The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-14
SERMON.
REQUIREMENTS OF CHRISTIANITY
BY REV. j. G. PATTEE.
Wisconsin. |

i and Kingdom of heaven
are used anonymously in the New
Testament. They denote not differ
ent things, but one and the same
thing, and are INTERCHANGEABLE used
Everywhere in the writings of evan
gelists and apostles, whether drop
ping original from the lips of
Christ, or being first in their utter
ance, they have nearly or quite the
same significance; aud neither is
evervaried much In Specification from
the common meaning that attaches
to both
We hear them in our day applied
to the world of immortal glory-:he
state of felicity after death-and
sometimes, but less frequently to the
reign of Christ on the earth through
the regenerating power of the Holy
Spirit aud the sanctifying influence
of truth upon the human soul.
In the former of these senses we
find them used in theological writ
ings, and especially in such as relate to
mans salvation, or to the supposed
liability of some to suffer endless
damnation. We hear them in SER
mons pronounced from the sacred
desk, ia exhortations made in the
conference room, in private admon-
itions, and in public prayers on all
occasions. So often and so uniform
ly 10 we hear and see them used in
this sense that multitudes seem never
to think of them in any other; and
so when they read the New Testa.
ment they are in the condition in
which Paul represents the Jews of
his day to have been when they read
the Law of Moses;-'the vail is
upon their heart"
Again, these phrases are in the
New Testament, sometimes if not al
ways, used anonymously with the
terms eternal life" and Everlasting
life" l believe there is no exception
to this. They do not anywhere de-
note the world of immortal glory,
nor the state of human felicity after
death as separate from that which it
is the privilege of every one to know
and enjoy in this life, in this world,
through faith in the Gospel and
willing conformity to the rules of life
as promulgated therein. A little at
4eution to this fact would have been
of incalculable service to many who
have long been troubled with the
What must do to be
saved? or How shall I flee the king
dom of Satan and become a subject
of the heavenly kingdom?" And
LITTLE attention to the same fact might
still open the road for many useless
and unnecessary, but nevertheless
very tormenting fears to pass out and
ioyous hopes and calm confidence to
come into souls yet oppressed. And
I hope that I may have the satisfac-
ton of seeing-or, if do not see it
that someone nevertheless may re-
ceiye-some little good in this respect
resulting from tbs sermon.
These several expressions denote
in the New Testament simply Chris
tian discipleship together with the
blessings that always and inseparably
appertain thereto. A few quotations
will serve to convince of this, and an
examination of all the instances of
their occurrence will show that every
one of them harmonic to the some
idea in all their usages. THE king
dom of God is within you" 1.
1.-THE kingdom of God is not meat and
drink, but righteousness and peace
and Joy in the Holy Ghost"
eye [Scribes and Pharaisees shut up
the kingdom of heaven against men;
for ye neither go in yourselves, neither
suffer ye them that are entering to
oo in" HE that believeth
on me Christ hath everlasting life.
He that heareth my word,
and believeth ON him that sent me,
hath everlasting life. This
is life eternal, that they might know
thee, the only true God and Jesus
Christ whom thou hast sent.
God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in his son. These things
have l written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God, that
We may know that ye have eternal
life" 1t is clear from these quota
tions that Kingdom of heaven"
sskingdom Of God, ""everlasting life"
and eternal life" are used in nearly
if not precisely the same sense by
the New Testament writer's. Toenter
the "kingdom of heaven" or of God,
is to become a Christian disciples;
TO become a true Christian disciple
is to attain the blessing of eternal
life" or to come into the possession
of righteousness and peace and Joy