The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-23

This work OF
Jesus Is set forth In three aspects In
the Scriptures, In John 1911 he
speaks OF himself as the good Shep.
herd who giveth his life for the
sheep; and therefore he can be the
door for the sheep. This answer to
Psalm 20. In Hebrews 1920 we read
Of him as the great" Shepherd
brought again from the dead, setting
forth his work in caring for and per.
tecting the sheep; this aspect Ia also
emphasized In Psalms 23. In First
Peter ga, which answers to Psalm
"a, VIC read of Jesus as the Chief"
Shepherd coming in glory to give
rrswns of reward TO the faithful.
The figure OF the door not only ia
beautiful, but 1t illustrates a great
necessity, for when sin had separated
us from God Jesus opened. the wall,
placing himself In the breach, and so
has become the door between dark.
ness and light, danger and safety, sin
and holiness. despair and hope, earth
and heaven.
He shall be saved" Here we have
The certainty OF the gospel giving US
everything In one word. Salvation Ia
the great inclusive word of the gospel
gathering into itself all the redemp-
tive acts and processes. Therefore
It was perfectly natural that Paul
should say II am not ashamed Of the
gospel Of Christ, for It Is the power OF
God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth," There Ia salvation for the
past, covering the guilt and penalty Of
sin; there is salvation for the present,
covering the power of sin; there Is
salvation for the future, covering the
presence OF sin when we are to be
perfectly conformed to the image OF
Christ, No wonder the redeemed sin.
ner cries "Hallelujah, what a Saviori"
The figure OF the text Is Il perpet.
ual illustration Of the efficiency and
extenslyenesS of salvation In Christ.
He is the door protecting us from the
hands Of the enemy, from sin and its
results, from the enticement Of the
flesh, from fear and pains Of death.
He ia the Savior we need.
And shall go in and out" What q
beautiful illustration Of the happy life
Of the believer and how aptly and com.
pletely 1t answers those who say
that the Christian life Is a life OF bon.
dage. To make such a statement is to
confess Ignorance OF the very funda.
mental and primary blessing Of Chris
han life, for It knows no fear and
cohstraint but II experiences full Joy
and freedom indeed. The child OF
God is not bound by rule as a slave
but is guided by love as a son, and tho
farther he goes in his experience the
more he knows that there is no mar.
rowness in Christ.
"And flnd pasture" This makes
one think Of the confidence expressed
In Psalms 20; the Lord is my shep.
herd ! shall not want, and to realize
that that cover every need OF tho
human soul. What wealth OF provis.
lon and what generosity of supply one
finds In Christ, Paul had tested this.
In Romans 1872 he says HE that
spared not his son, but delivered
him up for us all. how shall he not
with him also freely give us all
things" And in Philippians 4.19 we
read, But my God shall supply all
your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus" There need
be no lack Of food and rest. The
Shepherd wants us to be nourisbed,
and sickly sheep are contrary to his
will.
We may find pasture in the willing,
acceptable, and faithful doing of our
daily duty; In cheerful giving to 9TH
srs; in the quiet and sometimes mis-
understood discipline Of our lives: In
daily meditation upon Gods word; In
communion with God In a secret place
OF prayer. Our range is as wide as
Gods love and the supply never falls,
For all things are yours; whether
Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas. or the
world, or life, or death, or things pres-
ent, or things to come, all are yours;
and ye are Christ's: and Christ Is
The picture Of Christ supplying our
every need is carried into the future
where we read Revelations 7:l6-17)
They shall hunger no more: neither
thirst any more; neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat. For the
Lamb which ia In the midst of the
shall feed them, and shall lead
hem untol living fountains Of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes" The text gives us
still further assurance when we are
,old that we shall find pasture. Christ
all we need. The blessing o.
The Christian life is not an attainment
but an o~btainment. David knew this
when he poured out his Joy In Psalms
10. Let this be your song-T shall
not want"
The text is really the gospel In a
sentence. Note It's simplicity-by me
4 any man enter. But also It's ne.
;essity-by me. Just pass In by the
way OF simple faith In Christ to this
.hree-fold blessing OF safety, liberty
and ~sustenance. You say you are a
treat sinner. No matter; you have a
yreat Savior. Just enter by the door.
Note the wilderness Of the gospel-any
nan. The only condition is that you
hall raaIixe yOur mead