Page 7 Advertisements Column 3

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24020, 7 August 1943, Page 7

S 1 FREE RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT, 30 Chan* eery lane, Sunday. 7 p.m., Topic: "The Story of Rhodesia." Speaker, Mr N. M. Beil. Open discussion. Anyone interested welcome. X 8984 -WORD OF GOD THE THIEF ON THE CROSS. Bible Truth Testimony No. 9.—The request of the Penitent Thief: “Lord, remember me when Thou ccmest into Thy Kingdom." And Christ's answer; “Verily I say unto thee, To-day thou shalt be with Me in paradise." (Luke 23: 42 and 43.) apparently supports the belief of the Immortality of the Soul, and is one of those strong points which believers of this doctrine generally refer to. However, it the prevailing belief Is tenaciously clung to (Christ and the thief ascending to an Heavenly Paradise together the day the words were uttered) a discrepancy will immediately appear in the Word of God. This, however, cannot be, FOR ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD (2nd Timothy 3: 16), and cannot be broken (John 10: 35.). How then is tills passage to be handled? By giving attention to the panorama of events surrounding the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and the request of the thief. For it is only by so doing that a true perspective can be gained upon this subject. The first question to be asked is. did Christ ascend to Heaven the very day He spoke the words to the thief? The Bible says no, He was placed in the grave for three days. (Matthew 12: 40.) Was it only His body which was placed there? His soul going immediately to heaven at the moment of death? Again the Bible answers no. For it savs. "HE POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH." (Isaiah 53; 12), also: “He (David) seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ. THAT HIS SOUL WAS NOT LEFT IN HELL (hades, or grave) NEITHER DID HIS FLESH SEE CORRUPTION. (Acts 2; 31) Further proof is- given by Christ Himself, thiee days later upon His resurrection from the tomb. Meeting Mary He said: "Touch Me not; FOR T AM' NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER.” (John 20: 17.) Further, He spent another forty days after this upon earth instructing the Disciples. (Acts 1: 3) So, from the moment of Christ's expiring, to the time cf the Ascension was forty-three days. Please bear this in mind: if the thief ascended to heaven the day he was crucified with Christ he was 43 days in advance of the Saviour. Thus making a lie of the Scripture, which says: "But now is Christ RISEN FROM THE DEAD and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man CAME DEATH, by man also came the RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterwards they that are Christ’s AT HIS COMING. (Ist Cor 15: 20-23.) Thus bearing out the thief's words; "Lord, remember me when thou COMEST INTO THY KINGDOM." For free literature, apply; P.O. Box 793, Christchurch. 4021 ‘ THE PLACE FOR BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS _ THE BIBLE AND BOOK' DEPOT, 200 Manchester street (near Gloucester street!i. for SCRIPTURAL and HELPFUL LITERATURE and all Sunday School require-