Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-05-10

matter a little carefully?
Our thoughts are presented from
the evangelical standpoint as to the
nature, manifestation. and outcome or
sin. The widely prevalent modern
though erroneous, view of sin makes
1t rather an advantage than disad-
vantage Adams fall being upward
rather than downward.
One of the first suggestions is that
sin is self-perpetuating. 1t is a COM
mon saying that one sin leads to an
other-that sin follows sin somewhat
automatically. Sin. however, is not
to be considered as consisting chiefly
in outward transaction, but in the
motive that is behind 1t. When man
dies his personality with its stamped
character continues, and reason would
say that his course of action with re-
spect to the moral law is to continue.
Professor Denney says: The very
conception of human freedom involves
the possibility of it's permanent mis-
use. or what our Lord himself calls
eternal sim
held up before the transgressor. but
rather the sin itself. Is not the sin
really the great evil? It may be said
that if man can cease from sin out
wardly in this life, sin may not be-
come permanent. But this ceasing
from sin is by almighty power alone,
and this power is denied after death.
If it is further said that man by the
mere force OF his own will can cease
from sin, we reply that the ceasing is
only in the outward manifestation,
and not in the real SHINING. which be-
longs TO the motive.
Meager light is thrown on the activ.
fly of the wicked after death. but we
know the scripture teaches that men
who die in sin go to dwell with the
devil and his angels. What is the en-
ployment of the devil? Does any one
who believes in a personal devil be-
lieve that he does not continue TO sin?
Is he not intensely active. the instiga-
tor Of all the cruelty, oppression. wars.
denominations, lies and Indebtedness
in the universe? If so, what about
dren? Jesus said they do the deeds
Of their father, and are they any less
children after death than before?
There is no evidence that after
death there is a cessation from sin II
we consider the employment or expe-
riences OF the inhabitants Of the other
world. AS 10 heaven, about which we
ho1
learn the employment of the right
eous. There is no intimation of sin
ming, there is consequently no gospel
preaching, mission work. social regen-
Grafton, or anything of that kind, but
the inhabitants of heaven are engaged
In the praise of God, In worshiping
him in his glorious majesty, and doing
his behests whatever they may be. In
the text we read that he that is
righteous is to do righteousness still,
and he that is holy, is to be made
more holy. Some one might say, "If
the conditions in this life have a ten
dency TO perpetuate themselves, will
not Christians who show imperfection
by SHINING, continue to show their
imperfection in heaven in the same
vay?" We might admit that IL we
did not have the direct teaching OF
scripture that there is no sin in heav
en-, nothing that defiles, that works
abomination or makes a lie. From
analogy we would conclude from the
employment OF the inhabitants of
heaven. the employment of the wicked
will be unrighteous or sinful.
The teaching OF scripture, though
not abundant, seems to be clear. Jesus
said mark 1929. A. r. W that ~ a
man sin against the Holy Grost he
shall be guilty of an eternal sin. This
certainly teaches that there is at least
one eternal sin. sin that continues
in action forever Revelation 22:11
seems to leave the matter beyond dis.
pute. and e is we'll to observe that
this teaching comes at the very close
OF the Bible. Gle that is unrighteous
let him do unrighteousness still, and
he that is filthy. let him be made
filthy still" The marginal reading
suggests the phrase yet more" for
the word Still in each case. Here.
certainly. the employment OF the
wicked is clearly presented.
What a sad fate. doomed to eternal
SHINING, The only escape IL to have
the motive to sin removed by the in.
dwelling life OF Christ. Then The
habit OF doing righteousness will es
tablsh the character that does right
eousness, and the future is safe