The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1948-02-26
S Err N 0 NETTE
GODS FOUR DEMANDS OF us
By REV. c. E. FLATH
Pleasant CITY. Ohio

GODS FOUR DEMANDS OF TIC
BY REV. c. E. FLATH
Pleasant City, Ohio
TEXT: Except a man be born
again he cannot see the king
dom of God. John 3:3.
eff thou bring thy gift to the altar
and there rememberest that thv
brother hath sought against thee.
leave there thy gift before the al,
tar, and 60 thy way. First be recon
ciled to thy brother and then come
and offer thy gift. Matt. S: 1924
we therefore and teach all ma
tions, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Matt. 28:19.
"And he called him, and said unto
him. How is it that hear this of
thee? Give an account of thy stew
ardship.'"
As none of us can possibly know
how long it may be until the hand
of God reaches out and takes us out
Of this life, it surely is reasonable
for us to consider seriously oc-
casionally the most critical demands
that God has placed upon us. Let
me state them briefly and then read
the scripture in which that demand
is most pointedly made.
First: That accept the Lord Jesus
Christ, as my personal Saviour and
Guide. Except man be born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God"
John 3:3. Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved" Acts. 1881 When a certain
man by the name of Nicodemus
came to Jesus by night and sought
of Him, knowing that thou art a
great teacher who came from God,
we desire to be taught" Then Jesus
said that it was more than mere
teaching, the Christian life, he
might have said, is more than mere
teaching, it is a new life. Jesus put
it in the words: eye must be born
again" In other words the first
great command is: that we live
new life, as the epistle lesson for
today saith, That ye put off con-
corning the former conversation the
old man." This is done by accept
ing the Christ, making Him the new
foundation for a new beginning, a
new birth for new life. This can
not be done by merely patching up
the old, putting new patches on old
garments, or new wine in old wine
skins. This means that we must have
a new life of communion with God
Except man be thus reborn, he
will not be able to see the kingdom
of God He will not be able to under
stand the nature of it, and not be
able to understand we could not
have any enjoyment of the heavenly
unless we were born anew. The man
Nicodemus was interested in being
taught the way to live, but long be-
fore the conversation was over, he
knew that here was the One who
could give him the ability to walk
in that way. To have Christ was that
force in the heart, is to be reborn,
that is the first great command. But
let us hasten to the second.
Second: That we make peace with
our fellowman First be reconciled
to they brother and then come and
offer thy gift" Matt. 5:24 This is
a necessary demand for if we de-
God an open channel, we must have
proper fellowship with all men. If
one has any trouble with fellow
IildIl, LII WIllCIl llullSGl1 ID dI 1dIlt,
he must make short work of it,
nothing else is to be done but to go
and seek forgiveness. If it is case
where thou art the injured party,
go offer thy forgiveness, and then
come to Gods house and worship
Him in prayer and praise seeking
help in the word and sacraments.
The hour of worship is always an
hour of self examination. Religious
exercises are not acceptable to God
if they are performed when we are
in wrath, for envy, malice, and un-
charitableness are sins so displeaS-
ing to God that nothing will please
God that comes from a herd in
which this predominates. AS st.
Paul said, Let not the sun go down
upon thy wrath" Let us seek peace
with both God and man.
Then if we have this channel of
communion with God, it will be our
desire to carry out the third de-
mand, which is: that of bringing
others to Christ, GO ye therefore
and teach all nations" Matt. 28:19.
Third: Here is a command of ac
tion. Here is the command that we
have a definite invitation to be CO.
workers with Christ. Seeking the
lost for Christ is not an obligation
that we can lay aside as matter
of choice. We are commanded to wit
ness for Him. In the early church
the time of phenomenal growth of
the church, men were won for
Christ, by the witnessing from life
to life and heart to heart.
Every member of the church has
taken the vows that if carried out