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Jesus Alive Forever The Orthodox Presbyterian Church lmost a generation has passed since the birth of the A Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Of course its heri­ tage stretches far back of 1936: for that year was a continuation as well as a beginning. This month is but a milepost on the road ahead. The perspective of 1966 increases our appreciation for the stalwarts in the faith who saw the urgent necessity of the stand taken thirty years ago. How accurately they read the signs of decadence in the church they were forced to leave! The incipient apos­ tasy of those years has come to tragic fruition in the sixties. The false principles of the Auburn Affirmation have been written into the Confession of 1967 of the United Presbyterian Church. In 1936 denials of the faith were tolerated in the boards and agencies and by official ac­ tion of the General Assembly. In 1966 both liberals and conservatives have come to terms with a confes­ sional concept that toys with truth, abandons Presby­ terianism, and gives constitutional status to a false gospel. This is nothing less than deliberate apostasy from historic Christianity. Never has the Orthodox Presbyterian Church had more reason not only to exist but to move forward. It is not enough merely to sound the trumpet of warning. A new generation must catch the vision of the whole Word for the whole world. The hand of fellowship must be offered to all who would unite with a church committed to Jesus Christ. Let the church continue to strive for a revival of true Presbyterianism in the land. May it take more initiative in the direction of biblical unity with others of like faith. It needs to pray daily for the working of the Holy Spirit in its midst. May the opportunities ahead both challenge and humble the Orthodox Presbyterian Church under the mighty hand of our sovereign God. Aleditations on the Gospel of Luke cerning Jesus had been dashed to pieces-although certain women had astonished them that very day with a report that he was alive, they ad­ mitted. Jesus Alive Forever Now it was Jesus' turn to speak (for unknown to them it was the EDWARD WYBENGA Lord): "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things The Empty Tomb This is the concluding meditation in concerning himself." When they a series that began on this page in Luke 24:1-12 reached their destination, it seemed the issue of October 1960. Although hile it was yet dark on the first that their companion intended to go the author went to be with Lord just Wday of the week - the day that on, but since the shades of night were over a year ago, we are happy to have came to be known as the Lord's Day falling they persuaded him to tarry been able to complete the series which J -a group of women left their homes with them. he had put in almost final form. "He and passed through the streets of Jeru­ While they were having supper the being dead yet speaketh." salem, hurrying to Joseph's tomb. They stranger, acting the part of a host, had brought precious spices with took bread, blessed it, broke and gave which to complete the burial of Jesus' who deny the fact have resorted to all some to them. A most marvelous thing body. So filled were they with a sense kinds of weak and implausible theories occurred as they were watching him of loving duty that the problem of re­ in a vain effort to support their un­ carefully: "their eyes were opened and moving the great stone never occurred belief. But they can never get around they knew him." And with the shock to them until later-but when they ar­ the stubborn historical fact of the of recognition suddenly he vanished, rived they found the stone had al­ empty tomb. and they exclaimed to one another: ready been rolled away. Surprised, the Ours is a living Savior. Hear his "Did not our heart burn within us, women entered the rock tomb, but the words to the apostle John in a later while he talked with us by the way, body of their Master was not there. vision on the isle of Patmos: "I am and while he opened to us the Scrip­ Suddenly they became aware of the he that liveth, and was dead; and be­ tures?" Leaving the table, they has­ presence of "two men in shining gar­ hold, I am alive forevermore" (Rev. tened back to Jerusalem, eager to tell ments"-angels assuming human form 1: 18). He who once died for the sins the eleven that they had seen their for the time being. The angels gently of his people now lives, never to die risen Master. rebuked the women, saying, "Why again. That is the glorious consolation Other Appearances seek ye the living among the dead? for all believers. Our trust for eternal He is not here but is risen: remember salvation is in a Christ who has con­ Luke 24 :44-53 how he spake unto you when he was quered death. They found all the disciples and yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of others gathered together (except for Man must be delivered into the hands The Emmaus Travellers Thomas) excitedly talking about how of sinful men, and be crucified, and Luke 24:13-35 the Lord had appeared to Simon Peter. the third day rise again." In the afternoon of that resurrection Suddenly Jesus himself appeared Christ had said more than once that day two disciples, Cleopas (and per­ among them, saying, "Peace be unto he would rise again, but they had for­ haps Luke), were journeying to the you." Since the doors were closed, his gotten until just now when the angels village of Emmaus about seven or mysterious appearance terrified them, reminded them of his words. If they eight miles from Jerusalem. They were and they thought they had seen a had believed and remembered, they talking about the events of recent days, ghost. But Jesus quieted their fears as would not now be looking for their debating the question of Jesus' Mes­ he had often done before as he spoke Lord in a burial garden. siahship. Could he have been the further words of assurance. He showed The wondrous fact of the resurrec­ Christ prophesied in their Scriptures­ them his hands and feet, asked them tion: this his disciples could not un­ and yet have come to such an end on to touch him-"a spirit hath not flesh derstand; they could not believe it; the cross at the hands of his enemies? and bones, as ye see me have"-and they did not expect it. But their un­ As they walked along a stranger ate fish and honey before their eyes. belief, under the providence of God, joined himself to their company and In every possible way he demon­ contributed all the more to the verac­ questioned them about their sad looks strated that it was a real body that he ity of their testimony to the truth of and anxious words. Surprised at his had, that he was truly alive from the the resurrection when later, by the ap­ apparent ignorance, Cleopas asked, dead. pearances of Christ, the disciples were "Art thou only a stranger in Jeru­ Their joy knew no bounds-they compelled to believe what they saw. salem, and hast not known the things could scarcely believe for the wonder No fact in all human history is bet­ which are come to pass there in these of it. Jesus reminded them of the ter established than the bodily resur­ days?" Then in reply to his further words which he had before spoken of rection of our Lord. The empty tomb query, they reviewed briefly the recent the fulfillment of prophecy in his suf- is an unanswerable argument. Those happenings and how their hopes con- (continued on page 75) The Presbyterian Guardian is published manthly (except combined in July-August) by the Presbyterian Guardian Publishing Corp., 7401 Old York Rd., Phila., Pa. 19126, at the following rates, payable in advance in any part of the world, postage prepaid: $3.00 per year ($2.50 in Clubs of ten or more); $1.00 for four months; 25c per single copy. Second Class mail privileges authorized at the Post Office, Philadelphia, Pa. 66 The Presbyterian Guardian L June 1966 - Thirtieth Anniversary of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Thirty-third General Assembly JOHN J. MITCHELL oW does one summarize a General days of this Assembly, we were re­ of furnishing secretarial assistance to H Assembly? In past years there minded again of the great debt we the clerk was continued, a service of have been certain issues that seemed owe to the sovereign Lord who gives benefit to all. to dominate the church's interests and gifts to his church. Not least among The commissioners were called to served to distinguish one assembly those gifts enjoyed by Orthodox Pres­ order at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday by the from another. There was no lack of byterians has been the faithful service Moderator of the 32nd General As­ important business when the 33rd and effective teaching ministry of Pro­ sembly, the Rev. Robert Eckardt. The General Assembly of the Orthodox fessor Murray. Assembly was constituted by a worship Presbyterian Church met at Oostburg, On Monday evening, we gathered service in which Mr. Eckardt preached Wisconsin, during the last week of with members from the Oostburg and on the subject "A Good Servant of April, 1966.
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