The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-10-11


ssxzru, kS1A gone. aud there Is
.v<<zk1 &1Rz2E~> great confusion IN
many minds as TO
what the gospel message is, and this
confusion is making many Christians
unhappy as they contemplate their
mission as bearers OF the gospel TO
the world. The most cordially ac-
oepted Interpretation OF the gospel rs
that II is social service. Save others
physically and ethically, and you save
yourself. Belief In ethical culture or
the work OF moral and spiritual evolu.
ton working the gradual elimination
OF evil as now going on successfully.
is with many the gospel
But who should be the most trusted
spokesman OF such a subject? Would
IL not be one who is very near to the
great teacher, Jesus? II would seem so,
and we believe the Apostle Paul was
just such person, and that In the
text he answered the question. What
Is the Gospel" He said he was de-
claring the gospel which he had
preached, and Immediately follows this
statement with the text.
There are just two things here-tho
death OF Christ and the resurrection
OF Christ. The second OF these is pre-
sented without elaboration or COM
ment, Christ rose again from the
dead" but In the first, we have the
death of Christ with the occasion OF
that death: the eXpiation OF our sins.
and the confirmation OF the death by
burial
Died for Our Sins.
/. Christ died for our sins. The fact
OF the death OF Christ on Calvary is
generally received, but with most per
sons that death was simply that OF an
unfortunate young man who had
lived a wonderful life, had manifested
unseltishness to a degree never equal
ed by man, but who made mistake
by letting himself fall into the hands
OF his enemies and being put TO death.
The first cause for the death OF
Christ was our sins. With some per.
sons the death OF Jesus Christ has
no possible connection with mans re-
lationship to God, II IL merely ia.
spirational and OF moral influence to-
wards a better life, beautiful to be-
hold II you could shut your eyes TO the
physical agony and the grewsome
btoodshedding. But such IL not the
mission OF the death OF Christ In the
purpose OF God, nor have Paul or the
other apostles 30 thought. The death
had immediate connection with mans
relationship 20 God-eyery man who
Is Joined 10 Christ vitality. there died
to the world and world died TO him
there was the shedding Of blood with.
out which the Scriptures plainly
teach there is no remission OF sins"
The brief clause, He was buried"
has far more Significance than most
think II is confirmation OF the
death which must be perfectly au-
thenticated. The story OF the death
Is quite complete, even before Joseph
OF Arimathea appears on the scene,
and the taking OF the body, its burial
with all the details given in the gos-
pels. is quite full. The sepulcher was
sealed, a guard OF soldiers was placed
over It, thus doubly confirming the
burial OF q dead body.
Risen With Christ.
2. The burial paves the way for the
second main proposltlon-the rising
again OF Jesus from the dead Paul
preached TO the Corinthians that Jesus
rose again from the dead. We must
read here between the lines, and we
do not question but that Paul present
ed the fullness OF this doctrine-using
It frat 70 enforce the necessity OF the
new life-for you have been risen
with Christ" This refers. OF course,
to the spiritual resurrection. very
forcefully represented in the resurrec-
ton OF Jesus Christ
But Paul also was preaching "A COS
pei 20 secure man spiritually resur.
rected against all future contlngeu-
cies. Man must die physically. and
even 10 the Christian the passing into
the unknown hereafter Is something
disturbing 10 contemplate. but Paul
gives him the glorious hope that he
shall rise again from the dead even as
christ. who was the hrstfrults Of
hem that sleep. rose from the dead
The Gospel OF the death OF Christ
and Of the resurrection OF Christ is
lot narrow. IN fact, offers the only
ylatform broad enough on which can
% built the doctrine that man needs
o deliver him from the curse OF sin
which Is now upon him. curse here
.fter infinitely greater; and. 10 enable
i'm 10 have the positive blessing oi
eaurrpctfCr