Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-23

see ctenriy the confusion involved Il
the various theories OF christendon
that we are prepared to appreciate tn,
simplicity Of the Scriptural teaching.
The Real Baptism Into Christ.
Having established the facts tha
water baptism is figure, symbolica
I picture, OF consecrntion, and that i'm
mersi0n is the Scriptural form OF bap
tlsm, the Pastor then dwelt upon the
subject rs presented In Romans G
There the Apostle sets forth the deeI
| significance Of burial with Jesus
From the time that the Christian gives
his heart to the Lord he Is reckoneC
dead. Thenceforth rs n New Creature
In Christ he should walk in newness
of llfe-that is to say, his daily course
should be altogether different from
that of the world The Christian /,
Inder laws much higher than any. hu
man law. His is the highest standard
there is-the Law of God
The Pastor then explained In what
way the Christian who is buried in
baptism with Christ rises to walk In
newness Of life. To the consecrated
Christian, "Old things have passed
away'-old ambitions. old motives. the
thought Of making a great name, of
owning the earth or of accomplishing
something noteworthy of worldly
kind nta All tbacn bovo cri,.on ,,too,
to higher ambitions. new motives-the
hope of having favor with God. being
now His dear children. anxious to
know His will and to do 1t. To these
the first general Law is given-the
Golden Rule-which is the least of all
the Divine laws. do unto others as
ye would have them do unto you" is
the primary Law Of God for all Chris
tians. To be a representative of the
Lord every Christian must love his
neighbOr as himself, must deal with
him us kindly and as generously as he
would have that neighbor deal with
him.
But the Christian must do much more
than observe the Golden Rule. contin-
ued Pastor. Had Jesus done no more
than keep the Golden Rule, mankind
would not have been redeemed by the
precious blood of Gods dear Son. He
could have done just as much for 9th
ers as He would ask any one to do for
Him, and not have died for the fallen
race of Adam. EIls sacrifice included
much more than merely keeping the
Golden Rule. The Golden Rule, the
speaker declared, is the Jewish Law,
which Israel could not keep because Of
their fallen condition
1t was then explained how it is that
the Christian can keep the Law which
the Jew failed to observe. st. Paul de-
clares that while the Church Of Christ
Is no more perfect in the flesh than is
the Jew, yet God is dealing differently
with the Church. He is scrutinizing
their hearts and judging them accord
Ing to their intentions. If He sees that
in the heart the Christian is striving to
love his neighbor rs himself and to do
unto others as he would be done by.
He Is pleased; and He has made ar
whereby those who are
thus striving may remain in His faml-
ly despite their failures and shortcom-
ings. These they may confess, and
they may ask forgiveness for Jesus
"a To nd INn fnp,rf,.n,,
How the Christian eul.ils the Law.
The Pastor then showed that God
has made provisior for the Church
which He did not make for the Jews
Israel was under typical Law. with
4 typical mediator, who could not offer
real atonement for their weaknesses
and have them judged according to
the mind. But, through Jesus Christ,
the Father has made this very ar
rangement for the Church; and they
are judged according to their inten-
tions, according to their will. There
fore, when they are living up to the
Golden Rule to the best Of their nbili-
ty, the righteousness of the Law is
as fulfilled in them. As the
Apostle says. The righteousness of
the Law is fulfilled in us. who walk
not after the flesh. but after the Spir-
it, Even though we can never fully
catch up with the spirit of that Law
after which we are walking, yet the
blood Of Jesus Christ His Son cleans
eth us from all sin"
The Christian. however has in his
vow Of conservation agreed to do more
than merely keep the Golden Rule.
He has covenanted to give up all of
his earthly interests, to do the will of
God and to drink the cup which He
pours for those who follow in the foot
steps of Jesus. Whatever the conse-
Grated Christian sees to be the will Of
God respecting him he is to do-he Is
to drink that cup" doing so with as
much pleasure as possible delighting
to do the Fathers will. even though
the cup be bitter.
The Pastor emphasized this point by
reference TO the experiences of the
Master. Shortly before His death.
James and John had requested that
they might be privileged to sit. the one
on His right hand aud the other on His
left, in His Messianic Kingdom. 1t
was not selfshness that prompted the
request, but deep love and apprecia.
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