The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-08


Christian Reconverted."
The Rev. I. j. Villers delivered a sermon
at the First Baptist Church yesterday
morning on the subject, "A Christian Re-
converted" His text was Luke xii. 50. He
said in substance:
Jesus with the twelve disciples was seat
ed at the communion table After supper
he girdled himself with a towel and began
to wash the disciples feet When he came
to Paul, Simon protested, but when he saw
that the same self-will which refused the
literal washing would prevent the spiritual
renewal. he rebounded to the opposite ex-
IRENE and exclaimed, Not my feet only
but also my hands and my head 1t was
then that Christ announced satan's request
to have Peter. The devil wanted Peter be-
cause he had in him the possibilities of a
splendid devils servant. He never could
De a stupid, useless man. but despite all
his laundering Jesus also wanted him and
so said, i have made supplication for thee
that thy faith go not into total eclipse
ana 90 Il, thou ~. when Sn, tnou art converted
I'VE can be regenerated only once. We
can be reconverted many times. That is
brought back into fellowship with God
when communion has been broken. This
was the meaning of Christ's words. He
that Is bathed hath no need to wash save
his feet, but Is all clean His sandaled
from the public bath to the guest chamber
and 1T is enough that they be cleansed. So
we who have experienced the washing IF
regeneration need no repetition of the ex-
perfence, but only cleansing from the de-
filment of our daily walk.
Peter was soon to be plunged by tempta-
ton into horrible pit of mirey clay. He
would need recleansing reconyerting
Peter turned again when after his
threefold denial Jesus turned and looked
on him. The look of Jesus broke his heart
III you nave denied Him by word or act
turn again like Peter now.
Peters experience at Pentecost was like
new conversion. He was never the same
man again There are many in our churches
but are utterly ignorant of it's power. we
need repetition of Pentecost when ali
were filled and fired with the spirit Then
1t took one sermon to convert 1900 souls:
now 1t seems to take about 5000 sermons
to convert one SOUL The explanation is
to be found in lack of fire and fuIlness
in both pew and pulpit.
peter turned again when he got his
vision of the sheet. 1t gave him a larger
outlook, teaching him that salvation was
for gentle as well as Jew. The church
Dibble declared that the church needs con-
version 10 foreign missions as really as
sinners need conversion to Christ.
When Peter had thus fully turned to
God he was commissioned TO strengthen
his brothers by feeding them. By his three
fold question Jesus taught Simon that the
one essential TO the ministry of feeding was
love to Himself If you have this love for
lambs and sheep.
Peter strengthened his brethren by re.
lating his own experiences. IL he met a
backslider he could say TO him, fell into
an awful pit. but Christ did not disown me
BY faith / have access into this grace
wherein / stand He will do more and
better for you
THE man who baptized me lost his frs,
love while in the army. The carnage OF
battle and the wickedness of his comrades
| led him to take his mothers Bible to :
precipice whereon he was camped anC
throw the book as far as might could films
1T But Peters Savior was there and
climbed with this man down till he founC
his mothers Bible again. That pastor could
thereafter teach others by experience tina
Christ Will heal our backslidings and love
US freely.
Peter strengthened his brethren b,
teaching them humility also. At first Il
was all t. L will not deny thee will die
| for thee. but capital Il soon capitulated
and In his ripper. richer life he urged Others
TO grid themselves with humility.
Peter further strengthened his brethren
by setting them an example of the strenu
Gus life. When bxnuKht before the council