South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-11
SAYS one SIN MAY
BE OUR RUINATION
Pastor of the Calvary Baptist
Church Gives Power
ful Sermon.

TAXING his text from Mark 1921.
the castor az the Calvary baptist
church. Rev. IT, p. Leonard. inn
pressed upon his congregation the
Fnscessity OF perfection ln this life ~
we would have perfection BOO the
tnext he told Of the young man in
ancient times who had but one be-
lsetting evil which brought about his
fruination. He said in part:
As we look al the picture OF this
young man. we In these days. would
consider him a model youth. Ac-
wording 20 his own statement he was
ipure from all vice. he was honest.
he loved and respected his parents.
Such a young man certainly de-
served the respect OF the community
~ which he lieved. Business men
could trust him and his parents did
not need TO worry about him. He was
also a religious young man being
well read In the scriptures and
drained in the synagogue and he at
tended religious services regularly.
But Jesus says 90 him that there
was something essential missing i'm
his life ard his character.
Jesus had been preaching about
the Kingdom OF Heaven and ne had
lsaid: ''WhosOever shall not receive
lfhe Kingdom or God as little child
l1he shall not enter therein" This
fyoung man wants % enter in. he
wants 20 be sure he is on the right
fFrack so he comes running 10 Jesus
I saying. What shall I do that
may inherit eternal life
Kept Commandments
Jesus beholding him, loved him.
And so do we. Why did Jesus love
him? Wat Il because ne could boast
OF the fact that he had kept the
commandments from his youth. Why
do we love- Is fl because he was
fanxious 10 make the most out Of his
lne2 Jesus loved him but ne sees
one thing Missing in his life and ne
tells him about e.. One thing thou
'lackest"
How important one thing may be.
~ often happens that the want Of
one thing makes OF no account the
presence OF every thing else A watch
with its jewels wheels. dial hands.
case and all finest ever made without
The main spring is Of no account a
snip may be built Of the strongest
oak. manned by the ablesl officers
and crew but IL there IS NJ com
pass on il II fs dangerous 10 make
voyage upon e. So 10 f. with life
The Apostle Paul said one time:
Tho I bestow all my goods to feed
The poor: tho ] give by body TO be
burned and have not one thing. the
J essential thing love 20 prOhteth me
inOthing
There may be much in us that is
tbeautiful and vet not religious. The
igOOd qualities i'm this young man
made him beautiful in the sight Of
man and also in the sight OF Jesus
but he lacked the one thing to make
him useful IN the Kingdom Of God.
Beauty Is not religion
There may be morality without
religion. Morality IS not religion. To
those who are standing on their
morality jesus saws. "One thing thou
1ackest."
Lacks One Thing
we may have an interest. a deep
interest in things that are good and
yet be lacking the one thing Jesus
IS speaking about This young man
was interested IN religion. he was
looking for the best things OF the
time. he was interested I'm his coun-
Try and his people. he was interested
IN Jesus as he listened TO him be-
cause nc saw that he was above the
Ordinary men around bout him et
7hare was something I'm his life miss
ing
THE savior greatly admired this
iyoung mans earnestnes He could
mot help loving him yet he assured
him that he had one vital lack.
o. need less satisfaCtio with your
4 own morality In fact YOU need 10
lose al confidence In your own good
character as a ground Of acceptance
with God. I have the key 20 the situ-
alton. I can give YOU the charac ter
without which YOU cannot inherit
leternal life But 20 prove your earn
leStneSs IN this matter 7 shall expect
Implicit obedience % whatever COM
mand I give you. CO sell that which
you have and distribute 90 the oOr
and come follow me But the sacri-
rec was too great for him TO make
and he went away sorrowful
This young man is not unlike
men today. We are very slow 20 give
mp confidence IN our selves We feel
equal 20 all the emergencies Of life.
il Is hard for a nice. clean. upright.
young man 10 see that his obedience
20 the moral law, his correct ad-
imirable life cannot save him from
the guilt Of sin and enable him 90
pass muster az Gods Judgment bar