Graham guardian., 1916-01-14

lSa&tk'sSsaaks $&2!ssSaSz/ r,,,o o,,r ro,,.
lIRASI0R= =RVSSELg) 1877,
The Pastor began
by calling attention to the fact that
this text is often misunderstood and
miSapplied He showed that this very
remarkable promise is limited to GER
tain people under special conditions;
that it does not say that anybody may
ask whatever lie will and receive what
he asks. Only those who abide in
Christ are the recipients of this special
favor. But before any can abide in
Christ, he must come into Christ. must
become a member Of the Anointed
Company. To associate with Chris
tians, to attend church every Sunday.
or even to join one or another of the
various denominations would not nee
essarily bring us into Christ. Some
thing more than taking any one or all
Of these steps is necessary.
Present conditions in Europe well il.
Iustrate what it is to be merely
church member. Early in the GOSPEL
Age worldly element crept into the
Church, and gradually introduced the
idea that the mission Of the Church
was to convert the world, so as to keep
the whole world from going into eter.
nal torment. This error has come
down to our day, and still adheres
to some extent. Another wrong the.
ory that obtained was that whoever
died without having been baptized In
water would so straight to eternal tor.
ture, as would also any one who was
not church member Under the In.
huence of these unscriptural teachings.
nearly everybody in ChriStendom, SO.
called, was drawn into the church or.
ganiZatiOn. AS result all Europe is
rated as Christian or as nearly so.
In the light of the incoming Age,
however, we see that our forefathers
had become sadly confused respecting
the true teachings of the Bible. But
we do not blame them. All wish to be
right. Nobody wishes to be wrong.
We put the responsibility for this con.
fusion just where the Apostle Paul
puts it-"the doctrines of demons"
"The god of this world [Satanl hath
blinded the minds Of them that believe
not Timothy Al; 9 Corinthians A.
christ's Spirit VS.. satan's Spirit.
The speaker then pointed out the diff.
terence between the two spirits which
manifest themselves in peoples con.
duct, Our Lord Jesus says, "By their
fruits We shall know them" st. Paul
declares, IF any man have not the
spirit Of Christ, he is none of His"
Again, THE fruit of the Spirit is love,
Joy peace, long-suffering. gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness. self-cop.
troll" Only in a few Of Gods true
saints do we see these fruits. The
great majority of mankind do not
them. While there are true
saints in all nations, yet as whole no
nation manifests these fruits.-ROmans
SO; Galatians 500, %
st Paul also describes the Satanic
spirit He tells us that the fruits of
hat spirit are wrath, hatred, envy,
malice, strife. emulatlons, adultery,
domtry, murder, etc. Galatians 5:19.
Il; Colossians $50, g. He did not add
lomb throwing, asphyXiation by poi.
gases, and other modern devices
or killing our felIow-men; but all this
5 included. No savages ever fought
more viciously than do those people
who are deceived into thinking that
hey are Christians. The Bible is en-
lrely contrary to all that they are do
ng. These people have never been in
lhrlst. If we ever had the idea that
such conduct Is Christian, the sooner
va get it out of our heads the better.
Then the Pastor showed what it is
q he Il Christian, The Christ Is
company. Il body in the same sense
hat Congress is body. AS there are
many members of Congress, one Of
whom Is the head. so it is with The
'hriSt The Church, the Body of The
hriSt, Is composed Of many members
md has one Head. even our Lord
CSua. God Himself has called and
lrctcd this Christ company, those
nointcd with the Holy Spirit Who
vor is called may enter through faith
n the blood of Christ and obedience to
he specified conditions. by the full sur
ender Of himself to the Lord.
Those who have thus offered them
elves and have received the begettIng
# the Holy Spirit. must continue to
bidc in Christ by keeping faithfully
he terms OF the contract thus made
With God They must study Gods
Word with teaChable hearts. to know
What 1t says TO learn Gods will con-
crning them. Those who faithfully
% this may ask what they will