The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-04
THE DOCTRINE OF ACHIEVEMENT.
An Interesting Sermon by Dr. Mcleod, at
the Second Presbyterian Church.

'Paul's Challenge was the subject of very
interesting sermon by Rev. James Mcleod, d. D.,
at the Second Presbyterian Church, yesterday
morning The text of the discourse was: "Who
shall lay anything to the charge of Gods electl'
Mr. Mcleod spoke of the many erroneous no.
tions and incorrect theories regarding the doc
trine Of the text, and dwelt at some length on
the mistakes Of both church and individual pro-
fessor in an unsparing manner. He alluded to
the scriptural assurance that 'there is no con-
demnation to them that are in Christ Jesus
and he strongly defended the doctrine of atone
ment. In abiding to the quotation, he said:
s'That is significant statement 1t implies
that those who are not in Christ Jesus are under
condemnation. They are condemned already.
the Son Of God. But on the other
hand, those who have believed in Christ,
and received him as their lord
and savior, are freed from condemnation.
Their guilt has been cancelled. Their debt has
been paid. They have fled to Christ for refuge,
and they are now in Him. When, therefore,
Paul asks, who can lay anything to the charge
of Gods elect2 he is looking at the Christian as
being complete in Christ. He realizes that his
sins are forgiven his iniquities pardoned, and
He sees him covered all over with the robe of
Christ's righteousness. Hence, being thus
justified just pa;Ed01Hsa saved he - knows ;"ss
as as easy to lay anything . to on,d the ae
lay anything to the charge of His elect, whom
He has redeemed, and who are now complete in
Him. The apostle does not mean to teach that
the elect do not commit sin, or that the sins OF
the elect are of no consequence, seeing that
Christ has made atonement for them. No such
thing. He knows better than that But he
does mean to teach that when God justi6es
sinner He justifes him completely; that the
sinner who accepts Christ as his savior, has
complete savior. Paul felt this in his Utmost
SOUL He gloried not in his own Righteousness,
but in the Righteousness of Christ. He felt that
all who are redeemed with His most precious
blood are secure. Seeing that he had accepted
Christ as his lord, and master, and redeemer
he saw that it would be both unreasonable and
unjust, that it would be both bad theology and
bad morals to charge to his account debt that
had been already cancelled; to compel him to pay
that for which our Savior had made a complete
atonement Hence, in view of the finished work
of Christ and of his interest in that work; and
in view of the further fact that every child OF
God is as complete in Christ and is as truly
justified as was Paul himself, he had a right to
throw out this bold challenge and say, who can
lay anything to the charge of Gods electP
While, therefore, many of Gods children, from
the days Of Adam to this hour, have committed
heinous sin, and while the church of God has
oftentimes fallen into serious error and failed
grievously in the discharge of her duties still it
is true that against ono of Gods elect,
either on earth or in heaven, can any
charge be made which has not been fully met
and fully answered by our blessed Redeemer
This is part of the gospel of Christ which be-
gets joy, and hope, and comfort God grant
that may realize it. But some one may say,
if this be true, if believers pardon and saliva
ton be so complete. and if he may be as con-
scious of it was St Paul, then what's to- hinder
him from INDUCING in sin as much as he pleases?
That is not new objection. Paul anticipated it
long ago. and he answered it most
satisfactorily when he said, Shall we
continue in sin that grace may abounda God
forbid! How shall we who are dead to sin live
any longer therein7 For, being made free from
sin, We became the servants Of righteousness
closer in the footsteps of Christ, than did this
very apostle who rejoices in the glorious truth
that the Righteousness of Christ is a complete
covering for human guilt So it ever has been,
and SO will it ever be. This is the doctrine which,
above all others, leads to holy lfe They
who thus embrace Christ as a savior are
they who are careful not only to maintain good
works, but also to obey that coI.mand: Be ye
holy for am holy.
Nov it is one thing to be persuaded of the
truth which the apostle here teaches, and it is
another thing to be conscious Of it. One may
perceive it with the intellect and yet not feel it
in the heart. Paul was conscious Of it, and it
seems to have sent thrill of joy through his
very soul. Nor was it, with him, a momentary
impulse or spasmodic feeling; rather was it a
constant experience"