The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-30

HcatlOn by Faith,
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossiana,
and possibly Hebrews, with their great
doctrinal discussions on the person
and work of the Redeemer: the Epis
ties to the Corinthians, together with
the pastoral Epistles to Timothy and
Titus pregnant with their teaching ~
garding the church; the Thessalonisps
with their comforting doctrine Of he
future life Of blessedness for the saints
all these books which have been Tia
cause, inspiration and power Of Tia
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.
ings are not to be depended upon, they
are not what they profess to be; athg
are vain, empty, delusive. Is this cfs.
ible? But this Is the result OF dem
ing the resurrection OF Jesus Christ
If God, who supposedly spoke through
the writer's Of both the Old and New
Testaments Is q party to q false VIII
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 a harsh alternative Instead
of an argument. But does not our text
warrant such an alternative?
2. Christianity is Barren in It's Re-
suits.
(a) "Ye are yet In your sins"
1t Is here acknowledged that Christ
alone can save from sins, but II be
could not save himself from sins pow.
er, how a he save the IONS Of men
from its guilt and dominion? Christ
himself distinctly taught that his dealt
had redemptiVe value, and that his res
direction from the dead would be proof
positive OF this fact. The apostle Pau,
also, says that Christ died for our
sins, and was raised again for our JUS
tification" (Rom. 4:25). But II Christ
himself is still under the power OIL
death, which is the wages Of sin, how
then can he release others from the
payment of that debt? Then his death
had no redempttve value. If Christ 70
NAMED in the grave, then humanity
has no redeemer, nan 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 is still under the guilt ana
condemnation Of sin and exposed 70
the Just wrath of a righteous da
against sin and sinners. Then free
dom from condemnation Is unreal, ts
sense of forgiveness is a sham, andtn
consciousness of pardon for ST. Is the
greatest delusion. Then Christ's DEAN
has wrought only imaginary changes
and deluded Its most faithful adhef
ents.
(b) Then Christianity has no incea
tive power to a life Of self-deniai anu
godliness. It has no power for inlmor
tality.
And II Christ hath not been raisea
Il. then they also that are iallsn
asleep in Christ have persisted" Thi
is not an appeal to mere sentiment
but a statement with regard to a most
narrowing fact. The care OF the c@
inthians for their dead was character.
feed by the greatest tenderness, ing
had laid their loved ones, small anu
great, big and little. beneath ny
ground with the hope Of meeting tnenN
again In the world beyond. Indeed,
those who had fallen asleep In Cnns.
had themselves cherished this hops
q glorious immortality. They had wv
rendered all to Christ in this life nh
they might have communion with w
here. and fellowship with him In ny
life to come. They had lived % "
grims and strangers: they had denisa
themselves to feshly lusts and worry
ly pleasures; they had not reslgnsa
themselves to the dreams OF earllp
Joys az others, nor had they gl's,
themselves over to the enjoyment J,
sinful pleasures; they had not DOVE
the knee to the god OF this world y,
riches or earthly emolument; they nas
borne life's load uncomplainingly, ~
had endured all manner OF sunerips
for righteousness sake; they had nveu
sacrifcial ~lives-and all this In nsppI
expectation OF a glorious awakening =
a future life OF bliss. But. ah, "ns
fools they had been: for IL Cnrisl
not risen. they persisted at tne ~
ment they died; when the spifit nv nv
the body they ceased to be. tnef I,
fered dead loss. All that they naa u
Christ In this life was a hope Z.
~lusive, vain, empty hope, and ~
moment Of death they found out y,
all their hope of a future life was ~
a delusion. They died, their ~
ones died, your loved ones, o. !,
Their and mother. whose memory w,
is sacred and fragrant with the me- I.
DRY OF a great hope--these AZ oisa Nv
a dog dies. they have persisted. ~ y,
are no more you have seen them y
the last time. They, and you, =
hope to meet again; but no, your W.
was but a delusion-they have y
ished, and SO will you'll cnr'''
not risen from the dead.