The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-08-30

Nlutu. hG Woou
~ en- crosses have
<SSzu long since fallen
into decay. but the
messages given
from them are still to be heard.
The Center Gross.
From the center cross there comes
the message that provision has been
made for the taking away of mans
sin. This provision has been made by
God alone. He needed no assistance
from man. The prophet has said that
II pleased the Lord to brulse him; he
has put him to grief (Isaiahs SO :10).
Peter has declared that our Lord was
delivered by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2 :23)
And Paul has declared "God commend
ed his love toward us In that while we
were yet sinners Christ died for u.s.
(Romans $50. II will be seen that
this provision has been made by God
through sacrifice. for Jesus was the
Lamb of God taking away the sin OF
the world (John :29). He was the
fulfillment Of the types Of the Old Tes'
lament. The coat of skins wherewith
Adam was clothed. the blood Of the
lamb which protected the people In
Egypt on the Passover night, the offer
ings of blood OF Leviticus. and all the
slain beasts offered In sacrifice. point
to the fundamental truth that "withoui
the shedding Of blood there Is no re
mission" (Hebrews 9:22). Not only
Is this provision made by God alone
and by sacrifice. but It IL made by the
sacrifice Of q substitute. Long before
Christ came. the prophet had declared
that "he was to be wounded for oul
transgressions and bruised for our In
iquities. All We like sheep have gone
astray and the Lord has Ibid on him
the iniquity Of us all" (Isaiah 50 IS. 81
And when at last that substitute came
Peter declared that he his own sell
bare our sins In his own body on the
tree" Il Peter 2:24). This one upon
the center cross Is there In mans
place. standing In mans stead, the sub
stitute to whom IL charged all Of mans
sin. the sacrifice. plotting out By his
own blood. the iniquity Of man. This
one II Gods provision for the taking
away Of mans transgression.
The second crosa
The second cross brings Us . mes
sage Of salvation received. It speaks
to ~ 1rst Of all Of 4 realisation Of the
need for q substitute. and also convic'
ton Of sin. When the thief cried
Lord remember me-" he was voicina
the plea Of the publican. God be mer'
ciful to me the sinner" This Is fol
lowed by faith In him. II II one thing
to have faith. II Is another to have
faith in the proper object. Faith In
deed saves Us, but II Is faith In Christ
alone. One may have good faith In
a bank. and yet lose his money. moi
because there was anything WRONG
with the faith, but because there wal
something wrong with the object Oh
the faith. One may have good faith
In many things and lose his soul. moi
because there Is anything wrong with
the faith. but because that faith ha,
not been conferred In the Lord Jesus
Christ Who alone Is Gods provision
for mans sin This dying thief could
not come down from the cross and q
back over his record and undo the
things which he had done. He could
not make restitution; he could not blot
out his record. nor was he given time
to como from the cross and live q goot
and upright life. but II he were saved
ut all, he had to be saved by whai
Christ did and not by anything which
he could do added TO what Christ had
done.
The Third crosS
The message from the third cross
speaks of the insanity of sin. There
Is a story told Of a young man who
had committed a crime for which hi
was tried and found guilty and sen
fenced to penitentiary. After he had
been placed In the prison, his mother
at the expense Of a great deal Of time
and care. and with many tears. finally
succeeded In securing for him pardon
from the governor Of the state. with
Joyous heart. feeling well repaid fol-
the long weeks Of ceaseless effort. she
went to the penitentiary bearing the
precious pardon which would liberatt
her boy. When at last she stood In
his presence with tears Of Joy In heI
eyes. she handed to her boy his par
don. Instead Of being grateful. and In
stead OF accepting and making use
Of the pardon, the boy deliberately
tore II into pieces, throwing II upon
the floor. and stamped upon II with
disdain. II Is thus that the sinner who
rejects Gods preferred salvation treat
what God has to offer. II is the In
sanity Of sin leading on to suicide OF
the soul. All one has to do to commit
sOul suicide In TO reject Gods grace.