The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-04
John
en- that believe On His name"

tuem enos SSs's o~ ~
There Is . very insidious kind Of heresy
making its way through the world today
which declares there 10 such thing as tho
universal fatherhood Of God and the uni
versal brotherhood Of man; that God 10 tho
father of all His creatures, and that every
MAJ is nv brother. This is certainly con-
trary to the Scriptures. We become sons
Of God. not by the lives we hive, nor py
by PRAYING without ceasing, but we become
Gods sons By regeneration. This 10 the
work Of the Holy Ghost, and is wrought
in US the very moment we BY faith accept
Jesus Christ rs a Saviour. IL IS not posss.
be for us in any other way to come into
this world than to be born into it; It 10
not possible for us ever to enter the king
dom of God except by the new birth.
This constitutes US children OF God.
III. Our having peace depends upon
what we do with JESUS Christ. There.
fore being justified by faith; We have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus CHRIST.
Romans v: l.
When we remember that peace is tfc op-
posite of confusion, Of strife. OF unrest, We
a-e able to see how great il the blessing
which comes to us by the acceptance OF
Gods Son. We do not think Of peace a.
simply an emotion. It is not an experience,
but it is that which comes to us with the
presence of Christ. He ID our peace, and
whatever may be q mans positio- in the
world. il he has rejected Christ, or lin
other words) il he has failed to accept Eini
he must 20 forever throughout the World
crying. peace. peace" but for him there
can be no peace.
". Our having JOY depcnds upon what
we do with Christ. Whom. having not
seen, ye love; in whom. though now ye see
Him not, yet believing. ye rejoice with
Joy unspeakabie and full of. glory" IL
Peter !: 8. We also remember the words
Of jesus when He said: These words have
I spoken unto you that My JOY might re-
main in you, and that your JOY might b:
full" !.
JOY is better than happiness. People Of
the world may have happiness, but only
Gods children possess joy. Happiness ts
that which happens to come to us, and
those Who lay hold upon it are dependeat
up IN their circumstances and surroundings.
Joy has nothing to do with circumstance
or surroundings. but comes to rs because
Of our faith in Hin who ever lives to pour
out upon His people His own presence and
blessing. "
v. Our having eternal life depends upon
eth on the Som hath everlasting life; and
he that bclievcth not the Son shall not zee
life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him." John iii: %.
By nature we have the flesh with us. and
we shall always have it with us until our
redemption bodies are bestowed upon us.
| It is natural therefore that there should
Re a constant warning between the hk OF
God which comes in regeneration and the
old nature which is at enmity with God
and always must be, but it is great JOY 70
know that we may every one OF us 30 sur
re-der ourselves to Him who is our hfe,
that the old nature shall be put down and
held in subjection, and we ourselves "be
more than conquefors."
Finally. let me say that there are three
| sentences which ought to be written plain
" before every one who is 10 make this de.
cison. or who fails to make it.
First We must either accept Him or re-
ject Him.
Second. We must either let Him come
| into our hearts, or we must shut the door
and keep Him out.
Third. We must either confess Him oe
deny Him. "Whosoever shall confess Ne
before men, him will I confess before Ny
Father which is in heaven; but whosoever
shall denv Ne before men, him will deny
before Nv Father which is in heaven y
Matt. <: 81, SO.
There is no middle ground. God pity a.
| IL to-day we turn away from Him, for
IT NAY BE THE LAST TINE!