Spirit in Prison.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 June 1912, Page 3

Spirit in Prison.

In dealing with the subject on Sunday last Mr Milner pointed out that the Word of God was not confined in its scope to the race of beings. It is true that Man and Gods purposes in creating him are the central theme o.° the Bible, yet in reading it we find large reference made to another creation of beings, namely angels or spirits. These spirits are afterwards refeired to as Sons of God inNscripture, notably in the dialogue recorded in Job. 1. 6, they are also called angels, because God has ordained them to be his messengers and has sent them forth to minister to those wh« shall inherit salvation (Hed 17 14). In (Coi 15 39 and 40) several orders of created beings are mentioned and celestial be* ings are discriminated from human beings. A difference in the nature of these two creations is further emphasised by the writer of the Hebrews in speaking of the IncaDnation of the Christ. ''For not of the nature of angels did he take hold, but he taketh hold of the seed of Atrahain." The angels are of a higher order of creation than man (Heb 2, 7), for Peter said " Whereas angels, though greater iv might and power ....'' (5 Pet 2' 11), again they are an older creation being existant at the reformation of the earth preparing to the creation of man. (Job 38, 6 and 7), They are not infalliable creatures for Peter speakes.of them as having sinned, (2 Peter 2, 4),. he gives the time as being in the days of Noah [I Pet 3.20). The nature of their fall is referred to in Jude (Verses G and 7). " The i angels which kept not their own estate, ' but left their proper habitation, . . . Even as Sodom aud'Gomorral and the cities round about, having1 in like manner as these given themselves over to fornication ' and gone after strange flesh. This fall of the angels, an historic fact found recorded in Gen6, is a manifestation of the great controversy between God and Satan. God had laid Satans head should be crushed by the seed of the women, naturally therefore the former concentrated. his attention in corrupting the later. Genesis six shows how nearly he accomplished his sins for Noah and his family only were found pure, all the rest of mankind had corrupted his way (Gen,6. 9-12). These attempts to lefute Gods purposes were oft repeted, but in spite of all Christ came and took upon himself our nature " that through death he might bring to naught Him who had the power of death, that is the devil." It was to these accomplices of Satans, (Heb 2, 15) who sinned and were beingkeptin Conds of darknesp into the day of Judgement, that Chii^t after his resurrection went and preached (2 Pet, 3, 19). The fall of these angels and the results are recorded as an example ... to the sons of men for the latter although a different creation has also fallen. The warning is, "if God spared not the angels that served . . . and spared not the ancient world, and turned the cities of Sod on and Gomorral into ashes, having made them an example to those who live ungodily ... those who walk after the flesh . . But these are creatures without reason boru mere .animals, taking and bestroying . . . and shall in their destroying surely be destroyed " (2 Pel. 2,"i, -12). If he chargeth his angels with folly, how much more they that dwell in houses of clay asks Job, therofore let us take heed. Christ camo in the flesh to destroy the works of Satan and to redeem us and bring us to God, hence " how shall we escape if we neglect so grent a salvation," Behold Avhat manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called sons of God " John 3. Let us with Paul give thanks to the Father, who has delivered us out of tho power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love. By the.grace of God and the miracle of Calvary as wo have borne the image of the earthly, so we shall bear the image of the heavenly (.1 Cor 16, 4b).