The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-05-23
hem that believe on His name" John

i: l2
There is a very insidious kind o. heresy
making It's way through the world to-day
which declares there Is such thing as the
universal fatherhood OF God AMI the c-i-
versal brotherhood o; man; that God Is the
father OF all his creatures, and that every
MAJ Is my brother. This Is certainly con-
trary 20 the Scriptures We become sons
Of God not by the lives we live, nor by
doing good, nor by reading the BiDle, nor
by praying without ceasIng, but We become
Gods sons by regeneration. This "a the
work OF the Holy Ghost, AMI IL wrought
IN US the very moment we BY faith accept
Jesus Christ as a Saviour. IL IL not posi-
bic for US IN any other way 20 conc into
this world than % be born into IL; il is
not possible for Us ever 10 enter the king
dom of God except bv the new birth.
This constitutes Us children Of God.
III. Our having reace depends upon
what we do with Jesus Christ. There
fore being justified by 1sith we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
Romans v: !.
When we remember that Deace il tte op.
posite. Of confusion, of strife. OF unrest, we
q e able to see how great Is the blessing
which comes 20 Us by the acceptance OF
Gods Son. We do not think of peace "a
simply an emotion IL - not az experience
but IL Is that which comes 20 US with the
presence of Christ. He Is our peace. and
whatever may be mans positio- in the
world IL he has rejected Christ. or lin
other words) IL he has failed 10 accept Fin
ne must go forever throughout the world
crying, peace. peace" but for him there
can be no peace.
". Our having JOY depends upon what
we do with Christ Whom having not
seen, We love; in whom, though now ye see
Him not. yet believing. ye rejoice with
10y unspeakabie and full Of glory"
Peter !: g. We also remember the words
OF Jesus when He said These words have
| spoken unto you that Ny JOY might re.
main IN you, and that your Joy might be
full"
Joy is better than happiness. People OF
the world may have happiness. but only
Gods children possess JOY. Happiness is
that which happens 20 come to Us, and
those y-ho lay hold upon it are dependent
upon their circumstances and surroundings
JOY has nothing 10 do with circumstance
or surroundings. but comes TO us because
OF our faith in Him who ever lives to pour
out upon His people His own presence and
blessing.
V. Our having eternal life depends upon
what we do with Jesus. He that believ.
eth on the Son hath everlasting life; and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see
ife but the wrath of God abideth on
him" John iii; 50.
By nature we have the flesh with us. and
we snlli always nave lt Win US until our
redemption bodies are bestowed upon us
It is natural therefore that there should
he constant warning between the llfl OF
Cod which comes in regeneration and the
old nature which is at enmity with God
and always must be- but it is a great JOY to
know that we may every one of Us so sur
re~der ourselves to Him who is our life
that the old nature shall be put down and
held in subjection, and we ourselves "be
more than conuuerOrs"
Finally, let me saw that there are taree
sentences which ought to be written plain
ly before every one who is n make this de-
cisio1 or who fails 10 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 or
deny Him. "Whosoever shall confess Me
before men, him viii | confess before Ny
Father which is in heaven; but whosoever
shall denv Me before men, him will deny
before Nv Father which is in heaven"
Matt X: 80, 33.
There is no middle ground. God pity us
if TO-DAY we turn awav from Him, for
IT MAY BE THE LAST TIME!