The Raymer enterprise., 1913-12-18

aries tell US tnat
.... 1t Is the first
part of the Bible they translate into
heather tongues or teach to heather
people. and we may believe that II
has won more souls to Jesus Christ
than any other collocation Of inspired
words that can be named. Its theme
is human salvation, and 1t tells US Of
Gods great Christmas gift to the
world.
/. AS a revelation Of salvation, 1t
speaks first Of the source Of it-"God
so loved the world" There would
have been no salvation without that
love. What God saw In US to love,
while we were yet sinners and rebels
In his sight. passes human under
standing; but doubtless, It was what
we might become In Christ through
his grace, and not what we actually
were that moved that love. At all
events. we must not give currency to
the thought OF some that 1t was the
sacrifice of Christ that made God love
US. This Is to caricature his grace.
because the very opposite Is true. as
we see in the next place.
2. The text shows the ground of our
salvation. which Is the work of Christ
For God SO loved the world. that
he, gave his only begotten son." Gave
him. that is. as sacrifice and a sub.
stitute for us. In vain did God love
us except as his wisdom and grace
should provide some way for the put.
ting away Of our guilt consistent with
his own character Of holiness, Justice
and truth. This way he found In the
offering of his son. who was wound.
ed for our transgressions." and
bruised for our iniquities." and with
whose stripes we are healed" (Isaiah
$3.50. God thus can be Just at the
same time that he is "the justifier Of
him who belleveth on Jesus" (Romans
1920.
3. We have, further, the means Of
our salvation-"that whosoever be-
lieveth on him should not perish" To
believe is to exercise faith. but faith
is more than mere knowledge or as.
sent, 1t is absolute trust or reliance.
You are on an ocean steamer. let US
say, and as you go to bed you read
q notice that life.preserver is un.
der your berth, or over your head.
That is knowledge. but not faith. You
are informed that II belted around
your body 1t will keep you afloat in
water. which you admit. But that is
assent and not faith. In the middle
Of the night when the collision oc.
ours. and the vessel Is sinking. and
you belt the life-preserver around you,
and plunge into the sea. that is faith.
You then trust yourself to the life.
preserver. putting your reliance upon
1t absolutely and only. Have you yet
done this with reference to Jesus
Christ and your salvation?
4. We see the need Of salvation
that whosoever belleveth on him
should not perish" To perish" does
not mean to become ''annihilated"
simply. or go out Of existence. II that
were all. then we had as much pun.
ishment for sin before we were born,
or before We ever sinned at all, be.
cause we were not then In existence
indeed, but In separation from God
and all that that implies of conscious
loss. and disappointment. and misery,
and suffering. Christ gives US a pic.
ture OF the perishlng In the story OF
the rich man and Lazaraus. Luke
ls:l9.31. which you are urged to read
again in order that you may be moved
to lay hold Of him ere II is too late
6. We see the blessing Of salvation
In the words. but have eternal life"
This agrees with the teaching 10 an.
other place. "The wages of sin is
death: but the gift OF God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord"
tRomans 6:23). Here life" means
not merely a continuation Of exist.
ence. but that existence carried on
In the favor OF God. In the Joy Of his
presence. In the freedom OF his serv.
ice. and as a sharer In an inherit.
ance which includes oil things. The
good things Of this life are only q
shadow Of the reality beyond.