Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-11-04
ABOUT CHURCHES OF MART|NsBURG
Interesting Sketches Of Their Work. The Pastors and Sermons

much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear an I
trembling: for il is God which
worketh in you both to will and
to work for his good pleasure" No
Evangelical Christian questions thai
our salvation was accomplished when
Jesus Christ, our Lord assembled on
high and took his place at the right
hand of Gods majesty. Nor is there
lany disagreement that while this sal
walton is the free gift of the Fathers
love, we become the recipients of it's
| blessings by faith alone The teach
Engs OF these verses then, must be-
plain that we are TO work out in our
Econduct and conversation in the every
day life that Christlike character, the
lheginning and possible perfecting OF
which has been born in us by our
Regeneration. 1t is this process OF
outworking that the New Testamen.
presents under the nomenclature OF
Sanctihcation.
| II may seem easier to reach these
| high attachments of spiritual expor-
fence by some mystical uplift pas
lsively submitted to. but the serious
question is whether in the very ma
lure Of the case the prize of this high
calling ought to be reached without eff
tort? Our Leader certainly did not
SO teach" Strive 10 enter in by the
narrow door, for many ! say un q
you, shall seek to enter in, and shall
not be able And IL thy hand cause
thee to stumble, cut it Off: it is good
for thee to enter into life MANNED rath-
er rather than having thy two hands
| to so into hell, into the unquenchable
fire. And il thy foot cause thee TO
stumble, cut it off: it is good for
thee to enter into life halt, rather
than having thy two feet to be cast
into hell. And if thine eye cause thee
to stumble, cast 1t out; it is good for
thee to enter into the kingdom of
God with one eye, rather than having
two eyes to be cast into hell, where
the worm dieth not and the fire Is
mot quenched"
However we may interpret these
verses at least the idea of effort can
not be eradicated and the idea OF
stumbling must suggest those who are
striving after progress. What is the
evident teaching Of Pauls experience
| ! Cor, 9:26, q Il therefore so run
as not uncertainty; SO fight !, as not
beating the air: but buffet my body,
and bring it into bondage: lest by any
means, after | have preached to 9th
ers, / myself should be rejected?" Sec
how the author of the Epistle to the
4 Hebrews even when Christ. is placed
before us as the author and perfect
er OF our faith yet enjoines to lay
aside every weight and the easily be-
setting sin and run the race with
patience. In the arduous struggle
though outward man is decaying,
the inward man is renewed day by day
fear that there is the fatal weak
ness in cur present church system.
We lay so great emphasis upon thu
necessity of public avowal that marks
the beginning Of the Christian life, and
4 little or no emphasis upon the contin-
ual perseverance that is required 10
develop that life
! sanctifcation is distinctly the work
Of the Holy Spirit. Compare our text
with | Peter IL I'm sanctification of
the Spirit But we are nowhere
taught that there is any special gifts
Of the Spirit for this purpose but
as we have learned in our previous
studies the Holy Spirit operates eth
or by revealing or applying the truth
as it is in Jesus. Paul puts the mat
ter plainly in ii Thess 2;13 but we.
re bound to give thanks to God Away s
for you, brethren beloved Of the Lord
for that Gcd chose you from the be-
ginning unto salvation in sanctifica-
ton OF the Spirit and belief of the