Speaking for fifteen minutes, MR. ANDERSON said:-
Mr. Nisbet thinks that I will have great difficulty with John the Baptist. I confess that I have no difficulty. John the Baptist preached in the Jewish dispensation, consequently the least in the kingdom that was at hand was greater than John. To say that the least in heaven was greater than John the Baptist would be to hold something altogether absurd. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, and surely anyone who lived in the second dispensation, when the Kingdom of God which John preached as at hand had come, enjoyed a blessing greater and grander than John could enjoy. David ruled over God's people in the last dispensation; Christ sits on His Father's throne and rules His people in this dispensation. The laws of Moses were binding on God's people in the days of John the Baptist, but there came a time when they were no longer binding. Notwithstanding all that took place at the time of Christ's resurrection and ascension, Mr. Nisbet will not allow that a kingdom was then set up. He was going to tell us when the kingdom that the apostles were in came to an end, but he did not do it, and it is too late now to introduce any fresh matter into the debate. He has said nothing to shake the grand truths of the Gospel which John the Baptist preached as at hand, and he has gone nothing to shake the fact that Christ is at the right hand of God, having all power in Heaven and on earth. He never tried to controvert those passages, but left them very severely alone. He says that Christ has all power, but no authority to exercise it. Although Christ has power to save now and power to judge at the last day, I maintain that he is reigning now, and the Scriptures are in my favour, for Jesus said after his resurrection, "All power is given me in heaven and on earth." I have no difficulty with the future kingdom. I accept the kingdom with the future glory, and I believe that in the future dispensation the righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father, and the tares will be cast into the fire. In dealing with the Colossians, Mr. Nisbet made a most miserable failure. At that point he allowed that the apostles entered the kingdom, but neither before nor since has anyone been admitted, although God has laws and subjects on earth, and Jesus sits on the throne of heaven. This report will possibly be printed, and the supporters of Mr. Nisbet will see that if Christ had a kingdom then he must have a kingdom now, with all power in heaven and on earth. There has been no change in government from that time to this, and if he had a kingdom then he has a kingdom now.
Mr. Anderson was about to make a statement about the material kingdom as ruled over by David, when Mr. Nisbet rose and contended that Mr. Anderson should not be allowed to go into that aspect of the question. He (Mr. Nisbet) had made no reference to the material kingdom.
MR. ANDERSON - I am making a statement.
MR. NISBET - I object to it, and ask your Chairman for his ruling.
The Chairman having decided that Mr. Anderson at this stage could not introduce any fresh matter into the debate,
MR. ANDERSON (proceeding) said that the Kingdom of God, being ruled from the throne of God, does not hinder it from being a kingdom. I am quite satisfied that there are aspects of this in the New Testament. In John 18 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" I am convinced that there is a kingdom in existence now far higher, far greater than existed in the days of John the Baptist, and when it came into being there were many prepared to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their King and Ruler. To enter this kingdom you must be born again, and I hold that that is a greater and fuller blessing than John the Baptist ever enjoyed. Many of Christ's grand and noble subjects were prepared to die for Him, and many were prepared to give up their all for Him. In the kingdom which I claim is now in existence there is nothing defective, it has nothing awanting, and Mr. Nisbet has not shaken by one iota my contention that Jesus reigns. I have proved that Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth, with laws and subjects, and it lies with Mr. Nisbet to say what prevents that from being a kingdom.
Speaking for fifteen minutes, MR. NISBET said:-
Mr. Anderson has said this report is likely to go to print. Well, this is generally a matter of agreement between disputants, and although I have no objection to the report, I wish to say that we have given no authority for it. I think it only fair, however, that I should be allowed to revise my portion before the report goes to the public.
MR. ANDERSON - If you were not consulted, the fault is not mine. I wrote my committee sometime ago about consulting the other side regarding the reporting of the debate. As far as I am concerned, Mr. Nisbet will be allowed to revise his own speeches.
MR. NISBET - My committee was informed about the possibility of the debate being reported, but the other side gave orders for reporters before waiting to get our answer.
MR. NEICE (from the body of the hall) - I deny that statement.
MR. NISBET - I am not objecting to the report, and I am quite prepared to waive any rights I may have, but now that Mr. Anderson has promised that I will be allowed to revise my portion of debate, no more need be said.
To resume the debate: Mr. Anderson had said that Jesus once remarked, "My kingdom is not of this world." Christ had a kingdom, Mr. Anderson assures us, but it was not until the day of Pentecost that it came into existence. It was during his ministry that Christ used these words, so if He had a kingdom then he did not require to wait until the day of Pentecost to reveal it. According to Mr. Anderson, it would appear that Christ had a kingdom somewhere up His sleeve, which He did not produce until the day of Pentecost. Mr. Anderson accused me of confusing the issue, but he has made that issue worse confounded when he quotes Jesus to say, "My kingdom is not of this world." The kingdom came into existence gradually, not on the day of Pentecost. Mr. Anderson made a great deal about Christ possessing all authority and power, but he produced no feasible argument to show that at any time, even in His exalted position, he had exercised these powers. Jesus stood to the people in the relation of their Saviour, and until the time came for him to take possession of his kingdom he would occupy a subordinate position. Mr. Anderson had accused me of not supporting my arguments by passages from the Scriptures. I hardly think that is necessary when, as Mr. Anderson admits, the kingdom, which I hold has not come yet, gradually grew from very small beginnings. The kingdom will not come until Christ returns, and then he will take over the rule from His enemies, and when "the kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord He will reign for ever and ever," and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then shall He occupy a position higher than His father David ever occupied. My contention is that God's kingdom always existed, but that from time to time various changes have taken place - it has appeared and disappeared; but it comes to stay. The Kingdom of God is an everlasting kingdom, and when the kingdom of man ceases to exist the Kingdom of God will take its place. Then shall the righteous shine forth and the wicked be rooted out. These are matters which demand very serious enquiry, and although I don't expect we will all ever see eye to eye on all points of the Scriptures, yet I think we should be at one on this glorious truth of the Old and New Testaments. If in this discussion I have shown any undue heat towards my opponent, I hope he will overlook it.
The Chairman having intimated that the discussion was now closed,
Mr. Nisbet moved a vote of thanks to the Chairmen, and Mr. Anderson seconded.