The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-12

physical growth? Lie. Ing SANS ~
true Of the spiritual. Life in God
through Jesus Christ. 1t is this to
which he refers when he speaks Of
them to whom he writes as having "ob-
tanned like precious faith with us IN
the righteousness OF God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ"
The Christian is one who has Job
tanned" something, he has not earned
1t or worked At out for himself. but
obtained 1t. That which he has OBJ
tanned is faith. Faith is the gift Of
God. The object OF this faith, that on
which 1t terminates, is .'the righteousS
ness OF God and our. Saviour Jesus
Christ" Not the righteousness which
God is. but the righteousness which
God gives, his imputed righteousness
by which alone a man begins to live
before him.
Word Of God the Means.
(2.) He next speaks Of the means
Of growth. which IL the word Of God
Verse 2s4). Grace and peace are null
tipIied unto us through the knowledge
Of God, he says. and, indeed. he adds,
"all things that pertain unto life and
goodness" come In the same way.
But this knowledge is not that which
was obtained in the handiwork OF ma
ture. but In the revealed word. De
sire the sincere milk OF the Word
that We may grow thereby"
In our hearts is evil. but In the Word
there are Exceeding great and pre-
cious promises and 1t Is as we see
and apprehend these that we desire
and reach out for them. And In reach
ing out for them we drop these. Il
ID what the child does when the apple
salis out Of his hand as he opens 1t to
grasp the orange.
(3) The inspired penman is led far
Their to speak OF the nature Of Chris
tian growth In verses 81. which he1
sets before us along seven different
lines Of development virtue. knowl-
edge, temperance. patience. godliness,
brotherly kindness and charity or love.
Virtue" lis not to be limited here to
the thought Of sexual chasteness. but
means as nearly as possible In spirit
ual sense what "strenuousness' has
come to mean In the physical and In
tellectuai. "A Christian man, in 9TH
er words. is supposed 10 have the
courage OF his convictions In Witness
ing to Jesus Christ
| In the same way temperance does
not mean simply abstinence from in
toxicating drink, but self-control In
the whole OF ones conduct, a life kept
well In hand for Cod. symmetrical,
spiritually well poised, an all-around
sainthood. No better illustration Of
this could be found than IL. the union
Of patience and godliness. which fol
lows.
The patience Is not to be mere
stoical endurance. but united to and
| moving from a spirit Of enlightened
trust In God. The true Christian in
deed is the ideal man. How sad that,
there are SO few of them when the
provision for their creation Is so sim
pie and SO freely offered By divine
grace.
~ The result OF growth In grace
| Ii three-fold oversees SID. First, fruit
| fulness second, assurance, and third.
reward. II there II one thing more
than another that Christians want to
| know It Is how they may be assured
OF salvation Here is the A, b, G Of
| 1t: III VI do these things We shall
never fall" This Is the way to make,
our calling and election sure. ITO do
these things" This does not mean TO
make orr calling and election sure 90
far as God is concerned. but 50 far
as We ourselves are concerned.
God knows whether we are called
and elected Or not, and 1t can't be-
| any surer as to him. But II we don't
know. the way to find out Is to do
| these things. When hear man say
he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
but has no assurance OF salvation, /
generally feel that there Is something
| in his life not right. and which he
knows to be not eight. and yet doos
not put away. Get right with God and
assurance follows