Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-01-01

Ing laid on the
features Of that gospel that meet the
particular need of the age?
What is the gospel7 Etymologically
1t is Gods story-good news. But
what is that good news? Let dis
tinguished English preacher answer
the question: "In the fulness of time
God sent forth His Son, born of
woman, born under the law, to re-
deem them that were under the law,
and this substitution of Christ must be
received by faith, quite apart from the
law and without works."
Ii this is correct, the gospel is bring
ing the spiritual things Of man before
him and calling his attention to the
provision made for those things. In
short, man is sinner and in bondage.
Christ comes to redeem him by taking
his place-this must be accepted by
faith. 1t was new thing in the First
century. When Paul In Antioch Of
Pisidia said, BE it known unto you.
men and brethren, through this man is
preached forgiveness Of SINS" he gave
new message, unique, startling and
revolutionary. Just to accept the dy-
ing of Christ on the cross, His ressur-
rection from the grave in order that
mems sins might be removed, was
blow to the old idea of remission and
forgiveness through ceremonies and
sacrifices. The sacrifice of the Son
of God was the sacrifice that did away
with all others.
Taking our text as it stands there
are some helpful suggestions.
1. The very name everlasting COS
pel' suggests that the gospel does not
change. Very soon after Paul estab-
lished some Of the churches something
was presented in the place of what he
presented and what he preached at
Antioch, and that something he spoke
of as another gospel His gospel
was salvation by faith alone, but these
teachers said, ayes, but we must do
something, we must have works in adj
dition." In our day there is little pa
thence on the part of many with the
simple old gospel. Sin, spiritual death,
necessity for the new birth, holy liv-
ing, judgment and hell are not found
in the new gospel. But who author
lied their removal?
2. The gospel is to be preached to
those who "dwell on the EARTH" The
characteristic of this age is disbelief
In the finality Of mans spiritual In
terests at the end of this life. In one
or another form there is widespread
belief that In the period beyond this
life every soul will be brought back
to God. That while some enter into
the full enjoyment of Gods presence
at once, others will need period of
preparation, kind of purgatory. If
the suggestion of the text Is true, the
person who does not hear the gospel
now will have no opportunity hereaft-
err. This truth should have two eff
fects. 1t should cause those who have
not yet believed to attend to the mat
ter at once personally; and It should
cause Christians the world over to
hasten with the gospel to those who
have not heard.
3. The gospel is of universal appli-
cation, 1t is for "every nation, and
kindred, and tongue, and people" The
Jews believed that Gods blessing
should be confined to one people, the
seed of Abraham. God did choose
that people, not that they should have
a monopoly on spiritual blessings, but
that having that blessing they should
be the channel of blessing to all peo-
pies Of the earth. The fulfillment of
this conception did not appear until
after the gospel was given by Paul and
Peter, when it was very clearly
brought out that the gospel was for
all, Jew, Gentle, Sythian, bond and
free-all were equally in the loving
mind Of God This should teach
Christians the duty Of giving the Cos
pei now as quickly as possible to those
who are far away, geographically or
socially. With God there is no respect