Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-22

CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[Original.l
THE MISSION OF JESUS.

THE MISSION OF JESUS.
For more than eighteen centuries the Cos
pei has been preached and sinners invited
to come unto Jesus, and by him be saved.
Notwithstanding this fact, the great multi
tude of the human family, even in lands
said to be brought under the influence of
the Christian religion, have only the most
vague ideas with regard to the mission OF
Jesus into this world. If asked why Jesus
came into this world, they would reply, with
commendable promptness, "tO save sin
ners ~ but if asked what they mean by sa-
wing sinners they stand bewildered, or reply
in language which conveys no distinct
meaning.
That we may understand the design of
the mission of Jesus Christ into our world,
we must have clear Scriptural understand
ing of the condition of things in this part Of
Gods dominion. The facts are contained in
the Bible and nowhere else. They are few
but thrilingly important. Briefly stared,
they are as follows: In the exercise OF his
creative power, and in accordance with his
infinite wisdom, God brought out of moth
ing into existence the world and all that 1t
contains Out of his own mere good pleas
ure God made man. This creature God
formed in his own image, giving him do
miniOn over all the other creatures occupy
ing the earth. Every thing moved off in
obedience to the Divine will and God pro
nounced everything very good. Peace and
Joy and bliss was felt by every creature.
How long this happy condition of things
continued no one knows. 1t was, however,
only for very short time. Possibly not
single day. TO this probably the Psalrnist
refers when he says "Nlan being in honor
abldeth not, literally nighteth not, or re-
mains not over night" 4 terrible rebellion
took place. Man, whom God his maker,
| had placed over the beasts of the field, fowls
of the air and fish of the sea, actually refused
to obey the voice of him from whom he had
received his all. Peace astonished, He'd.
Happiness and joy and bliss were driven
away from the earth, and bodily pains and
heart griefs took their places, left vacant:
God frowned and man trembled and hid
himself.
Now the mission of Jesus Christ into our
world was to put an end to sin-to put a stop
to this rebellion. The plan which was de-
vised for putting al end to sin, included the
saving of sinners. So far us the sinner is
concerned his salvation is all but to'God,
putting an end to sin is more important.
Saving sinners is blessing which flows out
of putting an end to sin. Sin must be
stopped before a single sinner can be saved.
In the execution of his mission work. Je-
sus Christ put an end to sin in the following
respects:
1st. Hecontined it so as to prevent it from
spreading among any Of his other creatures.
The first sinners were angels, then followed
man. Jesus Christ has confined sin to those
angels and to the natural descendants of
Adam. The angels who kept their first es-
tate up to the time that Adam sinned, were,
by Jesus Christ, confirmed in holiness and
so continue, and ever will continue, to be
holy. To-day the only sinners in the uni
verse are in hell and here upon earth--lost
angels and lost and unsanctifed men. 1t
requires no great power of imagination to
picture everything in the universe following
the example of rebellious angels and IInen,
revolving against the God that made them.
This spirit Of rebellion Jesus Christ quealed,
or prevented from spreading.
End. Jesus Christ put an end to sin by SUI
fering in his own body the penal conse-
quenCes of sin. He took the sinners place,
and in the room and stead of the sinner Of
Adams race, died the just for the unjust.
He did what no mere creature ever could
have effected He conquered death and
him that had the power of it, and brought
life and immortality to the light.
3rd. Jesus Christ put an end to sin in that
all who believe in him, all who accept him
tions of the Holy Spirit, enabled to die dali
ly unto sin and live unto holiness. The I'M
age of God, which sin effaced from their
souls, is, by the Holy Spirit restored, and
finally they are made fit to enter into the
vision and fruition of God their maker, pre-
verand redeemer.
18th. Jesus Christ puts an end to sin in that
he restrains it in lost spirits and in unbe-
lievng men. We are told in the Scriptures
that God makes the wrath of man to praise
him, and the remainder of that wrath he
restrains. Such is the deceitfulnesS and
wickedness of the human heart, that but for
the restraint which God throws over it, this
world would be instantly converted into
pandemonium, acouncil chamber ofdemons.
In putting an end to sin, Jesus Christ con-
victs, converts and sanctifes to himself a
peculiar people not reckoned with the ma
tions. These are the salt Of the earth, the
light of the world. They save the world
from moral putrefaction and the darkness Of
hopeless despair.
The mission of Jesus Christ into our
world was prompted by love. Every incen-
tive to undertake it was in the bosom of the
Divine Being. 1t was most wonderful
mission. Wonderful in its conception, Won
derful in its execution and wonderful in its
results. 1t brought to light an attribute of
the Divine Being heretofore concealed.
God was known as Omnipotent, Omnicient,
lust and good but it was not known that he
is God of mercy. Henceforth he is to be
known and worshipped as God of infinite
mercy, slow to wrath and of great pity.
The final result of the mission Of Jesus
Christ into our world will be the saving in
heaven and seating at Gods right hand
great multitude Of the human family.
These will be saved from the north and from
the south, from the east and from the west.
Some of the inhabitants of every nook and
corner Of the earth will be saved. Some of
all the tribes of Adam will be ransomed
from the power of sin and by the grace of
God, saved in heaven.
The mission of Jesus into our world was
undertaken and executed at great personal
expense and sacrifice. To create all worlds
required only the command Of God. He
spoke and all things stood fast. The saving
of sinners from the wrath of God, incurred
by violating his law, required the cCnde-
scension, humiliation, life Of suffering and
death of the Son Of God. The sacrifice
shocked the earth, the sun vailed his face
and rocks rent. Every redeemed sinner is
bought with the blood of Jesus Christ
Bea5n The Westminster Teacher says: "fhe
| kind of Christianity the Bible teaches is that
| which flows over the rim of the Sabbath and
runs down through all the days of the week,
making men and women better, purer, truer
and more unselfsh." 1t is not the words
which one may utter in the prayer and con-
ference-meeting that tells most Weightily for
the cause of Christ, or that exercises most
influence upon the world, but the general
tenor of ones every day life. That man
lives to good purpose in whose life from day
to day his neighbors discover an aroma of
truthfulness and uprightness and Christlike-
ness. a man breaches perhaps more torc!-
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