The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-01-21

H4AWA ~ E2s&n 10 NhS
WN YWW owes much to the
conversion of this
man who is known to us as Paul, the
Apostle.
The first preaching tour Paul UNDER
took led him from Antioch, the cniet
gospel center of that day, TO the IS
land Of Cyprus, and on to the prov
Inces of Asia Minor. The journey
occupied about three years and the
varied experiences Of that time IN
volved much suffering and persecu-
tlOn. Converts were gathered out IN
the places visited and churches
formed.
Amid these varied experiences Paut
received one deep, lasting impress'on
which confirmed his point OF view anu
gave him settled convictions In re-
gard to the method by which men
and women were saved and blessed.
That impression is to be seen In MS
report to the home church In Antioch
to which he returned at the end OF MS
journey. According to Acts 14:2I the
church at Antioch was gathered to-
gether and Paul rehearsed all that
God had done during the missionary
journey. and how He had opened 'tha
door of faith" unto the nations.
This door of faith Is the only way
by which any one may enter into the
spiritual blessings of the gospel ana
the Kingdom Of God.
To this great truth the church OK
God needs to be called back today
Salvation is a work OF God into which
we enter by the door Of faith. Not
only so. but the walk of the saved 10
dependent upon faith. The principle
on which the Christian life Is com
menced is the principle Of lts continu-
ance. Salvation Is an act ana y
process in which. from the human
point Of view. faith Is the key to all
blessing and progress.
This truth is present in oil OF the
writings Of the Apostle to the Gen.
tiles. In his effort to call some con-
verts back to faith he declares In the
words Of Galatians 2:2O, II live By
. the faith of the Son Of God" When
this same apostle drew near to thu
, end of his earthly career he looked
back over the course he had covered
and said, II have fought q good light ;
, have kept the faith"
! One OF the best definitions of faith
! is found in / Timothy 612. where
Paul writes TO Timothy and urges him
to "fight the good fight Of faith" The
, next two words define the activities
of faith. It consists In laying hold"
: But there must be something to lay
: hold of, and that something is tina
!. truth of God. "Faith cometh by hear
D ing and hearing by the word OF Cod
4 Faith Is the door through which one
. enters into Gods treasure house, but
q such faith Is dependent upon the
4 proclamation Of Gods revealed truth
. II comes not through the discussion Of
4 current events or the expression Of
9 personal opinions
" This puts a tremendous responsibf
+ fly upon the preacher and teacher, fos
o n the word bf God Is supplanted By
discussion Of popular subjects Saith
% vii not be formed or festered. On
ID the other hand. the people who heal
% the truth cannot "iay hold" OF u IN
Ic less their hands are empty. IL W
d hands are filled with selfish plans
with pIeasure-loving devices. and COZ
re etous desires, there will be no ab'iis,
% 10 lay hold Of Gods truth. The hu
ID man will must be subjected 10 the a
4 vine win. When this 10 done IN "a
e trance into the saving grace and pow
st - OF God ls effected. Through IN
ye door Of faith one passes from dark
ic ness to light and from the power Q
ne Satan unto God. and In the power 9
ag fnith one walks In the way OF hoIl
Iy ness and eternal life. Relying upc
the Holy Spirit Of God. victory Is ~
tn ured. for "this Is the victory fha
st overcometh the world. even you
as fifth"