Semi-weekly herald., 1909-10-07
Growing In Grace.

The afternoon service yesterday
was especially for converts and Evan.
gelist Lowry's sermon was particular.
ly to them
In speaking to the new converts,
Mr.. Lowry took for his text II Peter
a:1S. But grow in grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ" My message to you
this afternoon is Growing In Grace -
The Christian life Is q growth We do
not grow into grace. but we are to
grow in grace. We are born into the
Kingdom of Christ through faith.
Then there begins growth. Again
We are commanded to work out our
-sGivatioh with fear and trembling.
Not that We are to work for salvation,
but we are to work it out after we
have received it, having laid the
foundation which is Jesus Christ In
the heart. We are commanded of God
to grow in grace. because God is
never satisfied with anything short Of
our very best. We are satisfied with
the green apple In the early summer
time, because 1t represents the best
the trees and the season could do up
TO date. But II we came In the fall
and found the apple still green. we
would certainly be dissatisfied. man
is satisfied with his baby at birth II
1t is strong and healthy as he eazes
fondly upon 1t, but to come home six
months later and find 1t In the same
condition would be anything but sat
isfactory God Is satisfied with you,
now converts. the moment that you
surrendered yourself TO Him, but II
He finds you six months or year
from now, as you are at present he
certainly would not be satisfied. And
In speaking words OF council to you
this afternoon l trust that | may be
able to give you some suggestions
which If you follow them out you will
be found growing In grace.
Assurance Of Salvation.
First of all, would say. Trust only
in Jesus Christ for salvation and be
sure that you are saved" / Cor q.
IL. For other foundation can no man
lay than that which is laid which is
Jesus Christ" 1t is the privilege Of
every believer TO know that they are
saved. John 5:l3, These things
have | written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God that
ye may know that ye have eternal
life" There are many who do not
have assurance OF salvation because
they do not fully trust In Jesus Christ
to save them, but are trusting In their
own righteousness or rather what
they do. So many, II you ask them
II they are saved. will say. IF | live
good enough I viii be saved" Now
we are saved through faith In Jesus
Christ and We work because We are
saved and not with the hopes that we
will be saved thereby The believer
is justified at the moment he accepts
thl iol as Hls odNlouT+ Acls 10 os,
For by him all that believe are jus
titled from all things from which ye
could not be justified by the law Of
Moses" was justified from all things
the moment that I believed on Jesus
Christ and though l have been liv.
Ing Christian life for many years
and doing what | can to win others
to Jesus. am not any more justified
today than when first accepted Him
as my Saviour. WAS saved then.
through faith In Jesus but trust that
there has been considerable growth
in grace In the meantime. Next. con.
fess Jesus Christ every opportunity
you have. Matt, 1922. "Whosoever
shall confess Me before men. him will
! confess also before My Father which
Is In heaven" Always avail yourself
OF every opportunity to confess Jesus
~ your Lord. Too mauy are Ike the