The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-03-04

M## ance with God
n AN% Men have many
notions as to how
they may commend themselves to God,
with whom all must deal ultimately.
We are easily led astray by the feel.
ing that our way is superior to that
of another man. But, even allowing
that 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 a wonderful heritage
of religious ancestry. and, in addition
lived in q 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'
cOrding 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 in his
ledger. The very religious assets
which he had accounted "gains" he
now classified as "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 he might have had In the
Saviour
Righteousness BY Faith.
One of the blessings of which he
had been deprived. by dependence on
his own righteousness, was that
righteousness of God which Is by
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 "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!
righteousness, this state Of acceptance
with God, belongs to those who put
their trust in Christ, and thus are Sin
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 it We're, one person; so that thou
mayst boldly say, I am now one with
Christ, that Is to say, Christ's right
eousness. victory and life are mine.
And, again. Christ may say, I am that
sinner; that is, His sins and His death
are mine, because He is united and
joined unto me and unto Him." Paul
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." QI Cor. :21).
Men Would Earn Salvation.
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
60 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
In Pauls statement: 81. count ali
things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whom / have suffered the
loss of all things, and do count them
but dung that I may win Christ" AS
one has said: "His own family prob
ably regarded him as a disgrace to
Judaism. His Pharisaic confreres
considered him a 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 a sufficient compensation,
yea, more than a 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;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus name.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
o may then in Him be found;
Drest in His Righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
Led the Way