Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-10-26


is the source OF
physical growth? Life. The same is
true OF the spiritual Life in God
through Jesus Christ. II Is this to
which he refers when he speaks OF
them to whom lie writes as having OBJ
tanned like precious faith with US In
the righteousness OF God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ"
The Christian Is one who has lob
tanned" something. he has not earned
II or worked It out for himself. but
obtained H. That which he has OBJ.
tanned is faith Faith is the gift OF
God The object OF this faith. that on
which I, terminates. is the righteous
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 man begins to live
before him.
Word OF God the Means.
I'D He next speaks of the means
Of growth. which is the word OF God
verse pa. Grace and peace are null
tiplied unto us through the knowledge
OF God, he says. and. indeed. he adds.
all things tina; pertain unto life and
godliness" come IN the same way.
But this knowledge is not that which
was obtained in the handiwork OF ma
ture. but I'm 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 II Is as we see
and apprehend these that we desire
and reach out for them And In reach
Ing out Tor them we drop these. Ii
Is what the child does when the apple
falls out OF his hand as he opens It to
grasp the orange
80 The inspired penman is led far
Their to speak OF the nature OF Chris
tian growth in verses 81. which he
sets before us along seven different
lines OF development-vir knowl-
edge. temperance patience. goodness.
brotherly kindness and charity or love.
Virtue" is not TO be limited here TO
the thought OF sexual chasteness. but
means as nearly as possible in spirit.
nal sense what strenuousness" has
come TO mean IN the physical and in
tellectual A Christian man, IN 9th.
er words. is supposed TO have tho
courage OF his convictions in witness
ing TO Jesus Christ
In the same way temperance" does
not mean simply abstinence from in
toxicaling drink. but self-con,rol In
the whole OF ones conduct. u life kept
well in hand for God. symmetrical.
spiritually well poised. an all-around
sainthood No better illustration OF
this could be found than In the union
OF patience and godliness. which fol-
lows. cara
The patience Is not TO be mere
stoical endurance. but united 10 and
flowing IRON 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 30 freely offered by divine
grace
ca The result OF growth in grace
IL three-fold verses SID. First. fruit.
fitness, second. assurance. and third.
reward II there is one thing more
than another that Christians want 10
know II is how they may be assured
OF salvation Here Is the A. b. c OF
1t: III ye do these things We shall
never fall" This is the way 10 make
our calling and election sure. to do
these things" This does not mean TO
make our calling and election sure so
far as God is concerned. but so far
as we ourselves are concerned
God knows whether We are called
and elected or not. and II cant be
any snrer as TO him. But II we don't
know. the way to find out is TO do
these things When hear a 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 10 he not right. and yet does
not put ava Get right with God ans
assurance follows