The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-19

obedience, i'm courage!
st. Paul points out the necessity for
the Lords people to assemble them
selves together for fellowship and for
the study of his Word and to provoke
one another to love and good works.
The necessity for this, he suggests, is
that sin on the part of those who
have received knowledge of the
Truth and been made partakers of the
Holy Spirit is a much more serious
matter than the same conduct would
have been before they came into the
precious relationship of spirit-begotten
children of God He says, "For If we
sin after that we have received
knowledge Of the Truth, there remain
eth no more q sacrifice for sins, but a
certain fearful looking for of condem-
nation and fiery indignation which
shall devour us as Gods adversarles''
verses 90, 20.
Have we grasped the import of the
thought? 1t signifies that those of us
who have accepted the Divine terms
and entered the family of God will
have no future opportunity in another
life. We must either make our "call
ing and election sure" under the terms
of the call. as accepted. or be rejected
as unworthy Of life everlasting-as fit
for the Second Death-annihilatlon
He who despised Moses Law died
without mercy. But he who, having
come to clear knowledge Of the
Truth. shall be found n willing sinner.
viii not only be cut Off from further
opportunity in the present Age, but be
everlastingly cut Off from life. destroy
ed. God is able to destroy both soul
and body"-the present life and our fu-
ture hope. These thoughts should
make very earnest, very diligent, all
who have accepted Christ and been
accepted by him.
Nevertheless Be Not Discouraged.
These things were written, not only
for the Hebrew Christians of st. Pauls
day, but intended 10y the Holy Spirit
for all the household of faith. We
should not rock ourselves to sleep, nor
give to each other opiates. While the
oorld is not yet on trial for eternal
life, the Church is now being tested
for life or death eternal The thought
should sober us. AS the Apostle sug-
gests, "Be diligent, be sober" be
faithful, following in the footsteps of
Jesus.
But ST. Paul or. rather. the Holy
Spirit through him, took cognizance
Of the fact that the Lords people are
in n world that Is mo friend TO grace
to help them on to God" The Apostle
recognized that we might become dis
couraged with our own faults and
weaknesses. Hence, after earnestly
eXhorting to faithfulness and energy
and after pointing out the dangers OF
slothfulness and of being over-charged
with the cares of this life and the de.
ceitfulness of riches and thus losing
the spirit of Christ, he turns from this
threatening attitude and uses encour-
aging words.
He says, Call to mind the former
days in which, following your illumi
nation of the Holy Spirit, you endured
a
intimatlon is that at that time, while
suffering prosecutions. the brethren
were really in n better, more alive.
spiritual condition than later. The
prosperity, privileges, freedom from
enjoyed, had made them
would have them and us call TO mind
the victories won I'm the past, that we
might have courage for the present
and the future. How gracious, how
helpful, are all the provisions OF our
God for those who now hear his call
and seek to walk In Jesus steps! 70
these he guarantees that every expert.
ence OF life which his providence shall
permit shall work for good, for bless.
ing, for valuable experience and ecu
cation along lines Of righteousness and
character-development.
Two Glasses Of the Faithful.
In time Of war. not all can go forth |
as soldiers. Some, unfit for such seiv
ice, may perform a useful part at
home supporting, encouraging. send
ing supplies to those at the front. etc. |
And so 1t is in the army of the Lord
Jesus Is the Captain Of all those who
voluntarily enlist as soldiers of the |
cross to battle against sin, especially |
in MISUNDERSTANDING a "good fight |
of faith" and overcoming the spirit |
OF the world which surges all about
them. threatening TO overwhelm them
as New Creatures In Christ
st. Paul intimates a strong persecu-
tlon, openly manifested by the worldly
spirited, Satan-deceiyed people of God |
He says. "Ye endured a great fight Of |
Affections, partly whilst ye were made
a gazing stock both by reproaches and |
afiilctions and partly whilst ye be
came companions of them that were
so used. For ye had compassion of
me in my bonds, and took Joyfully the |
spelling of your goods" (verses 32-34).
st. Paul and others prominent |
amongst the Lords followers natural |
ly would receive the brunt OF Satans |
attacks. II is presumed that the Epis- |
tie of which our text is part was |
written while St. Paul was prison |
or at Rome Fellow Jews so far from