The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-03-06


falsely, for my sake.-MattheW Sill.
Rejection of Christ by Israel as a
nation is pictured in our lesson. We
know how the judgment of God has
come upon that nation because of
its failure to receive Him and be-
lieve on Him. God had to take the
vineyard from them and give it to
others ". 16).
Men today reject Christ, and we
find that the sin which causes them
to do so and the judgment which fol-
lows are essentially the same as in
the case of Israel. There is a reason
for Christ rejection, and there is a
certain time Of answering to God for
that sin.
l. Why Men Reject Christ wv
9-15).
Self-will, the very heart of all SIM
underlies every refusal to let Christ
have His rightful control over our
lives. There are two forces which
may dominate and direct my life
Gods will or self-will. Just as love
of God is the essence of all virtue
(Matt. 22:37-38), so love of self is
the essence of all sin.
The leaders of Israel, both politi-
cal and religious, had one great fear
which dominated all of their think
ing concerning Jesus; namely, that
they would lose all their authority if
He were recognized by the people
for what the leaders must have
known Him to be-the Son of God,
and their rightful King. God had
entrusted to them as underservants
the care of His vineyard, and in
their wicked greed they had deter
mined to have it all for themselves,
even though it meant destroying the
Son and rightful Heir.
We need only a moments refec-
ton to realize that this is exactly
what occurs every time someone
now rejects Christ. 1t is because in
self-will that person decides that the
one who has a. right to his life is
not to have it. There are many
sins, but this is the root sin Of them
all.
ii. What Happens When Men Re-
ject Christ wv. 1919.
Judgment. 1t came to Israel, as
all history even to this dark day so
stri1ingly testifes. Just so, it will
come to every one eswlao rejects
Christ.
1t is not a slight matter of COM
parative uninportance whether a
man accepts or rejects Christ. He
likes to make it appear so, saying
that it is just something about the
local church that he does not like, or
the preacher does not exactly suit
him; or perchance he hides behind
the time-Worn excuse that there are
hypocrites in the church, when in
doing so he proves that he is HIM
self the worst Of hypocrites.
All of these excuses do not hide
the fact that in self-will he is re-
jecting Gods will for his life in
Christ. At the end of that road he
will have to meet the judgment of
God upon sin. God reads the heart,
knows the falsity of every excuse
and the real rebellion against Christ,
which may be hidden from fellow
men by smooth words and polite
manners.
Tear off that mask, unbelieving
friend who may read these words.
Face the truth that you are refus-
ing Christ's authority because you
are self-willed, and look squarely
at the fact that cit is appointed unto
men once to die, and after this COM
eth the judgment" (Heb. 9:27. R. W
iii. How Men Reject Christ wv.
10, 2O).
Deceit and treachery of the vilest
kind marked the rejection of Christ
by IsraePs leaders. They feared the
people, and lacking the authority to
condemn Him themselves they had
to obtain some evidence under
which the Roman law would have to
sentence Him. 1t is significant that
they could not find one bit of real
evidence against Him and had to
proceed by trickery and treachery.
Christ rejection in our day is just
as deceitful and treacherous, al
though it does not often appear so
outWardly. AS matter of fact, the
leaders of Israel were outwardly po-
lite and careful. They sent spies
who could 'feign themselves to be
just men," They cleared the peo-
pie" and did not dare to speak open
ly against Him.
Men cover up their motives today.
Some would wish to excuse them
selves on the ground of lack of
knowledge, but in our land at least
that is largely their own choice. 9th
ers might say they have only been
careless, but on what ground can one
justify neglect of a life and death
matter? Some blame the sins of pro-
Tossing Christians, but this is an in
dividual matter-you must answer
for your own soul.
No matter which way man may
turn in seeking for an excuse for his
rejection of Christ, if he is honest
he will have to admit that he has
dealt deceitfully with God. When he
does that, he is ready in repentance
and faith to take Christ as his
Saviour and Lord.