Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-02
COUNCIL BLUFFS
-
ADDITIONAL LOCAL NEWS.
THE NEW PASTOR.
Rev. G.. w. Crofts' First Sermon In
the Congregational Church.

yesterday morning NOV. VI. W. Sr0lVe,
the newly called pastor of the Congrega.
tional church entered upon his mlnlstra.
lions, his sermon being as follows, from
the text:
Jesus Christ. the same yesterday, to-day
and forever. Heb. 1873.
The world In which we live Is one OF
mutation and change. There Is a cor
slant vatistion in nature. The various
seasons differ one from the other, and nc
two days are Just alike. At one time
the earth Is robed In It's pure white
ermine af snow, and adorned as no queen
has ever been adorned In its Icy jewels
at another time 1t il clothed with the
most beautiful emerald and garlsnded
| with flowers.
And 30 1t Is with government; there Is
constant change. And on it is even with
ourselves. Now a little prsttling child
around the fireslde home; then, a silver
headed sire, leaning upon the staff. So
It Is with everything. The history of all
things is remarkable for its changes. many
| of which bring sadness to our hearts, and
the tear comes yelling up to the eye, and
1t seems refreshing to have our thoughts
directed to the immutabllity of the Crea.
tor.
We are glad to know that there Ia
something that Is always going to be the
same-something infinitely preclous-the
Lord Jesus Christ, according to the
words of tho apostle that wrote this let.
ter to the Hebrews.
He has been, and always will be, the
same; touching the boundaries of the two
eternities, the past and the future, al.
ways the same. In my remarks this
monring, In this Introductory intercourse,
l wish to call your attention to a few
points for your consideration, as well as
my own, In which this wonderful person
age hiss been, is to-day, and always will
be, the same.
Consider Jesus Christ in the visibility
Of His character and works, and in con-
sideripg the subject let Us note In the
first place that Christ has always been
the Savior of mankind, and ever will be.
John In, Revelations, speaks Of this
foundation of the world; not as the
man who was crucifed on Cal
vary. Would you ask when was the
foundation of the world made2 "In the
beginning God made the heavens and the
earth" The foundation of the world
was made in the beginning, and the Rev
Citations say that Christ, the man, was
slain than. II does not mean that he
was at that time made a sacrifice for the
sins of the people. He was slain, as it
were, then for the redemption Of human.
ity, and then he was given ss the Re.
deemer of mankind, and the proclama-
ton of the true gospel was sent forth.
1t was then declared that the seed of the
woman should bruise the serpent's head.
In tho ffIy-third chapter CT Isaiah,
what q minute ard perfect description is
given OF the life and suffeiiogs of the
Lord Jesus Christ. How true to the
facts he explains His history. she was
wounded for our transgressions; bruised
for our inlquit'es, and with bis stripes
we are healed" So perfect Is this that
come of those who are ~endeavoring to sci
aside the inspiration of prophecy, have
declared that 1t was not written hundreds
of years before Christ, but that 1t wa;
written after these things came to pass.
| But the facts are 1t was written before
and this wonderful Redeemer wal rs
vealed unto Isaiah. He was revealed un
to the prophet Daniel and to the all
clients.
Jesus is the blessed, glorious Saviour
He will be sufficient for the present, suf
fclent for the future, until the last hal
been redeemed.
In the second place Christ is the same
spiritually that He has ever been. He i
the element of power. He did not com
to us followed by a powerful army, ant
supported with wealth. He was born ir
poverty surrounded by the poor anG
friendless. In three hundred years thu
civilized world, as it were, was conquered
and brought to the Savlour's feet, and i
was done through this element of power
of which we have spoken.
Again, Christ is the same perfect Idea
man to-day that he was then. The uniol
of the divine and the human in one, ant
thus it appears to every one, the truth
the life, and the way. Study the life O
the Lord jesus Christ, you cannot hel'
coming to the conviction that he wa
something more than a man. The age c
the world in which We live Is al
age of criticism, and criticism ha
done its best in dissecting the characte
of Christ, but what has 1t found there
1t has found perfection. Looking for 81
and error it has found light and purity
Hooking for failure 1t has found in6nlt
beauty and glorious victory. The blesse
lamb of God stands before mankind
the complete embodiment of all that
pure and noble and good, the same yes
terday, to-day and forever. He stand
upon the common plane of humanity
The best that we or any man can do i
this world Is to be like him in thought
10 word and in action. The highest asp
ration and purest hope of the christia
heart is simply to be like the Lord jest
Christ. He is the Savior of eternal lift
as he has always been.
~ am the resurrection and the lif;
He that believeth on me, though he wer
dead, yet shall he live again" The
shall be brought to pass the saying
"Death is swallowed up in victory" sc
death, where is thy sting2 o, grave
where Is thy victory2'
My dear friends allow me TO preser
this savior to you, and allow me In IN
ministry to this church to hold up to 20
this Christ that has been the savior of tn
world in all ages. Let us acknowledge
Jusus as our savior from sin, as a might
element of power In purifying our lives
and In winning souls to the Lord Jesus
Let us gather around this blessed savior