South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-10
RECALLS PROYERB
IN SUNDAY THEME
Rev. Phillips breaches Inspir-
ing Sermon to Trinity NJ.
E. Congregation.

Actions speak louder than
words"
This old proverb was emphasized
by Rev. Russell /. Phillips, pastor of
the Trinity NJ. +. church, in a ser
mon, THE Proof of a Change Of
Heart" preached yesterday TO his
congregation.
John the Baptist was a rugged
man Of the desert His raiment was
rough: likewise his tongue" said the
minister with words which stung
like the iocusts upon which he had
Toasted, he preached the convictions
of his soul to his wicked generation
Of kinsmen.
when he saw many of the Phar-
isees and Sadducees coming for his
baptism he began to denounce their
sin and unrighteousness. The Phar-
isees were supposedly a very relig-
ious sect of the Jews: but their
righteousness was merely a formal
goodness; a ceremonialism which
had no vital spirit of God or worship
in It. On the other hand the Sad
ducees made no pretensions of piety.
They acknowledged the law of
Moses, but did not keep it They
were worldly and wealthy and
very selfish lot Of Jews.
Beyond Punishment.
GAIL these things John the Bap-
fist knew and he declared with
greater vehemency tn an ever,
Therefore let your lives prove your
change Of heart; and do not imagine
that you can say to yourselves, We
have Abraham as our forefather.'
John declared unto those wicked
people who trusted in tradition for
their salvation, that before God it
was not sufficient TO live spiritually
upon the life and reputation of
Abraham, their father. The Jewish
rabbits of that day actually taught
that the children Of Israel were be-
yond punishment because of their
father, Abraham. We know that
Abraham had a wonderful reputa-
ton. and no doubt John the Baptist
pointed out that if those Pharisees
and Sadducees had really measured
their own lives and regulations by
the standard of Abrahams they
would have realized how destitute of
I salvation they were. We cannot an
swer to God upon the lives and rep
utatiOns Of our forefathers; the
7 fruit of our own lives must decide
our standing with Him.
John knew the fruit of those lives
before him and he declared that the
axe was already at the root OF the
| trees which do not produce fruit.
| Every tree bears its own fruit and
is a part Of IL. Likewise the words
and the actions of every character
are a part Of the character then ex-
pressed. In order TO know God, our
I lives must bear the type of fruit
I which will honor Him.
1T is true man only knows the
/ profession we make before the
world. but Jesus knows whether or
not we have his spirit within US. He
knows whether or not there are
grains Of service in US for His king
dom: or. on the other hand, as John
would say, he knows whether or not
we are just the chaff of the thresh-
ing floor which is only good 10 bt
burned. And it takes more thar
mere profession 20 prove this. Jesu!
wants the Cristian profession which
Will prove itself in service. Our lives
are the greatest testimony TO tn,
world and 20 God. therefore let your
lives prove your change of heart.
What God wants more than GU
/ profession is the fruits Of our laboi
In His kingdom. Actions speak loud
or than words. and one very brillia n
man has wisely said, What you -
speaks so loud that 1 cannot a
what you say God is listerir- 10
the speaking Of our service II Hi
. ears"