The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-01
YOUNG PEOPLES SOCIETIES.
Topic: "HOw to Get Rid of Sim
Il John, j, 5-1O.)

The different young peoples societies
viii have as their topic for discussion to-
as explained in I John, /. Sic. where the
apostle gives some very pointed susges-
tions as to individual evidences of Carts
LIGHT-The principal evidence referred to
In the text under consideration. is That
OF Light. or more accurately speaking. spir-
ttual illumination. This. theT." says the
apostle. is the message which We have
heard of him and declare unto you. that
God is light, and in him is 10 darkness at
all This consideration is
He further says, IF we say that We have
fellowship with him and walk in darkness.
We lie. and do not the TRUTH Pretty pain
Language, this. but it is clearly within the
bounds of truth as wrought out in human
experience. TIL soul that is always en-
ehrouded in gloom gives evidence by that
TACT that IL has never emerged into the
light of God. 1t certainly does not know
SUPPLEMENTARY. what il is to live and move
Christ.
But the apostle does not stop here. He
further says that if. I'VE walk in the light
as he is in the light, We have fellowship
one with another. and the blood OF Jesus
Christ. his Son. cieanseth us from all sin"
which We may get rid of sin. First of ali.
there must be the light of Christ in the
soul. that spiritual light which comes
through the illumination of the holy Spirit
In the second place. there must exist true
Fellowship with those who are the disciples
of Christ as well as fellowship with Cog.
" tOtStslitt II tltdftc tNfutiItt VI
acceptance. Then IL is. not till then, that
We may have the assurance that the blood
OF Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all siii.'
ION we say we have no sin.
We deceive ourselves and the truth is not
In us" This statement is a sort of SOAR
piexus blow" Ia all who arrosate to them
Selves sinless perfection. Ii must De re-
menibered that the speaker here Is John.
the beloved Disciple the one who was in Il
h,sh Sense nearest to Christ Gns Who nsd
sife the life of him who did no sin, peith-
w. there any guile found in his mouth
And it Is just possible that If some of Our
modern claimants for sinless perfection had
the privilege of a similar experience. they
would cry out as did Isaiah. wnen he had a
vision Of God. Woe Is me. for | am I'M
zone: because / am a man of unclean lips.
aud | dwell in the midst of a people OF UNI
c'can lips. for mine eyes have seen the
king. the Lord of hosts 1t is better far
10 he. honest in this matter. and concede as
cid the apostle that We are sinners before
COD. For. III We say that We have not
k-ined. VT make him a liar. and his word
i not in US"
EORGIVENESS-The closing thought of
the lesson is that of forgiveness. IF We
confess our sins. he is faithful and just
To forgive us our sins and to cleanse Us
from all righteousness" IL will be seen
fIcm this that the question of forgiveness
hinges on that of confession. Peter, on the
day OF Pentecost, declared the same truth
when he said: Repent ye. therefore,, ard be
converted: that your sins may be biotted
out" This is. indeed. the test. the turn
ing point in the way of spiritual life. 1t is
Just here where so many stumble and fail
to enter into a life of faith. IL is no easy
thing to sag good-by to sin and its environ
ments and enter into a life Of even COM
parative holiness. The old associations are
SO strong. the spiritual life has been so
dwarfed and weakened ty sin. that the
bondage of sin is like the bondage of death.
But the promise here given is certainly
most encourag And this promise Is Just
as bona fide to-day as when first made, SO
that We can cut loose from sins bondage
jim fullest assurance that "if we confess
our sins Christ is faithful and Just 10 for
give us our sins and to cleanse us from
oil unrighteousness." 1t is simply taking
Christ at his word. It is walking out on his
promise. knowing that it is firm and true.
No enc who has truly tested il will dare
TO say otherwise. II IL Chr%istianity's chaI-
lcnge to all men. and none need fear to ac-
cept. The gospel invitation IL Worldwide.
30 that men who hear ii are left without ex-
cuse. The last invitation of tine Master was
aud Is: And the Spirit and the Bride say.
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come
And let him that il athirst come. And who
ecever will. let him take the water of life
freely Or. in the words of Old-Testamenf
prophecy. Come. now, and let us reason
together. saith the Lord. Though YOUR sins
be as scarlet. they shall be white as snow:
though they. be red like crimson, they shall
be as WOOL"