New Britain herald., 1923-02-26
BELIEVES CHRIST IS !.
 THE SON Of GOD.
Dr. Hill Says Many Theories Are Immalerlal to Genuine Belief

~ Hte WothAht eefftte ih kht e9uth
 church yesterday morning Dr. iIill
 gave the third of the series of Lenten
 sermons on Making creed.p based
 on the Apostles Creed, speaking on
 'I believe in Jesus Christ. His Only
 Son Our Lord" He took as his text.
 "wha say Se that l amG" from Matr
 thew l6slA,
 In part he said that this query of
 Jesus, Of His disciples is ever a peF-
 tinent one and comes to our age with
 striking insistenee, Repetition of the
 phrase of the Creed, 'I believe in
 Jesus Christ" may not at all mean
 an understanding Of what il says.
 Probably very few people realize
 what many of the stock words and
 phrases of religion which they use
 signify, One speaks of the Divinity
 of Christ" If you ask him what he
 means he will doubtless reply. Why
 that Jesus was God" which of course
 is not what divinity means. Some
 persons get al worked up over whether some man or preacher is
 sound" in theology when their own theology is very nearly nothing but sound. IL is then very unwise. not to say unsafe, 10 use stock theological terms when there is no general un- derstanding as to what they mean.
 Strong and sufficient and satisfying convictions about Jesus Christ can be gained without help from any of the common phases Of the Creed or tho theological market. They are to be gained from the only possible source, His memoirs In the New Testament. The picture given us there Is amaz- ingly striking. The claims Jesus made concerning Himself are so astounding and so altogether staggering that they stamp Him as either a charlatan, an insane fanatic. or q perfectly good and righteous being. He claimed to be without sin and no one, not even his enemies, disputed Him. He chal- lenged men to convict Him of sin and none answered. He assumed likeness with God, teaching men that they could reach God only through | Him and that seeing Him they saw God.
 These and many other such claims, which would be preposterous and a sacrilege in others, seem wholly fit- ting and natural in Him. Moreover a whole civilization has been built up on Him and belief in His claims and it is not likely that a civilization that could stand the test of 200 years, constantly growing stronger and more could have been erected on the word, or person or the spirit and truth of discredited man. an im- poster. It is impossible then to think of Him other than as One having what the disciples believed, nature and goodness beyond and above that of our ordinary human goodness, in fact Gods own. When He speaks it is God speaking. He thus brings God to us. He is ssGod for us all of God that could be included within a human personality, Gods moral and spiritual power. Just as the bay which comes from the ocean, with the very same water, is so far forth the ocean, so Jesus is God.
 The matter of His virgin birth and power are matters wholly
  Saviour for men. One may or may lot believe these and yet have abso- ute faith in Jesus as Saviour and he Son of God. Jesus did not ny Lnything about his birth. Nor did Paul or John ever mention it. Be- ieving that Jesus had no human fa- her does not necessarily make Him inless. On the other hand it re- moves Him from the sympathy with UT human lot that makes Him one with us in all that gives understand ng and help. And whatever miracles r wonderful works He wrought are o necessary witness to His power to ave men from selfishness and sin.
 He was not great and good because Ie did wonderful works. Rather, He i'd His works, wrought his cures, ecause He was great and good, be, q lusc of His moral and spiritual per- ection That is the way to view this N latter. His wonderful deeds depend c pon His supernal character. But lese things are really immaterial to ncere and deep religious faith, and hristian people make a grave mis- Ike Tn creating or encouraging ire ,onsible and useless talk about such 4 atters when needy world is all 4 'ound us wanting thousand appli- ltions of the healing touch of CT hrists love and spirit and truth. co Peters onfession-"Thou are the D hrist, the Son of the living God"- li
 the confession of every reverent st Id earnest man and woman who nc mes into touch with the spirit of IS sus Christ. And that is the only !" ay to know, not by reasoning and hi gument but by personal experience. re nly by trying what He says, taking II chance on Him and His truth, do hiking on His spirit in all the ex- riences of living can man find Sl nat it means that Jesus Christ is Savior. Then indeed, if one fol- ws Him and keeps on following, IT Il he come to know that He is the DO n of God" Fe