Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-03-30


they may commend themselves to God,
We are easily led astray lyy the feel
ing that our way is superior to that
of another man. But, even allowing
TINT we may have better way than
some others have, we are still faced
with the question, "Will my way stand
Gods test?"
Gains Counted Loss.
The apostle had rested content in a
righteousness of his own for some
years. He had wonderful heritage
of religious ancestry, and, In addition,
lived in manner so worthy Of his
ancestry that he was able to say that
touching the righteousness which Is
in the law" he was "blameless." Ac-
oordlng to human standards, nothing
more could be asked than was ,exempli-
fed in this man.
Yet Paul tells uS that when the Lord
Jesus Christ was revealed to him In
glory, on the way to Damascus. he at
once changed the headings TN his
ledger. The very religious assets
which he had accounted "gains" he
now classified rs "loss' This was
not because these things were evil in
themselves, but because he felt they
had come between his soul and
Christ, and had robbed him Of all the
blessings ne might have had in tho
Saviour.
righteousness BY Faith.
One Of the blessings Of which he
had been ,ieprtved. by dependence oya
his own righteousness, was that
righteousness Of God which IS Ey
faith. This righteousness issues from
God, .is the God-kind Of righteousness,
the only kind which avails with God.
Truly, any other is but "loss," but this
kind is 4 "gain," which man would
obtain cheaply If he were to sell all
he had for It. But the wonder is
that it is given freely to the empty
hand Of faith
The text makes clear that this
righteousness, this state Of acceptance
with God. belongs to those who put
their trust In Christ, and thus are "in
Him."
Martin Luther's Statement.
This truth was brought to the fore
in the Reformation and is set forth
clearly by Martin Luther. Luther
says to believers in Christ: "Thou art
so entirely. and nearly Joined to
Christ, that He and thou are made,
as 1t were. one person; so that thou
mnyst boldly say, am now one with
Christ, that is TO say, Christ's right
eousness, victory and life are mine.
And, again. Christ may say, am that
sinner; that is. His sins and His death
are mine. because He is united and
puts the whole matter succinctly when
he says: "Him who knew no sin He
(God) made to be sin on our behalf
that we might become the righteous
ness of God in Him." (II Cor. :21).
Men Would Earn sslvatlon.
1t seems very difficult to human ma
ture to accept Gods righteousness by
simple faith. We are prone to desire
to give something, to do something, to
so somewhere in order to merit saliva
ton. 1t is blow to pride to humbly
receive the gift of Righteousness by
faith. Much meaning Is wrapped up
I'm Paul's statement: II count NIL
things but loss for the eXcellency Of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whom have suffered the
loss Of nll things, and do count then,
but dung that l may win Christ" AS
one ha' aid: "His own family prob
ably regarded him rs disgrace to
Judaism. His Phnrisaic confreres
considered him deserter from the
cause. The Jews in general treated
him as a renegade and turn.coat."
But to gain Christ and be found in
Him was sufficient compensation,
yea, more than sufficient compensa.
tion. for 1t all.
Faith Gives Security,
When Paul speaks Of being found
in Christ, he seems to have In mind
both the present and the future. Even
the light Of the great day of days will
not abash those who have put their
trust In Christ and are found in
Him."
My hope Is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and Righteousness;
dare not trust tho sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus name.
When He shall como with trumpet sound,
o may then in Him be found;
Drest in His Righteousness alone
Faultlesp to stand before the throne.
On Ciir.st tho solid Rock I stand:
All other ground Is sinking sand,
All other ground Is sinking sand.
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