The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-08-18

W%N IWW to promote an"
WYNN WV cultivate ii Is the
believers greatest duty.
Fellowship Is the result of COM
munity of life. The relationship OF u
child 10 his father is determined by
the fact of birth; the fellowship Oh
the child with the father is determines
by behavior as well as by birth.
These two truths concerning births
and behavior are the prominent ieat-
ures which mark this epistle OF mat
mature saint, John the Apostle. lie
that believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God" The life of God Is
communicated TO the christian believer.
This is clearly taught all through the
New Testament, and must be tenacious
~ held. recent Sunday school quar-
terly prepared for the intermediate
grade asserted that nothing new was
impaired to us, that development from
within was all that can be expected.
This is unscriptural and pernicious
teaching. Fellowship with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ VIII
never result from such teaching.
He that believeth is born of God.
The Eternal Life which was from the
beginning, which was manifested III
Christ which was declared to the
world by chosen and credible Wit
nesses, is impaired to those who be-
lieve the testimony that God has Civ
en- concerning His Son.
Ii is this vital and vltalizing ex-
perience, this life of God commune
Gated through the channel of faith 10
the soul, that makes Fellowship with
the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ a possibility an an actually.
1t is this that makes the apostle won
der. He calls us to consider the mat
ter, To "behold what manner of love
the Father hath bestowed upon us that
we should be called the children OF
God" and we are.
The promotion Of this holy and glor-
ious fellowship depends on the chill
dren's behavior or walk. The first
condition for its preservation is ex-
pressed in the words, IF we walk IN
the light" What does this mean?
In this epistle the nature Of God is
revealed in the two-fold declaration,
God is light and God is love-" We
must recognize not only these two
facts but the order in which they APP
pear The revelation that God Is
love can never be understood and en-
tered into apart from the knowledge
that God is light" and In him Is
no darkness at ALL"
The prevalent idea of God is that
he is loving and will deal leniently
with sin. Nothing could be more mis-
leading. God is light" What he
does in love will meet the require
ments of his holiness. Herein Is love,
that God sent his Son to be the pro-
pitiation of our sins. The Offering
which the righteousness of God re-
quired, the love of God provided. To
walk In this truth is to walk in the
light, TO get away from this truth is
to walk In darkness and to break the
very condition of continuous fellow
ship.
IF we say that we have no sin,"
If we have false views of sin which
lead us to ignore or forget "the pro
pitiation," If we think that we can
climb up "some other way I'VE de-
eeive ourselves and the truth is not
in US" Notwithstanding all religious
profession there will be no real fell
lowship with God, no light, no peace,
no JOY.
The second condition fora growing
fellowship with God Is found In the
words, IF we confess our sins" The
first condition, IF we walk I'm the
light" may be regarded as the doc
trinal test this second condition. IF
we confess our SINS may be called
the ethical test.
There is constant need of read
justment in Christian experience.
Must Christians SIM" asked preach.
er at u recent Bible conference.
NO" replied some one in the audi
ence, but they do"
All present felt the force of the an
swer. 1t is true and experience cor
fbborates IT, Sin Of any kind hlnders
and prevents Fellowship with God.
REIMBURSEMENT Is necessary and for this
the Father has made gracious pro-
vision: IF we confess our sins He
is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and TO cleanse us from all un-
righteousness"
The retaining of any unconfessed
sin grieves the indwelllng Holy Spirit
and makes fellowship with God impos-
sible until the sin is put away. There
Is something in the nature of sin that
demands Precipitation for 1t and con-
fession of IL. To walk In the light of
these plainly revealed facts leads to
progressive fellowship with the
Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.