South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-11
SALVATION FOR
ALL SAYS PASTOR
Rev. ParSon Says Only Hopeless
Sinner is One Who Re-
fuses God.

Kew. Il. j. PARSONS pastor OF the
Quincy Street Baptist church Sunday
evening spoke on the subject "The
Gracious Invitation" from the text,
"Zaccheus make haste and come down
for today L must abide at thy house"
lie said in part:
This passage is one Of the most
familiar in the New Testament. The
reason Is that il is so full of human
interest, and tells the story that never
grows old, OF how a sinner meets his
Saviour. If the meeting lags and the
leader runs out Of ammunition, let the
people have a chance TO tell their
Christian experience, and a powerful
meeting is assured.
Every sinner should thank Cod
for this incident. 1t is full Of hope
and announcement, Let US notice a
few outstanding features. This was
an invited call Whatever ZaccheuS
had been, he was now very sincere in
his desire to meet Jesus Christ. He
even surmounted serious obstacles in
order TO see the Lord. He climbed the
sycamore tree at the risk of being
ridiculed, and thus almost compelled
Jesus 10 notice him. Men show their
interest in their own souls by placing
themselves in touch with Christian
institutions and people. There is no
excuse for anyone in this city living
an unchristian life. All that one need
do is to attend one Of the many
churches and indicate an interest Il:
religion and scores Of people would
consider it a privilege 10 teach him
the way OF salvation.
Cannot Hide From God.
This was a personal call. Christ
kenw the man and made the call so
specific that Zaccheus could not dodge
the issue. The Lord was fully ac-
quainted with the facts in the life OF
the man up the tree. The crowds surg
ed upon the Nazarene, but the call
was TO one particular person. God
deals with all individuals. We
cannot hide in the crowd. We are
born and we die as individuals, and
we are saved as such. Christ knows
our peculiar weaknesses, temptations
and sins. and every call is a personal
one
1T was a gracious call. The man
called was "A notorious sinner. He was
a publican. which means that he had
sold himself TO Cypress his fellow men
for graft. He had communicated
himself and was disposed by the peo-
pie. Christ knew all this. but with
Jesus IL is not what a man has been
but what he is willing to become
There is only one hopeless case in
Gods estimation, and that is the per
son who will not accept Gods saliva
ton whatsoever will may come is
the declaration of the Bible
All To lie Called.
ct was also an imperative call
Jesus said To him. Make haste and
come down. for today l must abide in
thy house There was an urgency in
this call due to the fact that It was
the mans last opportunity. Jesus was
on His way TO Jerusalem. where he
was crucified not long after. Today
and must are insistent words. and
this is especially true of the souls sal
walton. For all OF us there will be
the last call and the last opportunity
1t is a solemn thought 1t is to be
feared that many are neglecting to
accept Christ in the belief that they
will have an opportunity in the flu
ture. forgetting that any moment they
may be called into eternity.
1T was a responsive call Fac
Cheus sets Us a fine example. He
made haste and came down. and re-
Ceived him joyfully. Evidently he ap-
preciated Christ and His salvation
What a contrast this TO the action of
many now Some even take il as an
offense il they are spoken to on the
subject of religion. 1t would be ludi-
Crous. If il were not so sad, to see
people lodging the preacher or the
evangelist. and to hear the flimsy and
threadbare excuses offered for not
attending church or becoming Chris
tians. But the preacher is not fooled
nor Is God fooled. The gospel is good
news and God loves 10 save: the wise
man understands this. and receivse
Jesus joyfully. IL is your soul that
Christ wants 10 save. He calls you
now. 1t is your opportunity. What
IS YOU. answer