The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-12

ed by the character OF the heart. II
has been well said, religion Is pleasant
only to the religious
But wherein 10 the cross offensive
Why do you reject Christ crucifed as
your saviour Many lost men would
like to be saved, but they want SAL
walton by their own ideas and way.
But remember Christ is the Way, the
Truth and the Life.
The cross Is an ofrense to many
because It blights their worldly hopes,
and destroys their expectations. The
Jew was expecting their Messiah to
be a material world conqueror. They
wanted to make Christ king; to mar
row Him down to their own nation;
to make Him rule by force, even to
the destruction OF other nations But
Christ was the King of Kings. and
the Lord of life for all men: He ruled
over the hearts and spirits OF men.
Christ's universally. the expression of
His divinity, became an offense to
the narrow, selfish exclusivism of
many Jews They that exalted them
selves have been abased. Christ S
kingdom was not of this world. He
was lead as a lamb to the slaughter,
yet he opened not His mouth His
humiliation, rather His exaltation OF
the spiritual over the material. did
not suit some, so they took an offense.
This is true today with many!
Again. the cross sweeps away
much that you look upon with pride.
1t upset the customs, habits, super
stitions and perverted laws of the
people. He gave the Sabbath a new
meaning; put life and service into
religion; destroyed ritualism. stopped
their sacrifices; corrected their wor-
ship. and claimed Himself to be the
Saviour of mankind, and asked men
to follow Him. His simplicity and
naturalness Is still an offense to many.
Too many have set their customs and
ways of life over against the cross.
At the cross Jesus denied Himself;
denounced His own will and said, Thy
will be done At the cross self is
dethroned and the will of God en-
throned. All. man, you refuse to give
up what you know the cross to con-
denim 1t is an offense to you.
Again. the cross obliterates per-
sonal distinctions with God. He is
no respecter of persons There was
much class distinction when Jesus
lived in the flesh. The Gentle to the
Jew was as dog. The cross tore
down the distinction, and put all on
the same level. Every knee must bow
before Him, and every tongue con-
fess, If salvation is to he had. With
Him there is no favoritism. This Is
still an offense with many. oh, the
blood may be necessary to save the
outcast. but l (poor moralist) do not
need it Is that not the cry of many?
Your gospel may be needed for the
poor. ignorant and the criminal, but
surely ! do not need it All, but the
poor. ignorant and the criminal say
the same thing about the rich. the
social flyer and the pleasure seeker;
such as may become the parasites of
humanity. But there Is no differ
ence,' This is what hurts. All have
sinned. and come short of the glory
of God The wrath of God is re-
vealed from heaven against all I'M
righteousness, and ungodliness of
men. This gospel is an offense to
many.
However, Christ commands your
allegiance. Without the shedding of
blood there is no remission of sins
yield your way to that of God.
and the cross will become to you
Gods glory.
Gross of shame, yet rec Of glory
Round thee winds the one great
story
OF this ever-changing earth;
Center OF the true and holy,
Grave OF human sin and folly
Womb of Natures second death"