The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-06

THE ProtestaE-oom unfurnished |
the Church was eden, barn; all |
sermon at the mornfses. 61O East |
Corinthians 1: 2, "T' .6S55 ,,
God which is at Corinth, even them
that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints, with all that call
upon the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ in every place, their Lord and
ours. The pastor said in part:
THE Reformation was primarily re-
ligious movement, although it's influ.
ence affected and still affects every
sphere of life. We are now interest
ed in particular as to its influence in
the Church, in the truths that were
Tediscovered as to it's nature and
work as shown by Holy Scripture
Many organizations assume the name
Of church, and yet deny the very
things necessary to give them a right
to their claim. There are certain
marks Of the Church of Christ which
| if known will determine whether or
not the claim to be church can be
made good.
! One necessary mark is that the
true Church has and breaches the
pure word of God. If the gospel is
not preached; if other subjects relat-
ing to the welfare of mankind, or
having reference to his social or po-
Htical betterment, are emphasized
above the gospel Of salvation from
sin by faith in Christ, then, although
these things may be for mans tenn.
poral good, the word of God has been
despised in the forgetting of it and
who soever engages in such habits
cannot be said to represent the
Church of Christ. Other marks of
the church are Baptism and the
Lords Supper. In these Sacraments,
instituted by the Lord and command.
ed to be observed. il they are lost
sight OF ignored, or made light of
as matters of Indifference, then the
whole gospel is not being proclaimed,
and whoever practices such negli-
gence cannot be said to represent
the Church of Christ. The Office
and work Of the ministry, while not
separating those who are set aside
by the call of God and ordination
OF the church into a distinct class
from the great body of 1.-The royal
priesthood" of all believers. vet in
the work of the Church the calling of
the ministry is distinct mark Still
other marks are the office of the
keys. public worship. prayer. praise.
and thanksgiving. When the Refor.
nation was begun many of these
marks were indistinct. if not alto
gcther obliterated.
I'm the text the Apostle says that
the church is of God. made up of
those who are sanctified, called to be
saints. and who call upon the name
OF the Lord Jesus Christ in every
place. None are called to be saints.
none are sanctified, except those who
believe. The church then is the
body of believers. 1t is, as we con-
fess in the Apostles Greed. the holy
christian Church, the communion of
saints. We cannot know who the be.
levers are. The Lord came. 81
I know my sheep, and am known of
mine Then the church is essenti.
ally invisible to us. 1t is the body
of Christ of which he is the Head.
composed of believers that have
fought the good fight and won the
crown, and also of those who are
still waging the battle here: the
church triumphant, and the church
militant. No created man can take
the place of the supreme head of the
church, and make his word law. so
long as Christ is the Head, and so
long as God is God. In the true
church then there are no hypocrites
or unbelievers. There are hypocrites
and unbelievers. tares amongst the
wheat in the visible, Organized
church in the world. The visible
church is necessary to do the work
God wants done by his people. I'VE
are memhara ana ~ arosAo -