The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-07-04

ferred to reads in this way Whose
ever will, let him take II water OF
life freely. For l testify unto every
man tina heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, if n man shall
add unto these things, God h add
unto him the plaques that are written
in this book. And if any man shall
take away from the words of the book
of this prophecy, God shall take away
his part out of the book of lite"
water said the negro preacher.
"is that TO which nothing can be added
and from which nothing can be taken
away. It is a fitting symbol of the
Word of God to which nothing must
be added and from which nothing must
be taken away. 1t is so complete i'll
itself that to add to it or to take away
from it spoils it and brings down judg-
ment from God"
A perverted Gospel is the Gospel in
a modified form, the Gospel to which
some al matter is added or
from which some vital element is sub
tracted. In either case, such Il Gospel
becomes powerless to save.
There are those who would remove
some vital element from the Gospel,
such as the deity or humanity of our
Lord, or His cross and resurrection as
the instruments of a perfect redemp-
ton. When these are omitted, the
Gospel is deprived IF its saving
strength. 1t ceases to inspire and
enthuse the hearts of men and becomes
lifeless and powerless.
The other method of attack is to add
something to the finished work of
Christ as a mean of salvation. This
was the method followed in Paul's day
against which he wrought and fought
so vigorously. The Epistle to the Ga
latians is a protest against any addi-
Ions to the Gospel which deprive it of
its power to save, thereby making void
the grace of God.
The Apostle had some things in COM
mon with those who perverted the Cos
pei of grace. Both parties believed
that Jesus was the Messiah and the
Son of God. Both believed that He
had died and had beer raised from
the dead. Both believed that it was
necessary to put faith in Him. But at
this point they parted company. Paul
preached that faith in Christ crucified
for our sins and raised for our justi-
fcation was sufficient to save a sinner,
and give him a place Of acceptance be-
fore God. The cross of Christ an
sWered back to every claim of the
broken law. The virtue and value of
Christ's saving work was reckoned
over to the account of the sinner who
put faith i'll Him. To this the false
teachers objected, asserting that in adj
dition to faith in Christ, the religious
rite of circumcision was necessary
and the law keeping, of which cir
cumcision was the beginning. Hence.
the conflict of that early day.
To some people this difference may
seem to be small or trivial. But it is
not 50. 1t was and is tremendous and
vital. 1t marks the difference between
a religion of grace and Il religion of
merit. In the conflict, Paul was the
%conqueror because he was on the side
of God and truth. Those who preach
faith plus something else, preach a per-
verified Gospel-a Gospel powerless to
save. They make the grace Of God,
that grace which provides a perfect
salvation without any additional merit
obtained or attained by use of ordi-
nances, sacraments or observances.
The question of circumcision has no
interest for US, but that which it rep
uncaptal a ct-Gtan1 pf x,-otl-c urharnlx
salvation was to be secured-is still Il
burning question. There are today
those who preach salvation through
faith plus law keeping, especially the
fourth commandment, or through bap-
tism, or membership in some religious
communion. These things have their
proper place in the lives of those who
are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, but
to make them in any sense essential to
justification, is to peryert the Gospel
of Christ and to mislead the souls of
men.
The liberty to which the apostle re-
fers in this epistle is obtained only by
those who stand fast in the truth of the
Gospel. 1t is the liberty whereWith
Christ has made us free. 1t is the lib.
erty Of the sons of God. 1t is the lib.
erty that leads a soul into the place
of Joy, strength and triumph. Like all
other forms of liberty, it needs TO be
guarded and directed in its activities
Provision is made for this in the 16tt
verse of the fifth chapter in the words
walk in the Spirit" The highest
place TO which a Christian can come ! il
indicated in this chapter and in these
words: stand fast in the libert,
wherewith Christ hath made us free.
and then, walk in the Spirit"