THE KINGDOM OF GRACE MANIFESTED
By R. C. P.
Christ's Own Life Exhibits the Character of the New Covenant Kingdom — It Was Not of This World — It Was to Gather Subjects for the Kingdom of Glory
This is the concluding one of Elder Porter's four articles on the old and the new covenant. In previous articles, he has spoken of the old covenant and its relation to the kingdom of glory as manifested in Eden before the fall of man. Its one condition was, "Obey and live." He has spoken of this same old covenant as it was manifested at Sinai. Then he has shown how the new covenant brought to view the kingdom of God's grace and offered a way by which sinful man could be restored to the path of righteousness and made fit to be reinstated in the everlasting kingdom of glory. The new covenant was brought in as soon as man sinned, and was ratified at the cross by the blood of Christ. Every son or daughter of Adam who is finally redeemed has his salvation and deliverance from sin through the terms of the new covenant. The article this week shows the principles of the new covenant kingdom as exhibited in the life of Christ Himself. WHEN Christ came in fulfilment of all Old Testament predictions, the whole earth, enshrouded in darkness, was sitting in the shadow of death. Satan had swept nearly all the world's inhabitants into heathenism and infidelity. The nation of Israel, designed as a holy nation, to enlighten the world, was complacently holding before the world a lamp of empty forms, with no oil of faith and love to give it light. Thus Satan sat in triumph when the angelic choir on the plains of Bethlehem announced the arrival of One who was to establish "on earth peace, good will toward men." The "Prince of peace" of whom Isaiah prophesied seven hundred years before, had come. And "the government" was to be "upon His shoulder." Isa. 9:6. When John the Baptist announced Him as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," he added, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 3:2. The true Representative of the kingdoms of glory, grace, and peace, was thus placed on exhibition before the world. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." Matt. 4:16. It was daybreak to a world in darkness. Christ had come as high priest of the kingdom of grace, that He might, through the reign of grace, reestablish men in the kingdom of glory. THE KINGDOM WAS HIS THEME
From first to last, the kingdom of God was His theme. With this theme He began His ministry. From the time of His baptism, "Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Verse 17. He "came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God." Mark 1:14. After giving His first discourse at Nazareth, where He had been brought up, He said, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also; for therefore am I sent." Luke 4:43. When He called the twelve apostles to join Him in His work, "He sent them to preach the kingdom of God." Luke 9:2. When later He called other seventy, He sent them out with instruction to say, "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Luke 10:9. During Christ's last interview before His ascension, He spoke of "things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3. His appeal to men under the kingdom of grace was ever to seek "first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33), in410preparation for the kingdom of glory. John 3:3. The last message that is to go to the world is a call to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:12. It is called the everlasting gospel. Verse 6. Christ calls this same last-day message "this gospel of the kingdom." Matt. 24:14. He adds that the whole world must hear it before the end can come. A KINGDOM NOT OF THIS WORLD
From these scriptures, it is plain that Christ sought to establish a kingdom, but not of this world. John 18:36. At the time of the first advent, His portion was to be that of a servant. "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45. At that time, it was His to pass through the darkness and agony of Gethsemane, to wear a crown of thorns and a royal robe in mockery. The triumphant love that enabled Him to bear all the insult and shame heaped upon Him, and which enabled Him to pray from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," transformed the cross of humiliation into a throne of grace. The Father from on high drew a curtain of darkness over love's offering — an offering such as earth had never seen — thus veiling the scene from those who looked on in disdainful mockery. There was then a mightier earthquake than that which shook Mount Sinai when the law of the kingdom was spoken to Israel. This mighty tremor unbolted the bars of death, and declared its prisoners free. The Conqueror of death had died, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel of the kingdom of grace. CONQUERED BY ONE GLANCE OF LOVE
One glance at that thorn-crowned brow smote Paul, a formal "Hebrew of the Hebrews," to the earth in deepest contrition, and sent him forth on a life mission of unswerving devotion to a cross which he had despised. In that cross he saw another throne. Such infinite depths of love heaven had never before revealed. It was the throne of grace, established from the days of Adam, erected upon Calvary to reconcile sinful men to God. Paul had received its benefits, and he boldly appealed to a world lying in sin, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16. It was the kingdom of grace because it administered mercy and imparted righteousness. IT IS A PRIESTHOOD KINGDOM
The kingdom of grace is a priesthood kingdom. "This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Heb. 10:12-14. This priesthood kingdom of grace continues from the fall until Christ has perfected, by His offering for sin, all that are sanctified. His enemies must become His footstool, and He takes the throne of glory and reigns eternally. During the reign of grace, He is a priest upon His throne. Zech. 6:12, 13; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 3:1. This kingdom of grace, by establishing righteousness, establishes the everlasting kingdom of glory. Its king and priest is therefore He who lived and died for sinners. As high priest, administering to offenders treatment better than they deserve, while establishing righteousness, He holds forth to a doubting and unbelieving world, as to doubting Thomas, those pierced hands, and pointing to His wounded side, He says, "Be not faithless, but believing." To the returning prodigal, He gives the royal robe of righteousness in exchange for a wasted life, and extends a welcome to the Father's house. To the penitent thief, in his last hour of a wicked career, He speaks the word of reconciliation and hope beyond the grave: When I come in My kingdom, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. VISIBLE CHURCH MAY MISREPRESENT IT
The visible church is not of necessity representative of the subjects of the kingdom; for at the time of the organization of the church, it sheltered a Judas, and later an Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. However, the faith of the church at Rome was spoken of throughout the whole world (Rom. 1:8), until, through unbelief, there developed the darkest apostasy recorded in history. But "the kingdom of God cometh not with outward show." Luke 17:20, margin. Its membership is not the visible church roll "The kingdom of God is within you." Verse 21. It is the "church of the First-born" above, whose names are "written in heaven." Heb. 12:23. "The kingdom of God is . . . righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Rom. 14:17. And righteousness is the law of God's kingdom implanted in the heart. The law of God is therefore the law of the kingdom of grace. Hence the Lord says, "Harken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law." Such only will be subjects of His kingdom. They have accepted its conditions of faith, and the Lord has established in their hearts His law, according to His promise in making the covenant. KINGDOM OF GLORY ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE KINGDOM OF GRACE
The work of the kingdom of grace in the heart is like the development of the ear of corn from the seed. The seed is planted, dies, and as the result of its death a sprout appears which develops first a blade, then an ear, then the full corn in the ear. So when Christ, the Seed, is implanted in the heart, self dies, and a new life begins which develops the fruits of the Spirit. Again that Seed is likened to a grain of mustard-seed, which by steady, rapid growth develops from the smallest seed until it becomes the greatest among herbs. The working of this new birth is as unobservable as the wind, which can be seen only in its effects. According to the natural law in the spiritual world, Christ, the Seed of the kingdom of grace, is planted in a heart which has been held in the embrace of Satan's kingdom of darkness, and that seed grows and develops until one is translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Col. 1:13. One is then ready for translation into another kingdom — the eternal kingdom of glory. "For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10, 11. NOBILITY OF HIS CHARACTER REVEALED
It is in the closing hour of the life of Christ that the nobility of His character is fully revealed. He recognized the law of God as eternally worthy of its Author, by the act of receiving its penalty to liberate transgressors. When the reign of the kingdom of grace has restored righteousness in the hearts of all penitents, Christ ceases His priestly ministry, His second advent takes place, and the reign of grace has ended. 1 Cor. 15:21-26. He was to reign with the Father until all enemies were made His footstool. Ps. 110:1. The eternal reign of the kingdom of glory will then be restored in this world, with Christ upon its throne. Isa. 9:7. The promise at His birth will then be fulfilled: "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33. WHEN THE PRIESTHOOD KINGDOM ENDS
The priesthood kingdom of grace is delivered up and ends when Christ's reign upon the throne of David begins. Of this reign "there shall be no end." When it is established, He says, "But those Mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before Me." Luke 19:27. His enemies slain, His eternal reign upon the throne of David is established in peace and blessedness throughout eternal ages. Until He delivers up the kingdom of grace, when the kingdom of glory is restored through its ministry, Christ reigns upon the throne of grace, to offer pardon to the helpless, and hope to the hopeless. Ps. 110:4; Zech. 6:12, 13; Heb. 10:10-14; Rev. 3:21; Col. 3:1; Acts 7:55. He offers pardon to the drunkard, the gambler, the adulterer, and the murderer. HE SET FREE THE OPPRESSED AND BROKEN-HEARTED
He came "to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." Isa. 61:1-3.411Then will the prayer of His waiting disciples be answered: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." "Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory."
R. C. P.