The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-04-27
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important question, though weak and
imperfect as feel. | will attempt
or venture to give a few ideas rela-
tive to the eternal salvation Of the
soul Of man.
This is deep, mysterious subject,
as there arc two distinct salvatipns
spoken of in the Bible-the common
and eternal. The common salvation
pertains to this life while the eternal
alludes to eternity after death.
Now, tho question arises, and is a
controversial one. by able divines and
thcoloSians, whether it be of the
creature, man, or of God, or OF both
man and God. | believe, from Bible
truths, it is wholly Of God, from the
fact that the carnal mind is at cnmi-
ty with God and is not subject to the
law Of God, neither indeed can be.
The Apostle Paul says that in his
flesh remains no good thing so with
the mind he. serves the law Of God
and with the flesh the law of sin foi'
God is a spirit and scclleth such to
worship Him as worship Him III
spirit and in truth.
Then, eternal salvation is, by
grace, a spiritual work, and not OF
any worth or merit on the creature S
part. There is nothing that he can
do or perform i'll any obedience Or act
ofhis own through which lie obtains
pardon or repentance Of forgiveness Of
his sins it is alone with Jesus, the
Redccmer, the Savior-thcrc being no
other name given under Heaven
whereby man can be saved Then it
is not in the name ofman or the crea-
turc. so, to the proof and testimony:
Jesus SAYS, in st. John 9Th, XXXvii,
".AlI that the Father givcth to me
shall come to me, and him that cometh
to me | will in no wise east out.
/. Here is gift Of the Father, verse
Xiv, "No man can come to me except
the Father which sent me draw him,
and | will raise him up at the last
day" Verse XIV: and He said,
therefore, said | unto you that no
man can come unto me except it were
given him of my Father. James
says, "All the. good and perfect gifts
is from the Father Of lights - so
here is set up unconditional salvation
on the part Of man. Then away with
the doctrine Of moral free agency to
the proof and testimony.
Ephcsians 2, viii, "t'or by grace are
we saved through faith !; that not OF
ourselves, it is the gift Of Cod Here
selfis excluded and the gift Of God
substituted. Not Of works, lest any
man should boast Then, obedience Is
works. SO, friends, where do we now
stand Z? Works denicd'uh and self set
aside.
y little more proof Second Tim
othv, l, tx, "Who hath called us with
an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own pur-
pose and grace, which was given US
in Christ Jesus before the world be-
gan )" and to Ephcsians, ,, X, "For
we arc His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works. these
GOOD works being from God, as album
dainty proven above.
Here comes i'll the most consollnS
of all the promises Of God to His
people; here comes Collection and
Notwithstanding hated truth of
Jesus ever since his visit here on
earth. This is the most despised and
hated ol--all- the precions truths
taught by Jesus, the apostles and
holy prophets. To the proof and
testimony, Ephesians l, Ii, "Accords
ING as He hath chosen us in Him be-
fore the foundation of the world"
verse V, Having predestlnatcd us
unto the adoption Of Children etc;
verse ii, g In whom also we have OBJ
tanned an inheritance, being predesti-
mated according to the purpose OF
Him who worketh all things after the
counsel of His own will.
Abundant is the proof on these
points from Genesis to the end of
Revelations. SO, to be brief, we are
asked by one, "Why is obedience so