LESSON 5.—NOVEMBER 1.—THE PERVERSION OF CHRISTIANITY IN MODERN BABYLON.
The fundamental experience of Christianity is found in the union of divinity and humanity, through which righteousness is revealed in the flesh. Rom. 8:3, 4. This mystery of godliness is Christ in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16, R.V.), the same flesh and blood which we have (Heb. 2:14). This wonderful union of divinity with humanity in the person of Him who is both Son of Man and Son of God is the foundation upon which the church is built. Matt. 16:13-18; 1 Cor. 3:11. The perversion of this truth is the perversion of Christianity.
In the epistle to the Galatians it is emphatically taught that there is but one Gospel (chapter 1:6-9), and that, as emphasized in this epistle, is the Gospel of justification by faith. The personal experience of the Gospel of justification by faith means Christ dwelling in our flesh. Gal. 1:15, 16; 2:20; 2 Cor. 4:10, 11. This is the test of the genuineness of our Christianity. 2 Cor. 13:5. Any perversion of the doctrine of justification by faith, the doctrine of a Saviour who has taken the same flesh as we bear and who dwells in our sinful flesh, is a perversion of Christianity.
In the paganism of ancient Babylon the doctrine that God dwells with flesh found no place. Dan. 2:11. The same pagan denial of this truth is perpetuated in modern Babylon in the dogma of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. According to this dogma, Jesus did not take the same sinful flesh that we have, and thus, instead of actually dwelling in our flesh as our righteousness, He is so far removed from us that we require the mediation of saints, angels, and the blessed Virgin in order to gain access to Him.
The following extracts from “A Short and Simple Exposition of Catholic Doctrine,” issued under the authority of “John Cardinal McCloskey, archbishop of New York,” will give an authoritative statement of this dogma: “It is the Catholic belief that the blessed Virgin was, by a special privilege, preserved immaculate; that is, free from the stain of original sin, from the first moment of her conception.” (“Catholic Belief,” page 212.)
After quoting from the church fathers in proof of this doctrine, the writer continues: “Add to all this that disbelief in the immaculate conception of the blessed Virgin Mary would imply belief in the following revolting consequences, namely, that He who is holiness itself, and has an infinite horror of sin, took human nature from a corrupt human source, whilst He might have taken it from an incorrupt one; . . . that the divine Person drew the precious blood of His humanity from a source which was not from the first immaculate, whilst He might have preserved it immaculate. . . . Who can believe that, it being in the power of God to prepare a spotless holy temple wherein to dwell incarnate for nine months, He preferred to have one which had been first profaned by the stain of original sin.” (Id., pages 217, 218.)
Having removed Jesus so far from us by giving Him an entirely different kind of flesh from what we have, this modern Babylon naturally substitutes justification by works for justification by faith. “It is clear, according to the Church of Rome, that the ground of a sinner's justification is not without him, but within him. He is justified, not because Christ has satisfied the law in his room, but because the man himself has become such as the law requires; or, as Romish divines are accustomed to say, the formal cause of justification is inherent or infused righteousness. The death of Christ has to do with our justification only in so far as it has merited the infusion of those good dispositions which are the formal cause of our justification, and whereby we perform those good works which are meritorious of an increase of grace and eternal life. . . . The Roman Catholic scheme, therefore, is very clearly one of salvation by good works.” (“The Papacy,” by Rev. J. A. Wylie, pages 291, 292.)
When we remember that the only hope of salvation has been made to rest upon the promised Seed (Gen. 3:15) who was to come in our flesh, and thus bring into our own flesh the power to conquer sin, a power which is received by believing on Him (Rom. 1:16), we can see how completely Christianity has been perverted in modern Babylon.
QUESTIONS
What is the fundamental experience of Christianity?
What is the result of this experience?
In whom is this mystery of godliness revealed?
What kind of flesh did He have?
What constitutes the foundation for the Christian Church?
How strongly is it emphasized that there is only one Gospel?
What relation does this Gospel establish between Christ and the believer?
What distinguishes a genuine from a pretended Christianity?
What teaching is so identified with Christianity that a perversion of it constitutes a perversion of Christianity?
What doctrine of ancient Babylon showed that its religion was paganism?
Under what form has this paganism been taught in modern Babylon?
What authoritative statements are proof of this?
What other erroneous teaching naturally follows this perversion of Christianity?
To whom is the sinner taught by the Church of Rome to look for justification?
What is the only hope of our deliverance from sin?
5 “As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land. 6 Then the children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him: Thou knowest the thing that the Lord spake unto Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy foot hath trodden shall be an inheritance to thee and to thy children forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as He spake, these forty and five years, from the time that the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness; and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fenced; it may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the Lord spake. 13 And Joshua blessed him; and he gave 14 Hebron unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 15 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, unto this day; because that he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. Now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.”
Golden Text.—“He wholly followed the Lord.” Verse 14.
Special Helps.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” Ch. 48, pp. 511-515.
Suggestive Questions.
(1) What command to Moses was carried out after the people came into Canaan? Verse 5. Note 1. (2) By whom came to Joshua at Gilgal? What did Caleb say to Joshua? Verse 6. Note 2. (3) To what former service did Caleb refer? What did he say of his report of that service? Verse 7. Note 3. (4) What did he say of the report of his fellow spies? And what of himself? Verse 8. Note 4. (5) What promise had Moses made to Caleb? Why? Verse 9. Note 5. (6) What testimony did Caleb give concerning the Lord’s care? What was his age as he appeared before Joshua at Gilgal? Verse 10. (7) What did he say of his strength? Verse 11. Note 6. (8) Then what plea did he make? And what expression of faith did he utter? Verse 12. (9) How did Joshua receive the petition of Caleb? Verse 13. Note 7. (10) What does the record say of Caleb’s success in his undertaking? Verse 14. (11) By what other name was Hebron known? What followed the settlement of Caleb in his new possession? Verse 15.
Notes.
1. The division of the land took place about five years after the crossing of the Jordan, reckoning from Caleb’s statement of his age, in verses 7 and 10. The twelfth chapter of Joshua gives a list of the kings and places that had been overcome in battle. The Lord had previously told Moses whom to appoint as a commission to divide the land, namely, Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and a prince of each tribe. See Num. 34:16-29.
2. Caleb, being himself one of the commissioners to divide the land, could have made his plea without others to assist him, especially as Joshua was personally cognizant of the facts in his case. But it was necessary that his tribe should know for themselves that he, as commissioner, had not used his office for his own benefit. So he made his claim and received his award openly.
3. The report brought by Caleb at the time referred to was a conscientious, as well as a brave one. He and Joshua had stood out faithfully for the truth in the face of the majority report and popular clamor.
4. “I wholly followed the Lord.” This was not mere self-praise on Caleb’s part. The Lord had at the time given the same testimony concerning him. Num. 14:24. Like the patriarch Enoch, he had the testimony that he pleased God. Heb. 11:5.
5. Moses, also, was a witness to Caleb’s faithfulness in every emergency, thus the Lord, Moses, and Joshua were three witnesses to Caleb’s claim.
6. Caleb’s strength and vigor had been preserved while all the men of his generation, excepting himself and Joshua, were dead. This was the direct result of his faithfulness, his temperate living being of course a means by which he was preserved. Moses, at the age of 120 years, was in the same condition of physical health and strength, but he had to die, as an object lesson to the people and to future generations, because on one occasion he failed to give God the glory for a notable miracle in the presence of the people. God gives temporal blessing for the glory of His name and the furtherance of His cause. Otherwise it is of only temporal benefit.
7. An opportunity was now given to Caleb to demonstrate the faith he had expressed forty-five years before, that they were able to possess the land occupied by the giants. Num. 13:30. He was still ready to go against them with only his own immediate followers. And he succeeded, too, (Joshua 15:13-17), because he “wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.” In this lies the secret of all success.
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What You Will Say
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These are some of the remarks you will certainly make when you first see the fine little work which has just been published, entitled
THINGS FORETOLD
Lessons in Prophecy for Children
This book is by W. N. GLENN, the editor of the well-known children’s paper, Our Little Friend.
The language used is very simple. Every page of reading matter is enclosed by a colored descriptive border, and the work is beautified by many appropriate illustrations and chapter headings. The heading to chapter nine is shown herewith. The cover is printed in gold and two shades of green on a pale green board, with a picture of the great image on the Plain of Dura.
Every parent should secure at least one of these books for his child’s reading. He will thus sow in the young mind good seed which will surely produce a rich harvest of truth.
The Beautiful Stories of Daniel in Babylon
are simply told. Loyalty to God and firm adherence to principle are magnified and righteousness is exalted. The author embraces every opportunity for drawing practical lessons from Bible stories. The various symbols of the prophetic books are made interesting to the young readers by the author’s clear and concise definitions.
The book is dedicated “To the children, both young and old, who love to read things that are true,” and the publishers trust that many thousands of our boys and girls may learn to love the precious Bible truths which are so attractively presented in “Things Foretold.”
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The Open Door
Displayed against all the assumptions of men and systems and organizations who claim to be sponsors for the soul, is the declaration of Jesus Christ: “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David [not Peter], He that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth: I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut.” There it stands, not ajar, but open. No man can shut it. Neither pope, nor council, nor consistory, nor priest, nor minister, nor conference, nor presbytery can close the door which Jesus Christ has opened to every sin-sick soul. He declares, “Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;” “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.” Then come, fully, trustingly, assuringly come; only in coming is there healing and refuge for you. and Jesus tells us, “And this is life eternal, that they should know Thee, the only true God, and Him whom Thou didst send, even Christ Jesus.” He only can know God who yields to the harmony of His law, and he only can know complex and contradictory man who learns him from God. All the researchers of science will lead blindly which leave God out of the account as the Author of life and being.
Twenty Murders in New York, Criminals at Large
There have been twenty murders in New York City since Jan. 1, 1902, and all the criminals are still at large.
Forthcoming Series on Revelation and Christ
By Editor
Next week we begin one series of articles on the Apocalypse, the “Revelation of Jesus Christ,” and another on Christ Jesus our Lord in all the great phases of His life, work, and character. This last series is by Prof. G. W. Rine. We ought to double our circulation during this last quarter of 1902.
More Than Wasted.
How much energy and good sense and money is wasted and worse than wasted by the wise creature man. If a mere fraction of the money that is expended for war material to destroy life, or for drink which does destroy life, and character were placed on good roads or the irrigation of the arid wastes of the West, there would be the best of roads throughout this country, and what are now sandy deserts would be fruitful fields. How much of life is wasted on negations, or worse, even by Christians.
What a Reform in Diet Did.
Just the other day we were talking with a gentleman seventy-four years of age, hearty, strong, bright of eye, pink of cheek. We asked him how it had been with him the last few years, and he related his experience. Many years ago he had given up the use of narcotics, stimulants, and the corrupt pork, and was greatly benefited. But he had retained the use of flesh meats, and mustard, pepper, and condiments. In his best days it was a light thing to put upon his shoulder and carry away a 140-pound sack of grain. But as he reached his threescore years and ten he found himself growing weaker. He could lift the sack of grain from his wagon waist or breast high, and was then forced to drop it. He, like every other wise man who possesses one, consulted his Christian wife. The result after consultation was the discarding of all flesh meat, all condiments, and the substitution of nuts for butter. The fruit of this action is most gratifying. Neither he nor his wife have had scarcely a cold for four years, and are hale, hearty, and stronger. He can now shoulder his 140-pound bag of grain and carry it away, and can keep on doing it. Both are a wonder to their neighbors, and an evidence of the blessing of a true reform diet.
“THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY.”
THE following letter has been received from St. Andrew’s Island, Colombia, S. A., written under date of Aug. 1, 1902:—
DEAR SIR: A friend gave me your paper to read (June 18). On page 8 (392) in the article, “Protestant Prayers for the Dead,” you say, “Only they who believe in the immortality of the soul, etc., can pray for the dead.” Now I would like to know what in the world is the matter with you? Your paper is supposed to be the organ of a specified Christian denomination, and here you deny the fundamental principle of Christianity, viz., the immortality of the human soul, and with it the life hereafter. Please explain yourself. Respectfully,
A. Wiseman.
Briefly, there is not one word in Holy Writ affirming the immortality of the soul. There is not one passage in which immortality in this life, or deathlessness, is ascribed to man, save that spoken by the old serpent, “the deceiver of the whole world,” “Ye shall not surely die.” Gen. 3: 4; Rev. 12: 9. On the other hand, it is repeatedly and positively affirmed that man forfeited eternal life by sin, and that the only means of its restoration is through Jesus Christ. Eze. 18: 4; Rom. 6: 23. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life.” John 3: 16, 36. “He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.” 1 John 5: 11–13. Immortality will not be bestowed upon men till the second coming of Christ. 1 Cor. 15: 51–54. The doctrine of the immortality of the soul was devised by the devil to take from Christ His glory and destroy souls by deceiving them. See Eze. 13: 22; John 10: 10.
TO ADVERTISERS.
By Editor
THE fact that an advertisement appears in this paper indicates that as far as its managers can ascertain, it is reliable. Extreme care is taken in the securing of advertisements, and losses incurred through misrepresentation of firms advertising in this journal have been made good by publishers. We can give no editorial notices or assurances at the request of advertisers.
Know Thyself
“Know Thyself.”—Prof. E. L. Larkin, of Mount Lowe Observatory, Cal., in speaking of psychic studies, remarks:—
In fifty years it may be discovered what man is. They are just beginning to pay some attention to the ancient injunction, “Know Thyself.” At present the ignorance on that subject is deeper than on any other department of knowledge. At least the question, What is mind? is totally unanswered. The great societies for “Psychic Research,” are trying to discover at least one clue. And the question whether there is a soul, seems as far from solution as ever, scientifically.—S. F. Examiner.
And that is just what the scientific psychic philosophers have always said; they were just about to discover. Too, they have always tried to find out man, but they have sought the wrong source of knowledge. They will not find it in biological or psychological research, they will not find the source or seat of life or mind or soul in Spiritism or Theosophy. The old pagan injunction can only be met by anti-pagan methods. The ancient book of Job furnishes the key, “Acquaint now thyself with Him [God], and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee;”
Why Use the American Standard Version?
There is but one Bible which contains the Word of God. There are different translations of that Word. As generations pass, words change their meaning. Our so-called Authorized Version, made in 1611, would obviously contain some words and expressions which are antiquated or obsolete now. For instance, “prevent” in those days meant to “come before,” to “meet,” or “precede.” It now means to “hinder.” “Let” now means “permit,” “allow,” “give leave to;” but it meant in 1611 “hinder,” “obstruct,” “retard.” What is a “daysman?” Job 9:33. Very few boys would know. “Umpire” is the common modern word. All these archaic and obsolete forms are corrected in the American Standard Revised Version, published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York. This is also true of such words as “fray” for “frighten,” “marish” for “marsh,” “sith” for “since,” “astonied” for “astonished,” and many others. It is the best English translation in the world. Why should it not be used everywhere?
The Mob-mad People.
It is a gruesome picture which the papers give, of the public burning of a wretched negro criminal in Mississippi the other day. The execution was delayed by the mob, the railway company ran extra trains, special places were set apart for the women, and 5,000 it is said witnessed the awful spectacle. The multiple murderer may have deserved it; God knows. But the awful, ominous thing is that Christian men and women, professedly, can give countenance to such a spectacle, can shout, “Burn him,” with gleeful, demoniac frenzy, can witness with satisfaction and cheers the lighting of the fagots! Fathers, mothers, O, it augurs a woeful day to the nation! With present sentiment could not every citizen plainly leave it to the courts to settle? And with a knowledge of God, could not Christians leave the degrees of punishment with Him? When innocent men are believed to be guilty, they can expect no less from such a mob, whether in the North or South.
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Archaeology Confirms the Bible
Our evolutionists and geologists are continually becoming astonished at the revelations of archeology. Excavations are laying bare the treasures of prehistoric cities, and in many cases the earlier peoples show some of the most splendid examples of art. For instance, the first dynasty of Egypt gives up from its tombs “exquisite carvings and jewelry;” what was not buried was destroyed by later and lower grades of civilization. Every stroke of the spade, every demonstrated, clearly-ascertained fact, confirms the Bible. Facts are buttressing the impregnable wall of Divine Truth; the guns trained against it are purely hypothetical.
Yosemite Panorama Photographs
By Editor
We have been reproducing on our first page some beautiful panorama views of Yosemite Valley, that great wonder of the West. If any desire choice panorama photographs, mounted on heavy photo cards, they can secure them for $3.00 a dozen, $1.50 a half-dozen, by addressing E. J. Drake, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
