Article May 22, 1937 Issue

Signs of the Times

Topic: Overcoming

with contributions from J. Allardyce, J. L. Newland, Samuel H. Roth

[J. Allardyce, in the Christian World Pulpit, London, England]

It was a Pharisee in the temple who prayed, saying, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are." Paul was a Pharisee, too, and there was a time when he boasted of his own standing and attainments: "Of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church: touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." But there came a day when these and other things which he had counted as gain, and wherein he gloried, were regarded as refuse compared with what he found in the gospel of the Son of God. That experience of his on the Damascus road thoroughly revolutionized his life, giving it a new center, new standards, and a new aim. And his theme henceforth was not what he had attained, but what he had obtained by the grace of God manifested and mediated in and through Jesus Christ his Lord. Thus, when he utters the words of our text, it is the privileges and possessions that belonged to him in Christ that he has in mind, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

This does not mean that Paul was kept out of all troubles and trials. Jesus never promised that to any disciple. He often thinned his ranks by telling men what following him implied and involved. The Christianity of Christ is never an easy thing. And Paul soon found that out. It meant for him renunciation, risk, hardships, and sacrifice. There were times when he went about with a price on his head. But think of the amazing courage of the man—Paul the dauntless! His enemies accused him of all sorts of things, but there was one indictment they could never bring against him, and that was cowardice. Whence his courage and calm? What was the secret of his victory? ... "I can do all things," he said, "through Christ which strengtheneth me." He was absolutely certain that nothing on the earth or out of it could pluck him from the divine care and keeping. All the way and all the time he was conscious of prevenient and sustaining grace.

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