The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-29

nN.N*z:zSH%A mans and Galatians
with their great
doctrines OF Jusu-
Hcation by Faith;
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians,
and possibly Hebrews. with their great
ioctrinal discussions on the person
and work of the Redeemer; the Episr
lies 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
lngs are not to be depended upon, they
are not what they profess to be; they
IRE 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 false wit
ness; II the apostles themselves have
been a party to this false witness
then, also. we have no Bible at all:
we have no revelation Of the mind and
will Of God. Some may say, that this
Is offering harsh alternative instead
Of an argument. But does not our text
warrant such an alternative?
2. Christianity Ia Barren in its Re-
suits.
(a) rye are yet in your SINS"
1t is here acknowledged that Christ
alone can save from sins. but il he
could not save himself from sins pow
sr, how can he save the sons OF men
from its guilt and dominion7 Christ
himself distinctly taught that his death
had redemptiye 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
.ification" tRom. 4:25). But II Christ
himself LIS 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-
NAMED 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 10 still under the guilt and
condemnation of sin and exposed to
the just wrath of 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 10 the
| greatest delusion. Then Christ's death
has wrought only imaginary changes.
and deluded It's most faithful adher-
ents.
| (b) Then Christianity has no incen-
tive power to life of self-denial and
godliness. 1t has no power for immor-
tality.
And If Christ hath not been raised
/ then they also that are fallen
asleep in Christ have perished." This
Is not an appeal to mere sentiment,
but statement with regard to most
narrowing fact. The care OF the Cor
inthians for their dead was character
lied 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
Ehad themselves cherished this hope Of
q glorious Immortality. They had sur
rendered all to Christ in this life that
they might have communion with him
here, and fellowship with him In the
life to come. They had lived as Pill.
grims and strangers; they had denied
themselves to fieshly lusts and world
iy pleasures: they had not resigned
themselves to the dreams of earthly
Joys as others, nor had they given
themselves over to the enjoyment OF
sinful pleasures; they had not bowed
the knee to the god of this world for
riches or earthly emolument; they had
borne Iife's load uncomplainingly, and
had endured all manner OF suffering
for righteousness sake; they had lived
sacrificial lives-and all this In happy
expectation of glorious awakening Ii
| future life of bliss. But, ali. wha
fools they had been; for II Christ b
not risen. they persisted at the me
Ement they died; when the spirit lef
the body they ceased to be. they sui
fered dead loss All that they had II
Christ In this life was a hope-a de
lusive, vain, empty hope. and at thu
moment of death they found out tina
all their hope of future life was Blu
!, a delusion- They diede their loves
ones died, your loved ones. your ia
Their and mother, whose memory toda,
is sacred and fragrant with the mem
ory of a great hope these all died q
q dog dies. they have persisted. the
are no more you have seen them 70
the last time. They. and you, tor
hope to meet again; but no. your hop
was but delusion--they have pei
ished, and so viii your Christ b
not risen from the dead. 8