The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-03-05

is true; and third, that no man at this
age of the world is born of God, and
hence all men arc lost, for Jesus said,
Except man be born of water and
the spirit he can not enter into the
kingdom OF God" Il John 3, to 81
We quote again from / John 8, 4, "For
whatsoever is born OF God overcometh
the world, and this is the victory that
oyercometh the world, even our faith.
And again he says, 1--WE know that
whosoever is born of God sinneth not,
but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself, and that wicked one toucheth
him not" BY the help of Gods spirit
We are able to keep ourselves from the
evil one. Whosoever is born of God
means in the present tense, and does
not mean whosOever has been or was,
but means whosoeyer has the abiding
holy comforter with him. This holy
comforter that was promised to his de-
voted followers was to abide with them
forever Now, the thought is this,
that if the pardon Of past sins is regen-
Grafton, then most assuredly the bap.
tism of the Holy Ghost is being born
of God in the sense. As the apostle
John has it that whosoever is born OF
God does not commit sin when all con-
verted or justified people admit that
they do sin.
Now, we will see If there is not some
proof as to a second birth: "Blessed be
the God and father OF our Lord Jesus
Christ which, according to his abund-
ant mercy, hath begotten us again unto
a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, to an in
heritance incorruptable and undefiled
and that fadeth not away" q Peter !,
3-4.l A second begetting means with
out any doubt second birth or baptism
Of Gods holy spirit to complete the
work in the soul to destroy sin in the
man. Then again we quote from Paul,
"My little children, of whom l travail
in birth again until Christ be formed
in you" Little children here means
those that are drinking milk and not
yet able to eat the meat Il Cor. 3, to3 b.
Travail in birth again means to suffer
with them till they are truly born of
God by receiving the Holy Ghost which
is the sin killer in man. Paul says it
is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the
heavenly gift and we're made partakers
of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the
good word of God and the powers of the
world to come. If they shall fall away
to renew them again unto repentance,
seeing they cruelty to themselves the
Son of God afresh and put him to an
open shame Heb. 6, to g. These
truths will not apply to converted peo-
pie who have not received the Holy
Ghost, the promised comforter which
was promised only to converted people
(John IA, ~ And we hear Paul say
again, eff we sin witfully after that We
, have received the knowledge of the
truth there remaineth no more sacrifice
? for sins Heb. 10, 26.) Now, these
3 blessed truths establish the fact tina
r there are two works of grace totally
distinct the one from the other, ant
that very much more is required of th'
man who has obtained by faith
knowledge of full salvation than i
Q required OF man who has been par
Q doned- or regenerated by faith. Blu
/, God requires growth in grace and il
$ any state Of grace, and without faith
is impossible to please God. Then
Q you will not believe that God can an
r will sanctify and cleanse your soul h
It will let you fall in the wilderness as b
It did the children of Israel Dude 1, g.
l. In conclusion, we say according t
n Gods word that no man can reach an
" state of grace where it will be imposs
n BILE to sin and even sin wilfully, BIT
10 God has promised to give us the swor
d of the spirit to ward off every temptl
D. tion. No man will let a rattlesnak
v bite him when he knows that it's poiso
Of produces pain and death. So say
J. one tempter, cursed is he that puttet
as the bottle to his fellow mans lips. n
ee drunkard shall ever enter the kingdom
at Cursed is he that tarryeth long at Il
le wine. To another / say all liars sha
!" have their part in the lake that burnet
at with fire, and to another no adulter
le shall ever enter the kingdom, either
as act or thought. And each tempter
,g he presents himself he can't help b
en- show bis deception, as God has promi
70 ed to give us spiritual eyes and ears
discern good from evil.
oI (To BE CoNTTNUED)
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