Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/149

 great power and reign. He will deliver and judge those whom he so loved as to redeem.

With this conclusion #//the prophetic declarations agree. It is written: "With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." Psa. 98 : 9.

This coming judgment will be on exactly the same prin- ciples as the first. The same law of obedience will be pre- sented, with the same reward of life, and the same penalty of death* And as the first trial had a beginning, progressed, and culminated with a sentence, so also will the second ; and the sentence will be life to the righteous, and death to the unrighteous. The second trial will be more favorable than the first, because of the experience gained under the results of the first trial. Unlike the first trial, the second trial will be one in which every man will stand the test for himself alone, and not for another. None will then die because of Adam's sin, or because of inherited imper- fections. It shall no more be said, " The fathers have eat- en a sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge ; but he that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge." " The soul that sinneth, it shall die. 1 ' (Ezek. 18 : 4 5 Jer. 31 : 29, 30.) And it will be true of the world then, as it is of the Church now, that a man will not be judged according to that which he hath not, but according to that which he hath. (2 Cor. 8:12.) Under the reign of Christ, mankind will be gradually educated, trained and disciplined until they reach perfection. And when they have reached perfection, perfect harmony with God will be required, and any who then fall short of perfect obedience will be cut off, being judged unworthy of life. The sin which brought death to the race through Adam was simply one disobedient act ; but by that act he fell from his perfection. God had a right to demand perfect obedience of him, since he was created perfect ; and be will demand the same of all men

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