East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-12-02

ing faith? This can be true only when:
l. In the first place 1 love God.
An unregenerate person does not
love God. The carnal mind is en-
nifty against God'-not consciously
so necessarily. but In fact. Only on
this supposition can we explain the
conduct of the impenitent and unbe-
lieving. The sinners attitude towards
God, so long as he remains in his un-
regenerate state, is that of rebellion.
His reconciliation is possible only
through Christ's mediation-both ex-
piatory and intercessory-and the re-
newing of the Holy Ghost. If we are
born of God we are at peace with
him, having been reconciled through
the death of his Son. Not only so,
We love him, his love being "shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost, which is given unto us" Love
is reckoned among the fruits of the
Spirit. 1t is a supernatural grace. 1t
necessarily presupposes an affection
| ate regard for all the attributes of
God. We must love him as he is,
not aside from, but because of. his,
known attributes. 1t were vain in me
my life is centered in that of which
he does not and can not approve. For
example, l can not love God and find
| pleasure in sin. He is Being who
is infinitely holy. Do l love him? If
| so, l must love holiness, must hate
sin. In applying this test you must
appeal to your own consciousness. You
claim to love God. Are you grieved at
sin? Does it give you inward pain"
when you discover in yourself that
which displeases or dishonors him ?
Do you find pleasure in that alone
which meets his approval? Such
could not be the experience of one
who does not love God.
II. You must not only love God;
| you must love all who are begotten
of him. Otherwise you have not true
! faith-the faith that works by love-
The word of God is explicit with ref
! erence to this matter. Every one
that loveth him that begat. loveth
him also that is begotten of him."
/ All believers are begotten of God, or
else the apostle uses language to no
purpose. They are born; TO quote the
/
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
| will of man, but of God" Now, then,
if We are the children of God by faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ, having one
Father, we will, We must, love one an
other. Brotherly love is a Christian
duty enjoined by Christ Again and
again he taught this lesson to his dis
ciples both by precept and example.
He is our elder Brother, and as he
loves US, so are We to love one an
other. IF We love not our brother
whom we have seen.'' writes the
apostle, how can we love God whom
We have not SEEM" But not only is
it Christian duty; it is an indisput-
able test, or proof, of the new birth.
I'VE know that We have passed from
death unto life, because We love the
brethren" Apply this test also to
your experience observing the testi-
mony of Gods word that "if we love
one another God dwelleth in us, and
his love is perfected in u.s."
III. Again, true faith is accompan-
led by the spirit of obedience. "Ie ye
love me-" said our blessed Lord, "if ye
love me. keep my commandments.
Again he said: He that hath my
commandments and keepeth them
he it is that loveth me. If a
man love me, he will keep my words.
1t is evident. therefore, that if we
love our divine Master, we will en-
deavor to render strict obedience to
all of his commands. His law will be
our delight we will mediate upon il
continually. If, however, we do not
keep his commandments, if we lack
the spirit of obedience, how can we
say that we love him? If we do not
love him. how can we say that we
have faith in him,
Obedience is test of love, and
love presupposes faith: for how car
we love him in whom we do not be-
lieve? Faith must precede love
Hence obedience is a test also OF
faith. Have you the spirit of obedi-
ence? 'If ye love me, keep my com
mandments.'
IL Now, the obedience which the be-
II lever renders to the commandments
/ of the Lord is not a slavish obedience
II but the loving obedience of child
II Hence these commandments, however
\ looked upon by the world, are to the
l believer mot grevious." He has
learned by experience that obedience
\ brings him nearer to his Lord anc
Savior. Sin degrades a person ever
/ in his own estimation; obedience lifts
II him up. How, then. can he look up
/ on the commandments as grievous
i The lark as she scars aloft, does moi
II consider her wings by which she
II mounts upward a burden Nor dc
we consider the commandments, IL
> obeying which we are brought nearer
4 to and made more like, him whom oul
soul loveth, grievous or burdensome
II This Is the love of God, that we keer
II his commandments, and his com
mandments are not grievous."
". Finally, if l have faith, if l be-
II lieve that Jesus is the Christ, anc
therefore, am born of God, this faitf
must manifest itself in my attitude to.
ward the world. The true believer is in
but not of, the world. The world Is
represented as inimical to Christ and
his people. This the true believer
II recognizes. Know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with
God? Whosoever, therefore, will be
friend of the world is the enemy oi
II God" Christ gave himself for US
that he might redeem us from this
present evil world. He overcame the
world (see John xvi. 33), and by faith
II in him we also shall overcome It.