forhis belief to awaken our sympathy and respect. Respect for whatPaul would have been ashamed of? No, we did not say that Paulwas ashamed of these brethren, but of the doctrines or creedsthat have come to be called the gospel, or are considered asrepresenting the gospel.R221 : page 4Well, says our Calvinistic brother, answer me one question: Isnot Predestination or Election clearly taught in the Scriptures?Yes, my brother, yes. Well, says my Arminian brother, is notfree will as clearly taught? Yes, my brother, we so understand.And is not universal salvation as clearly taught, says myUniversalist brother, and we answer we think and believe so.Perhaps all of these brethren, including the Papist brother, caresto hear no more; if so, perhaps some "fool for Christ's sake"will, so we will say on and consider the last question first. Weconsider our Universalist brother's text "As in Adam all die,even so in Christ shall all be made alive," 1 Cor. 15:22, asunanswerable as regards the universality of salvation; if therewere not another text in the Bible to teach it, that would. Itseems to us that nothing can be plainer, and for this reason otherscripture somewhat obscure must in some way harmonize withit, and so of each of the other texts quoted by our brethren asteaching the doctrines of "Election," and "Free will," orArminianism. In the above text we think no one wouldundertake to make the word "all" in the second place mean lessthan in the first, especially when the first is followed and thelatter preceded by the words "even so." The misunderstandingseems to be as to the kind or mode of life. "As in Adam all die;"how do all die in Adam? To answer it correctly first concludehow all lived in Adam. Not spiritual nor eternal life was it?Natural life and its continuance CONDITIONED on obedience,was it not? Then he (and all in him) lost no more than that, and"even so" he (and "all" in him) will be made alive in Christ, thesecond Adam. But, says one, is that all the life we get throughChrist? That is all the universal salvation we can find held out tomankind in the Bible, and that we think is "very good;" God saidit was, but thank God there is more, but if any wish to stop there,God has predestinated to let them, but if they have heard of thehigher life andR222 : page 4neglected "so great salvation," theirs will be an irreparable loss.Then you think, says one, that there are different degrees ofsalvation? O, yes; let us read on a little further (23d ver.): "But
every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits, afterward theythat are Christ's at his coming."Having seen that there are orders or ranks of being, as is alsoshown by the apostle in the 39th verse and onward, we can seethat it does not follow that because all are made alive throughChrist, they will therefore come finally to the same kind ofbeing, but are brought to life and take position according to"order," for "As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy;and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly" (48ver.).With this view, that there are different orders, and that all arebrought to the restoration of what was lost in Adam, we can seehow there may be a will in man to gain a position in any givenorder, and how there may be a selection, "Election" or"Predestination," (whichever you choose to call it) of God fromamong his creatures of those who are qualified or fitted for thedifferent grades, orders, or ranks of being. He has predestinated,or established a law, that, "to those who by patient continuancein well doing SEEK for glory and honor and immortality, eternallife" shall be given. Rom. 2:7. "But unto them that arecontentious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness,indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish to every soul ofman that doeth evil," (8 and 9 verses). Now who disobey? Thosewho know the truth surely. You do not consider your child asdisobedient until it transgresses a known command; neither doesGod, for "like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieththem that fear him." Many fear him who do not know muchabout him, and do not know what is commanded, or whether hehas commanded anything or not. Such cannot, of course, obeythe truth, nor come under wrath, but will come to life (noteternal), the life lost in Adam without any will or choice oftheirs, and restored to that measure, through the second Adamwithout will or choice of theirs. It was for this purpose that "Heby the grace of God should taste death for every man." Heb. 2:9.And God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we wereyet sinners Christ died for us. Yes "WHEN we were enemies wewere reconciled to God by the death of his son." Rom. 5:8-10.But does some one say, very well, but Paul says here of thegospel, that it is the power of God unto salvation to every onethat believeth?Ah, but brother, now you are reaching that point in the mind andteaching of the apostle in which is embraced another rank or"order:" the power of God UNTO; we do not imagine that thepower of God is staid at all when man is brought back to theAdamic condition, that is, to a reconciled condition; he lost thatlife without previously knowing the nature of sin or death; true,God told him, but like children without experience, theydisobeyed, and his posterity die for it, or because of it; whetherthey sin or not they all go down in death because of the sin of
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But says one, you seem to agree with each, and disagree witheach; how is this? They cannot all be right and wrong at thesame time. Well not altogether right, but partly right, as in theillustration. We are glad to see that each has enough ground forhis belief to awaken our sympathy and respect. Respect for whatPaul would have been ashamed of? No, we did not say that Paulwas ashamed of these brethren, but of the doctrines or creedsthat have come to be called the gospel, or are considered asrepresenting the gospel.R221 : page 4Well, says our Calvinistic brother, answer me one question: Isnot Predestination or Election clearly taught in the Scriptures?Yes, my brother, yes. Well, says my Arminian brother, is notfree will as clearly taught? Yes, my brother, we so understand.And is not universal salvation as clearly taught, says myUniversalist brother, and we answer we think and believe so.Perhaps all of these brethren, including the Papist brother, caresto hear no more; if so, perhaps some "fool for Christ's sake"will, so we will say on and consider the last question first. Weconsider our Universalist brother's text "As in Adam all die,even so in Christ shall all be made alive," 1 Cor. 15:22, asunanswerable as regards the universality of salvation; if therewere not another text in the Bible to teach it, that would. Itseems to us that nothing can be plainer, and for this reason otherscripture somewhat obscure must in some way harmonize withit, and so of each of the other texts quoted by our brethren asteaching the doctrines of "Election," and "Free will," orArminianism. In the above text we think no one wouldundertake to make the word "all" in the second place mean lessthan in the first, especially when the first is followed and thelatter preceded by the words "even so." The misunderstandingseems to be as to the kind or mode of life. "As in Adam all die;"how do all die in Adam? To answer it correctly first concludehow all lived in Adam. Not spiritual nor eternal life was it?Natural life and its continuance CONDITIONED on obedience,was it not? Then he (and all in him) lost no more than that, and"even so" he (and "all" in him) will be made alive in Christ, thesecond Adam. But, says one, is that all the life we get throughChrist? That is all the universal salvation we can find held out tomankind in the Bible, and that we think is "very good;" God saidit was, but thank God there is more, but if any wish to stop there,God has predestinated to let them, but if they have heard of thehigher life andR222 : page 4neglected "so great salvation," theirs will be an irreparable loss.Then you think, says one, that there are different degrees ofsalvation? O, yes; let us read on a little further (23d ver.): "But
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