Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-09-20


ITO be redeemed
from sin through the blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ"
The goal OF salvation with very
many. and indeed. with almost all. Is
getting to heavenif man gets to
heaven he is saved Presenting that
the answer is correct. and barring the
advent OF Jesus Christ which will pre-
clude the necessity of the Christian
dying and his soul going TO heaven Is
they now do. we may endorse that POI
sition. Let us note here some OF the
conceptions OF salvation that men now
hold and OF which we hear them
speak. but are a part OF personal con.
viction: in some cases. however. moth
Ing more than feeling. In speaking
OF this we would not impugn the sin
cerity OF those who hold them. but
we are convinced that many of them
are fatally mistaken. We have only
space to note three OF these excep.
lions.
l. One man says: Man Is saved
through the inevitable operation OF
evolution. Man has been placed upon
earth for the purpose of development.
and II he exists beyond this life that
development will continue until he
reaches perfection" That is widely
received view. and the recent revival
OF the evolutionary theory as devel-
oped in scientific Investigations, has
largely strengthened it. Such writer's
as Alfred Tennyson, who speaks OF
that period Far off. at last. to all.
etc, have largely strengthened the
idea. and it Is known that evolution.
AIRY preachers. il they do not general.
~ deny the salvation taught by Paul,
as some do, SO emphasize evolution
that the salvation of man is involved
in the principle. and consequently
nothing else is needed.
II. Many indulge the conception
that man is saved by right living. but
just at this point of right living there
is difference of opinion as TO what
we mean. Many promptly say II
means doing what is right. but do not
define the word right. We must have
some criterion of judgment. and we
inquire for that. Many, II pressed.
will say. II Is acting in accordance
with the teachings OF the Bible. but
here again there is difficulty. for many
only consider the teachings of the
Bible with reference ~ their relation
ship TO their fellow men. and they
claim that II they act honestly in their
dealings with their fellow men. or as
has been recently said. give every
man a square deal. they are acting in
accordance with the teachings OF the
Scripture but. II man is honest.
must he not consider more than his
fellow men? Does he not have God.
who is the author OF the Bible. TO
deal with? Is there nothing owing TO
him, aside from honesty in our deal
ings with our fellow men? What
about high morals that are really per
sonal, and what about the demands
that are made upon men as TO the
worship of God, the dissemination OF
religious truth. the individual religious
life, involving the study OF Gods
word. prayer. etc!
Ill. In these days there is n wide
spread conception that church con.
nection. or church life. is the essence
OF salvation. consequently multitudes
are easily persuaded to connect with
the church. and to adopt a more or
less faithful church life. We have no
time to call attention to the masters
well-known denunciations OF the
churchism OF his day. OF the tithing OF
mint. anise and cummin. or Pauls
teachings touching mere churchism in
his day The religion OF Christ and
the apostles was the religion that must
have not only the shell OF profession.
but II must have the kernel OF reality
before God.
Here is the main issue. and a re-
cent writer has in true and beautiful
lines presented the thought In connec
ton with holy communion:
"savior divine, o evermore abide
In my cold heart, Redeemer. blessed
Lord
By 40 the powers in heaven and earth
when flowed the dear blood from Thy
wounded side
rs God forsakcn and by man denied
why WAS the crimson stream thus free
Is poured.
II man hy love not 10 he rcstored7
O, mighty thcme' thar doth debase my
pride
Ana cast contempt on all the things OF
earth
II angels are not faultlcss In His sight.
or what account are we. who. from our
birth.
wander afnr from heaven. and heavens
dear light?
Yet q was not for them. hut US Re
died.
And With Him all our sins are cruci-
fed"