Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-05-07
ny this Body of Christ. which IL the

Ing this Body of Christ which is the
Church "
The Pastor then stated the terms and
condition upon which any one is eligi-
Bile to membership in the Body of
Christ: The Father gives the invita-
zion while the High Calling of this Age
is open. He dominates those who ac-
cept the call, but each must elect him
self by compliance with the terms and
conditions. The speaker explained that
the call is a drawing toward Coda
desire to come near to Him. Some
have it from birth, others get it at
their mothers knee, others through a
hymn, a book, through hearing the
Scriptures. etc. Whatever thus points
to Christ as the Way to God consti-
tutes call, an invitation.
Walking In the Narrow Way.
Those who have heard the call. con-
tinued the Pastor, must learn that the
first step is to turn away from sin
Next they must learn that God has
made provision through the death of
His Son whereby sins may be forgiven.
To those who take these two steps the
Savior says, IF any man will come
after Me, let him deny himself, take
up his cross and follow Me-" The
speaker explained that to deny ones
self is to give over ones self-sufficien-
cy. ones desire to do his own will, and
to accept instead the Divine will. 1t
is Just as If the person had died: he
is no longer his own. lie has died to
MI earthly ambitions, hopes, aims and
desires, and receives in their stead new
ambitious. hopes, aims and desires.
The Pastor next showed what it is to
take up the cross. One just starting
i'll the narrow way to life will not
know what his cross is to be. But
gradually he will perceive that it is the
crossing of self-will with the Divine
will. This will be manifest in various
ways, which may not be fully under
stood at first; but if the conservation
was genuine, every trial will sooner or
later prove to be a blessing, and the
child of God will learn to rejoice in
what once seemed to be tribulation.
Then the Pastor explained what is
meant by following Christ. This sig
nlfies patient continuance in bearing
the cross The one walking in the mar
row way must demonstrate to Divine
satisfaction that the character is fixed
for truth, loyalty to God, to His Word.
10 the principles of righteousness.
This does not mean that the flesh is
to be perfected, the Pastor claimed,
but the New Creature-the new will.
God well knows that in fallen human
nature there dwells no perfection
Whatever is done in spite of ones en-
beavers to do right results from tieshly
weakness, and is not counted as sin.
But whatever wrong is done willingly
is sin. The weaknesses of the flesh, of
the fallen nature, are covered with the
robe of Christ's righteousness. There
fore it is the New Creatures privilege
to go on from grace to grace. thus be
coming more and more copy Of Gods
dear Son. our Lord and Savior.
The Church, Which is christ,s Body.
According to the Pastor. all who have
taken these steps have come into the
Body of Christ, the Church, which is
composed of all begotten Of the Holy
Spirit. These We're begotten of the
Spirit at the moment when they pre-.
Sented their bodies living sacrifices in
Jesus name. Then they were imme-
iiately accepted of God and became
members In the Body of Christ, all of
whom have the same amounting as that
of the Head of the Church
In the case of the Apostles there was
particular manifestation on the day
of Pcntecost. The Holy Spirit. which
had first come upon Jesus the Head.
Oh that day flowed down upon the
shoulders, so to speak. the Apostles
being the first members of the Body.
Since then, all who come into the Body
come under the same amounting, as
members in particular of the Body of
Christ, related to Jesus as New Crea
lures in Christ. to whom old things
have passed away and all things be.
come new. We are not to speak nor
10 think lightly of any one whom God
accepts into this Body and who has.
through conservation. received the be-
getting of tue Holy Spirit.
The GIorified Body of Christ.
The Spirit begotten Body of Christ.
The Pastor thinks. will not be alto
yether the Body of Christ in glory
He believes that some who are now
On probation will prove to be un
worthy to be members in that glorious
Body. Only those who, after having
ieen begotten of the Holy Spirit. shall
press faithfully on to the end of their
curse, will become the real kings and
priests of the future. He then ex-
planned why some will fail to make
their calling and election sure to per-
manent membership in the Body of
Christ. These. he declared, will be OF
Two classes. One class who fail to
make their calling and election sure
10 membership in the glorified Body of
Christ are those who turn away from
The holy commandment, who return to
wallowing in the mire of sin. For this