Volume 1 	            Lawrence, Kansas    		December 1961	  	     Number 12

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins"—Matthew 1:21.

The word Jesus means "Saviour" and was the name given to the virgin Mary's son to indicate the nature of his life's work. Jesus once said of himself, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost"—Luke 19:10.

At the time Jesus appeared on earth, the whole world was engulfed in sin; and being in sin, the world was under the condemnation of God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die," and "the wages of sin is death"—Romans 6:23. God cannot view sin with the tolerance of indifference, because it is not just an error on the part of man, but is likewise an offense to God himself. Man was created to honor and glorify God, but when man sins, that robs God of his glory, and degrades the creature of God's love. Much as God abhors sin, he still has the deepest love and compassion .for the creature, man. His heart could not be indifferent in regard to the destruction of man, and therefore, he yearned to save man from the folly of his misdeeds. Man could not be saved as long as his heart is set on the pleasures of sin. He must be made to know how terrible sin is in the sight of God, and at the same time be made conscious of God's love for him. And so, the Son of God came from the courts of heaven to be both a Saviour and a Mediator for erring man. Upon the cross of Calvary he made atonement for the sins of man, and thereby satisfied the justice of God and provided a way whereby man can be restored to his Creator. There is no other way back to God except by way of Christ, who declared, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me"—John 14:6.

The claim that Jesus Christ has upon your soul can scarcely be expressed in human words. He stands between you and the eternal consequences of your sins. His death upon the cross was a voluntary sacrifice prompted entirely by love and compassion. He did not have to die! Remember, he died gladly and willingly because of his deep concern for your soul. He once stated: "I have power to lay it (my life) down, and I have power to take it again. No man taketh it from me"—John 10:18; and in those words we find the world's greatest story of love and sacrifice. He gave everything that both God and man could give to provide you with eternal salvation; and by virtue of that act you owe him the fullest measure of love, gratitude, and devotion. You cannot be neutral in regard to Christ. If your life has not been given to him, the influence of your life is against him. Listen! "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad"—Matthew 12:80. All that is best, pure, and holy in life originated with Christ. Why not give to him that affection, service, and obedience that will forever establish fellowship with him?