 |  |
We have been far too quick in making a clean sweep of the great majority of men. If
orthodox belief is correct, a very small percentage of Adam's children will be constituted
righteous, whereas Scripture declares that the "many" shall be so constituted. How many
of us have believed and taught that those who stand before the great white throne have no
end but the lake of fire, yet Scripture does not so teach. Rev. 20: tells us that all the dead
who are not raised at the commencement of the millennium stand before God, and are
judged according to their works out of the things written in the books. That is the first
step. What their various sentences will be we do not know. We do know that they stand
before a righteous Judge who delights in mercy, and will certainly not impose a fraction
more than justice demands. But the judgment according to their works does not decide
their eternal destiny.
Scripture comes down to the individual. Both J. N. Darby and J. R. Rotherham
translate correctly, "And if any one was not found written in the book of life, he was cast
into the lake of fire." Instead of the orthodox idea of myriads being cast into the lake of
fire, Scripture leads us to see that it is to be an intensely individual matter, depending not
upon works, but upon the book of life. Do those who are judged according to their works
have the justification of life granted them? We ask the question. Readers, maybe, are
mentally asking many more. We would not dogmatize here, but we lodge a plea for a
closer and fuller study of these tremendous issues. Sin is an intruder. Will it be allowed
to mar God's universe for eternity? Many say Yes! What saith the Scripture? Has Christ
undone the works of the devil? Will God's universe never be really clean again? If not,
has not Satan triumphed and Christ failed?
Romans 5:
1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be
saved by his life.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression,
who is the figure of him that was to come.
15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and
the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many
offences unto justification.
17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift
came upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.