South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-02
SAYS COD SLOVE
NEVER FAILS MAN
Rev. J. l. Gardiner Declares
His Character Best OeSCrib-
ed in PauI'S Words.

The character OF God is best des-
cribed in the words of Paul God is
love, " declared Rev. James L Gardi-
ner, d. D. in his sermon on The
Love That Never Fails" at the SER
vices at St PauTs church last even
ing.
DIR. Gardiner said in part:
There are many things Of which
We may feel sure but I doubt if
there be anything if which one may
be so absolutely certain as this
God loves us. In the Old Testament,
God speaking through his prophet
says I have loved thee with an ever
lasting love and therefore with low
ing kindness have 1 drawn thee. IN
the New Testament Jesus summed
up His religion in the statement.
God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son that whose
ever believeth in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life And
now i'm the text before Us Paul says
Il am persuaded that neither death
nor life-shall be able 20 separate
us from the love of God ."
Paul Man OF Conviction.
Paul was q man of deep convic-
ton. He was a man who spoke
with some authority in the realm of
morals and religion. He was a man
who was not afraid TO ring the
changes upon the words. I know
and 4 believe There were many
things about the Christian religion
concerning which he seemed quite
certain: but there was one great
truth of which il scarcely seems
strong enough to say, 4 know or I
am quite sure or L believe This
was the great truth that God loved
this world of men.
Il sometimes pick up my new Tes-
lament and read the Pauline epis-
ties that ! may strengthen my faith
in the great verlties Of our Holy Re-
ligion.
And as l read epistle after epis-
tie. as 1 read argument after argu-
ment setting forth Gods great love
for men. even though they he sin
ners. l am ready to shout with Paul.
= am persuaded that nothing can
separate us from the love of God
Paul describes the love OF God
for men as q love which is in Christ
Jesus. 1t is a love which is reveal
ed TO US by the words and life of the
Son of God.
GODS Love Everlasting.
The love Of God is everlasting.
There never was a time when God
began to love Before the morning
stars sang together. before He threw
the stars out into space like sparks
from a mighty forge, God loved
Before He made man there were
thoughts OF love i'm the heart of the
Infinite God toward the creature
man came still God loved him. But
man could not understand this Be
fore the coming OF Christ into the
world, God was frequently thought
of as an Absentee Cod. He was
thought of as an external to the /
world-the high and lofty one who /
inhabited eternity, and the inhabi- i
,ants of the earth were rs grasshop- /
Ders before Him. He was the moral /
Governor who spake down His laws /.
from Heaven 10 earth. Men spoke |
Of His omnipotence. His omnipres- |
ance, and His omnisCience But these I
thoughts or conceptions Of God at /
-racted few worshippers. Then Je- I
sus came and taught the greatest /
truth Of the ages. nancy, God is I
ove'
The God we worship is the God
revealed to us through the words. +
life and death OF Christ And let me (
say IL is very necessary that We Oh I
tain right ideas of God. for our view
Of Him regulates all our theological I
thinking. IF we make a mistake /
here, it viii he fatal. our idea Of /
God affects our doctrine of revelation, /
Of sim OF redemption and Of final I
destiny. What then is the charac- /
ter of the God we know? Jesus /
Christ and Paul say: God is love " /