The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-26
CHRISTIANITY IS DEFINED
Rev. c. c. Rarick Of First Methodist
Writes Sunday Morning Sermon
For Astorian's Readers - Text
From Romans r4:I7.

4
of God is not Meat and Drink; but
Righteousness. and peace, and 10y In
the Holy Ghost"
Christianity IL the Kingdom Of Cod
"Thy kingdom come,7 is one Of the petit
tions In the Lords Prayer. Jesus said
Of II, Ut cometh not with observation
at Il not OF this world" 1T ID within
you" The words mot meat and drink
stand for the fshy and sensuous in
every form. At the time these words
were spoken the whole Of Jewish so.
ciety were In anxious expectation Of the
establishment Of the Messianic kingdom.
The Apostles. even after the resurrec-
tion, TO a large extent partook of the
current conception. On one occasion they
would have taken him by force TO make
him king" John e;i5).
Christ 10 coming again, when the
members Of his kingdom win be sep
Grated from the rest of the world. "In
that night there shall be two men in
one bed; the one shall be taken and the
other shall be left. Two women shall
be grinding together. the one shall be
taken and the other left. Two men shall
be In the field; the one shall be taken
and the other left" But Divine judg-
ment upon the worldly and ungodly win
not be altogether postponed until the
return OF Christ. Wherever society be.
comes thoroughly careless and corrupt,
judgment oyertakes 1t as swiftly and as
surely as the vultures fall upon car
cass, This Ia prophetic OF the destruc-
tIon Of all earthly kingdoms
Christ's kingdom Is not restricted to
earth and time. It's laws do not tluc-
tuate and change with changing times.
And why is this' It Is because It Is
the kingdom of truth. It is set up the
hearts OF men. This signifies triumph |
over evil. II means the establishment |
Of humility. faith, love, hope, purity |
and every spiritual grace. The subjects
Of this kingdom are not bound to II by
any merely external tie. They are not
forced against their win to serve their
king. In this kingdom truth prevails,
and he who rebels against truth rebels
against his higher nature.
Humanity has ever yearned after
"peaee and joy" But it is never found
in the abundance of things to be pos
sessed." The man whom God called
"foolr sought for "peace and Joy" in his
abundant possessions. In thrones and
dominions men have imagined "peace
and joy" but they have said "peace,
peace, when there was no peace" "There
is no peace saith TIE Lord, unto the
wicked"
"Great peace have they that love thy
law, and nothing shall offend them."
What does this meang It means that
the Christian is so fortified by Divine
grace that no distacting element is
permitted to enter his heart. It means
that he exercises nothing but a spirit
Of forbearance and affection toward his
bitterest enemies. II means that no love
for the world win divert him from the
proper object of his affections, and that
ne viii ever feel constant flow Of love
or God and for his cause. 1t means
hat world ambition viii be cruciied,
md that he win be willing to spend and
,e spent in the cause he loves. Chris
ianity's third and greatest gift is joy"
There are those who contend that there
an be no JOY apart from that which is
lerived from sources Of pleasure and
furnished by the world They
10 not speak from experience. Paul
ays, "The fruit Of the Spirit is 10Y
Iot Joy in our circumstances and hap
'enings, Not joy in our business pros
'enty. Not JOY in our family and home :
omforts. Not joy in cur endeaTng
but Joy in the Holy Ghost" !,
Many Christians remain all their lives
imply in state Of righteousness, the
owest possible state. Others have gone 3
step higher and have attained to the
tate of peace. Condemnation is gone,
nd they have comfortable assurance @
t their acceptance in Christ, and this, +,
/ course, results in 'peace,p sometimes n
isturbed) but they have never felt the D
ouch of the Divine Spirit, or been G
hrilled with the joys of salvation. In
/ believe many of our best people are r,
d this class They are pure gold, but Il
ot being enthused with the joys of sal b
alton, they are lacking in the power Of !,
Ontagious testimony and soul-waTming IL
Jesus said, Rejoice and be f