yet. But I will find it, mind
you. Moreover, I have some texts that prove my contention that no one
can live free from sin while in this life.
"Prov. 20:9: 'Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from
my sin?' This text can mean only one thing, which is that no one can
be clean from sin.
"Matt. 19:16, 17, 'There is none good but one, that
is God.' Now, how can any man call himself good in the face of this
scripture?
"Read Rom. 3:10: 'As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one.' No, not one! Do you hear it? No, not one!" Peter shouted.
"And Paul said that 'Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners;
of whom I am chief' (1 Tim. 1:15). And if Paul was the chief of
sinners, do we think we can live free from sin? No, sir! we can not.
And in Romans 7 he declared that he was carnal, sold under sin (Rom.
7:14). I tell you we cannot live better than Paul did. But I am a
Christian, for I was baptized fifty years ago in the Big Sandy river,
and the Scriptures say that he that 'believeth and is baptized' the
same shall be saved." And Peter again resumed that air of triumph that
made him famous throughout the community. Then he cast his eyes around
the audience, and poised his head at various angles, in token of his
victory.
"The brother has gone a long way from his text for his material
tonight," said Robert Davis. "He took what we boys used to call
a 'running jump.' The text he quoted from Proverbs proves nothing
whatever against a holy life. No man can save himself, for salvation
is by faith, not by works. But, again, let me remind Mr. Newby that
Christ has come since Solomon spoke, and surely Christ has done
something for us. The other texts he quoted are easily explained. In
Matt. 19:16, 17, Jesus was stating a primary truth, as all goodness
comes from God, yet, he was trying to impress upon the young man that
he, Jesus, was God. No man is good in and of himself. God must come
in before he is good. God's people are righteous, good. John says,
'He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous'
(1 John 3:7). Now, let us read Rom. 3:10: 'There is none righteous, no
not one.' I wish Mr. Newby would read the verses following the tenth
verse. What kind of people was Paul writing of? Christians? What! Do
Christians have a throat like an open sepulchre? Is their mouth full
of cursing and bitterness? Are their feet swift to shed blood? How
about it, Mr. Newby? How about it frie
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