The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-22
SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS
IN PARAMOUNT CHURCH
Rev. james Helsabeck Preachcs III
Large Congregation Al
Christian Church.

Large ibnkItSoti'tt ~
Christian Church.
! The Rev. James O, Helsa beck, of
huntsville. Va, who is assisting the
pastor. Rev. Abner NJ Fox, in very
successful revival meeting now IN
nroeress in the Paramount Avenue
! Christian Church, preached TO a laHEe
! congregation last sight on the sub
/ iect Of Gods Love and Willingness
Ito Save" His sermon was illustrated
! by a dramatic reading of the parable
OF the prodigal son. and Acts S;2o-3''
/ The evangelist said in part: the
/ heather idea has always been that
! the gods are angry with men, on ac-
count of their sins, ard must a p
peased in order to elicit mercy. 80
we find them lnf1icting much suffering
upon themselves in order to find faNHT
with their gods. 1t has been very
/ difficult for Christian people TO en-
tirely free themselves FROM such SUI
Ie, stition and through the years We
3ave found them seeking TO come INTO
the grace of God by tormenting them
selves with the thought of their sins
tsnd pleading, sometimes for weeks,
! With God to deliver them from their
/ sins and their wretched condition. 1t
I If as il were very difficult to persuade
/ God to listen to earnest prayer and
| to grant pardon. This vagary we are
/ glad to say 10 in the light of the COS
I Lcl passing, but still by many the
/ plain Scripture is rejected as too SIM
pie and easy. It is because we are.
/ sure that Gods ways are above mans
ways His thoughts superior to mans
! thouRhts that we call attention TO the
| above Scriptures
7 Then taking up thu parable of ire
prodigal SON. 1t was shown hoH the
/ fathers love followed his boy and
/ yearned for his return regardless Of
! His sin The repi oach and shame
/ this son brought upon he family never
disturbed the fathers loving interest
/ IN his sons welfare, He lonRed ami
watched for his return The son on
his part Is represented as coming 10
Aeinaself and resolving to retu'n IN f,1s
others house. hat ne might confess
his sin and unworthiness, and ask
! for an humble place. The father saw
/ him when affair off and ran and fell
upon his neck and kissed him. Then
! a few words Of confession We're spok-
en- by the son. But the father almost
t ignored them in his work of thorough
restora ton. The fathers JOY was full
and complete at this evidence of his
sons penitence This represents to
us the attitude of our heavenly Father
towards sinful men and women every
where.
But in the light of the completed
| gospel message as il was delivered 10y
! the apostles after Christs ascension
/ and the coming of the Holy Spirit In
! His power on the day of Pentecost,
the love of God is even more Won
derful in seeking the return of prodi-
! 4 r4s tn tn II
/ leges in the Fathers kingdom Gods
own Son has now come to them In
all the beauty Of His wonderful life
| TO tell them of the great love OF God
and to give them His loving invitation
! TO return He reminds them OF the
abundance OF the Fathers house
and assures them that there is
mercy for all. He urgently in
sists that they shall consider well
/ the meaning of death before thtS
reject offered love and everlast 'ng life,
He sealed His invitation and revelation
with His own blood on the cross.
| blessing and praying for the salvation
of His prosecutors,
/ But even the gift of Gods only
/ Son did not bankrupt the resources,
| the love and sympathy of heaven on
behalf of sinners. The Holy Spirit
was sent to guide in pointing ont the
! pathway in all the journey home. He
makes II so plain that no one who
wishes to he saved can be lost and
| He comforts and cheers every heart
and gives strength for every trial until
the goal is reached. He starts them
on the way rejoicing and that JOY
deepens and increases and abfdes.
! an order that YOU may see just
how gracious is the leading of the
/ Holy Spirit in the matter of mans
salvation, turn and read with me Acts
/ S:26-39. Now let us not forget that
is His TO preach the Spirits message,
men in connection with this work. 1t
| is his to preach the Spirits message
which is the wonderful story of the
cross. the death, burial. and resurrec-
| ton of Christ. The preacher Is the
inspired mouthpiere of the Holy Spir-
J il. Philip was used on this occasion
/ and you can but be impressed with
the simplicity of his message Here
was an honest seeker after truth and
t tight. ready, yea anxious to he direct
ed No Jew can ever understand the
i prophecy which the eunuch read ex-
| cept through the gospel Of Christ
This is Philips opportunity. as every
1 such occasion Is an opportunity to
/ preach Christ. We can easily imagine
/ how simply Philip opened up the
| Scriptures of the Old Testament in
the telling OF the story of Jesus So
adequate was tho message that the
| eunuch believed and demanded Chris
| tan baptism No doubt Philip re-
/ ferred to the great commission OF
/ Christ in preaching this sermon, He
that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved There being no reason why
! any believer should not be baptized.
we learn that they went down into
the water. both Philip and the eunch
and he baptized him. Then the eu-
much went on his way rejoicing. No
clearer example Of conversion could
have been given. We are willing now
to avow that IL any are lost who have
heard the true gospel OF Christ, it is
their own fault God has done His
best"