The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-10
EVENING DISCOURSE.
The Remarkable Growth and Development
of the Church of Christ.


of the Church of Christ.
DR.. Mcleod preached again last night taking
as his text Acts Xxx. 2a. He said that by the
church we are to understand the whole company
of the redeemed. We can all see at a glance
that the church and membership in it are in
separa5le. That is to say, we must consider
them together, and one cannot exist without the
other. BY membership in the church we are to
understand the relationship to Christ is that be-
tween the vine and it's branches; the sheep to
their shepherd, and that they will be inclined in
their daily life to initiate as closely as possible
the life of Christ. He has purchased the church
with his own blood and that is all the testimony
we need to know that it is of exceeding value.
1t follows that the Church of Christis not an I'M
necessary or valueess thing. On the contrary.
If all this be true, sinners outside the church
may we'll reflect. Those who place themselves
In antagOnsm with the church of God may well
tremble. While it was the man Jesus Chris
who died 1t was the Goldman Christ Jesus who
atoued. The exceeding value of the church may
may be inferred from the great work that God
has ordained it to perform. The church had
placed before it a most fhcnlt but most glorious
work; to make wicked man like Christ. II was
TO be the light in the world leading men to Christ.
1t was to gather.up the great mutitudes whom
no man can number, of every people, and mako
them meet for the inheritance of the sons of
God. great work under the old dispensatiOu;
a much greater under the new. Il has grown
lions of souls. The church of Cnristto-daY rules
the world, for the most Christian nations are
those which are most felt in the world. Her
work In the past has been great and good,
but perhaps she will do in the future work
still more glorious than in the past. AT times
things look dark, but God reigns. Goethe con-
ceived and CARLYLE has brought to us an illustra-
ton of the growth of the church. In magma
ton he creates tisherman's hut that at last be-
comes glorious temple filed with light aud
beauty. Now, whether Goethe meant i5 or not,
that fisherman's hut may be taken to represent
the Christian church. The sons Of men have
ever been looking at this temple, and the longer
they looked the more beautiful it appeared.
Vast multitudes have found their way to Zion,
and He who was once the most despised and re-
jected has become to them tho most glorious,
and the glory of Christ will yet fill the whole
earth.
save men, to fit them for heaven, how comes it
to pass that some to be found in this city
who are not merely content TO stand alOof from
it, but speak disparagngly of III They be
Just good outside the church as in 1t, they say,
and that everybody else could be just as good
outside as In if they thought They can see
no difference between church members and
those who are not. The church of God which
Christ has purchased with His own blood has
attractions for them. 1t is not to them the fish
erman's hut of Goethe; only fishernan's hut
and nothing more, and their imagination can
not transform 1t into gorgeous temple for
they see no beauty in it. They expect no good
to come from the church to them either in this
world or in the next, and so refuse to enter it.
Baptism to them ia o stumbling block, and the
Lords supper is foolishness. And yet these are
ordinances established by Jesus Christ himself.
Well time will tell whether those who thus re-
gard che church and its ordinances are wise or
fools. Those who ignore the church ignore the
Christ. They are so joined together that he who
rejects one cannot but reject the other. They
who place a high value Christ must
also place high value on the
church of Christ ana upon membership in that
church If they will only reason correctly. With
out membership In il there is no salvation. If
had not a divine warrant for IL would shui-
der to express that sentiment; but I believe II.
1t is not the teaching of Scripture that all
churchme mbers will be saved. nut it is the
teaching of Scripture that none but members of
the church of God will be saved 1t other words,
there 'is no salvation. What are we to under
stand by thechurch of God2 One says the Ro-
man Catholic is that church, and out
side of that denomination is salvation.
But the church of God is a comprehensive
phrase it embraces, according to the Scriptures,
all who truly love the Lord Jesus Christ in sim
cerity and have truly repented Of their sins. If
the Pope of Rome has done that, he belongs to
the true church of God just truly as the pepi-
members of the church of God-those who are
in the church nominally and have not repenJed
of their sins2 They are the branches that are to
be cast into the fire. 1t Is hard enough 10 he
Christian inside the church; you need all the
help you can get Must we not conclude that
those who call themselves Christians
and yet refuse to join themselves to the peo-
it is of great importance to be a disciple of
Christ ana To obey the command Of the Master.
Churches are often made the subject Of attack,
and there is no cheaper way by which the tenn
porary applause OF the world can be gained
than by denouncing creeds. That Id an easy