| Show WHAT IS A christiani CHRISTIAN in his bis religious crusade in california the noted methodist preacher arch la Is startling some gome of the good people in that locality by informing them that they are not christians in the true sense of the word whether they are church members or not he insists upon this declaration and at a big meeting on sunday evening explained that there was not one of them who had the witness of the holy spirit he said going to church would not give it to them for the devil attended religious meetings and found plenty to do nor would giving money to the church do it for saloon keepers and gamblers often did more in that line than the average so called christian then to clinch his bis argument he declared there to is not a christian in this tent lent tonight not one I 1 do not except even myself perhaps the revere reverend hd gentleman was right we know of no reason for doubting nis his statement certainly he must know his own position so far as receiving the witness of the holy spirit is concerned and he be probably could fairly describe his audience in that respect since none questioned his arraignment and jae he was acquainted with their general situation in religious matters and possibly it was bis big knowledge of his hia own condition which prompted him to retrain refrain from telling his auditors bow to become true christians his exhortation to worship the supreme being by good deeds as well as words was however most commendable what is a christian to is a question of sufficient ImD importance ortance to those who look to the good book for guidance to have it answered correctly and under webster bays that a la III QUO one inward and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of christy christ a terse and comprehensive definition then to become a christian it to ie essential first ito to ascertain the doctrines taught by the divine master and second to cin conform form or render obedience there to to learn of the doctrines of the lord it is natural to turn to the new testament tho the record ot of hla his ministry on earth it in if there recorded that the angel who the birth of the infant jesus announced that thai he should bave his people from their sine bins this to is the burden of the he promise throughout ahr 0 the scriptures to all christians whether they lived in the earlier centuries or the later times of the worlds history through the atonement all men were to be raised from the dead but the salvation gal accorded to individuals thus brought forth was a promise to specially them that believe JV to those that were numbered number tid as the people of 0 the lord the true christians christiana except men came within this rule they should in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven jr 2 Y the new testament also relates how that john the baptist was sent from god as the mess messenger enver before his bis face this his forerunner of the christ taught faith in the divine master required the people to repent and to those who re his message by heeding beeding the same anae he administered the ordinance of the baptism of repentance for the remission of slap ao an i promised that the greater one who followed should baptize thorn them with the holy ghost thus giving them the witness of the huly holy spirit 11 aud and confirming them as members ot or his church or his people J and constituting them true christla s to those who were faithful in maintaining the calling tous taus bebrow liebi owed edthe the promise was available ava flable that they should be saved from their sinh having re pentad thereof and received the ordinance for their remission when christ came to in his ministry as an the promised greater one his labors anu teachings confirmed all that jonn john the baptist had doue as aa his messenger there was no variance from and no change ol of doctrines or ordinances john had led believers in christ through the door of baptism to him to receive the witness of the spirit and the lord declared that those wua rejected this baptism and consequently those principles which led jed up to it ii rejected the councel of god against themselves being not baptized of him john the he baptist possessed divine authority to make his sets acts efficacious to salvation be was csont sent from god not man after the crucifixion of the lord the apostles followed the rule in which he had bad instructed them they dared not vary in their holy calling therefore peter the chief apostle required those who believed the testimony concerning christ to repent and be by those having authority to officiate in that ordinance tor for the remission of their sins and after this baptism of the water they received the holy ghost the witness of the alint 91 through the laying on of the apostle Apost lebY hands handa P P in doing this the apostles and those who received their testimony performed rots aota which constituted them hem true christians they conformed to the doctrines of christ A christian therefore is one who believes and obeys the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel he la Is one who not only admits in his mental judgment tau tae correctness correct of gospel principles but by conforming therewith becomes a member of the church of christ one of his people the lord says he that boll belleve eveth tb ou on me the works that I 1 do shall he do also alro and by the logical force of this rule those who do not the works of christ are non believers notwithstanding any prof profession amion they may make certain it is that the believers are the workers ln in a given line jesus did the will of his father observing his counsel in all things according to the strength which he pops possessed essed because he had more power than ordinary mortals he was ablerto able to keep the law more perfectly in the eyes of men those weaker ones who do their best la in following him are perfect in their sphere as he is in his for the lord requires of no man more than he be to is able by the divine blessing to perform but efforts at doing must be in harmony with the doctrines of christ to receive his blessing the true christian is the person who renders obedience to the divine law to in its principles or finances ain lances ances and authority to the extent of his ability it to is not a fanciful condition beyond the reach of men but is within the scope of those who receive the gospel message he that in the doctrine et at christ he hath bath both the father and and there tore is a christian and in the enjoyment of the witness of the holy spirit while whosoever transgress eth and arideth not the doctrine of christ hath not goj 11 and is non christian because oi of his failure to obey the divine coun counsel liel |
