Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

ejoicing."saved"BIBLE LESSON FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 7, 1955* 4(JovenanterWitness.VOLUME LV, NO. 3TOPEKA, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1955TheIF Question AnsweredBefore sin entered into the world there was noneed ofany "if" because there was no question ofman's complete obedience to God, but just as soonhis faith by an open confession, then Jesus Christlifted him up over the "if" and placed him on thesin-sacrifice side of the "if" and "he went on hisas disobedience appeared, then came the question ofwayman's salvation,which depended upon his voluntarydecision either to obey or disobey God.So, in the record of the first conversation between God and the first man born into the world, wefind the wrord "if" used twice in a very vital relationship. "The Lord said unto Cain, Why art thouwroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? IF thoudoest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and IF thoudoest not well, sin lieth at the door" (Genesis 4:6,7). Cain stood at the threshold. On one side lay sinand on the other side lay the sin offering providedby God's mercy, and between the two was the word"if."Cain's whole future depended upon which sideof this "if" he chose to go. He chose the wrong side,killed his brother, went out from the presence of theLord, and his whole family was completely exterminated by the flood in Noah's time.God's statement to Cain about 6000 years agois His plan of salvation for us today. Philipsaid tothe Ethiopian eunuch who was seeking salvation, "IFthou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. AndThis is what Paul wrote to the Romans: "IFthou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raisedhim from the dead, thou shalt be(Romans10:9). It is simply a question of which side of this"if"a person is found. He has no power in himself tochange his position. As sons of Adam we are borninto this world on the sin side of the "if" (Romans5 :12) and no power on earth can put us over onto thesafe side. But Jesus, who alone has the power, said :"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw allmen untome"(John 12:32). Once we let Christ liftus over this "if," then we are in His hands on Hisside of the "if" and there is no power anywherewhich can separate us from Him and put us backeven for a moment,"if"on the lost side of the terrible(Romans 8:35-39; John 10:28, 29).On which side of this eternal "if" are you ? Godgrant that you are on the sin-offering side, but IFyou are on the sin side, one cry for help to Jesus andHe will reach over, lift up and place you safely onhe answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ isthe Son of God" (Acts 8:37). He was on the sinHis side forever. Praise His namedefinite,so sure!it is so simple, soJames E. Bennetside of the "if," but when he settled the question ofAmerican Tract Society