Newport weekly independent., 1903-12-04
Is the Power of God.

which lie was born. It was the fruition of His victory over sin. "He was in all points tempted as we are, yet with out sin" At His transfiguration He was ready, as far as He Himself was concerned, to return to Heaven. He had won Heaven by a sinless life But in His conversation with Moses and Elias He talked of His coming de- cease, His substitutionary death He set His face steadfastly towards the cross, that His sinless life might be made the power of God unto salvation
 When Peter would rebulIe Him for de- claring that He must die for them, He tells him to "Get thee behind me, Sa-
 tan, for thou savorest not the things of God" Of what avail that sinless life, of what benefit to the human race
 lost through sin, if as the Lamb of God without spot or blemish He did
 not shed His precious blood for the sin of the whole world. And by His sacrifice what a transformation He wrought! His blood able to cleanse from all sin. Red blood to make the black robes of sin white Says Alexander McLaren: Tt is like some apparent pieces of magic that you can see per formed III some of our dye-works now adays. There is nothing else that will touch my guilt except that one great sacrifice offered once for all for worlds sins, for your sins and mine. There is nothing else that will de- liver me from the dominion of my own
 
 love of Jesus Christ planted in my heart, and there bringing forth the fruits of righteousness. There is an old legend which says that the only thing that could melt adamant was the blood of pure lamb I believe that the one power which brings for giYeness-and forgiveness is not mere impunity-is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And know that the one DOW CT, which, transfused into a mans life, can make him live soberly, righteously and godly is that blood which is the life of Christ Himself imparted to us So, then, that which no man can do for himself, and no man can do for any others, and without which all else that Is done by us for ourselves or for oth- CTS is inadequate to the necessities of the case, is done, blessed be God! for us in that shed blood of Him who in death bore the sins of, and in life i'm parts righteousness to, the whole world"
 TT IS this elimination on the cross l to which the soul must look for cleansing from sin, and salvation from it's consequences. We may sing of Hls birth, we may rejoice because of His r1umphs over sin and sickness, and the oeslgns of wicked men, bat we must glory ln the cross, for it is our hope Paul eXclaims: God forbid that l should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" And this, too. | must be the theme of our rejoicing. That which appears as foolishness to the world is the evidence to the heart | of tho believer of the power of God | And as related to the believer, of what does this power consist? It is more than a saving power manifested in the redeemed soul. If, after ccnver- sion, man With a tendency to sin could
 
 would, perhaps, need nothing more than the salvation Of his soul, but, sur rounded, as he is here, with tamDta- tons and trials and difficulties he needs keeping power in addition to the saving power which gave him his first song as he united with the angels in the glad song of another sinner who had repented. God does not leave man to struggle on alone. His power is manifested in behalf of His followers at all times. The intimate relation ship of father to child is sustained be- tween God and His children. The one who knows not the power of God unto salvation" finds it hard to un- derstand the keeping and sustaining power of God. But with salvation comes a growing sense of the other. And these are they who are being saved day by day, and who have sense of the power of God.
 D UT the preaching of the "cross is D to them that are perishing foolish l ness,' It is such not because it is an Gospel, for it is worthy of all acceptation," but because man finds it more convenient for his pres ent desires and ambitions to put away the claims of the cross upon him. A Gospel must be given req sonable hearing. God is ready always | to meet every soul and by His convict ing and convincing Spirit reveal the truths of thls Gospel The cross means a changed heart and life, and | this is what man in his sinfulness and selfishness shrinks from. But man, | though he characterize the preaching of tho cross of Christ as fooIshness. | cannot escape the claims of that cross upon him. The death of Jesus Christ | has theoretically wiped away the sin