The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-09

vironment has a great deal to do with
lives, but men have risen above
their surroundings by the application
of grit and grace.
There IL so much sal in our times
In the lighter vein concerning the sin
in the Garden Of Eden. that 1t in EASY
to overlook and fail properly to weigh
the awfulncss Of what sin cost our hrst
parents With the story Of the fall, 1t
is much like the superficial treatment
accorded the story OF Jonah. Men are
prone to see only that which appeals
to the humorous in u natures and
lose sight OF the great fundamental
truths Of these stories. We do well
TO leave Off Ievity when we approach
the Scripture o of the fall. that
we may realize, at least in some meas
ure. the awful consequences of the sin
which found its way into the garden.
Granting that fEurative language has
been employed by the inspired pen
to reveal 20 man the events referred
to. the reality of that which there
transpired cannot be doubted, for we
not only havc the highest reasons for
b~elieveinx in the Word OF God, sui we
have the whole history OF the race to
~corroborate the Genesis account.
Awful as were the consequences to
man of the sin in Eden. let US think
soberly OF what that sin cost God,
their creator. He did not ave man
to his own devices. but Immediately
began to work out for and in him the
redemption in Christ Jesus. The world
stands appalled, today at the tremen-
dous cost OF the war from which we
are just emeraing VIGOROUSLY, 1t is
spoken OF in figures never before en-
ployed in my practical sense-igures
that the mind of man cannot compre-
lar But what God has had to pay
In order TO win man back 10 himself
and to righteousness transcends all
things. The whole Old Testament his
tory is a record Of what God has done
to redeem the world from sin. The
greatest cost cannot be measured. 1t
can only be accepted by faith. for it
was he Gift OF his Only Begotten
Son. In the fulness Of time jesus
came and suffered and died, all be-
cai!sa-o1 s1a-iH-the-huHaan- heart
Surely sin Is not to be regarded lightly
by the sons of men, when the Son of
God was required to eradicate for us
what was put in our hearts by reason
of the fall.
In our Golden Text sin Is repre-
scented as a ruler or master. employing
servants and paying them wag And
the wages OF sins taskmaster is
DEATH. Let It be remembered that
the sinful master Of u~nregenerated
men does not promise to pay them
with death~~he promises good for
them. This he did with Eve when he
deceived hnr concerning the require
ments OF God. and this he has been
doing ever since by saying and caus-
7iuE H#~tu ~tYei4eHt tit Will not so anB~z
harm" Were Satan to tell the truth
about the results of the sins he sug-
cests 10 mems minds, they might be
deferred to a greater or less extent. {
hut he appears las an angel of light"
- Cor .N:-1A. His approach is so
subtle to this day that ven the. best of
Christians sometimes fall into his
snare and bring reproach upon the
cause of Christ by the Inconsistency of
their conduct.
The only cure for sin. M therefore
of the sins 10 which weak nature Is
subject. Is Christ. Like leprosv. sin Is
deep-seated in its nature and incur
able by human skill Education can
not cure II, nor can a change of en-
vironment, Only the grace of God in
from the love of sin, deliver Us from
the condemnation of sin. and help us
TO overcome sin in members.
(Read Romans s: 1-14)
Shall we continue in SIM (Romans
s: ~ In The chapter from which this
text fs drawn Paul is considering the
moral effects OF justification. He shows
that justin cation by faith Is incom-
patihle with living in sin, ,Justifca-
ton by free grace through faith, in
stead of aTording license TO sin. Ia
more favorahle 10 holiness than any
system OF justification by works could
possibly be. II We are believers in
Jesus Christ, truly. we shall hate sin
and owe hoiincss-that is, a righteous
life will become our highest ambition.
We may fall into sin or be
overcome in a temptation. but the
bent Of the life will have been com
pletely changed By the work Of grace
in the heart.