PULPIT MESSAGES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 89, 10 January 1938, Page 3

PULPIT MESSAGES

Wellington Churches PLACE OF THE CROSS Essential For Salvation Speaking at the City Temple. Lome Street. Wellington, last night. from_ the text, Galatians vi, 14. Pastor G. D. White said : —"Without the cross of our Lord and Saviour .Jesus Christ. Christianity would be no better than many other religions which wc find in various parts of the world to-day. It is not the life or the teachings of our Lord that is the power of God unto salvation, but the Cross upon which He died. St. Paul records in his letter to the Corinthians, i, 18. ‘For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but.unto us which we saved it is the power of God.' "Christianity without a cross is powerless: iu fact, it is not Christianity at all. It matters not what name it assumes, the only qualification is the Cross. The Cross of our Lord is the only key which unlocks the door to eternal life, and he who would be saved eternallv must go hv f he way of the Cross."

He imagined somebody saying- itiat there was no Cross in the parable of the prodigal son. and therefore there was no need of a substitute dying i_n our stead. But he pointed out first, that the socalled parable of the nrodigal son was not the story of the prodigal son. but the story of a father’s love. “The first verse says. ‘A certain man had two sons.’ and I think that if you read it again you will agree with me that it is. as I have illreadv said, a parable of a father’s love. Moreover, this one particular story does not constitute the whole Gospel, and as Scripture is ‘not of any private interpretation' but must always be explained by Scripture, no man has any authority to take this one parable, and by it. seek to do away with the need of the Atonement. through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. “The Word of God plainly declares in I Cor. xv 3. ‘that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.’ According, to the Scriptures, it was absolutely necessary for our Lord tr die. and through His death and Resurrection, the Christian has a threefold blessing: the past is forgiven, the present is empowered. the future is assured Calvary Js more than sentiment, more than an historical event, it is the nlaee of the restoration of the neace of God to man.

“A proof that man has lost his peace and joy lies in his desire for the things of the world. Tn them, he seeks to satisfy that which is natural to the Adamic race to crave after: neace. joy and blessing The things of time only partially and temporarily appease these desires. The fullness of blessing can only be received through a personal belief in the Cross of Jesus Christ, and a personal, appropriation of the salvation it offers.”

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES

“Sacrament" was the subject of the lesson-sermon. in all Churches of Christ. Scientist, yesterday.

The Golden Text was I Corin. 10: 16. ‘‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not. the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" Among the citations which comprised the lesson-sermon were the following from the Bible, "And they, continuin" daily with one accord in the temple, anti breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2: 46.)

Also the following passages from the Christian Scimice textbook. ‘‘Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures." by Mary Baker Eddy:- “While respecting all that is good in the Church or out of it. one's consecration to Christ is more on the ground of demonstration than of profession. In conscience, we cannot hold to beliefs outgrown : and by understanding more of the divine of the deathless Christ, we are enabled to heal the sick and to triumph over sin." (p. 28.)