River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-04-17

| $50 q: TO- Is 1t not wise 10
look into this
matter a little carefully?
Our thoughts are presented from
the evangelical standpoint as to tho
nature, manifestation. and outcome or
sin. The widely prevalent modern,
though erroneous. view of sin makes
it 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 it. 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
tie possibility OF it's permanent mis-
use, or what our Lord himself calls
eternal sim
The punishment of sin is not today
held up before the transgressor, but
rather the sin itself Is not the sin
really the great evil? 1t 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-
ity 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 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 wretchedness
in the universe? If so, what about
those whom scripture calls his chill
dren?
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 to heaven, about which we
know much more than about hell, we
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 20 do righteousness still,
and he that is holy, Is to be made
more holy. Some one might say, II
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
way?" We might admit that If 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 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 II 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
mute. and it is well to observe that
this teaching comes at the very close
Of the Bible "He 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. A re-
cent writer has said, every one acts
according to the truth Of his nature;
IN th;s there is universal consistency.
Death or the coming of the Lord.
fxes the character and desting. The
wicked will remain wicked, and con-
t,nue adding to their wickedness, the
righteous continue righteous, and
nractjce righteousness. In eternity
sin and suffering are united, equally
holiness and happiness. Even in the
lake of fire. the lost of men and angels
shall act according to their nature,
SHINING and suffering shall go on
without cessation" President Dwight
of vale college said, Every sinner is
condemned for his first sin, and for
every sin that follows, though they
continue forever.
What sad fate, doomed to eternal
SHINING! The only escape is to have
the motive to sin removed by the in
dwelling life of Christ. Then the
habit of doing righteousness will es-
tabIish the character that does right
eousness, and the future is safe