The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-03-10


/ | to think a man is
saved by adopting
certain theological propositions; GER!
tain religious dogmas or teachings.
The weakness OF this position Is
! quite easily seen by the majority and
| they Immediately say that the theory
must eventuate in practice; there must
be program of conduct. and that
program must be carried out in. actual
life
Saved by Program.
For such a program the moral law
I OF God is put TO tribute. The ethics
] OF wise men of Old Testament, times:
! the best ethics of seekers after truth
of the first centuries. the ethics OF the
! Sermon on the Mount and OF Jesus
himself and his apostles. are all put
\ to tribute. and program OF life Ia
| presented, and IL IL can be carried
/ out, salvation will ensue perforca This
! belief is in the face OF much teaohiag
OF the Word OF God that mans. right,
eousnesses are as filthy rags, Yet,
| with all this, there are thousands OF
men and women today who are trust,
ing some program OF living TO be their
! passport TO eternal salvation, But
sincere students OF the principles and
the ethics of Jesus have found that
other teachings OF Jesus take the foun,
dation from under this program.
Unique Religion. "a
The religion OF Jesus Christ IL
unique. being different from all other
religions in that those who are 20 re-
ceive its benefits are not TO do so as
the result of their belief In its prin,
ciples. nor an alignment OF their lives
with its program of conduct Neither
Buddha nor Confucius nor Mohammed
comes with such "A claim. They give
the principles and the program. but
keep themselves I'm the background
Not go with Jesus Christ. and. strange
as IL may seem. his religion is in
sense. the most egotistic of all tho
religions that the race OF man has ever
received. He makes most astounding
claims for himself: He IL equal with
the Father; he is the son OF God he
has all power given TO him i'm heaven
and on earth; he can raise the dead
he can lay down his life. but he can
take IL up again; he can forgive sin:
he IL worthy 10 receive all honor and
worship, both OF men and or angels:
in short, he claims to be God lie
clearly teaches that salvation is not
In assent TO, nor In belief In his prin-
ciples. nor I'm following "A program OF
conduct that he gives. but in living
union with himself.
Personality Of Jesus Christ.
We may note that I'm the text we
find that belief IL referred to- but no
hint is given OF principles. or "A pro
gram OF living. The belief here. how
ever. Is not 10 be mere intellectual
exercise, but a soul movement This
teaching is frequent Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved; He that believeth on the Son
Of God hath everlasting life;" Come
unto me all ye that labor and are
heavy laden and ! will give you rest"
Now all this teaches that religion ~
not matter OF principles or program.
but OF personal contact with Jesus
Christ He is represented as the head
OF the body, OF which saved men are
the members. He lis the chief part OF |
the great spiritual building known az
the church OF God OF which his beliey. !
ers are parts. He is the vine In which |
believers are the branches N is IN. |
innate, personal contact all the way |
through One has very properly said !
Much OF the deadness that has come /
TO modern Christendom has resulted
from loose ideas OF the personal ele-
ment in proclaiming the gospel; i'm /
presenting a creed instead OF Christ: /
In presenting plan OF salvation rather
than a person who saves"
How 10 get this personal contact
with Jesus? Study Jesus. as he is
presented. especially In the gospels
and epistles OF the New Testament, as
the Son OF Cod While no one can say
Jesus Is Lord except by the Holy
Spirit. yet by following the Holy Spirit
In his teaching in the Scriptures. We
may believe that he will give light
upon light as man goes on honestly
and sincerely seeking 10 know truth at
this point
Then let there be an utter and com
plete surrender OF the soul 20 Jesus
Christ When Saul of Tarsus cried
What shall I do. Lord?" as he lay
PROSTATE On the earth by the gate OF
Damascus, he made the great surren-
der which brought him TO personal sal.
vstion. but as well to the adoption OF
principles that gave him a program of
conduct pleasing TO God !