South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-21

character The scribes and Pharisees
of that day. who made the highest
profession, were the worst of men &C
cOrding to Jesus. He compared them
to whited sepulchres. beautiful out
wardly but inwardy full of dead mems
bones and uncleanness: they appear
ed righteous unto men, but within
were full Of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Praying itself is no guarantee Of good
ness, the only evidence both to God
and man that we are really Christian
people is in doing the will of God.
=. III You Are Now Bad 1t Avails
NOGhing That You Were Once Good.
Whether we believe in backsliding or
not. it is certain that a great many
practice il. The terms used in the
Bible TO describe the experience
through which men pass when they
become Christians are generally fig
uratiVe. For example, the expression
born again" when used TO represent
conversion, is very fitting. but you
cannot compare conversion to natural
birth at every point. But some, be-
lieving that they have been born
again, notwithstanding that they are
now living sinful lives, delude them
selves that they are still Christians.
The fact is this, that conversion, in
ieselt, is not a talisman which will
take us through TO heaven regardless
of our continuance in a condition of
love and loyalty to God. If you were
once living as pure as an angel and
are now living a wicked life, you are
bad man and an OffenSe TO God, and
should YOU die in your sin YOU will
be lost. Even if you are a preacher.
or occupy any other position in the
church of God unless YOU are now
living cody life all is vain.
Will Not Save Your Soul. 1 will not
argue the academic question whether
if a man is once saved he is always
saved. but ! will argue that if YOU are
not now living a Christian life you
either never were converted, or. if
YOU have been converted, you have
fallen from grace. The fact that you
are a member OF the church is no
proof that YOU are now a Christian,
because we know from experience that
there are many people in the church
who are not living Christian lives
and therefore are not Christians To
know that a person is a member of
the church is. as rule. presumptive
evidence of moral character but IL is
not proof of spirituality. Ii is true
that most sincere Christians are mem
bers OF churches. and il is right and
proper that they should be. Christ
established his church upon the earth
and all Christians should be members
Of it; but belonging TO a church. while
YOU are not recOnciled TO God. has
no saving virtue. People are not
saved en- maSse. The church. as a
church. If that is taken to mean all
the members of the church, will not
60 TO heaven in a body. Men and
women are saved one by one, and God
keeps an individual account of them.
4. Doing Gods VIII is the Only
Passport to- Hea7 en- one OF the sur
priSeS Of the judgment day will be
that many professors Of religion Will
be refused admittanCe 10 heaven.
Christ tells Us that on that day there
viii be many who expected to get into
the kingdom turned away. They will
say TO him. Lord. Lord. have we not
prophesied in thy name and
in thy name done many wonderful
works." and then he Will say 10 them.
Il never knew YOU. depart from me,
We that work iniquity" No amount OF
prayer or religious emotion, without
actual righteousness, viii avail in that
day. IL is true that we are all saved
sinners. but man who is not living
q righteous life. has not been saved.
therefore will not get admittance into
the holy city. Without holiness no
man shall see the Lord" Heaven is
holy place. prepared for a holy
people, and only such have a passport
into that glorious country. Holiness
consists in loving God. loving our fell
low men, and in doing them good.
Jesus lived an unSeifish life he went
about doing good. and every follower
or Jesus walks in his footsteps, lives
the same kind Of life as his master,
and such persons only are saved.
Copyright. 1915, by i. s. DavidSCn)