Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-03
VIEWED
AS SON OF GOD
DR.. STRAT0N breaches ON
PROOFS OF DEITY
STAINLESS CAREER OF JESUS
EMPHASIZED
Miahtiest Achievements of the Race In
Art, Literature and Government
TraceabIe Directly to the
Nazarene's Influence

At Temple Baptist church, in the
Auditorium, yesterday morning, the
Rev. John Roach Straton, d. D., of Bal
timore, Md, preached on the subject,
WAS Jesus Christ the Son of God?"
He began by saying: 1.-TWO thousand
years ago, in the beautiful land of
Palestine, there walked and talked be-
side her flowing streams and upon heI
towering hillsides the most remarkable
character of all time. About his per-
sonality the tides of human interest
and discussion down the centuries have
flowed, and around his name have re-
volved the greatest events of history
for the past 1000 years.
1.-THE name of that humble man now
shines as the sun, at the center OF his
tory. The mightiest achievements OF
the race in art, literature, science and
governmental relationships are trace
able to his influence. The greatest
wealth, power and enlightenment of the
world belong to the nations which fol-
low him, and his faithful friends under
every sun are giving their time, their
talents, their money and their lives
that he may be honored and that his
spotless standard may win its way to
worldwide and permanent victory"
DR.. Straton went on to say that
there is no longer any dispute over
the fact of an historic Christ. He
showed that the myth theory has been
exploded, and the idea that Jesus was
literary invention has also been
abandoned, even by unbelievers, as I'M
possible.
whatever else we may think or say
about him." said the speaker, we
must admit that Jesus of Nazareth
lived and died in very much the man
ner described In the gospels. Now we
have to account for that marvellous
life. We have to give some answer to
the age-long question, What think ye
of Christ; whose son is he?' what
theory then best takes in all the facts
the facts of his achievements ani
character? We reply with absolute
confidence, and without a moments s
hesitation, only the theory that he
was the Son of Cod"
DR., Straton then went on to show
that even unbelievers conceded that
Jesus was very wise man and very
good man, and that, if this much was
admitted, his deity must also be ad-
mitted. for he claimed to be divine. II
he was a wise man he would not have
been so foolish as to make such an
absurd and egotistical claim; and If,
on the other hand, he was good man
he would not have sought to mislead
and delude his fellows by claim SO
monstrous and blasphemous.
Christ Himself Claimed Deity
The preacher showed that Jesus did
claim deity by the SMILES he used in
regard to himself. His claim to deity
was involved in his teaching concern
ing his relationship to the most vital
interests of life, such as presuming to
forgive sins, for only a God could
oIo khof n0infld
further that Jesus proclaimed himself
a law-giver superior to Moses. He an
nounced himself as ruler of the king
dom of God; he claimed the right tc
direct events of Providence; claimed
power over natural forces; accepted
worship from his followers; asserted
his deity by saying II and my Father
are one," and was destroyed, not on
account of his good works, but for
blasphemy, and because that thou, be-
ing a man, makest thyself God" In
pressing further the thought that the
only basis on which we could account
for the life of Jesus is that he was
divine, the preacher dwelt at length
upon the sinlessness of Christ, for no
man convicted him of sin, and even his
enemies to this day are forced to con-
cede his moral rectitude.
In concluding the sermon DIR. Straton
appealed to the testimony of history
and the universal conscience. In
speaking of the influence of Christ upon
the ages he said: FINALLY the Bible
speaks Of Christ's after influence. Be
fore Christ came the world was In
darkness and consequent spiritual
death, but with the coming of Christ
came life and light. If there were no
other proof to establish his deity 1t
would stand forever proved by the
blessed influence that he has exerted
on the human race. Such influences
could come only from now living and
omnipresent being, our Lord Jesus
Christ"
There followed beautiful word pic
ture of a. sunrise in Virginia which
held the audience entranced, and the
speaker closed by saying: "Since his
coming what wonderful transformations
has Christ not wrought. Destroying
hoary abuses, establishing the reign
of Justice, softening the asperities or
human conduct, sweetening the sym
pathies and broadening the hopes OF
men, blessing childhood, liberat1ng
womanhood, lifting up the fallen, en-
couraging the poor, Strengthening the
faint-hearted and the faltering, and.
by the power of his omnipotent love-
regenerating and redeeming every
heart that turns unto him in faith.
Surely this was the true light, light
ing up every life that cometh into the
world