Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-05-18
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nay q, 1910.

Beginning May q 1910.
Tcpac- What u It to be Christianf-
Acts XVI. 24-2e. Union meeting with the
Juniors.) Comment by Rev. Sherman H.
Doyle, D. d.
The question What Is it to be
Christian?' cannot be answered def
nitely in single sentence. There are
too many phases of the Christians
spirit, life and labors to make 1t posi-
BILE to limit them to what we ordina-
rily call definition. Webster defines
Christian "as one who processes or is
assumed to believe ip the religion Of
Christ. especially one whose inward
and outward life Is conformed to the
doctrines of Christ" This perhaps is
as good a human definition as could
be given Of Christian in the abstract,
but when we come to the Scriptures,
instead of finding any one statement
that defines Christian, there are SIM
ply various descriptions of the charac-
teristics of disciple Of Christ accord
ing to the phase of Christianity which
Christ or the apostles desired to set
forth. What is it to be Christian
may better. therefore, be summed In
these characters and especially as IL
Illustrated in one who Is a Christian
for instance, Paul, the central figure Of
the scene before us.
In this scene Paul Is on trial before
King Agrippa and his queen and
Cestus. Paul had been arrested at
Jerusalem, taken to Caesarea, tried
before Festus, then Felix, but had ap-
pealed to Caesar, q right which as a
Roman citizen be possessed. Mean
while Agrippa came to Caesarea and
desired to hear Paal, and he addressed
the king, queen and Festus. In this
defense we have one Of the greatest
addresses in the Bible, and 1t Is little
wonder that after a conference of
the judges Agrippa said to Festus,
'sThis man might have been set at lib
erty II he had not appealed unto Cae.
sar." Paul had simply told the story
Of his conversion and subsequent zeal
for Christianity. Festus declared he
was mad because Of his much learning
and zeal. Paul denied it and appealed
to Agrippa about the prophets and his
knowledge Of them. Agrippa said unto
Paul "a. W, Almost thou persuadest
me to be a Christian" And Paul said,
II would to God that not only thou,
but also all that hear me this day,
were both almost and altogether such
as am except these bonds"
What did Paul mean by "such Is
amT He could only mean one thing
q Christian. Paul was a Christian,
and in him and his life we see the
characteristics Of true Christian
/. Paul was converted. On his way
to Damascus to prosecute Christians
he saw Christ in vision and accept
ed Him rs his Saviour. He was
not Christian In the sense tkat he
tried to reform himself by taking
Christ as his example. He was In
wardly changed by the power Of the
Holy Ghost. So must every one be
who really is a Christian. Regenera-
ton, not reformation by attempted
personal efforts, makes a Christian.
2. Paul possessed the spirit of Christ
81 am crucifed with Christ. Never
theless l live. Yet not l, but Christ,
liveth in me-" This is an absolute es-
sential of Christian. He that hath
not the spirit Of Christ Is none of
His" The spirit of Christ does not
simply mean an inward desire to fol-
low Christ. Christ must through His
spirit dwell in u.s. abide in me and
In you" We must be such as Paul
was when he said. Christ iiveth in
me-"
3. Paul's outward life conformel
to that of Christ. This necessari
~ follows the inward possession Of
Christ. The inward life determines
the outward life. II Christ lives In us
II His mind is our mind, His will Ii
our will, we must be like Him In life
and character.
4. Paul accepted and believed the
great doctrines concerning Christ
His diety, His crucifixion. His resur-
rection and ascension, His miracles
and the doctrine of the atonement in
the sense OF substitution. He gloried
only in the cross and boldly proclaim
ed that ChrissSs death there was a
vicarious sacrifice for sinners.
8. Paul desired ito see all men Chris
tians. Il would to God that not
only thou, but also all that hear me
this day. were both almost and al
together such as 1 am Christians ac-
cept these bonds'' Seeking to save
others is one of the surest signs that
we are saved and are Christians.
BIBLE READINGS.
Matt. K. 3S; ri. 2S-30; Mark viii.
34-3S: John i, 35, AZ. XIV. 1-16; Mark ii,
IA; Acts Ii. IA: Rom vi. II, 12-14; xii
]. 2; Eph. iv, 1-6; Tim. ii, 10.
His Only Vacation.
In Baltimore the Christian Endeav-
orers are greatly interested in the
work Of the Children's Fresh Air So