South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-20
GOSPELS PURPOSE
SERMON SUBJECT AT
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
Four Fold Purpose of Gospel
is Outlined by DIR. James
L. Gardiner.

"The Four-Fold Purpose of the
Gospel" was the theme of the SER
mon preached yesterday morning by
Rev. James L. Gardiner. ID. D., in
the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
church. The sermon was based on
the word Of Christ to Paul as record
ed in the Acts Of the Apostles, Il
send three to open their eyes. that
they may turn from darkness to
light and from the power of Satan
unto God. that they may receive re-
mission of sirs. and an inheritance
among them that are sanctified by
.aith in Me-"
DR.. Gardner in discussing this
subject said, THE word Gospel is
one of the biggest and most mean
ingful words in the language and
literature Of the world. II is a word
that is to be found again and again
in the New Testament. Jesus in
bidding farewell to His disciples
said, Go ye forth into the world
and preach my Gospel to every crea-
ture. Paul in writing TO the Ro-
mans remarks. i am not ashamed
Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it
is the power Of God unto salvation TO
every enc that believeth.'
William +. Gladstone once wrote,
Talk about the questions of the day.
There is but one questionable ques-
ton of the GospE That will settle
all questions that need 10 be settled
Harold Begbie well remarks that
There is only one thing that can
make a man who is radically bad.
radically good. and that is the Cos
pei of Jesus Christ
Meaning of the Gospel.
Now what do we mean by the
GOSPEL? This is an vital and i'm
portant question. In reply let me
say that the best definition OF the
Gospel is to be found in the text of
the morning The words Of our text
are of great value because they were
not uttered by any mere manor
| even by an angel. They were utter
ed by the Son of God 1t was Jesus
who said TO Paul I send YOU unto
/ the Gentiles TO open their eyes, that
| they may receive remission of sins,
and an inheritance among them that
are sanctified.'
Look at these words as spoken
/ by Jesus 10 the great apostle of the
Gentiles and you viii find there is a
/ four-fold purpose TO the Gospel of
/ Christ.
First-Thc Gospel stands for en-
I Iightment. II is the purpose Of the
Gospel TO open eyes that are blind.
Jesus i'm His first sermon at Naza-
reth declared thtS He had come "a
open blind eyes
ITO be blind physically. is a great
anlction. Milton the great blind
poet once wrote,
% loss Of sight, Of thee I do COM
plain
Blind among men. o worse than
chains
'Not to be able TO look upon the
beauties of life. not TO see the world
/ that God has made not 10 be able 10
/ see the faces of the friends we love
this is a terrible afflicticn. And yet
IL is not as sad as to be spiritually
blind
Open Eyes of soul.
There are men who have no eyes
/ TO see God or good i'm the world.
I There are men who have their eyes
closed 10 the truth of God. II is for
them the Gospel has come The
! purpose of the Gospel is 10 open the
eyes of mans soul that he may be
able 10 see not only God but the
real the spiritual things Of life
( Second-The Gospel OF Christ
stands for the conversion OF the soul
! Il is not enough that our spiritual
eyes be opened The soul must be
+ changed. We me- turn from fol-
lowing darkness 20 following light;
we must turn from following Satan
+ 10 following God We must turn our
faces from hel and march toward
I heaven
You Will remember when the
prOdigaTs eyes were opened and
I when he saw his sin and his shame
\ he turned his face toward home and
/ righteousness and said. 7 viii arise
I and so 10 my father and will say ]
I have sinnod
Third-The Gospel stands too for