The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-04-05

Christians are the people of one
book-the Bible. They read and use
other books. but the book is Gods
Word, and everything else must be
in accord with its teaching.
In this blessed Book they find the
only revelation of Gods saving
grace. Other attributes of God may
be found in the book of nature.
There we find that God is powerful,
orderly, wise, etc, but nowhere in
nature is it written that God can
save a man from his sin. We find
that only in the Bible, Gods written
Word as it reveals Jesus Christ the
Saviour who is the Living Word.
l. The Eternal Glory of Gods
Kingdom wv. 1919.
The kingdom of God refers to His
reign over all things and beings, but
with special reference to those who
are willingly subject TO Him and
eager to live for His glory.
Everything in Gods creation is to
be lifted up in praise of that king
NOlIl- al MS WOl ms SlidIl pI dlSG
Him. They reveal Him in part, but
even that limited revelation is glori-
Gus. The man who cannot see God
in nature is indeed a dull clod. The
heavens declare His glory and the
earth shows forth His handiWork
(Ps. 19:D.
Greater and more precious in
Gods sight is the praise Of His
saints. Dumb alteration is accept
able only from a dumb creation. We,
His saints, are to speak His praise,
to bless Him ". 10). We are to
spread abroad among all men ".
l2) the news of Gods greatness and
goodness.
His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom and thus it at once takes
It's place as so superior to what men
call kingdoms as hardly to be men
toned in the same breath. There is
no limit to Gods kingdom either in
its extent or its duration.
How stupid then that some. yes
many, foolish men and women set
themselves up in rebellion against
God. That is the height of all folly
and leads only to disaster How wise
are those who yield their lives to
His control that their little span of
life may find rich meaning in the
One who endures forever.
III. The Abundant Provision of
Gods Mercy wv. 14-l6l,
We are all completely dependent
on the mercies of God for everything
that we need for Metaphysical, men
tai, and spiritual.
Consider the food for the body.
God opens His bountiful hand and
every living creature is provided
with the food necessary for its sus-
tenanCe. How this is accomplished
is mystery and a marvel to us.
but God is able to do it.
Centuries ago men were fearful
that the earth could not produce
enough food to keep the increasing
population of mankind alive, but God
sees to that even when He has to do
it in spite of mans waste and de-
struction
However, life is not Just material.
There must be a satisfying Of mans
spiritual nature. He needs someone
to save him from his own sinful
weakness, to deliver him from his
sorrow and af7iction. Who can do
this but God? And He does it (see
v. ~.
How does He do it? Through the
ministry of His Holy Word. There
in man finds salvation and satisfac-
ton. The Bible is the light that
shines upon his way It is his COM
fort in sorrow and his strength in
temptation. 1t exhorts and encour-
ages, ConVicts and cures.
How endless and how overfowing
is the mercy Of our God. Let us
"wait upon Him, knowing that He
is not only mindful of our need. but
eager to do for US more than we
can ask or think.
Ill. The Saving Power of Gods
Grace wv. 1910.
The Lord, who lis nigh unto all
them that call upon him" ". l8).
is able to save because He is fright
eous in all his ways and holy in
all his works" ". ~. Only lust
and holy God can deal with sin, and
yet only a merclful God would pro-
vide redemption; but in our God
mercy and truth meet Fps. us: /;
Ps. 1887. He is both lust and the
iustifier Of him that beleveth in
Jesus (Rom. $3.50.
He it is who is near to all that
''call upon him in truth" ". l8).
and surely it is such calling on the
Lord which is in mind in Romans
l0;l3, where we read that whose
ever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved"
Notice that Gods nearness, His
salvation, and His fulfllment of the
desires of man are for those who
call on Him and who fear Him"
". 19). This is not a matter of
magical use of q name, or an out
ward profession of faith. It must
come from the heart, and when it
does, God responds.
So we find God S word to be the
source of our instruction concerning
those things which can make US wise
INTO salvation (II Tim. 3:15). 1t is
he Book Of our faith!