The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-06

should b blessed and be Z blessing TO
AL the families Of the earth. but II
required the strongest faith 10 act
upon the promise. with all the light
that we have today, It II dinfcult for
us to appreciate the wonderful faith
portance of obedience II seen in the
marvellous results OF his faith and
obedience"
Obedience and Fruit.
by their fruits We shall know
them" refers to the way in which false
prophets are to be detected. Men do
not gather grapes of thorns, or ngs
OF thistles As every tree brings forth
fruits after It's kind, 80 also every
life bears fruit according to its. pre-
vailing disposition.
Every tree that bringeth not forth
good fruit Is hewn down and cast into
the fire." The connection would in
dictate that the reference IL to the
Lord lis speaking. Note the phrases,
''Doeth the will" Work iniauity."
''Doeth them"
Mems characters are not to be
Judged by detached doings but by the
general tenor OF their lives. While
good men make mistakes and do those
things which reflect discred!t on their
profession. and bad men do good
Deeds the whole life must be taken
into account In determining its gen.
ufneness or spuriousness. Only those
who own Him in sincerity shall finally
be saved in that Kingdom which Jesus
came to set mp in the hearts OF men,
and which some day will be consum-
mated.
And to do the win Of God IL to obey
N~v nx,A1 Its,l,,~ - Sxuls
tency as a Christian. not relying
merely upon profession OF faith
and membership In a church. Pro-
fession of creed cannot take the place
of conduct-without the latter the
former is but vain.
In the contamination Of the King
dom, there will be many to be disap-
pointed that they are not accepted
men who relied upon outward pro-
fessfon, but who did not serve or rep
resent Christ from true motive
Unless men are right with God.
having truly repeuted OF their sins
and put their reliance absolutely in
the meritorious work Of Christ, II will
not avail them to have been church
members, supporters OF missions. or
even to have manifested great gifts as
teachers or preachers, and those who
deceive themselves will hear Jesus
say. II never knew you" When this
Scripture is first considered one may
he inclined to doubt his acceptance.
but earnest reflection upon the simple
terms of salvation will reassure the
earnest follower OF Christ. No man
needs to fear who feels his own in
Efficiency and who trusts in the suf-
ferfng OF Christ
Obedience and Security.
Knowing and doing are inseparahly
connected. and 1t will be more for the
man to knew the truth and do Il not,
than to die In ignorance of it alto
gether.
Those Who rest Their salvation on a
coed foundation. actually obeying the
commands OF Chris. ind security in
their own consciences and in the end
the Judgment. Those who. either
through care1essness, overconf1dence,
he rood foundation. will find their
hopes. crumbling at the last
ut il a most momentous question
for everyone of us, Am I doing the
sayings of the Lord? Men will
wrane1e over religion; write for it,
fight for Il: die for II; anything but
| live for Tt Broadus.)
Obedience and Love.
| Those who make the commands OF
Christ the guiding principles or the
| life have stood the test and proven
| their love for Him.
Thod who love the Son will be loved
in a peculiar way by the Father, not
merely with the general love Of be-
fnevolence but with that wellpleas-
| ing love what he bestows upon the
| Son.
Even Christ himself makes special
| revelations CT his love and special
| manifestations of his glory to those
who give special ev.dences of love to
| him
COOPERATIVE LESSON PLAN
Theme: Obedience the Test of Dis
cipaeship.
| Introduction.
/. Obedience the Test OF Faith.
l. Example OF Abram. Gen.
| ~: IA.
g. Example OF Noah. Gen. g.:
| 1922.
| 3. Example Of Peter. Acts s.:
! 20.
| II. Obedience the Prerequisite of
! Fruit
| j. AS Seen in the Erect OF Re-
pentance Matt. 3: s.
| 2. AS Seen in Good Works.
| Matt. Z: 1923.
3. AS Seen In the Graces OF the
! Spirit Gal. s. 22f.
| III. Obedience the Basis of Security.
| /. The Wise Builder, Matt q:
/ "a. rs.
,rha Eoolyuh pr,itdor Matt