Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-09-29
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH A SEC
OND- DEFINITE WORK OF GRACE


This subject mas puzzled the minds
OF many eyeTA of ministers, and is the
source OF much controversy. Some
call 1T second work, some second
blessing. Well, / have no criticism
to offer concerning these terms, but
prefer calling it completion of the
work begun. The work is begun in
Justlflcatlon, completed in sanctifca-
ton. The former is work done for
US; the latter a work done in US. I
am we'll aware it will be little diff
cult to make plain, to the reader, the /
difference between these two states of |
grace, especially if he lacks the ex-
perlence. But l will undertake the
task hoping he may get some good
out of it.
In Cor. IL, 81 we read "Yet show
l unto you more excellent way"
Now, if there is more excellent way
then there must be an excellent way
or our grammars are laboring under
a tremendous mistake. Then the ques-
tion naturally arises, who is in the ex-
cellent way and who is in the more
excellent way?
The bible represents the sinner as
being dead in trespass and sin, evil
and that continually-full of putrify-
ing sores. So he is surely not in an
excellent way. l can arrive at no
other conclusion than that it must be
the person who is regenerated or JUS
titled. That person is surely living in
an excellent way, because all his ac-
tual sins, sins that he created are
eliminated. He stands acquitted be-
fore God He is holy in a justified
sense but not in sanctified sense. If
that person will live up to all the light
he has he will grow in grace. But
the carnal mind, the old man as Paul
calls him is not crucifed in justiica
tion therefore he is a great hinder
ance to the christians growth in
grace; a hinderance to do the things
God would have him do. If he should
die in this condition he would be saved
but scarcely saved. Peter 4, 18.
The manifestations of carnality are
various. Namely, anger, avarice, am
) bition, cowardice, pride, deserving
honor of men instead of the honor that
comes from God only, etc. The eradi-
cation of carnality is the only cure
for these hinderances. The old man
!, must be crucifed. This is done in
santifcation by the baptism of the
, Holy Ghost which is the result of a
. full and complete conservation, (Rom.
Is, 16,) that removes all these him
] derances. That person is surely in
: a more excellent way. If he should
die in this condition he would have an
: abundant entrance into the kingdom
: of heaven. End Peter 1, II. The
justified person is satisfied but not
wholly. The sanctifed person is
wholly sanctifed. End Thess. 5, %.
} The work is completed in sanctifca-
) ton. The devil hates sanctifed per-
son more than justified one because
he is better prepared to do efectual
damage to his kingdom.
When our lives harmonic with
; Cor. 13 we are surely in the more ex-
cellent way (sanctifcation.) God
wants US to be where we can live in
that chapter. If it were impossible
for US to live in that chapter. He
never would have put it in the bible
We must obey the bible. In the 18th
chapter Paul is warning them against
schisms in the body. | am sorry tC
say these divisions will continue un-
til carnality is eradicated. Please no.
tice, the 18th chapter has quite diff
y ferent jingle to it. The old man is
> dead and buried and perfect love
reigns and rules in the heart of the
real christian. am well assured thai
: if we as protesting christians were
living in /, Cor. 13 we would see such
spiritual confagration sweep ovel
this country that would cause sinner:
to cry out as one of old, lord, what
J; wilt thou have me to do" Let me say
: in conclusion, you know it is much
< easier to swim in deep water than il
shallow water. Then let US aim tt
live up to all God has for US. His
2 storehouse of good things is mex
i haustible. Let US walk up and helI
ourselves and stop this living on hall
!. ! ration.
3 MARTIN SWITZER.