The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-04

This is the summation of the Epistle
which abides in our own heart and I'M
Outstanding:
Paganism has abjectly failed to NOR
ally save or regenerate the world. Juda-
ism has succeeded but little better.
Christian faith has now come as the ade-
quate liberating and regenerating moral
power. Not penances, not dead formali-
ties of Law. but unfeigned faith in the
Father, raises one into the spirit of
justifies, that is. makes one just,-as
it's natural sequence. 1t works by love-
1t changes human affections. This faith
will save the Gentle world, where Pa
ganism has failed. 1t will save Israel
where the law has failed. 1t will ulti-
mately bring the whole groaning crea.
ton into the righteous liberty of the
redeemed children of God. To possess
this faith is to have an immediate sense
of moral invincibility and victory; it is
to live in the unspeakable JOY and peace
of conscious childhood to God.
Shorn of technicalities this, accord
ing to our understanding and convic.
tion, is fair generalization of the doc.
trinal teaching of the Epistle of Paul to
the Romans.
After all the critical investigation
of which we have been capable, it seems
to US a misrepresentation and perver-
sion of PauPs teaching, both in trend
and detail, to construe him as setting
forth a scheme of Pharisaic partialism.
No less uniustifiable seems to US the
contention of destructive rationalism.
that Paul did not interpret but per-
verified and transformed Christianity.
It'll not the right historical method
nor true exegesis, to construe Pauls
words as overturniDg the real doctrines
of Christ. The Pauline TRANSFORMED
ton of Christianity" forsoothl Paul in
ms main characteristics. lie the nterpre-
ter and champion. not the destroyer nor
obscurer of Christianity.
We are assured. after all destructive
criticism has said. that Pauls teaching
is vitality related to the teaching of Jesus
even as the oak is vitality related to the
acorn.
After Paul has deliberately set
forth his faith, and comes to this grand
optimistic conclusion in regard to the
Father; Of hina, and through him, and
unto him, are all things Xxi: 36). he re-
duces his faith to it's logical ethics (chs.
12-16l. Our lesson passage is section
of his faith as expressed in conduct.
At the beginning of bis statement
of the moral requirements of Christian
faith, he says. l beseach you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, to pre-
sent your bodies living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God. which is your reason
able service. He does not point to de.
voted animals on the temple-altar, nor
to crucifed Jesus as making for man a
divinely required sacrifice; he speaks
only of self-sacrifice in daily life as the
outcome of responsive love to God. This
is reasonable service.
He proceeds to commend the life fash
Toned by obedience to the will of God
He warns against over-estimate of self;
he exalts the unity which gives place
of service to every individual and every
gift; he exhorts that all believers con-
secrate themselves to the special service
to which they are called.
20 ka
which we produce in Conybeare and
Howson's free rendering, as common
tary on the accepted renderings.
/. The Reality of Christian
LOve.-vs. 9-15.
Let your love be without feigning.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. Be kindly affectioned
to one another in brotherly love; in
honor let each set his neighbor above
himself. Let your diligence be free from
sloth, let your spirit glow with zeal; be
true bondsmen of your Lord. In your
hope be joyful; in your sufferings be
steadfast; in your prayers be unwearied
Be liberal to the needs of Christs peo-
pie, and show hospitality to the stranger.
Bless your prosecutors; yea, bless and
curse not. Rejoice with them that do
rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
2. The Sympathy and Forgive
ness of Christian LOve.-vs. 1921
Be of one mind amongst yourselves.
Set not your heart on high things, but
suffer yourselves to be borne along with
the lowly. Be not wise in your own con-
ceits. Repay to no man evil for evil. See
that your life is blameless in the sight
of all. II it be possible, as far as lies in
yourselves. keep peace with all men.
Revenge not yourselves, beloved, but
give place to the wrath (of God) for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; will re-
pay, saith the Lord Therefore, If
thine enemy hunger feed him; if he
thirst. give him drink for in SO doing
thou shalt heap Goals of fire upon his
head Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good.
These are the ethical requirements of
Christian faith. The man of faith will
live as child OF God. and regard all
human beings as fellow-children of
God.