Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 207, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1912 — Safety, Liberty and Sustenance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Safety, Liberty and Sustenance

By Rev. Parley E,' Zartmann, D. D. Seoetaiycf Extentan Department of Moody Bible lndtatt, Chicago

TEXT—I am the door: by me if any man enter In he shall be saved, and shall go In and out, and find pasture.—John 10:8. ... . , The beauty and sugfeestiveness of this entire chapter are hard to describe. They

have been the charm and cheer of thousands of saints and have been the call to many a sinner to forsake his ways and find in Christ the three great blessings promised in the text. The most precious part of the chapter is the picture which it gives us of Jesus the Shepherd. This work of

Jesus is set forth In three aspects in the Scriptures. In John 10:11 he speaks of himself as the "good" Shepherd who giveth his life for the sheep; and therefore he can be the door for the sheep. This answers to Psalm 22. In Hebrews 13:20 we read of him as the ‘‘great” Shepherd brought again from the dead, setting forth his work In caring for and perfecting the sheep; this aspect is also emphasized In Psalms 23. In First Peter,. 5:4, which answers to Psalm 24, we read of Jeßus as the "Chief” Shepherd coming In glory to give crowns of rewarlL to the faithful. The figure of the door not only Is beautiful, but It Illustrates a great necessity, for when sin had separated us from God Jesus opened the wall, placing himself In the breach, and so has become the door between darkness and light, danger and safety, sin and holiness, despair and hope, earth and heaven. "He shall be saved.” Here we hay® 1 the certainty of the gospel giving us everything In one word. Salvation la the great inclusive word of the gospel gathering Into Itself all the redemptive acts and processes. Therefore it was perfectly natural that Paul should say "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." There Is salvation for the past, covering the guilt and penalty of sin; there is salvation for the present, covering the power of sin; there Is salvation for the future, covering the • presence of sin when we are to be perfectly conformed to the Image of Christ. No wonder the redeemed sinner cries “Hallelujah, what a Savior!” The figure of the text Is a perpetual illustration of the efficiency and extensiveness of salvation in Christ. “And shall go In and out.” What a beautiful Illustration of the happy life of the believer and how aptly and completely it answers those who say that the Christian life Is a life of bondage. To make such a statement is to confess ignorance of the very fundamental and primary blessing of Christian life, for It knows no fear and constraint but It experiences full Joy and freedom Indeed. The child of God Is not bound by rule as a slave but Is guided by love as a son, and the farther he goes in his experience the more he knows that there is no narrowness in Christ. “And find pasture.” This make® one thirfk of the confidence expressed in Psalms 23; the Lord Is my Shepherd I shall hot want, and to realize that that covers every need of the human soul. What wealth of provision and what generosity of supply one finds in Christ. Paul had tested this. In Romans 8:32 he says “He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" And In Philippians 4.19 w® read, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches In glory by Christ Jesus.” There, need be no lack of food and rest. The Shepherd wants us to be nourished, and sickly sheep are contrary to hla will." The picture of Christ supplying our every need is carried into the future where we read (Revelations 7:16-17) “They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat For the Lamb which Is In the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them untol living fountains of waters; and! God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” The text gives us still further assurance when we are told that we shall find pasture. Christ gives all we need. The blessing of the Christian life is not an attainment but an obtalnment David knew this when he poured out his joy In Psalms S 3. Let this be your song—”l sbai* not want.” The text Is really the gospel In a sentence. Note its simplicity—by ms If any man entsr. But also Its ne> cessity— by me. Just pass in by the way of simple faith in C&rlst to this three-fold blessing of safety, liberty and sustenance. You say you are a great sinner. No matter; yon have a great Savior. Just enter by the door. Note the wideness of the gospel—any man. The only condition is that yog shall realise your need. ; * '