"For we have not an high priest "Whosoever is born of G.o.d doth not which can not be touched with the commit sin; for his seed remaineth feeling of our infirmities; but was in him: and he can not sin, because in all points tempted like as we he is born of G.o.d." 1 John 3:9.
are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
Thus we could go on to a much greater length, showing by the Scriptures that the character of a Christian, or his nature or life is the same as the life or character of Christ. Christianity is Christ in us. The life of a true Christian is one of great beauty. It is a light in this world. It is far above the ways of sin and worldliness. It is the Christ-life in man. The self-life of man has ceased, is crucified; nevertheless he lives, yet not he, but it is Christ that liveth in him. The Christian life is inspiring, enn.o.bling, clothed in humility. It points the way to Christ and heaven. It is a brilliant ornament, which in the sight of G.o.d is of great price. G.o.d places great value upon a Christian life. It is worth more than ten thousand worlds. Is it not a shame that it is trifled with as it is?
Thousands are taking the name of Christian, when it is impossible to distinguish them from the world; they emit not one ray of light.
Esthetics is the science of the beautiful, and treats of the feelings produced through the senses by objects of beauty. The most vile and dishonest admire honesty in others; thus gentleness, kindness, meekness, produce pleasant feelings and are called beautiful. G.o.d is the source of meekness, gentleness, and love. He is the source of the beautiful.
Christianity is G.o.d in man, exhibiting his beauty. "Lord, let thy beauty be upon us." The dewdrop sparkles like a diamond as the sun"s rays fall upon it. The life of man sparkles with an unsurpa.s.sed beauty as the rays of light and salvation fall upon it from the throne. As we behold the beauty of G.o.d a.s.similated into the life of man and thus revealed we think what a pity that all in the world are not Christians.
Christian, oh, may thy tribe increase, Thy light and glory ne"er decrease; Shine on and magnify the Word, And point the world to Christ and G.o.d.
Chapter II. The Holy Scriptures.
We have said before that Christianity is in perfect accord with the Bible.
The Word of G.o.d reveals Christianity to us. It is an infallible expression of its doctrines and duties. Jesus is the way to everlasting rest; the Bible is the guide. Some one has said, "Both are equally certain, equally divine. Let us be thankful for such unspeakable gifts. Next to the mercy of a Savior, able and ready to save to the uttermost all who come unto G.o.d by him, is the book of inspiration of G.o.d, which as a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path, conducts us to such a Friend, and teaches us the way of salvation."
The Word of G.o.d is a lamp and a light to guide to everlasting bliss, "The entrance of thy word giveth light." The word is written in the Christian"s heart. In his conduct he adorns the doctrine of G.o.d our Savior and thus reveals the light of the gospel. Christianity is therefore a light, because it is a product of the truth. We can understand at once then that anything that is in opposition to the Scriptures can not be a light. The nearer the life accords with the whole truth the greater the light. The Scriptures contain all that is necessary for the formation of a perfect Christian. Whosoever submits heart and life to the Word of G.o.d and walks in obedience to its commands will be transformed into the glorious image of the Son of G.o.d and made ready for that better land. The apostle says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of G.o.d, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of G.o.d may be perfect [a perfect Christian], thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
Tradition is unnecessary for the production of a true Christian character.
The Scriptures contain all the doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction needful. The Scriptures have but one true interpreter, and but one interpretation. All who rightly understand the Bible understand it alike. We are aware this is contrary to much of the present day teaching.
Many are now saying that "we can not understand the Word of G.o.d the same, therefore just as we understand it so it is unto us." This is very loose and robs the "two-edged sword" of all its sharpness and power. It leaves man to interpret it in a manner that will not condemn his sinful life. A cla.s.s of grammar students, if allowed to a.n.a.lyze sentences and pa.r.s.e words each according to his understanding, would never become perfect grammarians. One may pa.r.s.e a word as a "verb," another the same word as an "adverb," another as a "participle," and if each were right according to his understanding, how could we have any fixed rules of grammar? All would be confusion and no one would know what is proper speech. Students to become efficient scholars must understand mathematics, astronomy, botany, etc., alike. Every volume written by man if understood rightly must be understood alike by all.
To allow every man his own private interpretation of Scripture, or every religious society its interpretation is to admit of no certain, no fixed rules governing a Christian life. We can ill.u.s.trate it better in this way.
A certain rich man has a number of circulars printed. These circulars he distributes among the poor of a certain neighborhood. On these circulars he tells them that at the end of twelve months he will give one thousand dollars to each one complying with the conditions given below. The conditions are these: You must not steal. "Lie not one to another." Do not render evil for evil. Love your enemies, and pray for those who despitefully use you. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; and if he thirst, give him drink." "Speak evil of no man." "Return good for evil." "As ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them." If a man smite you upon the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Prefer others before yourself. "Do all things without murmuring." Do not wear gold or pearls or costly array. Pray when you are afflicted. Do not jest or talk foolishly, but have a sound speech. Greet one another with a kiss. Wash one another"s feet. You must all speak the same thing. You must be of one mind. If ye do these things you shall receive the inheritance, but he that offends in one is guilty of all.
Now who of a sound mind could not understand as plain and simple language as this? But suppose one man or woman does not want to lay off their gold and pearls, so they decide he meant that for women of ancient times and not for us. Another thinks the command to greet with a kiss means to shake hands. Another thinks to visit my neighbor when he is sick is washing his feet. To pray when we are afflicted is meant for the people of olden time.
One man whose heart is full of hatred against a neighbor decides no man can love his enemy, therefore this command does not mean what it says, so he will go on hating his enemy, but expects to get his inheritance. One man decides one command means one thing, another that it means something else, each one making each command to mean that which is most pleasing to do. Who would receive the one thousand dollars at the time appointed? You can at once see the folly of their entertaining hopes of receiving the inheritance.
Thousands are thus treating the Word of G.o.d, saying this and that commandment does not mean what it says, but means thus and so, or, it was for a people of some other time, etc. At this present day there are many who are taking the traditions of men and customs of some religious society for their rule of life and duty.
Recently while pa.s.sing through a strange part of the country we stopped at a farmhouse to inquire our way. It became convenient to tell the lady, who came to answer our inquiry, that we had come into her neighborhood to hold a few religious meetings. She invited us into her house to see her four weeks" old baby which was sick. While talking with her she said that she became afraid that her child was going to die, so she sent for the minister and had it christened. I asked her if she believed that if the babe had died without being christened that it would have gone to h.e.l.l.
"No," she said, "I do not believe that, but I believe that it would have gone to heaven." I then asked her, Do you not believe that if your little child lives that it will go into sin and some day will have to repent and be converted in order to get to heaven just the same as if it never had been christened? She said that she believed it would. I then asked her what good the christening had done her child. She answered, "I do not know." I then asked her to give me one commandment in the Bible obligating her to christen her child. She said, "I know of none." I then asked her why she had her babe christened. She said, "Because most all the people do around here."
She like thousands of others was taking the custom of the neighborhood, or religious order, and never searched the Scriptures to know what are the commandments of G.o.d. We need to be doers only of the Word of G.o.d. "Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." The G.o.d of heaven has given laws and fixed rules and recorded them in the Holy Scriptures to govern our daily life. These laws we are positively commanded to obey. To disobey is a sin. 1 John 3:4. Sinners do not go to heaven. There is not one text in the whole Bible encouraging us to hope of going to heaven if we are knowingly disobeying any commandment of G.o.d. In this present day a mighty concourse of people are pa.s.sing on down the way to an eternity, professing to be children of G.o.d, but living careless and negligent, doing many things they should not do, and failing to do a great many things they should do.
This greatly reminds me of the way the people regarded a certain stock law that was pa.s.sed by the legislature of our district in my boyhood days.
This law forbade the running at large of cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. Now there was in our neighborhood much of what was called "commons." It was unfenced land, and was used as a common pasture land for all. Consequently the enacting of such a law was obnoxious to nearly all of the citizens of this neighborhood, and it was almost unanimously violated; and because it was violated by so many it was never enforced. Cattle, sheep, and hogs continued to run at large the same as if there was no law prohibiting the same. After a time most people had forgotten there was such a law.
The same is true respecting the Word of G.o.d. People have gone on in their own ways, violating those holy laws until many are doing things, and do not know there is a law of G.o.d forbidding it. G.o.d"s laws are not held in the high esteem they should be. They are his power unto salvation to all that believe. They are able to save the soul. They are to be kept in remembrance, to be kept in the heart, to be obeyed. They are to search, to meditate upon, to trust in, to rejoice in, to delight in, to taste, to long after, to stand in awe of, to esteem as a light, and to be let dwell richly within us. It is the Word of G.o.d that shall judge us in that great judgment-day. They that love G.o.d and keep his words, "against such there is no law;" consequently they will "have boldness in that day." G.o.d"s law is eternal; it shall never pa.s.s away. The Lord Jesus says, "Heaven and earth shall pa.s.s away, but my words shall never pa.s.s away." "The word of G.o.d which liveth and abideth forever." 1 Pet. 1:23.
The earth and all that therein is shall pa.s.s away, But G.o.d"s pure Word shall live and stand for aye and aye: Man runs his race of life, then, pa.s.sing from the scene, Returns to dust, and is as though he ne"er had been- This is not spoken of the inner man, the soul- This, says the Word, shall live while ceaseless ages roll.
The city with its walls and towers of granite stone, Shall be to dissolution brought by rain and sun; The ships which round the world on crested wave have flown.
Go down amid the storm, and never more are known; The daring mountain peak, all covered o"er with snow, Shall mid terrific blast descend to depths below; The proud empire whose scepter sways o"er land and sea, Shall fall and pa.s.s away ere dawns eternity; And haughty finite sovereign power no more shall be, The stars in firmament above shall quit their place; The waning moon shall cease her still nocturnal race, And earth no more sail through immensity of s.p.a.ce.
Because of sin all these shall pa.s.s fore"er away, Shall melt with fervent heat in that avenging day, But G.o.d"s pure Word shall live and stand for aye and aye.
Chapter III. Sin.
The time was when there was no sin in this world. At that time it was an Eden. By man transgressing G.o.d"s holy law sin entered this world.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death pa.s.sed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12.
This is the origin of sin in this world and the awful consequence. G.o.d"s design was that his creation be sinless and pure, but by disobedience sin has marred the scene of G.o.d"s creative purity. The following texts will acquaint the reader with the characteristics or nature of sin.
1. _Sin is defiling._ "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." Prov. 30:12. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18. Here we see the defiling nature of sin. It stains the soul as with scarlet. White is the emblem of purity. The pure soul is spoken of as being clothed in "fine linen, clean and white." Sin stains those robes with crimson, or scarlet spots. Though you wash with niter, or with much soap, those deep-dyed marks of iniquity can not be thus cleansed away.
2. _Sin is deceiving._ "But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Heb. 3:13. One sin has opened the gate or way to many more. There is a kind of opiate power in sin that renders its victim unconscious of its awful magnitude, thus its deceitfulness.
3. _Sin is reproachful._ "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." Prov. 14:34. We can not enable you to see that sin is a reproach in any better way than by placing two pictures before you. One picture is that of a community where all the citizens, old and young, love and fear G.o.d. They live together in peace and love; there are no quarrelings or contentions, envyings or unkindnesses among neighbors, neither in home life. There is no stealing, lying, cheating, swearing, drunkenness, fightings, backbitings, vulgarisms, unholy revelries, etc.
Such manner of life exalts that community, and all good people are desirous of making their homes there.
The second picture is that of a community where neighbors are quarreling, hating and lawing with each other. In home life there are angry words and bitter feelings and estrangements. There are lewd revelries and wanton pleasures. There are stealings and lyings, cheatings, fightings, swearings, drinking, chewing and smoking, slang phrases, etc. Such is a reproach, and thus we learn how righteousness exalts a nation and sin becomes a reproach to any people.
4. _Sin gives death its horror._ "The sting of death is sin." 1 Cor.
15:56. Many a thing in this world carries a sting by which it inflicts pain. Death and the thoughts of death are painful and cause a shudder and fear because death has a sting. It is sin.
5. _Sin excludes the soul from heaven._ "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye can not come." John 8:21. Heaven is a pure and holy place. No sin will ever enter there. If we die in our sins heaven is lost unto us forever.
What Is Sin?
Many people have become confused concerning a sinless life because they did not understand what sin was. A temptation or trial is not a sin, but it is the yielding to temptation that is a sin. "All unrighteousness is sin." 1 John 5:17. All that is wrong is sinful. There are but few people that will not confess that we should live right in this world. To live right in every way is the fruit of righteousness. James says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." 4:17.
To refuse to do a good thing known unto us when we have opportunity is wrong and displeasing to G.o.d. Solomon says, "The thought of foolishness is sin." "In a mult.i.tude of words there wanteth not sin." The apostle John clearly and positively defines sin in these words: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
1 John 3:4.
To transgress or violate any known law of G.o.d is sin. This is clear and comprehensive. For instance, a man knows it is wrong to steal, therefore if he steals it is a sin. A man knows it is wrong to tell a falsehood, therefore if he speaks falsely he commits a sin. A man knows it is wrong to become intoxicated, and yet he does become so; he has violated a known law of right and wrong, and has therefore committed a sin. Who is the man of common sense that does not know it is wrong to lie, steal, swindle, defraud, curse, drink, get angry and cross; to refuse to help a needy neighbor when he can, to talk foolishly, to tell unseemly tales, to backbite, slander, commit adultery, hold enmity against another, or to be proud and vain, etc.?
All these, and many more, the Bible says are wrong, and man knows them to be wrong; therefore to do them is a sin. Sin brings man into bondage. John 8:34. Man is unable to liberate himself from sin, but G.o.d has sent a Deliverer. Praise his name! "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36. Of this glorious deliverance we shall speak in the following chapter.
Chapter IV. Salvation.
Salvation is the song that was to be sung by the redeemed in that day.
"Behold now is the day." Our salvation has come. "Glory to G.o.d in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men." Salvation means deliverance. A prophecy concerning the Christ-our salvation-says: "He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Isa.
61:1. Christ our Savior came to deliver us from the prison-house of sin.
In the preceding chapter we learned that sin left its crimson and scarlet stains upon the soul. Salvation cleanses the soul, removing the stains, making it as white as snow. Washing in "niter and much soap" will not prove effectual, but the blood of Jesus will remove every stain. Sin reproaches, but the salvation of Jesus exalts. It lifts man up from the coa.r.s.e, degrading, shameful life of sin, and exalts him to integrity, n.o.bility, and purity. It removes the discontentments, uneasiness, condemnations and fears, and brings joy, peace and rest. Salvation breaks the strong fetters of sin and man rejoices in the beautiful light and liberty of this gospel day. The scepter is wrested from the cruel tyrant, sin, and righteousness in quietness and peace sways the scepter, and man rejoices. Sin is dethroned and Christ is crowned King of glory, and his triumphant reign is in the heart and life of man. Sin no longer has dominion. Christ hath made us free.