Church of God, Carmichael, CA

SALVATION

D. S. Warner, Orignial Publishing Date, unknown

[Original Page Numbers]

THE PROMISES OF SALVATION ARE AS GREAT
AS THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD

not, however, to their blame. We speak of this that the reader may know we have not stolen the labors and credit of another. This is a thing we detest, likewise doth God.

  Now, beloved reader, what can you say to these scripture)? How can you justify yourself in being less than perfect in all the moral attributes of God, since you are commanded thus to be, and every requirement is backed by the promised grace of God to fulfill it in you? Should a mother say, "My child go and wash your dirty face: " were there no water, or any other cleansing element provided, nor attainable, the little one might truthfully say, "Mother I can't." But when the mother places before it a bowl of good soft water, soap, wash rag and towel, and demands of it to wash, all must admit it will be without excuse if still unclean. And just so, there is a fountain open to the house of David, for sin and for uncleanness. Zech. 13:1. And pointing to this, God speaks to all sinners, filthy professors, and unsanctified believers, saying, "Wash you, make you clean." "Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double minded." And yet men are foolish enough to think they have a cloak for their sins and excuse for their filthiness. Yea, they say, God commands us to be holy, perfect and pure, but we can not wash and remain clean in this world. Thus they contradict the word of God and make him a liar, and shall utterly perish in their unbelief and uncleanness. Reader, as [71] God is true, salvation is perfect, will make you perfect, and keep you blameless in God's sight' to the coming of the Lord. And if you neglect so GREAT SALVATION you will stand before God in your iniquity, speechless and without a cloak to cover your shame.

SALVATION ADAPTED TO EVERY NEED AND
CONDITION OF THE SOUL  

  The infinite wisdom and actual divinity of the Holy Bible is wonderfully demonstrated in this fact. No other book on earth is both instructive, interesting, and never exhausted; both by ignorant and learned, by youth and mature minds. To such as love God and the truth; and especially to such as have been conformed to the image of his Son, be they profound and cultured, or the most illiterate and simple, the inspired volume is ever precious, unfolding new and rich mines of golden thought at every reading, even down to old age.

  How marvelously the inspired volume is adapted to the wants of mankind as a Book of Salvation.

  Throughout the whole world it has been a fact in human experience, that a sacrifice was needed to atone for the sins of our race. Everywhere the impression rests upon the human heart that God's wrath has been provoked by sin in this world And in nearly all heathen lands, when the torch of heaven's truth was lifted there, it found men inflicting tortures of some [72] kind upon themselves, or sacificing in cruel death their own offspring, with a hope of satisfying offended justice. Oh reader, is not the gospel of God 's salvation glad tidings of great joy to all this sin stricken world ? Does it not exactly meet that deeply and universally felt want in the human breast, of a sacrifice for our sins? How gracious the words of Him who knows and bears the sins and griefs of all our race! How wonderfully they anticipate our inward condition, and announce relief to the oppressed and struggling soul! "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."—Matt. 11:28, 29.

  Look at all this unhappy world. Are not the hearts of the children of men like the ever restless waters of the sea, Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away our sins; the Prince of peace who calms the sea of inward fear and guilt.

  And the infinite wisdom of God has placed this great salvation in reach of all. The wise of heart and understanding, if only humble minded, may enter there and find, not only a perfect redemption, but also the wonderful stores of wisdom for which he thirsts. The most simple and unlearned find no difficulty in grasping and appropriating the saving grace of God as soon as they become willing to learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. [73]

  The wonderful fact in the plan of redemption is this: it heals tile malady of sin from the inmost core of our nature. It enters and changes the whole bent of our moral being. It purifies the very fountain of thought and action. It lifts up a perfect standard of holiness, and conforms our affections to the same. It demands a life of absolute freedom from sin, and creates that life in us. "The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did. " " The blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh"—rendered persons outwardly and legally pure. But, "How much more shall—yea, doth— the blood of Christ who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."— Heb. 9: 13, 14. Namely, the blood of the new covenant purges our very nature, and produces an inward consciousness of purity and moral soundness.

  Such a salvation was needed by our fallen race. After king David had been led by the tempter to tarnish his beautiful life with one dark spot of sin, in his humiliation he was led to deeply scrutinize the human heart, and the hidden causes of those outcroppings of sin, that are so opposite to the general character and principles of righteousness. And, behold! he discovered that he "was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did his mother conceive him. " By the sin of our first parents a vein of evil nature has been [74]

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5334 Whitney Ave. Carmichael, CA. 95608
Pastor, Bill Cornelison, Church Telephone (916) 482-7128