The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-09-15

Jesus my Lord for whom | suffered the
loss of all things and do count them but
refuse, that NAV win Christ" Philippians
81, s.
Paul tells the story of his conversion
to the Philippian Christians that he may
magnify Christ and encourage them. 1t
was costing these Christians great deal
to follow Jesus. Paul does not ask them
to do something he himself was unwilling
to do. He too had given UP much in be-
coming a Christian. He had lost much.
He had gained the more.
He reminds them of the life they are
to live. 1t is the separated life. They
must live apart from the eve about them.
They must be in the world, but not of it.
They must beware of evil men. Paul
calls them dogs. Men who make it their
business to drag down and ruin men. Paul
knew the transforming power of associa-
ton He knew what effect evil companion
ships would have on these Christians.
/ Charles Kingsley has we'll said, "Men
become false if they live with liars;
cynics, if they live with scornness; mean,
if they live with the covetous; affected,
if they live with the affected, and actually
catch the expression of each others faces"
Many a life has been dragged down
and DESTROYED by evil comp partnerships.
They must not listen to evil teachers.
There were smooth-tongued men all about
them who would seek to lead them away
from Christ. These men would seek to
divert their minds from the main things.
They must remain true to Christ. He
must be the center of their lives. If they
turned away from Christ they would be
the greater loosers. He appeals to them
On bis own account He had given up
much for Christ and had gained far more
than he had given up. He had been more
than repaid for all his losses.
He had given up his own home and
his own people They had cast him out
He had given up his early ambitions. He
was an ambitious YOUNG man. He had
given up all the special privileges he en-
joyed. From Jewish standpoint he had
everything in his favor But he had coun-
ted all these things as refuse that he
might gain Christ.
Let us see what were his gains. First,
he gained the righteousness of Christ
He realized that there was nothing in
him to recommend him to God. He no
longer looked to his own merit to gain
eternal life. He is now clothed in the
perfect righteousness of Christ There is
no hope of salvation through the keeping
of the law. Therefore by the deeds of
the law there shall no flesh be justified
in His sight"
He gained a new life. ''If any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature; the old
things are passed away; behold, they are
become new" 1t is a new life Of obed- |
ence. What wilt thou have inc to do
Lord?" He has but one desire now and
that is to bring every thought and impulse
into obedience to Jesus Christ. From now
on he would follow Jesus whatever the
cost. He has now new nurpose. He is
determined to make his life count for all
it is worth for Christ and humanity. His
whole desire is to help men and lead them
to Christ. His life is given energy and
power to accomplish what he never could
have accomplished otherwise. He gained
power. That is the great need of all
men. This is the advantage of the re-
ligion of Jesus over all other religions
Christ not only tells us what to do but
gives power to do it. Many a man has
inherited a weakened will. He knows
what he ought to do. He knows what
will be the consequence of his present life
but he hasn't the power to overcome it.
Paul says Il can do all things through
Christ which STRENGTHENED me-" He
gives power to overcome sin. "Sin shall
not have dominion over you."
He gives power to overcome trouble.
Few lives are free from trouble. Paul
says, of one of the most trying experiences
through which he passed, "The Lord stood
with me and STRENGTHENED me-
He gives power to suffer, if need be,
for Christ. "Most gladly therefore win
rather glory in my in6rmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me. For
when | am weak, then am strong"
/ And in the end He gives power ever
death. Death comes to US all sooner or
later. We cannot escape it. but we can
triumph over it. A dying Christian said:
Il an not excited, there is nothing to-
excite nc. This is glorious Bless the
Lord, 0 my soul Glorious, glorious!'
Gain Christ whatever it NAV est. With
out Christ, this life and the life to come,