The Tupelo journal., 1904-08-12

soul in the dark hour Of death. But
to others it unfolds it's charm and
beauty all along the pathway Of life.
Each day brings some new discovery.
the knowledge of some new possess
sion because of salvation. To SUCH
salvation is not something to become
possessed of only at death, but it 10
a present and real possession from the
moment Jesus begins His work OF
grace in the heart. Salvation begins
to work in the life. The ley life is
dominant. The old life. bit by bit. is
denounced and put away. The con
serving, reviving power of Jesus Christ
takes the physical, the natural, man,
and changes him into a spiritual be-
ing, alive to God and dead to the
world. Thus does all the power, grace
and beauty of salvation become mani
tested. ,
A ND yet not all, for Peter speaks of
n the redeemed soul being kept by the
power of God through faith unto a sal
walton ready to be revealed in the last
time" "A salvation to be revealed.
Surely then the fullness OF salvation.
To those who have come in repentance
to the feet of Jesus and been cleansed
from all sin in the precious blood WHICH
was shed on Calvary, John, the be-
loved disciple, says: Beloved. now are
we the sons of God" And that relation
ship means everything for this life. 1t
brings safety, it brings peace and JOY,
it brings satisfaction and worthy aims
and ambitions, and the only true and
abiding success which man can ever
know. Beloved, now are we the sons
OF God" Think of it,! Salvation
through Jesus Christ brings you and me
into that relationship. And surely as
sons We may here and now enjoy the
fullness of salvation. But listen! There
is something more the apostle has to
say: But it doth not yet appear what
we shall be-" Can it be that the realiza-
cannot give us all that is included in
that gift? Yes. for take the saint who
has realized the most of that Wondrous
salvation in his life and heart, and still
John says: Beloved, it doth not yet
appear what we shall be- Why?
Listen: For we know that when He
shall appear. we shall be like Him for
we shall see Him as He is" That is what
the fullness of salvation will mean. Per-
feet likeness to Christ. Changed COM
pletely from the falling and imperfect
man struggling along through the vary
ing stages of present salvation to the
complete salvation TIC be revealed in the
last time"
VIZ HAT hen is the relation of the one
w to the other. Why should We
struggle and strive in this present life
that the salvation of Christ may per.
meate our every impulse and desire and
being, If in the end We are to realize ths
fullness of salvation at one splendid
revelation of Christ? Let us see. Our
text plainly tells us that the ultimate
triumph of our faith will be the saliva
ton of our souls. There can be no pos
sible misunderstanding of Scripture on
this point. True faith in Jesus Christ
will most surely lard the soul in Heaven.
And the soul. as joan intimates, will be
changed into the likeness of Jesus
Christ. But we must not suppose that
we shall all be alike in that we will lose
our individuality. We shall be like Him
in purity, because made pure in His
precious blood, and We shall be like Him
in oneness with the Fathers will and
purpose. Where now sin holds dominion
over us. where now We are Indifferent
and rebellious to the Fathers will. we
shall then be changed and freed forever
from sins dominion and see with clear
vision how sweet and perfect and good
the will of God is. In this respect we
shall all be like Christ. The saint who
has attained the spiritual heights and
the saint who has been saved so as by
fire." will receive the end of their
| faith. ever the salvation of their souls"
but to one the salvation will mean bare
II getting into Heaven, and to the other
it will mean the glorious and full mani
festation of the spiritual graces which
have been developed in this life. Inlnk
YOU that the soul hat has barely aimee
Heaven will realize that salvation in the
same degree and f~ullness with the saint
who had begun in this life to know what
that salvation meant in its victory over
| sin and the formation of the Chrlst-llke
character? 1t will be great JOY and
peace to be in Heaven, but how mucn
| greater will be the capacity to enjoy that
place if in this life We begin to realize the
| fullness of salvation.
n UR text speaks CT faith; faith BRING
" ing the soul ultimately to safe
| anchorage in Heaven. Faith is the chan
mel through which all blessing flows
from God to the human life and soul.
Without faith it is impossible to please
Him. for he that cometh unto God must
believe that He is and that He is a re-
warder of them that diligently seek
Him" Salvation is faiths blossom.
Give faith deep root; keep it watered
with the word of truth; enrich the soil
with a surrendered will and mellow it
with the harrow OF resolute purpose; let
the storm of adversely test its depth and
strength of root, and let the screening
heat of the midday sun of temptation
beat upon it until all the sap OF the hid
den power of God is drawn up into its
stalk and stem and leaf, and then the
| flower of the fullness OF salvation Will
begin to unfold. And the end OF your
faith will be the salvation of your soul.
But that salvation includes all that has
| found its fruitage in God. Faith never