Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-24
PAUL'S IDEALS
PROMPT SERMON
DEATH TO THE CHRISTIAN A
REAL GAIN
Apostle Was a Niagara of Power Set
to Generate Spiritual Light for
the World" Says Pastor
smthor

AT the First Christian church yester-
day morning Rev. A. G. smther
preached upon "PauTs IDEALS" from
the text: "tTor mo to live is Christ, to
die is gain"
He said in part:
paul was a man Of IDEAS and ideals.
His ideal of the Christian life was that
1t is for Christ's sake, Christ's work
and Christs glory in the world His
ideal of death to the Christian was that
1t was gain, a release from the bond
ages of life, a liberation of the soul
from the limitations Of earthly condi-
tions
ITO choose between the service of
Christ in life and the gain secured to
himself i'm death was to Paul a per-
picking question. His own case would
seek the gain Of death; his love for the
Masters cause would seek service for
the church of God.
"Pauls life was a captured life. He
was in captivity to the great master of
spirits. In this fellowship his was a
surrendered life. His whole life was
in response to the Masters require
mentS.
Supreme Question
Lord, what wilt thou have me to
do? was the supreme question of life
with him.
"Christs mastery over him was COM
pete. In this mastery of Jesus over
Paul was found no small tribute to the
power of Jesus that he could conquer
so powerful a spirit as that of Paul.
His was a Niagara of power set to
generate spiritual light for the world.
His colossal intellect was used to inter-
pret Christ to mankind. The world S
theology was largely fashioned in
Paul's mind. lie was the prism In
which Christianity was analyzed into
its various parts. His great heart had
no affection but for the Christ and his
cause.
His love for Christ restrained him
from the evil and impelled him to the
good. Out of his great loving heart
went the thirteenth chapter of First
Corinthians.
His hands were devoted to the Mas
ter. They faithfully wrought at tent
making that he might be left free to
preach the gospel without charge. His
feet were often weary with his journeys
to foreign cities, preaching the Word.
He was the great missions airy as well as
the great theologian.
Ambition Conferred
"-Is supreme ambition was centered
upon IIlS CnTlSL, IL Was Ills great hSdIl
that said, God forbid that l should
glory save in the cross of Christ
This high ideal Of conduct, service,
character found expression and embod-
ment in the church. This was the gar
ment in which his soul wrought pat
terms of beauty and robes of utility. 1t
was his companion and Solace.
Compare with this soul consuming
ambition the man who lives upon the
level of his body, in the lover story of
his being; the man who is completely
mastered by his evil passions. Com
pare with his great ideal that of the
lover of fashion, the giddy devotee of
the frivolities of life. How many live
in the realm Of the eat, drink and be
merry class?
Such are the ones who deal in the
worthless things Of life, while Paul
deals in the eternal, the divine things
of man. His example must be an in
spiration to men everywhere.
His ideal of death was even more
striking. For all generations had
feared death. Paul looked upon it as a
gain, as a friend, blessing. 1t would
bring liberty from bondage. 1t would
free him from evil companions. 1t would
bring him into fellowship with the
noblest of heaven or earth"