Vol 20 Issue 17

As we saw, in the first three centuries of our Christian era, the Christians were intermittently persecuted. “All the pains, which iron and steel, fire and sword, rack and cross, wild beasts and beastly men could inflict,” were employed to terrorize God’s people into denying the name of Christ. But, so we saw, in 323 Constantine, the first Christian occupant of the throne of the Caesars, became the sole ruler of the Roman world, and the church was everywhere free from its enemies. Constantine ordered the governors in all the provinces to restore all confiscated property to the body of...

In Ephesians 4:30 the apostle writes to the church, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.’’ Although Scripture does not elsewhere speak of “grieving the Spirit” in so many words, the idea is expressed more often in somewhat similar terms. In Isaiah 63:10 we read, “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” In the above passage the word “vexed” may also be translated “grieved.” Other passages do not single out the holy Spirit but refer to...

The rush to the beauty parlor! I realize that I expose myself to a vigorous attack from the young women when we begin to make comment on their beauty. I have heard of people who have been put to flight by the daggered looks of certain young women, when they made comments on their beauty. Somehow, however, if you put it in print the immediate danger is not so great, neither do you need to witness the reaction. I could hardly say, without more, that it is wrong to visit the beauty parlors, for I should not want to be...

In our former essay on this subject (See April 1 issue) we attempted to define the terms in our subject. In so doing we noticed the following: In the first place, that “Old Testament” is not to be identified or confused with O.T. Scriptures. For “Testament” in our subject means covenant and refers to the relationship established between God and His people, while the “Scriptures” are the infallible record of this covenant. Secondly, we observed, that “Testament” and “Dispensation” are also not identical. “Dispensation” in Holy Writ is the all-wise government and control of God the Father over all things...

The original subject assigned to me for an article was really of a much more limited nature than the heading of this article indicates. I was to write on: Christianity in Japan Today. I dropped the word “Today”. This gives me a somewhat broader field which seems preferable. By and large our readers very likely know little about Christianity in Japan at all, and it is therefore not out of place to tell about the coming and history of Christianity. Besides under present war conditions there is no information available regarding Christianity in Japan today. It is not improbable, yes...

“The Lord is with thee thou mighty hero.” Such, so we saw, was the Angel’s greeting to Gideon. Attention was directed to the might of this hero. His might, it was pointed out, was his living faith in Jehovah, Israel’s God and Savior, faith in His righteous and unchangeable mercy, in His willingness to forgive and His power to save His ill-deserving people that He might be feared. The faith of Gideon was living. As brought to fruition in him by the word of God, sanctified to his heart by the Spirit, it translated itself into action—faith without works is...

4. Melchisedec (continued) Besides, if in the priesthood of Melchisedec we must see a small remnant, a faint glittering of Adam’s original priesthood, and if Christ is priest after the order of Melchisedec, it follows that also the priesthood of the Savior, in distinction from that of Aaron, is only a restoration of the original priesthood of man in the state of righteousness. And against this presentation of the matter we have grave objections. It is rooted in the false conception that salvation is nothing but the reparation and restoration of creation. What Adam failed to do, Christ accomplishes. If...

The contention of those that oppose the movement to establish our own schools is that such a movement is morally wrong, as long as we have not done all that is in our power to keep and support and improve the existing schools. In other words, they claim that we are morally obliged: 1. To join an existing school society, and to support an existing Christian school, wherever there is one; 2. To remain member of that society, and continue to support that existing school, even in cases where it is possible and preferable to organize a separate society; 3....

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Rom. 8:15, 16 Blessed Spirit! It is through Him, the Parakleet, the Comforter, whom the Lord had promised to send from the Father, and Whom He poured forth into His Church on the day of the first fruits that we become heirs and partakers of all the blessings of salvation! He it is that imparts unto us the fullness of...