Pilate: He heard the charges against Him and himself examined Him, and then said: "I find no fault in this man." Lake, 23:4.
Pilate's wife: She sent a message to her husband, while Christ was on trial, saying: "Have thou nothing to do with that just man." Matt. 27:19. She believed Him to be a just man.
Judas Iscariot: After having associated with Jesus three years he betrayed Him for "thirty pieces of silver." But hear his testimony: "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." Matt.
27:4.
The Centurion: He had charge of the Roman soldiers who executed Him, hear him: "Truly this was the Son of God." Matt. 27:54.
Devils: They recognized Him and bore testimony to His divinity, saying: "Jesus, thou Son of God;
art thou come hither to torment us before the time." -- Matt. 8:29 II. HIS FRIENDS.
John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." -- John 1:29 Peter: "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God." -- Matt. 10:16.
2:11.
God the Father: "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." -- Matt. 3:17.
Surely we have heard enough witnesses whose testimony cannot be impeached -- to arrive at some conclusion. "Great is the mystery ... God was manifest in the flesh," and to this both His friends and His foes bore witness. Among a certain class we hear it said: "Christ was a good man, but not divine."
This is an absurdity and a contradiction of terms. If Christ was not divine, then He was a deceiver and impostor) representing Himself to be what He was not. Surely such a one could not be termed a good man. But He was the Son of God.
The evidence of His divinity was manifest in His sinless life and spotless character. He could challenge even foes to convince Him of sin. Among all the infidels in these eighteen hundred years, not one has ever found a flaw in His character. His miracles -- stilling the tempest, raising the dead, curing the incurables, etc., all bear testimony to His divinity. His love and death for His enemies. His victory over death, and the grave are all in evidence of His divinity. He was God; He was If He was not human, then He can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. But He was the God-man.
The evidences of His humanity are seen in that He was born as any other child; was partaker of flesh and blood; subject to His parents; became weary. -- John 4:6. Felt the pangs of sorrow. -- John 11:35.
Became hungry and thirsty. -- Matt. 4:2; John 4:7. He knew what it was to be lonely and forsaken.
-- John 6:67; Matt. 8:20. "Was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
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Entire Sanctification -- A Second Blessing Rev. C. W. Ruth
THE TEST OF GENUINE RELIGION
TEXT: -- The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. -- I. Kings 18:24.
1. THE SOURCE OF TROUBLE
This scripture is connected with a most critical period in the history of Israel -- particularly Samaria's three and a half year's drought and subsequent calamity. The cause of their trouble was that they had 'forsaken the commandments of the Lord," "and went and served Baal, and worshipped him." Sin invariably brings trouble and calamity, and the curse of God. God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." God "will render to every man according to his deeds ... Unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile."
2. THE FAITH OF ELIJAH
We are eager to form the acquaintance of the man who can, by his prayers, lock up the heavens so there is no dew or rain for the space of three and one-half years, and bring down the fire of God, and again unlock the heavens so that there is an abundance of rain. Elijah was one of the most rugged characters in Hebrew history He was utterly separated from the people and entirely devoted to God;
was uncompromising; yielded unfaltering obedience, was resolute and earnest; dared to stand alone;
and was strong in faith. He not only trusted in God but God trusted him.
3. THE SUPREME TEST
"The God that answereth." The religion of Jesus Christ does not consist in forms and ceremonies and mere outward morality. There must still be the manifestation of something supernatural -- the answer of God. We are told not to believe every spirit. The touchstone whereby the genuine may be distinguished from the counterfeit; the false from the true, is by the power of the Gospel that saves men from sin. The salvation of the Son of God is the only thing in all the world that can save men from sin, and if a man is not saved from sinning he is not saved at all. A sinning religion is the devil's religion, and is a counterfeit, no matter what the pretenses or ritualism may be. Does The peculiar tenet or the religion you profess or believe in, save you from sin? If not, it is a farce and a delusion.
His name is called Jesus because He saves his people from (not in) their sins "He that committeth sin is of the devil ... Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil." This is the dividing line -- the children of the devil commit sin, and the children of God do not commit sin.
with fire." The fire signifies refining and purification -- never pardon -and comes to God's people as a second experience, as on Pentecost. Fire penetrates, transforms, attracts, consumes, gives light, welds, is a source of power, and heat, and sets fire, There is something intense about fire, and is Vastly different to much of the cold, fireless churchianity of the day. Not painted fire, nor wildfire, but Holy Ghost fire which comes from heaven; this is an actual necessity -- the imperative need and glorious privilege of all Christians.
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Entire Sanctification -- A Second Blessing Rev. C. W. Ruth
REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW
TEXT: -- Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us; for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree; that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. -- Gal.
3: 13-14.