River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-08-22

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ZMZxMg as the Shepherd
This work of
Jesus is set forth in three aspects in
the Scriptures. In John 1911 he
speaks Of himself as the good" Shep-
herd who giveth his life for the
sheep; and therefore ne can be the
door for the sheep. This answers to
Psalm %. In Hebrews 1920 we read
of him as the great" Shepherd
brought again from the dead, setting
forth his work in caring for and per
fecting the sheep; this aspect is also
emphasized in Psalms %. In First
Peter ga, which answers to Psalm
"a, we read of Jesus as the "Chief"
Shepherd coming In glory to give
crowns of reward to the faithful.
The figure Of the door not only is
beautiful, but it illustrates great
necessity, for when sin had separated
us from God Jesus opened the wall,
placing himself In the breach, and so
has become the door between dark
ness and light, danger and safety, sin
and holiness, despair and hope, earth
and heaven.
He shall be saved" Here we have
the certainty of the gospel giving us
everything in one word. Salvation is
the great inclusive word of the gospel
gathering into itself all the redemp-
tive acts and processes. Therefore
1t was perfectly natural that Paul
should say Il am not ashamed of the
gospel Of Christ, for it is the power of
believeth." There is salvation for the
past, covering the guilt and penalty OF
ain; there is salvation for the present,
covering the power of sin; there is
salvation for the future, covering the
presence of sin when we are to be
perfectly conformed to the image of
Christ No wonder the redeemed sim
ner cries "HalIelujah, what Saviori"
The figure of the text is a perpet-
ual illustration of the efficiency and
extensiveness of salvation in Christ.
He is the door protecting us from the
hands of the enemy, from sin and it's
results, from the enticement of the
flesh, from fear and pains of death.
He is the Savior we need.
And shall go In and out" What
beautiful illustration of the happy life
of the believer and how aptly and COM
pletely it answers those who say
that the Christian life is life of bon
dage. To make such a statement Is to
confess ignorance of the very funda-
mental and primary blessing Of Chris
tian life, for 1t knows no fear and
constraint but it experiences full joy
and freedom indeed. The child OF
God is not bound by rule as a slave
but is guided by love as son, and the
farther he goes in his experience the
more he knows that there is no mar
rowness in Christ.
and find pasture" This makes
one think of the confidence expressed
in Psalms %; the Lord is my Shep-
herd / shall not want, and to realize
that that covers every need of the
human soul. What wealth of provis-
ion and what generosity of supply one
finds in Christ. Paul had tested this.
In Romans S:32 he says HE that
spared not his own son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not
with him also freely give us all
things?" And in Philippians 4.19 we
read, But my God shall supply all
your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus" There need
Shepherd wants us to be nourished,
and sickly sheep are contrary to his
will.
We may find pasture in the willing,
acceptable, and faithful doing of our
daily duty; in cheerful giving to 9TH
ers; in the quiet and sometimes mis-
understood discipline of our lives: in
daily meditation upon Gods word: in
communion with God In secret place
of prayer. Our range is as wide as
Gods love and the supply never fails.
For all things are yours; whether
Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the
world, or life, or death, or things pres
ent. or things to come, all are yours:
and ye are Christ's; and Christ is
Gods"
The picture of Christ supplying our
every need is carried into the future
where we read Revelations 7:16-17)
''They shall hunger no more; neither
thirst any more; neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat. For the
Lamb which is in tie midst of the
throne shall feed tbsm, and shall lead
them untol living fo1ntains of waters;
and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes," The text gives us
still further assurance when we are
told that we shall find pasture. Christ
gives all we need. The blessing OF
the Christian life is not an attainment
but an obtainment David knew this
when he poured out his joy in Psalms
%. Let this be your song-'T shall
not want"
The text is really the gospel in a
sentence. Note its simplicity-by me
IL any man enter. But also its ne
cessity-by me. Just pass in by the
way of simple faith in Christ to this
three-fold blessing Of safety, liberty
and sustenance. You say you are a
great sinner. No matter; you have
great Savior. Just enter by the door
Note the Wilderness Of the gospel-any
man. The only condition is that ycu
shall realize your need