MORMONS AND THE QUESTION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1917, Page 7

MORMONS AND THE QUESTION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

(Published by Arrangement), Tn an issue of a T&ranaki pa/per of •Tiino i there aippetred tome two columns of print contributed by on# Horae* 0. Holbrook, ia defence of a religious sect known as Mormons. From this defence, and certain other printed matter I have read in this connection, I am surprised to find thut, with all their pretensions, they lay no claim to anything other than what I would cull human or legal righteousness. After reading the article above referred to I felt somewhat like the great apostle of the Gentiles when he wrote, with reference to his kindred according to the flesh: "My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might ! be saved!; for I bear .them record that tliey hare a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, for they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." As the reader will observe, in this -passage there are two kinds of righteousness spoken, of, the "righteousntss of God," and "their own righteousness." The one was evidently self-made, the other had to be submitted to. The one was human; the other divine. The Bible makes very little of self-made righteousness, & fact, it declares that "aU our righteousness is but as filthy rags." If God has so described human righteousness how foolish it is to seek acceptance in God'u presence covered only with such a robe. In our Lord'a day the Pharisees stood for human, or legal righteousness; and they carried their legal ideas to such an extent that they would have prevented our Lord, if they could, from healing ttw sick and doing am' acts of mercy on th# Sabbath Day. They even looked upon it as an unrighteous thing to sit down to. a meal with uniw«.shen hands; yet they wore the leaders in all the opposition that waa displayed against our Lord, and were the chief actors in that crowning act of sin, the crucifixion of Christ. . Such was the outcome of their idea of righteousness. But what is the mind of God concerning this great subject? I feel that many to-day are in need of help with regard to this matter, and if any worda of mine should prove helpful to such my purpose in writing will have been served. At the very outset of our Lord's ministry we hear Him saying: "Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of tha '.ciibc3 and pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." And again: "Woo unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but 'aro within full of dead men's 'bones and all uncleauness." This same truth of human unfitness for the presence of God is emphasised throughout the entire scriptures, proving, if proof be needed, that the Bible is not man's production. But if human righteousness cannot avail with God, what then? We hear God saying to the human race: "I will bring unto you my righteousness." The things that are impossible with men are possible with God. The question that naturally arises in the minds of all who aro interested in this matter is: How can a fnan be just before God? A righteous-

taeaa suTCable for the presence of God | must be one in which Ho can find no flaw. Where is such to bo found? God Himself hag provided such for all who ! believe the record God has given of His Son, and who trust in Him. His Wood has been shed for many for the remission of sine; and "the righteousness of God without the law is now manifest*!, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which i« through faith in Je«us Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe.'' "Now to him that worketh not, but believetk on Him that juatifloth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness." God, who is full of love for all the sons of men, no matter how they are treating Him, is ever gracious and ready to pardon all who come to Him. Like the prodigal son by his father, all who come to God are heartily welcomed by Him, and are clothed in the best robe of the Father's house—a robe of righteousness that fits them for the presence of the King of Kings, "For God so loved the iwwld that He gave Hi 9 only "begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting lite." No doubt there are many important questions, especially in these days, which we have all got to face, but this is the most important, and one which, sooner of later, we shall have to face. We carry pur friends, one by one, £o the graveyard, and leave them there. Soon others -ffiU have to do the same for jis, and the place that now knows ua shall know us no> more; hut "Blessed are the dead iwho die ia the Lord." 1 am writing these lines because God has put a little spark of His great love into my heart, and ray desiro is that everyone should "taste and see that the Lord is good." "Blessed (happy) ia the man that putteth his trust in Him." H. J. TAYLOR, 10S1 Devon St., New Plymouth. N.B.—J will 'be pleased to answer any enquiries' that may be sent to me at above address. My desire is to help all who realhje their spiritual need. —H.J.T.