The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-10-22
WHAT Is IT TO BE A CHRISTIAN

PASTOR NhULAN s SUNBAN EVENING SLhMON, NCT. ~.
Text John ll. IL" If yr love me keep my command
mcnts
What is il To bp a Christian W.. have two an
- - M -. -. az
tasonisuc answers Inc Unitarian says LNe
riEhtly3 The Orthodox answer is Believe on
the Tnrd Jesr,s Christ 3, Roth ans,ve,s ara half
,rntbs And Gonna ono aid tia, "a nall. ,r,,t
-.
Is tue most dangerous oil hes. certainly mere III
this important matter a half-truth is a far reach
inc, 1,,,cr For u i,,,r, ,sr,,;iy IL, tic s,,o,i,rs
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Lalsl!'
Take this first hall truth, 10 be christian Is
10 live rigbtlylr Here weak and shallow self
-, a.. 80,
culture ana Tue common inotailues oil me- are
substituted Tor true sOul-poedlence' Man Is made
his own saviour Now all eKnerieuCe Joins with
,t,o ,I,,, ,i;,i, ,I, ~ ft,;,, ,,,I ,o,,Is ,t,,
tHe 'i'ai' oAPi0't "Vlu' vi Nll''' anu 'ha'
1t IS not enough Tor man to live out his nature
That q change Of nature is needed vicious
horse il none tho halter te,puared berause tbe kick
ing straps prevent MS dashliB tue carriage 10
atoms. SO a man l. none the better really because
the restraints Of custom, and society, and pruvi-
- -, / :. f-t,.; a.. -
uen'e' "'"S P'e'eH' us ioiio"ilE 'u"' 'ouise
which he would prefer. Human nature behind the
bars of law and in the CAGE of restraint is none
,I L. d, I'D ,,,t,oI, ,,,,,rr, ttrI,,l ,t, H.
-
we should soon see What II would 10 ana be. Mere
4 "A % Va
regulate the outer life, they do not change the
character. They never make man Christian
10 do. that change Of nature Is needed. This
nSu cannot work in himself, however carefully
and rightly he may live. So to answer the import
ant question, What is 1t to be a Christian p by
saying, Live rightly ~ is a fatal half-truth
But the orthodox answer. Believe on the Lord
Jesus CHRISTI is almost as bad and glarng a half
truth Here, too often q sharp distinction Is made
between Salvation and Charactor-betvyeen accep-
lance with God and rightness Of life. "what God
hath joined together man has put asunder - And
it is Is a most fatal divorce.
If any one will Law aside theories and read the
plain teachings uf CHRIST it seems impossible to
fall into either of these mistakes.
Nowhere is change Of nature made SO en-
phatic as in the teachings of Christ. We must be
horn arain'H is Ills messlrr Nowhere either il
pure noble character. made the evidence of that
change, 50 emPhatically in the teachings of
Christ Take the beatitudes: Whom does Christ
pronounce "blesseay Why the manwhn is meTci.
full and meek and humble. and pure in heart and
who gives himself 10 peacemakinp and patienlIy
endures persecution. Christ made goodness in all
its forms the transcendently important thing.
This new spiritual life which He came to give men,
had for its sole object the producing in men purity
truth and love
When we teach. as is too often taught implicitly,
if not directly, that men are restored To the Divine
favor by process distinct from change of charac-
ter: that Salvation is one thing and right living
or righteousness another: that escape from
punishment, through belief in Christ is the first
a long way from the plain simple teaching of
Christ There is no Salvation without the re-
generating power of the HOLY Spirit Neither is
there any Salvation that docs not work through
character, God saves men by changing them
from sin to Holiness. If there was any other sal
walton il would not be worth having. All genuine
religion aims at making men morally better II
it fails to do this it is worthless!
These thoughts clear the way for a true answer
to the question: What is it to be a Christian p
My text answers in one word Obedience
notice first that obedience leads to the Cross |
1t is the only road along which any man can walk
and find deliveranco from sin and peace with God
/ say 10 every one not Christian, there IS not q
single duty laid down in the Bible but what is your
duty as much as mine to obey. II is your duty to
love God and YOUR fellow-men il is your duty to
live an honest good life it is your duty to do good
as well as be good. All these duties rest on you.
They have rested on you from the time that you |
were old enough TO know good from evil That |
You have so ldnr NEGLECTED. them is a great sin. |
Every day you continue to neglect them you add |
TO your sin. But the crUWning sin of your life Is,
your rejection Of Christ Now, what Onght you |
10 do What is the way to Christ for Won |
Is it TO wait for a revival? Is it to wait for
e conviction of siu?- great mental distress |
great many Christians would tell you But |
this Bible nowhere tells rs that 1t Is necessary for
many DAYS Of conviction and so MANY of inquiry, |
and 50 many PRAYERS, and Just so much reading Of
the Bible and conversation with Christian people.
There is no hint Of all that in the Bible. Jesus
YOU, If YOU would be free from sin, to 1
rerent and trust him. and follow his teachings
In other words 40 oJsy hig' You say: II can't!'
Is it a cunt, or a ,-0H'fg The very moment you
are willing to obey He gives YOU strength TO obey.
In our scripture lesson, Christ commanded that /
moor miserable creature at Bethesda who had |
been living HELPLESS for % wears to stand up!-
What, ON those weak and withered legs? Yes
For be could have no others TO stand on And the
moment he obeys. or makes the attempt TO obey, |
a new power shoots through the nerves and mus
cles Inc man il NOT lifted up. He rises up him
self and on his own legs. but Jesus furnishes
the strength. The man wanted to get up. He |
made a resolule effort to obey
restored him. and enabled him 10 co rejoicing |
His part was Faith, taking the plain common sense