The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1922-03-31

soul has lnany spiritual enemies that
gather around and settle down upon
it. 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
prohibits unrighteousness; the powers
Of darkness, subtle and binding; the
fear of death, with it's 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 an invincible force, so does
sin produce misgiving and fear. Ihere
Is no force in 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 q 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 first need
Of all such is deliverance.
The deliverance provided fully meets
the need of the case. Over against
sin, in all its aspects, the world with
all it's glitter; the law with its claims
and requirements the powers Of dark
ness with their subtle decisions; the
fear of death and the wrath to come
one can, if he so wills, write the words
Of I Thes., 10, Jesus which deliV-
cred u.s." or Gal. 1 a, HE gave him.
self for our sins that he might deliv-
er us from this present evil world;
or Rom. 7:6, eve are delivered from
the law, or 1 Cor. Is 1861, "The
sting Of death is sin and the strength
of sin is the law, but thanks be to God
who giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ" Here Is a 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
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 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 hope
and purpose Of making amends for the
evil that is in heart and life. Instinct
lively the human spirit senses the holt
ness Of God and its own unholiness.
Conscience reaffirms what Scriptures
assert, namely, "that your iniqufties
have separated between you and your
Cod" 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
speaks, not of something to do but of
something done by another, not Of
human works but Of Christ's finished
work, not Of service as way Of de-
liverance but deliverance as way of
service. 1t points TO Calvary as
place of pardon, Of peace and Of pow
er. Being delivered by the mighty
work of Christ in death and resurrec-
ton. we can serve without fear.
The service Of a delivered soul is
a glad, free service. 81 gave thee thy
liberty" says Christ, and the heart re-
plies: master, will serve Thee for
ever" Like Saul of Tarsus, who
when converted, signed himself, paul,
the bondslave Of Jesus Christ" so
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 son, and
then as such he goes about the Faith
er's business. Deliverance, service
this is always Gods order.