Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-02-14

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audience spell-bound by his match
less presentation of the question Of
the free forgiveness Of God toward
man.
Prof. Excel sang with great eff
feet, 'T've Anchored My Soul in the
Haven Of Rest. This is one of the
songs Prof. Excel sang when be
was here three years ago and is a
great favorite. The singing by the
choir was magnificent.
The Doctor chose for his text the
38th verse of the 18th chapter of
Acts. There is nothing more i'm
portant for us than to have clear
ideas of the Gospel of God. Man
stands related to God in two great
states or relations. Judicially and
governmentally; as a boy to his
father, who Is the judge of the law.
The declaration comes to US that
we are justified. The words par
don and justification can be used
INTERCHANGEABLE. But Christians
have lost the sharp meaning of these
words. Pardon relates to penal
ties. When man is pardoned he
is set free. Justification has TO do
with restoration as to a man S
standing.
/ He is set to right morally and
legally. There is no offense in the
law against us. Pardon clears
away all penalties, In the New
Testament we are not under law
but under grace. Justification
does it. Justification Is the out
growth of forgiveness. The first
thing that comes to US in the gospel
is forgiveness of sins.
First, we will consider the scope
of forgiveness Through this man
is preached unto you the forgiveness
of sins. There are no terms or
conditions, it is an open proclama-
ton. God holds no offense against
any man. He forgave the world
through Christ. "By the right
eousness of one Christ the free
gift came upon all men unto justf
cation of life. from. 5:18) God
has put out of His heart our Of
lenses, does not hold them against
US. This proclamation of forgiv-
mess is uncomfortable freely
forgives all of us, whether accepted
or not. Free forgiveness is in His
mind, though it may not be in
Yours-it isian unconditional proc
lamation, SRWhether you accept OF
reject, tn ct remains. ''God SC
loved she world that He gave His
only begotten SON." Whether you
accept the gift or not, the fact re-
mains. There are no terms. "Do
net tell men that I'll try and love
them. Tell them l do love them,
says God. II sent My son to save
them. He has been raised from the
dead and preached unto them.
"By grace are ye saved. There
are no bargains in Gods grace.
It's a gift. The proclamation is
universal salvation. The doctrine
of universalsm is a perilous and
dangerous doctrine to preach. But
men won't take advantage of it,
they won't accept Christ" the free
gift. Igive you glass of water.
The satisfying of your thirst de-
ponds on your drinking the water.
l give it to you, whether you &C
cept it or not 1t is yours without
the asking, but you won't take it,.
So is forgiveness. You won't take
1 it; God holds no offense against
any man. lie forgjves the world
through Christ "While we we're
| yet sinners Christ died for us"
Forgiven in our sins-sayed freely
by grace.
That's the sum Of it, Men must
take advantage Of They don't
want it, they spuru it. That's the
shame Of it. You dash the gilt be
offers you out Of his hands as you
do the glass of water give You.
The gift is complete without your
accepting it. You are in prison.
God opens wide the prison door and
bids you go free, You fling him off
and resist him. The gift of pardon
is unconditional, the door is open,
but you won't 60 out of your prison
cell You ask can a man be for
given though he is lost? Pes. A
man who is loved can be lost, All
the damned in hell have been for
given. They walked out of heaven