The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-08-30

IL ~
a. w mans and Galatians
W with their great
EAxkNA N doctrines OF Justi'
iication by Faith;
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.
and possibly Hebrews. with their great
doctrinal discussions on the person
and work OF the Redeemer; the Epis'
ties TO the Corinthians. together with
the pastoral Epistles TO Timothy and
Titus pregnant with their teaching re-
garding the church: the Thessalonians
with their comforting doctrine of the
future life Of blessedness for the saints
all these books which have been the
cause, inspiration and power OF the
finest moral achievements OF the ages:
the truths revealed in these books
which have been courage TO the living
and strength TO the dying. these writ
ings are not 10 be depended upon, they
are not what they profess TO be; they
are vain, empty, delusive. Is this cred.
ible? But this is the result OF deny.
Ing the resurrection OF Jesus Christ.
II God, who supposedly spoke through
the writer's of both the Old and New
Testaments Is party TO a false wit
ness; IL the apostles themselves have
been party 10 this false witness
then, also. we have no Bible at all:
we have no revelation OF the mind and
will Of GoS.
2. Christianity is Barren In It's Re
suits.
(a) "Ye are yet In your sins"
II is here acknowledged that Christ
alone can save from sins, but IL he
could not save himself from sins pow
er how can he save the sons OF men
from It's guilt and dominion? Christ
himself distinctly taught that his death
had redemptive value, and that his res
direction from the dead would be proof
positive of this fact The apostle Paul,
also, says that Christ died for our
sins, and was raised again for our JUS
tification" (Rom. 4:25). But II Christ
himself is still under the power OF
death, which is the wages OF sin, how
then can he release others from the
payment Of that debt? Then his death
had no redemptive value. II Christ re-
mained In the grave, then humanity
has no redeemer. man has no Saviour:
the guilt and power Of sin has not been
removed, men are not pardoned. sin
ners are not justified, the SHINING and
sinful race is still under the guilt and
condemnation OF sin and exposed TO
the just wrath OF a righteous God
against sin and sinners. Then free
dom from condemnation is unreal. the
sense OF forgiveness Is a sham, and the
consciousness OF pardon for 81 Is the
greatest delusion. Then Christ's death
has wrought only imaginary changes.
and deluded its most faithful adher-
ents.
(b) Then Christianity has no incen-
tive power TO a life OF self-denial and
godiness. II has no power for lmmor.
tality.
And II Christ hath not been raised
. then they also that are fallen
asleep In Christ have perished." This
IS not an appeal 20 mere sentiment,
but statement with regard 60 a most
fact. The care OF the Cor.
inthians for their dead was character.
ized by the greatest tenderness. They
had laid their loved ones. small and
great. big and little, beneath the
ground with the hope OF meeting them
again IN the world beyond Indeed.
those who had fallen asleep in Christ
had themselves cherished this hope OF
o glorious Immortality. They had sur.
rendered all 10 Christ In this life that I
they might have communion with him .
here, and fellowship with him In the .
life 20 come. They had lived az pil.
grims and strangers: they had denied .
20 feshly lusts and world .
ly pleasures; they had not resigned .
90 the dreams OF earthly
Joys as others. nor had they given
themselves over 20 the enjoyment OF .
sinful pleasures; they had not bowed
the knee 10 the god Of this world for
riches or earthly emolument; they had
borne life's load uncomplainingly. and
bad endured all manner Of suffering
Tor righteousness sake; they had lived
sacrificial lives-and all this In happy |
expectation OF glorious awakening In
A future life OF bliss. But. ah. what
fools they had been: for II Christ be
bot risen. they perished at the mo
ment they died; when the spirit lOft
The body they ceased 10 be. they SUI
tered dead loss"