The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-10

Abbott: "The Old Testament is the
gospel of the obligation of God to
man in the bud; the New Testament
is the gospel of Gods obligation to
man in the flower"
There is no doubt, think, about
the fact Of Gods obligation to man.
1t is really tie central fact of the Old
and New Testament alike. 1t is the
very gospel of God in His great book
from beginning to end, If only we
interpret that book Alright!
But before we boast Of that gos-
pei, or pride ourselves that God is
under obligations to US, let US seek
to know the ground OF that obliga-
ton. Let US know that we have not
put God under an obligation to us
by anything We have done. mot
according to our works, but according
to His own purpose and grace" Paul
says in the text. It is therefore God 8
own purpose and active love, for
grace is love in action, that has put
God under obligation to man. God SO
loved''-and there it all began-this
gospel of Gods obligation to man.
|
out of His great love, and for no
other reason, placed Himself under.
obligation to the whole world of hu-
manity, so that whosoevcr in that
world would believe in that love, and
would let God fulfil His obligation
| toward him, should not perish, but
be saved. This is John ill: 16, in the
light of our text and in the words Of
our theme. This is the gospel that
Jesus Christ came to proclaim and to
| live. He came to tell every man that
| God so loves him that He is willing
| to place Himself under obligations to
him. 1t was for this reason that God
gave us His greatest gift-the gift Of
Himself in Jesus Christ-aS much of
Himself and even more than man
| lieve in. 1t Is because He is the
great loving universal Father nat
He has placed Himself under obliga-
ton to every child Of His, to every
man and woma- in all the world.
Be this our boast then: not that
we have put God under any obliga-
tion to us by anything that we have
done, but that God out Of His Infinite
love for US and according to His own
loving Ind eternal purpose has placed
Himself under obligations to US. This
purpose was given US in Jesus Christ,
before times eternal" Paul says.
That Is, it was born in Gods eternal
| Father-Heart before time came to be
reckoned or counted. God ever a
Father must ever have had Son.
else He would not have been ever a
Father, and in that love for that eter-
nal Son we see Gods purpose for all
His sons in all the world. And this
purpose has now been manifested to
the world and to US by the appear
ing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
That is, Christ came to show Gods.
the Fathers, eternal purpose to the
| world. He came to tell the world
that He has been willing to place
Himself under obligation to every
one in all the world. This is the gos-
pei that Christ came to proclaim.
This is the gospel that shines forth
in all that He said or did.
And now we are ready to see what
this obligation of GOD to us and His
eternal purpose, has led Him to do
for US, or the result Of His obligation
to man. What is the issue of this
gospel of Gods obligation? What
has it led God to do for US? 1t has
led and it will lead God to do every
thing that infinite love can do or
that we will let Him do for our sal
vation. The first part Of the text
gives this answer: who saved JUS,
and called US with a holy calling" I"
He has called us to salvation and to
holiness through faith in Him, as the
loving Father, and in His Son, as the
revealer and example Of the Fathers
love and character. This is the COW
enant that God waits and wants to
make with every one of us. 1t is not
His will that any should perish, but
that all should receive the light Of
life, and live the life that is abun-
dant and eternal. 1t was Gods obli-
cation to US, born of His love for us,
tnat led Him to send Christ to suffer
and die for us, in order that He might
become our Saviour and lead us to
salvation and to holiness. 1t was
this that led God to do the very best
that He out of His infinite power and
love could do for us and for all of
His children of the earth. All, yes,
we may be sure Of this-God has
kept, and God will ever keep, His
part of the covenant that He has
made with us and for us. He has
fulfilled and He ever will fulfil, His
full obligation to us.
This is the gospel of the Old and
New Testament that I proclaim to
you to-day. Thi~ is the gospel of
Jesus Christ-the gospel Of Gods
obligation to man born of Gods great
love for man.