The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-02
AT THE GATE OF SALVATION
Rev. DIR. Landrum's Theme at First
Baptist Church Last Night

There was IA large congregation at the
First Baptist Church last night to hear
Dr. w w. Landrum. His text was from
Luke. 13:23-24 Then said one unto Him.
Lord are there few that be saved? And
He said unto them, strive to enter in at
the straight gate for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in and shall not
be able"
Struggle at the Gate of Salvation" was
DIR. Landrum's theme. He said: "Our
Lord on His way to Jerusalem, is stop
ped by an idle inquirer, who puts the
question, Are there few that be saved"
He represents q type of questioner sur
rounding US to-day. They are absorbed
in interes ting but speculative questions.
They under-value or neglect altogether
the practical, pertinent and pressing in
quiry What must I do to be saved?'
The future of the race is not so import
ant to an anxious soul as his own fu-
ture, and the well being of humanity at
large will be promoted by the salvation
and sanctification of the individuals who
compose it. Christ disdained 10 answer
an irrelevant question, fixing His eyes
upon the shallow inquirer He spoke
the earnest stimulating words, Strive
to enter in at the straight gate
Look first to your own salvation, and
then will you be prepared to undertake
missionary activity in the interest OF a
lost mankind.
Salvation" said DR.. Landrum, lis COM
pared by our Lord to gate through which
the soul can pass by agonizing effort
Salvation is a narrow gate for two rea-
sons. First, because only one soul can
enter it at a time. Salvation is a per-
sonal matter. 1t is not a scheme for fam
lilies as families, communities as commu-
mites, states as states, or countries as
countries. Salvation wrought in the soul
by the power of the Spirit of God is
conditioned upon personal faith and per-
sonal repentance. One by one IN Gods
plen, confession in Christ, baptism into
Christ, lifelong duty for Christ mus.
ever be intensely and unavoidably indi-
vidualities. Salvation In the second place
is narrow gate, because the soul which
enters 1t must have the world behind
Stripped of all the worlds riches honors
pleasures and sins, the soul bowling on
its knees, must move forward in
abject humility and establishment
singing as 1t goes,
Nothing In my hands bring,
Simply to Thy cross cling"
Salvation" DR.. I.andrum went on, "our
Lord intimates in the verse which fol- oWs
come a closed gate. Strange TO say the
hand which closes il is that of the sinner
who rejects the Savior, barred and bottl d
1t maybe now to some of your but not be-
cause Christ wishes it So Your own hand
turned the key. A hammer in your own
hand nailed the bars And yet we must
not lose sight of the fact that Christ re-
serves the right himself to shut the portal
when your day of probation is past. II
you will not close the gate, but strive o
enter II now, you may do so and find pa r
don for your sins and enjoy present sal
walton. The gate is never closed so long
as you feel any interest in your highest
spiritual welfare, and are willing to make
the supreme effort of whole-heaTted sur
render 10 Jesus Christ None the LEGS If you
allow your interest to lessen, your heart to
harden, your conscience TO be scared.
your will to weaken into flabbfness, your
days of ability to strive will pass by, and
Christ himself, declaring the day of grace
to be over. will shut the gate I'm the face
of your doomed and despairing soul"
The afternoon service was a meeting of
deep interest. There were three more
professions of faith. The service this aft
ernoon will be for the young people.