Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-09-24

n the drunkards. the
harlots, the
thieves, the murderers, but all are
lost. God, through the Apostle Paul.
says. -All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God.' (Rom. 3:2S). And
the Apostle John adds, IF we say that
We have no sin We deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us. If we say
that we have not sinned we make him
CGod) a iar." q John 1:S-10) That
is, by so saying we really say to God,
You lie when you say we have
sinned." My friend, let us not make
God out liar, and let US not deceive
ourselves, nor be deceived by man
about sin. Yea. rather ''let God be
true but every man liar" Surely the
testimony of his word is unmistakably
clear that all men, because of sin, are
radically wrong. What David says of
himself is true of every one of us.
Behold, l was brought forth in in.
iquity and in sin did my mother con-
ceive me" Psalms 51:5, r. W. No
matter, then, how well born we may
have been, the truth is we must be
born again.
This means that because we are rad
lically wrong we must be radically
changed. How then shall this change
be wrought? To reform oneself does
not effect the change, for reformation
is simply an outward process and does
not alter mans essential nature. any.
q A.
changes the water in the we'll To
move into a better neighborhood and
into a better dwelling does not effect
the change, for that is simply leaving
a less desirable environment for
better one. No Cne would try to
change the character of balky, kick
ing horse by removing it from dilapi-
dated shed to palace stable The
propensity to kick and balk would re-
main just the same. To cultivate ones
intellect does not alter ones heart, out
of which, says Jesus, are the issues
of life. 1t may refine the sinner, but
1t will not save him. The truth is.
man does not have the power resident
within himself to work the change.
Notwithstanding the boasting of his
natural heart, he is absolutely help
less and undone when 1T comes to
making the change that is necessary
If he is to see or enter into the king.
DOM of God.
But what man cannot do for himself,
God, in infinite mercy. is ready and
willing to do for him, Ample provi-
sion has been made by which man
radically wrong may be radically
changed First, God sent Jesus Christ,
the Good Shepherd, to seek and save
the lost. Secondly, the Good Shepherd
laid down his life for the sheep. That
is, on the cross he died for our sins.
the just for the unjust Thirdly, he
not only laid down his life for the
lost sheep, but he took it again He
rose from the dead and today, as the
Living One, who was dead and is alive
for evermore, he gives life. Hear him
say. For as the Father raiseth up
the dead and quickeneth them, eeeG SO
the Son quiekeneth whom he wiil''
(John 5:21).
And to whom, we may well ask,
ioes he will to give life? To those
and only to those who come to him
for life. Among the saddest words
that Jesus ever uttered are these, ''Ye
would not come unto me that We might
have life" John 5:40) That which
was true then, is sadly true now. for
only one thing keeps a man who is
radically wrong from being radically
changed. and that is his own will.
But how" you say, shall l Gomez"
Come, my friend, just as you are, with
all your sin. God knows, IL you do
not, how much you need to be changed,
and God knows, if you do not, that
unless you do come and are born from
above you cannot enter into the king
iom of heaven.
Perhaps you do not understand just
what it is to come to Christ 1t is just
| this and nothing more: to come to
| Christ is to receive him by faith as
your own personal Savior; it is to
trust him to do in your life just what
he says he will do, save you from sin
its guilt and power Will you do that:
Will you believe him? Will you re
ceive him now? If so, just lift your
heart in prayer to God and say: oh
God, now take Jesus Christ as the
Savior and Lord of my life, and ash
thee to make the radical change in
my life that l so much need, for | de
sire to see and to enter into the king
dom of heaven. Do this, oh. God, fol
Christ's sake" Then, having done
this in your heart, read these Scrip
lures very carefully over again, pray
ing God to open the eyes of your ur
derstanding that you may see the truth
of his Word. But as many as received
him to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them tina
believe on his name" John 1:12)
"Whosover believeth that Jesus is tn;
Christ is born of God" Il John SD
Then, at the first opportunity yc,
have, tell someone else what you haY,
done and keep right on telling Others
for Jesus says: "Whosoever, therefore
shall confess me before men, him VII
| confess also before my Father whtci
is In heaven" Matt 10:32)