Editorial
“Fear not; I am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and, Behold, I am alive for evermore” (Rev. 1:17-18, Alford). The Living One, Whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting, is He Who has been declared to be the Son of God possessing power by the resurrection from the dead. If He, Christ, be not raised, our faith is vain; we are yet in our sins.
He was raised, and raised for our justification. Upon His triumph over sin, death, and hell rests every blessing we receive. We might well say with Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).
In like manner the resurrection of Christ becomes the earnest of the resurrection of the Christian, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (1 Thess. 4:14).
Thomas Wilkie favours us with another article for the “Devotional” section. He pictures the risen Lord as He ministered to His early disciples and then makes that very ministry contemporary to us.
An excellent doctrinal statement of the resurrection of Christ is given by Wylam Price, “If Christ Be Not Risen.” This article deserves close attention. If Christ did not arise physically from the tomb, Christianity is without foundation.
We are delighted to welcome a new contributor, Arnold McIntee. Our brother teaches in a High School at St. Catharines, Ontario. Furthermore, he occupies his spare time in Sunday School work. His two articles appearing in the April and May issues of “Beside the Shepherds’ Tents” are the result of much experience, and to all sincere Sunday School workers are of great practical value.
The evangel God has given to the world is the Gospel of the Resurrection. The article in “Lambs of the Flock” by S. O. M. is a lesson taught to a young people’s Bible Class. All should notice the importance of the three elements of the gospel; the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as they are presented in this lesson.
The article by our brother J. M. Davies, a well-known missionary in India, is highly appreciated. Although this is the first article from his pen in Food for the Flock, we hope that it will not be his last. His treatise “Law and Grace” is both clear and concise, and will answer some of the difficulties which arise in the minds of God’s people.
In “The Forum” we have a matter related to the section “Beside the Shepherds’ Tents.” We are happy to insert in this department any helpful discussion of the problems which occur in Sunday Schools. An exchange of thought on some of these might easily produce a solution.
We are indebted to E. M. G. for another lovely Easter poem. Amidst the increasing gloom, we are assured that because Christ lives, we too shall turn from “Death to Life.”