The Neshoba Democrat., 1912-07-25


physitl growth? Life. The same is
true z the spiritual. Life in God
throU, Jesus Christ. 1t is this to
which he refers when he speaks Of
themE whom he writes as having "ob-
taines like precious faith with us in
the sghteousness of God and our
Savio Jesus Christ"
TheChristian is one who has "ob-
tainef something, he has not earned
it orEorlled it out for himself, but
obtaird il. That which he has OBJ
taineeis faith. Faith is the gift of
God. Fhe object of This faith; that on
Whlcht terminates, is "the righteous
ness 4 God and Cur Saviour Jesus
Christ Not the righteousness which
God ! but the righteousness which
God g'es, his imputed righteousness
by wh,h alone a man begins to live
beforehim..
lord of God the Means.
(2.) He next speaks Of the means
Of gro tn, which is the word of God
(verserD. Grace and peace are null
tiplied INTO us through the knowledge
81 God, he says, and, indeed, he adds,
"all things that pertain unto life and
godline's' come in the same way.
But this knowledge is not that which
was obtained in the handiwork of ma
ture, but ii the revealed word. "De-
sire the sincere milk of the Word
1yef mfy grow thereby"
llS four herts is evil, but in the Word
p arc eXceeding great and pre-
Is promises" and it is as we see
|liab appreIend these that we desire
reach put for them And in reach
'ks out fq them we drop these. 1t
n what TN child does when the apple
5alls out o. his hand as he opens it 10
grasp the orange. ,
(3.) 1h inspired penman is led far
Their to speak Of the nature of Chris
tan growth in verses ST., which he
sets befole us along seven different
ines or tevelopment-virtu knowl-
Edge, temperance, patience, godliness,
'rotherly kindness and charity or love.
+ not to be limited here to
ne thought of sexual chasteness, but
means as hearty as possible in spirit
lal sense what "strenuousness' has
ome to hean in the physical and iu-
ellectuall A Christian man. in 9TH
It wordsi is supposed to have the
ourage df his convictions in witness
ng to Jesus Christ.
In the same way Temperance" does
ot mean simply abstinence from in
oxlcat1ng drink, but self-control in
ne whole bf ones conduct, life kept
'ell In hand for God, symmetrical,
well poised, all all-around
alnthood. No better illustration of
MS could be found than in the union
pat1encf and godliness, which fol-
,ws.
The patience is not to be mere
[olcal enfurance, but united to and
owing frPm spirit of enlightened
'ust in G|od. The true Christian in
eed Is tnF ideal man. How sad that
lere are so few Of them when the
roVls1o1 Tor their creation Is so sim
Il anolTGo freely offered by divine
Po'oo } result of growth in grace
)u' kid Oversees SID. First, fruit
ervingff there is one thing ling more re,
nd rooher that Christians want to
-, how they may be assured
oCaUe Bn. Here is the A, B, G of
d get 10 Tnin inese IS thu 1a'ngS wsy te ye anall
\ Jack g and &, election sure, ito do
ow d Calling Fas and dess eecop dot msnn aepa SO TO
= hleaSn Is concerned, but so far
~ VlVes are concerned
0'oF W2, whether we are called
Mr. ~ CT not, and it can't be
III g, to him. But If we don't
WV Me- Y to find out is to do
, u;h ,,;+HERen hear man say
o. "lulWs Lord Jesus Christ,
@flt itha%ce of salvation,
.se, <sere is something
Il \>ea and which he
" kle a,ature with