The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-02
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH.
Progress Toward Perfection Is
Considered the Universal
Law of Life.

The Reverend Doctor George W. Chaifant
of Pittsburg, Pa, preached yesterday morn.
"FundaIYentals of Christian Growth" TAX.
ing for his text Hebrews vi. !; Leaving the
principles Of the doctrines of Christ, let u:
go on unto perfection; not laying again the
Foundation of repentance from dead works
and of faith toward God" In part, the doc
tor said:
versal law OF life. The acorn aspires to be
come an oak. the animal to realize the fin.
est development of the species. To this law
spiritual life Is no exception. But more thar
in the lower forms of life 1t is hindered
by the fact of sin. The perfection possible
in this life IL relative. not absolute, and
spiritual growth Is out OF sin and a sinful
environment.
.'The fundamental conditions Of this
growth are said to be these two, repentance
from dead works and faith toward God.
The principles of the doctrine of Christ are
not mere credal statements. but matters Of
life and experience. These are fundamentals
On which our lives are built, the only cor
ner stone of which Is Jesus Christ. As to
or repentance, is an old theological Ques.
ton. which has been sufficiently answered
for our purpose by the late Charles II.
''They. are, twin children OF the same d.
vine grace"
Dead works are. in tho first place. those
things in the life which offend the moral
sense. There are thoughts and words and
actions that smell of the charnel house.
which give undeniable testimony. to the
spiritual corruption out OF which they orig
mate. But In another and larger sense.
dead works are such activities as yield no
good. bear no fruit for the glory OF God or
plan of Go: that aims at some good pur-
lie who negiects this truth gives
evidence that he is spiritually dead. Now,
If We enter upon the progress toward per-
lection, We must begin by repentance from
dead works. We must forsake vice and i'm
morality Of every kind. We must cease
to live selfish and spiritually dead lives.
Faith toward God Is equally essential.
Logically, it is the root out of which re-
p%entance and a better life spring. Faith
is fundamental In all intelligent life. Con-
fdence in the elements and powers OF ma
ture for food and medicine, faith in parents
and teachers, In leaders Of the social and
intellectual, are important factors. Faith
in oneself is regarded by many as the
chief element Of worldly success.
But the Christian faith Is toward God. 1t
is up and not down. And this means simple
faith IN Jesus Christ, to whom has been
committed the leadership of spiritual
life; to whom has been given the power to
nave life In himself. and who alone can
make the Father known to sinful man.
Thus II will be seen that these princi-
pics do not merely furnish the conditions
for an entrance upon the higher life. but
every day. The apostle Paul.. writing on
the eve of HIS martyrdom. speaks of his fin
ished course and his assured, crown. Yet in
almost the same breath calls himself the
chief of sinners. ard. gives thanks to God
that Christ Jesus came Into the world to
save sinners.
WHY then does the inspired writer speak
here of leaving the principles Of the doc.
trine of Christ? Remember the figure of
the building here employed. These princi-
pies are foundations Of n spiritual ediice.
n temple OF God. The builder must leave
the foundation. and every day he is ascend
ing toward the top stone. the crown and
completion of his work. Yet be is always
careful to build on the foundation. The
ioftier the structure and the more perma-
nent, the more care is taken to have the
superstructure exactly upon the foundation.
So II should be In the Christian life"