The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-22

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 he can be the
door for the sheep. This answers to
Psalm "a. 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 Ii also
emphasized IN Psalms 20. 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 ID
beautiful, but II illustrates a great
necessity. for when SIN had separated
Us from God Jesus opened the wall.
placing himself IN the breach, and 30
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 IN
everything In one word. Salvation -
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 1t is the power Of
God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth." There Is salvation for the
past, covering the guilt and penalty OF
sin; there IL salvation for the present.
covering the power OF sin; there In
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 ''Hailelujah, what Savior!"
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 its
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 d
beautiful illustration of the happy life
of the believer and how aptly and COM
pletely 1t. answers those who say
that the Christian life is life OF bon
dage. To make such statement Is to
confess ignorance Of the very funda-
mental and primary blessing of Chris
tian life, for It 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 a son, and the
farther he goes In his experience the
more he knows that there il NO mar
rowness in Christ.
And find pasture" This makes
one think of the confidence expressed
In Psalms 20: the Lord Is my Shep-
herd ! shall not want, and to realize
that that covers every need OF the
human soul. What wealth Iof proyis-
ion and what generosity Of supply one
finds in Christ. Paul had tested this.
In Romans 8:32 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 40 We
read, but my God shall supply all
your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus" There need
be no lack Of food and rest. The
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 a secret place
OF prayer. Our range is as wide as
Gods love I'D the supply never falls,
For all things are yours; whether
Paul. or .Apollos, or Cephas, or the
world, or life, or death, or things pres
emit, or things to come, all are yours;
and ye are Christ's; and Christ 10
Gods"
The picture OF Christ supplying our
every need IL carried into the future
where we read Revelations 7:16-1D
"They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst any more; neither shall the sun
light on them. nor any heat For the
Lamb which IL In the midst OF the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead
them untol living fountains 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 os
the Christian life il not an attainment
but an obtainment. David knew this
when he poured out his JOY in Psalms
70. Let this be your song-'T shall
not want
t The text is really the gospel In q
sentence. Note its simplicity-by me
II 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 Z
great sinner. No matter; you have =
| great Savior. Just enter by the door.
Mote the Wilderness Of the gospel-any
/ man. The only condition ID that yoq
| shall realize your need.