Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/311

 ble of rendering perfect obedience, in letter as well as in spirit ; while now, the spirit of obedience or endeavor to observe God's law is all of which men are capable. The full letter of that per feel: law would condemn them at once to death. (2 Cor. 3:6.) Our acceptableness now is only through Christ's ransom.

Until actually perfect, " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10: 31.) Now, and until actually perfect, none could stand before the law of exact justice; all need the mercy provided freely under Christ's merit and sacrifice. But when Christ delivers tip the kingdom to the Father, he will present them fault- less before him, fit and able to enjoy everlasting blessed- ness under Jehovah's perfect law. All fearfulness will then be gone, and Jehovah and his restored creatures will be in perfect harmony, as at first.

When, in the end of the Millennial age, Christ delivers up the dominion of earth to the Father, he does so by de- livering it to mankind as the Father's representatives, who were designed from the first to have this honor, (i Cor. 15 : 24; Matt. 25 : 34.) Thus the Kingdom of God lasts forever. And so v/e re:id in our Lord's words: Then shall the King say to them on his right hand [those who, during the Millennial reign, will have attained the position of favor by harmony and obedience], Come, ye blessed of my Fa- ther [you whom my Father designs thus to bless], inherit the kingdom prepared FOR YOU from the foundation of the world.

This kingdom and honor prepared for man should not be confounded with that still higher kingdom and honor prepared for the Christ, which were "ordained before the world unto our glory" (i Cor. 2 : 7), and to which we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. And though the special intervention and reign of the Christ over 20-A

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