River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-06-08

soul has many spiritual enemies that
gather around and settle down upon
1t. The Bible names seven Of these:
the guilt Of sin, which brings con-
demnation; 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 anu
prohibits unrighteousness: the powers
of darkness, subtle and binding; the
fear Of death, with It's separating pow
err and the wrath to come as the result
of sin.
These create an unhoiy fear from
which there Is no human escape. JUST
as enemies around a fort cause uncer'
tainty and concern unless the Tort Is
held by an invincible force, SO does
sin produce misgiving and fear. Tnere
is no force In the human heart supe-
ri0r 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 a man Is what he Is before
God, which In common speech means
| that he Is sinner by nature and prac-
| tice. HE that cOmmitteth sin Is the
bond servant of SIM" The hrst neeo
Of all such Is deliverance.
The deliverance provided fully meets
| the need of the case. Over against
sin, in all it's aspects, the world WIN
| all It's glitter; the law with Its claims
| and requirements the powers OF dark
ness with their subtle delusions; the
| fear of death and the wrath to come"
one can, If he so Wills, write the words
of Thes., 10, "Jesus which deliv-
cred u.s." or Gal. l a, He gave him.
self for our sins that he might deiiV-
er us from this present evil world
or Rom. 7;6, 1--WE are delivered from
the law, or / Cor. 10 1851, "The
sting Of death Is sin and the strength
, of sin is the law, but thanks be to Coo
who giveth us the victory through oul
Lord Jesus Christ" Here is great
deliverance adequate in every respect
making provision for the guilt OF the
past, meeting the need of the present
and inspiring a glorious hope for the
1 future. Thus "being delivered out OF
the hand Of our enemies" we should
serve Him without fear"
n The best service that can be offered
to God prior to our spiritual and ex-
detrimental deliverance through Christ
Is characterized In 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 nope
and purpose of making amends for the
evil that is In heart and life. Instinct.
lively the human spirit senses the holf
ness of God and its own unholiness
! Conscience reaffirms what Scriptures
assert. namely, shat your iniquities
have separated between you and your
| God" Then the question arises
"What must I do to be saved?" 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
sneaks. not of something to do but OF
something done by another, not OF
| human works but of Christs finished
work. not of service as a way OF de-
liyerance but deliverance as a way OF
service. 1t points to Calvary as
Mace of pardon, of peace and of pow
er. Being delivered by the mighty
! work of Christ In death and resurrec
tion. we can serve without fear.
The service of a delivered soul Is
glad. free service. II gave thee thy
liberty" says Christ, and the heart re-
niles: master, l will serve Thee for
ever" Like Saul of Tarsus, who
when converted. signed himself, Paul
the bondslaye of Jesus Christ" SC
does the truly-saved person bring to
his Lord, not only his sins but his
life. Like the prodigal he asks only
TO be made a servant. but the Father
first gives him place as a son. and
then as such he goes about the Faith
er's business. Deliverance, service
this is always Gods order.
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