,,god',s ,,plan ,,with ,,men by ,t4 ,t4 ,,martin1 ,evangelist ,for every sentence1 clause and word1 ,that's not inlaid with thee1 my ,lord1 ,forgive me1 ,god6 and blot each line ,out of my book that is not thine4 ,but if1 'mongst all1 thou find'st here one ,worthy thy benediction1 ,that one of all the rest shall be ,the glory of my work and me4 ,new ,york ,chicago ,toronto ,fleming ,h4 ,revell ,company ,london and ,edinburgh ,copyright1 #aiab1 by ,fleming ,h4 ,revell ,company ,new ,york3 #aeh ,fifth ,avenue ,chicago3 #ag ,n4 ,wabash ,ave4 ,toronto3 #be ,richmond ,st41 ,w4 ,london3 #ba ,paternoster ,square ,edinburgh3 #ajj ,princes ,street ,,preface ,not new truths1 but old truths properly emphasized1 is one of the great needs of our times and of all times4 ,the object of this book is not to start something new1 but to specially emphasize some old truths and their relations to each other4 ,the aim of the book is to help two classes3 those who are seeking to be saved1 and those who are already saved2 the one1 by showing simply and plainly ,god's way of salvation2 the other1 by showing simply ,god's way of dealing with men after they are saved4 ,the author hopes1 moreover1 that the book may be of some special help to honest sceptics4 ,for this purpose1 the ,introduction is addressed to them2 and the hope is cherished that ,chapter ,i will aid in disarming prejudice against ,god and the ,bible2 for while the ,bible's teaching of degrees of punishment in ,hell does not detract from the horrors of future punishment1 but rather adds thereto1 it effectually does away with the charge of the injustice of future punishment4 ,the enquirer and young convert may omit the parts marked ,for ,further ,study at the close of each chapter and not lose connection4 ,these are added for ,bible students who wish to go further into the subject treated4 ,and now1 the author lays the book at the ,master's feet and prays ,his blessings upon it1 that it may be a blessing to those who read it4 ,t4 ,t4 ,martin4 ,blue ,mountain1 ,miss4 ,,contents ,i4 ,sin and ,its ,punishment--,god's ,justice--,degrees ,in ,hell #ag ,,ii4 ,sins ,not ,excused1 nor the ,penalty ,ever ,remitted ,without ,redemption #cb ,,iii4 ,jesus the ,christ as ,sin-bearer--,god's ,justice and ,love #ch ,,iv4 ,the ,new ,relation--,the ,new ,motive #fj ,v4 ,the ,sins of ,god's ,children--,forgiveness--,chastisements #hf ,,vi4 ,rewards--,degrees in ,heaven #aja ,,vii4 ,how to be ,saved--,repentance and ,faith #abe ,,viii4 ,the ,meaning of ,believe ,on or ,believe ,in ,christ #ace ,,ix4 ,eternal ,life the ,present ,possession of the ,believer #aeh ,x4 ,development of ,character in the ,redeemed #age ,,introduction ,come now and let us reason together1 saith the ,lord4--,isaiah4 ,if any man willeth to do his will1 he shall know of the teaching1 whether it is of ,god1 or whether ,i speak from my self4--,jesus4 ,and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart4--,jeremiah4 ,then shall we know if we follow on to know the ,lord4--,hosea4 ,this work is not written for sceptics2 yet while preparing to write for the benefit of others than sceptics1 the author's heart has gone out toward that large class of his fellow-men who are sceptical2 who1 from different causes1 have been led to doubt or deny the ,bible's being a revelation from ,god2 and he has yearned to say something that would at least arouse the attention of this class sufficiently to cause them to give an earnest investigation1 or re-investigation1 to the question4 ,the bare possibilities that there is a ,hell and a ,heaven1 that the soul can never cease to exist1 and that ,jesus is the real ,saviour1 are enough to cause every doubting one to give the most earnest consideration to any evidence bearing on these questions1 and to undertake the most careful investigation of anything that promises to lead to certainty4 ,it will be admitted by every honest disbeliever that no writer has ever made it certain that there is no future existence2 that there is no ,heaven2 that there is no ,hell2 that ,jesus was not the ,saviour4 ,the most that such writers have been able to produce is doubts4 ,if1 now1 there is the possibility of reaching certainty on the other side1 surely the reader should be willing and anxious to undertake a calm1 searching examination1 or re-examination1 of the question4 ,if there is no ,heaven or ,hell1 no future existence1 no one will ever find it out1 before or after death2 and there would be but little1 if anything1 gained if one could find it out4 ,but if there is a ,heaven and a ,hell1 and ,jesus is the ,saviour1 then there is everything to be gained by finding it out and everything to be lost by neglecting to find it out4 ,so important are the issues at stake that you1 reader1 should be willing to take years1 if need be1 to make a thorough investigation of the matter2 you should be willing to read and study many books1 and there are many that would help you2 but ,i wish to urge you to read two books only1 before reading this book4 ,surely your eternal destiny and the destinies of those over whom you have an influence 7for none of us liveth to himself7 are enough to cause you to give earnest attention to the reading of three small books4 ,the bare possibility that the reading of the three books may lead to your making sure of ,heaven as your eternal home1 is enough to prompt you to read them and to read them most carefully and prayerfully4 ,the first is ,the ,wonders of ,prophecy1 by ,john ,urquhart4 ,the second is ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation1 by ,j4 ,b4 ,walker 7,american ,edition74 ,having read these two books prayerfully and carefully1 then give this book a careful reading4 ,but let the reader consider ,god's plan for investigating4 ,it is often said by a certain class of sceptics that the ,bible is against honest investigation1 that it shuts off the use of one's reason4 ,let the word of ,god speak for itself1 ,come now and let us reason together1 saith the ,lord4--,is4 #a3ah4 ,the trouble with many sceptics is that they are not willing to reason together1 to reason to get with ,god1 but that they reason against ,god and to get away from ,god4 ,jesus said1 ,take heed how ye hear4 ,watch your heart's attitude when you hear4 ,the attitude of being against ,god will warp your reasoning when you hear4 ,god's promise is plain to the earnest1 honest seeker after ,god4 ,and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart4--,jer4 #bi3ac4 ,one who is half-hearted1 indifferent1 prejudiced against ,god or against truth1 has no right to expect to find ,god or to find truth4 ,but the promise is positive that the one who seeks with all the heart shall find4 ,let the reader put ,god to the test4 ,how can an earnest1 honest man refuse to make an earnest1 honest investigation8 ,it was against those who would not make such an investigation that ,jesus spoke1 ,matt4 #ab3db1 ,the queen of the south shall rise up in the judgement with this generation and shall condemn it3 for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of ,solomon2 and behold a greater than ,solomon is here4 ,the heathen woman who went to so much trouble and expense1 and took so much time to make a thorough1 honest investigation for the truth1 will condemn those who do not make an earnest persevering investigation2 ,and behold a greater than ,solomon is here1 with ,his promise1 ,if any man willeth to do his will he shall know4 ,reader1 will you carelessly refuse to take the time and to go to the trouble and expense of getting and reading earnestly two books that may lead you to the truth8 ,oh1 reader1 outstrip the heathen queen in search of light4 ,give your life-time1 if need be1 to an earnest investigation of this matter4 ,picture two men1 one giving his life-time to earnest1 honest1 searching for the truth concerning sin and salvation through ,christ2 the other1 from indifference1 or pride1 or prejudice1 or love of the world1 or secret sin1 never making an earnest1 honest investigation2 the one dying and going to ,heaven2 the other dying and going to ,hell4 ,which shall it be in your case1 reader8 ,there is absolutely no uncertainty as to the result if only you will be honest1 and earnest and persevering in your search for the truth4 ,listen to ,jesus3 ,john #g3ag1 ,if any man willeth to do his will1 he shall know of the teaching1 whether it is of ,god1 or whether ,i speak from myself4 ,whether you1 reader1 are ignorant or learned cuts absolutely no figure in this case4 ,jesus throws the assurance open to any man4 ,the one condition is if he willeth to do his will4 ,no man wills to do ,god's will who will not go to the extreme of earnest1 honest1 prayerful investigation4 ,if you do1 then the veracity1 the very character1 of ,jesus is at stake4 ,consider1 then1 reader1 the awful responsibility that rests upon you1 if you do not give attention to a thorough1 earnest1 honest1 prayerful investigation for the truth4 ,another promise of equal certainty comes from the ,old ,testament3 ,hosea #f3c1 ,then shall we know if we follow on to know the ,lord4 ,many make a slight search and cease4 ,the promise is not to them1 but to those who persevere4 ,if we use the light as we receive it1 and follow it up1 we shall know4 ,again certainty is promised4 ,does not ,god1 because ,he is ,god1 deserve such earnest consideration from you1 reader8 ,have you any right to expect anything from ,him if you approach ,him in a half-hearted1 indifferent way8 ,the following cases in point may encourage the reader3 ,two learned men decided to prove that the ,bible was not from ,god1 and that ,jesus ,christ was not the ,saviour2 but they were in earnest and they were honest4 ,they had vast libraries at their service4 ,they gave months to investigation4 ,they were both convinced and accepted the ,saviour and wrote their books in defence of the ,bible1 instead of against it4 ,second1 one of the greatest scholars of ,europe1 probably the greatest1 stated in a public lecture in ,america1 that1 of the thirty leading sceptics of the nineteenth century1 men who had written brilliant books in their young manhood against the ,bible1 he knew twenty-eight in their old age1 and that every one of the twenty-eight1 after mature investigation1 had accepted the ,lord ,jesus as ,saviour4 ,again1 in one of the prominent smaller cities of ,america1 a club of sceptics1 leading business and professional men1 had held weekly meetings for many years4 ,they challenged any one to meet one of their widely known lecturers in a public debate on ,christianity and ,infidelity4 ,a preacher accepted the challenge4 ,during the debate some of the sceptics became ,christians4 ,the president of the debate1 a sceptic1 is now an earnest follower of the ,lord ,jesus1 having been convinced and having accepted ,him as ,saviour4 ,the debate was held years ago4 ,so convincing1 so overwhelming1 was the evidence produced by the defender of ,christianity1 that the club of sceptics has never held a meeting since the debate4 ,similar facts could be produced indefinitely1 but these three are sufficient to show the most discouraged1 the most hopeless sceptical reader1 that there is at least a possibility of his yet finding the truth4 ,is not a bare possibility1 where there are so tremendously important eternal issues at stake1 sufficient to cause him to at once begin a thorough1 prayerful1 honest investigation8 ,a reflection before closing the ,introduction3 one hundred years from now1 and you1 reader1 will not be among the living4 ,where will you be8 ,god has given you a will and the power of choice4 ,will you will1 will you choose1 to make an honest1 persistent investigation8 ,tremendous consequences turn on your decision1--your own future destiny1 the destinies of others over whom you have an influence4 ,do not dally with delay4 ,begin now an honest1 earnest1 painstaking1 prayerful investigation4 ,get and read the two books suggested1 and then finish reading this book4 ,if this course does not settle your difficulties1 read on1 study on1 pray on1 and ,god's promise is sure1 that you shall find1 that you shall know6 ,,for ,,further ,,study3 ,a brief list is here given of books that will be helpful to sceptical readers3 ,why ,is ,christianity ,true8 by ,e4 ,y4 ,mullins4 7,one of the most learned ,presbyterian theological professors in ,america1 asked to give the names of six of the best books to convince sceptics1 replied1 ,i shall not do it2 ,i shall give one1--',why ,is ,christianity ,true8' by ,president ,mullins of the ,southern ,baptist ,theological ,seminary2 that is sufficient72 ,the ,fact of ,christ1 by ,simpson2 ,the ,meaning and ,message of the ,cross1 by ,h4 ,c4 ,mabie2 ,the ,resurrection of ,our ,lord1 by ,w4 ,milligan2 ,many ,infallible ,proofs1 by ,a4 ,t4 ,pierson2 ,the ,cause and ,cure of ,infidelity1 by ,nelson2 ,the ,word and ,works of ,god1 by ,bailey2 ,the ,character of ,jesus1 by ,bushnell2 ,hours with a ,sceptic1 by ,faunce2 ,the ,miracles of ,unbelief1 by ,ballard2 ,creation1 by ,arnold ,guyot2 ,the ,collapse of ,evolution1 by ,townsend2 ,the ,problem of the ,old ,testament1 by ,james ,orr2 ,did ,jesus ,rise8 by ,j4 ,h4 ,brookes2 ,reasons for ,faith in ,christianity1 by ,leavitt2 ,the ,gospel of ,john2 ,the ,young ,professor1 by ,e4 ,b4 ,hatcher2 ,the ,resurrection of ,jesus1 by ,james ,orr4 ,i ,,sin ,,and ,,its ,,punishment--,,god',s ,,justice--,,degrees ,,in ,,hell ,all have sinned4--,rom4 #c3bc4 ,every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward4--,heb4 #b3b4 ,a just ,god4--,is4 #de3ba4 ,it shall be more tolerable for the land of ,sodom in the day of judgement1 than for thee4--,matt4 #aa3bd4 ,reader1 what you and ,i need to know concerning ,god's plan with the sinner1 the lost1 is not what some people think1 nor what some teach1 nor what some desire2 but what ,god teaches4 ,god is just4 ,fasten that in your mind2 never lose sight of it4 ,over and over again is this fact impressed in the ,scriptures4 ,yet lurking in the minds of multitudes is a vague suspicion or dread that ,god will be unjust in sending some to ,hell1 and that ,he will be unjust in the way ,he will punish4 ,many who are thus disturbed lose sight of the fact that ,god is just2 that whatever ,god does in regard to the lost1 one thing is certain1--,he will do no injustice4 ,with my loved ones1 with your loved ones1 with the most obscure1 worthless creature1 with the most refined1 delicate nature1 with the most cruel1 debased creature that ever lived1 ,god will do no wrong4 ,many have turned away to infidelity1 not on account of the ,bible's complete teaching as to future punishment1 but because they have taken some one passage of ,scripture and warped it or gotten from it a distorted idea of the ,bible's teachings as to ,hell2 or they have taken some preacher's views as to the ,bible's teachings on the subject4 ,for example1 here is a boy fifteen years of age1 whose mother died when he was an infant1 whose father is a drunkard and gambler and infidel1 who has given the boy but little moral training2 and here is a man seventy years of age who had a noble father and mother1 who gave their boy every advantage1 the best of training1 under the best of influences2 yet he when a boy turned away from all these influences and spent his life in sin and debauchery1 and in leading others into sin4 ,these two1 the unfortunate boy and the old hardened sinner1 die4 ,with many the idea is that ,god consigns them to a common punishment in ,hell4 ,but1 reader1 remember that ,god is just2 and if that is justice1 what would injustice be8 ,they were different in light and in opportunity and in sins1 and yet punished alike8 ,the ,bible does not teach it4 ,but let us go back and consider this question of sin4 ,all have sinned4 ,that includes you1 reader4 ,to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not1 to him it is sin4--,james #d3ag4 ,all have done this1 have failed to live up to the light they have had2 hence1 ,all have sinned4 ,two questions arise3 first1 ought sin to be punished8 ,second1 ought all sin to be punished1 or only the coarser1 grosser1 more offensive sins8 ,as to the first1 ought sin to be punished8 ,there is a strong drift toward the teaching that sin ought to be punished only for the purpose of reforming the sinner4 ,intelligent men endorse this teaching without realizing that it is spiritual anarchy and absolutely horrible and detestable4 ,a woman and four little children are murdered in cold blood by three robbers for the purpose of robbing the home4 ,when the three are arrested1 the first is found to be thoroughly penitent1 thoroughly reformed1 broken-hearted1 over his horrible crime4 ,if sin should be punished only to reform the sinner1 this man should not be punished at all1 though he murdered five people in cold blood2 for he is already reformed4 ,the second is such a hardened criminal that he never can be reformed1 and the more he is punished the more hardened he will become4 ,then if sin is punished only to reform the sinner1 he should not be punished at all1 though guilty of the murder of five people in cold blood4 ,the third is tender-hearted and easily influenced1 and by sending him to prison for thirty days1 he will be thoroughly reformed1 though guilty of five cold-blooded murders4 ,on this principle of punishing sin only to reform the sinner1 all a sinner would have to do to make sure of ,heaven would be to become such a hardened sinner that he could never be reformed1 and then he would go to ,heaven without any punishment at all4 ,people need to call a halt and realize that sin ought to be punished because it is right to punish it1 because it is just4 ,but this means the punishment of all sins1 the sins of the refined as surely as the sins of the debased1 the smaller sins as surely as the greater sins4 ,hence the teaching of ,god's word1 ,rom4 #a3ah1 ,the wrath of ,god#a is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men1 ,but we need to keep in mind that it is discriminating wrath1 and ,god's word makes this plain1 ,heb4 #b3b1 ,every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward4 ,a just ,god4--,is4 #de3ba4 #a ,many sneer at a ,god of wrath and say they believe in a ,god of all love4 ,god is love1 but ,he is just as surely a ,god of wrath2 and were ,he not a ,god of wrath1 ,he would not be ,god1 but a fiend4 ,he who loves purity and chastity and has no wrath against impurity and unchastity1 but loves them1 too1 is a moral leper4 ,he who loves the defence of the poor and the helpless1 but has no wrath against the cold-blooded murderer1 the one crushing the defenceless1 but loves him1 too1 is a fiend4 ,character1 from ,god to ,devil1 can only be told by what one loves and what one hates4 ,notice how clearly the ,saviour teaches this same great truth1 ,matt4 #aa3bj-bd1 ,then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done1 because they repented not4 ,woe unto thee1 ,chorazin6 ,woe unto thee1 ,bethsaida6 for if the mighty works had been done in ,tyre and ,sidon which were done in you1 they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes4 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,it shall be more tolerable for ,tyre and ,sidon in the day of judgement than for you4 ,and thou1 ,capernaum1 which art exalted to heaven1 shalt be brought down to hell3 for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in ,sodom1 it would have remained until this day4 ,but ,i say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of ,sodom in the day of judgement1 than for thee4 ,notice1 more tolerable1 difference in punishment4 ,the same teaching ,jesus gives in ,mark #ab3dj4 ,these shall receive greater condemnation ,jesus revealed to ,pilate ,god's judgment of a difference in sin1 ,john #ai3aa1 ,he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin4 ,and ,paul teaches the same1 ,gal4 #f3g1 ,whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap1 the reaping according to the sowing4 ,let the reader notice the clear teaching3 the punishment of sin will be graded1 first1 according to light and opportunity4 ,a writer1 a great scientist1 held that heredity and environment largely determine one's destiny4 ,that is what ,jesus taught4 ,the people of ,sodom were more wicked than those of ,capernaum2 but heredity and environment were against them4 ,the people of ,capernaum had not sinned so terribly as the people of ,sodom1 but they had more light and opportunity2 they had better heredity1 better environment2 ,jesus says that therefore the people of ,capernaum shall be punished more severely than the people of ,sodom4 ,and that is right2 that is just4 ,those to whom ,jesus spoke were born under better conditions than those of ,sodom2 they grew up under more favorable surroundings2 hence1 they were more responsible2 hence1 they are to receive greater punishment at the judgment4 ,apply to your own case1 reader3 for every added ray of light1 for every added opportunity1 there will be that much added punishment for your sins4 ,and that is just2 that is right4 ,the opportunities that wealth brings1 the light that education and culture bring1 will but add to the punishment at the judgment4 ,the most highly educated1 the most refined1 the most wealthy1 those who have lived under the most favorable influences1 will suffer most at the judgment4 ,but punishment will be further graded by the number of the sins1--,every transgression received a just recompense4 ,hence1 the more one sins1 the greater the punishment4 ,if one knew that he was going to ,hell1 corrupt human nature would say1 ,sin and enjoy while you live1 but reason and ,scripture would say1 ,stop6 add no more to the degree of ,hell4 ,punishment for sin will be further graded by the character of the sin4 ,he that betrayed me to thee hath the greater sin4 ,while a small sin is just as surely sin as a great sin1 yet ,god recognizes degrees in sin1 and as a consequence1 there are degrees in the punishment of sin4 ,following from degrees in the punishment of sin comes inevitably the fact that no wrong will be done any one at the judgment2 that no one will be treated wrong in ,hell4 ,he who fears only injustice and wrong1 has nothing to fear from the judgment or in ,hell4 ,two reflections for the reader3--,if you have heretofore rebelled against the idea of future punishment1 what can you say when now you see that ,god will make all just allowance for surroundings and conditions1 and will take into consideration the number and kinds of sins8 ,god has a right to have laws2 ,his laws are right2 a law without a penalty amounts to no law2 the penalty1 ,god assures us1 will be absolutely just4 ,what can you say when you stand before such a judge and receive such a sentence8 ,the other reflection for the reader3 ,let not this teaching of the ,bible lead you into thinking that ,hell1 then1 will not be so terrible after all1 and that you need not fear it4 ,instead of letting it allay all dread of the future1 it is enough to make the blood run cold through your veins2 for those who will have the most terrible suffering will be the most enlightened1 the most cultured4 ,another thought3 not some far distant1 cold1 harsh1 unsympathetic ,god will be the judge at the ,judgment ,day1 but the ,lord ,jesus1 touched with the feeling of our infirmities1 will be the one who will judge you and condemn you and give you your just degree of punishment in ,hell4 ,hear ,him3 ,john #e3bb1 ,neither doth the ,father judge any man1 but he hath given all judgement to the ,son4 ,peter reveals the same fact1 ,acts #aj3db1 ,he commanded us to preach unto the people1 and to testify that this is he who hath been ordained of ,god to be the judge of living and dead4 ,remember1 that he whom the world praises as so good1 so just1 so discriminating1 so loving1 so tender1 will be the judge at the ,great ,day1 who will pronounce each sentence4 ,oh1 reader1 the very fact that the ,lord ,jesus will be the judge is absolute proof that no one will be treated wrong1 that no one will be punished unjustly in ,hell2 and the bare possibility that ,he may pronounce your eternal doom is enough to cause you to turn to-day4 ,turn ye1 turn ye1 for why will ye die8 ,,for ,,further ,,study3 ,the fear of ,abraham is the fear of the human race1 ,gen4 #ah3be1 ,shall not the judge of all the earth do right8 ,as soon as ,god revealed to ,abraham that he was going to deal with ,sodom and ,gomorrah because of their sin1 ,abraham at once suspects that ,god may do wrong in punishing sin4 ,it has been so down the ages1 that we suspect that ,god will do wrong in punishing sin4 ,great denominations have been formed to keep ,god from doing wrong in punishing sin4 ,men have proven untrue to their denominations and turned traitors to ,god's word1 because they have1 ,abraham-like1 suspected ,god of wrongdoing in the punishment of sin4 ,it is not that the proof is not ample that the ,bible is ,god's word1 but the hatred of the human heart for the ,bible teaching about ,hell1 that has brought in so much of modern religious vagaries and ,new ,theology and ,higher ,criticism4 ,as ,abraham presses his plea for ,god to do right1 ,god by degrees reveals ,himself as a ,god who will do right4 ,it must have been a marvellous revelation to ,abraham4 ,and so ,god's plan for the punishment of sin will be to the honest seeker for truth when he perceives the real teaching of ,god's word4 ,as ,god's doing right with ,sodom and ,gomorrah went far beyond where ,abraham's sense of right halted2 so ,god's doing right with sinners in ,hell will go far beyond what we would ask4 ,but there are other objectors to ,hell4 ,they began by pressing the teaching of ,god's mercy without any reference to ,his justice2 and in order to get rid of the teaching as to ,hell1 which they thought unjust1 they rejected the ,scriptures as ,god's word2 and finally ended in rejecting the teaching that ,christ died for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c72 that ,he his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree 7#a ,peter #b3bd74 ,as a result of their fighting against ,god's punishing sin1 they have become so blinded as to right principle1 and so morally corrupt1 as to be supported in pulpits1 college professorships and seminary professorships by the hard-earned money of earnest believers in ,god's word1 while they are undermining the faith of the children of their supporters4 ,the ,heaven that such men teach is the ,hell of the ,bible4 ,rejecting complete redemption through ,christ dying for our sins as our substitute1 they teach salvation by character1 or that one's destiny beyond the grave will be according to the way he has lived here4 ,that is their ,heaven1 but that is the ,bible's ,hell1 exactly1 absolutely4 ,infidelity1 ,judaism1 ,christian ,science1 ,universalism1 ,unitarianism1 ,higher ,criticism1 ,new ,theology and all who reject ,christ dying for our sins1 as our substitute1 as our complete ,redeemer1 because of their hatred of ,god's punishing sinners in ,hell1 have made their ,heaven to be the result of their life here on earth2 and as a consequence1 have made their ,heaven the ,bible's ,hell2 for ,hell will be exactly the result of the life here on earth2 and1 as a result1 they have in theory1 and1 alas6 will have in fact1 the ,bible's ,hell which they label ,heaven1 without any real ,heaven at all4 ,as an example1 consider ,mr4 ,r4 ,g4 ,ingersoll's words1 ,i believe in the gospel of justice1 that we must reap what we sow 7,bible's ,hell without any ,heaven74 ,i do not believe in forgiveness 7,bible's ,hell without any ,heaven74 ,if ,i rob ,smith and ,god forgives me1 how does that help ,smith8 ,if ,i cover some poor girl with the leprosy of some imputed crime and she withers away like a blighted flower and afterward ,i get forgiveness1 how does that help her8 ,if there is another world1 we have got to settle 7admitting that we do not settle in this life71 and for every crime you commit here 7hence1 the more the crimes1 the more you must suffer1 exactly the ,bible's teaching71 you must answer to yourself and to the one you injure4 ,and if you have ever clothed another as with a garment of pain1 you will never be quite as happy as though you had not done that thing4 ,no forgiveness2 eternal1 inexorable1 everlasting justice1 that is what ,i believe in4 ,any ,christian would be willing to take ,mr4 ,ingersoll's place1 or the place of any one else1 in ,hell1 if ,god varies one pang from what ,mr4 ,ingersoll himself calls for4 ,but it is the ,bible's ,hell1 pure and simple1 without any ,heaven4 ,but the objector who rejects the teaching of ,hell1 and also ,christ dying for our sins as our substitute1 may say that he does not agree with ,mr4 ,ingersoll1 as to no forgiveness2 that he believes in forgiveness4 ,to reject ,christ's dying for our sins as our substitute1 as our ,redeemer from all iniquity1 and yet1 in order to avoid believing in ,hell1 to profess to believe in the forgiveness of sins1 makes one far worse than ,mr4 ,ingersoll1 a spiritual anarchist4 ,mr4 ,ingersoll at least believed in law1 but to believe in forgiveness1 without substitution1 without redemption through ,christ1 means to down with law and to become an anarchist in principle4 ,as to the justice of substitution1 the reader is referred to ,chapter ,,iii4 ,concerning the objection to the ,bible's teaching of eternal punishment in ,hell1 a mistranslation has misled many1 and before the correct translation1 as given by the ,revised ,version1 all objections fall to the ground4 ,the old version of ,rev4 #bb3aa reads1 ,he that is unjust let him be unjust still2 but the ,revised ,version gives what the ,greek says1 ,he that is unrighteous let him do unrighteousness still6 ,and that inevitably means eternal punishment4 ,it is ,god's last sentence on the sinner4 ,the objector may say that it is horrible to let men sin beyond the grave1 in ,hell4 ,not one particle more horrible is it than to let them sin in this life and continue in sin in this life4 ,a reflection for the unsaved reader3 what will your moral character be one thousand years after you die1 with no holy ,spirit1 no ,bible1 no ,christians1 no churches1 to restrain you8 ,again1 this passage1 ,rev4 #bb3aa 7,r4 ,v471 can have no meaning if the wicked are to be blotted out1 cease to exist4 ,another objection that is pressed1 is that the ,bible teaches a ,hell of literal fire1 and is therefore wrong4 ,the denominations that reject the ,bible's teachings as to ,hell1 without exception1 try to force on the ,bible language the meaning of literal fire4 ,yet they do not try to force on the language of the ,bible concerning ,hell1 that it means literal worm when it says to be cast into ,hell where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched4 ,they do not try to force the literal meaning on language when ,jesus said1 ,i am the door2 ,i am the vine2 or the ,scriptures state1 ,that rock was ,christ4 ,one thing is true1 that1 the language being figurative1 the reality must be terrible4 ,men sneer at the thought of becoming ,christians from fear of ,hell4 ,such men are not honest with ,god1 and are simply trying to browbeat ,god on the subject of ,hell4 ,proof3 the same men will flee to safety from fear of smallpox1 from fear of yellow fever1 etc4 ,shall men be looked upon as sensible when they flee to safety for their bodies1 and be scorned for fleeing to safety for their souls8 ,people are ever asking1 ,will the heathen be lost without the gospel8 ,let ,god's word answer1 ,rom4 #b3ab1 #ad1 ,as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law2 ,for when ,gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law1 these not having the law are the law unto themselves1 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts1 their conscience bearing witness therewith1 and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing themselves4 ,but the objector says1 ,will ,god condemn a man when he has no light8 ,there never lived such a man4 ,listen to ,god3 ,john #a3ai1 ,that was the true light that lighteth every man coming into the world4 ,again1 ,rom4 #a3bj1 ,the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen1 being perceived through the things that are made1 even his everlasting power and divinity2 so that they are without excuse4 ,but the objection is raised that they have never heard of ,christ1 and that it is wrong for people to be lost1 condemned1 who never heard of ,christ4 ,they are not condemned for not believing in ,christ when they have never heard of ,him2 they are condemned for their sins1 for doing what1 from their light1 they knew was wrong4 ,it is not the lack of the remedy that kills1 but the disease4 ,they have not as much light as others1 and their punishment will be accordingly4 ,the man who dies in his sins in a ,christian land will be punished far1 far more than the one who dies a heathen4 ,their punishments will be almost as far apart as the east is from the west4 ,the ,scripture1 ,there is no difference1 ,rom4 #c3bb1 has often been pressed to mean that all sinners are alike before ,god1 or will suffer alike in ,hell4 ,by close attention to the passage the reader will see that the expression there is no difference has reference to what goes before1 for it is connected by the word for1 pointing back to what had just been said1 that there is a righteousness of ,god through faith in ,jesus ,christ unto all that have faith3 for there is no difference1 that all that have faith are equally certain of salvation1 for there is no difference4 ,to join the expression1 there is no difference1 with what follows makes it clearly contradict our ,saviour1 who said plainly that there is a difference1--,he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin1--there is a difference in sin1 says the ,saviour4 ,the teaching of ,james #b3aj1 ,for whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all1 must not be made to contradict the plain teaching of the ,saviour that there is a difference in sinners1 and different degrees in their punishment4 ,the meaning is that the law is a unit1 and that he that offends in one point has broken the law as a whole4 ,a chain of ten links is as surely broken when one link is broken as when all ten links are broken4 ,in accord with this are the words of the great ,american scholar1 theologian1 teacher1 preacher1 ,jno4 ,a4 ,broadus3 ,especially notice ,luke #ab3dg f4 7,r4 ,v471 ',and that servant which knew his lord's will1 and made not ready1 nor did according to his will1 shall be beaten with many stripes2 but he that knew not1 and did things worthy of stripes1 shall be beaten with few stripes4' ,this teaching has been in many cases grievously overlooked4 ,taking images literally1 men have found that the ',gehenna of fire' 7,matt4 #e3bb7 will be the same place and the same degree of punishment for all4 ,but the above passage and many others show that there will be differences4 ,the degrees of punishment must be as remote as the east is from the west4 ,all inherited proclivities1 'taints of blood1' all differences of environment1 every privilege and every disadvantage1 will be taken into account4 ,it is the ,divine ,judge that will apportion punishment1 with perfect knowledge and perfect justice and perfect goodness4 ,this great fact1 that there will be degrees in future punishment--as well as future rewards--ought to be more prominent in religious instruction4 ,it gives some relief in contemplating the awful fate of those who perish4 ,it might save many from going away into ,universalism2 and others from dreaming of a 'second probation' in eternity 7comp4 on #ab3cb72 and yet others from unjustly assailing and rejecting1 to their own ruin1 the gospel of salvation4 ,on the other hand1 many a sermon on ,hell 7and there are too few on the subject71 it could possibly be said the average sermon on the subject1 is a slander on a just and holy ,god4 ,the sermon is drawn largely from ,dante's ,inferno or the distorted imagination of the preacher1 with no reference to the fact that ,god will punish sinners differently according to their light and their sins1 but only justly4 ,the trouble is not with the ,bible teaching as to ,hell1 but with modern inadequate conceptions of the evil and guilt of sin1 and with many1 the almost lost sense of justice1 and of stern moral indignation against wrong4 7,broadus47 ,,ii ,,sins ,,not ,,excused1 ,,nor ,,the ,,penalty ,,ever ,,remitted ,,without ,,redemption ,till heaven and earth pass away1 one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law4--,jesus4 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,for the life of the flesh is in the blood2 and ,i have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls2 for it is the blood that maketh atonement4--,lev4 #ag3aa4 ,it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins4--,heb4 #aj3d4 ,every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward4--,heb4 #b3b4 ,when one faces the question of his sins1 and realizes that they deserve just punishment1 one of the first impulses is to pray and beg of ,god to be let off1 to be forgiven2 and1 alas6 much of the religious instruction to the sinner is to the same effect4 ,jesus to ,nicodemus gave no such instruction 7,john #c3ad-af72 ,philip to the ,eunuch gave no such instruction 7,acts #h3bi-ci72 ,paul and ,silas to the jailer gave no such instruction 7,acts #af3cj1 #ca72 ,peter to the household of ,cornelius gave no such instruction 7,acts #aj3db1 #dc72 the gospel of ,john1 the one book specially given to lead a sinner to be saved 7,john #bj3cj1 #ca71 gives no such instruction4 ,but the objection is at once brought up that in the ,lord's ,prayer we are taught to pray1 ,forgive us our sins4 ,that prayer begins ,our ,father1 and ,god is not the ,father of sinners 7,ye are all the children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf72 and the prayer was given by the ,saviour to disciples 7,luke #aa3a1 #b71 and not to sinners4 ,but the objection is further raised that the ,bible says1 ,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4 ,that is from the first epistle of ,john1 and was not written to sinners1 but to believers4 ,john says 7#a ,john #e3ac71 ,these things have ,i written unto you1 that ye may know that ye have eternal life1 even unto you that believe on the name of the ,son of ,god4 7,r4 ,v47 ,god can and does forgive the believer on confession1 because the believer is a child of ,god4 ,with the sinner it is a question of law1 of justice1 of right4 ,hence1 the ,lord ,jesus said1 ,till heaven and earth pass away1 one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law 7,matt4 #e3ah74 ,every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward 7,heb4 #b3b72 but there is no just recompense of reward at all1 if ,god lets the sinner off from the just penalty of his sins because he prays and begs and cries to be let off1 or because priests or preachers pray and beg for him to be let off4 ,it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin 7,heb4 #aj3d71 because there is no just recompense of reward in such cases4 ,much less can the sins be taken away when there is no recompense of reward at all in the case1 but simply the praying and begging of the sinner to be forgiven1 to be let off1 and the praying and begging of some priest or preacher that the sinner be forgiven1 let off4 ,god has given a plain warning1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,among what are called evangelical denominations it would be looked upon as worse than folly for a ,jew1 a ,unitarian or a ,universalist1 who had asked ,god to forgive his sins1 or had confessed the sins1 to claim that therefore he was forgiven and was sure to go to ,heaven4 ,but it is just as fatal a delusion among others as among ,jews1 ,unitarians and ,universalists4 ,every transgression must have a just recompense of reward1 however sorry the sinner may be1 however much he may pray and beg to be forgiven1 let off2 however much the priest or preacher or friends may pray for him to be forgiven1 to be let off4 ,a man who has violated the state law falls on his knees before the judge1 confesses his sin and begs the judge to forgive him1 to let him off2 and he calls men from the audience to come and help him beg4 ,the judge replies1 ,if ,i should yield to these petitions ,i would be a perjurer2 ,i would trample on law4 ,every transgression must receive a just recompense of reward4 ,would that all could realize that every prayer from sinner1 priest1 or preacher1 for a sinner to be forgiven1 let off1 is a prayer to ,god to become a perjurer4 ,if sinners could realize that1 after all their kneeling every night and confessing their sins1 and praying to be forgiven1 to be let off1 every sin ever committed is still there1 and that ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission1 they would then realize their real need of a ,saviour1 a ,redeemer4 ,one question for the reader3 ,if ,god forgives1 lets a sinner off1 simply because he is sorry and cries and prays and begs to be let off1 or because the priest or preacher cries1 prays and begs for him to be forgiven1 to be let off1 why did ,jesus die8 ,,for ,,further ,,study3 ,the word translated forgiveness in the ,bible means simply to send away1 without reference to how the sin is sent away2 but ,god's word states plainly that sins are forgiven1 sent away1 by ,christ bearing them4 ,behold the lamb of ,god that taketh away the sin of the world4--,john #a3bi4 ,who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree4--#a ,peter #b3bd2 ,christ died for our sins4--#a ,cor4 #ae3c4 ,concerning the justice of ,christ dying for our sins1 see the next chapter4 ,the prayer of the publican in the old version1 ,god be merciful to me the sinner1 ,luke #ah3ac1 has misled many4 ,if that was really the prayer of the publican1 how could the ,saviour have said1 ,this man went down to his house justified8 ,the margin of the ,revised ,version gives what the ,greek says1 ,be thou propitiated4 ,it is the same ,greek word that in ,heb4 #b3ag is translated1 to make reconciliation for the sins of the people4 ,president ,strong of ,rochester ,theological ,seminary gives the exact meaning of it when he renders it1 ,be thou propitiated to me the sinner by the sacrifice whose smoke was then ascending in the presence of the publican while he prayed4 ,and ,jesus shows what the publican said when ,he added1 ,this man went down to his house justified4 ,it is said that a young man ran away from his widowed mother and was gone for years4 ,one stormy night sitting near the window sewing1 while the rain was beating against the window pane1 she thought she heard a noise4 ,looking up she saw the shaggy1 bearded face of a ragged tramp pressed against the window pane1 but it faded back into the storm as she looked up4 ,faint lines in the face aroused memory4 ,as the needle was plied the mind was busy4 ,again a slight noise caused her to look up1 and again the shaggy1 bearded face of the tramp faded back into the storm4 ,this time she knew that she was not mistaken4 ,the shaggy beard could not hide the lines in the face of her long-lost boy4 ,throwing up the window she cried1 ,come in1 ,william1 oh1 come in4 ,stepping to where the light fell full in his face1 while the tears coursed down his cheeks1 he said1 ,mother1 ,i can't come in till my sin has been put out of the way4 ,there was honor left in the tramp yet4 ,there ought to be honor enough in every human being not to wish to go to ,heaven1 not to try to go to ,heaven1 at the expense of ,god's justice4 ,jesus said1 ,john #aj3a1 #g1 ,he that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep1 but climbeth up some other way1 the same is a thief and a robber4 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,i am the door4 ,jesus says1 then1 that those who confess their sins1 and pray for forgiveness and claim it1 and yet reject ,him as the door1 are thieves and robbers4 ,god does forgive the redeemed1 for they are ,his children 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 on confession 7#a ,john #a3i72 but for those who are under the law1 ,his word is plain1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,god's word states plainly how our sins are put away2 not by1 or because of1 the praying and weeping and confession of the sinner1 nor the praying and weeping and interceding of others for the sinner1 for ,god to forgive him2 but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself4--,heb4 #i3bf4 ,concerning the justice of putting away sin in this way1 see next chapter4 ,on this point ,walker well says1 ,if the holiness of the law was not maintained1 that sense of guilt and danger could not be produced which is necessary in order that man may have a spiritual ,saviour4--,walker1 in ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,again he says1 ,when ,he reveals ,his perfect law1 that law cannot1 from the nature of its author1 allow the commission of a single sin4--,walker1 in ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,further1 he says1 ,god ought not to allow one sin2 if ,he did1 the law would not be holy1 nor adapted to make men holy4--,walker1 in ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,equally to the point are the words of ,james ,denny1 ,it is an immediate inference1 then1 from all that we have seen in the ,new ,testament1 that where there is no atonement there is no gospel4 ,to preach the love of ,god out of relation to the death of ,christ1 or to preach the love of ,god in the death of ,christ1 but without being able to relate it to sin1 or to preach that forgiveness of sins as the free gift of ,god's love while the death of ,christ has no special significance assigned to it1 is not1 if the ,new ,testament is the rule and standard of ,christianity1 to preach the gospel at all4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,,iii ,,jesus ,,the ,,christ ,,as ,,sin-,,bearer--,,god',s ,,justice ,,and ,,love ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have eternal life4--,john #c3af4 ,that he might himself be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus4--,rom4 #c3bf4 ,he was wounded for our transgressions2 he was bruised for our iniquities2 the chastisement of our peace was upon him2 and with his stripes we are healed4 ,all we like sheep have gone astray2 we have turned every one to his own way2 and the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all4--,is4 #ec3e1 #f4 ,christ died for our sins4--#a ,cor4 #ae3c4 ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who gave himself for our sins4--,gal4 #a3c1 #d4 ,who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree4--#a ,peter #b3bd4 ,christ also suffered for sins once1 the righteous for the unrighteous4--#a ,peter #c3ah4 ,even as the ,son of man came not to be ministered unto1 but to minister and to give ,his life a ransom for many4--,matt4 #bj3bh4 ,there is one mediator between ,god and men1 the man ,christ ,jesus2 who gave himself a ransom for all4--#a ,tim4 #b3e1 #f4 ,christ redeemed us from the curse of the law1 having become a curse for us4--,gal4 #c3ac4 ,our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ2 who gave himself for us1 that he might redeem us from all iniquity4--,titus #b3ac1 #ad4 ,by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4--,heb4 #aj3aj4 ,for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified4--,heb4 #aj3ad4 ,nor yet by the blood of goats and bulls1 but through his own blood entered in once for all into the holy place1 having obtained eternal redemption4--,heb4 #i3ab4 ,this is my blood of the new covenant1 which is poured out for many unto the remission of sins4--,matt4 #bf3bh4 ,and they sing a new song1 saying1 ,worthy art thou to take the book and to open the seals thereof2 for thou wast slain1 and didst purchase unto ,god with thy blood men of every tribe and tongue and people and nation4--,rev4 #e3i4 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that he loved us1 and sent his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins4--#a ,john #d3aj4 ,the ,son of ,god who loved me1 and gave himself up for me4--,gal4 #b3bj4 ,reader1 ,god's justice and love are both shown in the ,saviour dying for our sins4 ,substitution is the only way of salvation when justice and love are both considered4 ,it was ,god's justice that made it necessary for ,christ to die for our sins4 ,even so must the ,son of man be lifted up1--,john #c3ad2--that he might himself be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus4--,rom4 #c3bf4 ,and it was ,god's love that let ,him die for our sins1 for ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son4--,john #c3af4 ,what you1 reader1 ought to desire to know1 is simply ,god's way4 ,the ,scriptures at the beginning of the chapter1 if language can make anything plain1 show clearly that the sinner's only escape from the just punishment of his sins lies in ,jesus dying in his place to set him free from the just penalty due his sins2 and they make it plain that this settles the full penalty for all sins4 ,but the objection is raised and pressed with all the force of human ingenuity and scholarship1 backed by the prestige of some occupying the highest positions in literary and theological institutions1 that it is morally wrong for the innocent to suffer the penalty of the guilty4 ,with a zeal deserving a better cause1 many who stand high as professed ,christians and teachers join hands with the rankest1 most blatant infidels1 and press this1 to them1 unanswerable objection to ,christ dying for our sins as our substitute4 ,this friendship between infidelity and professed ,christian teachers reminds one of another occasion when our ,saviour was set at naught and two became friends with each other that very day 7,luke #bc3aa1 #ab74 ,let us face this objection honestly and earnestly1 for our eternal destiny turns on this one point4 ,is it morally wrong for the innocent to bear the sins of the guilty8 ,in the first place it is not morally wrong1 because ,god would not do morally wrong1 and ,god did let the innocent suffer the penalty of the guilty4 ,the language of ,scripture teaching that ,jesus suffered the penalty of our sins for us is plain and simple1 and all efforts to take from the ,scripture language its simple1 plain1 natural meaning are pitiable1 and if contempt were ever justifiable1 would deserve the contempt of all honest men4 ,let the reader turn back and read the ,scriptures at the head of this chapter and decide for himself as to their obvious1 intended meaning4 ,now1 because ,god's word tells us plainly that ,god gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that ,he might be just1 and thus the justifier of him who believes in ,jesus1 that ,christ died for our sins1 that ,he gave ,himself for our sins1 the just for the unjust1--it is right for the innocent to suffer the penalty of the guilty4 ,to any honest1 candid man1 which is the correct way to reason8 ,this thing is wrong2 ,god did this thing2 therefore1 ,god did wrong8 or1 ,god does right2 ,god did let ,christ1 the innocent1 suffer and die for our sins1 to redeem from all iniquity2 therefore it is right for the innocent to suffer the penalty of the guilty8 ,nor is ,christ suffering as our substitute the ,great ,exception1 as some timid ones have granted4 ,it is in line with ,god's ,plan with ,men2 it is in line with the best and noblest there is in man2 and the opposite teaching1 that it is wrong to let the innocent bear the penalty of the guilty1 is not only wrong1 but horrible and the extreme of heartlessness4 ,two men passing along the street at night hear groaning in the gutter2 striking a match1 they see two men lying in the gutter with their faces all gashed and bleeding4 ,in a drunken street fight they have almost killed each other4 ,who did the sinning8 ,those two men lying in the gutter2 they deserve to suffer the penalty of their sinning4 ,but these other two men join hands1 pay for a physician1 a nurse and the hospital bill4 ,in principle that is the innocent paying the penalty of the guilty4 ,to say that this is wrong would mean to condemn the community to pass by day after day and see those ghastly1 festering wounds1 those parched lips and bloodshot eyes1 and to listen to those dying groans4 ,and yet in principle that is exactly what those demand for this sinful1 sin-injured human race1 when they say that it is morally wrong for ,jesus the ,saviour to suffer the penalty of our sins4 ,a son becomes a drunkard2 his drunkenness and debauchery utterly wreck his health4 ,some night the father finds his drunken son down in the street1 a helpless invalid4 ,the son did the sinning2 he deserves to suffer the penalty of his sins2 but the father takes him to his home and cares for him and supports him4 ,in principle that is the innocent bearing the penalty of the guilty4 ,to say that this is morally wrong would be to condemn that father to pass by day after day and see his son suffering the just consequences of his sin1 to see him slowly starving to death1 to see him gasping in death1 and not be allowed to come to the rescue4 ,yet when men object to ,christ bearing the penalty of the sinner's sins they are1 in principle1 taking that stand2 for in principle ,jesus1 dying for our sins1 did what the father did with the son4 ,a prominent woman in ,america was dying from lack of blood2 back of it somewhere was violation of some law of ,god1 some law of health4 ,her noble husband had the surgeon join their arteries1 and every beat of his noble heart drove his well blood into the body of his dying wife1 and he saved her life4 ,these objectors praise that act2 they see nothing morally wrong in it4 ,yet when ,jesus1 in principle1 did the same thing for sinners in order to save them1 these same men1 with a haughty1 scornful tone1 say that it is morally wrong for the innocent to suffer in place of the guilty4 ,nay but1 ,o man1 who art thou that repliest against ,god8--,rom4 #i3bj4 ,had the objectors said that it was wrong to force the innocent to suffer the penalty of the guilty1 that would have been true1 but ,jesus was not forced4 ,listen to ,him1 ,john #aj3ag1 #ah1 ,therefore doth the ,father love me1 because ,i lay down my life that ,i may take it again4 ,no one taketh it away from me1 but ,i lay it down of myself4 ,i have power to lay it down and ,i have power to take it again4 ,nor is ,christ dying for our sins1 as taught by the ,scriptures1 a makeshift1 but1 rather1 a real1 full redemption1 ransom4 ,just as a captain can honorably1 honestly be given as a ransom for a number of private soldiers in an exchange of prisoners2 just as a diamond can redeem a debt of many dollars2 just as one man is allowed to pay another's debt2 just as one man is allowed to pay another's fine in a courtroom2 so our ,lord and ,saviour gave himself for us1 that he might redeem us from all iniquity4 ,all illustrations of ,deity fall short1 but just as a man could ransom all the ants that crawl upon the earth1 were they under moral law and had violated it2 just as a man could1 on account of the vast difference in the scale of being1 suffer in his own body all that all the ants upon earth could suffer2 so ,jesus1 ,immanuel1 ,god with us1 redeemed us from all iniquity4 ,it was not merely the nails driven through ,his quivering flesh1 nor the physical pangs1 but the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all4 ,hence1 that awful cry1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 ,he was in the sinner's place1 suffering the sinner's penalty for sin4 ,he hath made him to be sin for us4--#b ,cor4 #f3ba4 ,instead of proudly cavilling and warping and trying to avoid the simple1 plain meaning of ,god's word1 should you not rather1 reader1 bow in reverence before such love1 realize that it was for you1 yes1 you1 and that through ,his suffering and in no other way1 you may escape the just punishment of your sins and spend eternity in ,heaven8 ,the world weeps over the story of the noble fireman who gave his life to rescue a little girl from a burning building1 but it coldly scorns and proudly rejects salvation through the redemption of ,jesus the ,christ4 ,oh1 the pride and wickedness of the human heart6 ,be not you1 reader1 of those who sit in the seat of the scornful1 but the rather of those who at the last day will sing1 ,rev4 #e3i1 ,worthy art thou to take the book and to open the seals thereof2 for thou wast slain1 and didst purchase unto ,god with thy blood1 men of every tribe and tongue and people and nation4 ,let us consider carefully what it really means when we are told that ,christ died for our sins1--#a ,cor4 #ae3c1 that ,he gave himself for our sins1--,gal4 #a3d2 that his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree1--#a ,peter #b3bd2 that ,christ also suffered for sins once1 the righteous for the unrighteous4--#a ,peter #c3ah4 ,god's word explains it clearly3 ,that he might himself be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus4--,rom4 #c3bf4 ,that he might be just4 ,notice it carefully1 ,that he might be just4 ,take it in its full meaning1 ,that he might be just4 ,a question3 ,how could ,god be just and justify any sinner apart from the fact that ,christ died for our sins1 that the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all8 ,reader1 no man1 however learned1 will ever answer that question4 ,he may sneer2 he may cavil2 he may warp2 he may try to confuse2 but he will never come out in the open and answer that question4 ,he may say that it is morally wrong for the innocent to bear the penalty of the guilty1 but that objection is met and answered above in this chapter4 ,let us face a trilemma2 three1 and only three plans1 were possible for ,god with man3-- ,first1 ,to have been just with man1 without any love or mercy2 hence1 for every sinner to have suffered the just penalty for his sins1 without any redemption4 ,that would have meant ,hell for every responsible human being1 without any ,heaven at all4 ,second1 ,to have been all mercy and all love and no justice4 ,that would have meant no moral laws2 for why have moral laws1 if there would be no penalty1 no justice8 ,that would have meant a premium on crime4 ,that would have meant the debased1 the debauched1 the immoral1 the drunken1 the fiend1 on a level with the chaste1 the pure1 the upright1 the true4 ,that would have meant unbridled rein to passion and lust and every other evil inclination1 and no penalty following4 ,that would have meant ,hell in trying to get rid of ,hell4 ,third1 ,there was left but one other possible plan1 to be just and at the same time extend love to the sinners4 ,in the nature of the case1 real redemption1 without any makeshift1 was the only way this could be done4 ,even so must the ,son of man be lifted up1--,john #c3ad2 that he himself might be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus1--,rom4 #c3bf2 ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son1--,john #c3af2 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that he loved us1 and sent his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins4--#a ,john #d3aj4 ,this leads to another question3 ,how can ,god be just and not justify him that hath faith in ,jesus8 ,again men may quibble and warp1 and ridicule1 but no one will ever answer the question4 ,and the reason why this question will never be answered leads to another question3 ,from how many of his sins is the one that hath faith in ,jesus justified8 ,we have now gotten to the very centre of the whole problem of salvation4 ,let us give it most careful consideration4 ,in not one of the ,scriptures cited at the head of this chapter is there one word that limits the number of sins for which ,christ died1 or from which the believer is justified4 ,that of itself is sufficient warrant for us to conclude that ,christ died for all of the sins of the believer1 that when ,he gave himself for our sins 7,gal4 #a3d71 it included all of our sins1 and that the believer is justified from all of his sins4 ,one man promises another that he will pay his debts4 ,that of itself means all of his debts1 unless the one making the promise was simply juggling with words4 ,while this of itself would be sufficient1 ,god in ,his word has made it positive and absolute as to how many of the believer's sins were laid on ,christ 7the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all4--,is4 #ec3f72 for how many of our sins ,christ gave ,himself 7,who gave himself for our sins4--,gal4 #a3d72 for how many of our sins ,christ died 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c72 from how many of his sins the believer is justified1 7that he might himself be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus4--,rom4 #c3bf74 ,in ,lev4 #af3ba1 #bb1 ,god gives us a picture1 foreshadowing the ,saviour1 of laying the sins on the substitute3 ,and ,aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat1 and confess over him all the iniquity of the children of ,israel1 and all their transgressions1 even all their sins2 and he shall put them upon the head of the goat and shall send him away by the hand of a man that is in readiness into the wilderness3 ,and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities4 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god that taketh or beareth away the sins of the world4--,john #a3bi4 ,but how many of our sins8 ,let ,god's word answer3 ,titus #b3ac1 #ad1 ,our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ2 who gave himself for us1 that he might redeem us from all iniquity4 ,look at it again1 reader2 grasp its full meaning2 let it be impressed indelibly upon your soul3 ,our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ2 who gave himself for us1 that he might redeem us from all iniquity4 ,then as certainly as the believer is redeemed by ,him1 he is redeemed from all iniquity2 and as certainly as he is redeemed from all iniquity1 that certainly the believer is going to ,heaven1 for there is nothing left that can cause him to be lost4 ,hence ,god1 through ,paul1 has told us ,by him every one that believeth is justified from all things4--,acts #ac3ci4 ,if our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ gave ,himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ac1 #ad71 how can ,god be just and not justify every one that believes from all things 7,acts #ac3ci78 ,and if the believer is justified from all things 7,acts #ac3ci71 he is certain to go to ,heaven4 ,this is ,god's plan2 this is ,god's will2 by the which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4--,heb4 #aj3aj4 ,for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified4--,heb4 #aj3ad4 ,nor yet by the blood of goats and calves1 but through his own blood entered in once for all into the holy place1 having obtained eternal redemption4--,heb4 #i3ab4 ,hence ,jesus said1 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death to life4--,john #e3bd4 ,while thus is manifested ,god's justice1 and the only way that ,god could be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus 7,rom4 #c3bf71 for ,jesus ,himself said it 7,even so must the ,son of man be lifted up4--,john #c3ad72 let the reader not forget that it equally manifests ,god's love1 and the ,saviour's love4 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that he loved us1 and sent his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins4--#a ,john #d3aj4 ,the ,son of ,god who loved me and gave himself for me4--,gal4 #b3bj4 ,if ,god's love is amazing in sending ,his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins 7#a ,john #d3aj71 if the ,saviour's love is amazing in loving us and giving ,himself for us 7,gal4 #b3bj71 how infinitely more amazing is this love when we see that it has obtained eternal redemption for us 7,heb4 #i3ab72 that it has redeemed us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 and that every one that believes is justified from all things 7,acts #ac3ci78 ,reader1 the greatest crime that is ever committed on this earth is to reject this so great salvation 7,heb4 #b3c72 this redemption from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 and to trifle with the amazing love that provided a way by which ,he ,himself might be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus 7,rom4 #c3bf74 ,we shudder at the horrible crimes reported in the daily papers1 at those recorded in history2 but far greater1 far blacker1 more terrible1 is the crime of a human being rejecting this great provision of ,god's love4 ,only intellectual pride1 religious prejudice1 family or race ties1 love of the world1 or secret sin1 can be the cause of the reader taking such a fatal step2 and fearful will be the consequences of letting any one of these cause the rejection of the only salvation that ,god's love and justice could provide4 ,the reader cannot plead that ,god has not given sufficient proof that ,he has given us a revelation in ,his word 7let the reader go back and read again the ,introduction and the reference for further study72 nor can he plead that ,god's word does not make the message plain 7let the reader go back and study the ,scriptures at the beginning of this chapter74 ,it is a solemn and awful step1 reader1 one never to be retraced1 to decide to reject this salvation1 and to go out into the dark1 unending future beyond the grave1 unredeemed from iniquity1 with no certain hope1 when ,god has warned you1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission1--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,it is an awful1 eternal crisis1 when you see ,god's only provision for you1 so complete1 so perfect1 so sure1 and then face ,his warning1 ,i call heaven and earth to witness against you this day1 that ,i have set before thee life and death1 the blessing and the curse3 therefore choose life4 ,,for ,,further ,,study4--,there are those who deny ,god's justice in ,christ dying for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c71 in ,christ giving ,himself for our sins 7,gal4 #a3d71 in ,christ redeeming us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,expressions from the two most prominent rejecters will show the principal reasons given by all other rejecters of redemption through ,christ3-- ,moral justice cannot take the innocent for the guilty1 even if the innocent would offer itself4--,the ,age of ,reason by ,thomas ,paine4 ,the outrage offered to the moral justice of ,god1 by supposing ,him to make the innocent suffer for the guilty4--,the ,age of ,reason1 by ,thomas ,paine4 ,an execution is an object for gratitude2 the preachers daub themselves with the blood1 like a troop of assassins1 and pretend to admire the brilliancy it gives them4--,the ,age of ,reason1 by ,thomas ,paine4 ,the other is ,mrs4 ,mary ,baker ,g4 ,eddy in her ,science and ,health1 with ,key to the ,scriptures3 ,one sacrifice1 however great1 is insufficient to pay the debt of sin4 ,the atonement requires constant self-immolation on the sinner's part4 ,again1 ,another's suffering cannot lessen our own liability4 ,again1 ,the time is not distant when the ordinary theological views of atonement will undergo a great change1--a change as radical as that which has come over popular opinions in regard to predestination and future punishment4 ,does erudite theology regard the crucifixion of ,jesus chiefly as providing a ready pardon for all sinners who ask for it and are willing to be forgiven8 ,does spiritualism find ,jesus's death necessary only for the presentation1 after death1 of the material ,jesus1 as a proof that spirits can return to earth8 ,then we must differ from them both4 ,it is not to be wondered at that she takes her stand with ,thomas ,paine in rejecting the teaching that ,christ died for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c71 and that ,he redeemed us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 when she says1 ,does divine love commit a fraud on humanity by making man inclined to sin and then punishing him for it8 ,again1 ,in common justice we must admit that ,god will not punish man for doing what ,he created man capable of doing1 and knew from the outset that man would do4 ,again1 ,the destruction of sin is the divine method of pardon4 ,being destroyed1 sin needs no other pardon4 ,there is one vast difference between these two who reject ,jesus as our sin-bearer1 our ,redeemer1--,thomas ,paine does not masquerade under the name ,christian4 ,why should others who stand with him in rejecting complete redemption through ,christ8 ,catholics by the sacrifice of the mass1 the unbloody sacrifice1 the elevation of the host1 teach that the wafer is changed into the real body1 blood1 soul and divinity of ,jesus ,christ1 and that it is then offered as a sacrifice4 ,they thereby reject the complete redemption through ,christ dying for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c71 redeeming us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,they thereby deny that ,he offered one sacrifice for sin forever1--,heb4 #aj3ab1 and that by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified4--,heb4 #aj3ad4 ,having rejected ,him as complete ,redeemer1 they have no real ,saviour at all4 ,but those who make salvation dependent on moral character1 or baptism1 or church membership1 just as surely as the ,catholics reject the completeness of the redemption4 ,there are some who sneer at this teaching as the commercial view of redemption1 in the face of ,god's word that declares1 ye were bought with a price1--#a ,cor4 #f3bj2 worthy art thou to take the book and to open the seals thereof2 for thou wast slain1 and didst purchase unto ,god with thy blood men of every tribe and tongue and people and nation4--,rev4 #e3i4 7,r4 ,v47 ,consider the testimony of three over against the two quoted against this teaching of ,god's word3-- ,i saw that if ,jesus suffered in my stead1 ,i could not suffer1 too2 and that if ,he bore all my sin1 ,i had no more sin to bear4 ,my iniquity must be blotted out if ,jesus bore it in my stead and suffered all its penalty4--,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon4 ,if you believe on him1 ,i tell you you cannot go to ,hell2 for that were to make the sacrifice of ,christ of none effect4 ,it cannot be that a sacrifice should be accepted and yet the soul should die for whom that sacrifice had been received4 ,if the believing soul could be condemned1 then why a sacrifice8 ,every believer can claim that the sacrifice was actually made for him3 by faith he has laid his hands on it1 and made it his own1 and therefore he may rest assured that he can never perish4 ,the ,lord would not receive this offering on our behalf and then condemn us to die4--,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon4 ,the law of ,god was more vindicated by the death of ,christ than it would have been had all the transgressors been sent to ,hell4 ,for the ,son of ,god to suffer for sin was a more glorious establishment of the government of ,god than for the whole race to suffer4--,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon4 ,it is the obvious implication of these words 7the ,righteous ,one for the unrighteous ones7 that the death on which such stress is laid was something to which the unrighteous were liable because of their sins1 and that in their interest the ,righteous ,one took it on ,himself4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,this is his gospel1 that a ,righteous ,one has once for all faced and taken up and in death exhausted the responsibilities of the unrighteous1 so that they no more stand between them and ,god4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,if ,christ died the death in which sin had involved us1 if in ,his death ,he took the responsibility of our sins upon ,himself1 no word is equal to this which falls short of what is meant by calling ,him our substitute4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,i do not know any word that conveys the truth of this if 'vicarious' or 'substitutionary' does not2 nor do ,i know any interpretation of ,christ's death which enables us to regard it as a demonstration of love to sinners1 if this vicarious or substitutionary character is denied4 ,there is much preaching about ,christ's death which fails to be a preaching of ,christ's death1 and therefore to be in the full sense of the term ,gospel ,preaching1 because it ignores this4 ,the simplest hearer feels that there is something irrational in saying that the death of ,christ is a great proof of love to the sinful unless there is shown at the same time a rational connection between that death and the responsibilities which sin involves1 and from which that death delivers4 ,perhaps one should beg pardon for using so simple an illustration1 but the point is a vital one1 and it is necessary to be clear4 ,if ,i were sitting on the end of a pier on a summer day1 enjoying the sunshine and the air1 and some one came along and jumped into the water and got drowned to prove his love to me1 ,i should find it quite unintelligible4 ,i might be much in need of love1 but an act in no relation to any of my necessities could not prove it4 ,but if ,i had fallen over the pier and were drowning and some one sprang into the water and at the cost of making my peril1 or what but for him would be my fate1 his own1 saved me from death1 then ,i should say1 ',greater love hath no man than this4' ,i should say it intelligently1 because there would be an intelligible relation between the sacrifice which love made and the necessity from which it redeemed4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,christ died for sins once for all1 and the man who believes in ,christ and in ,his death has his relation to ,god once for all determined not by sin but by the atonement4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,one who knew no sin had1 in obedience to the ,father1 to take on ,him the responsibility1 the doom1 the curse1 the death of the sinful4 ,and if any one says that this was morally impossible1 may we not ask again1 ,what is the alternative8 ,is it not that the sinful should be left alone with their responsibility1 doom1 curse1 and death8--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,redemption1 it may be said1 springs from love1 yet love is only a word of which we do not know the meaning till it is interpreted for us by redemption4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,unless we can preach a finished work of ,christ in relation to sin1 a reconciliation or peace which has been achieved independently of us at infinite cost1 and to which we are called in a word of ministry of reconciliation1 we have no real gospel for sinful men at all4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,if the evangelist has not something to preach of which he can say1 ',if any man makes it his business to subvert this1 let him be anathema1' he has no gospel at all4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,as there is only one ,god1 so there can be only one ,gospel4 ,if ,god has really done something in ,christ on which the salvation of the world depends1 and if ,he has made it known1 then it is a ,christian duty to be intolerant of everything which ignores1 denies1 or explains it away4 ,the man who perverts it is the worst enemy of ,god and men4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,we should remember1 also1 that it is not always intellectual sensitiveness1 nor care for the moral interests involved1 which sets the mind to criticise statements of the ,atonement4 ,there is such a thing as pride1 the last form of which is unwillingness to become debtors even to ,christ for forgiveness of sins4--,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ4 ,but the ,saviour could not have been a ,redeemer1 if ,he had not been ,god manifest in the flesh1 for two reasons3-- ,first1 if ,he had not been ,deity1 ,god manifest in the flesh1 ,his dying for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c7 would not have been ,redemption1 but a mere makeshift4 ,it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins4--,heb4 #aj3d4 ,why not8 ,because in that case there would have been no real redemption1 but only a makeshift4 ,second1 had the ,saviour been anything other than ,god manifest in the flesh1 ,he would have won men from ,god and alienated them from ,god4 ,on this point let the reader consider well the following from ,walker1 in ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation3--,as ,god was the author of the law1 and as ,he is the only ,proper ,object both of supreme love and obedience2 and as man could not be happy in obeying the law without loving its ,author1 it follows that the thing now necessary1 in order that man's affections might be fixed upon the proper object of love and obedience1 was1 that the ,supreme ,god should1 by self-denying kindness1 manifest spiritual mercy to those who felt their spiritual wants1 and thus draw to ,himself the love and worship of mankind4 ,if any other being should supply the need1 that being would receive the love2 it was therefore necessary that ,god ,himself should do it1 in order that the affections of believers might centre upon the proper object4 ,now1 suppose ,jesus ,christ was not ,god1 nor a true manifestation of the ,godhead in human nature1 but a man1 or angel1 authorized by ,god to accomplish the redemption of the human race from sin and misery4 ,in doing this1 it appears1 from the nature of the thing1 and from the ,scriptures1 that ,he did what was adapted to1 and what does1 draw the heart of every true believer1 as in the case of the apostles and the early ,christians1 to ,himself as the supreme or governing object of affection4 ,their will is governed by the will of ,christ2 and love to ,him moves their heart and hands4 ,now1 if it be true that ,jesus ,christ is not ,god1 then ,he has devised and executed a plan by which the supreme affections of the human heart are drawn to ,himself1 and alienated from ,god1 the proper object of love and worship3 and ,god1 having authorized this plan1 ,he has devised means to make man love ,christ1 the creature1 more than the creator1 who is ,god over all1 blessed for evermore4 ,but it is said that ,christ having taught and suffered by the will and authority of ,god1 we are under obligation to love ,god for what ,christ has done for us4 ,it is answered1 that this is impossible4 ,we cannot love one being for what another does or suffers on our behalf4 ,we can love no being for labors and self-denials on our behalf1 but that being who valiantly labors and denies himself4 ,it is the kindness and mercy exhibited in the self-denial that move the affections2 and the affections can move to no being but the one that makes the self-denial1 because it is the self-denial that draws out the love of the heart4 ,it is said1 that ,christ was sent by ,god to do ,his will and not ,his own2 and therefore we ought to love ,god1 as the being to whom gratitude and love are due for what ,christ said and suffered4 ,then it is answered3 ,if ,god willed that ,christ1 as a creature of ,his1 should come1 and by ,his suffering and death redeem sinners1 we ought not to love ,christ for it1 because ,he did it as a creature in obedience to the commands of ,god1 and was not self-moved nor meritorious in the work2 and we cannot love ,god for it1 for the labor and self-denial were not borne by ,him4 ,and further3 ,if one being1 by an act of his authority1 should cause another innocent being to suffer1 in order that he might be loved who had imposed the suffering1 but not borne it1 it would render him unworthy of love4 ,if ,god had caused ,jesus ,christ1 being ,his creature1 to suffer1 that ,he might be loved ,himself for ,christ's sufferings1 while ,he had no connection with them1 instead of such an exhibition1 on the part of ,god1 producing love to ,him1 it would procure pity for ,christ and aversion towards ,god4 ,so that1 neither ,god1 nor ,christ1 nor any other being1 can be loved for mercy extended by self-denials to the needy1 unless those self-denials were produced by a voluntary act of mercy upon the part of the being who suffers them2 and no being1 but the one who made the sacrifice1 could be meritorious in the case4 ,it follows1 therefore1 incontrovertibly1 that if ,christ was a creature--no matter of how exalted worth--and not ,god2 and if ,god approved of ,his work in saving sinners1 ,he approved of treason against ,his own government2 because1 in that case1 the work of ,christ was adapted to draw1 and did necessarily draw1 the affections of the human soul to ,himself1 as its ,spiritual ,saviour and thus alienated them from ,god1 their rightful object4 ,and ,jesus ,christ ,himself had the design of drawing men's affections to ,himself in view1 by ,his crucifixion2 says ,he1 ',and ,i1 if ,i be lifted up from the earth1 will draw all men unto me4' ,this ,he said signifying what death ,he should die3 thus distinctly stating that it was the self-denials and mercy exhibited in the crucifixion that would draw out the affections of the human soul1 and that those affections would be drawn to ,himself as the suffering ,saviour4 ,but that ,god would sanction a scheme which would involve treason against ,himself1 and that ,christ should participate in it1 is absurd and impossible1 and therefore cannot be true4 ,but if the ,divine ,nature was united with the human in the teaching and work of ,christ1 if ,god was in ,christ 7drawing the affections of men1 or7 'reconciling the world unto himself'--if1 when ,christ was lifted up1 as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 ,he drew1 as ,he said ,he would1 the affections of all believers unto ,himself2 and then1 if ,he ascended1 as the ,second ,person of the ,trinity1 into the bosom of the ,eternal ,godhead--,he thereby1 after ,he had engaged1 by ,his work on earth1 the affections of the human soul1 bore them up to the bosom of the ,father1 from whence they had fallen4 ,thus the ruins of the ,fall were rebuilt1 and the affections of the human soul again restored to ,god1 the ,creator1 and proper ,object of ,supreme love4 ,finally1 let the reader give most earnest thought to the inevitable conclusion drawn by the same author3 ,how1 then1 could ,god manifest that mercy to sinners by which love to ,himself and to ,his law would be produced1 while ,his infinite holiness and justice would be maintained8 ,we answer1 in no way possible1 but by some expedient by which ,his justice and mercy would both be exalted4 ,if1 in the wisdom of the ,godhead1 such a way could be devised by which ,god ,himself could save the soul from the consequences of its guilt1--by which ,he ,himself could1 in some way1 suffer and make self-denials for its good2 and by ,his own interposition open a way for the soul to recover from its lost and condemned condition1 then the result would follow inevitably1 that every one of the human family who had been led to see and feel his guilty condition before ,god1 and who believed in ,god thus manifesting ,himself to rescue his soul from spiritual death1 every one thus believing would1 from the necessities of his nature1 be led to love ,god his ,saviour2 and mark1 the greater the self-denial and the suffering on the part of the ,saviour in ransoming the soul1 the stronger would be the affection felt for ,him4--,walker1 in ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,,iv ,,the ,,new ,,relation--,,the ,,new ,,motive ,what things soever the law saith1 it saith to them who are under the law2 that every mouth may be stopped1 and all the world may become guilty before ,god4--,rom4 #c3ai4 ,ye are not under the law4--,rom4 #f3ad4 ,the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith1 but after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster4 ,for ye are all the children of ,god by faith in ,jesus ,christ4--,gal4 #c3bd-bf4 ,when the fulness of time was come1 ,god sent forth his ,son born of a woman1 born under the law1 to redeem them that were under the law1 that we might receive the adoption of sons4 ,and because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the spirit of his ,son into your hearts1 crying ,abba1 ,father4 ,wherefore thou art no more a servant1 but a son2 and if a son1 then an heir of ,god through ,christ4--,gal4 #d3d-g4 ,having in love predestinated us for adoption as sons through ,jesus ,christ to himself4--,eph4 #a3e4 ,the love of ,christ constraineth us2 because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then all died2 and he died for all1 that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto him who died for them and rose again4--#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae4 ,there was a certain creditor who had two debtors2 the one owed five hundred pence1 and the other fifty4 ,and when they had nothing to pay1 he frankly forgave them both4 ,tell me therefore which of them will love him most8--,luke #g3da1 #db4 ,though ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not love1 ,i am become as sounding brass1 or a clanging cymbal4 ,and though ,i have the gift of prophecy1 and understand all mysteries1 and all knowledge2 and though ,i have all faith1 so that ,i could remove mountains1 and have not love1 ,i am nothing4 ,and though ,i bestow all my goods to feed the poor1 and though ,i give my body to be burned1 and have not love1 it profiteth me nothing4--#a ,cor4 #ac3a-c4 ,in ,god's plan with men1 ,his purpose in giving the law has been sadly misunderstood4 ,to the ,jews the law was given on tablets of stone and copied in their sacred writings2 to the ,gentiles the law was written in their hearts4 ,the one class had more light than the other1 and therefore will be judged differently4 ,as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law2 and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law4--,rom4 #b3ab4 ,for when the ,gentiles1 who have no law1 do by nature the things of the law1 these1 having no law1 are a law unto themselves2 who show the works of the law written in their hearts1 their conscience also bearing witness1 and their reasonings mutually accusing or even excusing them4--,rom4 #b3ad4 ,whether ,jew or ,gentile1 ,god had one purpose in giving the law1 ,now we know that what things soever the law saith1 it saith to those who are under the law1 that every mouth may be stopped and all the world be under judgement to ,god4 ,god's plan with the law includes every mouth1 all the world1 whether the law was written in their hearts or in sacred writings2 and ,his purpose is1 not that they should be saved by keeping the law1 for then no one would be saved1 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of ,god1--,rom4 #c3bc2 but that they might be brought under judgment to ,god1 every mouth stopped1 guilty1 and thus be brought to realize their need of a ,redeemer4 ,on this point ,god's word makes ,his purpose very plain3 ,the ,scripture hath shut up all under sin1 that the promise by faith in ,jesus ,christ might be given to them that believe4 ,but before faith1 we were confined under law1 shut up unto the faith about to be revealed4 ,wherefore the law was our tutor or schoolmaster unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after that faith is come we are no longer under a tutor or schoolmaster4--,gal4 #c3bc-be4 ,god's word is plain1 that ,god put men under the law1 not that they should be saved by keeping it1 but that they might be led to see their need of a ,saviour1 one to redeem them from the curse of the law3 ,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us1--,gal #c3ac2 and then1 having redeemed them from the curse of the law1 and from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 to adopt them as ,his own children1 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,christ4--,rom4 #h3ag4 ,so wonderful is the plan that it is hard for a human being to grasp it4 ,god's plan with men is not simply to save them1 but to put them above all other created beings4 ,unto which of the angels said he at any time1 ,thou art my ,son8--,heb4 #a3e4 ,yet1 having in love predestinated us for adoption as sons through ,jesus ,christ to himself1--,eph4 #a3e 7#aiaa ,bible71 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,christ1--,rom4 #h3ag1 ,he puts us far above angels2 for ye are all sons of ,god through faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf4 ,but men can only come into this higher relation to ,god as sons by being redeemed from under the lower relation1 under the law4 ,hear ,god's word3 ,when the fulness of the time was come1 ,god sent forth his ,son1 born of a woman1 born under the law1 to redeem them that were under the law1 that we might receive the adoption of sons4--,gal4 #d3d1 #e4 ,this higher relation as sons of ,god can be attained only by men coming out from under the law2 and men can come out from under the law only by being redeemed from under the law4 ,god's word teaches clearly1 then1 that when one is redeemed1 he is no longer under the law4 ,ye are not under the law1--,rom4 #f3ad2 ,what things soever the law saith1 it saith to those who are under the law4--,rom4 #c3ai4 ,then some are under the law and some are not under the law2 ,wherefore the law was our tutor unto ,christ that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after the faith is come1 we are no longer under a tutor4--,gal4 #c3bd1 #be4 ,pause1 reader1 and try to grasp the meaning of this4 ,if the believer is redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 and is not under the law1 7,rom4 #f3ad71 then he is sure of ,heaven2 for sin is not reckoned when there is no law4--,rom4 #e3ac4 ,it is not reckoned or imputed because it has all been reckoned or imputed to ,christ 7,is4 #ec3f1 ,titus #b3ad74 ,why1 then1 serve ,god8 ,not from fear of the law2 not from fear of ,hell2 but from love to ,him who redeemed us from the curse of the law1 having been made a curse for us 7,gal4 #c3ac74 ,just as clearly ,god's word teaches that those who are redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 become the sons of ,god2 for that purpose ,god sent forth his ,son1 born of a woman1 born under the law1 to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons4 ,and because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the spirit of his ,son into your hearts crying1 ,abba1 ,father4--,gal4 #d3d-f4 ,for ye are all the sons of ,god through faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf4 ,but there is1 in ,god's plan with men1 beyond this a still more blessed1 wonderful teaching3 ,wherefore1 thou art no more a servant1 but a son4--,gal4 #d3g4 ,the one who is redeemed from under the law 7,gal4 #c3ac7 never gets back under the law again1--,wherefore thou art no more a servant1 but a son4 ,that means1 then1 certainty of going to ,heaven1 certainty of being a son of ,god forever4 ,and this new relation1 and this certainty of ,heaven are settled for men1 not when they die1 nor when they have united with some church1 or have been baptised1 but the moment men repent from their sins and accept the ,saviour as their ,redeemer from all iniquity2 for ,god's word says1 ,he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life4--,john #c3cf2 and ,ye are all the sons of ,god through faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf4 ,this new relation with ,god gives men a new motive4 ,under the law1 guilty1 condemned by it1 the motive was fear4 ,but when men have been redeemed from under the law and adopted as sons of ,god1 the motive of fear is no more the motive of life4 ,ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear2 but ye have received the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,the motive of the son towards the father is not fear1 but love4 ,and this love is produced by the fact that ,god1 in love1 provided this great1 wonderful plan for men1 having in love predestinated us for adoption as sons through ,jesus ,christ to himself1--,eph4 #a3e1 and the fact that the ,saviour loved us and gave ,himself for us 7,gal4 #b3bj74 ,hence1 ,paul tells us1 ,the love of ,christ not the fear of the law1 nor the fear of ,hell constrains us2 because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then all died2 and he died for all1 that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto him who died for them1 and rose again4 ,our ,saviour1 the night before ,his crucifixion1 made clear that this was to be the motive in the life of ,god's children4 ,in instituting the ,lord's supper ,he said1 ,this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins4--,matt4 #bf3bh2 then1 following this1 before leaving the supper room1 ,he said1 ,if ye love me1 keep my commandments1--,john #ad3ae1 not1 if ye are afraid of the law1 keep my commandments2 not1 if ye are afraid of going to ,hell1 keep my commandments2 not1 if ye wish to make sure of going to ,heaven1 keep my commandments2 but1 if ye love me4 ,but why love ,him8 ,because this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins4 ,that this love1 and that this kind of love is clearly the motive power of the real ,christian life1 notice the teaching of the ,saviour in ,luke #g3da1 #dc1 ,there was a certain creditor who had two debtors2 the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty4 ,and when they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both4 ,tell me1 therefore1 which of them will love him most8 ,simon answered and said1 ,i suppose that he to whom he forgave most4 ,and he said unto him1 ,thou has rightly judged4 ,this is no mere theory1 that love ought to be the controlling motive1 but it is the controlling motive4 ,and it is not a mere theory that love ought to constrain the real ,christian1 the real believer1 but the love of ,christ does constrain us 7#b ,cor4 #e3ad74 ,one may be moral1 of deep piety1 and yet if the motive power of his life is not this love1 he is lost1 not a real ,christian4 ,god's word makes this plain1 ,though ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not love1 ,i am become as sounding brass1 or a clanging cymbal4 ,and though ,i have the gift of prophecy1 and understand all mysteries1 and all knowledge2 and though ,i have all faith1 so that ,i could remove mountains1 and have not love1 ,i am nothing4 ,and though ,i bestow all my goods to feed the poor1 and though ,i give my body to be burned1 and have not love1 it profiteth me nothing4--#a ,cor4 #ac3a-c4 ,two of the mightiest preachers of all times1 men whose tongues were those nearest to angels in preaching1 ,chalmers and ,wesley1 after years of most powerful preaching1 came out and stated that during all those years they were lost1 not ,christians4 ,why8 ,they had not been really redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad72 they had not been forgiven most2 the motive had not been the motive of him who is forgiven most1--,though ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not love1 ,i am become as sounding brass1 or a clanging cymbal4 ,why8 ,because eloquent1 powerful preaching cannot redeem from iniquity1 and ,god has said plainly1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,men may write great books explaining the mysteries of ,god's word1 commentaries1 ,sunday-school lesson helps1 instructions to ,christians2 yet if the motive power of their lives is not love based on the fact that they are forgiven most 7,luke #g3dc71 redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 they are lost1 not real ,christians1--though ,i have the gift of prophecy1 and understand all mysteries1 and all knowledge2 and though ,i have all faith1 so that ,i could remove mountains1 and have not love1 ,i am nothing4 ,why8 ,because there is nothing in understanding all mysteries1 and all knowledge1 in writing commentaries and other helpful books1 to redeem from all iniquity4 ,and ,god has said plainly1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4 ,the great capitalist1 the multi-millionaire1 may turn philanthropist1 and spend all his wealth in building schools1 or libraries1 or houses for the poor1 or in feeding hundreds of thousands in times of widespread drouth2 the ,catholic nun or ,protestant or ,baptist nurse may give her life in the epidemic in nursing the sick2 and the heroic fireman give his life in rescuing others from the flames2 yet they are all lost1 unless the motive power of life is love1 produced by the fact that they are forgiven most1 redeemed from all iniquity1--,though ,i bestow all my goods to feed the poor1 and though ,i give my body to be burned1 and have not love1 it profiteth me nothing4 ,why8 ,because there is nothing in giving away money to care for the poor1 nor in giving up life for others1 to redeem from iniquity4 ,and ,god has said plainly1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,when ,god1 ,that he might be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus1--,rom4 #c3bf1 so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have everlasting life1--,john #c3af1 men must not1 they must not1 from intellectual pride1 religious prejudice1 family or race ties1 nor from any other motive1 trifle with ,god and presume to dictate terms to the ,most ,high4 ,were it one poor1 obscure man who presumed to do this1 men would say that he deserved to be left to answer for his own sins before ,god at last4 ,but vast numbers1 whole religious denominations and university titles cannot change the ,most ,high4 ,god does not go by majorities4 ,earth's respectability does not pass current in ,heaven4 ,the wisdom of this world is foolishness with ,god4--#a ,cor4 #c3ai4 ,who is this being to whom puny men in their pride and prejudice presume to dictate terms as to how they may escape the just penalty for their sins1 as to how their sins should be taken away8 ,who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand1 and meted out heaven with the span1 and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure1 and weighed the mountains in scales1 and the hills in a balance8 ,who hath directed the spirit of the ,lord1 or being his counsellor hath taught him8 ,with whom took he counsel8 ,and who instructed him1 and taught him in the path of judgement1 and taught him knowledge1 and showed to him the way of understanding8 ,behold1 the nations are as a drop of a bucket1 and are counted as the small dust of the balance2 behold1 he taketh up the hills as a little thing4 ,all nations before him are as nothing1 and they are counted by him less than nothing1 and vanity4 ,it is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth1 and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers2 that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain1 and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in2 that bringeth the princes to nothing2 that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity4--,is4 #dj3ab-ae1 #ag1 #bb1 #bc4 ,a professor in a great university has recently said that to the modern mind1 untrained1 as the ,jews1 to daily sacrifices1 unused1 as those of ancient times1 to blood-atonement1--remission of sins by blood1--substitution does not commend itself4 ,if he and those who think like him do not care enough as to their eternal destiny to strive to become acquainted with blood-atonement1 to realize their need of it1 and to see that ,god1 in love1 has provided it1 complete and eternal1 then there is nothing left but for them to go out into eternity to meet the just penalty of their sins2 for even then ,god will be just to them4 ,no one1 barbarian or civilized1 will ever be treated unjustly by the ,most ,high4 ,but it is objected that1 if men are taught and believe that they have been redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 that they are not after that under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 that they have been adopted as ,god's sons 7,gal4 #d3d1 #e71 and that they are no more servants1 but sons 7,gal4 #d3g71 they will not serve ,god from love of ,christ for dying for them 7#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae71 but that they will become careless and not try to live ,christian lives4 ,that is true with hypocrites2 they will profess to believe that they are thus redeemed1 saved1 and will live careless1 worldly lives4 ,but really redeemed men will love most 7,luke #g3dc71 and live better lives from love4 ,the ,saviour said1 ,if a man love me he will keep my words1--,john #ad3bc2 ,if ,god were your father ye would love me4--,john #h3db4 ,and ,john1 writing to believers only 7#a ,john #e3ac71 says3 ,behold what manner of love the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 that we should be called children of ,god2 and such we are4 ,therefore the world knoweth us not1 because it knew him not4 ,beloved1 now are we the children of ,god1 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be2 but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him1 for we shall see him as he is4 ,and every one that hath this hope on him purifieth himself1 even as he is pure4--#a ,john #c3a-c4 ,the one who is thus redeemed and adopted as a son of ,god not only purifies himself because prompted by love to the ,saviour for redeeming him from all iniquity1 but because he is born again1 and this new nature leads him to hate sin and to love holiness4 ,whosoever believeth that ,jesus is the ,christ is born of ,god4--#a ,john #e3a4 ,being born again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 by the word of ,god which liveth and abideth forever4--#a ,peter #a3bc4 ,this is no mere theory1 no mere theological dogma4 ,cases innumerable throughout the ,christian era could be cited1 where the most wicked men and women in a moment have been completely changed by simply being led to accept ,jesus ,christ as their ,saviour1 as their ,redeemer from all iniquity4 ,in the author's work as an evangelist he has seen the most debased1 hopeless men and women revolutionized morally1 not by gradual processes1 but in a moment1 by leading them to repentance and faith in the ,saviour as their complete ,redeemer from all iniquity4 ,and the moral revolution was not temporary1 but permanent4 ,science cannot account for these moral revolutions brought about in a moment4 ,infidelity cannot account for them4 ,god's word does account for them1 that they have been born again1 born of ,god1 and have been taken from under the law and have been given a new relation to ,god and placed under a new motive power4 ,in a city a great mass-meeting for infidels was widely advertised2 a large audience assembled4 ,the leader asked all the men in the audience who had once been down in the depths of sin1 everything gone1 hopeless1 and had been led to accept the ,saviour as their ,redeemer from sin1 please to arise4 ,between three hundred and four hundred well-dressed business men and workingmen arose4 ,the leader then asked all who had been down in the depths of sin1 everything gone1 hopeless1 and they had then been led to believe in infidelity and it had made better men of them1 please to arise4 ,one lone man staggered to his feet and he was drunk6 ,science and infidelity cannot explain this difference4 ,god's word does explain it4 ,there is no other explanation4 ,it may be objected that many who profess to be thus redeemed from all iniquities1 to be born again1 do not continue to live better lives4 ,god's word explains every one of these cases3 ,they went out from us1 but they were not of us2 for if they had been of us1 they would have continued with us2 but they went out that they might be made manifest2 because not all are of us4--#a ,john #b3ai4 ,in closing this chapter1 reader1 pause and consider3--are you yet under the law8 ,have you been redeemed from the curse of the law8 ,have you been adopted as a child of ,god8 ,it is one thing to say ,our ,father2 it is quite a different thing to be really a child of ,god1 and heir of ,god and joint heir with ,christ4 ,is the motive of your life love of ,christ because ,he has redeemed you from all iniquities8 ,do not be deceived by calling the motive love when really it is not love4 ,if you have been trying to serve ,god1 thinking that if you continued to serve ,him1 continued to try to do your ,christian duty1 you would go to ,heaven after this life1 but that if you failed to serve ,him and do your ,christian duty1 you would not be saved1 then your motive has not been love1 and you are lost4 ,if you have been trying to serve ,god and do your ,christian duty1 fearing that if you failed you would be lost1 then your motive has not been love1 and you have never been redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 and adopted as the child of ,god 7,gal4 #d3d1 #e74 ,let not pride nor prejudice prevent your coming out from under the law and becoming really a child of ,god4 ,my heart's desire and prayer to ,god for ,israel is that they might be saved4 ,for ,i bear them record that they have a zeal of ,god1 but not according to knowledge4 ,for being ignorant of ,god's righteousness1 and going about to establish their own righteousness1 they have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of ,god4 ,for ,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth4--,rom4 #aj3a-d4 ,as many as received him1 to them gave he power to become the children of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name4--,john #a3ab4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3 ,men are prone to mix the law and redemption through ,christ4 ,they are separate and distinct4 ,they are two separate roads to ,heaven4 ,if a man keeps the law from birth to death he will go to ,heaven without any redemption2 he needs no redemption4 ,moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law1 that the man that doeth those things shall live by them1--,rom4 #aj3e2 not by ,christ as the ,redeemer2 he needs no redemption4 ,and the law is not of faith2 but the man that doeth them shall live in them4--,gal4 #c3ab4 ,there is no ,christ in this2 there is no need of ,christ if a man doeth them1 the law4 ,such a man cannot trust ,christ to save him2 for if he has never broken the law1 there is nothing from which he needs to be redeemed4 ,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die2 but if one has kept the law1 there is no penalty1 no redemption is needed4 ,the doers of the law shall be justified4--,rom4 #b3ac4 ,but all have sinned and come short of the glory of ,god1--,rom4 #c3bc2 hence1 there is need of redemption2 for apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,the other road to ,heaven1 therefore1 is that ,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us4--,gal4 #c3ac4 ,the ,saviour1 as well as the ,apostle ,paul1 taught clearly the two roads2 the first1 when ,one came and said unto him1 ,good ,master1 what good thing shall ,i do that ,i may have eternal life8 ,and he said unto him1 ,why callest thou me good8 ,there is none good but one1 that is ,god3 but if thou wilt enter into life1 keep the commandments4--,matt4 #ai3af1 #ag4 ,the question was what good thing the enquirer should do in order to have eternal life as the result of what he did4 ,the answer was exactly what ,paul taught afterwards1--,the man that doeth them1 shall live in them4--,gal4 #c3ab4 ,on the other hand1 to the penitent woman in ,simon's house the ,saviour said1 ,thy faith hath saved thee2 go in peace4--,luke #g3ej4 ,the trouble is that many men try to make a third road to ,heaven1 partly by obeying the law and partly by redemption through ,christ2 or rather1 they try to combine the two separate and distinct ways and make them one4 ,but this is fatal4 ,if by grace1 then it is no more of works2 otherwise grace is no more grace4 ,but if it is of works1 then it is no more grace2 otherwise work is no more work4--,rom4 #aa3f4 ,jesus said1 ,come unto me1 all ye that labor and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4--,matt4 #aa3bh4 ,and ,god's word declares plainly1 ,he that hath entered into his rest himself also hath rested from his own works1 as ,god did from his4--,heb4 #d3aj4 ,no one has rested1 ceased1 from his own works who thinks that keeping the law or trying to keep the law is a part of the salvation through ,christ as ,redeemer4 ,one must cease from his own works1 from looking to obeying the law to help in salvation1 before he can be saved through ,christ as ,redeemer4 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted for righteousness4--,rom4 #d3e4 ,hence1 all who are trying to get to ,heaven by obedience1 are under the law1 are yet unredeemed1 unsaved1 not real ,christians4 ,as many as are of the works of the law obeying the law to be saved are under the curse1--,gal4 #c3aj2 they have not been really redeemed4 ,of this class are all those who believe and teach ,salvation by character1--they are yet under the law2 they are yet under the curse4--,gal4 #c3aj4 ,further1 they fly in the face of the ,lord ,jesus1 who said to men who had character1 ,the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of ,god before you4--,matt4 #ba3ca4 ,they fail to see that the ,saviour takes men without character1 justifies them from all things 7,acts #ac3ci71 redeems them from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 redeems them from all iniquities 7,titus #b3ad71 and then develops in them a character that will stand the test of the ages2 that ,he takes a ,jerry ,mc,auley1 an ,s4 ,h4 ,hadley1 a ,harry ,monroe1 and a ,melville ,trotter and makes of them four of the most useful men of modern times4 ,they fail to see that character is formed by deeds2 that the character of the deed can be determined only by the motive prompting the deed2 that the controlling motive for the deed must1 in the sight of ,god1 be love 7#a ,cor4 #ac3a-c72 that the motive of love is produced by being forgiven most 7,luke #g3db1 #dc72 that the forgiveness comes from the ,saviour having given ,himself for our sins 7,gal4 #a3d71 to redeem us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,because of this failure to consider the motive back of the deed1 many books on morals and ethics are absolutely pernicious4 ,in comparing the morals and ethics of ,christianity with the morals and ethics of heathen religions1 they fail to take into consideration the motive back of the deed4 ,two young men are trying to win a young woman in marriage2 their deeds1 outwardly1 are the same2 the one is prompted by pure1 manly love for the young woman2 the other has his eye on her father's bank account4 ,you drop your handkerchief as you are passing along the street2 a man from pure kindness picks it up and hands it to you4 ,again you drop it1 and another picks it up and hands it to you1 but his motive is that he may win your confidence and pick your pocket4 ,four sons are equally dutiful1 in outward deed1 toward their fathers2 one1 that he may get all the money he wishes from his father2 the second1 from a cold sense of duty2 the third1 from fear that his father might kill him or disinherit him if he were not dutiful2 the fourth1 from tender love for the father4 ,in these four1 many authors see no difference1 or make no distinction1 and yet they profess to be teachers of morals and ethics6 ,four men1 outwardly1 are living the same moral lives2 one1 hoping to get to ,heaven by it2 the second1 from a cold sense of duty2 the third1 from fear of ,hell2 the fourth1 from love because ,one died for him 7#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae71 and redeemed him from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,only the last one will ever enter ,heaven2 only the last one is really a ,christian1 redeemed 7,heb4 #i3ab71 saved 7,eph4 #b3h74 ,as men are prone to mix law and redemption through ,christ1 so they are prone to mix law and sonship4 ,they fail to see that redemption from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 redemption from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 redemption from under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 means to be placed in a higher1 more sacred relationship to ,god4 ,even in nature ,god has two grades of existence1 a lower and a higher1 for some insects1 even2 the mosquito1 first in the water2 then by a simple process it rises into the higher kingdom2 the caterpillar1 a creeping worm1 then the butterfly4 ,but were there no analogies in nature1 ,god has clearly revealed a higher relation for those who are redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 ,god sent forth his ,son1 born of a woman1 born under the law1 to redeem them that were under the law1 that we might receive the adoption of sons1--,gal4 #d3d1 #e2 ,having in love predestinated us for adoption as sons through ,jesus ,christ to himself4--,eph4 #a3e4 ,where is man in the scale of being8 ,thou hast made him a little lower than the angels4--,ps4 #h3e4 ,but even the angels1 who are above man in the scale of being1 are not the sons of ,god4 ,unto which of the angels said he at any time1 ,thou art my son8--,heb4 #a3e4 ,but to every man who has been redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 from under the law 7,gal4 #d3e71 ,god says1 ,ye are all the sons of ,god through faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf4 ,and because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the spirit of his ,son into your hearts crying1 ,abba1 ,father4--,gal4 #d3f4 ,ye have received the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4--,rom4 #h3ae4 ,much of the confusion concerning the higher relationship of the redeemed with ,god has been caused by teaching the redeemed and the unredeemed to pray what is called the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,the ,saviour did not teach the unredeemed to pray in this manner4 ,they cannot pray it truthfully1 honestly1 for they are not the children of ,god4 ,they that are the children of the flesh1 these are not the children of ,god4--,rom4 #i3e4 ,if they are not1 then they cannot truthfully say ,our ,father1 ,whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4 ,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons2 for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not8 ,but if ye be without chastening1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards1 and not sons4--,heb4 #ab3f-h4 ,the language1 bastards and not sons1 has some meaning1 but it can have no meaning if ,god is the ,father of all human beings1 and all have a right to say ,our ,father4 ,it is true1 that in the ,old ,testament ,god is referred to as a ,father1 but it is only as ,father of ,israel1 the redeemed4 ,have we not all one father8 ,hath not one ,god created us8--,mal4 #b3aj4 ,but who are the we8 ,the burden of the word of the ,lord to ,israel by ,malachi1--,mal4 #a3a2--;,israel1 ,god's redeemed people4 ,god's word makes it plain that what is called the ,lord's ,prayer was not taught by the ,saviour to the unsaved4 ,as he was praying in a certain place1 when he ceased1 one of his disciples said unto him1 ,lord1 teach us to pray as ,john also taught his disciples1 and he said unto them ,his disciples1 ,when ye ,his disciples pray1 say1 ',our ,father4' ,how did they become disciples8 ,as many as received him1 to them gave he power to become the children of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name4--,john #a3ab4 ,ye are all the sons of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf4 ,concerning this prayer the ,southern ,baptist ,sunday ,school ,teacher says1 ,it is a special gift to believers only4 ,we cannot too earnestly insist that the ,lord's ,prayer is beyond the use of mere worldlings4 ,they have no heart for it4 ,it is the possession and badge of the disciples of ,christ4 ,it belongs to those who can offer it in humble and hearty faith4 ,the ,sunday ,school ,teacher1 published by the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society1 says3 ,this is a prayer that befits only ,christian lips and was given to the disciples only1 and so it is addressed to ',our ,father4' ,d4 ,l4 ,moody1 in ,the ,way ,home1 ,but who may use this prayer1 ',our ,father which art in ,heaven'8 ,examine the context4 ,the disciples when alone with ,jesus said1 ',lord1 teach us to pray1' and this was the answer they got2 they were taught this precious prayer3 ',in this manner pray ye3 ,our ,father1 which art in ,heaven4' ,it was taught by ,jesus to ,his chosen disciples2 then it is only for ,christians4 ,no man who is unconverted can or has a right to pray thus4 ,christ taught ,his disciples1 not all men1 not the multitude1 to pray like this4 ,a man must be born again before he has any right to breathe this prayer4 ,what right has any man living in sin and in open enmity with ,god1 to lift up his voice and say1 ,our or ,my ,father8 ,it is a lie and nothing else for him to say this4 ,the ,saviour was very explicit on this point3 ,ye do the deeds of your father4 ,then said they to him1 ,we are not born of fornication2 we have one ,father1 even ,god4 ,jesus said unto them1 ,if ,god were your ,father1 ye would love me2 for ,i proceeded forth and came from ,god2 neither came ,i of myself1 but he sent me4 ,why do ye not understand my speech8 ,even because ye cannot hear my word4 ,ye are of your father the devil4--,john #h3da-dd4 ,here are the unredeemed calling ,god their ,father4 ,if ,he is their ,father1 here was the time for the ,great ,teacher to make it plain4 ,if ,he is their ,father1 in any sense1 here was the opportunity to make it plain4 ,the ,saviour does not reply1 ,yes1 ,he is your ,father in one sense1 but ,i am speaking of another and a higher sense4 ,his answer is plain and unequivocal4 ,there are those who fly in the face of the ,saviour's plain teaching4 ,hear two of them3--,mrs4 ,mary ,baker ,g4 ,eddy1 in ,science and ,health1 ,god is the ,father of ,all4 ,man is the offspring of ,spirit4 ,spirit is his primitive and ultimate source of being2 ,god is his ,father and ,life is the law of his being4 ,he recognized ,spirit1 ,god1 as the only creator1 and therefore as the ,father of all2 demonstrating ,god as the ,father of men4 ,another makes his meaning just as plain3 ,he ,jesus was the son of ,god in like manner that every other person is2 for the ,creator is the father of all4--,thomas ,paine1 in ,the ,age of ,reason4 ,the issue is joined between these two on the one side and the ,lord ,jesus and ,paul on the other1 and men are lining up on one side or the other1 and many of them will spend eternity with the ones whose teaching they are following now1 with whom they are lining up2 and the reader may as well face the fact that many of them will not spend eternity in the same place with the ,saviour and ,paul4 ,with many the question as to whether the ,saviour1 when ,he said1 ,ye are of your father the devil1 told the truth1 or was a wilful liar and deceiver1 or a deluded fanatic and ignoramus1 is merely a matter of taste1 or preference1 or opinion4 ,it may be claimed by some that ,ye are of your father the devil1 grates on refined ears and finer sensibilities4 ,but it is more than a question whether it is pride1 or religious prejudice1 or refined sensibilities1 when the sensibilities and feelings are so coarse and hardened that without indignation1 often with complacency1 they see ,him who spake as never man spake1 ,god's only begotten ,son1 branded as a liar and deceiver4 ,such scholarship and finer sensibilities and such refinement will fill their possessors with horror and remorse in that day when the sun shall become black as sackcloth of hair1 and the full moon shall become as blood1 and the heavens shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together2 and every mountain and island shall be moved out of their places1 and the kings of the earth1 and the great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty men and every bondman and every freeman shall hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and say to the mountains and rocks1 ,fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sitteth on the throne1 and from the wrath of the ,lamb2 for the great day of his wrath is come1 and who shall be able to stand8--,rev4 #f3ab-ag2 for the ,father judgeth no man1 but hath committed all judgement unto the ,son1 that all men should honor the ,son1 even as they honor the ,father4 ,he that honoreth not the ,son honoreth not the ,father who sent him4--,john #e3bb1 #bc4 ,and he commanded us to preach unto the people1 and to testify that it is he who hath been ordained of ,god to be the judge of living and dead4--,acts #aj3db4 ,if all men who are unredeemed would just stop and realize their real position in the scale of being1 and that they really have no ,heavenly ,father1 and that as many as received him to them gave he power to become the children of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name1--,john #a3ab1 there would fall upon this world such a feeling of orphanage as it has never known since the ,saviour hung on the cross4 ,but in their pride or religious prejudice1 or love of the world1 or secret sin1 blinded by ,our ,father1 they go on through life repeating it1 and die1 never having been redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 and adopted as ,god's sons 7,gal4 #d3d-g74 ,teaching the unredeemed that ,god is their ,father1 and to say ,our ,father is the incubator of religious error and the hot-bed of infidelity4 ,many religious denominations that are fundamentally in error1 that really have no ,redeemer1 and therefore no ,saviour1 have as their foundation teaching that ,god is the ,father of the human race2 and there is scarcely an infidel but that was taught ,our ,father4 ,teach a person that ,god is his ,father1 that his ,heavenly ,father is far better than his earthly father1 and then teach him that his ,heavenly ,father is going to send him to an eternal ,hell1 and1 if he thinks1 he is far on the road to infidelity1 or he is ready for some modern church that denies that there is any ,hell4 ,it is said that a missionary to one of the heathen lands1 after laboring for some time among the people1 employed a learned heathen to help him translate the ,new ,testament into the heathen language4 ,the missionary would read and the heathen would translate and write it down4 ,they finally came to the first epistle of ,john4 ,one morning as they began their work1 having finished the second chapter1 the missionary read1 ,behold what manner of love the ,father hath bestowed upon us4 ,the heathen translated and wrote it down4 ,the missionary read1 that we should be called the children of ,god4 ,the heathen bowed his head upon the table and began weeping4 ,gaining control of his feelings1 he said1 ,teacher1 don't make me put it that way2 ,i know our people2 that is too good for us2 we don't deserve it4 ,put it this way1 ',that we may be allowed to kiss his feet1' ,that is good enough for our people4 ,he had listened to the story of ,god giving ,his ,son for us2 of ,his life1 of ,his teachings1 of ,his death for our sins2 and the thought that1 beyond this1 ,god makes the redeemed ,his children1 was too much for him4 ,but in enlightened1 so-called ,christian lands1 many who have never even claimed to have been born of ,god ridicule the teaching that ,god is the ,father of the redeemed only1 and they blatantly proclaim ,god to be the ,father of all human beings1 of the drunkard1 of the thief1 the murderer1 whereas1 even the angels do not call ,him ,father4 ,unto which of the angels said he at any time1 ,thou art my son8 ,but when men are redeemed 7,heb4 #i3ab71 and born again of the ,spirit 7,john #c3h2 #a ,john #e3a71 they are really ,god's children 7,gal4 #c3bf74 ,then they are above angels in the scale of being1 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,christ 7,rom4 #h3ag71--the highest1 most exalted of all beings in the universe4 ,oh1 that men would put their heels upon their pride1 be redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 and become ,god's real children 7,gal4 #d3d-g74 ,but just as many mix and confuse the teachings as to two roads to ,heaven1 and as to law and sonship1 so they mix and confuse the old motive of fear under the law 7,rom4 #h3ae71 and of love as sons4 ,the new motive of love could be produced in no other way than by real ,redemption4 ,let the reader give close study to the following principles laid down in ,walker's ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation3 #a1 ,the affections of the soul move in view of certain objects or in view of certain qualities believed to exist in those objects4 ,the affections never move1 in familiar words1 the heart never loves1 unless love be produced by seeing1 or by believing that we see1 some lovely and excellent qualities in the object4 ,when the soul believes those good qualities to be possessed by another1 and especially when they are exercised towards us1 the affections1 like a magnetized needle1 tremble with life1 and turn towards their object4 #b1 ,the affections are not subject to the will2 neither our own will nor any other will can directly control them4444 ,an effect could as easily exist without a cause as affection in the bosom of any human being which was not produced by goodness or excellence seen1 or believed to exist1 in some other being4 #c1 ,the affections1 although not governed by the will1 do themselves greatly influence the will4 ,all acts of will produced entirely by pure affection for another are disinterested4444 ,so soon as the affections move towards an object1 the will is proportionally influenced to please and benefit that object1 or1 if a superior being1 to obey his will4 #d1 ,all happy obedience must arise from affection4 ,affectionate obedience blesses the spirit which yields it1 if the conscience approve the object loved and obeyed4 #e4 ,when the affections of two beings are reciprocally fixed upon each other they constitute a band of union and sympathy peculiarly strong and tender1--those things that affect the one affecting the other in proportion to the strength of affection existing between them4 ,one conforms to the will of the other1 not from a sense of obligation merely1 but from choice2 and the constitution of the soul is such that the sweetest enjoyment of which it is capable rises from the exercise of reciprocal affections4 #f4 ,when the circumstances of an individual are such that he is exposed to constant suffering and great danger1 the more afflictive his situation the more grateful love will he feel for affection and benefits received under such circumstances4 ,if his circumstances were such that he could not relieve himself1 and such that he must suffer greatly or perish1 and while in this condition1 if another1 moved by benevolent regard for him1 should come to aid and save him1 his affection for his deliverer would be increased by a sense of the danger from which he was rescued4 ,the greater the kindness and self-denial of a benefactor manifested in our behalf1 the warmer and the stronger will be the affection which his goodness will produce in the human heart4 ,and this further statement by ,walker will be at once accepted by all honest seekers after truth3-- ,here1 then1 are two facts growing out of the constitution of human nature4 ,first1 the soul must feel its evil and lost state1 as the prerequisite condition upon which alone it can love a deliverer2 secondly1 the degree of kindness and self-denial in a benefactor1 temporal or spiritual1 graduates the degree of affection and gratitude that will be awakened for him4--,walker1 in ,the ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,v ,,the ,,sins ,,of ,,god',s ,,children--,,forgiveness--,,chastisemen ts ,our ,father who art in ,heaven 444 forgive us our sins4--,luke #aa3a-d4 ,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4--#a ,john #a3i4 ,ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto sons4 ,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of him2 for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4 ,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons2 for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not8 ,but if ye be without chastening1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards1 and not sons4 ,furthermore1 we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us1 and we gave them reverence2 shall we not much rather be in subjection under the ,father of spirits and live8 ,for they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed right to them2 but he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness4--,heb4 #ab3e-aj4 ,also ,i will make him my firstborn1 higher than the kings of the earth4 ,my mercy will ,i keep for him for evermore1 and my covenant shall stand fast with him4 ,his seed also will ,i make to endure forever1 and his throne as the days of heaven4 ,if his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgements2 if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments1 then will ,i visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes4 ,nevertheless1 my loving-kindness will ,i not utterly take from him1 nor suffer my faithfulness to fail4 ,my covenant will ,i not break1 nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips4 ,once have ,i sworn by my holiness that ,i will not lie unto ,david4--,ps4 #hi3bg-ce4 ,in coming to the question of ,god's plan concerning the lives of men redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 from under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 and adopted as ,god's sons 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 let the reader keep in mind that it is not concerning the sins of unredeemed men1 whether professing ,christians or not4 ,god's plan with the sins of unredeemed men has been shown in ,chapter ,i4 ,hence it is not a question of the sins of hypocrites1 or other professing ,christians who are not really ,god's children4 ,it has been shown in ,chapter ,,iv that when men are redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 they are no longer under the law2 ,ye are not under the law4--,rom4 #f3ad4 ,god's word lays down a principle recognized and endorsed by all enlightened nations1--,sin is not reckoned imputed when there is no law4--,rom4 #e3ac4 ,those who have been redeemed from under the law are adopted as ,god's children1--,god sent forth his ,son1 born of a woman1 born under the law1 to redeem them that were under the law1 that we might receive the adoption of sons4--,gal4 #d3d1 #e4 ,god thenceforth deals with them as father with children1 and not as judge with transgressors of law4 ,earthly children commit two kinds of sins against their earthly fathers2 they sin under temptation and are penitent1 and confess their sins and are forgiven4 ,second1 they sin wilfully and are chastised4 ,god's children sin in like manner2 they sin under temptation1 are penitent1 confess their sins and are forgiven4 ,second1 they become backsliders1 sin wilfully and are chastised4 ,let us consider the two classes of sins of ,god's children and ,god's plan with men for them4 ,our ,saviour taught ,his disciples1 ,god's children1 to pray ,our ,father 444 forgive us our sins1--,luke #aa3a-d2 ,paul and ,silas taught the jailer1 a man under the law1 unredeemed1 not a child of ,god1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3ca4 ,john taught the believers 7#a ,john #e3ac71 those who were redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 and were ,god's children 7#a ,john #c3a1 #b71 ,if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1--#a ,john #a3i2 ,paul taught the unredeemed1 those who were not ,god's children1 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted for righteousness4--,rom4 #d3e4 ,many believe and teach that if any one1 the unredeemed man as well as the son of ,god1 confesses his sins1 ,god will be faithful and just to forgive his sins4 ,a ,mohammedan1 a ,jew1 a ,christian ,scientist1 a ,unitarian1 a ,universalist1 confess their sins1--are they forgiven8 ,to these and all others under the law1 ,god has said1 ,apart from shedding of blood there is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,till heaven and earth pass1 one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law1 till all be fulfilled4--,matt4 #e3ah4 ,john is writing to believers only 7#a ,john #e3ac71 to those who are ,god's children 7#a ,john #c3a1 #b71 and to them he says1 ,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4--#a ,john #a3i4 ,men unredeemed1 under the law1 can never get rid of their sins by confession4 ,to them ,god has one message1--,and as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of man be lifted up1 that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have eternal life4 ,for ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4--,john #c3ad-af4 ,the ,saviour taught the disciples to pray1 ,our ,father1 444 forgive us our sins2 but so widespread is the misconception that it applies to all1 redeemed and unredeemed1 that all over the world vast multitudes of the unredeemed kneel down every night and say1 ,our ,father1 444 forgive us our sins1 and lie down to sleep deluded with the thought that they are forgiven4 ,if they are forgiven1 why was there any need of ,christ dying for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c78 ,but the real child of ,god can pray1 ,our ,father1 444 forgive us our sins1 and he is really forgiven4 ,why the difference8 ,with the unredeemed1 those yet under the law 7,rom4 #c3ai71 ,god is dealing as judge with violators of law1 and law knows no forgiveness4 ,with the redeemed1 those who have been adopted as ,god's children 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 ,god is dealing as father with son4 ,let those who are redeemed1 who are really ,god's children1 realize the blessed fact that ,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4--#a ,john #a3i4 ,but there is another class of sins committed by ,god's children1 ,if his children forsake my law 7,ps4 #hi3cj71 wilful sins4 ,for these ,god chastises ,his children1 just as an earthly father chastises his wilful and disobedient children4 ,ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto sons1 ,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of him2 for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4 ,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons1 for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not8 ,but if ye be without chastening1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards and not sons4 ,furthermore1 we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us1 and we gave them reverence2 shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the ,father of spirits and live8 ,for they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed right to them2 but he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness4--,heb4 #ab3e-aj4 ,chastisement or punishment of ,god's children is for correction2 for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness 7,heb4 #ab3aj72 punishment of the unredeemed is to carry out law1 for justice3 that he might be just 7,rom4 #c3bf72 every transgression received a just recompense of reward4--,heb4 #b3b4 ,the unredeemed1 those under the law 7,rom4 #c3ai71 are punished beyond this life1 in the ,day of ,judgment1--verily ,i say unto you1 ,it shall be more tolerable for the land of ,sodom and ,gomorrah in the day of judgment1 than for that city4--,matt4 #aj3ae2 ,god's children receive their chastisements in this life1--,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons4--,heb4 #ab3g4 ,professing ,christians who are not redeemed1 not really ,god's children1 do not receive chastisements2 hence1 they are punished in the day of judgment with the other unredeemed4 ,but if ye be without chastening1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards and not sons4--,heb4 #ab3h4 ,he has observed to little purpose who has not noticed that redeemed people1 ,god's children1 suffer more in this life than the unredeemed4 ,god says that ,his children endure chastenings and others who are not ,his children do not4 ,the difference can be easily seen by any one who will observe closely4 ,the ,psalmist observed it and was greatly disturbed by it until he understood the cause of the difference4 ,truly ,god is good to ,israel1 even to such as are of a clean heart4 ,but as for me1 my feet were almost gone2 my steps had well nigh slipped4 ,for ,i was envious at the foolish when ,i saw the prosperity of the wicked4 ,for there are no bands in their death1 but their strength is firm4 ,they are not in trouble as other men2 neither are they plagued like other men4 ,therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain2 violence covereth them as a garment4 ,their eyes stand out with fatness1 they have more than heart could wish4 ,they are corrupt1 and speak wickedly concerning oppression2 they speak loftily4 ,they set their mouths against the heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth4 ,therefore1 his people return hither1 and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them4 ,and they say1 ,how doth ,god know8 ,and is there knowledge in the ,most ,high8 ,behold1 these are the ungodly1 who prosper in the world2 they increase in riches4 ,verily ,i have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency4 ,for all the day long have ,i been plagued1 and chastened every morning4 ,if ,i say1 ,i will speak thus3 behold1 ,i should offend against the generation of thy children4 ,when ,i thought to know this1 it was too painful for me2 until ,i went into the sanctuary of ,god3 then understood ,i their end4 ,surely1 thou didst set them in slippery places2 thou castedst them down into destruction4 ,how are they brought into desolation1 as in a moment8 ,they are utterly consumed with terrors4 ,as a dream when one awaketh2 so1 ,o ,lord1 when thou awakest1 thou shalt despise their image4 ,for my heart was grieved1 and ,i was pricked in my reins4 ,so foolish was ,i1 and ignorant2 ,i was as a beast before thee4 ,nevertheless1 ,i am continually with thee2 thou hast holden me by my right hand4 ,thou shalt guide me with thy counsel1 and afterward receive me to glory4--,ps4 #gc3a-bd4 ,that chastisement in this life for wilful sins is ,god's plan with redeemed men1 ,his real children1 is clearly revealed even in the ,old ,testament4 ,god swore by ,his holiness to ,david that this would be ,his plan with redeemed men3--,also1 ,i will make him my firstborn1 higher than the kings of the earth4 ,my mercy will ,i keep for him forevermore1 and my covenant shall stand fast with him4 ,his seed also will ,i make to endure forever and his throne as the days of ,heaven4 ,if his children forsake my law1 and walk not in my judgments2 if they break my statutes1 and keep not my commandments2 then will ,i visit their transgressions with the rod1 and their iniquity with stripes4 ,nevertheless my loving-kindness will ,i not utterly take from him1 nor suffer my faithfulness to fail4 ,my covenant will ,i not break1 nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips4 ,once have ,i sworn by my holiness that ,i will not lie unto ,david4--,ps4 #hi3bg-ce4 ,david himself was a case in point4 ,after his terrible sin1 ,god sent word to him by the prophet ,nathan1 ,wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the ,lord1 to do evil in his sight8 ,thou hast killed ,uriah the ,hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to be thy wife1 and hast slain him with the sword of the children of ,ammon4 ,now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house4--#b ,sam4 #ab3i1 #aj4 ,and ,david said unto ,nathan1 ,i have sinned against the ,lord4 ,and ,nathan said unto ,david1 ,the ,lord also hath put away thy sin2 thou shalt not die4--#b ,sam4 #ab3ac4 ,god has but one way of putting away sin4 ,apart from shedding of blood is no remission4--,heb4 #i3bb4 ,for the life of the flesh is in the blood2 and ,i have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls2 for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul4--,lev4 #ag3aa4 ,but ,god does not stop there4 ,howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the ,lord to blaspheme1 the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die4--#a ,sam4 #ab3ad4 7,let the reader notice that ,god1 foreseeing that people would ridicule the idea of ,god saving ,david1 calls it blasphemy and calls those who do it the enemies of the ,lord47 ,david fasted and prayed for the child4 ,on the seventh day the child died1 ,but when ,david saw that his servants whispered1 ,david perceived that the child was dead2 therefore ,david said unto his servants1 ,is the child dead8 ,and they said1 ,he is dead4 ,then ,david arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself1 and changed his apparel1 and came into the house of the ,lord and worshipped3 then he came to his own house2 and when he required1 they set bread before him and he did eat4 ,then said his servants unto him1 ,what thing is this that thou hast done8 ,thou didst fast and weep for the child1 while it was alive2 but when the child was dead1 thou didst rise and eat bread4 ,and he said1 ,while the child was yet alive1 ,i fasted and wept3 for ,i said1 ,who can tell whether ,god will be gracious to me1 that the child may live8 ,but now he is dead1 wherefore should ,i fast8 ,can ,i bring him back again8 ,i shall go to him4--#b ,sam4 #ab3ai-bc4 ,how could ,david be thus sure8 ,he had ,god's word on which to rest1 ,the life of the flesh is in the blood1 and ,i have given it upon the altar to make atonement for your souls2 for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul4--,lev4 #ag3aa4 ,but because of his sin ,god chastened him as long as he lived4 ,now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house4 ,solomon is another case in point4 ,concerning ,solomon ,god said to ,david1 ,i will be his father and he shall be my son4 ,if he commit iniquity1 ,i will chastise him with the rod of men1 and with the stripes of the children of men2 but my mercy shall not depart away from him4--#b ,sam4 #g3ad1 #ae4 ,in chastening1 ,god uses as a rod loss of loved ones 7#b ,sam4 #ab3ad2 ,amos #d3aj71 loss of property 7,amos #d3f-i71 loss of health 7#a ,cor4 #aa3cj71 death 7#a ,cor4 #aa3cj2 ,amos #d3aa2 ,deut4 #cb3dh-eb74 ,consider the case of ,moses and ,aaron3 ,god told them to speak to the rock that it might bring forth water for the children of ,israel4 ,but they wilfully disobeyed1 and instead of speaking to the rock1 struck it in anger4 ,for this wilful sin1 as a chastisement1 ,god said to ,moses1 ,get thee up into this mountain ,abarim1 unto ,mt4 ,nebo1 which is in the land of ,moab1 that is over against ,jericho2 and behold the land of ,canaan1 which ,i give unto the children of ,israel for a possession3 and die in the mount whither thou goest up1 and be gathered unto thy people2 as ,aaron thy brother died in ,mt4 ,hor1 and was gathered unto his people3 because ye trespassed against me among the children of ,israel at the waters of ,meribah ,kadesh1 in the wilderness of ,zin4--,deut4 #cb3di-eb4 ,though ,moses was thus severely chastened for his wilful sin1 he was not lost1 for he was with ,elijah on the mountain at the transfiguration of the ,saviour 7,matt4 #ag3a-c74 ,the lesson needs to be learned by ,god's children that as certainly as a redeemed man sins wilfully1 whether the sin be great or small1 the chastening rod is sure to fall4 ,if his children forsake my law 444 then will ,i visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes4--,ps4 #hi3cj-cb4 ,but ,god does not send the chastening in wrath1 nor in justice4 ,whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4--,heb4 #ab3f4 ,there are many who profess to be redeemed1 to be ,god's children1 professed ,christians1 church members1 who sin wilfully1 and ,god never sends chastisements to them2 but ,god explains about them1 ,but if ye be without chastening1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards1 and not sons4--,heb4 #ab3h4 ,he does not chasten this class2 in ,hell they will receive their punishment1 but it will be just4 ,god will treat no human being wrong4 ,with some it may seem severe that ,god should chasten and scourge ,his children4 ,that is not as severe as to send them to ,hell for their wilful disobedience after they become ,his children1 and that is the belief of many4 ,there are but three plans that ,god could have for those who have been redeemed from the curse of law 7,gal4 #c3ac7 and adopted as ,his children 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 and afterward sin wilfully3-- ,first1 beyond this life punish them in the judgment 7,matt4 #aj3ae7 for their sins1 send them to ,hell4 ,that would mean1 7#a7 if ,christ redeemed them from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 that ,god would force the same debt to be paid twice4 ,shall not the judge of all the earth do right8 7#b7 ,that would mean that ,god would punish1 by law1 those who have been redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 and who are not under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 and would violate ,god's own principle1 ,sin is not reckoned imputed when there is no law 7,rom4 #e3ac74 7#c7 ,that would mean a child of ,god1 redeemed and adopted 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 and born again 7#a ,peter #a3bc71 born of the ,holy ,spirit 7,john #c3h71 sent to ,hell4 7#d7 ,that would mean to make the ,saviour unreliable and untruthful in ,his statements4 ,many will say unto me in that day1 ,lord1 ,lord1 have we not prophesied in thy name8 and in thy name have cast out demons8 and in thy name done many wonderful works8 ,and then will ,i profess unto them1 ,i never knew you4--,matt4 #g3bb1 #bc4 ,these are the professing ,christians at the judgment who are lost1 and ,jesus says1 ,i never knew you1 that not one of them was ever really redeemed and adopted as a child of ,god4 7#e7 ,it would mean for ,god to violate ,his own oath 7,ps4 #hi3 #bg-ce74 ,second1 the second plan possible to ,god in dealing with those who sin wilfully after they have been redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 and adopted as ,god's children 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 would be to let them continue to sin wilfully1 and neither punish them beyond this life1 at the judgment1 in ,hell1 nor chastise them in this life4 ,that would mean for some of them to eventually develop characters most fearfully warped by sin4 ,third1 there is but one other possible plan left for ,god with redeemed men1 redeemed from the law and adopted as ,his children 7,gal4 #d3g71 who sin wilfully2 and that is to chasten1 chastise them in this life4 ,that is ,god's plan with the redeemed1 ,his own children2 and however severe the chastening1 ,he does it in love4 ,in love ,he planned to adopt us as ,his children4 ,having in love predestinated us for the adoption as sons through ,jesus ,christ to himself4--,eph4 #a3e 7#aiaa ,bible71 and in love ,he chastises4 ,whom the ,lord loveth1 he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4--,heb4 #ab3f4 ,reader1 the issue is before you3 shall you remain under the law 7,rom4 #c3ai7 to be punished justly in the judgment 7,matt4 #aa3bb-bd7 and to continue to sin in ,hell 7,rev4 #bb3aa1 ,r4 ,v471 or will you accept redemption through ,christ the ,saviour from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 be adopted as a child of ,god forever 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 to be forgiven when you sin against your ,father in ,heaven and confess your sin 7#a ,john #a3i72 to be chastened when you sin wilfully 7,ps4 #hi3bg-cd71 and to spend eternity in ,heaven with ,him who loved you and gave ,himself for you 7,john #ad3a-c2 ,gal4 #b3bj71 free forever from sin 7,rev4 #ba3bd-bg2 ,rev4 #bb3c78 ,you do not intend1 reader1 to be wrapped in a ,christless shroud1 to be laid away in a ,christless grave1 to spend eternity in a ,christless ,hell4 ,decide now4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3--,the teaching that ,god interposes in human affairs to chastise ,his disobedient children 7,heb4 #ab3e-h2 ,ps4 #hi3bg-cd71 to chasten with the rod of the children of men 7#b ,sam4 #g3ad1 #ae2 #a ,cor4 #aa3cj71 will frighten1 or arouse the contempt of1 the modern mind with its self-inflated wisdom1 which just knows that the laws of nature are immutable laws4 ,is there a being called ,nature who made these laws8 ,who revealed to the modern mind that these laws were immutable8 ,where did the modern mind get its authority 7it takes for granted that it has the power7 to drive ,god from ,his universe1 or to make ,him powerless1 or inactive8 ,can the modern mind prove absolutely that because ,god's law of gravitation causes objects to fall toward the earth1 ,he has no right and no power to make ,elijah's body go up instead of down 7#b ,kings #b3aa78 ,does the modern mind absolutely know that ,god is now inactive and must remain inactive8 ,dr4 ,mason ,goode observes that worlds and systems of worlds are perpetually disappearing1 that within the period of the last century no less than thirteen in different constellations seem to have perished and ten new ones have been created4--,origin of the ,globe4 ,if ,god is active out in space1 who shall deny ,him the right or the power to be active on this planet8 ,and if active on this planet at all1 then in the individual lives of ,his children8 ,and in ,his word1 backed up by fulfilled prophecies1 to prove that ,he is dealing with us1 ,he tells us that ,he is4 ,is the modern mind too scholarly1 too self-opinionated1 to consider the following words from ,prof4 ,james ,orr in his ,the ,resurrection of ,jesus 7the modern mind is very careful not to attempt a thorough reply to ,professor ,orr's ,problem of the ,old ,testament1 nor his ,resurrection of ,jesus--for obvious reasons78 ,the question is not1 ,do natural causes operate uniformly8 ,but are natural causes the only causes that exist or operate8 ,for miracle1 as has frequently been pointed out1 is precisely the assertion of the interposition of a new cause2 one1 besides1 which the theist must admit to be a vera causa4 ,if when we become ,god's children1 we are no longer under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 we are redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 we are no more servants but sons 7,gal4 #d3g71 the question arises1 why pray to ,our ,father in ,heaven to be forgiven8 ,the child does not ask his father's forgiveness in order to be his child1 but to have the disturbed fellowship restored4 ,the unforgiven child is still a child1 but will be chastened4 ,it is fellowship of the ,heavenly ,father with the child that is restored by forgiveness1 and is sought in forgiveness1 and not a destroyed relationship4 ,on this point hear ,james ,denny in his ,the ,death of ,christ3 ,christ died for sins once for all1 and the man who believes in ,christ and in ,his death has his relations to ,god once for all determined not by sin but by the ,atonement4 ,the sin for which a ,christian has daily to seek forgiveness is not sin which annuls his acceptance with ,god4 ,there needs to be kept in mind1 in considering that ,god chastens ,his children1 the distinction that while chastenings are sufferings1 all sufferings are not chastisements4 ,the expression1 whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth 7,heb4 #ab3f71 has been widely misused and sadly misapplied4 ,because ,david's babe was taken from him as a chastisement 7#b ,sam4 #ab3ad71 many thoughtlessly conclude that every babe's death is meant for a chastisement for the father and mother2 and many apply ,whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth to all of the sorrows and sufferings of ,god's children4 ,but there is another purpose accomplished by some sufferings1 in that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire1 might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ4--#a ,peter #a3g4 ,and he shall sit as a purifier and refiner of silver4--,matt4 #c3c4 ,the silver is not to blame for the dross2 nevertheless1 it needs to be burned out4 ,a child stole a piece of bread2 the father chastised the child for it4 ,that chastening was suffering4 ,but the same child was born a cripple4 ,in straightening the foot1 the father forced many weeks of fearful suffering on the child1 but the suffering was not chastisement4 ,chastisements are sufferings of ,god's children for wrongdoing to correct them2 but there are sufferings that are not chastisements for wrongdoing1 but are to take out of us defects1 or to develop us4 ,hence1 to say to some one who is suffering from sorrow or affliction1 ,whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 is often cruel and untrue4 ,,vi ,,rewards--,,degrees ,,in ,,heaven ,i give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish4--,john #aj3bh4--,lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven4--,matt4 #f3bj4 ,by grace have ye been saved through faith2 and that not of yourselves2 it is the gift of ,god2 not of works1 lest any one should boast4--,eph4 #b3h1 #i4--;,each man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor4--#a ,cor4 #c3h4 ,other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 ,now if any man build upon this foundation gold1 silver1 costly stones1 wood1 hay1 stubble2 every man's work shall be made manifest3 for the day shall declare it1 because it shall be revealed by fire2 and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is4 ,if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon1 he shall receive a reward4 ,if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss1 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire4--#a ,cor4 #c3aa-ae4 ,but ,god said unto him1 ,thou fool1 this night thy soul shall be required of thee2 then whose shall those things be1 which thou hast provided8 ,so is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward ,god4--,luke #ab3bj1 #ba4 ,whosoever would save his life shall lose it2 and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it4 ,for what shall a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world and forfeit his life1 or what shall a man give in exchange for his life8 ,for the ,son of man shall come in the glory of his ,father1 with his angels1 and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds4--,matt4 #af3be-bg 7,r4 ,v47 ,behold1 ,i come quickly2 and my reward is with me1 to give each one according as his work shall be4--,rev4 #bb3ab4 ,the teaching of ,god's word of degrees in future punishment 7,these shall receive greater condemnation1--,mark #ab3dj7 according to heredity and environment 7,it shall be more tolerable for ,tyre and ,sidon at the day of judgment than for you2 it shall be more tolerable for the land of ,sodom in the day of judgment than for thee1--,matt4 #aa3bb1 #bd71 and according to sin 7,every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward1--,heb4 #b3b71 commends itself to the judgment1 to the conscience1 of every honest man4 ,the companion teaching to this in ,god's word is that there will be different degrees1 or rewards1 in ,heaven4 ,just as the degree of man's punishment in ,hell will be determined by his life here2 so the degree of a man's reward in ,heaven will be determined by his life here4 ,the dividing line is redemption4 ,with many1 salvation and rewards mean the same thing1 but the ,saviour made a clear distinction4 ,i give unto them eternal life1 and they shall never perish4--,john #aj3bh 7,he that believeth on me hath everlasting life4--,john #f3dg72--,lay up for yourselves treasures in ,heaven4--,matt4 #f3bj4 ,our salvation is a gift and depends upon the ,saviour2 our treasures in ,heaven must be laid up by ourselves4 ,paul makes the distinction equally clear4 ,by grace have ye been saved through faith2 and that not of yourselves2 it is the gift of ,god2 not of works1 lest any man should boast4--,eph4 #b3h1 #i 7,r4 ,v474--,each man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor4--#a ,cor4 #c3h4 ,but by rewards for service ,god's word does not mean ,god's blessings on the faithful ,christians in this life4 ,it means rewards beyond this life4 ,jesus said1 ,when thou makest a dinner or a supper call not thy friends1 nor thy brethren1 neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich neighbors1 lest they also bid thee again1 and a recompense be made thee4 ,but when thou makest a feast1 call the poor1 the maimed1 the lame1 the blind2 and thou shalt be blessed2 for they cannot recompense thee1 for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just4--,luke #ad3ab-ad4 ,if each man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor 7#a ,cor4 #c3h71 there will1 then1 be different rewards or degrees in ,heaven2 for doubtless no two redeemed people ever served ,god in exactly the same degree of faithfulness4 ,paul makes this distinction clear1 as well as the difference between salvation and rewards4 ,he uses the illustration of building houses out of different material4 ,he has been speaking of preachers and their work1 and then seems to turn and apply his teaching to every one1 for he says1 ,let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon4--#a ,cor4 #c3aj4 ,whether he is speaking only of preachers and their work1 or applies it to every man2 whether he is speaking of building in the lives of others by what we teach or do1 or whether he makes a turn and applies it to every man and his building in his own life1 he draws the clear distinction between the foundation on which the building rests and the building built thereupon1 between salvation alone through ,christ1 and rewards for service3 ,for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 ,now1 if any man build upon this foundation gold1 silver1 costly stones1 wood1 hay1 stubble2 every man's work shall be made manifest2 for the day shall declare it2 because it shall be revealed by fire2 and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is4 ,if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon1 he shall receive a reward4 ,if any man's work shall be burned he shall suffer loss1 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire4--#a ,cor4 #c3aa-ae4 ,why is he saved8 ,because he has been redeemed from the curse of the law1 ,christ having been made a curse for him 7,gal4 #c3ac72 because he has been redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad72 because he has been redeemed from under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad72 and ,god means ,his promise1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus and thou shalt be saved 7,acts #af3ca71 and he means the promise of the ,saviour1 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation2 but is passed from death unto life4 ,but when the redeemed man's works shall be burned1 though he himself shall be saved 7#a ,cor4 #c3ae71 he shall suffer loss 7#a ,cor4 #c3ae71 and the loss shall be irreparable1 eternal1 and so great that no human being in this age can fully realize it4 ,here the old translation1 the ,king ,james' version1 has misled us4 ,the oft-quoted sentence1 ,what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul8 or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul8 is a mistranslation4 ,the ,revised ,version translates it correctly3 ,what shall a man be profited1 if he shall gain the whole world and forfeit his life1 or what shall a man give in exchange for his life8--,matt4 #af3bf4 ,by noticing verse #be1 and verse #bg the reader can see what the ,saviour meant3 whosoever would save his life shall lose it1 not his soul1 but his life1 and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it1 his life not his soul2 whosoever shall lose his life for my sake1--men do lose their lives for ,his sake1 but no one loses his soul for the ,saviour's sake4 ,following immediately ,he says1 verse #bf1 ,for what shall a man be profited1 if he shall gain the whole world and forfeit his life8 or what shall a man give in exchange for his life8 ,in verse #bg the ,saviour makes plain how a man who would save his life1 loses it1 and how the one who shall lose his life for the ,saviour's sake shall find it1--in the rewards that he loses by trying to save his life1 or gains by losing his life for the ,saviour's sake1 ,for the ,son of man shall come in the glory of his ,father with his angels2 and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds4 ,what deeds8 ,deeds of losing his life for the ,saviour's sake4 ,for all eternity he will have no reward for the life he lived here--he has lost his life4 ,now1 the ,saviour says that if a man shall gain the whole world1 and in doing so shall forfeit his life1--shall have no reward in eternity as a result of his life 7the principle laid down by ,paul1 whether of preachers or of all1 if any man's work shall be burned he shall suffer loss1 but he himself shall be saved4--#a ,cor4 #c3ae71 he has made a fearful mistake4 ,but if the one who shall gain the whole world and in doing so shall forfeit his life1 shall have no reward for it1 makes a fearful mistake1 how much greater mistake does the one make who forfeits his life to have no reward throughout eternity1 in order to gain a very small part of the world1 as so many are doing8 ,but if the one who shall forfeit his life1--have no reward in eternity1--in order to gain but a very small part of the world1 makes such a fearful1 such a great mistake1 far worse is the bargain made by the unredeemed man who loses not only his life but also loses his soul in order to gain a very small part of the whole world2 and yet this is what the vast majority of men are doing4 ,we cannot grasp it1 we cannot realize it1 but ,jesus says that the rewards 7not salvation--#a ,cor4 #c3ae7 that men are losing are more than the whole world4 ,another teaching of the ,saviour along this line has been widely misapplied3 ,he spake a parable unto them1 saying1 ,the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully2 and he thought within himself1 saying1 ,what shall ,i do1 because ,i have no room where to bestow my fruits8 ,and he said1 ,this will ,i do3 ,i will pull down my barns1 and build greater2 and there will ,i bestow all my fruits and my goods1 and ,i will say to my soul1 ,soul1 thou hast much goods laid up for many years1 take thine ease1 eat1 drink1 and be merry4 ,but ,god said unto him1 ,thou fool1 this night thy soul shall be required of thee2 then whose shall those things be1 which thou hast provided8--,luke #ab3af-bj4 ,at once many rush to the conclusion that he was lost1 that he went to ,hell2 and they proceed to warn men against laying up treasures in this life and losing their souls4 ,but ,god said1 ,this night thy soul shall be required of thee1 not this night thy soul shall go to ,hell4 ,let the ,saviour make ,his own application3 ,so is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich toward ,god4--,luke #ab3ba4 ,if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward 7#a ,cor4 #c3ad71 he is rich toward ,god2 if any man's work shall be burned he shall suffer loss 7#a ,cor4 #c3ae71 he is a fool2 he spent a life here on earth and has no reward in eternity as a result of it2--but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire4--#a ,cor4 #c3ae4 7,if in the passage #a ,cor4 #c3aa-ae1 ,paul is speaking only of preachers and their work in building on the foundation of ,christ in the lives of others by their teaching1 he yet shows that some whose work abides will be rewarded1 and that others whose work shall be burned shall suffer loss and yet shall be saved2 so that the principle applies with all ,christians74 ,two cases in point3-- ,a great ,american statesman was told by his physician that in a few days he must die4 ,that afternoon a minister called to see the dying statesman and asked as to his hope beyond the grave4 ,the dying statesman replied1 ,mr4 ,blank1 ,i am going to ,heaven when ,i die4 ,the minister asked the dying man on what he based his hope4 ,he replied3 ,mr4 ,blank1 ,i am ashamed to say that ,i am a ,christian2 but now that the time has come1 ,i must not deny my ,saviour4 ,when ,i am dead tell your people that days before ,i died1 when my mind was calm and clear1 ,i gave my dying testimony that ,i was going to ,heaven1 redeemed by the blood of ,christ4 ,the minister pressed the question1 why he thought he was a ,christian4 ,the statesman said to the negro man who was nursing him1 ,jack1 go into my library and bring me my ,bible4 ,turning to the minister he said1 ,mr4 ,blank1 as ,i said to you1 ,i am ashamed to say that ,i am a ,christian1 but now that the time has come1 ,i must not deny my ,saviour4 ,long years ago1 back in the old red hills of ,georgia1 when ,i was a young man1 one ,sunday in an old country church ,i heard a ,baptist preacher preach1 and ,i understood him4 ,he showed that ,god honestly loves this world1 that ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 died for our sins1 and that ,he died for all of our sins2 and that every one who would repent and trust ,christ to save him was certain to go to ,heaven4 ,out there in that old country church in the red hills of ,georgia ,i accepted ,jesus ,christ as my ,redeemer and ,saviour that ,sunday morning1 and trusted ,him to save me4 ,i came west and became overwhelmed in business and politics4 ,i have wasted my life4 ,just then the negro man returned and handed the ,bible to the dying statesman4 ,he turned the leaves and finally stopped1 and turning to the minister he said1 ,mr4 ,blank1 ,i am ashamed to say it1 but ,i don't know much about this book2 but ,i do know that this is ,god's word2 and ,i do know that out in the old country church in the red hills of ,georgia that ,sunday morning1 when ,i heard and understood the country preacher1 ,i did1 as a guilty1 lost1 justly condemned sinner1 accept ,jesus ,christ as my ,saviour and ,redeemer and trust ,him to save me4 ,listen1 ,mr4 ,blank3 ',he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life4' ,mr4 ,blank1 ,god says ,i have everlasting life1 and ,i am going to ,heaven when ,i die4 ,and turning1 the great statesman buried his face in his pillow and sobbed out his grief and remorse4 ,he did go to ,heaven1 but ,god said unto him1 ,thou fool 444 so is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich toward ,god4--,luke #ab3bj1 #ba4 ,the second case in point3-- ,a rich banker in the ,west a few weeks before ,christmas sent a check for three hundred and fifty dollars to his brother in the ,east1 a poor country preacher1 telling him to come and bring all of his family and spend ,christmas with him4 ,they had not seen each other since boyhood4 ,the preacher and family arrived ,christmas eve morning4 ,that afternoon in carriages the two families drove over the banker's beautiful farm of a thousand acres of rich land4 ,coming in late in the afternoon1 they came by the pasture and saw the beautiful herd of blooded cattle4 ,after a sumptuous supper the banker's daughters gave them some splendid music and the two families went upstairs to sleep4 ,the two white-haired brothers1 the banker and the poor country preacher1 remained downstairs1 and for hours talked of boyhood days in the old country home in the ,east4 ,at last the conversation1 like the fire in the fireplace1 had about died out4 ,finally the banker turned and said1 ,brother ,john1 may ,i say something to you and you not get angry8 ,said the preacher1 ,why1 brother ,james1 you can say anything you wish to me and ,i will not get angry4 ,said the banker1 ,brother ,john1 you and ,i were poor boys back in the old country home in the ,east and we agreed to be partners for life4 ,one day you came to me and told me that you were called to preach4 ,i told you then that you were a fool4 ,what a fool you have been6 ,do you remember that rich farm of a thousand acres you saw this afternoon8 ,paid for with honest money1 ,john4 ,this comfortable home for my old age1 paid for with honest money1 ,john4 ,the fifty thousand dollars ,i have in the bank in the city where ,i am president of the bank1 every dollar of it honest money1 ,john4 ,john1 you could have had as much as ,i have4 ,what a fool you have been6 ,why1 ,i had to send you the three hundred and fifty dollars to bring you and your family that ,i might see them before ,i die4 ,and look at your daughters2 they are dressed in such a shabby way that ,i am ashamed for my neighbors to see my children's cousins4 ,and look at you with your old seedy1 worn suit and your patched shoes2 ,i am ashamed to take you to town day after to-morrow and introduce you to my business associates4 ,what a fool you have been6 ,now1 ,john1 ,i am not saying this to wound your feelings2 for ,i love you1 ,john4 ,but ,i don't want you to let any of your boys be such fools as you have been4 ,you know you have been a fool1 ,john4 ,then there was silence for some time4 ,the tears were trickling down the cheeks of the old country preacher4 ,at last he broke the silence1 ,brother ,james1 may ,i say something to you and you not get angry8 ,why1 certainly1 ,john1 ,i did not say what ,i did to make you angry1 but to keep you from letting any of your boys be such fools as you have been1 for you know you have been a fool1 ,john4 ,i know1 replied the old preacher1 that it looks like ,i have been a fool from this end of the line1 brother ,james4 ,but1 brother ,james1 we are both old men and we must soon go4 ,don't be angry with me1 brother ,james1 but what have you got up yonder8 ,again there was silence1 which was suddenly broken by the banker sobbing1 ,oh1 ,john1 ,i am a pauper at the judgment bar of ,god4 ,so is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich toward ,god4 ,they are dying all over the world1 men who are redeemed1 going to ,heaven1 but paupers4 ,if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss1 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire1--#a ,cor4 #c3ae4 ,but far better be a pauper1 and saved without any reward1 than be a rich man in ,hell 7,luke #af3bb1 #bc73 for they are dying all over the world who not only lived for this life1 but from pride1 or religious prejudice1 or love of the world1 or secret sin1 would not repent and be redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac7 and be saved 7,acts #af3ca74 ,with this teaching1 that there are rewards in ,heaven1 there is another most helpful teaching and blessed fact1 that the poorest1 most ignorant and obscure can have just as great rewards as the richest1 most learned1 most applauded4 ,each man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor1--#a ,cor4 #c3h1 not according to what he accomplishes4 ,behold1 ,i come quickly2 and my reward is with me1 to give each one according as his work shall be1--,rev4 #bb3ab2 not according as his success shall be4 ,and ,jesus sat over against the treasury1 and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury2 and many that were rich cast in much4 ,and there came a certain poor widow1 and she threw in two mites1 which make a farthing4 ,and he called unto him his disciples1 and saith unto them1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they that have cast into the treasury4--,mark #ab3da-dc4 ,the wealthy1 the mighty1 the renowned who serve faithfully after they were redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 shall receive their reward4 ,but the poor1 the weak1 the obscure who serve faithfully after they are redeemed shall receive equally as great rewards2 and if they have been more faithful1 however small their sphere1 they shall receive even greater rewards4 ,two mites that make a farthing1 but it was all she could do2 ,verily ,i say unto you that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they that have cast into the treasury4--,mark #ab3db1 #dc4 ,in an ,american city1 one morning a man apparently sixty or seventy years of age1 dressed as a plain business man1 walked into the dining-room of one of the leading hotels and sat down to breakfast4 ,some men at the adjoining table were talking of a sad case of suffering1 as reported in the morning paper2 a poor widow with five children was very sick1 who had1 since her husband's death a few years before1 struggled and made a living for herself and children2 but now1 having been down sick for some time1 everything was gone and they were suffering4 ,the stranger listened to the sad story2 and1 having finished breakfast1 he called a newsboy and bought a paper4 ,the account gave the street address of the poor widow4 ,he went to the street address1 a street of poor cottages1 and1 knocking at the door1 was led into the sick room by a child4 ,he saw the condition of affairs and heard the widow's story4 ,sitting by the bedside1 he talked in a fatherly1 cheerful way and tried to encourage the poor widow2 and quietly slipping something under the pillow1 as he was talking1 he told the widow to use that as she needed it4 ,then taking out a little book from his pocket1 he wrote something and tore the paper out of the little book and slipped the paper under a book and told the widow to use that when she needed it4 ,then calling down ,god's blessings upon the widow and her fatherless children1 he bade them good-bye4 ,as the door closed1 the widow slipped her hand under the pillow and drew out a roll of money1 to her a large sum4 ,then she reached for the piece of paper under the book on the table4 ,there was a check for a goodly sum1 signed by one of ,america's ,christian millionaires4 ,the glow in his soul as he walked away from the widow's cottage was not the only reward--thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just4--,luke #ad3ad4 ,but the following ,sunday a poor widow working in a sweatshop to make a living for her fatherless children1 listened to an appeal for foreign missions1 to get the gospel to those who have never heard1 and she threw in ten cents1 all she could give1 two mites that make a farthing4--,verily ,i say unto you1 ,that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they that have cast into the treasury4--,mark #ab3db1 #dc4 ,all over the world1 by the multiplied millions1 there are graves where lie sleeping the bodies of those who1 down the ages1 because they were redeemed1 gave their lives in service4 ,they went down to their graves1 their praises unsung by the world4 ,many of them went down to their graves1 never realizing that there were rewards for them2 simply rejoicing in their salvation through ,him who loved them and gave ,himself for them 7,gal4 #b3bj74 ,the desert rose1 though never seen by man2 ,is nurtured with a care divinely good2 ,the ocean pearl1 though 'neath the rolling main1 ,is ever brilliant in the eyes of ,god4 ,think not thy worth and work are all unknown ,because no partial pensman paint thy praise2 ,man may not see nor care1 but ,god will own ,thy worth and work2 thy thoughts and deeds and ways4 ,riding along a lonely country road one ,sunday afternoon1 many years ago1 returning from a country church1 a young preacher was talking to his companion1 a young man eighteen years of age1 telling him of ,god's love and of ,god's plan with men4 ,the conversation had ended1 and for some minutes they had been riding along in silence1 when suddenly the young man spurred his horse up to the young preacher's horse1 and seizing the reins1 stopped both horses4 ,dropping the reins1 he threw both arms around the preacher's neck1 and as he began sobbing said1 ,oh1 ,r----1 how good ,god is6 ,how little men consider ,god's goodness4 ,how good ,god is to have ever brought us into being6 ,how good ,god is1 though we have all sinned against ,him 7,rom4 #c3bc71 that he might be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in ,jesus 7,rom4 #c3bf71 to have provided complete redemption for us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad76 ,how good ,god is to have in love predestinated us for adoption as sons through ,jesus ,christ to himself6--,eph4 #a3e4 ,how good ,god is to chastise us in love 7,heb4 #ab3e1 #f7 instead of punishing us in ,hell for our sins after we become ,his children 7,ps4 #hi3bg-cd76 ,how good ,god is to place us where we will serve ,him from love1 and not from fear of punishment 7#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae76 ,how good ,god is1 in addition to our salvation1 to provide rewards in ,heaven for the services we render here 7,matt4 #f3bj76 ,how good ,god is to provide that the poor1 the ignorant1 the obscure1 can have just as great rewards as the more fortunate ones 7,mark #a3da1 #db76 ,how good ,god is to say1 if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss1 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire6--#a ,cor4 #c3ae4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3--,the objection that the teaching of rewards in ,heaven makes ,christianity too matter-of-fact is not well taken4 ,punishments or rewards last through all eternity2 with the unredeemed1 in added degrees to the punishment in ,hell2 with the redeemed1 in added rewards in ,heaven4 ,and they need to realize that with both classes this applies to the smallest deeds3 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,that every idle word that men shall speak1 they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment4--,matt4 #ab3cf4 ,and whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple1 verily ,i say unto you1 he shall in no wise lose his reward4--,matt4 #aj3db4 ,neither is the objection well taken that to teach men to aim to have rewards in ,heaven is appealing to an unworthy motive4 ,jesus taught it 7,matt4 #f3bj71 ,paul taught it 7#a ,cor4 #c3aa-ae71 ,moses endorsed it 7,heb4 #aa3bf71 and the objector himself prays for ,god's blessings here in this life4 ,nor is the objection well founded1 that for people to aim to have rewards will destroy the motive of love4 ,rather1 it adds to the motive of love4 ,a father gives his son1 yet not of age1 a fine farm4 ,that arouses the boy's love4 ,the father tells the boy that1 though not of age1 he may have the full reward of his labor on the farm1 beginning at once4 ,this does not destroy the motive of love4 ,so1 the ,saviour1 having died for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c71 and given us eternal life 7,john #aj3bh1 #bi71 arouses our love2 to give us the privilege of having rewards in addition to salvation 7,matt4 #f3bj71 does not destroy our love1 but increases it4 ,there is one limitation ,god's word makes to our deeds being rewarded3 ,take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men to be seen of them3 else ye have no reward with your ,father who is in ,heaven4 ,when therefore thou doest alms1 sound not a trumpet before thee1 as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets1 that they may have glory of men4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 they have received their reward4 ,but when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth2 that thine alms may be in secret2 and thy ,father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee4--,matt4 #f3a-d4 ,if a redeemed man does his righteous deeds in order to get glory as reward here1 he gets it1 but none in ,heaven1--the wrong motive prevents his receiving rewards in ,heaven4 ,god rewards according to the motive4 ,there seems to be one other limitation to receiving rewards in ,heaven for the deeds of this life3 ,whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments1 and shall teach men so1 he shall be called the least in the kingdom of ,heaven2 but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the kingdom of ,heaven4--,matt4 #e3ai4 ,the teaching seems to be that for one to deliberately break even the least commandment1 while he will be saved 7,the least in the kingdom of ,heaven7 yet he will have no reward 7,the least in the kingdom of ,heaven74 ,there is one passage of ,scripture that some have thought contradicts the teaching of different rewards in ,heaven3 ,the kingdom of ,heaven is like unto a man1 an householder1 who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard4 ,and when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day1 he sent them into his vineyard4 ,and he went out about the third hour1 and saw others standing idle in the market place1 and said unto them1 ,go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right ,i will give you1 and they went their way4 ,again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour1 and did likewise4 ,and about the eleventh hour he went out1 and found others standing idle1 and saith unto them1 ,why stand ye here all the day idle8 ,they say unto him1 ,because no man hath hired us4 ,he saith unto them1 ,go ye also into the vineyard2 and whatsoever is right1 that shall ye receive4 ,so when even was come1 the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward1 ,call the laborers1 and give them their hire1 beginning from the last unto the first4 ,and when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour1 they received every man a penny4 ,but when the first came1 they supposed that they should have received more1 and they likewise received every man a penny4 ,and when they had received it1 they murmured against the goodman of the house1 saying1 ,these last have wrought but one hour1 and thou hast made them equal unto us1 who have borne the burden and heat of the day4 ,but he answered one of them and said1 ,friend1 ,i do thee no wrong2 didst not thou agree with me for a penny8 ,take that thine is and go thy way2 ,i will give unto this last even as unto thee4--,matt4 #bj3a-ad4 ,from this the conclusion is drawn that there are no different rewards in ,heaven2 that all are rewarded alike4 ,but not only does ,god's word elsewhere teach different rewards in ,heaven1 but the ,saviour made ,his teaching on this point very plain4 ,in the parable of the pounds1 the servant who with one pound gained ten pounds is rewarded with authority over ten cities4 ,but the one who with one pound gained only five pounds is rewarded with only five cities 7,luke #ai3af-ai74 ,this shows clearly a difference in rewards4 ,if1 now1 this passage in ,matthew teaches no difference in rewards1 then we have a positive contradiction4 ,but consider the two parables3 the parable of the pounds is where men have the same opportunity1 each one a pound2 then they are rewarded according to what they accomplish4 ,the parable of the vineyard is where the laborers work different lengths of time2 in the morning1 boys and girls1 six1 eight1 ten1 twelve years of age1 becoming ,christians and going into the vineyard2 the third hour1 young people1 fifteen1 eighteen1 twenty years of age1 becoming ,christians and going into the vineyard2 the sixth hour1 young men and young women1 twenty-five1 thirty1 thirty-five years of age1 becoming ,christians and going into the vineyard2 the ninth hour1 men and women past middle life1 forty1 forty-five1 fifty years of age1 becoming ,christians and going into the vineyard2 the eleventh hour1 old men and women1 sixty1 seventy1 eighty years of age1 becoming ,christians and going into the vineyard4 ,but does the ,saviour mean all old men and women who become ,christians in old age and begin working in the vineyard8 ,no1 for ,he limits it to those in old age who can say1 ,no man hath hired us4 ,then the ,saviour means by the eleventh hour laborers in the parable those who in old age had never before had the opportunity of going into the vineyard2 who had never before heard or understood the way to be saved1 and enter ,god's service4 ,with these1 the ,saviour reserves the sovereign right to give them just as great rewards as though they had entered the vineyard early in the morning2 not that those who have borne the burden and heat of the day shall receive less1 but that those who did not have the opportunity of entering the vineyard sooner1 shall not lose because of it4 ,some one may think that there are no old men and women who do not know the way to be saved and enter the vineyard4 ,even in professedly ,christian lands there are many old men and women who1 because of wrong religious teaching1 have never seen the real way to be saved2 and in ,china and ,africa there are vast numbers who can say1 ,no man hath hired us4 ,to take a case3 a mere child becomes a ,christian and serves in the vineyard for seventy years2 an old ,chinaman eighty years of age hears the gospel for the first time1 and becomes a ,christian and works in the vineyard only one year and dies4 ,he will receive as great a reward as the one who served ,god seventy years4 ,apply this principle to the redeemed who died in early life3 if those who entered at the eleventh hour1 because no man hath hired us receive for one hour as much as those who have labored throughout the day1 then those who entered the third hour and the ,lord of the vineyard himself took them out the fourth hour1 will receive as great rewards as though they had been left to bear the burden and heat of the day4 ,blessed consolation to those who have lost loved ones who were taken early in life4 ,three of the ,saviour's parables are closely connected in their teaching concerning rewards3 ,the parable of the pounds1 where each servant has a pound and one gains ten pounds and another five2 one receives authority over ten cities1 the other receives authority over five cities1 just half the reward of the other1 because he was just half as faithful 7,luke #ai3af-ai74 ,this parable represents that class of men who have equal opportunity in life 7each one a pound7 and teaches that their reward will be in proportion to what they accomplish4 ,the second is the parable of the vineyard1 representing the length of time of service when the laborers were not to blame for not entering the vineyard earlier2 showing that they shall not lose because they could not get into the vineyard to work earlier4 ,the third is the parable of the talents1 where the one with five talents gained five other talents and the one with two talents gained two other talents1 and they both received the same commendation1 the same reward1 ,i will make thee ruler over many things 7,matt4 #be3bj-bc72 teaching that the one with small opportunity 7two talents7 if he uses it faithfully1 will receive as great reward as the one with great opportunity 7five talents7 who uses it faithfully4 ,a widely misunderstood passage of ,scripture bearing on the subject of rewards is #a ,cor4 #i3bd-bg3 ,know ye not that they that run in a race run all1 but only one receiveth the prize8 ,so run that ye may obtain4 ,and every contestant in the games is temperate in all things4 ,they1 indeed1 do it to obtain a corruptible crown2 but we an incorruptible4 ,i therefore so run1 not as uncertainly2 so fight ,i1 not as one that beateth the air2 but ,i buffet my body and bring it into subjection2 lest that by any means1 after having preached to others1 ,i myself should be disapproved4--,the #aiaa ,bible4 ,the ,authorized ,version reads a castaway2 the ,revised ,version reads rejected4 ,many have thought that ,paul was striving that he might not be a castaway 7or rejected7 from salvation4 ,but notice the passage2 he was striving not to be a castaway 7or rejected7 from something that is secured as a result of one's own efforts1 so run that ye may obtain4 ,salvation is not secured as a result of one's efforts2 to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted for righteousness4--,rom4 #d3e4 ,rewards are secured as a result of one's own efforts2 each man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor4--#a ,cor4 #c3h4 ,again1 what ,paul was striving not to be a castaway 7or rejected7 from1 is something that one receives after the race is finished2 but salvation comes at the beginning of the race course1 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life1--,john #c3cf2 by grace have ye been saved4--,eph4 #b3h4 ,rewards do come after the race is finished2--thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just4--,luke #ad3ad4 ,again1 in saying ,i buffet my body1 he has no reference to buffeting his body to keep it from sin1 but from comforts and privileges that are not sinful4 ,in the entire chapter he has referred only to his not eating and drinking2 not leading about a wife as well as other apostles and the brethren of the ,lord and ,cephas2 not being supported by those to whom he preached 7#a ,cor4 #i3d-ad72 and in each case he says that he has a right to these things4 ,was ,paul buffeting his body against having a wife lest he should be a castaway 7or rejected7 from salvation8 ,then only the ,roman ,catholic priests1 among the preachers1 will be saved4 ,was ,paul buffeting his body against being supported by those to whom he preached1 and working with his own hands for his living1 lest he should be a castaway 7or rejected7 from salvation8 ,then the ,roman ,catholic priests and almost all of the ,protestant and ,baptists preachers will be lost4 ,will a man be a castaway 7or rejected7 from salvation for enjoying comforts and privileges that are not sinful and to which he has a right8 ,but let ,paul state for himself what he means3 ,for if ,i do this thing willingly ,i have a reward4--#a ,cor4 #i3ag4 ,he then urges the ,corinthian ,christians to run in the race that they may receive the prize4 ,i buffet my body and bring it into subjection 7from enjoying these sinless comforts and privileges72 lest that by any means1 after having preached 7,r4 ,v4 margin have been a herald7 to others 7preaching or heralding to run in the race and so run as to obtain the prize1 the reward7 ,i myself should be disapproved 7a castaway1 rejected1--from the prize1 the reward74 ,if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon1 he shall receive a reward4 ,if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss1 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire4--#a ,cor4 #c3ad1 #ae4 ,but does ,paul teach that there are rewards for bodily sufferings and self-denials8 ,let him explain3 ,though ,i am free from all men1 yet have ,i made myself servant unto all1 that ,i might gain the more4--#a ,cor4 #i3ai4 ,that1 by giving up these comforts and privileges he might win more people to be saved 7#a ,cor4 #i3bj-bb74 ,there is the prize1 there are rewards1 for those who bring their bodies under from comforts and privileges that they may thereby win others to be saved4 ,with the coppers in the foreign mission envelope from an orphan newsboy was found a note written in a child's awkward handwriting1 ,starved a meal to give a meal4 ,he would not have been a castaway from salvation had he bought and eaten his lunch that day2 but there will be1 at the resurrection of the just 7,luke #ad3ad71 the prize for having brought his body into subjection that he might gain the more4 ,during a collection for foreign missions1 a poor1 ragged1 one-legged negro hobbled down the aisle and laid three packages of money on the table3 ,dat's fur my wife2 dat's fur my boy2 dat's fur me4 ,when the collector saw the amount1 he protested1 saying that it was too much for a poor crippled man to give4 ,as a matter of fact1 it meant weeks of sacrificing1 sometimes with no meat on the table4 ,as the tears trickled down the black cheeks1 the negro said1 ,oh1 ,boss1 de ,lord's cause must go on1 and ,i may soon be dead2 and turning he hobbled back to his seat4 ,he was only a poor1 ignorant1 one-legged negro1 but he ran in the race1 and at the resurrection of the just he will receive the prize4 ,a ,christian ,chinaman sold himself to some mine owners that he might go down in the mines and while working lead his fellow-,chinamen to be saved4 ,he had no support from those to whom he preached1 but worked with his own hands4 ,he ran in the race1 and will receive the prize4 ,if the young ,catholic priest was redeemed who turned from the comforts and privileges of a wife and home and gave himself for the lepers1 there will be the prize at the resurrection of the just4 ,the world says that a man is a fool to make such sacrifices2 ,jesus said3 ,thou fool 444 so is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich toward ,god4--,luke #ab3bj1 #ba4 ,if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward4 ,if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss2 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire4--#a ,cor4 #c3ad1 #ae4 ,,vii ,,how ,,to ,,be ,,saved--,,repentance ,,and ,,faith ,repent ye and believe the gospel4--,mark #a3ae4 ,repentance toward ,god1 and faith toward our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4--,acts #bj3ba4 ,and ye when ye had seen it1 repented not afterward1 that ye might believe him4--,matt4 #ba3cb4 ,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish4--,luke #ac3c4 ,and as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of man be lifted up2 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have eternal life4--,john #c3ad1ae4 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8 ,and they said1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3cj1 #ca4 ,wherever repentance and faith are mentioned in ,god's word without one exception1 repentance comes before faith4 ,there is a faith that comes before repentance2 but it is pure historical faith1 and does not result in salvation4 ,he that cometh to ,god must believe that he is1--,heb4 #aa3bf2 the demons believe in ,god's existence1 that ,he is2 ,thomas ,paine believed in ,god's existence1 that ,he is4 ,but the faith that results in salvation invariably comes after repentance2 ,and ye when ye had seen it1 repented not afterward1 that ye might believe him4--,matt4 #ba3cb4 ,if1 therefore1 the faith that saves must come after repentance1 then those who have no saving faith after repentance1 have no salvation1 are not really redeemed4 ,not only so1 but if saving faith must come after repentance1 then those who place the only faith they claim1 before repentance1 do not understand what saving faith is4 ,jesus preached1 ,repent ye and believe the gospel4--,mark #a3ae4 ,paul preached repentance toward ,god and faith toward our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4--,acts #bj3ba4 ,what does repent or repentance mean8 ,god's word teaches that one must repent in order to believe4 ,and ye when ye had seen it1 repented not afterward1 that ye might believe him4--,matt4 #ba3cb4 ,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish4--,luke #ac3c4 ,then whatever repentance or repent means1 it is something that must take place before one can be saved1 before he can believe the gospel 7,mark #a3ae72 before he can have faith toward our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4--,acts #bj3ba4 ,the ,saviour gives a complete1 perfect picture of salvation1 and in that picture we can find what repentance means3 ,as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of man be lifted up3 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have eternal life4--,john #c3ad1 #ae4 ,jesus says ,as1 even so2 then in the case of the serpent in the wilderness we have a complete1 perfect picture of the way of salvation4 ,by seeing what came back there before the lifting up of the serpent1 we can see what comes before believing in ,him1 or faith toward our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,notice the incident to which the ,saviour referred as showing the complete picture of the way of salvation3 ,and they journeyed from ,mount ,hor by the way of the ,red ,sea1 to compass the land of ,edom3 ,and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way4 ,and the people spake against ,god1 and against ,moses1 ,wherefore have ye brought us up out of ,egypt to die in the wilderness8 ,for there is no bread1 neither is there any water2 and our soul loatheth this light bread4 ,and the ,lord sent fiery serpents among the people1 and they bit the people2 and much people of ,israel died4 ,therefore the people came to ,moses1 and said1 ,we have sinned1 for we have spoken against the ,lord1 and against thee2 pray unto the ,lord that he take away the serpents from us4 ,and ,moses prayed for the people4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,make thee a fiery serpent1 and set it upon a pole1 and it shall come to pass1 that every one that is bitten1 when he looketh upon it1 shall live4 ,and ,moses made a serpent of brass1 and put it upon a pole1 and it came to pass1 that if a serpent had bitten any man1 when he beheld the serpent of brass1 he lived4--,num4 #ba3d-i4 ,these people realized that they had sinned against ,god2 that their sins deserved punishment2 that they were justly condemned--we have sinned2--that they were helpless1 ,pray unto the ,lord that he take away the serpents from us2 and in their helpless condition they turned from their sins and turned to ,god4 ,there had been1 then1 an entire change of mind and purpose1 or they would never have turned from their sins to ,god4 ,when they faced the fact that they had sinned and were justly condemned1 there resulted sorrow1 and their sorrow led to the change of mind and purpose to turn from their sins to ,god4 ,had there been no conviction of sin1 no realization that they had sinned and were justly condemned1 there would have been no change of mind1 or purpose to turn from sin to ,god4 ,here1 then1 we have what repentance is1--a conviction of sin1 such a realization of the fact that one has sinned and is justly condemned that it produces such sorrow as leads to an entire change of mind and purpose to turn from sin and turn to ,god4 ,god then provided the easiest way for them1 every one that is bitten1 when he looketh upon it the brazen serpent shall live4--,num4 #ba3h4 ,the ,saviour says1 ,even so must the ,son of man be lifted up1 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have eternal life4--,john #c3ae4 ,notice the case of the jailor1 ,acts #af3bb-cd4 ,when the jailor fell down before ,paul and ,silas and brought them out and said1 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8 7,verse #cj71 they did not say1 ,repent2 they said1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus and thou shalt be saved4--,verse #ca4 ,but ,god's word teaches plainly that we must repent in order to believe 7,matt4 #ba3cb2 ,luke #ac3c74 ,then repentance must have already taken place1--he must have already repented1--or they would have taught him repentance toward ,god as well as faith toward our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4--,acts #bj3ba4 ,go back and notice the jailor's case3 the night before1 he had taken ,paul and ,silas with their backs bloody from the beating they had received1 and had not washed their stripes 7,verse #cc71 had given them no supper 7,verse #cd71 and had thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks4 ,he was utterly hardened4 ,the praying and singing hymns to ,god by ,paul and ,silas1 the sudden earthquake1 ,paul's crying out against his committing suicide1 had convicted him of sin1 such a conviction as had produced sorrow1 for he came trembling and fell down before them2 and the sorrow had led to an entire change of mind and purpose1 and he said1 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8--what1 anything ,god would have me do ,i am ready to do1--he had turned from his sins and had turned to ,god4 ,hence they did not say ,repent1 for he had repented2 but they said1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3ca4 ,having seen what the ,saviour meant by repentance1 let us go to the meaning of the word translated repent4 ,this word1 says ,j4 ,p4 ,boyce1 the great theologian1 in his systematic theology1 means to reconsider1 perceive afterwards and to change one's view1 mind or purpose1 or even judgment1 implying disapproval and abandonment of past opinions and purposes1 and the adoption of others which are different4 ,b4 ,h4 ,carroll1 ,president ,southwestern ,baptist ,theological ,seminary3 ,we may therefore give as the one invariable definition of ,new ,testament repentance that it is a change of mind4 ,b4 ,h4 ,carroll1 again1 ,repentance is a change of mind toward ,god concerning a course of sin leading rapidly down to death and eternal ruin4 ,once more from ,b4 ,h4 ,carroll3 ,if in one moment the soul is contrite enough to turn in abhorrence of sin against ,god from all self-help to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ by faith1 it is sufficient4 ,john ,a4 ,broadus1 the great ,american scholar and teacher3 ,to repent1 then1 as a religious term of the ,new ,testament1 is to change the mind1 thought or purpose as regards sin and the service of ,god--a change naturally accompanied by deep sorrow for past sins1 and naturally leading to a change of outward life4 ,as the ,bible teaches that no man can be saved who has not repented 7,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish4--,luke #ac3c71 and as no one has repented who has not been convicted of sin1 who has not seen himself a guilty1 justly condemned sinner1 it follows that no one is saved1 no one can be saved1 who does not believe that ,god will and ought to punish sin4 ,but to those who have repented1 the way to be saved is simple1 easy1 sure3 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3ca4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3--,there has been much misunderstanding about repentance4 ,some men1 as ,moody1 ,harry ,moorehouse1 ,j4 ,h4 ,brookes1 etc41 have been charged with not preaching enough repentance1 simply because they did not use the words repent and repentance as much as others2 whereas1 others who use the words often1 and tell touching incidents1 are said to preach old-fashioned repentance4 ,it is not the word repentance that ,god requires1 but the thing repentance1 and a sinner must repent or he cannot believe 7,matt4 #ba3cb7 and he will perish 7,luke #ac3c74 ,the gospel of ,john is the only book of the ,bible given specifically to sinners to lead them to be saved4 ,the way of salvation can be found in many of the books of the ,bible1 and is taught in them2 but the gospel of ,john is the only book of the ,bible given for the special1 specific purpose of leading a sinner to be saved4 ,many other signs truly did ,jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book3 but these are written that ye might believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and that believing ye might have life through his name4--,john #bj3cj1 #ca4 ,in this book1 given specifically to lead a sinner to be saved1 the word repentance or repent does not occur1 but the thing repentance does 7,john #c3ad1 #ae74 ,on the difference between the thing repentance and the word repentance1 give attention to the words of ,john ,a4 ,broadus1 the great ,american scholar and teacher already quoted3 ,great difficulty has been found in translating this ,greek word 'metanoein' into languages4 ,the ,syriac version1 unable to give the precise meaning1 falls back upon 'turn1' the same word as the ,hebrew4 ,the ,latin version gives ',exercise penitence' 7poenitentiam agere74 ,but this ,latin penitence1 apparently connected by etymology with pain1 signifies grief or distress1 and is rarely extended to a change of purpose1 thus corresponding to the ,hebrew word which we render 'repent1' but not corresponding to the terms employed in ,old ,testament and ,new ,testament exhortations4 ,hence a subtle and pernicious error1 pervading the whole sphere of ,latin ,christianity1 by which the exhortation of the ,new ,testament is understood to be an exhortation to grief over sin1 as the primary and principal idea of the term4 ,one step farther and penitence was contracted into penance1 and associated with mediaeval ideas unknown to the ,new ,testament1 and the ,english ,version made by ,romanists now represents ,john and ,jesus and ,peter as saying 7poenitentiam agere7 do penance4 ,from a late ,latin compound 7repoenitere7 comes our ,english word 'repent1' which inherits the fault of the ,latin2 making grief the prominent element1 and change of purpose secondary1 if expressed at all4 ,thus our ,english word corresponds exactly to the second ,greek word 7metamelesthai71 and to the ,hebrew word rendered repent1 but sadly fails to translate the exhortation of the ,new ,testament4 ,repentance is not a price that the sinner pays for salvation2 neither is the sorrow that leads to repentance a price that he pays for salvation4 ,and repentance does not make the sinner a fit subject for salvation2 nor does the sorrow that leads to repentance make him a fit subject for salvation4 ,no one can see that he has violated ,god's just and holy law and is guilty1 justly condemned1 helpless1 without its producing sorrow and this sorrow will lead to repentance1 to an entire change of mind and purpose1 to turning from sin1 and1 as ,b4 ,h4 ,carroll expressed it1 from all self-help 7repentance from dead works1--,heb4 #f3a7 to ,god4 ,some are sometimes troubled as to how much sorrow there must be4 ,there are different degrees of sorrow in different people1 but there must be enough sorrow to lead to repentance1 to an entire change of mind and purpose4 ,in both the ,old ,testament and the ,new ,testament exhortation the element of grief for sin is left in the background1 neither word directly expressing grief at all1 though it must in the nature of things be present4--,jno4 ,a4 ,broadus4 ,to repent is to change your mind about sin and ,christ and all the good things of ,god4 ,there is sorrow implied in this2 but the main point is the turning of the heart from sin to ,christ4 ,if there be this turning you have the essence of the repentance1 even though no alarm and no despair should ever have cast their shadow upon your mind4--,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon4 ,conviction of sin is just the sinner seeing himself as he is and as ,god has all along seen him4--,h4 ,bonar1 in ,god's ,way of ,peace4 ,the object of the ,holy ,spirit's work in convincing of sin is to alter the sinner's opinion of himself and so to reduce his estimate of his own character1 that he shall think of himself as ,god does1 and so cease to suppose it possible that he can be justified by any excellence of his own4 ,having altered the sinner's good opinion of himself1 the ,spirit then alters his evil opinion of ,god1 so as to make him see that the ,god with whom he has to deal is really the ,god of all grace4--,bonar4 ,it is impossible1 therefore1 in the nature of things1 for a sinful being to appreciate ,god's mercy unless he first feels ,his justice as manifest in the holy law4--,walker1 in ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,man cannot repent and turn from sin till he is convicted of sin in himself4--,walker1 in ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,the more we feel the want of a benefactor1 temporal or spiritual1 and the more we feel our inability to rescue ourselves from existing difficulties and impending dangers1 the more grateful love will the heart feel for the being who1 moved by1 and in despite of1 personal sacrifices1 interposes to assist and save us4--,walker1 in ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,as a feeling of want was necessary in order that the soul might love the being that supplied that want1 and as ,jesus came to bestow spiritual mercies upon mankind1 how could men be brought to feel the want of a spiritual ,benefactor and ,saviour8444 ,according to the constitution which ,god has given the soul1 it must feel the want of the spiritual mercies before it can feel love for the giver of those mercies4 ,and just in proportion as the soul feels its lost1 guilty1 and dangerous condition1 in the same proportion will it exercise love to the being who grants spiritual favor and salvation4 ,how then could the spiritual want be produced in the souls of men in order that they might love the spiritual benefactor8444 ,the only possible way by which man could be made to hope for and appreciate spiritual mercies and to love a spiritual deliverer would be to produce a conviction in the soul itself of its evil condition1 its danger as a spiritual being1 and its inability1 unaided1 to satisfy the requirements of a spiritual law1 or to escape its just and spiritual penalty4 ,if man could be made to perceive that he was guilty and needy2 that his soul was under the condemnation of the holy law of the holy ,god1 he would then1 necessarily1 feel the need of a deliverance from sin and its consequences2 and in this way only1 could the soul of man be led to appreciate spiritual mercies1 or love a spiritual benefactor4--,walker1 in ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation4 ,,viii ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,believe ,,on ,,or ,,believe ,,in ,,christ ,god so loved the world he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have eternal life4--,john #c3af 7,r4 ,v474 ,this is the work of ,god1 that ye believe on him whom he hath sent4--,john #f3bg4 ,he that believeth on me shall never thirst4--,john #f3ce4 ,to him give all the prophets witness1 that through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins4--,acts #aj3dc4 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3ca4 ,john verily baptized with the baptism of repentance1 saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him1 that is1 on ,jesus4--,acts #ai3d4 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is reckoned for righteousness4--,rom4 #d3e4 ,whosoever liveth and believeth in into me shall never die4 ,believest thou this8--,john #aa3bf4 ,we have believed in into ,jesus ,christ1 that we might be justified by the faith of ,christ1 and not by the works of the law4--,gal4 #b3af 7,r4 ,v474 ,i know him whom ,i have believed1 and ,i am persuaded that he is able to guard that which ,i have committed unto him against that day4--#b ,tim4 #a3ab 7,r4 ,v474 ,if language can be made plain1 if it can be used to express a fact clearly1 then ,god's word teaches clearly1 unmistakably1 that the one who believes on ,christ is going to ,heaven4 ,one may think it to be too good to be true1 when he reads what ,god's word says along this line2 he may be honestly tempted to suspect that there must be many hidden1 suppressed conditions1 which1 if expressed1 would make the meaning different2 or from religious prejudice1 he may warp the meaning or bring in other conditions2--but ,god's word is plain4 ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have eternal life4--,john #c3af4 ,it does not say1 whosoever believeth on him and unites with the right church1 or is baptized the right way1 or lives the right kind of a life2 it simply says1 whosoever believeth on him2 and then the promise is plain and absolute1 should not perish4 ,jesus said1 he that believeth on me shall never thirst4--,john #f3ce4 ,he did not say1 he that believeth on me and unites with the right church1 or is baptized the right way1 or lives the right kind of a life2 he said plainly1 simply1 he that believeth on me1 and then added shall never thirst4 ,peter to the household of ,cornelius said1 ,to him give all the prophets witness1 that through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins4--,acts #aj3dc4 ,he did not say1 whosoever believeth on him and unites with the right church1 or is baptized the right way1 or lives the right kind of a life2 but simply1 whosoever believeth on him1 and then adds the plain promise1 shall receive remission of sins4 ,when the jailor came trembling and fell down before ,paul and ,silas and brought them out and said1 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8 they answered1 simply1 plainly1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3ca4 ,they did not say1 believe on the ,lord ,jesus and unite with the right church1 or be baptized the right way1 or live the right kind of a life2 they said simply1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,when ,paul wrote to the ,romans1 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is reckoned for righteousness1--,rom4 #d3e1 he did not say1 believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly and unites with the right church1 or is baptized the right way1 or lives the right kind of a life2 but simply1 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is reckoned for righteousness4 ,jesus to the grief-stricken sister of ,lazarus said1 ,whosoever liveth and believeth in into me shall never die4--,john #aa3bf4 ,he did not say1 whosoever liveth and believeth in me and unites with the right church1 or is baptized the right way1 or lives the right kind of life2 but simply and plainly1 whosoever liveth and believeth in me1 and then ,he adds ,his plain promise1 shall never die4 ,when ,paul said to the ,galatians1 we have believed in into ,jesus ,christ1 that we might be justified by the faith of ,christ1--,gal4 #b3af1 he did not say1 we have believed in ,jesus ,christ and united with the right church and been baptized the right way1 that we might be justified by faith of ,christ and not by the works of the law4 ,instead of this1 he puts it in simple1 plain language4 ,in all of these cases1 these conditions could have been expressed just as easily by the ,saviour and ,peter and ,paul as they are expressed by religious teachers to-day4 ,why did not the ,saviour and ,peter and ,paul express these conditions8 ,there can be but one answer1--because they are not conditions of salvation4 ,how could the ,saviour and ,peter and ,paul have left out these conditions if they are conditions of salvation8 ,but the question arises1 if being baptized the right way and living the right kind of a life are not conditions of salvation1 why do these things8 ,not from fear of ,hell2 ,god desires no service from that motive4 ,let the ,saviour tell why4 ,when ,he instituted the ,lord's supper1 ,he said1 ,this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many1 for the remission of sins1--,matt4 #bf3bh2 and then before leaving the upper room ,he said to ,his disciples3 if ye love me1 keep my commandments4--,john #ad3ae4 ,why love ,him8 ,love ,him because ,he shed ,his blood for the remission of their sins4 ,let ,paul tell us why serve ,him3 ,the love of ,christ constraineth us2 because we thus judge that if one died for all1 then all died2 and he died for all1 that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto him who died for them1 and rose again4--#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae4 ,now comes the all-important question1 what do these parallel expressions1 believe on ,christ or believe in into ,christ mean8 ,many1 when they see how simple and plain is the teaching1 say1 ,why1 almost every one believes on ,christ4 ,no2 they believe about ,christ1 but not on ,christ4 ,a wealthy man deposits a large sum of money in the bank and promises to pay the debts of all the poor people who will trust him to pay their debts4 ,they all may believe him1 may believe about him2 but only those who believe on him1 depend on him1 rely on him to pay their debts1 will have their debts paid4 ,so ,christ died for all our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c72 ,he gave ,himself for us that ,he might redeem us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad72 but only those who believe on ,him1 depend on ,him1 rely on ,him to save them1 will ever be saved4 ,the man who is depending on ,christ and his baptism or ,christ and his church1 or ,christ and his good life to save him1 will be lost2 for he is not believing on1 depending on1 relying on1 ,christ to save him2 but only partly on ,christ and partly on something else2 and there is no promise in ,god's word that those who partly believe on ,christ shall be saved4 ,the very fact that a man depends partly on ,christ and partly on something else to save him1 shows that he has never believed that the ,saviour gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ac1 #ad72 the ,saviour he is depending on is not the ,saviour ,god's word reveals2 and hence he has no ,saviour at all4 ,notice ,paul's instruction to the ,romans concerning believing on ,christ3 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is reckoned for righteousness4--,rom4 #d3e4 ,consider the simple but vital teaching of this passage3 ,he justifieth the ungodly4 ,how8 ,whom ,god hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood 444 to declare1 ,i say1 at this time his righteousness1 that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in ,jesus 7,rom4 #c3be1 #bf72 being now justified by his blood4--,rom4 #e3i4 ,and ,he justifies us from all sin1 ,our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ac1 #ad72 redeems us from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 redeems us from under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 and this makes us ,god's children 7,gal4 #d3d-g74 ,consider further3 ,he justifies the ungodly4 ,if ,he justifies the ungodly then all efforts to become godly in order to be saved1 are worse than wasted and are in rebellion against ,god's plan for men4 ,when we were yet without strength in due time ,christ died for the ungodly4--,rom4 #e3f4 ,god commendeth his own love toward us1 in that while we were yet sinners1 ,christ died for us4--,rom4 #e3h4 ,when we were enemies we were reconciled to ,god by the death of his ,son4--,rom4 #e3aj4 ,why8 ,because ,christ justifies the ungodly4 ,the ,saviour did not say to ,nicodemus1 ,whosoever becomes godly should not perish1 but ,whosoever believeth on him4 ,why8 ,because ,he justifies the ungodly4 ,paul and ,silas did not say to the jailor1 a hardened sinner1 ,become godly and thou shalt be saved2 but ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,why8 ,because ,he justifies the ungodly4 ,on what condition does ,he justify the ungodly8 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him4 ,here is the work of the soul to be saved2 ,paul says to cease working at the task1 and believe on1 depend on1 ,him--,he justifies the ungodly4 ,god gave men ten commandments to keep4 ,god's word says1 ,the man that doeth them shall live by them4--,gal4 #c3ab4 ,but all men have failed to keep them2 all have sinned and come short of the glory of ,god4--,rom4 #c3bc4 ,to illustrate3 ,a father gives a little boy ten rows of corn to work out and says to him1 ,willie1 if you will work out the ten rows of corn to-day1 ,i will pay you five dollars2 but it will take steady work all day4 ,about nine o'clock some boys persuade ,willie to play1 and he plays with them for two hours4 ,now he cannot get the task done1 and so is sure to lose the five dollars4 ,his grown brother comes to him and says1 ,willie1 ,i saw the trouble you were getting into1 and had a talk with father4 ,father says that the work must be done or you will lose the five dollars4 ,but father agreed to let me do the work for you4 ,now if you will quit working at the task and trust me1 depend on me1 ,i will see that the work is done1 and that you get the five dollars4 ,the little brother quits working at the task1 and gets out of the field4 ,he believes on1 depends on1 trusts1 his big brother4 ,if1 now1 there is any failure1 it will be the big brother's failure1 and not the little brother's4 ,so1 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is reckoned for righteousness4 ,if1 then1 the sinner will quit working at the task of his salvation and believe on1 depend on ,christ1 trust the whole work of salvation to ,him1 ,he will justify the ungodly from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,if1 then1 there should be any failure of being saved1 it would be ,christ's failure1 for ,he said1 ,him that cometh unto me1 ,i will in no wise cast out4--,john #f3cg4 ,why1 then1 should the one who has thus trusted ,christ ever be baptized1 or live a faithful1 godly life8 ,go back to the illustration3 ,as the little brother quits working at the task in the field and believes on1 depends on1 trusts1 the big brother to have the task done1 a man meets him and says1 ,willie1 your brother was good to you4 ,but to do your work for you1 that you might not lose the five dollars1 he left his field1 and it needs work badly4 ,if ,i were in your place1 from love to my big brother1 ,i would go and work in his field for him4 ,the little brother says1 ,i will do it1 sir4 ,he goes over into his big brother's field and works harder than ever1 not from fear of losing the five dollars1 but from love to his big brother4 ,so the ,saviour1 after we have believed on ,him1 trusted ,him to save1 justify us1 says1 ,if ye love me1 keep my commandments4--,john #ad3ae4 ,go work to-day in my vineyard1--,matt4 #ba3bh2 not in your own4 ,all the work that the redeemed1 the saved1 man does is not in his own field1 to get the task done1 that he may be saved2 but in the big brother's field1 from love to the big brother for having relieved him of the entire responsibility for the task4 ,to follow up the illustration3 ,the big brother sees the little brother working in the big brother's field and he goes to him and says1 ,willie1 ,i appreciate this1 for you are doing it from love to me4 ,if you were doing it from fear lest ,i might not keep my promise1 it would hurt me2 for that would show that you did not trust me4 ,but you cannot work for me for nothing4 ,i will pay you fifty cents for every hour you work in my field4 ,now1 work hard and have a large reward for your labor4 ,so the ,saviour says1 ,whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of water only in the name of a disciple1 verily ,i say unto you1 he shall in no wise lose his reward4--,matt4 #aj3db4 ,and he says1 ,lay up for yourselves treasures in ,heaven4--,matt4 #f3bj4 ,he shall reward every man according to his works4--,matt4 #af3bg4 ,the reward of fifty cents for every hour's work does not destroy the motive of love that moves the little brother2 it only increases the motive of love4 ,but do not redeemed people1 ,god's children1 sometimes become backsliders8 ,yes4 ,go back to the illustration of the little brother and his task4 ,as he is working from love to his big brother1 in the big brother's field1 the bad boys follow him and tempt him1 and prevail on him to leave the big brother's field and to mistreat the big brother4 ,the father sees it all2 goes and takes the little brother out into the forest and reproves him for his wrong to his big brother1 and then chastises him and sends him back to the big brother's field4 ,so1 when ,god's redeemed1 saved children backslide1 do wrong wilfully1 ,he chastises them4 ,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of him2 for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4--,heb4 #ab3e1 #f4 ,also ,i will make him my firstborn1 higher than the kings of the earth4 ,my mercy will ,i keep for him for evermore1 and my covenant shall stand fast with him4 ,his seed also will ,i make to endure forever1 and his throne as the days of heaven4 ,if his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments2 if they break my statutes1 and keep not my commandments2 then will ,i visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes4 ,nevertheless1 my loving kindness will ,i not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail4--,ps4 #hi3bg-cc4 ,reader1 which field are you working in8 ,are you working in your own field8 trying to accomplish a task1 now that you have sinned1 you can never accomplish8--,meet all of ,god's just laws and requirements1 and develop a character that will entitle you to a home in ,heaven8 ,heed the message1 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is reckoned for righteousness4 ,believe on ,him1 depend on ,him1 to justify you from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,the moment you do1 your eternal destiny is settled1 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4--,john #e3bd4 ,then1 from love to the big brother1 go into his field and work till the day is done4 ,in telling of his own salvation1 ,paul again makes plain what believe on the ,lord ,jesus means3 ,i know him whom ,i have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which ,i have committed to him against that day4 ,notice this declaration as to the apostle's salvation3 ,i know him4 ,a man must know him or he cannot believe on ,christ4 ,he can risk ,him without knowing ,him1 but he cannot believe on ,him1 cannot trust ,him for salvation4 ,it does not mean1 know ,him in every respect1 as to how ,his divine and human nature could be united2 as to how ,he could have had eternal existence2 as to how ,his resurrected body could appear and disappear1 etc41 but to know ,him in ,his character as ,saviour4 ,in trusting money to a bank one does not need to know how much ,german or ,french or ,english blood there is in the bank officials4 ,in trusting one's case to a physician1 one does not need to know the different nationalities from which he is descended1 but he needs to know him in his character as physician4 ,so men must know ,jesus in ,his character as ,saviour1 or they cannot believe on1 trust ,him to save them4 ,they must1 then1 know ,him as the ,messiah1 the promised ,saviour1 the complete sin-bearer1 or they cannot believe on ,him4 ,but after one knows the bank1 he must commit his money to the bank1 else the bank is not responsible for it4 ,after one knows the physician1 he must commit his case to the physician1 else the physician is not responsible4 ,and so ,paul says1 ,i am persuaded that he is able to keep that which ,i have committed unto him against that day4 ,no one1 then1 is redeemed1 is saved1 who has not committed his salvation to ,christ against that day4 ,let the reader get clearly the meaning of commit4 ,no one has committed money to the bank who yet holds to the money2 no one has committed a package to the express company who yet holds to the package2 no one has committed a letter to the post-office for delivery who yet holds to the letter4 ,so no one has committed his salvation to ,christ1 no one is redeemed1 is saved1 who yet holds to the work of his salvation4 ,he must commit it to ,christ4 ,further1 no one has committed his money to the bank who has not left the entire responsibility for the money's safety to the bank1 leaving no further responsibility whatever upon himself for the safety of the money4 ,no one has committed a package to the express company1 who has not left the whole responsibility for the delivery of the package entirely to the company1 leaving no responsibility whatever upon himself for its safe delivery4 ,no one has committed a letter to the post-office who has not left the entire responsibility for its safe delivery to the government1 leaving no responsibility whatever upon himself for its safe delivery4 ,even so1 no one has committed his salvation to ,christ1 no one is redeemed1 is saved1 who has not left the entire responsibility of his salvation to ,christ1 leaving no responsibility whatever for his salvation upon himself4 ,but one may have committed his money to the bank and yet not really have trusted the bank1 but only risked the bank2 one may have committed a package to the express company and yet not really have trusted the express company1 but only risked it2 one may have committed a letter to the post-office and yet not really have trusted the post-office1 but only risked it4 ,so1 one may have committed his salvation to ,christ1 and yet be unredeemed1 unsaved1 because he only risked ,christ and did not trust ,him4 ,hence ,paul says1 ,i know him whom ,i have believed1 trusted1 taken at ,his word4 ,one other fact needs to be considered as to what believing on ,christ means in ,paul's case4 ,he says1 ,i am persuaded that he is able to keep that which ,i have committed to him against that day4 ,it is not a committal of one's salvation to ,christ a moment at a time1 nor till one can see how he will afterwards feel2 nor till one can see whether he is going to be able to live a ,christian life4 ,it is to commit one's salvation to ,christ against that day4 ,and the moment one does what ,paul did1 commits his salvation to ,christ against that day1 ,god's word says he is saved1 redeemed3 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4--,john #e3bd4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3--,when ,paul says1 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted for righteousness1--,rom4 #d3e1 he is in line with the teaching of the ,saviour when ,he said1 ,the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of ,god before you1--,matt4 #ba3ca2 and if the teaching of the ,saviour and ,paul on this point is true1 then there is not left one square inch of ground on which the teachers of salvation by character may stand4 ,they are not in agreement with the ,saviour and ,paul on this point1 but there is one with whom they are here in strict agreement2 ,i hope for happiness beyond this life2 ,i believe that religious duties consist in doing justice1 loving mercy1 and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy2 ,the only true religion is deism1 by which ,i then meant and now mean the belief of one ,god1 and an imitation of his moral character1 or the practice of what are called moral virtues2 and that it was upon this only 7so far as religion is concerned7 that ,i rested my hopes of happiness hereafter4 ,so say ,i now1 and so help me ,god4 ,these are exact quotations from ,the ,age of ,reason1 by ,thomas ,paine4 ,and those who preach salvation by character thus line up with ,paine against the ,saviour and ,paul4 ,they fail to see that there can be no proper character without proper motive1 and that there can1 in the sight of ,god1 be no proper motive till one is redeemed1 saved1 and thus placed where the motive will be love1 the purest motive possible to human beings4 ,and they fail to see that ,god's plan with men is to save irrespective of character1 and then to develop in the redeemed man the real character for all eternity4 ,god has not two ways of salvation2 ,he has not two ways of believing on ,christ4 ,what is essential to one man's salvation is essential to the salvation of every man4 ,what is believing on ,christ for one man1 is believing on ,christ for every man4 ,when ,paul says ,i know him whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that he is able to guard that which ,i have committed to him against that day1--#b ,tim4 #a3ab 7,r4 ,v471 he has given the pattern of saving faith4 ,i know him4 ,man must know ,him in ,his real character as ,saviour or he cannot commit to ,him against that day the matter of his eternal destiny1 cannot believe on ,him4 ,what are the essential things1 then1 that must be included in ,i know him in ,his character as ,saviour1 in order that one can believe on ,him1 be saved by ,him1 be a real ,christian8 ,first1 one must know ,him as the promised ,messiah1 in order to really believe on ,him1 to be really a ,christian4 ,the high priest asked1 ,art thou the ,christ1 the ,son of the ,blessed8 ,and ,jesus said1 ,i am4--,mark #ad3fa1 #fb4 ,the woman at the well said1 ,i know that ,messiah cometh1 who is called ,christ3 ,when he is come1 he will tell us all things4 ,jesus saith unto her1 ,i that speak unto thee1 am he4--,john #d3be1 #bf4 ,as ,ballard1 in ,the ,miracles of ,unbelief1 has clearly pointed out1 either 7#a7 ,he was the ,messiah2 or 7#b7 ,he was the illegitimate son of a fallen woman and the vilest deceiver the world has ever known1 or 7#c7 ,he was the illegitimate son of a fallen woman1 and a poor1 simple-minded ignoramus1 who claimed to be the ,messiah and honestly thought ,he was1 but was simply ignorant and deluded4 ,men in their intellectual pride or religious prejudice may sneer and try to avoid this issue1 but every honest thinking man will see and confess that only these three conclusions are possible1 that one of the three is inevitable3 and every honest man will take one of the three positions4 ,voltaire said curse the wretch4 ,he is to be commended as compared with the man who tries to avoid the issue4 ,second1 one must know ,him as complete ,redeemer in order to believe on ,him1 in order to commit one's salvation to ,him against that day4 ,there is no middle ground4 ,he was either no redeemer at all1 or ,he gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity4--,titus #b3ad4 ,to try to avoid the issue here is as fatal as to try to avoid the issue as to ,his being the ,messiah4 ,to believe on1 to commit one's salvation to1 a partial ,redeemer1 is to have no redeemer at all1 to be left unredeemed1 unsaved4 ,third1 to know ,him in order to believe on ,him1 to commit one's salvation to ,him against that day1 one must know ,him as having been really raised from the dead4 ,belief in the real resurrection of the ,saviour is essential to salvation4 ,for one to be heralded abroad as a great preacher and theologian who yet denies the literal1 real resurrection of the ,saviour1 cannot change ,god's word that all such are yet unredeemed1 lost1 not real ,christians4 ,god's word is plain on this point3 ,if thou shalt confess with thy mouth ,jesus as ,lord1 and shalt believe in thy heart that ,god hath raised him from the dead1 thou shalt be saved4--,rom4 #aj3i4 ,if ,christ hath not been raised your faith is vain2 ye are yet in your sins4--#a ,cor4 #ae3ag4 ,chalmers1 the great ,scotch preacher1 in a letter to a friend made plain what believing on ,christ means3 ,i must say that ,i never had so close and satisfactory a view of the gospel salvation1 as when ,i have been led to contemplate it in the light of a simple offer on the one side1 and a simple acceptance on the other4 ,it is just saying to one and all of us1 ,there is forgiveness through the blood of ,my ,son3 ,take it1 and whoever believes the reality of the offer takes it4444 ,we are apt to stagger at the greatness of the unmerited offer and cannot attach faith to it till we have made up some title of our own4 ,this leads to two mischievous consequences3 ,it keeps alive the presumption of one class who will still be thinking that it is something in themselves and of themselves which confers upon them a right of salvation2 and it confirms the melancholy of another class1 who look into their own hearts and their own lives1 and find that they cannot make out a shadow of a title to the divine favor4 ,the error of both lies in their looking to themselves when they should be looking to the ,saviour4 ',look unto me and be ye saved1 all the ends of the earth4'--,is4 #de3bb4 ,the ,son of man was so lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have everlasting life 7,john #c3ad1 #ae74 ,it is your part simply to lay hold of the proffered boon4 ,you are invited to do so2 and you are entreated to do so2 nay1 what is more1 you are commanded to do so4 ,it is true1 you are unworthy1 and without holiness no man can see ,god2 but be not afraid1 only believe4 ,you cannot get holiness of yourself1 but ,christ has undertaken to provide it for you4 ,it is one of those spiritual blessings of which ,he has the dispensation1 and which ,he has promised to all who believe in ,him4 ,god has promised that with ,his ,son ,he will freely give you all things 7,rom4 #h3cb72 that ,he will walk in you1 and dwell in you 7#b ,cor4 #f3af72 that ,he will purify your heart by faith 7,acts #ae3i72 that ,he will put ,his law in your mind and write it in your heart 7,heb4 #h3aj74 ,these are the effects of your believing in ,christ1 and not the services by which you become entitled to believe in ,him4 ,make a clear outset in the business1 and understand that your first step is simply confiding acceptance of an offer that is most free1 most frank1 most generous1 and most unconditional4 ,if ,i were to come as an accredited agent from the upper sanctuary with a letter of invitation to you1 with your name and address on it1 you would not doubt your warrant to accept it4 ,well1 here is the ,bible1 your invitation to come to ,christ4 ,it does not bear your name and address1 but it says ',whosoever1' that takes you in2 it says 'all1' that takes you in2 it says 'if any1' that takes you in4 ,what can be surer or freer than that8 ,equally helpful are the words of ,horatius ,bonar in ,words for the ,inquiring3--,if you object that you cannot believe1 then this indicates that you are proceeding quite in a wrong direction4 ,you are still laboring under the idea that this believing is a work to be done by you1 and not the acknowledgment of a work done by another4 ,you would fain do something in order to get peace1 and you think that if you could do this great thing 'believing1' if you could but perform this great act called faith1 ,god would at once reward you by giving you peace4 ,thus faith is reckoned by you to be the price1 in the sinner's hand1 by which he buys peace1 and not the mere holding out of the hand to get a peace which has already been bought by another4 ,so long as you are attaching any meritorious importance to faith1 however unconsciously1 you are moving in a wrong direction--a direction from which no peace can come4 ,surely faith is not a work4 ,on the contrary1 it is a ceasing from work4 ,it is not a climbing of the mountain1 but a ceasing to attempt it1 and allowing ,christ to carry you up in ,his own arms4 ,you seem to think that it is your act of faith that is to save you1 and not the object of your faith1 without which your act1 however well performed1 is nothing4 ,accordingly1 you bethink yourself1 and say1 ',what a mighty work is this believing--what an effort does it require on my part--how am ,i to perform it8' ,herein you sadly err1 and your mistake lies chiefly here1 in supposing that your peace is to come from the proper performance on your part of an act of faith2 whereas1 it is to come entirely from the proper perception of ,him to whom the ,father is pointing your eyes1 and in regard to whom ,he is saying1 ',behold my servant whom ,i have chosen1 look at ,him1 forget everything else--everything about yourself1 your own faith1 your own repentance1 your own feelings--and look at ,him6 ,it is in ,him1 not out of your poor act of faith1 that salvation lies2 and out of ,him1 not out of your own act of faith1 is peace to come4' ,thus mistaking the meaning of faith and the way which faith saves you1 you get into confusion1 and mistake everything else connected with your peace3 you mistake the real nature of that very inability to believe of which you complain so sadly4 ,for that inability does not lie1 as you fancy it does1 in the impossibility of your performing aright the great act of faith1 but of ceasing from all such self-righteous attempts to perform any act1 or do any work whatsoever in order to your being saved4 ,so that the real truth is1 that you have not yet seen such a sufficiency in the one great work of the ,son of ,god upon the cross1 as to lead you utterly to discontinue your mistaken and aimless efforts to work out something of your own4 ,but perhaps you may object further1 that you are not satisfied with your faith4 ,no1 truly1 nor are you ever likely to be4 ,if you wait for this before you take peace1 you will wait till life is done4 ,not satisfaction with your own faith1 but satisfaction with ,jesus and ,his work1 this is what ,god presses on you4 ,you say1 ',i am satisfied with ,christ4' ,are you8 ,what more1 then1 do you wish8 ,is not satisfaction with ,christ enough for you1 or for every sinner8 ,nay1 and is not this the truest kind of faith8 ,to be satisfied with ,christ1 that is faith in ,christ4 ,to be satisfied with ,his blood1 that is faith4 ,what more could you have8 ,can your faith give you something which ,christ cannot8 ,or will ,christ give you nothing till you can produce faith of a certain kind and quality1 whose excellences will entitle you to blessing8 ,do not bewilder yourself4 ,do not suppose that your faith is a price1 or a bribe1 or a merit4 ,is not the very essence of real faith just your being satisfied with ,christ8 ,are you really satisfied with ,him and with what ,he has done8 ,then do not puzzle yourself about your faith1 but go on your way rejoicing1 having thus been brought to be satisfied with ,him who to know is peace1 and life1 and salvation4444 ,faith1 however perfect1 has of itself nothing to give you either of pardon or of life4 ,its finger points you to ,jesus4 ,its voice bids you look straight to ,him4 ,its object is to turn away from itself and from yourself altogether1 that you may behold ,him1 and in beholding ,him be satisfied with ,him and in being satisfied with ,him have joy and peace4 ,likewise ,james ,denny1 in ,the ,death of ,christ1 teaches the same lesson3 ,it is this great ,gospel which is the gospel to win souls--this message of a sin-bearing1 sin-expiating love which pleads for acceptance1 which takes the whole responsibility of the sinner1 unconditionally1 with no preliminaries1 if only he abandon himself to it4 ,a young person who felt that his time in this world was short1 wrote to an eminent ,english preacher to write and tell a sinner what he must do to prepare to die--what is the preparation required by ,god--and when he is fit to die4 ,the preacher wrote3 ,i urge you to cast yourself at once1 in the simplest faith1 upon the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and you shall be saved4 ,all your true preparation for death is entirely out of yourself and in the ,lord ,jesus4 ,washed in ,his blood1 and clothed upon with ,his righteousness1 you may appear before ,god divinely1 fully1 freely and forever accepted4 ,the salvation of the chief of sinners is all prepared1 finished and complete in ,christ 7,eph4 #a3f2 ,col4 #b3aj74 ,again ,i repeat1 your eye of faith must now be directed entirely out of and from yourself1 to ,jesus4 ,beware of looking for any preparation to meet death in yourself4 ,it is all in ,christ4 ,god does not accept you on the ground of a broken heart1 or a clean heart1 or a praying heart1 or a believing heart4 ,he accepts you wholly and entirely on the ground of the atonement of ,his blessed ,son4 ,cast yourself in child-like faith upon that atonement--',christ dying for the ungodly' 7,rom4 #e3f7--;and you are saved6 ,justification is this1 a poor law-condemned1 self-condemned1 self-destroyed sinner1 wrapping himself by faith in the righteousness of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which is unto all them that believe 7,rom4 #c3bb74 ,he1 then1 is justified and is prepared to die1 and he only1 who casts from him the garment of his own righteousness and runs unto this blessed city of ,refuge--the ,lord ,jesus--and hides himself there--exclaiming1 ',there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in ,christ ,jesus' 7,rom4 #h3a74 ,god is prepared to accept you in ,his blessed ,son1 and for ,his sake ,he will cast all your sins behind ,his back1 and take you to glory when you die4 ,never was ,jesus known to reject a poor sinner that came to ,him empty and with nothing to pay4 ,god will glorify ,his free grace by your salvation1 and will therefore save you just as you are1 without money and without price 7,is4 #ee3a74 ,i close with ,paul's reply to the anxious jailor1 ',believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved' 7,acts #af3ca74 ,no matter what you have been1 or what you are1 plunged into the fountain opened for sin1 and for uncleanness 7,zech4 #ac3a71 and you shall be clean1 'washed whiter than snow' 7,ps4 #ea3g74 ,heed no suggestion of ,satan1 or of unbelief2 cast yourself at the feet of ,jesus1 and if you perish1 perish there6 ,oh1 no6 ,perish you never will1 for ,he hath said1 ',him that cometh to me1 ,i will in no wise cast out' 7,john #f3cg74 ',come unto me' 7,matt4 #aa3bh7 is ,his blessed invitation2 let your reply be1 ',lord1 ,i come6 ,i come6 ,i come6 ,i entwine my feeble1 trembling arms of faith around ,thy cross1 around ,thyself1 and if ,i die1 ,i will die cleaving1 clinging1 looking unto ,thee6' ,so act and believe and you need not fear to die4 ,looking at the ,saviour in the face1 you can look at death in the face1 exclaiming with good old ,simeon1 ',lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace2 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation' 7,luke #b3bi74 ,may we through rich1 free and sovereign grace1 meet in ,heaven1 and unite in exclaiming1 'worthy is the ,lamb1 for he was slain for us' 7,rev4 #e3ab74 ,until ,i saw the blood 'twas ,hell my soul was fearing2 ,and dark and dreary in my eyes the future was appearing1 ,while conscience told its tale of sin ,and caused a weight of woe within4 ,but when ,i saw the blood1 and looked at ,him who shed it1 ,my right to peace was seen at once1 and ,i with transport read it1 ,i found myself to ,god brought nigh ,and ',victory' became my cry4 ,my joy was in the blood1 the news of which had told me1 ,that spotless as the lamb of ,god1 my ,father could behold me4 ,and all my boast was in ,his name ,through whom this great salvation came4 ,,ix ,,eternal ,,life ,,the ,,present ,,possession ,,of ,,the ,,believer ,ye are not under the law4--,rom4 #f3ad4 ,ye are all the children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4--,gal4 #c3bf4 ,whosoever believeth that ,jesus is the ,christ is born of ,god4--#a ,john #e3a4 ,by grace have ye been saved through faith2 and that not of yourselves2 it is the gift of ,god3 not of works1 lest any one should boast4--,eph4 #b3h1 #i 7#aiaa ,bible and ,r4 ,v47 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life4--,john #c3cf4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4--,john #e3bd4 ,god has given to us eternal life1 and this life is in his ,son4 ,he that hath the ,son hath the life4--#a ,john #e3aa1 #ab4 ,it is an awe-inspiring thought1 a wonderful1 blessed reality1 that every real believer on the ,lord ,jesus has1 here and now1 eternal life1 not simply the promise of it1 but the eternal life itself4 ,the human mind cannot fully take it in1 that every man1 the moment he is redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 redeemed from under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 and adopted as a child of ,god 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 has then and there everlasting life 7,john #e3bd71 a new life that is never1 never to end2 a life that will outlast the stars2 a life that he will be consciously enjoying when all the stars shall have burnt out4 ,and yet when such a life is offered as a gift 7,i give unto them eternal life1 and they shall never perish1--,john #aj3bh7 many men will not repent and accept the gift4 ,religious prejudice1 pride1 secret sin1 love of the world1--for what puny trifles do men turn from the greatest of all gifts1 the greatest of all blessings1 eternal life6 ,reader1 will you be among the number who make this foolish1 this fatal mistake8 ,but with some the greatness of this gift1 and its blessed reality1 are obscured by the teaching that the believer on ,christ has not everlasting life now1 but only the promise of it4 ,when ,god's word tells us that the redeemed one1 the believer on ,christ1 is not under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 is a child of ,god 7,gal4 #c3bf71 has been saved 7,eph4 #b3h1 #i1 #aiaa ,bible and ,r4 ,v471 not will be saved1 it would be strange that1 after all1 the believer should have only a promise for the beyond and no reality here and now4 ,but ,god's word goes further and says1 ,whosoever believeth that ,jesus is the ,christ is born of ,god4--#a ,john #e3a4 ,there cannot be birth without new life4 ,it is not the old life2 that would mean no birth4 ,if1 then1 the new life is not eternal life1 what life is it8 ,if language can be made to mean anything1 ,god's word makes it plain that every redeemed man1 every believer on ,christ1 has here and now1 eternal life2 for ,god's word tells us1 not only that by grace have ye been saved 7,eph4 #b3h1 #i1 #aiaa ,bible and ,r4 ,v471 but it states plainly1 he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life 7,john #c3cf72 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4--,john #e3bd4 ,that ,god's word does not mean that the believer on ,christ has simply the promise of everlasting life1 but that he really has the everlasting life1 notice ,john #e3bd1 ,hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed here and now from death unto life4 ,the ,revised ,version 7the more exact translation7 makes it much stronger1--hath passed out of death into life4 ,what life1 if not eternal life8 ,before this plain1 positive statement of ,god's word1 the mere promise of eternal life theory cannot stand4 ,but the fact that the believer on ,christ really has now eternal life1 is made plain by other ,scriptures4 ,whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer2 and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him4--#a ,john #c3ae4 ,here we are shown that when one hath eternal life it is eternal life abiding in him2 for there would be no meaning to the language if no one has eternal life abiding in him4 ,again1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 except ye eat the flesh of the ,son of man and drink his blood1 ye have no life in you4 ,whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood1 hath eternal life4--,john #f3ec1 #ed4 ,the ,saviour had just taught in verse #ce what eating ,his flesh and drinking ,his blood meant3 ,i am the bread of life2 he that cometh to me shall never hunger2 and he that believeth on me shall never thirst4 ,here in verses #ec1 #ed1 the ,saviour shows clearly that the eternal life that the believer on ,him hath is in you--here and now4 ,let the unredeemed reader pause3 in a moment1 here and now1 he can have everlasting life with ,god's assurance that he shall never perish 7,i give unto them eternal life1 and they shall never perish4--,john #aj3bh74 ,it is a tremendous decision1 and it may prove to be a fatal one1 to turn away and not believe on ,christ and have as a present possession eternal life4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 he that heareth my word1 and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4--,john #e3bd4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3--,some who believe that the redeemed have only the promise of eternal life1 but that they have not eternal life1 as a real present possession1 base this belief on such ,scriptures as1 ,in hope of eternal life1 which ,god1 who cannot lie1 promised before the world began 7,titus #a3b71 in connection with1 ,hope that is seen is not hope2 for what a man seeth1 why doth he yet hope for8 ,but if we hope for what we see not1 then do we with patience wait for it4--,rom4 #h3bd1 #be4 ,their thought is1 if we live in hope of eternal life1 then we have not really eternal life as a present possession2 that we cannot hope for what we already have4 ,but ,jesus said positively that the believer hath passed out of death into life 7,john #e3bd1 ,r4 ,v471 and ,he contrasts the one who hath eternal life with those to whom ,he says1 ,ye have no life in you4 ,a man can have eternal life here1 and at the same time hope for it beyond the grave4 ,a man has his wife and children now1 and hopes to have them next year2 a man away from wife and children has his life now2 and yet he lives in hope of his life 7the same life1 that part of it not yet lived7 with his wife and children a month from now2 an exile from home has his life now2 yet lives in hope of his life 7the same life1 that part of it not yet lived7 in his native land a year from now4 ,so1 the child of ,god's1 the redeemed man's1 citizenship is in ,heaven 7,phil4 #c3bj72 he lives in hope of eternal life there2 yet it is the same eternal life 7that part of it not lived7 that he has here and now4 ,another cause of stumbling at eternal life being now the actual possession of the redeemed man1 is that many who claimed to have had eternal life1 also claim to have lost it2 and if it had been actually eternal life it could not have stopped2 for then eternal would not be really eternal2 hence1 it must have been simply the promise of eternal life that they had1 and they therefore only lost the promise and not really eternal life itself4 ,but ,jesus1 foreseeing this class of professing ,christians1 said that they were never really redeemed1 never really had eternal life3 ,many will say to me in that day1 ,lord1 ,lord1 have we not prophesied in thy name8 and in thy name have cast out demons8 and in thy name done many wonderful works8 and then will ,i profess unto them1 ,i never knew you1--,matt4 #g3bb1 #bc1 not you were redeemed1 you did have eternal life1 but you lost it2 it stopped2 but ,i never knew you1 and ,john teaches the same thing in #a ,john #b3ai1 ,they went out from us1 but they were not of us2 for if they had been of us1 they would have continued with us2 but they went out that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us4 7,r4 ,v47 ,there is no such thing as partly saved and partly lost2 partly justified and partly guilty2 partly alive and partly dead2 partly born of ,god and partly not4 ,there are but two states1 and we must be in either the one or the other4--,wm4 ,reid1 in ,the ,blood of ,jesus4 ,to many earnest men it seems dangerous to teach men that when they are redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 and adopted as ,god's children 7,gal4 #d3c-g71 they then really have as an actual possession eternal life1 and that they shall never perish1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come unto condemnation1--,john #e3bd2 ,i give unto them eternal life1 and they shall never perish1--,john #aj3bh2 they think that such a belief will be a temptation to sin2 that it is liable to lead to presumptuous1 wilful sinning4 ,they think it much safer for men to believe that they have not really the eternal life itself as an actual present possession1 but only the promise of it2 and that by their sinning hereafter they may forfeit that promise and be lost4 ,they think that this fear of being lost will act as a check1 a safeguard1 a restraining power4 ,to the extent that it does1 it produces service from the motive of fear of ,hell1 fear of losing ,heaven1 and not from the motive of love to ,christ for having redeemed them from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,but ,god's word on this point is clear3 ,the love of ,christ not the fear of ,hell1 nor the fear of losing ,heaven constraineth us2 because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then all died2 and he died for all that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto him who died for them1 and rose again4--#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae4 ,the teaching that the redeemed1 saved man has now eternal life and shall never perish1 will lead to wilful1 presumptuous sinning on the part of hypocrites1 and may lead to indifference and sin on the part of those who honestly think they are redeemed1 saved1 but who really are not2 for such are not born again 7#a ,peter #a3bc71 and have not the motive power of love1 because really redeemed1 prompting their action4 ,those who think it is dangerous to teach a redeemed 7#a ,peter #a3ah1 #ai71 saved 7,eph4 #b3h1 ,r4 ,v47 man1 a child of ,god 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 that he has here and now1 as an actual possession1 eternal life1 and shall never perish 7,john #aj3bh71 shall not come into condemnation 7,john #e3bd71 lose sight of five facts in ,god's plan with men3-- ,first1 the redeemed man is born again1 born of ,god1 ,whosoever believeth that ,jesus is the ,christ is born of ,god4--#a ,john #e3a4 ,therefore if any one is in ,christ he is a new creature4--#b ,cor4 #e3ag4 ,this is not a mere theory4 ,all down the centuries since the ,saviour came1 there have been multitudes of notable cases where hardened men and women1 deep down in sin1 have actually become new creatures by being redeemed and being born again4 ,many are now living1 whose names could be given1 who are widely known1 who were once notorious in sin1 and they are now willingly and gladly wearing out their lives in ,god's service1 and are living godly lives3 and this change came in their lives1 not by a gradual process1 but in a moment4 ,god's word says it is a new birth4 ,there is no other explanation4 ,but every one who is redeemed is thus born of ,god 7#a ,john #e3a71 and this new nature will lead one to hate sin1 and prompt to a godly life4 ,second1 the redeemed man is under the new motive of love to ,christ 7if ye love me1 keep my commandments1--,john #ad3ae7 to prompt him to a faithful ,christian life4 ,on this point ,james ,denny in ,the ,death of ,christ says1 ,the love which is the motive of it acts immediately upon the sinful2 gratitude exerts an irresistible constraint2 ,his responsibility means our emancipation2 ,his death1 our life2 ,his bleeding wound1 our healing4 ,whoever says1 ',he bore our sins1' says substitution2 and to say substitution is to say something which involves an immeasurable obligation to ,christ1 and has therefore in it an incalculable motive power4 ,let the reader note well1 that the purpose of ,god in saving men through ,christ dying of their sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c7 is to purify the motive power and make it effective4 ,he died for all1 that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto him4--#b ,cor4 #e3ae4 ,when men live in order that they may retain the promise of eternal life1 that they may attain eternal life hereafter1 from fear lest they should forfeit the promise and not attain eternal life hereafter1 they live unto themselves4 ,when men live because they already have as an actual possession1 eternal life1 and realize that it is eternal1 they live from love1 and not unto themselves but unto ,him4 ,and ,god's plan is effective4 ,the love of ,christ constraineth us 7#b ,cor4 #e3ad71 it does constrain4 ,hence1 ,jesus says1 if a man love me1 he will keep my words4--,john #ad3bc4 ,again1 ,if ,god were your ,father ye would love me4--,john #h3db4 ,so important is this fact of the new motive power and its effectiveness1 that the reader's attention will now be directed to the words of ,james ,denny in ,the ,death of ,christ on this subject4 ,that the reader may the better appreciate these words1 his attention is first called to the estimates of ,denny's great work by two of the leading religious editors of the world4 ,the ,pittsburg ,christian ,advocate3 ,to thoughtful students ',the ,death of ,christ' came as one of the most stirring books of the decade if not of the generation4 ,the ,new ,york ,examiner3 ,the most important contribution to the all-important doctrine of the atonement since the appearance of ,dr4 ,dale's epoch-making book4444 ,exegetically considered1 it is the most important book published within the memory of the younger generation of preachers4 ,on the death of ,christ for our sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c7 being the motive power in the ,christian life1 and its being effective1 ,denny says3 ,the problem before us is to discover what it is in the death of ,christ which gives it its power to generate such experience1 to exercise on human hearts the constraining influence of which the apostle speaks2 and this is precisely what we discover1 in the inferential clause2 'so then all died4' ,this clause puts as plainly as it can be put the idea that ,his death was equivalent to the death of all2 in other words1 it was the death of all men which was died by ,him4444 ,their relation to ,god is not determined now in the very least by sin or law3 it is determined by ,christ1 the propitiation1 and by faith4 ,the position of the believer is not that of one trembling at the judgment seat1 or of one for whom everything remains somehow in a condition of suspense2 it is that of one who has the assurance of a ,divine love which has gone deeper than all his sins1 and has taken on itself the responsibility of them1 and the responsibility of delivering him from them4444 ,take away the certainty of it and the ,new ,testament temper expires4 ,joy in this certainty is not presumption2 on the contrary1 it is joy in the ,lord1 and such joy is the ,christian's strength4 ,it is the impulse and the hope of sanctification2 and to deprecate it1 and the assurance from which it springs1 is no true evangelical humility1 but a failure to believe in the infinite goodness of ,god who in ,christ removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west1 and plants our life in ,his eternal reconciling love4444 ,an absolute justification is needed to give the sinner a start4 ,he must have the certainty of 'no condemnation' of being1 without reserve or drawback1 right with ,god through ,god's gracious act in ,christ1 before he can begin to live the new life4444 ,it is not by denying the gospel outright1 from the very beginning1 that we are to guard against the possible abuse of it4444 ,to try to take some preliminary security from the sinner's future morality before you make the gospel available for him1 is not only to strike at the root of assurance1 it is to pay a very poor tribute to the power of the gospel4 ,the truth is1 morality is best guaranteed by ,christ1 and not by any precautions we can take before ,christ gets a chance1 or by any virtue that is in faith except as it unites the soul to ,him4444 ,if it is our death that ,christ died on the cross1 there is in the cross the constraint of an infinite love2 but if it is not our death at all--if it is not our burden and doom that ,he has taken on ,himself there1 then what is it to us8444 ,he who has done so tremendous a thing as to take our death to ,himself has established a claim upon our life4 ,we are not in the sphere of mystical union1 of dying with ,christ and living with ,him2 but in that of love transcendently shown1 and of gratitude profoundly felt4444 ,but this can only come on the foundation of the other2 it is the discharge from the responsibilities of sin involved in ,christ's death and appropriated in faith1 which is the motive power in the daily ethical dying to sin4444 ,the new life springs out of the sense of debt to ,christ4444 ,it is the knowledge that we have been bought with a price which makes us cease to be our own1 and live for ,him who so dearly bought us4444 ,but when its certainty1 completeness1 and freeness are so qualified or disguised that assurance becomes suspect and joy is quenched1 the ,christian religion has ceased to be4444 ,this is why ,st4 ,paul is not afraid to trust the new life to its own resources1 and why he objects equally to supplanting it by legal regulations afterwards1 or by what are supposed to be ethical securities beforehand4 ,it does not need them1 and is bound to repel them as dishonoring to ,christ4 ,to demand moral guarantees from a sinner before you give him the benefit of the atonement1 or to impose legal restrictions on him after he has yielded to its appeal1 and received it through faith1 is to make the atonement itself of no effect4444 ,in any case1 ,i do not hesitate to say that the sense of debt to ,christ is the most profound and pervasive of all emotions in the ,new ,testament1 and that only a gospel which evokes this1 as the gospel of atonement does1 is true to primitive and normal ,christianity4 ,let the reader consider two statements just here from another great work1 concerning the effectiveness of love as the motive power in the redeemed man's life 7in the writer's judgment no greater work1 excepting the gospel of ,john ,john #bj3cj1 #ca1 has ever been written for honest sceptics1 than ,walker's ,philosophy of the ,plan of ,salvation74 ,just in proportion as the soul feels its lost1 guilty and dangerous condition1 in the same proportion will it exercise love to the being who grants spiritual favor and salvation4444 ,it may be affirmed1 without hesitancy1 that it would be impossible for the human soul to exercise full faith in the testimony that it was a guilty and needy creature1 condemned by the holy law of a holy ,god1 and that from this condition of spiritual guilt and danger ,jesus ,christ suffered and died to accomplish its ransom1--we say1 a human being could not exercise full faith in these truths and not love the ,saviour4 ,third1 those who fear that if redeemed men1 ,god's children1 are taught that they have1 here and now1 eternal life as an actual present possession1 and that it is eternal1 it will be liable to lead them into presumptuous1 wilful sin1 lose sight of a third fact4 ,the redeemed man1 the real child of ,god1 can be tempted1 can be led into sin1 and some of them do become backsliders1 but ,god's word teaches that they will be chastised in this life4 ,let the reader turn back and read ,chapter ,v4 ,two ,scriptures there quoted make plain the chastening of ,god's disobedient children3 ,also ,i will make him my firstborn1 higher than the kings of the earth4 ,my mercy will ,i keep for him forevermore1 and my covenant shall stand fast with him4 ,his seed also will ,i make to endure forever1 and his throne as the days of heaven4 ,if his children forsake my law1 and walk not in my judgments1 if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments1 then will ,i visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes4 ,nevertheless1 my loving-kindness will ,i not utterly take from him1 nor suffer my faithfulness to fail4 ,my covenant will ,i not break1 nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips4--,ps4 #hi3bg-cd4 ,equally explicit is the ,new ,testament3 ,ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto sons4 ,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of him2 for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4 ,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons2 for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not8 ,but if ye be without chastening1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards and not sons4 ,furthermore1 we have had fathers of our flesh1 who corrected us1 and we gave them reverence2 shall we not much rather be in subjection to the ,father of spirits and live8 ,for they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed right to them2 but he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness4 ,now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous1 but grievous2 nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby4--,heb4 #ab3e-aa4 ,so that1 the disobedient child of ,god will suffer for his sins1 not in ,hell1 but in this life2 and not as a just penalty for violated law1 for he is not under the law 7,ye are not under the law1--,rom4 #f3ad71 but as chastening1 for correction4 ,it is not a theory merely1 for ,god's word declares that ,god's plan works--,it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness4 ,fourth1 those who fear that teaching redeemed men1 ,god's children1 that they have1 as a present possession1 eternal life and not simply the promise of it1 and who think that the safer course is to teach them that they have only the promise of eternal life and may forfeit it by unfaithfulness1 lose sight of another fact1 that the unfaithful redeemed one will lose his reward4 ,let the reader turn back and read ,chapter ,,vi4 ,the ,scripture teaching is plain1 ,if any man's work abide which he has built thereupon1 he shall receive a reward4 ,if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss2 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as through fire4--#a ,cor4 #c3ad1 #ae4 ,he loses his reward who is unfaithful1 but not his eternal life1 because it is eternal1 and because he has been redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad74 ,fifth1 those who1 knowing that the redeemed man could not lose his eternal life1 if he has it as a present possession1 because it is eternal1 believe that the redeemed have not really eternal life but only the promise of it and may forfeit the promise by unfaithfulness1 and that it is dangerous to teach the redeemed that they really have eternal life because it might lead to wilful1 presumptuous sin1 lose sight of a fifth fact1 that the child of ,god is not only redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac71 redeemed from under the law 7,rom4 #f3ad71 adopted as a child of ,god because redeemed from the law 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 but that being redeemed1 he is redeemed from all iniquity 7,our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity4--,titus #b3ac1 #ad74 ,how can ,god1 because ,he is just1 let the redeemed man1 if he is redeemed from all iniquity1 be lost8 ,a young minister was in the habit of visiting an aged ,scotch woman in his congregation who was familiarly called ',old ,nanny4' ,she was bed-ridden and rapidly approaching the end of her 'long and weary pilgrimage1' but she rested with undisturbed composure and full assurance of faith upon the finished work of ,christ4 ,one day he said to her1 ',now1 ,nanny1 what if1 after all your confidence in the ,saviour and your watching and waiting1 ,god should suffer your soul to be lost8' ,raising herself on her elbow1 and turning to him with a look of grief and pain1 she laid her hand on the open ,bible before her1 and quietly replied1 ',ah1 dearie me1 is that the length you hae got yet1 mon8 ,god1' she continued earnestly1 'would hae the greatest loss4 ,poor ,nannie would lose her soul1 and that would be a great loss indeed2 but ,god would lose ,his honor and ,his character4 ,haven't ,i hung my soul upon ,his exceeding great and precious promise8 and if ,he would break ,his word ,he would make ,himself a liar1 and a' the universe would rush into confusion4' ,this anecdote reveals the true ground of the believer's safety4 ,it is as high as the honor of ,god2 it is as trustworthy as ,his character2 it is as immutable as ,his promises2 it is as broad as the infinite merit of ,his ,son's atoning blood4--,j4 ,h4 ,brookes1 in ,the ,way ,made ,plain4 ,if ,god1 that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in ,jesus 7,rom4 #c3bf71 set forth ,jesus ,christ as a propitiation through faith in his blood 7,rom4 #c3be71 and then should let one be lost who had been redeemed from all iniquity 7,titus #b3ad71 would ,he not be as unjust in so doing as ,he would have been had ,he justified sinners without ,christ dying for their sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c78 ,the blessed fact that the redeemed have as a present possession1 here and now1 eternal life1 and that it is eternal1 makes manifest another fact1 that the redeemed are not unconscious1 virtually out of existence1 from death till the resurrection4 ,the new life is eternal2 it continues without cessation or intermission4 ,their bodies fall asleep2 but their souls are still in conscious existence2 it is eternal life4 ,paul makes this fact clear3 ,whilst present in the body1 we are absent from the ,lord4 ,we are confident1 ,i say1 and well pleased rather to be absent from the body1 and present with the ,lord4--#b ,cor4 #e3f1 #h4 ,the same conscious life continues2 it is eternal life4 ,again he makes it clear3 ,i am in a strait betwixt the two1 having a desire to depart and to be with ,christ1 which is far better3 nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful on your account4--,phil4 #a3bc1 #bd4 ,the same conscious life continues1 the eternal life4 ,to depart and to be with ,christ he says is far better4 ,but even this is not the perfect state4 ,it is the soul without the body1 enjoying eternal life with ,christ4 ,but ,god's perfect being is a being of redeemed soul and redeemed body enjoying the reward of its labor4 ,the body will not be redeemed until the resurrection 7,rom4 #h3bc2 #a ,cor4 #ae3db72 and the soul1 though enjoying eternal life and with ,christ 7,phil4 #a3bc7 will receive no reward until the resurrection1--,thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just4--,luke #ad3ad4 ,paul further makes clear the distinction between the body sleeping and the soul not sleeping1 because it has eternal life and is with ,christ3 ,if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also that sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4--#a ,thess4 #d3ad4 ,their bodies are asleep2 their souls are absent from the body and present with the ,lord 7#b ,cor4 #e3h72 but at the resurrection of their bodies1 these will ,god bring with him4 ,then1 at the resurrection of the just 7,luke #ad3ad7 will each man receive his own reward according to his own labor4--#a ,cor4 #c3h4 ,let this blessed teaching be a comfort to some hearts3 the redeemed loved ones who have died are present with the ,lord which is far better4 ,then it is cruel selfishness to wish them back4 ,x ,,development ,,of ,,character ,,in ,,the ,,redeemed ,the ,god of ,jacob is our refuge4--,ps4 #df3g4 ,happy is he that hath the ,god of ,jacob for his help4--,ps4 #adf3e4 ,that the trial of your faith1 being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire1 might be found unto praise1 and honor1 and glory at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ4--#a ,peter #a3g4 ,let patience have her perfect work1 that ye may be perfect and entire1 wanting nothing4--,james #a3ad4 ,and we know that all things work together for good to them that love ,god1 to those who are the called according to his purpose4--,rom4 #h3bh4 ,the ,god of ,jacob6 ,not the ,god of ,israel4 ,wonderful ,god6 ,blessed assurance1 that the ,god of ,jacob is our refuge1--the ,god who saves the man without character1 irrespective of character1--makes of him1--,israel4 ,jacob1 the supplanter1 the trickster1 the weak character1 the warped character1 the sinner1 ,god takes1 and through trials1 tests1 develops him and makes of him ,israel1--a prince of ,god4 ,that is ,god's plan with men4 ,consider it4 ,there are two theories1 the poles apart4 ,the one is1 salvation by character2 that by acquiring a suitable character1 by developing the right kind of a character1 man can be saved1 can go to ,heaven2 that one's character1 if of the proper kind1 entitles him to ,heaven2 that if one has lived right1 he will go to ,heaven4 ,the other theory is1 that ,god by grace1 pure unmerited favor1 saves irrespective of character4 ,it is a tremendous issue4 ,it is vital2 one or the other is fatal4 ,if those who hold one theory go to ,heaven1 all who hold to the other will be lost1 will go to ,hell4 ,we would as well face the issue4 ,they are two widely different ways of salvation1 and ,god has but one4 ,jesus said1 ,i am the way 7,john #ad3f71 not one way1 ,the ,way4 ,and ,he leaves no possible ground for misunderstanding the meaning1 ,no man cometh unto the ,father1 but by me4--,john #ad3f4 ,either1 then1 ,he is the only way1 or ,he was the vilest deceiver the world ever knew1 or ,he was a simple-minded1 ignorant fanatic1 who honestly thought ,himself ,the ,way when ,he was not4 ,against this theory of salvation by character there are four serious1 fatal charges3-- ,first1 it is utterly cruel1 heartless and selfish4 ,it is cruel1 because to the weakest1 most needy1 most helpless class1 the vast body of men1 born of vicious1 debased parents1 reared amidst vice and sin1 weakened by appetite and tied by habit1 it does not give one-millionth the chance to be saved1 to go to ,heaven1 that men have who were born of noble1 godly parents1 reared amidst moral1 uplifting surroundings1 and strengthened by noble aspirations and splendid training4 ,stand before you two young men representing these two classes1 and tell them of life beyond this life1 and of ,heaven2 and then tell them of salvation by character4 ,to the one it would mean a bright1 hopeful anticipation2 to the other1 it would mean but taunting him with his hopeless condition and prodding him with despair4 ,the theory of salvation by character is heartless1 because1 wrapt in the robe of its own self-righteousness1 it coolly condemns to hopeless despair a vast body of the human race4 ,go stand by the helpless1 hopeless drunkard1 and the drunken1 sinful woman1 and tell them of salvation by character1 and hear the sob of despair or see the jeering look on their faces at the thought of salvation by character for such as they6 ,before a pastors' conference1 the polished1 brilliant1 highly educated pastor of a wealthy1 refined1 intellectual congregation read a seemingly learned paper on ,salvation by ,character4 ,when he had finished reading the paper1 some of his fellow-pastors endorsed the paper and gave it high praise4 ,finally1 the pastor of a people who had been unfortunate in life1 many of whom had gone far down in sin1 and were fettered by habit1 arose and said1 ,brother ,moderator1 the brother has given us his wonderful paper on salvation by character4 ,i would like to ask him1 what would he preach if he were the pastor of a people who have no character8 ,the author of the paper arose and made the heartless reply1 ,brother ,moderator1 my brother and ,i have been raised in such different intellectual atmospheres1 that ,i don't suppose ,i could make it plain to my brother4 ,the other replied1 ,that is doubtless true1 ,brother ,moderator2 but the trouble is1 that he can never make it plain to any one else4 ,it is selfish1 because those who teach this theory are generally men of intelligence1 refinement1 and are considered1 and they consider themselves1 men of moral character4 ,they thus provide for themselves by their theory1 but leave a vast body of the race with a very slight hope or with no hope whatever4 ,the second charge against those who hold this theory is that by their own theory none will be saved4 ,if salvation is by character1 by what kind of character1 a perfect character1 or an imperfect character8 ,if by a perfect character1 no one has it2 no one even claims it4 ,if by an imperfect character1 how imperfect may it be and the man yet be saved8 ,where is the standard8 ,if a man's character1 in order to be saved by it1 must be the best he can make it1 no one has even that character1--no one's character is the best he could have made it4 ,hence1 salvation by character is a chimera4 ,the third charge against salvation by character is1 that even if a man's character were perfect from man's standpoint1 in the sight of ,god his character would still be corrupt4 ,all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags4--,is4 #fd3f4 ,why8 ,because motive is the measure of the character4 ,they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god4--,rom4 #h3h4 ,why8 ,because they have not1 and cannot have1 the right motive4 ,though ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not love1 ,i am become as sounding brass1 or a clanging cymbal4 ,and though ,i have the gift of prophecy1 and understand all mysteries1 and all knowledge2 and though ,i have all faith1 so that ,i could remove mountains1 and have not love1 ,i am nothing4 ,and though ,i bestow all my goods to feed the poor1 and though ,i give my body to be burned1 and have not love1 it profiteth me nothing4--#a ,cor4 #ac3a-c4 ,and no man has this love1 no man can have this love1 until he is saved by ,christ dying for his sins 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c74 ,the love of ,christ constraineth us2 because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then all died2 and he died for all1 that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto him who died for them1 and rose again4--#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae4 ,the fourth serious1 fatal charge against the theory of salvation by character is that it is contrary to the teaching of the ,saviour4 ,jesus saith unto them1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of ,god before you4--,matt4 #ba3ca4 ,certain it is that the publicans and the harlots had worse characters than those to whom the ,saviour was speaking2 the fact is therefore evident that ,jesus taught salvation without character1 irrespective of character4 ,let the reader consider two cases that will show conclusively that the teaching of salvation by character is absolutely contrary to the teaching of the ,saviour4 ,the chief priest1 mocking him1 with the scribes and elders1 said3 ,he saved others2 himself he cannot save4 ,if he is the ,king of ,israel1 let him now come down from the cross1 and we will believe him4 ,he trusted in ,god2 let him deliver him now1 if he will have him2 for he said1 ,i am the ,son of ,god4 ,the thieves also that were with him1 cast the same in his teeth4--,matt4 #bg3da-dd4 ,let the reader notice that both the thieves that were with him1 cast the same in his teeth4 ,then one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him1 saying1 ,if thou be ,christ1 save thyself and us4 ,but the other answering rebuked him1 saying1 ,dost not thou fear ,god1 seeing thou art in the same condemnation8 ,and we indeed justly2 for we receive the due reward of our deeds2 but this man hath done nothing amiss4 ,and he said unto ,jesus1 ,lord1 remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom4 ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,verily ,i say unto thee1 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise4--,luke #bc3ci-dc4 ,from the time that both thieves cast the same in his teeth1 to the time the one made his earnest plea1 ,lord1 remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom1 there had been no time in which this thief could have formed1 developed a character that merited salvation4 ,hence1 when ,jesus said1 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise1 to this thief1 ,he branded the teaching of salvation by character as not from ,heaven4 ,the one who does not see from this case that the cruel1 heartless1 selfish teaching of salvation by character contradicts the ,lord ,jesus1 will never see anything contrary to his own preferences and preconceived opinions4 ,the second case is just as conclusive4 ,as the ,saviour was reclining at meat in the house of ,simon the ,pharisee1 a woman1 noted as a sinner1 came in and stood behind him weeping4 ,and he said to the woman1 ,thy faith hath saved thee2 go in peace4--,luke #g3ej4 ,the ,saviour said the woman was saved1 yet she was of notorious character1--she had no character4 ,that the ,saviour saved irrespective of character is shown by two cases in the book of ,acts4 ,we have the accounts of the salvation of two men of opposite characters4 ,one was ,a devout man1 and one that feared ,god with all his house1 who gave much alms to the people and prayed to ,god always1--,acts #aj3b1 a man of most excellent character4 ,among all the unredeemed men of the earth1 not one could show a better character4 ,if any man could be saved by character1 here is the man4 ,god sends word to him1 ,send to ,joppa and call for ,simon1 whose surname is ,peter1 who shall tell the words whereby thou and all thy house shalt be saved4--,acts #aa3ac4 ,notwithstanding his noble1 unusual character1 ,god tells him that he is unsaved4 ,if he1 with his character unexcelled among unredeemed men1 was yet unsaved1 how can any other unredeemed man hope for salvation by character8 ,peter's message to this man of irreproachable character was1 ,to him give all the prophets witness1 that through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins4--,acts #aj3dc4 ,why is it necessary for this man of character to believe on ,christ in order to be saved8 ,because1 though of unusual character1 he had sinned1 for all have sinned 7,rom4 #c3bc72 and sin once committed can only be atoned for by blood1 apart from shedding of blood there is no remission 7,heb4 #i3bb71 and there is no blood of atonement in a noble character4 ,over against this case is that of the ,philippian jailor1 a man of hardened character2 for he took two helpless1 bleeding preachers who had been beaten by a mob1 and thrust them into the inner prison1 and made their feet fast in the stocks 7,acts #af3bd71 and left them with their backs bloody and gave them no supper4 ,when the earthquake came and the doors were opened1 the hardened jailor started to commit suicide4 ,paul having called to him and prevented the suicide1 the jailor came trembling and fell down before ,paul and ,silas and brought them out and said1 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8--,acts #af3cj4 ,if ever a man should be told of salvation by character1 here was the opportunity1 that he might at once begin the tremendous and all but hopeless task of changing1 so late in life1 a hardened character into one that would enable him to merit ,heaven4 ,instead1 they said1 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved4--,acts #af3ca4 ,how similar the answer to the instructions of ,peter to ,cornelius1 and yet how widely different the characters of the two men6 ,why this similarity8 ,because ,god has but one way of salvation1 and that is irrespective of character4 ,he gathereth together the outcasts of ,israel 7,ps4 #adg3b71 the ,god of ,jacob4 ,while the ,saviour saves without character1 and irrespective of character1 ,god the ,father does not leave them without character1 but develops in them the right kind of a character4 ,the man redeemed1 saved1 without character1 does not remain without character4 ,and such were some of you 7#a ,cor4 #f3aa71 but they did not remain such characters1--but sanctified1 called to be saints4--#a ,cor4 #a3b4 ,god's plan with men1 then1 is to save irrespective of character1 and then develop in the redeemed1 saved man a character that shall be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ4--#a ,peter #a3g4 ,three ways in which ,god develops character in the redeemed are3 ,first1 by purifying the motive of the life4 ,character is not formed by deeds1 but by the motives prompting the deeds4 ,two men flag the night express train on two railroads2 the deeds are the same1 but one flags the train that he may warn1 and save the lives of the people1 because a bridge has been destroyed2 the other flags the train that he may rob it4 ,while the deeds are the same1 the character of the deeds is different1 and that difference is in the motive prompting the deed1 and that motive affects1 moulds the character of the one who performs the deed4 ,no deed is right in the sight of ,god that is not performed from the motive of love 7#a ,cor4 #ac3a-c72 hence1 no character can be right in the sight of ,god if the deeds that formed that character were not prompted by the motive of love4 ,all deeds performed from simply the motive of duty1 or from the desire to be saved1 to go to ,heaven after this life1 or from fear of ,hell1 are1 in the sight of ,god1 unworthy deeds1 and the characters formed by such deeds are unworthy characters4 ,and the ,saviour defines clearly what love is3 ,there was a certain creditor who had two debtors2 the one owed five hundred pence1 and the other fifty4 ,and when they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both4 ,tell me1 therefore1 which of them will love him most8 ,simon answered and said1 ,i suppose that he to whom he forgave most4 ,and he said unto him1 ,thou hast rightly judged4--,luke #g3da-dc4 ,and ,john likewise defines love3 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that he loved us1 and sent his ,son to be the propitiation for our sins4--#a ,john #d3aj4 ,this explains why ,god says3 ,they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god4--,rom4 #h3h4 ,their motive is wrong and they cannot have the right motive1 because they have not been forgiven most4 ,hence all characters are wrong in the sight of ,god that were formed by deeds whose prompting motive was a simple sense of duty1 a desire to be saved1 to go to ,heaven1 or from fear of ,hell4 ,and all who have such a character are lost1 have never been redeemed1 are not real ,christians4 ,second1 ,god develops character in the redeemed1 ,his real children1 by chastisements4 ,our earthly fathers verily for a few days chastened us as seemed right to them2 but he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness4 ,now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous1 but grievous2 nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby4--,heb4 #ab3aj1 #aa4 ,third1 ,god moulds the character of the redeemed by afflictions1 burdens1 sorrows1 etc4 ,our light affliction1 which is but for a moment1 worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory4--#b ,cor4 #d3ag4 ,let patience have its perfect work1 that ye may be mature and complete1 lacking in nothing4--,james #a3ad4 ,the shallow conception of ,god's plan with men that makes it ,his ultimate purpose simply to save men1 leaves the life of the redeemed man here on earth an unsolved riddle1 often an inexplicable tragedy4 ,the heartaches1 the disasters1 the burdens1 the afflictions1 the sorrows1--what of all these1 when ,god assures us that all things work together for good to those that love ,god1 to those who are the called according to his purpose 7,rom4 #h3bh71 if the ultimate purpose is simply salvation8 ,he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver4 ,the silver has been mined1 digged from the earth1 but there is dross in it4 ,the redeemed have been redeemed from the curse of the law 7,gal4 #c3ac72 have had the spirit sent into their hearts 7because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the spirit of his ,son into your hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father1--,gal4 #d3f72 but there are defects from heredity1 from environment4 ,the purifying process1 the development of character1 comes1 not in order to be saved1 but after we are saved1 because we are saved4 ,with ,god as the ,father of the redeemed1 many of the afflictions1 and sorrows of real ,christians can be accounted for as chastisements2 many of the severe1 heavy afflictions in the lives of real ,christians can be accounted for in this way4 ,ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto sons1 ,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of him2 for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4--,heb4 #ab3e1 #f4 ,scourging is severe1 yet ,god says it is for every son4 ,but there are many1 many trials1 afflictions1 burdens1 sorrows1 which cannot be explained by chastisements2 for chastisements are for wilful sins of ,god's children3 ,if his children forsake my law 444 then will ,i visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes4--,ps4 #hi3cj-cb4 ,in the lives of many of the redeemed who are living obedient lives there are some of the most severe trials and afflictions4 ,if ,god is their ,father and loves them1 what can these severe trials and afflictions mean8 ,one adequate support ,for the calamities of mortal life ,exists1 one only1--an assured belief ,that the procession of our fate1 however ,sad or disturbed1 is ordered by a being ,of ,infinite benevolence and power1 ,whose everlasting purposes embrace ,all accidents1 converting them into good4 ,wordsworth4 ,god ,himself hath said it1 ,all things work together for good to those that love ,god1 to those who are the called according to his purpose4--,rom4 #h3bh4 ,had ,god said1 ,some things1 what confusion would have come to many of ,god's children6 ,what enigmas would many things in the lives of many of the redeemed have been6 ,but when ,god said ,all things1 ,he placed a key in the hands of every redeemed man1 every real child of ,his1 with which to unlock the door of every mystery2 that every trial1 every disaster1 every accident1 every burden1 every humiliation1 every disappointment1 every affliction1 every sorrow1--,all things work together for good to those that love ,god1 to those who are the called according to his purpose2--that the trial of your faith1 being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire1 might be found unto praise1 and honor1 and glory1 at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ4--#a ,peter #a3g4 ,muscles are developed by trials2 minds are developed by trials2 ,god's redeemed people are developed by trials4 ,to murmur against one's trials after being redeemed1 means to murmur against being developed for one's eternal destiny4 ,to give the muscles no trials1 means for the body never to be developed2 to give the mind no trials1 means for the mind never to be developed2 to give the redeemed man no trials1 means for his character never to be developed4 ,two children are born into the world4 ,the father and mother of one decide that he shall never be required to do any unpleasant things2 that he shall never have any hardships4 ,the father and mother of the other decide to give their child every unpleasant thing to do1 every hardship and burden to bear1 that will best develop him in body and mind4 ,often the redeemed plead with their ,father in ,heaven to give them only pleasant things1 and ,he1 the ,all-wise1 ,all-powerful1 in love gives them--trials4 ,the trials of life for the redeemed are so various4 ,if the muscles have only one trial1 the body will never be fully developed4 ,the muscles need various trials4 ,if the mind has only one trial1 it will never be fully developed4 ,if the mind studies only one thing1 it will never be trained1 developed1 educated4 ,if the soul has only one kind of trial1 it will never be developed4 ,count it all joy1 my brethren1 when ye fall into manifold temptations4--,james #a3b 7,r4 ,v4 ,margin1 trials74 ,but the redeemed1 the children of ,god1 often complain that their trials are so hard4 ,easy trials do not develop4 ,the one who takes only light exercises for his muscles will never be fully developed physically4 ,the boy who works the easy examples and skips the hard ones1 will never be an educated man2 he will be only a hewer of wood and drawer of water4 ,it takes hard trials to develop the body properly4 ,it takes hard trials of the mind to develop it properly4 ,it takes hard trials to develop the soul properly2 ,that the trial of your faith1 being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire4 ,he who asks for only easy trials of his muscles1 asks to remain undeveloped physically2 he who asks for easy trials of his mind1 asks to remain undeveloped mentally2 he who asks1 yearns1 to have no hard trials spiritually1 yearns to remain undeveloped in real character1 in his spiritual nature4 ,the hard trials are the ones that develop4 ,and the more one's muscles have been developed1 the harder should be the trials for those muscles2 the more one's mind is developed1 the harder should be the trials for the mind2 the more the redeemed man's spiritual nature is developed1 the harder his trials will be4 ,that would be an unwise educator who1 after training the pupil's mind up through geometry1 would then put him back to studying the simple branches of mathematics1 instead of taking him on into higher mathematics4 ,likewise the ,heavenly ,father does not1 after partly developing the redeemed1 ,his children1 by hard trials1 return them to lives of easy trials1 but ,he leads them into yet harder trials4 ,take ,elijah as an example 7see ,f4 ,b4 ,meyer's ,elijah74 ,he is sent to pronounce ,god's sentence against ,ahab 7#a ,kings #ag3a72 he is then sent into obscurity 7#ag3b1 #c72 he is left dependent on the ravens for food 7#ag3d-f72 he sees the brook dry up1 his only hope for water1 for life 7#ag3g72 he is submitted to the humiliation of being supported by a poor widow 7#ag3h1 #i72 ,god delays answering his prayer 7#ag3ag-bb72 ,god requires him to expose himself to danger by showing himself to ,ahab 7#ah3a72 he is led to face popular religious error1 and in doing so is left to stand alone 7#ah3ai-ch72 ,god delays answer to his prayer till he prays seven times 7#ah3db-de72 he suffers the further humiliation of ,elisha being anointed prophet in his room 7#ai3ae1 #af72 he is taken up by a whirlwind to ,heaven 7#b ,kings #b3aa74 ,a study of these trials will show that they were all hard trials1 and that they increased in severity4 ,god tells us that ,elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are 7,james #e3ag72 but by trials1 hardships1 burdens1 ,god developed him into one of the noblest characters of all ages4 ,god's redeemed people may expect1 then1 trials through their lives1 and that the trials shall be increasingly severe1 as they advance in the ,christian life4 ,often ,god's children are discouraged because they cannot see any purpose in their trials4 ,but ,god assures us that there is a purpose4 ,the child cannot understand the purpose of the lessons at school1 but the father has the purpose4 ,elijah1 possibly filled with apprehension1 sitting by the drying brook ,cherith1 did not see any purpose1 but ,god1 who makes all things work together for good to ,his people1 had the purpose and accomplished it in the development of ,elijah's character2 and so1 as ,f4 ,b4 ,meyer has so aptly put it1 the redeemed1 sitting by the drying brook of health1 of property1 of reputation1 of family happiness1 may not see the purpose1 but the ,heavenly ,father will work1 in ,his plan for each1 every trial into the warp or woof of each life4 ,the ,saviour said to ,peter1 ,what ,i do thou knowest not now1 but thou shalt know hereafter4--,john #ac3g4 ,behind our life the ,weaver stands ,and works ,his wondrous will2 ,we leave it all in ,his wise hands ,and trust ,his perfect skill4 ,should mystery enshroud ,his plan1 ,and our short sight be dim1 ,we will not try the whole to scan1 ,but leave each thread to ,him4 ,who knows the defects1 the weaknesses1 of each character8 ,only ,god4 ,who knows what each character ought to be8 ,only ,god4 ,who knows how to develop each character properly8 ,only ,god4 ,who is able to so shape the circumstances of each life as to properly develop each character8 ,only ,god4 ,and ,he has promised that ,he will4 ,we know that all things work together for good to those who love ,god1 to those who are the called according to his purpose 7,rom4 #h3bh72 that the trial of your faith1 being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire1 might be found unto praise1 and honor1 and glory at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ4--#a ,peter #a3g4 ,this is the only explanation of the many harassments of life4 ,god has revealed that the standard by which character is measured is patience1 endurance4 ,let patience have its perfect work1 that ye may be mature and complete1 lacking in nothing4--,james #a3d4 ,if there were no harassments1 no afflictions1 no burdens1 no sorrows1 no disappointments1 no sufferings1 there could be no patience1 endurance2 and if there were no patience1 no endurance1 there could be no maturity and completeness of character4 ,as to what trials are needed1 and are best in each case1 only ,god can decide4 ,in our dimsightedness we think that many things are mistakes in ,god's plans1 and that ,he cannot bring good out of them2 but ,he will4 ,a boy was born with a badly deformed foot4 ,when he was eight years of age his father had two surgeons to operate and try to straighten the foot1 but they failed4 ,after a second operation1 the foot was placed in a brace which was worn for months4 ,but the foot remained as badly deformed as ever4 ,the surgeons then informed the father that the foot could never be straightened4 ,the father studied the deformed foot for many days1 and then had a strange-looking box made with screws1 felt taps and iron rods in different parts of it4 ,he had the surgeons to operate again on the boy's foot1 cutting the muscles and tendons in different places4 ,the foot was then placed in the strange box2 a screw was turned till the felt tap pressed against the foot at one place1 almost breaking the bones2 then another screw and felt tap were brought to bear on another deformed part of the foot1 straightening the foot and almost breaking the bones in that part of the foot2 then the iron rod was used to straighten another part4 ,for months the boy's foot was kept in that box4 ,the suffering1 day and night for months1 was indescribable4 ,the child would weep for hours1 the pain being all but unbearable2 and when the father would come home the child would beg piteously for the box to be taken off and to be left a cripple4 ,the father1 mingling his tears with the tears of the suffering child1 would turn the screws tighter than before1 and the child would shriek in fearful agony4 ,during those weeks and months of suffering he looked upon his father as being harsh and cruel and without love for him4 ,finally the father loosened all the screws and said1 ,son1 stand up1 and for the first time in his life the boy stood erect4 ,often has that son1 now a gray-haired man1 stood over the grave of that father1 long since dead1 and bedewed the grave with his tears1 and thanked ,god that he had a father who was true enough to continue the suffering until the terrible deformity was corrected4 ,the father may have turned the screws one thread too much1 but the ,father in ,heaven makes no mistakes1 and far beyond the grave many of the redeemed will praise ,him1 when they understand1 for the sufferings and afflictions and burdens they were led to endure here4 ,choose for us1 ,lord1 nor let our weak preferring ,cheat us of good ,thou hast for us designed4 ,choose for us1 ,lord2 ,thy wisdom is unerring1 ,and we are fools and blind4 ,with the reader this may seem mere theory2 he may feel that it cannot explain all the seemingly unfathomable mystery of suffering in the lives of many of the redeemed1 the real children of ,god4 ,let the reader consider two things3 first1 that as a juror1 he would not form a judgment till all the evidence had been placed before the jury4 ,god's purpose in each case1 and what ,god actually accomplishes in each case1 in the development of character1--these have not yet been placed before the jury2 but1 backed up by many fulfilled prophecies1 by the character of ,jesus ,christ1 by ,his resurrection1 by what ,he has accomplished in the world1 we have ,god's solemn assurance that ,he will yet place this evidence before the jury4 ,second1 let the reader remember that with ,god character counts more than comfort4 ,what father would prefer his son to be a brutal1 ignorant pugilist1 enjoying food and drink1 physical life1--to a useful1 noble1 highly educated1 refined1 learned son who could listen in the orange groves of ,verona to the sweet vows of ,juliet1 or to the blind bard's harp as he strikes the chords but seldom struck harmonious with the morning stars1 or to the music of the spheres as they hymn ,his praises around their ,creator's throne8 ,far more than the earthly father would choose the latter for his son1 does the ,heavenly ,father value the soul and its development above that of the body4 ,could ,god's redeemed people only learn that perfection of character comes only through suffering1 that as certain as ,god is true1 a blessing will come from every sorrow1 every burden1 every affliction1 every pang1 every heartache6 ,the ills we see-- ,the mystery of sorrow deep and long1 ,the dark enigmas of permitted wrong1 ,have all one key-- ,this strange1 sad world is but our ,father's school2 ,all chance and change ,his love shall grandly overrule4 ,rarely has the author been stirred1 thrilled1 as he was while listening to an audience of a thousand colored people of the ,south sing the following hymn4 ,some of them had been slaves2 many were poor2 many uneducated2 some ,greek scholars2 some were destitute2 some were half-invalids2 some were aged and infirm2 but few had the comforts of life2 all were heavy burden-bearers4 ,white people from ,new ,york and ,texas1 from ,mississippi and ,kansas1 were moved to tears1 as that audience sang with such rhythm1 such cadence1 such pathos1 such sweetness1 such soul-power1 as only they can sing3-- ,we are tossed and driven ,on the restless sea of time1 ,sombre skies and howling tempest ,oft succeed the bright sunshine4 ,in that land of perfect day ,when the mists have rolled away1 ,we will understand it better by and by4 ,by and by when the morning comes ,and all the saints of ,god are gathered home1 ,we'll tell the story1 how we've overcome1 ,for we'll understand it better by and by4 ,we are often destitute ,of the things that life demands1 ,want of shelter and of food ,thirsty hills and barren lands4 ,we are trusting in the ,lord1 ,and according to ,his word1 ,we will understand it better by and by4 ,trials dark on every hand1 ,and we cannot understand ,all the ways that ,god would lead us ,to the blessed promised land1 ,but ,he guides us with ,his eye ,and we'll follow till we die1 ,for we'll understand it better by and by4 ,temptations1 hidden snares1 ,often take us unawares1 ,and our hearts are made to bleed ,for a thoughtless word or deed1 ,and we wonder why the test ,when we try to do our best1 ,but we'll understand it better by and by4 ,but they are not the only ones who ,wonder why the test ,when we try to do our best4 ,they are not the only ones who can say1 ,trials dark on every hand ,and we cannot understand1 ,but they and all the redeemed1 ,god's real children1 can say1 ,we will understand it better by and by4 ,till then they can rest upon ,his word1 that the trial of your faith1 being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire1 might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ1--#a ,peter #a3g2 for we know that all things work together for good to those that love ,god1 to those who are the called according to his purpose4--,rom4 #h3bh4 ,thou art as much ,his care as if beside1 ,nor man nor angel lived in ,heaven or ,earth4 ,,for ,,further ,,study3--,some readers may conclude1 because trials come to the lives of the unredeemed as well as the redeemed1 to those who are not ,god's children1 as well as to those who are ,god's children1 that1 therefore1 their characters are likewise developed by trials4 ,let such readers consider two facts3-- ,first1 it is a creature of ,god being developed in one case2 in the other1 it is one who has been redeemed and adopted as a child of ,god 7,gal4 #d3d-g71 and born of the ,spirit 7,john #c3h71 that is being developed4 ,second1 the characters being developed in the two classes1 while they may appear to men as similar1 in the sight of ,god are as different as light and darkness are to men1 as different as ,heaven and ,hell4 ,let it be remembered that character is dependent1 not on the deed1 but on the motive back of the deed 7#a ,cor4 #ac3a-c74 ,no unredeemed man can have that motive1 because it springs from complete redemption through ,christ 7#b ,cor4 #e3ad1 #ae74 ,hence1 they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god4--,rom4 #h3h4 ,their motive power is all wrong and cannot be otherwise2 hence their characters1 however they may be developed1 are all wrong in the sight of ,god4 ,jesus said1 ,cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter1 that the outside may be clean also4--,matt4 #bc3bf4 ,the child who1 from love1 bears trials and burdens placed upon him by the father1 the slave who1 from fear of the lash1 bears trials and burdens placed upon him by the master1 the hireling who1 from desire for the wages1 bears trials and burdens1 and the stoic who1 from sheer force of will1 or from a cold sense of duty1 bears trials and burdens1 because he must1--are developing altogether different characters4 ,even so1 the child of ,god1 redeemed and adopted1 who1 from love1 bears the trials and burdens of life1 the unredeemed one who1 from fear of the law1 from fear of ,hell1 bears the trials and burdens of life2 the unredeemed one who1 from what he hopes to gain thereby1 a home in ,heaven 7as the hireling his wages71 bears the trials and burdens of life1 and the unredeemed one who1 from a cold sense of duty1 bears the trials and burdens of life1 are developing widely different characters for eternity4 ,which shall it be in your case1 reader8 ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,religious ,,education ,,homer ,s4 ,,bodley ,the ,fourth ,r ,the ,forgotten ,factor in ,education4 #a4ge4 ,mr4 ,bodley's book is a plea for the insertion in all educational textbooks of elements of instruction which give prominence to the goodness of ,god to the end that all should honor ,him1 and to the furtherance of the spirit of genuine altruism among men1 without regard to sect or creed4 ,,william ,,jennings ,,bryan ,the ,menace of ,darwinism ,paper ,binding4 net1 #ce;c4 ,a resume of1 and an extract from1 ,,in ,,his ,,image1 ,mr4 ,bryan's epoch-making book against ,darwinism4 ,for use in study classes1 for distribution1 etc4 ,e4 ,c4 ,,knapp ,gen4 ,secretary2 ,inland ,empire ,sunday ,school ,association4 ,author of ,the ,community ,vacation ,bible ,school1 etc4 ,side ,lights on the ,daily ,vacation ,bible ,school #a4jj4 ,here is a new book for those seeking light on vacation school work which we can heartily recommend4 ,mr4 ,knapp has had much experience in such work and knows how to tell what should be done4 ,a very helpful handbook for workers4--,herald of ,gospel ,liberty4 ,j4 ,a4 ,,cross ,president1 ,first ,national ,bank1 ,bruin1 ,pa4 ,the ,bible ,class and the ,community #a4be4 ,mr4 ,cross writes in terse1 straightforward fashion1 without waste of words1 discussing the most practicable methods of helping the life of the community by fostering and developing character4 ,h4 ,p4 ,s4 ,the ,god of ,our ,fathers #a4be4 ,an able1 clear and excellent statement of reasons for believing in the existence of ,god4 ,in simple language and easily read by anyone4 ,should have a wide reading4--,herald and ,presbyter4 ,,fundamentals ,,rt4 ,,rev4 ,,william ,t4 ,,manning1 ,d4,d41 ,d4 ,c4 ,l4 ,bishop of ,new ,york4 ,personal ,religion ,what ,it ,is and ,what ,it ,means4 #a4jj4 ,with fine force and frankness1 yet in a spirit entirely free from controversial bitterness1 ,bishop ,manning discusses some of these paramount questions and their vital relation to the life of our own time4 ,j4 ,c4 ,,massee1 ,d4,d4 ,pastor of ,tremont ,temple1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,the ,gospel in the ,ten ,commandments ,a ,series of ,sermons ,delivered on ,sunday ,evenings by the ,pastor of ,tremont ,temple4 #a4be4 ,as an evidence of the forcefullness of these sermons1 approximately one hundred fifty people made public professions of faith in ,christ during the time of their delivery4--,baptist ,messenger4 ,,clarence ,e4 ,,macartney1 ,d4 ,d4 ,pastor1 ,arch ,street ,presbyterian ,church1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,twelve ,great ,questions ,about ,christ #a4ej or #a4ge4 ,dr4 ,macartney stands foursquare for fundamental ,christian beliefs4 ,he has also a good understanding of views and opinions contrary to his own1 and demonstrates his ability to measure and mark the trend of modern criticism4 ,,mark ,a4 ,,matthews1 ,d4,d41 ,,ll4,d4 ,pastor4 ,first ,presbyterian ,church1 ,seattle1 ,wash4 ,gospel ,sword-,thrusts #a4be4 ,a book of addresses eminently characteristic of their author4 ,dr4 ,matthews is a national figure4 ,pastor of the ,presbyterian ,church having the largest membership in the world1 he is a fearless protagonist of ,fundamentalist doctrine and greatly in demand at conventions and other gatherings4 ,,edwin ,c4 ,,sweetser1 ,d4,d4 ,pastor-,emeritus1 ,church of the ,messiah1 ,philadelphia4 ,the ,image of ,god ,and ,other ,sermons4 #a4ej4 ,dr4 ,sweetser is a veteran preacher1 having spent more than fifty years in the active ministry4 ,here are twenty-five sermons treating on great themes--of questions which are of importance to everybody1 and of paramount interest to the ,christian believer4