Jackson County journal., 1919-09-19

fN&#$$SAM IA A4 flrSC or all, the |
Bible states plain |
ly that all people Of whatever race
or class are lost
This message of the Bible is resent
ed by many, but why should we resent
knowing the truth about ourselves,
especially since God, who tells us we
are lost, also tells us that he hae made
provision whereby we may be saved?
Is it not better that we know our
actual condition than to go OF: in ig-
nOrance Of it? If we know we are
lost and also know there is salvation
for the lost, then we may be saved If
we desire.
II for a single moment ycu doubt
that all men are lost, l would ask you
to read the third chapter of Romans,
and find out just what God s:.ys is the
actual condition of all men. The teach
ing Of this chapter in ROmGnS which
is confirmed by other portions of the
Word of God, gives the plain, un-
vanished truth concerning this matter
1t should stir us to the very depths Of
our beings, and would leave us in hope
less despair if God did not at once tell
us that he has graciOuSly provided, in
the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation for all
men, and that they may be saved if
they will take Christ as their Savior.
In the next place the Bible makes
clear distinction between people who
| nave taken Christ by faith as their
| Savior and those who have not done
so.
| It says Of those who have failed to
make Christ their Savior that because
| Of this failure, since they are afflicted
with sin, they shall perish. What could
be palmer concerning this than the
statement of our Lord himself. spoken
to those who have not settled this mo-
mentous question, "Unless We repent
ye shall all likewise PERISH" or this
one, "He that believeth not the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of
God abideth on him."
You see, the Bible does not leave
anyone, who has not taken the Lord
Jesus Christ as his personal Savior,
in doubt for moment as to whether
or not he is saved, but plainly tells
him that he is lost.
Now what does the Bible say of that
person who has by faith accepted the
Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior? Does
it say Of him that he is eternally
saved, or does it leave him in doubt :?
Logically, if the oGe who has not talk
en- Christ as his Savior is eternally
lost, then conversely it is true til It the
: one who has taken Christ as his
Savior is eternally saved. But does
! the Bible teach this, and does it as
: plainly give the believer in the Lord
t Jesus Christ the assurance of his sal
vation, as it gives the unbeliever the
:. assurance that he is lost? It certain
ly seems reasonable that if one who
fails to accept Christ as his Savior
can know he is eternally lost, the ont
f who accepts Christ as his Savior
h should be able to know he is eternall!
" saved. This is precisely what our tex
), says the believer may know: "Thes
r things have I written unto you-tha
+ We may know not hope, nor feel, bu
Il "know that ye have eternal life"
" Numerous passages in the Word o
: God suhstantiate this teaching, and j
:, is only because we have hearts Of ur
# belief that we ever doubt it. 1t is S
y, wonderful, and it seems too good to b
- true, that God should eternally say
y those who accept Christ as their PEI
sonal Savior But it is true just tn
same, for God has said it, and he cal
rot lie.
It is a marvel Of Gods grace ths
. the believer in the Lord Jesus Chris
at once has eternal life (John 8 :16)
that he passes at once from deaf
ne unto life, and that he shall not con
q iato irf,gment (John 5:24). God WI
ie saves has promised to finish the jo
re and has made provision to 90 so. 1t
III not for us if we really have approp1
er ated Christ as our Savior, to doul
an that God will faithfully finish our sd
NJ vation; but as Pa tells the PhilipI
ry ms (Phil. / :6), so should we be co
or itlent of this very thing, that
er Which hath begun a good work in y,
- viii perform it until the day Of Jes
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