The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-01


- : - - OF the believers
state or position before God, and con-
stitute what might be called his legal
standing.
In this sermon, however, we are to
think about what God graciously does
to transmute this legal standing or
the believer before him into the actual
experience and conduct Of the believ-
er himself This Is what we mean by
salvation from the subjective side"
II the other things touch on Christ's
work for" us, these relate to Christ's
work 'in" us, on the supposition that
we have received him as our Savior,
and confessed him as our Lord.
In other words. he, through the Holy
Spirit, does several things which go
to make the true believer holy man.
and which are enumerated in this
eighth chapter OF Paul's letter to the
Romans; for although our text is lin.
tied to but one verse, we intend to
speak OF more than one.
In the first place, the Holy Spirit
sets the believer free from the law
OF sin and death, verses 2 to A.
Prior to his regeneration through
| faith in Christ, the believer was I'M
der the power Of a tendency or law
| in the direction Of sin, the outcome
of which was death, eternal death !;
| but the incoming of tht Holy Spirit to
| him means that new tendency or law
has been set up within him whose d.
rection is just the opposite to this.
In the second place, the Holy Spirit
gives him the spiritual mind" or dis
position to obey and follow out this
tendency in the direction Of holiness
4 and eternal life-verses 5-10
In the third place, he not only gives
him the spiritual mind. but goes far
Their and gives the spiritual power to
exercise that mind, verses lib, sc
that the Christian has no excuse fol
committing sin.
A Life Of Victory.
The New Testament does not teach
a doctrine of sinless perfection, or the
eradication of evil from our hearts
as long as we remain in the flesh, but
1t does teach that there is such q
thing as living life Of victory over
every known sin every day. Chris
tfans have no classification for apol
i ogizing for quick tempers and irritable
speeches and envy and jealousy-not
to speak OF grosser sins of the flesh
on the ground that such things are
4 part Of their temperament and CAM
be helped. 1t is true that they CAM
help them so far as their old nature
is concerned. but the very purpose Of
4 the indwelling Of the Holy Spirit IL
to enable them to live supernatural
life of power over them If they yielt
their wills to him.
i In the fourth place, the Holy Spirit
gives the believer spiritual encourage
ment to exercise this power, for hi
bears witness within him to his Son
ship to God and heirship as wei
through Jesus Christ-versss 14.17
What stronger motive could there b.
to stir man to put away sin ant
live holy life comparable to the
apprehension of the fact that he II
indeed child OF God and joint he'll
with Jesus Christ? People OF the
world are inclined to smile at thest
things and consider them ethereal ant
visionary, because they cannot under
stand them, lacking the spiritual dis
cernment, but these are, after all, tn.
real things. the substance Of life, Will.
the phenomena that occupy SO mucl
OF mans attention now are only tn,
shadow Of the true.
Change In President Arthur's Life.
/ remember the great change tina
came about in the character and Ii
the outward life Of President Cheste
A. Arthur AS New York politician
and collector Of the port, he had beef
one Of the boys" the higher and fine
class Of boys" and yet one OF them
But when strange providence PLACED
him in the presidential Office afte
the murder Of President Garfield, wha
a change came over him! What
steady, sedate, wise, successful, honor
! able and pure chief magistrate h,
made! All speak well OF his memory
The dignity, the exaltation. the priv
ileges which had come to him contrib
! uted to make him over. 1t Is mucl
! the same with the Christian VIII,
knows who he is and what he has II
! Christ.
Finally. the Holy Spirit gives the be
J lever spiritual access unto God II
prayer-verses 1928. This is tn,
! GROWING act Of grace and power.