The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-23


But before ever
- '--ss time began it was
Christ who was daily Gods delight
(Prov. $500. And all during time he
is still the pre-eminent one, for it has
pleased the Father that in Christ
should all fullness dwell (Col. 1:19).
Not man but Christ has been made heir
of all things (Heb. 1:2). After time
will be passed this will still be true, as
is stated in Nph. 1 10, "that in the dis
pensation of the fullness Of times he
will gather together in one all things
in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on EARTH" The error
of humanitarianism rises out of de-
NAL of this truth and the consequent
attempt to put men in Christ's place.
Humanitarianism is nothing more than
| the eXaltation of man, leading to his
dedication and the enforcement of
the human above the divine. Mankind
can come into the purposed blessing
from God only as Christ is given his
proper place-that of being the pre-
| eminent object of Gods counsels. And
| what is true of the human race is true
of the individual. That life is blessed
| i1 the measure in which Christ is pre-
elhinent therein.
las the Object of the Scriptures.
The object of the Scriptures is not to
| give the world history, although the
only absolutely true history in the
world is found there. Neither is the
! Scripture a scientific. book, although
| wherever the Scripture touches science
I It'll touches 1t with true hand and is
lnAver unscientific. Neither do the
Scriptures set forth a system of philos-
obhy as the object for which they were
| Written, although the deepest philos-
kRkhy is found there. The pre-eminent
| Ii iect of the Book is Christ. Without
Hm they would never have been writ
Tn and we read our Bibles to little
3rpose if we fail to find him upon its
III ges. He rebukes those of older time
HH saying in Jno. 5:39: "Ye search the
Scriptures, for In them We think We
hive eternal life and they are they
Which testify of me-" Eternal life is
inS him and he is in the Scriptures.
! They would not receive him of whom
! the Scriptures spake and so missed
1 the eternal life for which they sought
i Through the books of history, prophecy
| ahd psalms the one radiant object in
1 type and symbol, ceremony and pre-
! 1iction is this pre-eminent One-Christ
Jesus the Lord. He is the only key
which will unlock the mysteries and
/ the only light making plain the dark
/ places.
| AS the Object of Our Faith.
/ Our eternal destiny does not rest
on what we do with certain things but
q certain person. 1t is not the faith
but the object Of the faith that counts
/ may have splendid faith in poor
bank and lose my money. may have
4 much faith in a rotten boat and lose
1 my life. And / may have first-class
faith in some other object than Christ
such as good life or charitable deeds
1 and lose my soul. If it Is salvation
need | am to believe in him and be
saved (Acts 16:3D. If it is justifica
1 tion want am to believe in him anC
be Justified from all things (Acts
1880. Freedom from condemnation
eternal life, specification, all that has
to do with my spiritual well-beins
4 hangs on my faith in him. No wonder
then, that we read, this is the work OF
God that We believe on him whom hi
hath sent" (Jno. 6:29). He is to be
the pre-eminent object of my faith
Twin my reader stop and ask from the
heart, sam really trusting in Chris
4 alone or is some other object pre-emi
nent before my faith?" He must d.
all for us or he can do nothing for us
eff We be circumcised Christ will prof
you nothing" (Gal. 5:2). Adding any
thing to him and his work makes hin
Ito be of no value to us. He is to b,
| the alone Savior, Justifier, Sanctifier
God will give all things through him
nothing apart from him.
The error of humanitarianism will
come in when any other object thar
this pre-eminent one is before us. W.
win be kept from the. leaven of tn
Pharisees when we seek for him alon
IN the Scriptures, and the eternal in
terests of our souls will be safeguards
and made sure when he is the suprem
object of our faith.
Thou o Christ art all want;
More tlAan all in thee l find.