BIBLE CAMPAIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 227, 23 August 1928, Page 11

BIBLE CAMPAIGN

ADDRESS' BY REV. A. A. MURRAY

Tho Bibio campaign conducted by Rev. A. A. Murray, of Auckland, was 1 continued on Sunday when the services were well attended. In the evening the missionor spoko on “The Great Imperative of Christianity,” basing his sermon on tho text, “Neither is there salvation in any othor, for there is nono other name undor Heaven given among men whereby wo must bo saved.”

“If tho words of our text are not true,” said the speaker, “and Christ is only ono among many saviours, then we are wasting lives, time and monoy by sending missionaries to tho heathen. In fact, we are foolish ourselves to work and pray and give for the support of Christian churches if there is salvation in any other than Christ. This text is dogmatic. Indeed, the whole Bible is dogmatic because it affirms there is no salvation for tho human race outside of Jesus Christ. Peter, who uttered tho word of our text, was an authority on these matters. He knew what he was speaking about because he had first hand knowledge and experience. Ho had lived with Christ threo years. Ho had heard His messages and behold His miracles. lie had seen him crucified, dead and buried. Ho saw Him after His resurrection, and had-talked with Him. Ho saw Him ascend into Heaven. He knew Christ after tho flesh. But that was not all. He was in tho upper room when tho Holy Spirit descended upon all the waiting believers, and from that moment ho knew Christ after tho Spirit. Ho knew, too, by experienco tho forgiveness of sins. For all these reasons .wo ought ,to give heed to our text. “Now, in the first place it speaks of salvation. Man’s greatest need is salvation from the penalty and dominion of sin. The Biblo is not a text book on botany, zoology or geology, but on salvation. From start to finish it shows us man’s sinful condition and his dire need of salvation. There aro those who think that all man needs to put him right is education and environment. Some Greek moralists taught that all sin was due wholly to ignoranco; give man the requisite knowledge and he would see tho folly of wrong doing and turn away from it. But alas, some of tho most highly educated are the greatest sinners. Prison reformers toll us that the educated criminal is the worst typo of criminal. So, then, man needs something moro than education and environment if he is to be saved from his sins. Yes, the Biblo tells us, and history and experienco prove it that man’s greatest need is salvation from sin. But what is this salvation? It is tho bringing of a man into right adjustment and right relationship with His Creator who made him, and who provided redemption for him through the blood of Calvary’s cross. Salvation is tho deliverance of a man from tho penalty and power of sin. It is tho bringing of a lost rebel back to God, and putting him in the family of God. It is the giving to that rebel eternal life. This briefly is what the Bible means by salvation..

“In the second place, our text teaches us that salvation is to bo found in ono person, and that person is Jesus Christ. 'Neither is thero salvation in any other.’ He is the God appointed Saviour. Thero is no other. This statement must have staggered Peter’s audience who were all wedded to animal sacrifices for sin.' But they wero shown that animal sacrifices such as thoy wero wont to offer up could not make atonement or give tho guilty conscience peace. It is true that such sacrifices were appointed by God, and on the basis of tho blood of these God covered tho sins of the offerer meanwhile, but such sacrifices could net make atonement for sfiis in the New Testament senso of tho word, or give tho offerer eternal life. These blessings were to come through Christ of whom the sacrifices spoko and to whom they pointed. They wero only shadows of things to come, and now that Christ has corao and has made atonement through the blood of the such animal sacrifices have been done away with. Tho Jew as well as the Gentilo is shut up to Christ. There was only one person in Egypt appointed by Pharaoh to sell corn during tho seven years of famine in tho land, and that person was Joseph. All must go to him or die of starvation. In tho same way God has appointed Jesus Christ crucified, risen and glorified to botho Saviour of men. To refuse to go to Him is to die in one’s sins. There' was but ono word that could save the Ephraimites in tho day when the Gileadites contended with them, and that word was ‘Shibboleth.’ The man who said ‘Sibbolcth’ was put to death. Thero is only one name that will save us in that great day when every man must givo account of himself to God and that name is Jesus. “Now, in the third place, let us look at the necessity of salvation. Our text says ‘Wo must bo saved.’ Do not run away with the idea that some people do not need salvation. All have sinned and come short of tho glory of God.’ ‘Thero is nono righteous; no, not one.’ Salvation is necessary because of what man is. Man is a sinful creature. His wholo being has como under tho dominion of sin. Christian Science, so called, may deny tho reality of matter and of sin, but thero is no moro awful fact in tho world than that of man’s depravity. There is -no raco of men where sin is not found. Thero is no spot on this earth inhabited by men where thero are not anguish and sorrow and tears and blood duo to sin. It wilL take tho fairest of our manhood and womanhood and degrade them until they become only fit companions for demons. Tho history of sin is a fearful ono. Man needs salvation because of what he is. Again, man needs salvation because of what God is. God is absolutely holy righteous and true. Man in his natural state is not a fit companion for such an Holy One. ■ When Isaiah saw His glory ho cried 'Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips.’ When Daniel saw tho glory of tho same Person he sot his face toward the ground and became dumb. When that old ripe saint the Apostle John beheld the 6ame glorious Person ho foil at his feet as dead. How can man, a sinful being, stand before such an Holy Ono without salvation ? It is impossible. Tho man in the parable who thought ho required no wedding garment for the marriage feast, and who presumed to go in without it, was bound hand and foot and cast into tho outer darkness. No, my friends, man needs salvation because of what God is.

'“ln tho fourth place, let us look at the consequences that flow from our text. It teaches us tho uselessness of religion without Christ. It is not enough to believe in the existence of a Supremo Being. The devil and his demons believe in such a being and are none tho better for it. You may beliovp in a God, and be none the bettor for it. There is no salvation in that belief. You are no better than tho English Deists of days gone by. If your religion has no Christ in it it is impotent to save. Our text teaches us the folly of any religion of which Christ has not the first place. Somo givo Christ placo in their roligion but not the first place. Theosophy juggles with Ilis name and professes to honour Him, but it does not give Him the first place. The Socinian heresy regarded Christ as a mere man, and Ilis blood as of no more value than that of any other man. That miserable heresy is with us to-day in the garb of Theosophy, Christian Science, Spiritism, New Thought, and destructive criticism. The Christ of these cults is not the Christ presented to us in the Bible. The Christ of the Biblo is equal with God; very God of very God, equal in substance, power and glory. If your religion does not give Christ tho first placo, then it is vain. If you rcduco Him to the levol of other great toachers, you dishonour Him. Further, our text warns us against the error of adding anything to Christ in order tp obtain salvation. Somo creeds system—atically add prayers, penance, fastings, works and such like to Christ in order to obtain salvation. Others again add tho sacraments. Sacraments have nothing whatever to do with obtaining salvation. It is faith in Christ who made atonement on the cross that saves. ‘By grace ye are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, .not of works, lost any man should boast.’ In conclusion, our text warns us against the absurdity of supposing we ought to bo satisfied with a man’s state because he is sincere. You will find plenty of sincerity in connection with the religions of tho heathen. Years ago Hindu mothers flung their infants beneath the great Juggernaut car in order to obtain tho merit of tho god or gods. They were sincere, but their state. was

ono of moral and spiritual darkness and suporsitition. Be sure that your sincerity is in the right Person. Be sure that it is in tho Christ of God as He is presented to you in the Scriptures. Be sure that you aro resting wholly in Ills substitutionary work on the cross. Be sure that you aro resting upon His blood for salvation. This is the only ground of salvation, acceptance and peace with God- T 10r f fi nono other name and nono other saenheo for sins.” ,