The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-20
Outline of Sermon Preached by Rev.
w. @. SchOppe, Sunday Morning,
Feb IL 1898

For L am not ashamed of the Gospel of
Christ; for it is the power of God unto sal
vation to every one that believeth."
Paul prayed that he might go to Rome
and preach the Gospel. He was carried there,
a prisoner, and preached in chains. His
prayer was answered; but how different was
it from what he exp pected
Rome represents the greatest earthly pow
er. She was mistress of the world; her En-
perors were worshIpped as present deities.
Her people wUrshlpped power.
Paul, Ill the text, puts power against force.
The power of God, in the Gospel, against the
power of Rome. And he is mot ashamed ~
of the ompariSOn.
Rome had no respect for man, independent
of circumstances. Woman was degraded
children often exposed to die; men were
compelled to fight III the amphltheatres for
the amusement of the people.
Christ taugh hit thatALL were Gods children;
that human life was sacred. He DIED for
the most degraded. This idea of human life
was the transforming influence in the Roman
Empire. 1t soon abolished bloody games,
destroyed slavery AID established charitable
institutions, such as the world had never
seen.
The Roman ideal of virtue consisting of
heroism and independence, was I'M possible to
her sixty millions of slaves. Christ inclined
the moral ideal toward that degraded mass
of people, when He said, Blessed is gentle
ness, humility, resignation. He makes the
highest virtue possible to ALL. His Gospel
is II conquerlng power.
The Gospel is not an abstract statement
not Il creed :-bnt d LIVING PERSONALITY
warm flesh and blood. The Son of God, from
Heaven was born into the world; lived a life
of love among men; died on the cross; rose
and ascended to Heaven. This truth, quick
ened by the Spirit, is the Gospel that saves.
1st. 1t isTHE POWER OF GOD TO AWAKEN
THE HUMAN SOUL.
The life of Christ is the ideal of what man
should be. How far short we come of the
true pattern! Ii such a sacrifice as His was
necessary to redeem from sin, what must sin
be in the sight of God!
If such sacrifice as His was justified by
the value of the human soul, what must the
possibilities OF man be in the sight of God!
The great sin of the Gospels is unbelief in
Christ. 1t Is sin against the only Divine
remedy for sin.
End. The Gospel Is THE POWER OF GOD
The Son of Man has power to forgive sins.
He died for our sins, and rose again for our
justification.
After Prof. Webster, of Harvard College,
was convicted of the murder of Dr. Parkman,
OF Boston, great sorrow seemed to follow,
both on the part of himself and family.
Great pressure was brought to bear upon
good Christian Governor Briggs, in favor of
his pardon. He is said to have walked the
floor all night before the execution :-MER-
CY said "pardon" JUSTICE SAID no : the
with Prof Webster.
In the divine government no obstacle is
lett in the way of mercy to the penitent sim
ner. Paul says, Christ died that l." God might
be just, and the juStitier OF HIM who bellev-
eth III Jesus"
3rd. The Gospel is THE POWER OF GOD
TO sANCTIFY.
The lmpossibility of complete sanctifca-
ton in this life, has often been an excuse for
remaining on low plane of Christian piety.
a tn fI1d lfGl
show lack of the Christian virtue of humili-
ty. But 1t should be the AIM of every true
Christian, by entire submission to Jesus
Christ, by devout study OF the Word, and by
chlld-lIke dependence on the guidance of
the Spirit, to attain unto that SanCtlhed state.
''Grow IN grace" was the last recorded
utteranCe of feter; and what man had a
better right to advise than he? Let no one
languidiy limit the sancufying power of
Christ.
4th. The Gospel IS THE POWER OF COP
TO GLORIFY.
SIN and sorrow are left behind. Earthly
limitations are no more. The disciple of
Christ will be transfgured into the glory of
his Lord, and like the angels who are min
iSterIng spirits unto the heirs of salvation,
viii serve God with deeper sympathy and
dIviner joy than earth has ever known.
The Apostle Paul looked through the
humble origin of Christianity, and the lOwly
life of Its founder. He saw III it the all-con-
QueFlnS power, ana was not aSndmSu OI the
Gospel of Christ"
lst. He was not ashamed to BELIEVE it
as Il man. He gave to it the unwavering as
sent OF his intellect. 1t is the only thing that
meets the worlds deepest needs. A Gospel
without mystery would not be from the God
of nature. 1t will ever live because CHRIST
Is ITS CENTER. He is the wonder OF the
ages.
Carlyle said :-"Jesus of Nazareth our
divine symbol; higher than human thought
has yet reached" Kenan says Whatev-
er may be the surprises Of the future, Jesus
Will never be surpassed"
Leckey, i'll the - History of European Nor
ais, says - 1t mlS reserved for Christian
Ity to present to the world an ideal character,
which through all the changes of Is Centuries,
has filled the hearts of men with all lmpaS-
stoned love, and has shown itself capable OF
acLlng on all ages, nations, temperamentS,
conditions; has not only been the highest
pattern OF virtue, but the highest incentive
to Its practice. Amid all the sins and fall
Ings; amid all the priestcraft, prosecutions
aud tanatlcsm which has defaced the church,
1t has preserved III the character and exam
pie of Its founder, all enduring principle of
DR.. Harrington has learned in communi-
cation with the great Educational Institutions
OF the country, that more than fifty per cent
of the students are members of Evangelical
Churches; aud the number increases as the
cause of education goes on.
When Dir. Dwight became President of
Yale, only one student WAS a Christian. |
w hat change has been wrought! Ii, as
Bacon says The best material for proph- |
ecy Is the unfOrced tendency of educated
young men, then are brighter days to come |
2nd. Paul was not ashamed to PROFESS |
the Gospel, as d Christian. He yielded the |
HEART us well as the intellect.
Confession means the natural expression |
OF what is III the heart. Ii the light is there |
let II shine, and give Him the glory. Do not |
hide the light under d bushel. Conceal your |
faith, and you Will lose It, Express it, and |
It Will grow, and others will rejoice in ITS |
influence. VIII companions scUrn the pro- |
tesslon? What is your sacrifice, com pared |
with what Christ made for you? Paul con
fessed Christ, and had to be let down by the |
wall, in a basket to save his life. He con-
LInued to confess, anu his light still shines |
II you believe that the Gospel is true, all |
that is noble in life says: :" Confess it as "a |
Christian"
Ard. Paul was not ashamed to DIE for the |
Gospel, as a martyr. This noble spirit of |
loyalty to Christ, and unseltish devotion to
he best good of humanity, is what the world
now needs.
Paul went beyond the test He GLoRIED
n the Gospel. 1t enlisted all the heroIsm of
ais nature. Honor and prosperity were with
Ii his reach but he responded to all of the |
worlds allurementS :-''God forbid that | |
should glory save IN the Cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ"
All may receive the priceless blessing
through faith. Nothing less is required
han COMPLETE SUBMISSION to Jesus Christ,
is LORD and Master. lie is able to save to
he uttermOst ali who come to God 10y Him.
THIS Is THF POWER OF THE GOSPEL.
80
THE ART AMATEUR grows more interesting
With each number. What with its charming
olor plates 1.-TWO are given this month" Sun,
ct in Connecticut" a Winter landscape with
nowillumined by the sunset glow; and "Chrys
nthemums its practical Working Designs for