Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-08-22

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 perishing, 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 a 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 battlefields 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. 53 :6.)
Not 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 not
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 dc
not speak of the Pharisee of the New
Testament times, a day of extremely
formal religion, but we have in MIND
the vast majority of people, GENTLE;
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 al
the light he has, win, or merit, Gods
favor. This is a delusion that Satar
uses most successfully. The natura
man thinks so much of himself tha
any intimation that his Righteousness
is as filthy rags is offensive; but sucl
are the principles of Gods moral gov
ernment, that unless a man is perfect
all is lost. A single missing link i:
fatal.
But man is not left helpless. HI
can be saved, but it is by One whos'
work as a Savior is a matter of pure
revelation. While the principle O1
substitution is one that is quite com
mon in the affairs of man, few mel
dream that the principle applies t,
spiritual salvation. Jesus Chris
came into this world to seek and saw
the lost, he came as ransom TO
many, and proclaims to all that i
they come to him they may be saved
t'There is none other name given IN
der heaven amongst men, whereby W
must be saved"
Jesus Christ is not an absente
; Savior. He is a very near friend,
true brother to every one who vii
accept him. While there is a grea
mystery as to this sinlessness, Jesu
was tempted in all points like as W
are, yet without sin. Even now in hi
glorified state, he is touched with tn
feeling of our infirmities, and further
more he is the Savior who will max
mans salvation complete.
In the fifth Liberty loan campaign
the most impressive pictorial advel
tisement was that of a common labor
ing man dressed in his laborin
clothes, four Liberty buttons pinne
to his breast, and with his han
thrust into his pocket saying, "Sur'
we IL AHISH lHe Jou. JESUS OAIlSl WI
finish the job. He will not only b
with the man until he dies, but he wi
receive him if he dies, which is ia
better than to let him remain on th
earth; but in any case, whether th
man dies or not, his body will be mad
like Christ's glorious body, and he wi
be exalted to reign with Christ fo
ever.