The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1915-06-26


ture we are all
sinners under sentence Of death. But
God tells us that He purposes to bless
the world by and by, through the great
Millennial Kingdom that will help
mankind up out of degradation. sin
and death to full perfection Of human
nature. Meantime, He is taking out Of
the world a Church class, to be assO-
ciated with our Lord In the work of
blessing the world. Jesus Himself will
be the Head of this company. and they
will be the Body of Christ. Whoever
desires to become a member OF this
Body must comply with the required
conditions.
Evidently the one quality for which
God is looking is honesty-sincerity OF
heart All whom God is now receiv-
ing are honest-hearted. II He has thus
favored us with the Truth, it Is for us
to maintain this honesty. otherwise we
shall lose His favor. It requires hon.
esty to confess that we are sinners
There is a tendency on the part OF
mankind to say, II am all right" But
everybody knows that we all come
short Of perfection. If we confess our
sins, we demonstrate our honesty; and
He who made arrangement FOR the for
giveness of sin is faithful to forgive
us. II we assert that we are not sim
ners we make God a liar. Il John
10. TO-
The Terms Of DiscipIsship.
The Pastor then discussed the terms
of membership in the Body Of Christ.
The candidate must first turn away
from sin and toward God. To those
who have taken that step and are de-
sirous of progressing. the Lord Jesus
says. ''Sit down and count the cost"
The Bible never urges anybody along
this line. neither does God nor the
Lord Jesus Christ.
There Is only one way to become a
Cnristian-to enter into q Covenant
with God A Covenant Is a positive
agreement The call Of the Gospel Age
Is one OF sacrifice-to give up every
thing Of an earthly nature. This is
the Covenant which our Lord Jesus
made; 1t is the only kind to be made
now. Whoever would be follower of
the Lord, must make the same Cove
nant Of Sacrifice. - Psalm sos; He
brews 1917.
The Church are to be joint-heirs with
Christ In His Heavenly inheritance.
'If we suffer with Him we shall also
reign with Him." Whoever has counted
the cost and desires TO become Christ's
disciple. must follow our Lords in
struction: III any man Wills to be My
disciple, let him deny himself, take up
his cross and follow Me-" To deny
himself is to give up his will to the
Lord Jesus Christ; for every member
Of the Body of Christ must be in alb
solute accord with the Head.
A Great Work Of Transformation.
The speaker then explained that a
great work of transformation goes on
after one becomes a member of the
Lords family. No slave was ever un-
der greater bondage than Is Chris
tan to his Master; for even the very
thoughts Of Christian are to be
brought into subsection to the Divine
will That will decides how he shall
spend his time, what kind Of clothing
he shall wear, how much he shall eat,
etc. whether ye eat or drink or what
soever ye do, do all to the glory of
God" If he is thus rightly exercised,
he will receive great blessing both
In his mind and In his body. The
peace OF God, which passeth all under
standing, will rule in his heart and
life, through Christ Jesus.
In conclusion the Pastor exhorted his
audience to confess the Lord and to be
loyal to Him to the core. Were there
any present who had not given them
selves to the Lord. his advice would be
that they do SO; that they tell the Lord
that they accept all His gracious ar
rangements. that they have given up
their own Wills and are taking up their
cross to follow Him. The speaker re-
minded them. however, that this course
will cost the crossing Of their own wills
and the denying Of themselves even as
II was with the Master.
sHe that despiseth you despiseth
Ne" When we consider that our Lord
= represented by His members In the
fesh, we zee that love for the brethren
means love for the Lord. Therefore
whoever 4 ashamed Of the brethren
Of Christ = also ashamed Of the Elder
8rofher. ana thus b demonstrating
~. - - = - A. fop nn0mkot nhip In