The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-04
Sermon BY
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
abernacle.

NnM1WxAsAA1E
O-s-.-.-.-.-.-.".".-.".-.-.
Sunday Jan. 23.-NumeriCally Bap-
lists, Advcntists and Disciples rcpre,
sent more than one third OF the Prot.
estants OF the United States. What
they must yield for Church Federation
is therefore an important question
All three of these systems are BULL
upon the Congregational platform,
which recognizes as Scriptural the in.
dependence of each congregation as to
its own creed in all matters of faith
and Church order. These bodies OF
Christians. therefore. could not join
the Federation as denominations. The
only method by which they could give
adherence would be either by aban-
doning their principles Of Independence
for which they have so long commended
or else 10y remaining quicsccnt while
their ministers through Councils and
Conferences essay to act for them.
And here II should be noted that the
membership OF these large Christian
bodies have more and more during the
past thirty-tive years shown their will
ingneSS to have their ministers rcgu-
late their affairs, even though contrary
TO their avowcd principles OF Church
Government.
But it is from the standpoint of doc
trincS rather than Church government
that we shall examine our subject. AS
we progress we shall find that some of
the doctrines once considered all-im-
portant can in the light OF our day be
laid aside as ObSOletc-aS hindranceS
in every sense OF the word. Caution,
however, would suggest that for every
thing discarded as unSCriptural the
truthful substitute should be found
otherwise our progress would be to-
ward the destruction, not only OF the
bad OF our Crecds of the past. but also
of their good features.
DoctrinaI Surrender Of Baptsts.
BaptiStS will tind little to dispute
with their CO-rcligionists OF the Fed
Grafton along general doctrinal lines
their chief difficulty will he in the mat
ter of what constitutes Christian baD-
tiSm- the necessity of water INNER
sion to admission to Church member
ship. For years this doctrine has been
even more tenaciouSly held than is
generally realized. our Baptist breth-
ren hold TO justification by faith as Il
first or preliminary step which the sim
ner must take. But they equally hold
that this is not the final Step-that the
step Of sacrifice, the step of regenera-
ton much follow in order to salvation.
And baptism in water they recognize
as an Indispensable outward indication
ard Baptist doctrine, both North and
South in all Baptist Churches with
rare exceptions. that no uHimmerSed
person ShOuld be esteemed a member of
ChriSt'S Church.
In word, faith and reformation are
steps Of justification, but water INNER
sion is the door into Christ. Only those
who pass through this door are mem
bers Of the Church of Christ from this
viewpoint; hence. consistently, none
others are invited 10 partake of the
EuchariSt-the Lords Supper. The ar
CumCnt is that this Supper, symbolic
ing death with Christ, was offered only
to the cODsccrated and accepted mem
bers of Christs Church. Hence to in
wife others than those immersed in
water would be violation of the let
ter and the spirit Of the Divine Word
and Il cOuntenancing of false doctrine.
The argument is that all of "thc elect
will he guided of the Lord, so that
their hearts and heads will become
ameuable to these teachings. Obedi
ence thereto will be shown by suDmis-
sion To water immcrSiOn-the door into
the Church of Christ.
Like the rest of us, our Baptist
friends have been III the past rather
illogical in all matters religious and
doctrinal: 50 much so that many of
them have never realized the full
meaning Of their doctrine. The mean
ing was graSped in the long ago, but
has generally been lost sight of within
the last fifty years. 1t is this: Since
water immersion is the evidence of
obedience to Divine instruction and
since ali of the elect" are not only in
HNlutltu VI NIOu Dul pD'hlNIb W uilll'
therefore those not baptized in water
are not of Gods elect-are not mem
berS in his Church. And this in turn,
according to Baptist doctrine, implies
that all not immersed In water are
outside of the Church-Outside OF the
number of the elect'-outside Of
Gods favOr-OutSide of the salvation
provided in Christ-and therefore in
side the damnatiOn and eternal tor
ment which Baptist doctrines imply
have been foreordained for the eternal
torture of all the nOn-elect.
DO our Baptist friends who meet
unimmersed Christians Of other de
nominations in the walks OF life from
day to day really believe that the lat
ter are on their way to an eternity
of tOrtureF Most assuredly they do
not. But this is merely because they
are illogical like the rest of us. They
are as illogical ms their brethren OF
other denominations. They have out
grown ut least this feature of the
teachings OF the dark ages" handed
down to them 10y welI-meaning but
less enlightened fOrefatherS,
(lUn rlptt, a tbp 1,ptt.p Win Ct,fIi c,