The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-05
Be EP|STltS OF LIGHT
URGES Mr.. OUMyilLE
let Divine Hand Guide the Pen
That Is Writing Our
Lives"
THE SINNERS BIBLE" THEME
Pastor of Decatur Street Methodist
Church Tells Congregation Meaning
of Paul's Words to the Corinthians,

! The Sinners Bible" was the sub
ject OF a special sermon by Rev. Sam
uel L. Dumville at the Decatur Street
Methodist church Sunday night He
took as the basis of his theme Paurs
words to the Corinthians III Cor. 8:
2-3): "Ye are our epistle. written in
our hearts. known and read of ali men:
being made manifest that we are an
epistIe of Christ, ministercd by US,
written. not with ink. but with the
Spirit Of the living God; not in tables
of stone. but in tables that are hearts
OF flesh"
He said In part
What does the sinner read7 He Is
seldom found pouring over Gods word.
Then only from sight and hearing does
ne know the Christ life. What do we
mean by The Sinners Bible? Our
lives compose the book in which he
reads and by which he judges Chris
tianlty. We could call this soul litera-
ture.
Paul would have the Corinthians
believe that the quality OF his work
and the work Of God. through him. was
manifest in their hearts and lives.
The change In a mans life Is tho
mans letter by his handwriting or
signature, So we see the mark of
Christ on the man or woman and know
that one Is his epistle, bears his seal.
The handwriting may be difficult
to read. the thoughts hard to under
stand. the ideas misty or the style in
volved. This Is not true of Christ's
epistles, of soul literature A child
can read the writing of tho soul,
Apostles the Instruments.
so the apostle says: The salvation
you have received is the work OF
Christ. "ministered by U.S." Paul and
the apostles were the instrum ents, the
pens. The divine characters are writ
ten. not with ink. but with the Spirit
OF God. II is tho power OF the Holy
Spirit that produces certain marked
characteristics clearly defined differ
ences; not in tables of stone, but hearts
of flesh. Salvation takes place in our
hearts ar has to do with our affec-
lions, Rppetites and desires Tho
change within becomes manifest with
out. and the seal of Christ appears.
Now. the important Question-~What
message do we as Christians give to
other men? We are the sinners bible,
hs letter from God---the way he is to
find out Christ and true Christianity.
Japanese by chance. road n portion
of one OF tho gospels. He said That
is a hne thing in theory, but It can't
be practiced' A certain woman was
pointed out TO him as one who was a
! practical example. He watched her
without her knowing It, Her sweet
/ consistent life caused him to say: She
has something that ! lack and some
thing I would like to have When !
read that / asked myself would he
/ have said the same of my life. Friends,
would ne have come 10 the same con-
! clus!on from your lIfe2 What the
world needs today Is for Gods chill
dren to live more than to profess, or
1 rather make their living measure up
/ to their profession.
: Are we episties of light or dark
ness2 Do our lives convince and per-
! suade the unsavsd? One life per-
+ neated and fashioned by the Christian
/ spirit is more convincing and per
suasive than all the preaching or writ
ten argument. no matter how eloquent
| ly such may be expressed
Let Divine Hand Guide Pen.
/ "Ah! Christians. God should be writ
ing our lives! Is He? Yes. sometimes,
/ But how often have we taken the pen
out Of the divine hand to do a little
writing ourselves. and by self-will,
self-aeeking, by sin. we blur the hand
writing OF God. Our lives are testify
ing for or against Christ. Do men read
Christ when they read our lives? For
me to live Is Christ Can we say that?
Listen. Does the Christian who In
dulges in sinful amusements manifest
tho work of Christ? Does tho Chris
J tan who deals in SANDER, smutty
/ Jokes, hlthy stories. anger. raillery.
! etc. show the mark OF Christi Does
/ tho sttngy, mean. lustful. Eluttonous,
self-indulgent. dishonest man or wo-
man bear the signature Of Christ?
oh let us remember Christianity
Is being Judged by us--by our lives,
Mother, father. you are the letters the
/ children are reading Do they get a
glimpse of Cod Older brother, sister,
you are tho epistles TO the younger
children. Man. woman. In the church,
YOU are the letters OF God to this COM
munity: you are The Sinners Bible
Paul said: such trust have we through
{ Christ to Godward' what does he
! mean? God had accredited His min
J istry in their consistent living Can
/ our preachers. our leaders. have the
same opinion. the same trust to God
ward? God grant that they have! Let
mo plead with you. Get the inner ma
ture pure. that the outward may show
the marks OF purity within. Let the
! Holy Spirit write the impress Of Christ
upon your brow. BE epistles OF light"