Evening journal., 1916-02-07
Not Far From The Kingdom
Sermon preached in tho tabernacle last night by Dr. Lyon.

Mark xii;2l.-sThou are not far
from the kingdom Of God"
Il is interesting to note how the
Lord Jesus always put the very best
possible construction on every human
motive. Christ was in the shadow OF
the cross. For days His enemies had
been dogging his footsteps. trying toI
entrap Him in His speech. They mad
been plying Him with numerous ques-I
lions. and al last one steps out from
the ranks of His opponents. whose
manner seemed different from the
rest. evidently bearing the stamp OF
sincerity This scribe put this ques-
tion TO our Lord (which is the great
est commandment OF all?" Jesus,
ouoting from the book Of Deuteron-
omv. replied: And thou shalt love
the Lord. thy God, with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind. and with all
thy strength; this is tho first com
mandment." And the second ike
namely. this: "Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself." The scribe
seemed TO enter with enthusiasm INTO
this reply. and responded; Well
Master. thou hast said the truth for
there is one God, and there is none
other but He. And to love Him win
all the heart, and with all the under
standing. and with all the soul. and
with ali the strength; and to love his
neighbor as himself. is more than an
whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Now Jesus might reasonably have
classed this man with His opponents
hut detecting what He believed was a
mark OF sincerity in the man. and es-
pecialiy noting the aptness Of his re-
plv our Lord exclaimed, Thou arr
not far from the kingdom Of God.
The kingdom of God was the cen
tral truth in the teaching OF christ
}, He did not talk much about saliva
ltion. but rather about the causes tina
produced salvation. the results tina
, come from citizenship in the kingdom
{ OF God. Jesus only rarely used IN
: word. heaven" but on every pas
} OF His ministry He spoke Of the kine
! dom OF heaven OF the kingdom q
D God. When in reality and in trut
- YOU accept the King Of that kingdom
p Jesus Christ. as your personal Lof
e and Master. you become citizen
5. that kingdom. There is no salvaue
" outside Of the kingdom OF God. III
j. citizens OF the kingdom are heirs
D. God. Upon them is bestowed etern
10 inheritance. protection. salvation, d
= velopment and Joy.
e. That one is not far from the KIM
= dom of God. first of all, who undeI
h stands clearly the requirements fC
+ entrance. II it were not so seriou
L il would really be ridiculous wh'
G foolish ideas some have about salVi
g ton. You ask one man. Are yo
d a Christian?" He replies Surely,
am a Christian. had good Christia
n parents" He seems 10 think that b
T. gained religion by heredity, as b
d would the color OF his hair or eye
l. or cast Of countenance. What you
l. parents were or were not does not a
Il feet your standing at the bar Of Co
!. Everyone must give an account {
e himself. You ask another ono; "Ai
II Won a Christian He replies, "Ce
Il tainly. / am a Christian; / have
/ good Christian wife" Some men ke'
l. their religion like their property, a
l. in their wife's name.
e That man is not far from the kin
10 dom OF God who understands that
Y order TO be saved he must forsal
IS his sins. and 10 the extent Of his abb
n ity. makes restitution for sin. /
n must surrender his life to do the w
J. of God in everything. and recei
pr Jesus as his personal Saviour an
II Lord. In the next place that one
v not far from the kingdom who re
Lies and acknowledges that he is
re sinner II is almost amusing to he
s some folks tell how good they al
Il You wonder that their wings ha
Vs. not sprouted long ago Whenever
ID man begins to boast Of his goodnei
ls you can put it down that he is tryil
er TO conceal his wickedness. II "