Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-31
THE GOSPEL" IS DEFINED.
AS GOOD NEWS FOR MAN
DIR. Semmes Says Jesus Has
Given the Fullest Rcvc.
lalion of Cod.
GODS LOVE THE HEST NEWS
'hc Gospel. Dir. ScnimrS Snys, Tells
>eNcrni Things About NInn Tint
Arc Good and Worthy OF Careful
Thought Hy All.

Ihc Gospel. Dr. sen,mcS says, Tell,
NeHcrni Things About Mnn That
Nrc Good and Worthy or Careful
Thought Hy An.
Taking The Gospcl' as his text
yesterday morning az Meade Me-
mortal Church, Rev. Thomas Scmnes
""id that recently a great American
preacher delivered II sermon in Lon
a"n. England. and hts text was the
single word, Gospel" The New
Testament. Dr. Sommcs said. is full
- tho word gospel" 1t means
good news" 1t IS good news about
GOD ana about man We know very
Wen tho great news about God which
!s contained ouiy IN tn" Sew Teata-
!u"ut. All ~ knew Of GOD, apart
from The universe and our earth and
ourselves. IL from the BIBLE. Iosuy
mas given Us by Tar tho fullest rsyc-
l"tlon OF God mankind has yet had
l'u, for Christ our knowledge OF God
would b" very imperfect. lie re-
N'"Ied Him as a, Father whose ma
'Nr" is love. truth. justice. mercy.
fLshte"usness and holiness lie loves
Ills children and His patience with
,h"in aud forgiveness OF them are
Infinite
Nothing IL more wonderful than
'hrists revelation Of His Father.
~ mas changes the religion OF the
Npt.9 and LAID the foundation OF n
Spir!iua! power tina, Will save the
World Tn" good news about Goa.
then t. HIS 10y" for us aud the
launching OF HIS mighty purpose and
lower into tho nsht To save the
world.
'rno Gospel tolls us several things
about man tina; are good and worthy
OF our careful thought.
FIRST; the d"cpcst thing in human
nature Is good, divine Man IL made
m the mag" and likeness -! God
Man Is Gods child mere have been
some badly d"fac"d and iuarr.d
images. some terribly n!slcd and mis-
taken lives. some very unworthy chill
dren. but deep down below all tho
hhriac" symptoms ono scars. there
~ every man something 20 witch
ihe pur"st uobiost. trUcst. most un-
selfish, appeals. There il within us
Il something. spiritual sense. an
intuition. an css"nc. OF deity. call Il
what you Viii, that responds to Tho
manifold appeal OF God. This spir-
.tGa! sense or nature T. the most real
and valuable thing in mans nature.
Ills capacity to understand and know
toi, and his desire To be Ike Him
Is mans greatest g!ft. To develop
TINS SIT - our greatest work In
N'". TO do 'h.s is tho ono reason
we ar" permitted TO have lie
The Gospel tells us that If man
real Thing IN him Will grow and de-
N".pp until men Will 600 IL and dc.
sire s!inilsr character and lifc
Christ shows better WAY.
hfi"t enhod!"s tho perfection or
Goa. He shows us better way
than mans narrow and s.lhsh Ike
lie contrasts all OF the nob!cr and
Iurcr things man is capable OF with
th" lower ana haser way men live
Christ shows W. by His teachings
ara ne that a narrow. unreal, selfish
III" VIII not develop tho divine or
spiritual nature o. man.
some people assum" or think that
they have no spiritual gifts or de-
sir"s. and some dcrlor" what seems
10 b" TACT in their natures
The Gospel tells man that he can
hc changed III The very roots Of his
being. II he viii believe In Chris,
as Gods provision for mans saliva
ton and learn Of Him by the closest
compromising and personal union
he can have his spiritual nature
.trcnG thcncd and developed until he
himself Is satisfied that he Is the
child OF God
Ihc GoSpcl tells us that ii man
VIII follow Christ he can conuucr
all his enemies. within and wI,hou;
Those within him canno, live In tho
presence of AN unsclhsh lfo. and
every enemy w!thou; him Will yield
TO love.
The Gospel tells US that nothing
can harm a man hut himself. Christ's
own life and death prove this con-
ciusiHcly. We are apt to think that
our reputation can be damaged or
DESTROYED n
iod!es can be hurt and destroyed by
"a cruel death. Christ's has heen
spoken agains; and His reputation is
purifying the world. and His cruel
ana shameful death on the cross has
GIoriled Him and millions OF His
SAINTS. Now power can harm a man
nut himself Any man can hurt him
SELF, but no one else can hurt him
Dcnth Tnkcs Nothing Valuable
ne Gospel tells us that death does
not take away from US anything
worth keeping. All the real values
We nave gathered here go with us.
Death does not separate us from the
likeness to God in us. il doe moi
deprive us OF holy character we
tax" with Us al we have learned
OF God and leave behind us onlv
the material things of 10 permanent
value.
When Lord Shaftesbury was hurioa
~ ''''S'"i ~ '''9'''h iidVCncd from
The east end of London to West.
minister Abbey. The streets wnro
denscly lined with people. Ererv-
whore placards and banners were n
be seen. They were held mostly by
the poor. One of them read, II was
hungry. and ye fed me-" An or
Ganization of reformed thieves held
placard which proclaimed. "I war
IN prison and sc visited me" On
almost every square was ono tcxt
OF Scripture carried by bootblacks.
reformed women and the little Chin
ney sweeps. I'VE loved him because
he first loved us In the love OF
ten thousand hearts Lord Skates
l'ury was carrying out of this world
The priceless. spiritual treasures of
divine likeness