The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-31


Founder of the Church. ID. The
doctrine of the church was for
the first time mentioned by Jesus.
Upon the meaning of his words
expCsitors are not agreed. Some
say the rock means Christ as the
Rock of Ages; some say that 1t
applies to Peter. claiming that he
at Pentecost wrought and wit
messed the virtual birth of the
church; some, that it refers to
the body of Apostles who were
founders of Christianity in vari-
Gus lands; most, that it means
the confession of Peter which
must be that of every true church
member. Of course we reject
the Romish view of the primacy
of Peter. Three things are in
controvertible: The church be-
longs to Christ; it is built by
him; and it will triumph over all
opposition. (2) The discipline of
the church is suggested in the
keys of the kingdom and the
power of binding and loosing. II
Peter and his associates and sue
cessors obey the teachings of the
world and follow the Spirit, their
action in admitting the saved to
the church and excluding the dis
orderly will be sanctioned in
heaven. 60 The message of the
church would eventually center
| in the Messiahship and deity of
Jesus, but before the ascension,
! it would only arouse fanaticism
and hostility.
THE DEATH OF CHRIST
The Founder of the Church
Was Our Atoning Saviour What
Jesus himself had long foreseen
was now for the first time de-
clared to his followers. Recog-
nizing the Messiah, they must
learn that his chief work is vi
icarious suffering rather than po-
litical sovereignty. Four things
I! he therefore predicted: The in
evitable journey to Jerusalem;
the endurance of hardships from
the authorities; the divine martyr
dom; the glorious resurrection.
The mention of the Masters muir
der stirred the soul of Peter.
With a half-prayer that Jesus
death might be prevented, he
made the rash assertion that it
should never occur. Thus he con-
tradicted the prediction just made
and, implying the kingdom with.
out the cross, became the tempt
err of his Lord. AS the momen-
tary mouthpiece of Satan, Peter
merited the sharp command which
vanquished the tempter in the
wilderness. So early had the
man of rock become stumbling
block; for he had not the mind
to comprehend, much less direct,
divine affairs.
THE LoRDSHIP OF CHRIST
The Atoning Saviour Is Our
Living and Reigning Lord. Loyal
ty to him demands self-renuncia-
ton, cross-bearing and obedience.
No heart can have two thrones
and Christ must sway the scepter.
Hence self must be renowned,
subordinated and made to serve
instead of reign. And hence also
the paradox that we can find life
by losing it or lose it by saving
it. He finds his life truly, large
ly, eternally, who loses it for the
sake of Christ and the gospel.
On the other hand, what good
could it do a ma INTO win the
whole world at the forfeit of his
! own life?
CONFESS AND FOLLOW
CHRIST
d Confess and Follow the
Divine Christ. "Thou art the
{ Christ, the Son of the living
! God" He was in the beginning
with God and was God.
(2) Confess and Follow the
Teaching Christ. "He asked his
disciples-began to show unto his
disciples" Those first believers
were not ashamed to be called
his disciples. He is our Great
Teacher today.
60 Confess and Follow the
Revealing Christ. "Whom say
We that l am?" His greatest reve-
lation was his revelation of him
self. With what clearness he inn
pressed his divine Sonship upon
the disciples, and led them to
confess it!
"a Confess and Follow the
Commenting Christ. BLESSED art
thouw Study the Masters "bless-
eds" and see what called them
forth. The Great Confession of
his diety did it here. Is he not
pleased when we confess him
now?
(5) Confess and Follow the
Building Christ. 81 will build my
church" 1t is he who founded
and still fosters it. He upbuilds
and strengthens it. He indwells
it. He owns and uses it.
co. Confess and Follow the
Prevailing Christ. "The gates of
hades shall not prevail against
it." In spite of great opposition
Christ will certainly conquer.
Though the powers of darkness
assail, the church will gloriously
triumph.
CD Confess and Follow the
Atoning Christ. Gle must go
suffer many things-be killed
be raised up" There is no other
name whereby we must be saved.
To him we nust look for saliva
ton from the dominion and con-
sequences of sin.
| (S) Confess and Follow the
Sovereign Christ. "Let him deny
himself" Self or the Saviour
which? For the Christian there