The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-07-14

he will not only
deliver them from guilt, but epdue
them with the power to overcome sin
and lead a godly life. And YET for
all this they are hating and trying to
decide whether to put their trust in
him and openly confess him or not.
What are some of the reasons given
for this indecision? Or, to put 1t in
another way, what are some of the
obstacles which the evil one is setting
before them to hinder them in their
progress towards salvation through
Christ?
Not long ago we were speaking of
this subject from another point of
view, and dwelt on two or three very
common objections such as that there
are hypocrites in the church, or the
profit and pleasure that must be given
up If one becomes Christian, or the
fear of not being able to hold out In
Christian life, etc.
But there are other objections than
these. One is the remark, 81 am not
good enough to become a Christian"
This sounds like humility, but in real
ity is spiritual pride, for it is based
on the superstition that one can make
himself good enough without Christ.
But If so why need Savior, and why
should the Son of God have suffered
and died? If we can make ourselves
partially holy, we can make ourselves
absolutely holy, and therefore the
work of atonement was unnecessary
and a crime. A convincing answer to
this is the testimony of our Lord him
self that he came not to call the right
eous but sinners to repentance.
The great Augustine prayed, 20
Lord, / am so great sinner, must
flee into thine arms" That is the
place for the sinner to flee just be-
cause he is sinner.
(2) 81 do not know how to believe"
is sometimes put forth as a reason.
And yet "believe" means simply ito
trust" ito commit ones self" to the
Saviour in order to be saved. Indeed,
the difficulty is not so much in the
meaning of the word, "believe," as in
waiting for feeling to accompany the
belief.
A woman once gave this excuse to
pastor who was urging her to accept
Christ. And he said to her, "Do you
own the house you live in?" To which
she answered, yes" And then he add
ed, "How do you know you do?" After
reflection she said, Because my title
deed is recorded in the office of the
county clerk"
She was not waiting for feeling to
know that she owned her house, and
no more should we wait for feeling to
know that we are saved. It is record
ed in the word of God, that "God hath
given to us eternal life and this life
is in his Son. He that hath the Son
hath life and he that hath not the
Son of God hath not life." And 1t is
written again, "He that believeth not
God hath made him liar, because he
believeth not the record that God
gave his Son."
The sinner who is waiting for feel
ing before he believes that faith saves
him is not only doing himself the
greatest injury, but is dishonoring
God.
3. Another common reason for halt
ing Is no reason at all, viz, that
the time has not yet come to take
the step. It is the excuse of Felix,
who trembled when, in his presence,
Paul reasoned of righteousness, tenn
perance and judgment to come" and
who answered, go thy way for this
time, when / have convenient season
will call for thee"
If today this message Is coming to
one under conviction Of sin and feeling
the need of Savior, God forbid that
he should put 1t off and say, eco thy
way for this time" Who knows wheth-
er the convenient season" will ever
come? "He that being often reproved
hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be
destroyed, and that without remedy"
There is law of mental science
that impressions frequently repeated
and unheeded, lose their power to inn
press.
How often have you heard this in
vitation and warning, and turned
deaf ear to 1t? Does ii influence you
as strongly today as il did the first
day you heard It? 1t may be doubted
If it does, and that fact I'm itself should
sound the alarm causing you to hasten
from the impending doom.