Studies and Meditations in the Gospel of Luke my servant shall be healed." What a genuine and impressive expression of a humble and living faith! And now, to abase himself still more the centurion goes on to say A Remarkable Faith concerning himself that he has soldiers under him who do his bidding and obey his commands. But he himself Edward Wybenga is, in turn, subject to a higher com­ mander above him, whom he must obey. And ultimately the whole here were two things that caused into the presence of Jesus, who was Roman military might is subject to T Jesus to marvel: the stubbornness a Jew. Therefore he sent the elders of the emperor, Caesar. But Christ is of Jewish unbelief, and the earnest­ the Jews as his representatives to carry Lord of all, so admits the centurion. ness of Gentile faith. Of his own an earnest request that the Great He is not subject to any power above people it is said, "And he marvelled Healer of the sick might help in this him. He has the pre-eminence. The because of their unbelief" (Mark crucial hour. Coming to Jesus, the hosts of heaven and the powers of 6:6). On the other hand, to the elders make an eloquent plea in be­ earth are at his disposal. Therefore, Syrophoenician woman, who would half of the centurion: "He is a good a simple word or a mere exertion of not take "No" for an answer, Jesus man. He loves the Jews. He reveres the will is enough to bring about his said, "0 woman, great is thy faith; the God of Israel. He even went so purpose. be it unto thee even as thou wilt" far as to build us a synagogue, and Here is an acknowledgement on the (Matt. 15:28). And of the Gentile pay for it with his own money. He part of the centurion of the omni­ centurion in our Scripture passage he deserves this favor which he is asking presence of omnipotence-the every­ declared, "I have not found so great from you. Come, Jesus, heal his ser­ where present almighty power of the faith, no, not in Israel!" vant." Lord Jesus Christ! Is this not a recog­ Do we not see here that men of Two things caused Jesus to marvel: nition of the deity of Christ on the authority and wealth, like the cen­ the blind unbelief of the Jews-and part of a Roman pagan? What a re­ turion, can be a great help for the it grieved his soul; and the fervent markable faith is displayed here! So advancement of true religion? If only faith of the Gentile-and it made him it impressed Jesus. Turning about he their hearts are first won for Christ, glad. said to the multitude, "I say unto then their hands will open up; and you, I have not found so great faith, The Faith of the Centurion instead of grasping their riches with no, not in Israel!" Even among the Luke 7:1-10 clenched fists, they will pour their Jews who have had all the privileges resources into the work of the king­ Coming down from the Mount of of the covenant made with Abraham; dom of God. the Beatitudes Jesus went to his tem­ all the teachings of the prophets con­ Jesus is impressed with the plea of porary home in Capernaum. It was at cerning Christ; all the knowledge of this time that a certain centurion dis­ the Jewish elders. He proceeds in the the true religion and the true God­ direction of the centurion's home, but played remarkable faith in Jesus. The even among them Jesus encountered centurion was a Gentile who com­ before he reaches the place the cen­ no such faith as was here expressed turion sends friends to him, saying, manded 100 soldiers. Although a by this Gentile. Gentile by birth this man showed a "Lord, trouble not thyself, for I am kind of faith which made our Lord not worthy that thou shouldest enter Such a faith as displayed by the marvel. under my roof." What an expression centurion could not go unrewarded. It happened in this way. The cen­ of deep humility! True faith is always All true faith has its reward. "And turion had a slave whom he loved humble. People who have a true sense Jesus said unto the centurion, 'Go very much. The slave had become of their unfitness to come into the thy way; and as thou hast believed, seriously ill with the palsy, perhaps presence of God, and a true sense of so be it done unto thee.' And his an acute case of inflammatory rheu­ their unworthiness to share in the servant was healed in the selfsame matism or rheumatic fever, producing blessings of the kingdom of God­ hour" (Matt. 8: 13) . severe pain and usually ending in people like that are the very ones The faith of the centurion is a death. Now this centurion had heard whom God considers fit and worthy faith that lives, a faith that works, a about Jesus and his power to do mir­ citizens of his kingdom. "The proud faith that wins! Man must live by acles; and upon these reports of honest he knoweth afar off, but he giveth faith, or he can not really live at all. witnesses the centurion had built his grace unto the lowly." Do you daily live by faith in the Son faith in Jesus as one capable of healing "I am not fit, I am not worthy to of God who loved you and gave him­ his stricken slave. Oh, the blessing of come to thee," says the centurion, self for you? witnessing for Christ when it gives "nor to have thee come under my Brethren, we must live by faith; rise to such a faith in another! roof. I am a Gentile, a Roman pagan. work by faith; conquer by faith. Since the centurion was a Gentile, Stay! Do not come nearer. Simply "Faith is the victory that overcomes he did not feel free to thrust himself speak the word-that is enough; and the world!" The Presbyterian Guardian is published monthly by the Presbyterian Guardian Publishing Corporation, 7401 Old York Road, Philadelphia 26. Po., at the following rates, payable in advance in any part of the world, postage prepaid: $3.00 per year ($2.50 in Clubs of ten or more); $1.00 for four months; 25c per single copy. Second Class mail privileges authorized at the Post Office, Philadelphia, Pa. 18 The Presbyterian Guardian Third in a series on Salvation by Grace He Shall Save His People Charles H. Ellis f the current series of articles on he that hath no money; come ye, buy, preciate both the lost condition of men O the general theme "Salvation by and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk and the abundant provision made in Grace" this is the third. Each one bears without money and without price" Christ the more we must be concerned a most intimate connection with every (Isaiah 55:1). God in his Word to press home the claims of the only other. They are most closely inter­ makes this offer of salvation to all to Savior. related. Are men by nature dead in whom this message comes. So must Certainly, too, we must recognize sin? The Bible says so. Has God from the minister of God be careful to say, that the atonement of Christ has pro­ the beginning chosen a people to be and be very earnest about it, too, duced beneficial effects for multitudes saved? The Bible says so. What then "Whosoever will, let him take the who never come to salvation. What of the specific purpose of Christ's water of life freely" (Rev. 22: 17). of the influence of Christians as lights death? Did he die equally for all Never would we dare couch the invita­ in this world of darkness? And as the mankind? Or did his death have a tion of the gospel in more restricted salt of the earth, preserving the world particular reference to the elect? It is terms. Have you not constantly heard in a real sense from destruction? our purpose to deal with such ques­ the appeal of God to sinners expressed Sodom would have been spared for tions now. I will be referring to in this manner in this church? Sad the sake of even ten righteous people, several passages of Scripture, but we will be the day when we fail to ap­ remember. Who can number the bene­ may regard a portion Matthew 1 :21 preciate how desperate is the need of fits that accrue to citizens of a land as our particular theme, "He Shall all men everywhere, here included, for where the gospel has been known even Save His People." Let us in the first the healing balm of the gospel of though many of the citizens have no place consider the Value of Christ's grace. Just as sad will be the day when regard at all for Christ? Who of us Death and then in the second place -God forbid that it ever happen !-in would care to live in a land where the Design of Christ's Death. this church raised up to hold to the the light of the gospel has never VALUE OF CHRIST'S DEATH faith of our fathers there is any trace penetrated at all? Ah, yes, the death When we raise the question "For of withholding the offer of mercy in of Christ has had untold benefits even whom did Christ die?" we are not in Christ to all men.