The Clio messenger., 1915-12-10

similarity between
this and sin. For instance; there are
many so-called remedies for leprosy
but none can be found to really stop
its spread. The sinner too has many
remedies for his sin but nothing that
men can do can arrest its progress.
Again, leprosy becomes painful and
distressing. Sin acts the same way.
Hence we are told that ''the wicked
are like the troubled sea when it can
not rest, whose waters cast up mire
and dirt. There is no peace saith my
God to the wicked" Sin begins quiet
pain and distress. Again, leprosy Is
fatal to the one afflicted. 1t might
well be called a living death. 1t is
thus with sin. Many are today well
and sound Of body, but sorely afflicted
by sin. AS far as their souls are con-
cerned they are in living death. The
| difference between the leper and the
his trouble at death, but the latter
must take his pain and distress with
him. But salvation means the saving
from sin to perfect health. Man alone
can find no cure for his sin but Christ
can and has. 1t is found in his own
blood which "cleanseth us from all
| SIM"
In the second place salvation means
| a saving from punishment; for sin is
crime as we'll as a disease. Saliva
| tion brings to the sinner a full and
| free pardon for every crime against
the law of God; such a pardon that
every trace OF the evil committed is
wiped from the sinners record. With
out such salvation the punishment tor
each sin must fall upon the sinner.
And the punishment Of sin is an awful
thing; described as being torment and
anguish and that eternal. But in this
common salvation there is found relief
from all the guilt, and pardon for ev-
cry crime. LET the sinner forsake
his way and the unrighteous man his
thoughts and let him return unto the
Lord and he will have mercy upon him
and to our God for he will abundantly
pardon
IN the third place salvation means
the saving from death which is the re-
suit of the disease and the reward OF
the crime. 1t means the exchanging
of eternal death tor eternal life "The
wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God Is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord" II any should en-
quire how this health instead of sick
ness, this pardon instead of guilt, and
this life instead of death can be OBJ
tanned, the apostle answers, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved
2. Common.-The common" saliva
tion suggests it's Wilderness and means
that it is shared by all alike. God Is
no respecter of persons and when he
provided the common salvation he pro-
vided 1t to be shared by all alike.
Whether white or black, moral or i'm
moral, learned or illiterate, cultured
or vulgar, all share alike in this COM
mon" salvation. Again, this word
means that the salvation is a univer-
sal thing 1t Is provided for every
member of the human race. This is
what the apostle means when he says,
"whosoever will call upon the name OF
the Lord shall be saved And, the
last chapter Of the Bible says, who
soever will, let him take of the water
of life freely" The common saliva
tion means that which is needed by
all, provided for all, brought to all and
these lines.
3. The.-This word speaks of the
narrowness as common speaks of
the Wilderness. 1t Is not "a salvation,
but "tt e." It is not provided by man,
nor 0ln 1t be. 1t is Just here that sim
ners go wrong and think they can
evolve some scheme whereby they
can cure themselves of the disease
and do enough good deeds to counter.
balance the evil and so avoid the pun
ishment due to sin. But IL we would
have the salvation that saves from the
disease of sin, and the pardon that
covers the crime of sin, we must come
to the Lord, with whom salvation Is
to be found. God so loved the world
that Awhosoever believeth on him
should not perish but have everlasting
life" And when the Son came 10 be
the Savior OF men "he gave himself
for us. that he might redeem US from
all iniquity." He took the sin and all
Its consequences, the crime and all
Its punishment, and gives to all who
will receive It 'the common saliva
ton" in their place..