The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-03-23

gather around and settle down upon
Ii. The Bible names seven of these :
the guilt of sin. which brings con-
domination; the dominion of sin, which
brings despair; the thralldom of the
world, which promises satisfaction
and never gives it; the voice Of the
law which requires righteousness ana
prohibits unrighteousness the powers
OF darkness, subtle and binding; the
fear of death, with its separating pow
er and the wrath to come as the result
of sin.
These create an unholy fear from
which there Is no human escape. just
as enemies around a fort cause uncer-
tainty and concern unless the fort is
held by IN invincible force, SO does
sin produce misgiving and fear. There
is no force i'm the human heart supe-
rior to the assaults of sin and Satan.
Therefore. there is no human escape
from this unholy fear. Neither the
holiness Of ignorance, nor the boast
fulness of presumption, nor the game
of bluff will avail here. In the last
analysis man is what he is before
God, which In common speech means
that he Is n sinner by nature and prac-
tice. "Ie that committeth sin Is the
bond servant of sin" The first need
of all such is deliverance.
The deiverance provided fully meets
the need of the case. over against
sin, in all its aspects, the world with
all its glitter; the law with Its claims
and requirements the powers of dark
ness with their subtle delusions; the
fear of death and the wrath 10 come.
one can, If he so wills, write the words
of | Thes., ITO. Jesus which deliv-
cred u.s." or Gal. ! "A. "He gave him
self for our sins that he might ieliv-
err us from this present evil world
or Rom. 49, 1--WE are delivered from
the law. or Cor. IL :5G-57, "The
sting of death Is sin and the strength
of sin is the law. but thanks he 10 God
who giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ" Here is n great
deliverance adequate In every respect.
making provision for the guilt of the
past, meeting the need of the present
and inspiring glorious hope for the
future. Thus "being delivered out OF
the hand of our enemies" we should
serve Him without fear"
The best service that can be offered
to God prior TO our spiritual and ex-
detrimental deliverance through Christ
is characterized I'm Scripture as dead
works" These dead works are the
result OF the effort to atone for sin.
They are the sum total of an attempt
to do the best we can with the hope
and purpose OF making amends for the
evil that Is in heart and life. Instinct
lively the human spirit senses tile holt
ness of God and its own unholiness.
Conscience reallirms what Scriptures
assert, namely. that your iniquities
have separated between you and your
Cod" Then the question arises,
"What must do to he sayed?" Every
answer to this question, with the ex-
ceptIon of one, has been false and mis-
leading. Reason says: do some
thing. work. serve" Gods revelation
speaks, not of something 10 do but Of
something done by another, not Of
human works but OF Chrlst's finished
work. not Of service as a way of de-
Iiyerance hut dellverance as way Of
service. 1t points to Calvary as a
place of pardon. Of peace and Of pow
err. Being delivered by the mighty
work OF Christ In death and resurrec-
ton. we can serve without fear.
The service OF delivered soul Is
glad, free service. Il gave thee thy
liberty" says Christ. and the heart re-
niles: master, will serve Thee for
ever" Like Saul Of Tarsus, who
when converted. signed himself, Paul,
the bondsave OF Jesus Christ" so
does the truly-saved person bring to
his Lord. not only his sins but his
life. Like the prodlgal he asks only
70 be made servant, but the Father
first gives him place as son, and
then as such he goes about the Faith
er's business. Dellverance, service
this Is always Gods order.