The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-10-23

Christian In 4
short time This Ia q mistake. The
Christian life IL not simply an i'm
provement of the old life. but . DIFF
ferent kind OF q life altogether. name
iy. q life OF obediencs to Christ Sup
pose you had q sour apple tree which
you wished to convert into q sweet
apple tree What would yos dot
Would you dig about Il and prsne Il
and scrape the bark, No. indeed. A
hundred years Of such Improvement
would not make the tree bear swest
apples. but the Introduction Of . gram
from . sweet apple tree would DO e
very quickly. Even 90 q iifetins
spent In improving ones habits does
not make one q Christian. bat the e.
trance Of Jesus Christ into the heart
by the surrender Of the vii. yin DO Il
In q moment People DO not become
Christians by improving their hfA
but by accepting Jesus Christ lie
that hath the Son hath life: and ~
that hath not the Son OF God hath not
life" q John 5:i3)
What 70 ConverosoNr
The word convert means to turn
about" As applied to spiritual things.
II means q turning Of the soul unto
God "All we like sheep have gone
astray: we have turned every one To
his own way" The real essence of
sin Is this. that the sinner 10 de-
termined to have his own way. II may
not be the worst way In the world 10
may not be an immoral way. or . W
cious way. but II Is his way and not
Gods way. which he ought to follow.
The only course for the sinner 70
pursue is TO turn about. to abandos
his way. and to accept Gods way.
Let the wicked forsake his way. anl
the unrighteous man his thoughts. and
let him return unto the Lord. and he
will have mercy upon him" Conver-
sion. then. IL n turning OF the soul
unto God. a surrender OF the will TO
the divine will. an acceptance Of
Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master.
when the sinner. realizing the folly
OF further resistance, finally surrep-
ders his will to the Lord Jesus. then
occurs a great change. God forgives
his sins and so changes his heart that
henceforth he loves Gods way better
than his own way. "A new heart will
! give you. and a new spirit will put
within you-And will put my spirit
within you. and cause you TO walk !,
my statutes" tEzek. 36:2s. 2D. The
sinner no longer has a controversy
with God. The great question OF life
10 settled. and henceforth his aim 10
to know and do the will OF God
Influences Leading to Conversion.
The Word OF God Is q very effective
agency. II Is like a mirror In which
the sinner sees himself as he really 10.
That is why Christ bids US preach
the gospel to every creature because
there is life In H. The Word Of Gol
Is alive. and powerful. and sharper 4
than any two-edged sword One cas
hardly read the Bible continuously
and not DO made to realize that be b
a sinner and need a Savior.
On one occasion q man said -
me: From the preaching which Z
heard In my boyhood was led to SUP
pose that when one became q Chrto-
ton. Il was necessary for him to 60
some extraordinary process
called a change OF heart. or regeneeav
ton. This book which you have LOAF
ed me. teaches that what 10 rsquirsl
Ia simply q change OF purpose. kev
will you please tell me which b right
and which 10 wronsf- replied:
They are both right: you could nss
change your heart II you should try;
you could not make II love what Z
hated. could your" mo. I
suppose not" he said. But you could
change your purpose. could you notf
You could decide hencsforth 10 obey
he Lord Jesusr" Certainly he 10
Piled. WELL" said I, If you vtl
change your purpose and accept Chriss
n your Savior. God win chanss yess
heart and cause you TO love what oDss
'ou hated. and to hate what once ysa
owed" rs that all there = to kf-
'aid he. Certainly" replied. NJ
ost no time In accepting Christ a.
iod gave him q new heart
"Now IL the accepted time: asv b
he day Of salvation" II ysu cay. z
want moro time to think abost al
answer. What will you gain by vsk
nsf What have you gained BY Walt
ng already No. friend. what yoa
iced 10 not time but decision. Tea
Inow that you are a sinner. aad hat
,hrist 10 the only one who cas save
'ou. Tho simple question =. -Wim
'ou accept him AZ your savtori- Osl
'xpeets you to do II. commands zee .
10 II. and II Il 10 ever done. yea -
he one who must do n