The Medical Missionary, vol. 17
September 30, 1908
“Two Sons” The Medical Missionary, 17, 39, pp. 769-771.
ALONZO T. JONES
ABRAHAM had two sons. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.1
One was born of the bondwoman; the other, of the freewoman. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.2
One son, therefore, was a bond son; the other was a free son. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.3
One was born by their own invention; the other was born by the promise of God. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.4
One was born of the flesh; the other was born of the Spirit. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.5
The son who was born of the bond-woman, by their own invention, and of the flesh, was a “wild man.” Hebrew, literally, “a wild-ass man.” Revised Version; “He shall be as a wild-ass among men.” His hand was against every man, and every man’s hand was against him. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.6
The son who was born of the free-woman, by promise, and of the Spirit, was meek and lamblike. His hand was against nobody; and when any person’s hand was inclined to be against him, that person soon “saw certainly that God was with” him, and “departed from him in peace.” Genesis 26:12-31. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 769.7
“Which things are an allegory;” for God has two sons. “For these [women and their sons] are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” The other is from mount Calvary, and answereth to “Jerusalem which is above” and “free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:24-26. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.1
Now in teaching redemption to the people in old time, the Lord said, “All the first born of man among thy children shalt thou redeem,” and of “every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s;” except the firstling of an ass. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.2
The firstling of an ass had to be redeemed; and it had to be redeemed with a lamb: “Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a Iamb.” And any firstling of an ass that was not so redeemed, its neck was to be broken: “If you wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck.” Exodus 13:12, 13. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.3
These things were shadows of realities. What are the realities?—One we can find, anyhow, if not all. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.4
The scripture says that the son of Abraham by Hagar was “born of the flesh,” and that he was “a old-ass man.” MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.5
The scripture likewise says that Hagar and her son represented the covenant from Sinai and the children of that covenant. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.6
This says, then, that those who were or are of the covenant at Sinai were and are born after the flesh, and are “wild-ass men.” And as the firstlings of the ass must be “redeemed with a lamb,” this says that every soul who ever was or is of the covenant it Sinai, every one who is born of the flesh must be redeemed with the Lamb of God, or his neck will be broken. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.7
“For this cause he [Christ] is the mediator of the new testament [covenant], that by means of death, for the redemption of the redemption of the transgression that were under the first testament [covenant], they which are called might receive the premise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15.) This is to say also to every soul of those who are the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, that they must be redeemed with a lamb,—the Lamb of God,—they shall perish; for it is not possible for the blood of bulls or goats or lambs to take away sin. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.8
Yet more than this, it is likewise to say to all who are born only of the flesh, who are therefore “wild-ass” men, who are of the “carnal mind,” which “is enmity against God,” and which “is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,“—it is likewise to say to all these that they must be redeemed with a lamb,—the Lamb of God,—or their necks will be broken, and they will be destroyed by their own sins. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.9
And to all who are of the covenant from Calvary, who are born of the free-woman, of the promise of God, and of the Spirit of God, who are the seed of Abraham according to the promise,—these, too, shall be redeemed, to these redemption is certain; for the Spirit itself, of which we are born, is “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:14.) And the redemption of the purchased possession includes the redemption of our bodies, who “have the first-fruits of the Spirit.” Romans 8:11, 23. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.10
How is it with, you? Are you born of the flesh only? or are you born of the Spirit? Are you in the condition where you are in danger of having your neck broken because you have not been redeemed with the Lamb, born of the Spirit, and by that Spirit sealed until the redemption of the purchased possession? MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.11
“Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” “For if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, ad heirs according to the promise,“—born of the Spirit of God, children of the free, sealed unto the day of redemption. Bless the Lord! MEDM September 30, 1908, page 770.12
And gladness is sown for you in the promise of your own sure and eternally undisturbed inheritance and home in this glorious land where “the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.... And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with sons and everlasting joy upon their hears; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” “Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” MEDM September 30, 1908, page 771.1
Will you not, just now and always, receive into good ground these seeds of gladness? Will you not cultivate them carefully, that they may grow exceedingly, that you may, just now and always and forevermore, reap abundantly the blessed cup of gladness from these many seeds of gladness which the Lord has sown all around you, and before you throughout eternity? MEDM September 30, 1908, page 771.2
Who, then, will not “serve the Lord with gladness,” and “come before his presence with singing?” MEDM September 30, 1908, page 771.3
“I will be glad in the Lord.” Amen. And let all the people say Amen. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 771.4
“What Is the Pay?” The Medical Missionary, 17, 39, p. 782.
ALONZO T. JONES
“WHAT shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.1
You know that the Lord has bestowed upon you benefits of all sorts, and in countless number. “They can not be reckoned up in order.” “If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.2
Now the question is, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” How shall I pay him for what he has bestowed? And the answer is, “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.3
That is to say that what you are to render to the Lord for all the benefits which he has given you, is to take more benefits. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.4
Yea, more than this; what you are to render to the Lord for all the benefits which he has given, is to take the greatest of all the benefits which he can possibly give. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.5
If you have all these benefits except this greatest one, then all he asks of you to pay for all these is that you take this greatest of all. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.6
And if you have, all of them, even to the greatest, then all he asks of you to pay for all these is that you take yet more of the greatest of all,—that you drink yet deeper of the cup of salvation, and call yet more upon the name of the Lord. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.7
That is the Lord’s system of receiving pay for what he bestows. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.8
Now read Acts 17:24, 25; Luke 6:32-38 and Acts 20:34, 35. MEDM September 30, 1908, page 782.9