The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-27
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f. WHY CHRIST CAME. 4
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BY REV. DAVID CLAIBORNE GARRETT, =
y Rector Of
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danger. II Is THE same principle exact
II that holds good in mans relations 70
God Religion is z fact, NOT sentiment
II should De the strongest reality OF cur
being. 4 conviction OF the truth as
truth can De applied 10 every moral evil.
II you Nish 10 help & man Eet nd Of csr-
tain bad habits you must first sho* aim
the evil consequences OF his sins. the de-
graduation Of wrong doing. and inspire him
with the desire 10 do right
Now apply this principle 10 the mission
OF Christ. Christ Is the ideal head Of
the human race. He stands as the en-
bo1inIent CT all that God would have
man become. In order 10 attain the SON
ship that Christ reveals We must have a
real personal conviction OF the truth and
righteousness of his character. This Is
the Christian faith. not an assent 20 for
nnlss Of doctrine. not the suhseryiency Of
reason. bat a deep-rootsG conviction Of
the purify and power of the personal
Christ. We believe in a person. not in
creed. The creed is only the expression
Of what we believe about the person.
Hence the fRliness Of the simple declara-
ton OF belief as contained in the Apostles
creed
Contrast this comprehensive Scriptural
statement OF the Catholic church with the
confessions and formulas of the various
scots. The faith that enables one 10
receive God gift Of Son Is faith In the
person Of Jesus II IL to know and 10 ac-
cept Christ: to be convinced that the
principles that aetuatsd His life are the
source of all true life for the individual,
the family and the state. Such faith can
never fail. False notions OF Christ may
pass away. but Christ truly received is
Christ eternaliy possessed. No stretch Of
time. no assaults Of satan. no spasms OF
doubt can ever destroy this soul convic-
tion- Only those who have thoroughly
realized all that Jesus Christ can be TO
man can understand the meaning of His
mission TO the world. How paitry this
warning over forms OF doctrine. how
poweriess for harm the hypocrisy and
faithlessness OF those whose hidden lives
give the lie 10 the faith they outwardly
profess. The soul that has laid hold on
Christ can rise above the shallowness of
mere outward discipleship can soar
triumphant above the sorrows and
trials of life and finds even
through the gloom OF the grave
JOY. comfort. a hope IN the assurance
that they who believe in Christ shall not
be condemned
We now come to the object OF the mis-
sion OF Christ--eternai life. The promise
Is that those who believe in Him shall
have eternal life. This phrase and the
corresponding term eternal death as used
in the New Testament do not necessarily
REFER 10 TIME II Is ~ material conception
of truth spiritual to understand these
words as denoting the measure of time.
Many of the best authorities agree in
granting a spiritual meaning to these
words. No other view can satisfy. What
flood OF light is let in on the pages of
Gods word when we read these terms by
the aid OF the Spirit Eternal life refers
primarily 10 quality not quantity. Eternal
life is the life Christ lived life pure good:
fee ia no Of h Gpfv
posed 10 the kingdom of earth. This is
life eternal mark the words) to know
Thee. knowledge OF Christ or that soul
conviction We call faith. that Is life eter-
nal
This life may be attained now on earth
when Christ is taken as your ideal nay
as your very life: infused into your being
and lived out in every word and deed:
then YOU are already living life eternal.
Death itself loses power over one who has
entered the kingdom of the Spirit. You
cannot die il you have Christ. He IL i'm
mortality To the soul that believes He ia
now here on earth, our resurrection and
oar life. If you have come TO personal
| conviction of the Christ life and the
Christ power you are already living eter-
nally.
Love faith and life--the motive. the
condition. thu object Of Christ's coming
/ into the world. OF Gods Will that all shall
he saved, Are there any from whom this
message Will fail 10 bring response? Not
the sinful for 10 the furtherest from the
kingdom IL speaks of love. Not the
soul troubled with doubt for 10 carries 20
every heart n conviction that Is easy 70
accept, for 1t is only the opening OF the
soui to receive the life of one whom all
the world calls perfect-orly faith i'm the
| personal Christ. Not the sad tho dis
tressed, for here we have the promise OF
life full Of compensation for every
earthly sorrow. life of reunion with all
Ne know and loved on earth. II Is a
message then for all Make n YOURS
Let IL strengthen you for every trial and
nerve you for every duty. Christians as
You bear tho name OF Christ receive
| Christ into your life. Danish every
thought that is alien 20 His spirit. receive
Him now. Begin now the life eternal.