But salvation is the broad term used to denominate God's plan of saving the world from the result of that "drifting process of the soul" which drags it "downward to destruction." It covers atonement, Justification, and Intercession. Regeneration is the active principle of salvation, which was not known before the Christian dispensation. It was that principle which stopped the drifting process of Paul's soul, steered it round, and made it "drift the other way." SANCTIFICATION Sanctification logically follows in the course of regeneration, for it is its perfection. Concerning this, the following section is quoted from the Scriptural document: "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Heb. 10, 11-14. To use a metaphor: Sanctification is the finishing touches of Christian artistry-the consummation of the divine purpose-for after Jesus had made perfect His plan of salvation by sanctification, He sat down on the right hand of God the father. It was finished. "Sanctification is the Christianizing of the being and life of the believer. It is the carrying on of the work begun in regeneration until the entire nature is permeated with the Spirit of Christ and lives under the rule of the risen and reigning Lord. Regeneration begins the enlargement of the divine life in man; sanctification takes it forward through Christian growth towards the full-grown man, unto the stature of Christ. The first is the planting of the seed, the second the development into the noble plant, with waving leaves, and ripened fruits. The first is a new life, the second is that life in action." P. & C. Bible Encyc. DIVISION VII RES JUDICATA OF THE TRIAL AND For the purpose of discussion, we have assumed that the question of res judicata has been raised by the opponents of Christianity as to the trial and conviction of Christ; that He was tried by a court of competent jurisdiction upon the charge of blasphemy because He claimed that He was the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah of Jewish prophecy, and was convicted; that His conviction constitutes res judicata of the case at bar; that the judgment cannot be attacked collaterally in a case here, and, under the pleadings in such a case, must stand as conclusive evidence against the Christian's claim. THE REPLY In reply to this allegation, we shall endeavor to show what constitutes and what does not constitute res judicata. "RES JUDICATA. A legal or equitable issue which has been decided by a court of competent jurisdiction. "To constitute a matter res judicata, so that, in a subsequent action, it cannot be drawn in question, (1) the court deciding the issue must have had jurisdiction; (2) there must be identity of the subject matter of the action; (3) identity of the cause of action; (4) identity of the parties, but privies of the parties are bound; (5) identity of the capacity of the parties in which they sue or are sued; (6) and there must have been a final determination of the issues (7) on the merits; (8) upon the particular issue; but the adjudication is final upon every matter which might have been litigated under the issue made." Cyclopedic Law Dictionary, p. 797. "Where a court has jurisdiction, it has a right to decide every question which occurs in the cause; and whether its decision be correct or otherwise, its judgment, until reversed, is regarded as binding in every other court. But if it act without authority, its judgments and orders are regarded as nullities. They are not voidable, but simply void, and form no bar to a recovery sought, even prior to a reversal, in opposition to them. This distinction runs through all of the cases on the subject; and it proves that the jurisdiction of any court exercising authority over a subject, may be inquired into in every court where the proceed ings of the former are relied on and brought before the latter, by the party claiming the benefit of such proceedings." Elliott at al., v. Piersol et al., 1 Pet. R. 340 (U. S.). We will now apply this law to the trial, conviction and execution of Jesus of Nazareth. The Christian litigant maintains that (a) The Great Sanhedrin which tried Jesus did not have jurisdiction over Him; that the whole trial was illegal and without jurisdiction; and (b) that the trial by the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, resulted in an acquittal of the defendant, Jesus of Nazareth, and that He was murdered at the instigation of the Jewish officials. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 1. JURISDICTION OF THE COURT. There were several important things done in connection with the trial of Jesus which have a direct bearing on the question of jurisdiction. The Jewish law under which the Sanhedrin was working was very particular about this. All proceedings at night were prohibited, as was the testimony of an accomplice, and all secret or private hearings and trials were forbidden. The law limited the trial of accused persons |