Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-03
CHRISTIAN .ENDEAvoR.

Topic For the Week beginning April
7-Comment by Rev. 5. FL. Doyle.
TorIc.-Dead to sin, alive to Christ.-Eph. IL,
lilo
In this passage we have what has
the Ephesiaus." Its correspondence to
the first chapter OF Genesis has also
been noted 1T is spiritual creation
and resembles in its stages the creation
of the physical world. There are a.
chaos oversees 1-3l, CD the dawn verses
a and CD the work of creation in sue
cessive stages oversees 4-1ol."
One who is spiritually created is
dead to sin Before he is born again
he Is dead in sin. But after he is born
again he is dead to sin. Sin no longer
has charm for him, and It's power
over him is gone. Then he IL alive in
Christ Then he has spiritual life, be-
cause he is in Christ and Christ Is in
him. The man who is dead in sin is
dead to Christ; but the one who is dead
to sin is alive to Christ.
The change that takes place in the
sinners heart and life when he be-
comes dead to sin and alive to Christ
is entirely the work of God. No man
can raise the physical dead. No man
can raise the spiritual dead God only
can raise the dead, either physical or
spiritual All through this passage
Paul attributes to God only the power
to change from spiritual death to
spiritual life. God" he says,
hath quickened us together
and raised us up together and made us
sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus by grace are We saved
through faith. and that not of your
selves; it is the gift of God. Not of
works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his Workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God before ordained that we
should walk in them"
The whole plan of eternal salvation
through Jesus Christ, in its conception
and In its execution, is the work of
God and of God only. The sinner is
dead spiritually-not weak or simply
sick, but dead in trespasses and SINS
A dead man cannot raise himself. God
only can do 1t. Salvation on Gods part
Is of grace and on mans part of faith.
There is no place fer human boasting
in this plan, but only place for I'M
measured gratitude and thanksgiving
unto God for His grace and goodness.
Paul also calls to our attention in
this passage the attributes of God that
led him to raise men from death in sin
to life in Jesus Christ ID 1t was Gods
mercy But God, who is rich in mer-
cy." Mercy is undeserved favor. (2l
1t was Gods love. For His great love
wherewith He loved u.s." God is
love-" and He so loved the world
that He was willing that Christ should
die to raise men from death to life. 81
1t was Gods grace. by grace are We
saved" "a 1t was Gods kindness. "In
His kindness toward us through Jesus
Christ"
The important question that comes to
US as individuals in the consideration of
this topic is. Am | dead to sin and alive
in Christ? Have l passed from death
to life? And, if l have. am showing
1t In my life? Am | living a new life
In Christ Jesus. or do the graveclothes
Of sin still cling to me? If dead to
sin, let US not live in sin: If alive in
Christ, let us live Christ life that viii
show that we have been born again
and are living together with Christ Je-
sus in heavenly places.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have a voluntary service in which
each one takes part as led by the Spirit.
BJBLE READINGS.
lisa. i, 1920; Ps. Ii, 1-13; John V, "a;
Rom. vi. lila; Gal. ii. 20; Eph. V, 1925;
Col. II, SIS; iii, Is; Pet. ii, 21-25; /
John l. 8. 9: II, IL.