THE CHURCHES AND THE BIBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20028, 18 August 1928, Page 14

THE CHURCHES AND THE BIBLE.

(Published by Arrangement.)

BY B ERE AN* CHRISTA DELPHIAN'. .

" KING OF THE JEWS." No. 1. In the production of a cinema motion picture recently exhibited in this country the title name was a misnomer, the author having been apparently influenced by ecclesiastical theology rather than the Bible narrative. By spiritualising God's material things and materialising spiritual things, theology has made the titles " King of the Jews," " King of Kings," of no effect as far as the owner of the titles is concerned. If " Jesus of Nazareth" had professed before the Roman Governor that He was King of Kings the crucifixion scene would never have been enacted, because the delusionment would have been too evident, but for confessing that He was "the- King of the Jews it was a different matter to Pilate altogether and was the cause of the sentence of death being pronounced against Him. Judea, at that time, was a province of the Roman Empire and treason against the Emperor for Jesus to profess He was a King of the Jews. ~ It was a true title that was placed above His cross, as Christ was and is the. heir to the throne of David, King of Judah and Israel (casting aside the Josephite theories on the one hand and trinitarian ideas on the other), a kingdom and empire covenanted in perpetuity by the God of Israel on the established basis of His unfailing laws of the Universe (Book of Jeremiah xxxiii.) Though destroyed and " overturned" by the Chaldeans and later by the Romans, the destroying was only for a time, expressed generally in the Bible as the " Times of the Gentiles." But, as sure as the sun rises and the earth does not cease revolving, so sure would that empire and throne of Israel be reinstated, an event which the present generation has witnessed in the restoration of the country of Palestine to the Jewish people." Not that " Jacob s trouble" is ended by any means, as .the Scriptures show, but as. for dispersion from their own country, never again, the foundation of the restored empire being built on solid rock, not on sand. This notable event has been looked for with longing eyes by all Christians from the days of the Apostles themselves, who personally asked Christ would He at that lime restore the kingdom again to Israel I'Book of Acts i., 6). He could not tell them, because Ho did not know Himself at that time. In the historical books of the Bible the Empire of Israel was said to be God's Kingdom, and in the prophetical books the picture-restored empire is also recognised as God's Kingdom,'and the Gospels and epistolary writings are full of the same theme;- a heavenly kingdom truly, but founded on the earth, not away in the skies; embodied in Christ's promise to His immediate friends (Gospel of Matthew six., 28), when He should sit on His throne, they should also, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. The whole preaching of Christ consisted in the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God," all' I-lis sayings and actions had relation'- to this message. It was no vain statement when He said: " Salvation is of the Jews " (Gospel of John iv., 22). That the invitation was extended to Gentiles in the Apostles' days does not alter the fact that salvation either individually or collectively comes- only through them and their future king, " Jesus of Nazareth," Who, though after a lapse of 1900 years, still, remains the same young man of 34, " Prince,of the. Earth Kings," the perfection of strength and personal charm: King of Kings truly at that future period as in that capacity He absorbs all human kingdoms by war (Book of Revelation xix.) This is the empire or kingdom of which the Gospel He preached was the basis that they who believed it and were baptised should bo saved (Gospel of Mark xvi.. 15-16). and they who did not believe, just the opposite. The only means of salvation for Jew and Gentiie alike (Paul's letter to Romans). As stated above, wo are witnesses that the Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of God (one and the same thing) has "already commenced in a small way, or in Christ's parabolic language is in the "grain of mustard seed " stage. ! Also, as stated above, theology, ' ll the main, has no place for this material position of Jesus Christ as " King of the Jews," but the plain fact is before the eyes of the world, one of God's greatest promises is being realised in its material aspect, which is in itself a guarantee that the small Empire or Kingdom of God already existing will eventually " break in pieces " all human Governments (Book of Daniel ii., 44). Reader: —Do not put your trust in ecclesiastical theology, which, compared with the Bible, is only the shadow of the substance; one particular Church might have some idea of the Gospel and hold the ordinance of baptism (not infant sprinkling), without which, on the authority of Christ, a person cannot enter the Kingdom of God (Gospel ot John iii., 5), yet may also hold the doctrines of immortal soulism. a Inune a personal supernatural devil, in winch case the true baptism is ot no avail. Another Church may have a near approach to an understanding of the Gospel, and hold the Scriptural truth of man's mortality, baptism, etc., but at the same time holding to the triuitv, a supernatural devil (such a being an impossibility), these also making the true baptism of no avail. _ There is only one safe course: search the Bible for yourself. God has promised —those who "seek shall find, not the shadow, but the substance itself.-—1- J. Connolly, care 14, Falcon Street, Parnell.