The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-11
"BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE NOT
on Me-

Is the rejection al the dlNihe Iclneuy
for sin in Christ. bring ABOUT his dam
nation. Sin itself is not finally fatal to
the soul. because God has found a
remedy in Christ and has freely ex-
tended that remedy 20 every creature
by universe proclamation Of forgive
ness and Justification to every one that
belieycth. Acts xii. 81. 39l. In
tie meantime there is an am
uesty or stay of judgment against
sinners. in order that the Gospel may
be preached aud men duly warned and
entreated TO be rccouciled to God. III.
Cor. w.. 1921 If having heard the
Gosfel the condemned sinner reject
Jesus Christ and the redemption that is
in Him lEph. j., q, then it is clearly
written that "he shall be damned
Matt. xvi. 1873 that is. the sentence
against the sinner shall be executed.
For thi.rea.on the sinner is Away said
10 be lost because of his untelief. or
course the uubslief of the sinner ~ re-
fusipe the oher Of God s mercy adds
immensely 90 the meIe trausgression OF
the law on ,he grounds of which on
ginal sentence has gone forihagainst
him: for the reason that it is at once his
deibsia.e choice of SIN and the equally
deliberate contempt Of God and Of his
Christ.
This is why Jesus said that the Holy
Ghost in convincing the world Of sin.
Laws stress on inc fact of reieciinq h'm.
"Hc Will ieprove convict he world of
sin. because hcy belicre rot on ne.
John XVI. $50 1t is easily seen from
this that God controversy with sim
ners j, not SO much on account OF origi-
nal sin or even current transgressions'
"a il is ON account of their rejection Of
Son. whom me made TO be sin for
them. Or. as il has been we'll said: 1T
ia no longer the sin question, bu. tie
Son question All sin, therefore, IS
headed up in the rejection of Christ
A careful examination Of several as
sages of Scripture viii show the truth
and the immense importance Of thi'
position.
Take. first OF all, the one alread!
...,..,l ....of sim bccau.e they believe
not on me. 1t seems not to have beer
necessary ID send the Holy Ghost Il
convince tine world of sin, in the ordl
nary sense of the word. All men are
convinced of Sin. Every man with
conscience knows that lying and steal
inc and uucleaune-s and murder arr
sin. but il requires the Holy Ghost Il
.how. through the revealed Word an'
bv ms presence and power energHini
that Word and quickening the human
understanding. that God has gathered
the whole question up in Jesus CHRIS
whom me hath set forth to he prop
nation for our sins." The reJec
ton Of Jesus Christ. Gods settlement
for sin. is the one GROWING sll
Of the world. At the Judgment I'd
oues ion will not turn on the TACT O
common sin. but on tho sinner S rela
ti9n TO Christ. This rejection OF Chfls
10 ,,e common attitude of the carelea
g. and thoughtless sinner But God
very patient and long suffering, an'
does not quickly proceed to oxtreml
ties. Jesus himself anticipates the re
g lection. but prays for the relec-efs' a
g me did on the cross: Father, foigiV
them. for they know not what the
do. The murderers-that Is the con
mon people who were consuming ~ III
death-did not know who he was
they would not have crucified III
d Lord of glory" Even SO, many VIII
reject Christ now do so in ignorance
the vast importance of his person an
work.
Then. we see a further stage OF TIN
rejection of Christ after there has bee
q more enlightenment. In Heb. Il, s. n
APOSTLE. after setting forth in the hr
chapter the fact Of our Lords DiviG
Sonsbip and his work Of purgIng OF
Il sin puts the question squarely: "Ho
r. shall we escape if we neglect 50 gre
ga salvation - To unbelief pure and SIN
~ nile is now added neglect Neglel
# implies knowledge, but deliberate ii
4, difference as to Jesus and all that
stands for in this great controvers
.. Not 10 know who he is. though be
* preached and declared. Is unbeliei
- its simplest form: but when he IL clea
% ~ set forth, both as to his person al
n work. to neglect" him raises the SCI
20 ous question, How shall we escape
n Again. we see how this matter
a.. dressed from more advanced stan
. noiut. Ia the sixth chapterof Hebre'
we have a picture Of the cynical u
i, believer, who has been enlightened al
10 has tasted Of the heavenly gift, and b
- been made partaker Of the Holy Che
10 and tasted OF the good word Of God a
-, the powers Of the world to come. 1t
a declared that if those who have been
"a far pressed by grace shall fall away
. that is. in the face of such light a
l. spiritual help deliberately reject Chr
n they cannot be renewed again to
70 pentance. seeing they have cruciil
-, the Son of God afresh. as 1t were
= second time. They might REJECT h
il. once in ignorance, but to REJECT II
after spiritual enlightenment is to dc