BEGINNING LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN
By R. C. P.
Plan for a New Birth — Pardon and Regeneration on Condition of Obedience — Provision Made Before Creation
The new life must begin with a new birth. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5. The returning sinner must begin life over again. He must begin to learn the ways and will of God as a little child learns the will and ways of its father. "And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:2-4. REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE IMPERATIVE
Repentance is the prodigal returning. It is the rebel grounding his arms and accepting peace terms. It is the wicked restoring the pledge, giving again where he has robbed, and returning to walk in the statutes of life without committing iniquity. Such shall surely live. Their sins shall no longer cast shadows like a pall of darkness to distress them. "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live." Eze. 33:14-16. REBELLIOUS SUBJECTS SWEARING ALLEGIANCE
Obedience is the family rule. It is the child learning the father's will. It is the rebellious subject swearing allegiance to the laws of the kingdom of God. It is the disciple following his Master, walking even as He walked. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." 1 Peter 2:21, 22. Do you inquire if there is not some other way? Jesus answers: "I am the way." John 14:6. "By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 28:9. FOLLOWING SERPENT'S TRAIL
Christ recognized turning away from the law of the kingdom on any pretext as following the abominable trail of the serpent that beguiled Eve into rebellion. He said of those who sought pardon apart from the law in His time: "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? . . . In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:3, 9. Pardon can never be granted to disobedient subjects. "The doers of the law shall be justified." Rom. 2:13. Since Christ, the sinner's voluntary substitute, obeyed the law and suffered its death penalty, it is plain that unqualified obedience to the whole law as God gave it is required of sinners suing for pardon. It can not be too often repeated that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. ACCEPT THE CONDITIONS, ELSE REBELLION
These are some of the fundamental conditions of pardon. The sinner must accept, not make, conditions. If he fails to accept pardon on the conditions upon which it is offered, he remains a rebel against God's government still. The true nature of sin is seen only in contrast with the holiness of God. God's holiness is seen in the righteous demands of His holy law. Without that rule of measurement, the sinfulness of sin can not be shown. "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 1 Cor. 15:56. Christ's life was the reflection of the law of God. In His life "the law appears, drawn out in living characters." In His life there was no compromise with sin. Christ's uncompromising fidelity to the whole law appears in His statement, Satan "cometh, and hath nothing in Me." He robbed death of its sting when, in the hopeless darkness due to sinners, He died in their stead. In virtue of His death in darkness, the sinner may die in the triumphs of faith. "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:57. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. There can be salvation in no other name, because no other being lived a sinless life for sinners and died under their death penalty. UNIVERSAL PARDON PROCLAIMED
The love and justice of God is manifested in that there is no respect of persons in any of His plans. Characters, not persons, are respected. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. All mankind are therefore in need of pardon. From the very depths of the heart of infinite love comes the proclamation, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." Isa. 45:22. The seeming delay in terminating the reign of sin is not an oversight. It is not God's forgetfulness, but man's tardiness in accepting the salvation that has been offered. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. . . . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. . . . And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation." 2 Peter 3:9, 13, 15. Universal pardon has not been proclaimed alone for sinners in this world. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit regard the whole universe as one family. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Eph. 3:14, 15. In creation, the entire universe was included as one common brotherhood, in the plan. All were alike created free, and had the right of choice. With all, therefore, God took the risk of sin. For all He must therefore provide a plan of pardon, or be unjust. PARDON PROVIDED BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
The plan to pardon sinners was devised when, in creating intelligent beings, the risk of sin was taken. The very day Adam sinned, the plan of pardon was offered. Gen. 3:15. It was a part of God's eternal purpose. Eph. 1:4-9. It was therefore devised before the creative act was performed. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Tim. 1:9. "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." 1 Peter 1:20. It was kept in silence a long period after being devised. "Now282to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest." Rom. 16:25, 26. From creation this plan of pardon was hid in the Godhead. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." Eph. 3:8, 9. This divine foresight reveals God's manifold wisdom. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." Verse 10. That the plan to pardon sinners was designed to embrace the lost in heaven as well as the lost on earth is plain from the following statements: "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him." Eph. 1:10. "And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Col. 1:20. ACCEPTANCE OF PARDON VOLUNTARY
Although universal pardon, embracing all sinners throughout God's universe, has been provided, not all will be saved, for not all will accept the conditions. As God left all free when He created, He will not now enforce acceptance of pardon. To enforce acceptance of pardon would rob love's sacrifice of its savor, and establish hypocrisy in the heart where God seeks to reestablish His throne of love. Isa. 57:15. Christ's invitation was ever, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. O weary heart, do you not want rest? God loves you, and has sacrificed His own dear Son to save you. Christ loves you, and has freely given His life that you may live. Will you not accept love's offer of pardon, and be at rest? R. C. P.