The Gospel Day Part 4

O G.o.d, thy vict'ries I extol With all the freedom of my soul.

Salvation removes the awful sting of death and allows man to approach the last hour

"Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

A Present Salvation.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. The present dispensation, or gospel day, is the salvation age.

It is the accepted time, or the time which G.o.d has accepted for the salvation of man. That there is another dispensation of time beyond this present Christian era in which man can be saved is Satan's falsehood to cause man to neglect salvation in this "accepted time," beyond which he knows there is no escape. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" "To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts."

The apostle Paul says, "The grace of G.o.d that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." t.i.tus 2:11. It "hath appeared." This is the time when salvation has appeared unto all men, and all men must accept it in this time or lose it forever. In t.i.tus 3:5, Eph. 2:5, Rom. 6:22, Jude 1, 1 Cor. 1:2, and many other texts, salvation is spoken of as having been received. Beyond controversy salvation is a present attainment.

Salvation By Grace And Not By Works.

Salvation from sin is by the grace of G.o.d. The word "grace" is defined by lexicographers as favor or mercy. Grace is a characteristic in the nature of G.o.d which offers mercy or favor though wholly unmerited by the recipient. Man is an offender against G.o.d. Through repentance he finds favor or grace in G.o.d's sight without any worthiness, excellence or meritoriousness in himself, but because of the merciful nature of the Lord. "For by grace are ye saved through faith." Eph. 2:8. "By grace ye are saved." Ver. 5. "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Tim. 1:9.

"Being justified freely by his grace." Rom. 3:24.

If man could attain to salvation by works, then he could plead his own merits; but we are taught that we can only plead the mercy of G.o.d. The apostle says that salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast."

Eph. 2:9. If it were by works man would have some cause for boasting; but because it is wholly by grace, he has nothing of self in which to boast.

Again he says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the was.h.i.+ng of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." t.i.tus 3:5.

Salvation Perfect.

There is no weakness nor incompleteness in G.o.d's salvation. It saves to "the uttermost." Heb. 7:25. Salvation is so complete that man requires no additional cleansing or purifying to fit him for heaven.

The salvation to which the apostle had attained made him "ready to be offered." There is no cleansing beyond the gates of death, but in this life we are commanded to make ready. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." This text proves the efficacy of the blood or the completeness of salvation.

Also the following texts magnify the preciousness and perfectness of redemption: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Ezek. 36:25. "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psa. 51:7. "Ye are complete in him."

Col. 2:10. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

1 John 1:7. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. It is sin that excludes us from heaven. It is salvation that saves us from sin, therefore we, when saved, are ready for that better land.

Future Salvation.

There are a few texts of Scripture which teach a salvation yet in the future. "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Mat. 10:22. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phil.

2:12. These texts do not prove that there is no salvation only at the end of human life, else what could be the meaning of the many texts that speak of a present salvation? These two texts are very easily harmonized with those teaching a present experience of saving grace.

As long as we are in this world it is possible for us to lose our salvation. Though we are now saved from sin by grace it is possible for us to be overtaken in some way and lose this experience. As long as we are here we must endure temptation. But if we endure unto the end when this mortality puts on immortality we pa.s.s beyond the possibility of losing salvation, hence, we are saved eternally. By resisting temptation, by praying and watching, we "work out our salvation." The time comes when there are no more temptations to resist, and we are safe and saved forever.

I am saved now from all sin, but to keep this experience I must watch, pray, work, resist and endure unto the end of my life, and then my salvation receives the seal of eternity-saved in glory forever. Amen.

Wonders Of Salvation.

When man the wonders of creation Beholds in deepest contemplation, Adores not the Almighty One, Must have indeed a heart of stone.

Thou mortal! seest not the sun His daily course so proudly run?

The moon in her nocturnal race, With sweet and tender, smiling face?

The stars in pale but beauteous light, Twinkling, s.h.i.+ning all the night?

Stupendous ocean, wild and free, Bold image of eternity?

The mountain cliff that checks the storm, And sheds its tears on valley farm?

Poor soul twice dead indeed must be, And plucked up like uprooted tree, Or dulled by sensuality, Or lured by prodigality, Which does not bound with admiration, Or feel a warmth of true devotion Upon beholding this creation.

All nature smiling sweet and tender, Sun, moon and stars in wondrous splendor, And mortal man, a bit of sod, Reveals the handiwork of G.o.d.

Howe'er there is one work divine, Excels all others of my rhyme, The making of a world like this, Sent circling through so vast a s.p.a.ce; Bright worlds above in glory streaming, Can not compare with this remaining.

It claims all Heaven's admiration, It moves all h.e.l.l to disputation, Excels the glorious translation Of Enoch from his brief probation To higher plane of situation.

All that's been done in whole creation Is naught, compared with man's salvation; Saved from the scarlet stains of sin, By power of G.o.d been born again; Then by the Holy Spirit's power Made pure in instantaneous hour.

Oh, new and wonderful creation, Exceeds by far the old formation; Sun, moon and stars and mountain's plane, The dark and deep blue ocean's main, Do not G.o.d's power so much display As when he takes man's sins away.

Old things are gone, all things are new, All heaven by faith is now in view; And peace, sweet peace fills all the soul, And rest, though stormy billows roll; Such is man's happy situation In this most wonderful salvation.

Chapter V. The Way From Sin To Perfect Salvation.

We have learned that sin entered this world and that all mankind have sinned. We have also learned that Jesus came to save man from his sins.

Now the question may arise in the mind of some, what must I do to be saved? We hope in this chapter to quote such scriptures as will plainly teach you the way of salvation, or how to be fully saved, and also the scriptures describing each experience.

Repentance.

The first step for the sinner is to repent. When on Pentecost men were p.r.i.c.ked in their hearts and cried, "What shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent." It is in accordance with G.o.d's plan of redemption, also with nature and reason, that man should repent of his sins in order to receive pardon. Repentance was the theme on which John preached in the wilderness of Judea. It seems also to have been the first subject on which the Lord preached. Mark 1:15. It is the will of G.o.d that men should repent of their sins. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. 3:9. It is here implied if man does not repent he shall perish. Jesus says, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish," even as did those whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, and those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell.

The first round in the ladder that reaches to eternal rest is repentance.

If man never takes this step upon the way he can never reach that happy end. Because repentance includes so much, many men would gladly overstep this first round and begin their Christian life on some round higher up.

This they can not do; they must take this first step, or perish. And should they strive to climb up some other way they are dishonest, and the Savior calls them "thieves and robbers."

When the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the baptism of John he said unto them, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." Mat. 3:8. There are fruits of repentance. The tree is known by its fruits. When man really repents of his sins, by his fruits or manner of life it will be made known. One of the fruits of repentance is sorrow. We might have said that repentance is sorrow, for "G.o.dly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death."