Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-24

the extremes; the Greeks were the least
barbarous, tho Scythians the most bar
barous OF all other nations from tho
jewish point Of view. Tho point,
however, which the apostle is making
here is that for men who camc to tho
knowledge OF Christ as Savior and
King, and by faith merged their lives
and their hopes in Him, racial distinc-
lions were obltcrated. They became
brethren. and the spirit OF Christ in
them was SO much stronger than their
national spirit that tho latter practi-
cally disappeared. There was no longer
what Is now rather pompously called
by some people the religion of pa
| triotism." All racial distinctions were
submerged in tho love for Christ. and
in their devotion to His cause. This
does not mean that a man lost his love
of country and kindred. but it means
that lie found in the people OF other
nationalittcs much to be loved and adj
mir6d and respected. and he thought OF
them no longer as strangers and enc
mics, but as brethren and friends. In
| Christ Jesus they became one. Men
/ have been slowly and gradually learn
! ing this lesson throughout the whole
/ OF Christianity in the world. The
walls between nations are gradually
being broken down by the missionary
! efforts of the church and by the prog
rcss of Christian truth
OTHER DISTINCTIONS
! DISAPPEAR IN CHRIST
Other distinctions between people
also disappear in Christ. such as rcii-
F! gious customs and ceremonies. the dis
tinction between male and female. and
| between slaves aud frccmen. The JeT
always made much of the rite OF cir
J ,.umcision, and he thought that unless
/ the Gcntiles became circumciscd aud
otcycd the law OF Moses they would
continue 10 be barbarians ard never
could DC saved. An uncircuuciacd man
to him was goddess heather, IL wnom
he had little or no interest. II was
:hc effort of the Apostle Paul to show
that this distinction between circum-
cision and unc!rcumcision amounted to
nothing in the Christian life. Because
81 this effort on his part he met with
not Il little opposition and persecution
on the part of the Jews. But he per-
sisted IN showing that 1t was not neces-
sary for Gentle to be circumciscd in
order TO become 4 Christian. The fact
is the observance or nonobserrance
OF this rite had nothing to do with 1t,
Christ was all, and in ALL"
This was also true OF the distinc-
tion between the sexes. OF which much
was madc in that age OF the world.
Women had better standing among the
Jews than among the other nations,
but in the Gentle world they had no
place at ALL except Mat Of servitude
Some OF the disciples. In their nara
tivcs OF the life OF Christ. especially
al 1,oe eli Mt tn
women. and His interest IN them. Paul
in this verse is contcndinG that no dis
tinction OF this kind between men and
women has any existence to those who
are In Christ Jesus.
Low POSITION OF WOMAN
IN NoN-CHRlSTIAN LANDS
In non-Christian lands-thcn and
now-the position OF woman - very
much beneath that of man. The widows
in Hinduism and the wives in Moham-
ncdism are in wretched condition. It
is said that an ancient prayer among
the Jews was. Blessed art Thou. o
Lord our God, King of the Universe,
who hast not made me a woman" A
Jewish woman had to be grateful to
God because He made her according to
His will" But brilliant modern
Jewess. Amy Levy. makes her heroine.
in a novel which she has written, cor
rect this prayer to make it more eS-
plicit. Cursed art Thou, Lord our
God, wha hast made me woman"
Paul. who knew about the condition OF
women, and must have known about
this Jewish prayer. emphasizes the fact
that "In Christ Jesus . there is
neither male nor female" Jesus exalted
and sanctihed womanhood. and in Him
there is no distinction between male
and female.
Paul applies this truth even to the
wipinS out of the distinction between
bond and free" Some men who were
masters and others who were slaves
became Christians, but as believers in
Christ and as in Him this distinction
disappears. art thou called being
servant. care not for it, but If thou
mayest be made free. use 1t rather.
For he that is called in the Lord being
a servant is the Lords freeman; like
wise also he that is called, being free,
is Christs servant" q Corinthians
vii. 21-22.)
Thus We see that the true unity OF
the race is found in Christ. He Is "all
and in ALL" Whatever superiority one
nation may claim over another, what
ever advantages one person may have
over another. in the way Of education or
association in life, one has no advan-
taGc over another in Christ. We arc
all one in Him, and this is the true
unity OF the church.
CHRIST THE CENTER OF
MANS MENTAL ACTIVITIES
Observe in the next place that Christ
Is the center Of tho mental activities
OF men. To fully discuss this ascept of
the subject would require too wide a
range for our discourse this morning.
will only cndcavor to indicate in a
few points the line OF thought which it
suggests. What I have in mind Is not
that Christ has always been and is
now the center OF the thinking Of men.
but that since His advent into the