The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-06-18
SERMON.
CINCINNATI, Washington Co., Ark,
The Sermon on Grace, or Failing
from Grace, by G. Il. again.

from Grace, by u. L. again.
= For it had been better for them not to have
| known the way of righteousness, than, after they
have known it, to turn from the holy comm andment
delivered unto them.' Peter, IL. q.
Now, the object of this discourse is to
open up the great doctrine of falling from
grace, that there is SO much dispute
about, and this time We hope the editor
will publish all of this discourse of ours,
and expose it if he can, for he did not
put all of our views in the article before
published. We had it in four grand d.
visions. The first thing noticeable in the
article, was the holy commandment deliv-
cred unto them. This, we say, was to
believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and
to love one another as he gave us COM
mandment Proof lst John, III 90, and
St. John, g. 30, ard many other texts
could be quoted in support of this prop
osition, were it necessary. But my OBJ.
ject is to discuss the yeas and nays of
falling from whether the Calvinis.
tic doctrine of the final perseverance of
the saints is right, or the Armenian horn
of the dlema is nearer right. Not exact
ly agreeing with either Of them. In the
first place l shall undertake to prove
what grace is, and how it came about.
Grace is positively Gods free favor,
manifested in the gift of his son, as a
sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
Then it is Gods free favor to man and
man is saved by it, if he accepts and re-
ceives life by it; the gift of God. by
faith in Jesus Christ, as the remedy for
sin, and not only for our sins. but for the
sins of the whole world. Then the qucs.
ton arises, can we lose that life we get by
grace through faith? Yes, we can lose
that life, if we do not endure to the end
This is certain. See st Matthew, oath,
II, ID. But he that enduretb to the end j.,
shall be saved. Then, can man fall
from grace? l, one of Gods servants,
answer, yes, they can, and be restored
again to favor, as this is what grace is,
kindness shown to man; favor to man
from the offended party, God and Gods
children. Then we do affirm, that man
can fall from grace, after he is a child of
God. AS this is disputed, we will give
our proof on the subject: Revelations,
I'd chapter, 9th verse reads thus: " Re-
member, therefore, from whence thou art
fallen and repent and do the first works."
Now, it is evident these had fallen, or the
messenger would not have said so, tor he
says, F." remember from whence thou art
fallen showing that they had fallen from
grace or first love, or favor.
Again in Mathew. 18th chapter, Is, 10,
Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass
AGAINST thee 90 and toll hin,- his fsnli he
tween you and him alone; If he shall
hear thee thou'hast gained thy brother"
Now is the rub. Gained thy brother?
Gained him from where? From whence
he is fallen, from grace, from his below
ed position in the religious body, from
thier favor and fellowship. This is fall
ing from grace in part. See Gallations,
chapter, 4th verse. Here is proof pos
tive of falling from grace, for here are
some that had fallen from grace, desiring
to be back under the law. Now, Christ
redeemed them from under the law, and
they had gone back to the law again !;
left their freedom, and went into bond
age again. They had fallen from grace.
Now can they be restored to grace again,
|, a preacher Of the Church Of God say
they can, and for proof, turn to jeremiah
Sd, %: "Return,you backsliding children,
and will heal your backslidings.' Here
is promise that they can repent and be
restored. More proof: Hosea, 18th, l, 80
Israel. return unto the Lord thy God, for
thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." This
shows the fallen can be restored again
In the 4th verse, e. will heal their back
sidings; / will love them freely; for my
anger is turned away" This all shows a
restoration to grace.
l shall now proceed to discuss the
subject of falling from grace negatively.
What grace is not, 1t is not that state
of mind produced in man, or that heav-
emily nature or spiritual birth. This is
not grace, as some teach. Christ formed
in you is not grace, as some teach, eth
err; nor is being attached to some church
grace; all of these things have been ia
ken for grace. but they are not.
Then, again, falling from grace is not
losing that hope or spiritual mind produ
ced by the word of God and spirit of
God by faith in Jesus Christ. This new
creation in man, or new mind, or new
heart, is not grace. But are all obtain
ed by grace, the favor Of God to man.
Then spiritual life is obtained by grace,
kindness shown to man in the gift of
Coils own son, the amount required to
liberate the human family from prison
and death.
Here is pardon for every one that will
accept it. Life through faith in Jesus
Christ. Now can man lose that life
produced by grace? l here impartially
say that he can, if he does not obey the
commandments of God. Again, say,
that a man can lose that new birth, and
be lost forever For there is but one
spiritual birth. Now, if man falls away
from his relationship to God, and be-
comes child of the devil again, he is
gone forever. This is the second death,
from which there is no redemption, no
more sacrifice for his sins. He is dead
branch, whose end is to be burned. It's
impossible for him to live again. See
Hebrews, 9th chapter, A, 5; For it is
| impossible for those who were once en-
| lightened, and have tasted of the heav-
emily gift, and were made partakers ofthe
Holy Ghost, aud have tasted the word of
God and of the powers Of the world to
come, if they fall away, to renew them
| - nnfn 1,Aty ,F.E tf,