Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-02
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF cmnrsr1ASrrr.
Dy j. a. lSulpnnk.


Thou therefore. my son, be strong I'm tho
grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things
'hat tnou hast heard Of me among many wit
hesSes. the same commit thou to faithful men,
VINO snail be able to teach others, also. OF
these things put them In remembrance charE-
ing them before the Lord that they strive
not about words to no profit, but to the sub
FerthS OF the hearers Study to shew thy
self approved unto God. a workman that
needeth not TO be ashamed rightly dividin,.
tho word of truth. But shun profane and
vain babblinGs: for they will Increase unto
more unGodliness. And their word will eat
rs doth canker.-2 Timothy H., l, 2, 14-l7.
AS the apostle to the Gentiles. Paurs
teachings were accepted by the council
which compiled the writings OF the carly
Christians and included some of them in
the sacred canon OF the New Testament as
on inc whole the worthiest expression of the
gospel that should be delivered to a sin
stricken world.
Thus canonized his writings have been
the potent force in the molding OF Christian
civilization. we find It existing ,oday-for
aside from the words of Jesus himself no
other authority is often appealed to in
settlement Of questions OF doctrine.
The essential teaching OF Paul was the
Messiahshtp OF Jesus. the brotherhood Of
man and Partnership of God. And az he
reminds Timothy. this teaching he had
heard among many witnesses" 1t was the
burden of all OF rauis preaching the broth
crhood feature being more largely stressed
than by the others called apostles. In view
OF the fact that the churches which Paul
established were largely composed OF the
under world-that Is the downtroddcn
masses many OF whom were chattcl slaves
this message was full of encouragement
to them,
Timothy was his son only in the spiritual
sense OF adoption. and in instructing him in
the Fundamentals OF Christianity. Paul
sought to impress him with tho Importance
OF the central thought that Jesus was really
and truly the Messiah AMI In order to sue
ccSsfully communicates this thought to the
world he must find his strength in the grace
that comes from its recognition. and In his
preaching avoid al Irrelevant thoughts out
of which grow str!vings to no profit but
To the subvcrting OF the hcarcr.'
In other words, he was to preach a clear
cut gospel that would appeal alike to all
classes and conditions OF people seeking light
and liberty.
With faith in Christ once established in
tho hearts OF men. light and liberty would
certainly follow. for the promise u.s. THE
truth shall make you free"
IL Is much 10 bc regretted that Pnuls in
structiOns 10 Timothy and TO all others who
embrace Christianity and make profession
OF spreading its truths have been So little
followed ii both the letter and Re spirit.
Otherwise. why should there RS'er 1000
years of militant" Christianity n such a
grace that !s In Christ Jesus" which in
ev,ably finds its expression In the spirit
OF the common brotherhood Of man. whose
iruitaEc as surely tends to the establish
ment OF equitable conditions throughout the
earth as the planets revolve around the sun.
To our way OF thinking. n careful study
or the life Of Jesus and of his various COM
missions To his disciples indicates very
clearly that the physical we'll being OF tho
people was on his heart aud Its attainment
could only be accomplished through awaken
ing the sense of spiritual perception. IN
which awakening, as it should be-
come general would emerge the era OF
righteousness when the earth shall be
h"ed with the knowledge OF the glory OF
the Lord, as the waters cover the sea"
II" says humboldt. I'VE would indicate
an idea which throughout the whole course
OF history. has ever more and more widely
extended its empire. OF which. more than
any other. tcstifcs To the much contested
and still more decidedly misunderstood per
/ fcctiblity OF tho whole human race IL Is
| that of establishing common human
! ity-without reference to religion nation or
! color. as one fraternity. one great commun
| ity fitted for the attainment OF ono object
! the unrcstraIncd development OF the psychica
powers This is the ultimate and the
highest aim OF society. identical with
: the direction implanted by nature in the
! mind OF man toward the indefinite extension
| OF his existence"
An inequality OF rights. Patrick Edward
| Dove has well observed. only be based
on superstition. and the very moment rca.
son Is substituted for superstition in the
! science which has for Its object the rcsula
/ tion Of society CAS- 1t has been in physical
scicncc). that moment most men admit thai
| no possible means arc known by which ar
/ inequality OF rights could possibly be sub.
! stantiatcd
II is things that will tend to put the world
! In this condition OF mind that those who
! essay to encourage better civilization
should put the people in remembrance"
We need movement in the church which
has for its working slogan: Forward with
! fundamentals in Christianity"