The Clio messenger., 1919-08-14

q = .ssesssA -9 all persons who
are not incorrigibly wicked and de-
praved will be saved also. Even some
who are recognized as evangelical
teachers say that the number of the
saved will be very much greater than
the lost.
AS 1t is only in the Scriptures that
we have any information about the
subject of salvation, Ii is the part of
good judgment and common sense to
inquire what the Bible teaches as to
the number of the saved.
I. In the first place with some sal
walton depends in their view upon
meeting certain moral obligations. If
there is any moral obligation at all, it
Is enjOined In book that says there
Is none that doeth good, no not one.
All have sinned and come short Of
the glory of God. All have gone astray
and every man has turned to his own
way. If man says he has no sin, he
deceives himself and the truth Is not
In him.
2. The conditions of salvation as
outlined in the Scriptures are so diff
ficult of fulfilment that man does not
love them. 1t being accepted that there
Is none that doeth good, there is none
excepted from the conditions laid
down in the Word of God, the leaving
Of all to follow Jesus, the renounCing
Of the world and the acceptance to
meet these conditions, which imply al
so the recognition Of Jesus Christ as
the Son of God and the only Savior of
man. If confessing Christians were
polled and each examined as to his
personal relationship to Jesus Christ,
It would be found that a large num-
Der, possibly the majority, could not
stand the test.
8. Let us note carefully the state
ments of Scripture as to the relative
number of the saved. In the Old Tes-
lament the prophet asks, "Can the
Ethiopian change his skin or the
leopard his spots? Then may ye also
do good that are accustomed to do
evil" Jesus said on one occasion,
"Many are called but few chosen"
Is easier for camel to go through
the eye Of a needle than for rich
man to enter into the kingdom OF
God" This prompted the question Of
his disciples, "Who then can be
savedT
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus
said, straight Is the gate and mar
row is the way which leadeth unto
life and few there be that find It," IN
answer to the question, "Are there
few that be saved?" Jesus replied.
"Strive to enter In at the straight
gate, for many, 1 say unto you, will
seek to enter and shall not be able"
There is an echo of this teaching in
the words Of Peter, eff the righteous
scarcely can be saved, where shall the
ungodly and sinner appear" This
was to say, If it is with the greatest
difficulty that the righteous are saved,
the chances of the ungOdly are very
few. We have also the teaching OF
the Lord as to some who will come
before him at the great day OF judg-
ment and say, "We have eaten and
drunk in thy presence and In tiny
name done many wonderful works.
but he will say, 81 never knew you."
Taking these conditions together,
there Is more than an intimation that
man falling short Of the conditions
should look upon his chances of be-
Ing saved as comparatively small. IL
II is true, as Jesus said that he that
believeth not on the Son Of God shall
not see life and that a man must be-
lieve on Jesus Christ In order to have
everlasting life, II is likely that the
vast majority Of the people among us
are not saved.
Jesus not only taught us that the
gate is straight and the way narrow
that leadeth to everlasting life, but
he also taught that the way leading
to death is wide and many as COM
pared to the few on the narrow way
are In 1t.
Drift into salvation Is impossible.
The will of man needs to be exer'
cised In order to escape eternal per-
dItion. To be saved man must use
his will definitely, Immediately flee tc
Jesus Christ and accept him as
Saviour.