Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-27
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE Truth Or JESUS.
lsy J.. 4. I:ubnnk.


| Your father. Abraham. rcjoiced to see NV
day: ana he saw it, and was glad. II We wcr,
Hhrahams children ye would do the works
"t Abraham. But now &c seek to kill Me- a
Man that hath told YOU the truth which |
| heard from God this did not Abraham |
"how that yG are Abra hams seed: vet We
seek to Kill Me. because My word hath no;
| Tree course in you"-John viii sc. 80 40 81.
III 'n' text. Jesus is not pleading Cor His
'i'e' nut rather, He is laying bare His per
S'c"t"rs. the scribes and Pharisccs. the ny
p"crisy of their lives and their motive in
seeking Ills death
Whether Jesus Il, thst time forcsaw all
o. the "Eonies OF tho cross. II is quite Ger
tam He fully realized that His life was de-
'nandcd as tho penalty for voicinG the truth
as II came from God in rcbuke Of those whose
hNes were a mockcry Of the truth and whose
teachings were destructive OF the spirituality
OF the people.
knowing this. in language cIoouen, in it's
strength and simplicity He turned the light
INTO their hypocrtical hearts and revealed
!" ihem all of the sinking corruption hid
uch there. Though admittedly Ahraham's
seed, the Son Of Man reminds tnom ,ba,
'hrir claim of being Abrahan's children was
'fauduisni, else they would do the works Or
Abraham.
MA lie further presses upon them the
truth taai Abraham rejoccd To Aiy day:
ava n" saw H. and glad" Ii there had
ncco single spark OF spiritual life i'm them
II would seem that this appea! might have
'ouche" 1t and caused I; to glow anew.
h"', no. In" corruption TOO deep
seated; II had eaten It's way to the very
core And now they seek to KIN the Teacher
whose day Abraham's enlightened vision
looked down the ages and reioiccd TO see
Man that hath told YOU the truth, which
heard from God"
Abraham tho father Of these? never "Yc
arc o: !"ur father the devil and the Iusts o,
Your father We will do
Jesus taught pondcrous philosophy; lie
invaded the domain OF no mans right The
philosophy 'ot His tcaching-;hc rule of lii.
mat lie proclaimed--is summed up in ;he
simple statement, Love one another"
Is there any finer guide For Justice: any
Hurer ROAD TO peace; any quicker route TO
ina; universal brotherhood OF which men
dream" Have the TEACHINGS Of >r!sto.Ia or
P!ato done for mankind what The living OF
Jesus Christ has done? Have an the
theories OF all the great philosophers light-
ened thu burden OF lie for mon and women
as the brotherliness mud friemdliucss or
Jesus Christ have done? Can we leave on;
OF our philosophy this fricndliest OF all ng-
urcs which have stood out against the walls
OF Time. passing by as OF small consequence
IN" one Life that has rescaerated race after
zee tue one influence that has made all
PHILOSOPHERS seem as mere secondary con.
N'"eiat"ns. when 1t comes to the things with
which ihe average human being has 70
duul""
We: this spo'lesy Life, given ug for an OK
amp" or tho finest lie possible to man WAS
sacrificed 10 the hate Of religious teachers
"h" ho"Sied That they were children Of Abra-
nam anu claimed God as their Father
Eut that is the way OF evil. When {, takes
root IN III" heart 1t begins to hate truth
"ccaus" truth rcbukes it: its wicked thoughts
stand revealed in all their hideousncss AnI
persecution ot Just men who proclaim truth
follows because the truth mas no; free
course in" them
How the righteous have been bounded and
killed all down the ages FOR daring 70 sneak
get their inspiration from their father tho
devil.
If Abraham through tho mis-, or many cen
turtles rejoic"d 10 the day OF the Man
OF Galil"e. Ills patience, Enntlcncss. sc!r-cou-
uo!. sclf-reiihncc and obedience to the laws
of God. can W. afford TO leave Him out OF
our lives
Rather. lot us take Him for oar example--
lot the truths which He spoke sink deep into
cur hearts. healing them OF their corruption
and bringing every thought and aspiration
into harmony with the viii Of God the
Father
It matters not whether We regard Jesus
"a human divine, the philosophy OF His
l,fe is the, philosophy grasp II we
would ge, the most out Of life for ourselves
and give the most to life for others Let His
word have free course in us. for
I.ife's but means unto end tina, end.
Beginning. mean. and end TO all thinGs-God