The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-09-13

l "a n a lie to tn g
cross, and all cir
= - M cums t a n S
against him, to save himself.
But the idea of salvation, or the
saving from the position of loss and
ruin, is not confined to Jesus. 1t con-
Germs every man who recognizes the
being of God, his moral responsible
ties and the realities of a future life.
Most men recognize that they are not
right with God, yet many of them do
not take any thought that they need
saving. As lost, they are to be found,
as perlshing, they need to be saved.
That the drift of the day in some
respects is towards emphasizing the
ephemeral and the things of little
consequence in themselves, is ac-
knOwledged. Yet there is certain
seriousness as to mans relationship
to God that has attracted attention.
The sudden dying of millions Of men
within the last four years has made
many think. Many thousands OF men
have stood in the battle front and
seen their comrades fall by their side,
and have seen the battletields strewn
with the bodies of the dead and dy-
ing. These have had serious thoughts,
and many such have brought these
thoughts home with them.
A man to be right with God must
be good, but the very book that tells
us about God and our relationship to
him says that there is none that
doeth good; no, not one" "All we
like sheep have gone astray. We have
turned every one to his own way and
the Lord hath laid on him the in
iquity of us ALL" lisa. 30 80
Net only does the Bible speak of
man being wrong as to his outward
life, but he is wrong as to his nature,
his whole inner being is corrupted; in
deed, he is an enemy of God. Whether
he Knows it or not, the wrath of God
rests on him; condemnation is noe
awaiting him, he is. doomed already.
Man cannot save himself. A deep
consideration of mans moral and
spiritual standing shows that he is
absolutely incapable of saving Him
self. Few think deeply on Bible
teaching, and most think that
by some kind of outward exer-
ton, or moral conduct, everything
will be made right with God. We do
not speak of the Pharisee of the New
Testament times. day of extremely
formal religion, but we have in mind
the yast majority Of people, Gentiles
as we'll as Jews, who have some con-
ceptiOn that man can, by the strictest
observance of law, doing the very
best that is in him, living up to all
the light he has, win, or merit, Gods
favor. This is delusion that Satan
uses most successfully. The natural
man thinks so much of himself that
any intimation that his Righteousness
is as filthy rags is offensive; but such
are the principles of Gods moral gov
eminent, that unless man is perfect,
all is lost. A single missing link is
fatal. ..
But man is not left helpless. He
can be saved, but it is by One whose
work as q Savior is matter of pure
revelation. While the principle of
substitution is one thSt is quite COM
mon in the affairs Of man, few men
dream that the principle applies to
spiritual salvation. Jesus Christ
came into this world to seek and save
the lost, he came as a ransom for
many, and proclaims to all that II
they come to him they may be saved.
''There is none other name given I'M
der heaven amongst men, whereby we
must be saved"
Jesus Christ Is not an absentee
Savior. He is very near friend, a
true brother to every one who will
accept him. While there is 4 great
mystery as to this sinlessness Jesus
was tempted in all points like as we
are, vet without sin. Even now In his
glorified state, he is touched with the
feeling of our infirmities, and further
more he is the Savior who will make
mans salvation complete.
In the fifth Liberty loan campaign
the most impressive pictorial adver'
tisement was that of a common labor
ing man dressed in his laborine
clothes, four Liberty buttons pinned
to his breast, and with his hanc
thrust into his pocket saying, Sure
we'll finish The job" Jesus Christ viii
finish the job. He will not only be
with the man until he dies, but he will
receive him If he dies, which is fal
better than to let him remain on the
earth; but In any case, whether th'
man dies or not, his body will be made
like Christ's glorious body, and he viii
L. 1.~.IAGa ~ ~ogerr, with Christ fnF