The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-26

morning by the Rev. B. Z. Robertson,
q, ,;atfncy, S. c., who preached
.,rour and interesting sermon on the
subject, "The Trained Disciple at
work, or the Child Of God Working
Out his Salvation Mr.. Robertson
took as his text Philippians, 2:12:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have
always obeyed, not as in my presence
only. but now much more in my abb
sence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling" and spoke
as follows:
My friends, the great topic of study
in Heaven is life. The angels have
searched to find out the mystery of
life in Jesus and all errands to this
earth have been in the interest OF life,
aud even the most important topic
that has so far as we know occupied
the mind of God has been life. For
j, was God who SO loved mankind that
lie gave His only begotten Son chat
the human race might have life.
Now, it seems to me that if life is
Of so great Importance to the inhabi-
tants Of Heaven, surely it ought to
absorb our attention when it all con-
Germs us. If all the Heavens are in
tcrcsted in our lives, surely we will
give the subject our prayerful and
most earnest attention, and I am hap
py to note that most all the great
minds Of earth in past history have
concentrated their thoughts on this
topic. | might mention the names of
Noses, Socrates, Luther and Spencer.
l rejoice that / have been enabled
to see the day when science and the
Bible are conceded to be the warmest
friends. To-day the scientific method
Of investigating truth is being applied
to the study Of the Holy Scriptures.
We can never honor the name Of Henry
Drummond and John Stewart Mills
and Herbert Spencer enough for this
grand achievement for the benefit of
the human family, and now science
has b come the strongest ally of the
Christian religion.
But with all the works Of science it
is impossible, as we saw in my first
sermon, for man to clearly understand
what kind Of man he ought to be.
While life in nature and the divine
revelations in the Scriptures tell Us
much about the Divine life for man,
yet not until he~beholds Jesus Christ
through the eye of faith does he un-.
derstand what sort Of person he ought
to be. Then, by experience, does he
realize that Christ is the life, the truth
that reveals that life and the way to
that life for him.
And while nature about him en-
phasizes the truth that man needs
special nourishment and training for
the fulfiliment Of the Divine plan for
him, yet he cannot possibly under
stand the real meaning Of this until
he studies the real life Of Jesus ON
earth and lives in His very presence
day by day. by means of the Holy
Spirit, who dwells within him. Jesus
himself spent thirty years in special
training for the accomplishment Of His
mission in the world. How much
mere does the Christian need the
school of disoipleship2 This I en-.
phasized in my second message.
This morning I desire to call your
attention to the thought Of the child
OF God working out his salvation in
this life. The text which I have
chosen has been very much abused as
toits meaning. I am sure it contains
one of the most important doctrines
Tor Gods people in their relation to
the world when correctly interpreted, d..
The first thought to which I invite.
your attention lie: This Scripture does
not teach that works will produce sal-
vation, and the second is, This Scrip
ture does teach that salvation win.
produce works.
|. This Scripture does not teach
that works will.producc salvation.
The connection 10 which this Scrip
ture is found proves this. For the
apostle is writing this letter to the
rhilippian GLristians and sexhorting
them to work out their salvation.
These Philippians are supposed to al.
ready possessSlife; they are already
saved; then why wonld Paul exhort
them to seek that which they already;
possess? ssl ssas IS
Then the general teaching Of the
Bible concerning salvation I: is tha.
works cannot secure salvstion for any
one. Paul in another place says that
salvation is not by works, lest any
man should boast. In che verse fol-