West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-05-13


some. healing streams. The power
that can lay hold the soul dead in ain
and quicken II into joyous. over flow
ing, abundant life, In beauty and
sweetness. purity and power. the
workmanship OF the Almighty is re-
vealed in the life OF His sons. In them
are TO be displayed the riches and the
wonders of His grace. They are His
Inheritance of riches and glory. In
them is TO be revealed before the won
dering admiration OF the intelligent
hosts of the universe the riches OF the
glory OF His inheritance. What incen-
tive here to holy living and filial devo-
ton,
l. The Character of the Sons of God is
to BE Holy.
Here the sons OF God are TO be seen
in their character and their conduct.
The text declares that the plan is that
they shall be holy and blameless be-
fore Him. HOLY-that is his charac-
ter. 1t is the reproduction in human
terms of the projections OF the Father.
II is the assertion OF the Fathers being
in the life of the son-that is holiness.
positive, aggressive, militant charac-
ter. Much has been made OF the term
The Surrendered Life" and there is
much truth in the expression. Certain
ly the soul must surrender 20 the com
plete Lordship and mastery OF Jesus
Christ. But the real life OF holiness
is less a life OF surrender than IL is a
life OF positive assertion OF the divine
purpose in the life. II is the positive
act OF every redeemed, REINFORCED
power of will asserting itself for God
likeness. Not slavish servility, but fill
ial devotion, is the mark OF the sons
OF God, Just as we saw in the life of
Jesus. This positive side of holiness
carries with ii also the negative as
pect. The son of God is to have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works
OF darkness" He is to keep himself
"unspotted from the world" In his
assertion Of the Father and His pur-
poses he will also renounce the devil
and all his works.
2. The Conduct of the Sons of God is
to be Enthusiastically OF Their
High Calling.
The text declares that his conduct is
to be blameless In the latter two
thirds of the Epistle the Apostle deals
at length with the conduct OF the sons
OF God. Summing it all up in one
sweeping challenge He beseeches that
they walk worthy OF high calling
wherewith they are called" Let your
conduct be worthy of your station as
son OF God. Your conduct is the
criterion by which the world Judges
your life and measures the value Of
your gospel. The seemly behavious OF
the sons OF God in the presence OF the
Gentiles, Peter says. is the basis upon
which the Gentiles will glorify God i'm
the day of their visitation. How does
he act?' the world is always asking
When death stalks into his home and
snatches away dear one, does he act
like a son of God. or just like the rest
OF us? When misfortune is his lot
how does he act? When cruel, hate
ful, hell-hot words are flung at him
across the backyard fence, does he
answer back in like kind. or does he
behave like son OF God? When the
door Of opportunity stands wide open
to push a shrewd bargain over on his
neighbor to his neighbor's hurt, does
he act like a son of God, or lust like
the rest of us? Does he sell pick-up
apples for hand-picked fruit? When
he sees his brother i'm want is the hand
OF his generosity open or closed {?
When the claims of the Kingdom of
the Father and the agonizing call OF a
fost world for the life through the
gospel are heard does he give as a son
OF God, or does he stand unheeding
Just like the rest? The world is surely
sizing you up and measuring the worth
OF your gospel. And your conduct af-
fords II its basis OF judgment.
3. Character and Conduct i'm Union.
But character and conduct are we'd
ded in holy union They must not be
divorced. Conduct flows out OF char
acter and its expression. Furthermore
conduct reacts upon character affect
ing its fibre and frmness God deals
with both What I am as a sinner
gives complexion to all that do as a
transgressor. SO also, what am as a
son Of God gives quality to what do
In His name, and throws color upon
what Is unworthy Gods sons are His
treasurers, holy in character, blame.
less in conduct, and through them He
would reveal Himself to a world in
which lie is the Unknown Father.
Conclusion-Th Sons of God arc IN bo
Found in Real Life.
The sons OF God are to be found in
active practical affairs OF real life
Not in withdrawal from the busy l,so
OF men is the true saint TO be found
Not the monk in his cell. not the
preacher in his study with his books
and God. not even the sufferer in her
invalid's chair. These. however saint
iy' are not ideal, because they are not
normal. They represent types OF life
that shall presently pass away. Where
shall find him2 go into the busy
streets, into the chambers Of com
merce. into the temples of justice, into