Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-12-27

90 test the teach
ings and doctrines offered To her. Tor
there always have been. and always
will be. men who are DESTROYS TO utter
any new fancy that seizes them. or TO
dispute any accepted doctrine OF ia'th
which they themselves are not Wiling
go accept. There is need OF caution
therefore. against a too ready accept
ance of any prophet or teacher. OH
Cerity in teacher is not suihcieh''
earnestness and fervOr are no guaran-
tee OF the truth OF the message DEW
cred perspiration Is not inspiration
and It is not a sufficient ground OF ac-
ceptance OF "A man to simply say he
believes what he breaches.
Fortunately, It Is possible for the
true Christian to make such discern
ment. Paul. in Cor. II. and John. In
his first epistle, second chapter. clear
~ state this fact It may be true that
some Christians have the gift OF the
discernment of spirits in special
way: it is nevertheless true that all
/ Christians may be able, by the IN
/ dwelling Holy Spirit. to discern the
/ false from the true.
J Not only is such a test possible. nut
! It is obligatory. A careful study OF the
/ seven letters in the book OF ReVela-
ton enforces this truth. In apostolic
days false teachers went out from
the church. but in these days they
stay in" the church when Outlines
they should be put out We should Do
( careful lest in our attempt to be nos
pitable to all truth We entertain the
devil unawares. Yet We must hold the
truth in love. There is nothing that
will more quickly quench the hre oi
love on the altar OF the heart than
heresy hunting
In the chapter we are considering,
the apostle tells US that the point 10
be proven about teachers is. Are they
OF GodP That means from whence Is
their message derived. from God or
from the world. Satan is an imitator'
lie has a church (Rev. 2:9); minis
try q Cor. 11:1315); membership
Il John 3:10); and gives power TO
work signs e Thess 2:9).
The proof that mans teaching ~
divine in its origin is settled by his at
titude towards Jesus Christ (4:2.61. IN
all things he must hold TO the Head
(Col. 4:9). Names and sects and par
ties fall; Jesus Christ is all in all All
protesting Christian teaching must be
Judged by its relation to Jesus Christ.
Belief in the incarnation or Virgin
birth Is a sign that a mans teaching
is from God (4:2,3; SD. There must
be the belief that the historical Jesus
is the anointed Savior Of the world:
, this fact Of history must be also fact
of faith. There can be n lodging this
question: Jesus is anathema" or else
Jesus is Lord" We may make all the
/ progress In the doctrines of Christ pos
, sible. but we must be careful that our
progress is in the truth, and not away
from the truth There Is an advance,
, even In the doctrine OF Christ, which
. Is not progress but apostasy q John
= 81.
= The next point to be settled with re-
7 gard to Christ is the acceptance OF
e his Deity e.: 1928; AS. IS, is. Sd, 2O).
I True Christian doctrine acknowledges
D Jesus Christ not merely as Divine. but
as Deity, and as such he is worshipped.
T The Babe in Bethlehem's manger was
God manifest Ia the flesh. in him dweit
all the fullness OF the GOGhead. That
teaching is false which separates the
II Christ from Jesus. This is he that
: came by water and by blood'-these
| words deny that teaching which states
that some form Of Deity came on
: Christ at his baptism and left him al
j the cross. Jesus Christ cannot be di
yided; he IS the same. yesterday. to
day and forever"
Il is vital that a teacher from God
be sound with regard 10 the nature OIL
- the redemptive work OF Christ Johr
is ernyhatic about this compare 2: IL
20 3:5. 4:9.f0,f4; $50. Jesus Christ gave
his life as a ransom for our sins; w
- are reconcileG to God by the death o
- his son; Jesus Christ is the propitia
ton for our sins; he is the Savior o.
= the world All this means that JesuI
Christ took our place and our sins up
~ on himself. that his death was in gu
stead. II Is not enough to say tina
ence upon mankind, or that 1t was al
o. example Of selfsacrificing love. o
y even that God needed, by such
H. tragedy. to give the world an ilIustrs
g ton Of his anger against sin o
course. Christ's death is the suprem
r. manifestation OF Gods love. and II doe
lie show his anger towards sin. but it goe
e. further than that II has relation I
lie the sin OF man. Christ in his deaf
e paid the wages OF sin; the atonemen
&c settles the question Of sins guilt an
m redemption: Who. his own self. bar
our sins in his own body on the tre'
that we, being dead to sins. shout
g. live unto righteousness; by who's
stripes ye are healed"
rs ins5iTsticn Stfied.