The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12
THE POWER OF GOD.
The Rev. DR.. J.P. Greene's Discourse
The Annual Sermon Before the
Southern Baptist Convention.
Christ the Power of God in the
Highest Sense.
An Eloquent and Elective Demon.
stration of the Proposition.
"All Spiritual Energy Must Come from
Christ"--Christianity and Civili-
cation 90 Hand In Haud-The
Work Of the Fathers.

A tremendous congregation was present
in the First Baptist Church Friday even.
ing, the occasion OF the annual sermon
before the Southern Baptist Convention,
preached by the Row. J. T. Greene, pastor
OF the Third Baptist Church, ST Louis,
Mo.
The discourse was as follows:
''cuRIsr THE POWER or GOD"
ave preach Chrld crucilcd unto the Jewsa
stumbling block, aud unto the Greeks fOplishnesS:
but unto them which are called, both Jews aud
Greks Christ the power OF God, and the wisdom
OF Cod Cor |. y "a"
Many good men have been clothed with
the power OF Cod and have thus been
enabled 10 do superhuman works. Christ
is the power Of God in higher sense. He
is not merely man OF God, but the Cod
man. All authority in Heaven and on
earth is given to Him, and Ills power Is
His authority. In Him dwells all the
fulness OF the godhead bodily. True, lIo
called himself the "Son OF Man, and at
times lie seemed 10 be weak. But lIe
also claimed TO be the Son OF God. and in
His weakness he displayed divine power.
All the circumstances OF His death proved
that lie laid down His life. His death
was submission, not defeat.
Christ IS indeed the power Of God, but
only to believers. Unto Jews lie was
stumbling block, and unto gcntilcs fool.
ishncss; "but unto them that arc called,
both Jews aud Greeks. Christ tho power
OF Cod, and the wisdom Of G0dl' lie IL
charged with divine power. ~ with cleo
trcity; but the touch OF faith IL required
1 TO call forth Ills power. Jnbclief IL nom
| conductor The afflicted woman touched
! the hem OF his robe ia faith, and virtue
! flashed from Him TO her instantly, aud
she was healed. lie made no response to
those that carelc'sly pressed against Him
| In the throng. In u measure lie was pow
crlcs5 In the presence Of disbciicvcB. lilo
could do no mighty work. no power In
Nazareth But the disbelief OF many
could not prevent him isom healing "a
few sick folk that came 90 Him in NTH.
Our Lord il no longer present with his
| people In the flesh, but through the Holy
| spirit lie reveals Ills power unto them In
two ways, In saving thcm irom ain, aud In
empowering them for service. wish 10
consider these two manifestations u His
divine power
I Christ is the power Of God unto sal.
walton.
Thou shalt not call His name Jesus;
for IL Is lie that shall save Ills people from
their sins For the 'on of man came
81 seek aud 20 save that which 9as lost. "
lie rs mighty 10 save Gle IN able TO
slyc 10 tie utiurmoFi." Tho purpose OF
lis coming was to slyCsHinncrs, aud lie ia
fully equipped for lhc supcrhuman task.
II il hutd, perhaps impO ,siblc. Tor us 10
realize thr magnitude ct Christs saving
work. The greatest human power Is not
adequate 10 thp salvation Ut the sinner.
Wcutc Fu accustomed 10 seeing the convcr-
sion Of sinners, and Ia hearing oi tie sim
p'icily OF salvation that wc forget tho
mighty work Of our savior Tho
traveller aits IN the soil scat ct Pullman
and Nhifls along IN safety. Little does no
think how much IL cost Ia secure this
Biicty aud ease. How much time and
money were required! How many brains
aud heads and hearts were worn outl
How many tedious and fatal experiments
were made before the best rUad-bcd and
best bridges aud bcs, locomotives aud best
ears were invented What did Il cost
Jesus 10 make a plain, sale highway for us
through tlIis waste, bowling wilderness"
10 is important that We should have a
correct idea Of sin, that We may appreciate
| the saving work ul Christ. A false view OF
sin necessarily leads 10 false Wow OF
] the ntoncmcnt. IL tho sinner Is not In a
/ very bad way hc dOcs not need very
/ great Savior. Nearly all the serious rclig-
! iuus cftun, oi our time cIu bee traced 10
! unscfiptuud and false views Of sin. In this
agc the sense ol Fin is terribly blunled,
hence Christ is % respected friend rather
than an almighty savior.
What docf the word oi God say Of tho
| sinners condition aud OF thr.sts saving
| work. The Bible las much tO say Of sin.
| Every phase ol moral evil Is there de-
| wnbrl aud condemned. Tho woIds used
by the Holy Spirit arr significant and un-
mistaEablc such words as sin, inquity,
! WiCkcdncss tuusgfgsson and disobcdi-
cucc express Code opinion Of moral evil.
The sinner hus fallen away from God, is
dcpmycd, Ia worthless, Is trampling upon
the divine Law, IN hostile toward God. lie
h in q state oi disc0fd anl Of slavery, and
oi false security, aud Of hypocrisy, aud Is
becoming hardened oil the tune. And
God holds him accountable Tor every sin,
Tor every idle word. lie - already con-
dcmnyd. aud u hcaping up wrath against
that awful day oi wrath.
Look also ut the expressions used TO de-
scribe CbfAtH saving work, aud you will
gct still clearer view ol the sinners con-
dition. Ito u lost aud Jesus came 10 seek
and 10 g,yo him. lie Is a captive, and Jesus
came 10 pay ransom lof him. lie is in
prison, md Jesus came 10 open the prison
door and set him free. lie Is dchlcd, and
Jesus came to wash him In his own blood.
llo Is condemned before God, and Jesus
came to justify him. Ills mind Of ilesh Is
Vt Cnmiiy against God. aud Jesus came to
reconcile him 10 God. lie Is dead In trcs-
passes and sins, and Jesus came TO
quicken him, to fcgoucmie biin. 30 des-
lpuic Is his case that nothing shor. OF a
new creation will 10 him Tny good. The
valley Oidfy bones isa titillustration OF this
world OF lost souls. Can these bones
liyc?" 20 lord God. Thou knowesil'
Tho aim iehiy Savior must send forth Ills
spirit, and breathe eternal lie into these
dead souls, else there Is 40 hope Tor them.
Iul God has given rs Ilc clearcst ex.
prcsson 0i Ills view Of sin ia the erueiilx-
lon Of ll, own SON. What Is the meaning
Of this horrible sccnc2 II the sinner isnot
In dreadful state Why did Christ suffer
ana die TO save him2 Why did not God,
with lis in,xhausublc resources, end
, somc caaicr way 10 rescue him2 We must
bp.ieyp that thu price paid was the sinners
debt Our sns we're laid upon Him. lie