Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-09-12

Goa TO De appeaSed, and we under
sta I'D the cry of the publican, "God be
merciful ii. e. propitious) to me, o
sinner" Underlying the sacrifices OF
the heather, is the feeling that there
is wrath in God to be reckoned with
DR.. H. G. Mabie points out that
heathen man, on his way to the temple
with kid for sacrifice, may not un-
derstand just why he offers it. He
will tell you that his fathers did il
before him, and hence he does it. Yet,
if he is questioned further, and it is
suggested that the blood of the kid
is to take the place of his own death
for his sins, his face will brighten and
he will confess that this is the thought
of his heart in the matter. 1t is true
the heather may have wrong thoughts
Of God, yet the Scriptures confirm his
feeling that there is wrath in God
against sin, and that this must be ap-
peased. The cross does not minimize
the awfulness of sin, nor deny Gods
anger against it; but, as Professor
Denney has said, 'The cross is in
scribed God is love- only because it is
inscribed also, the wages of sin is
DEATH"
God Provides Covering for Sin.
The glory of the Gospel is, that
while God requires a propitiation, he
himself provides it. As our text de-
clares, it was God who set forth Christ,
ii. e., in a public way) to be propi.
tiation through his blood. Hence, there
is a self-propitiation by God in the
cross. His wrath against sin is evil
dent, but also his love for sinners, for
what his holiness exacts, his love pre-
vides. Men would say, "God is love
and does not require propitiation =
but the Bible argues, "God is love and
provides propitiation." AS Romans
5 g puts it: "God commendeth his love
toward us in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for u.s."
The fact that God provides propf-
tiation makes clear there is no oppo-
sition between the Father and the Son
in redemption. While Christ loved us
and gave Himself, it is also true that
God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son. While we are
amazed at Christ's cry of forsaken
ness upon the cross, yet we should moi
forget the solemn words, sit pleased
the Lord to bruise him." and, sThe Lore
hath laid on him the iniquity Of us all. ,
! At what infinite cost to the Father was
that bruisingl
Our text explains that the cross de
| clares Gods righteousness for the re
mission of sins that are past, or as the
r. V. has it, because of the passing
over of the sins done aforetime." This
refers to the sins committed undel
the old covenant before Christ came
It might have seemed that God was no
angry with the wicked since he allowed
| them to live and even to flourish. Th'
cross, however, makes clear that HI
was regardful Of sin and dealt lenient
ly with sinners only because Of tn,
sacrifice yet to be offered on Calvary
Moreover, the cross not only look
backward to vindicate the righteous
ness of God; it also looks forwart
and declares "at this time hi
righteousness that he might be JUS
and a justifier Of him which believetl
in Jesus" Oh, that men understood
the marvel of it ALL To clear think
ing, eternal punishment is no myster
in the dealings of a holy God with sir
ners. The amazing mystery is tina
such a God has found a way by whic
he can be just and still justify the ur
godly.
The Experience of cowper.
Christ's propitiation still satisfie
guilty souls. The poet. Cowper, whe
distressed over his sins, sought con
fort from the Bible. He says: 9Th
passage which met my eye was th
twenty-fifth verse of the third chapte
of Romans. On reading it, immed
ately received power to believe. Th
rays of the Son Of Righteousness fe
on me in all their fullness. I saw tn
complete sufficiency of the expiatio
which Christ had wrought for my pa
don and entire justification. In an il
slant believed and received the peac
of the Gospel. If the arm Of the A
mighty had not supported me. I b.
lieve I should have been overwhelme
with gratitude and joy; my eyes file
with tears; transports choked my u
terances. I could only look to heave
in silent fear, overfowing with loJ
and wonder"