Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

GENESIS ’
bly. The Decalogue is not the Gospel, nor is it any Part
of the Gospel. Though essential to good morals, it is a
minor part of the Chtistian system of faith and worship.
Moreover, Jesus made it quite clear that, spiritually, the
Decalogue is inadequate, when, in answer’ to a question
propounded by His critics, He pointed out the two great-
est commandments in the Law, and neither of the two is
found among the Ten Commandments (Matt, 22:31-40,
Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18). In brief, we must keep the Ten
Commandments to stay out of jail, but one might keep
all of them and still fall far shore of being a Christian.
Frequently we have been asked the question, Why
can we not be saved as the jeaitent thief (on the Cross)
was suued? The answer is obvious. As long as a will-
maker (testator) lives, he dispenses his property as he sees
fit personally; but when he dies, his property must be dis-
pensed as directed in his last will and testament (cf. Heb.
9: 16-17) ; and so, as long as our Lord was on earth in the
flesh, it was His prerogative to dispense his gifts and
graces as He saw fit (Luke 23:39-43, 1:17-26). But when
He returned to the Father, He left us His Last Will and
Testament, the executors of which were the Apostles, by
wh’6m:it was probated on the great Day of Pentecost; and
so, a throughout
the present Dispensation His blessings are
the conditions specified in the New Covenant;
these are, the “keys of the king ,” and the terms of
admission into the Church‘ (Body Chriit>lfi Th I r-es&acJ~a$:*
tions are faith‘in Christ, is the Son of the living God, repentance
toward Christ,’ confession of Christ, and baptism
into Christ’ (Matt. 16318-20, 28:18-20; Acts 2:38, 16:31-
34; Rom. 10:9-10, Luke 13:3, 2 Cor. 7:10, Matt. 10:32-
33,; Acts’ 8!34-39, 22:16; Rom. 6:4-6, Gal. 3:26-29, John
3:1-5, etc.). (The fdnction of a key is to unlock a door;
hence the “keys of the kingdom” are the requirements
which open the door of the church to the obedient be-
I “ *
liever . )
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