S. L. Wingert Talks at Big Tent Meeting

Ohio, 1915

"A Sinless Life"

The tent meeting of the church of God, which is being held on St. John avenue and Center street, is still progressing with interest. Souls are being converted at every service. S. L. Wingert of New Hampshire, Ohio, delivered a sermon last night to an interested congregation, on the subject of "A Sinless Life." His message was in part as follows:

Text: 1 Cor. 15:34. "Awake to righteousness and sin not." In this text we are exhorted by the apostle to sin not. We meet a great many who say that they are Christians and yet commit more or less sin every day. This is the experience of all sinners, some days they commit more sin and some days less, but Christians do not sin. 1 John 3:9 says "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." John 8:34 tells us that "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Also in Matt. 8:24, we find the word says, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other; ye cannot serve God and mammon." Paul says, Rom. 6:16, "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness." These texts clearly teach that if we are the servants of righteousness, we are free from sin, but if we are the servants of sin, we are not servants of God. 1 John 3:8. "If the son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36.

It might be well to define sin. 1 John 3:4 says, "Sin is a transgression of the law." James 4:17, "To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin." Webster says, "Sin is willful transgression of divine law." Temptations are not sins. Christ "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust (or desire) and enticed. Then when lust (or desire) hath conceived it bringeth forth sin." James 1:14-15.

The speaker concluded his discourse by explaining a number of texts which professed Christians use to excuse their sinning. If we make heaven our home we must be saved from all sin, in this life. John 8:21.

Andrew Haste of Bedford, Indiana, will deliver a message tonight on the subject, "Be sure your sin will find you out." Services for Sunday will be held as follows: Sunday school at 9:30 and preaching 10:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. and in the evening at 7:30. S. L. Wingert of New Hampshire, Ohio, will deliver an illustrated sermon Sunday evening on the subject of "Man in Time and Eternity." All are invited to come.

—The Lima Daily News, Lima, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1915, p. 5.