Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-08-02

Kind of faith Paul insisted UPON pro.
ouces the kind of works James re.
CURED However, we believe Paul re-
1ers III the text to the very beginning
OF faith' as when Jesus says: "This
IS the work Of God, that We believe on
MIN whom he hath sent" (John 6 :29).
But now, having spoken of that
faith In Christ which begins the Chris
t1an life, Paul goes on to speak of the
labor OF love-" Love tolls on when
faith might pause.
The New Testament Hone.
Finally, he refers to the "patience Of
hope;" that is, it's endurance under
trial. Even love ceases to labor If its
task seems endless, and here is where
the value of hope is seen. Especially
does the hope of Christ's personal
coming inspire patience, and doubtless
1t is this hope which is here referred
TO. Indeed, Bishop Moule maintains
that wherever "hope" is used in the
creek Testament with the article las
It Is here) it refers to "that blessed
nope" of Christ's appearing.
The apostle speaks of the same ele-
ments Of the Christian life in the re-
naming verses Of the text. For ex-
ample, he says: "Ye turned to God
from idols;" to turn to an unseen God
from idols, which they could see, was
work of faith" Then the Thessa
lonlans began ito serve the living and
true God," which corresponds to the
labor OF love-" Finally, they learned
ito walt for his Son from heaven"
corresponding to ''the patience of
hope"
A Lack in Christians Of Today.
Converts in the present day exhibit
the first two elements, "the work of
1alth' and "the labor Of love-" but
seem deficient usually in the last ele-
ment, 1.-THE patience of hope" We do
not deny they have hope of a future
life, but they do not usually learn eto
walt for his Son from heaven" which
was the distinctive hope of the early
church.
Our conviction in this matter is
borne out by the testimony of a great
New Testament scholar, Prof. James
Denney of Scotland. He says: 1T
@the second coming) was the great OBJ.
ject of Christian hope. Christians NOT
only believed Christ would come
again; they not only expected him to
come: they were eager for his coming.
How long, 0 Lord?' they cried in their
distress. Come, Lord Jesus, come
quickly was their prayer" He adds.
1T IS matter of notoriety that hope
In this sense does not hold it's ancient
place in the heart of the church
Discovery OF Some Chinese Christians.
But it does not require the learning
OF the scholar to see the place occu-
pied by Christ's coming in the hone of
the early Christians. The simnlest
reader Of the New Testament must
perceive this. A missionary from
China reported that all the native |
christians in her district were watt
Ing for Gods Sen from heaven. Some
one inquired who had taught them this
doctrine. mo one" she replied. "thev
nave the New Testament in their hands
and have seen it for themselves"
Why has this hope been so LARGELY
lost in the church? Several answers
might be given, but one is that there
has been a misapprehension in the
whole matter. The coming of Christ
Is associated in most minds with iudg-
ment and wrath, and we naturally do
not dwell upon it as so conceived. But
there is certainly something wrong
with this conception, for the New Tes-
lament speaks of the appearing of the
Savior as ''that blessed hope" True,
Christ's coming will bring j. -nent
and wrath to his foes, but text
tells us that Gods Son will del. r. his
people from ''the wrath to come"
Hence, as Philippians 3:2O puts it. we
look for the Savior" rather than the
Judge, and certainly we should be
among those who 'love his appearing"
As we hear his voice saying, "Surely
come quickly" may our hearts reply
With apostles and prophets: Gwen
80, come, Lord Jesus"
Kindness of Christmas.