12. Five States of Man

SERMON 12.

We desire to call attention to the five states of man.

Circle No. 1 represents the state of innocence into which man is born.

The church of Christ, of which I am a member, has always taken quite a different position from the sectarian world on the spiritual condition of a child when it is born.

The Baptist creed teaches that children are, by nature, under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. (Pendleton's Manual, Art. 3.)

The Methodists teach that children are guilty of original (Art. 7).

But it has always been the doctrine of the church of Christ that when children are born they are just as pure as Adam was when he came from the hand of God. We have always denied children being born totally depraved or guilty of original sin. Neither do we believe their sins must be washed away by baptism, or the child will spend eternity in hell, as many of their creeds teach.

Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.”

The Lord God of heaven says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).

John says, “Sin is the transgression of law.”

The child has never transgressed the law of God. Therefore it will never die.

You will notice that circle No. 1 is directly connected with heaven, circle No. 5.

So when a child dies the natural death, it is ready for the resurrection of the body, add will pass into heaven with God.

But should this child live to the years of accountability, and serve sin unto death (Romans 6:16), it then passes out of the state of childhood or innocence, and can never go back into that state, as it is dead to that. Then the only hope for that person is to become converted, and become as a little child in order to be saved (Matthew 8:3). He is now in a state of condemnation, and there are only two ways out of this state. One is obedience unto life, or into the third circle, which is a state of justification in which regenerated men are expected to live; or he may continue in sin and condemnation until death carries him on into the eternal death state, represented by circle No. 4.

But the question arises here, after a person gets into the state of condemnation, is there any hope for his salvation it he dies in that state?

You will note that circle No. 1 is joined to circle No. 5, but is not joined to circle No. 4. So no child dying in circle No. 1 is condemned, neither will it ever reach circle No. 4, or eternal death. You will notice that circle No. 2 is joined to state, or circle No. 4, or hell, and does not connect with state No. 5, or heaven.

So I conclude that it is as much an impossibility for a man or woman dying in state No. 2, under condemnation, to enter heaven as it is for those dying in state No. 1, or innocence, to enter hell. But after a man has gone into Satan's kingdom, or state No. 2, how can he get into state No. 3, or the place of justification?

Jesus came into the state of condemnation, and took on him the seed of Abraham to redeem those under condemnation. but he, himself, was not condemned. In this state Jesus taught us we must hear his sayings and do them (Matthew 7:24). In doing them he requires me to believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30). In believing I am led to accept his teaching when he tells me to repent. I am willing to confess him before men and like the eunuch of old I am willing to go down into the water and be baptized (Acts 8:36-38); for Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16).

This obedience brings me to a state of justification, where nothing but death prevents me from being in heaven. As I am a new creature in Christ, I am also a new born babe in the kingdom of God, and as such the apostle Peter (2 Peter 1) tells me what I must add to my Christian life to entitle me to a home in heaven, after crossing the river of death.

If I add these seven Christian graces, I have the promise of heaven, but if I fail and become ungodly, or waste my time or talent, and do not improve my opportunities I'll finally drift into sin, will become the unprofitable servant, and will, at the last day, be cast into outer darkness, into eternal punishment, or the home of the damned.

I hope you notice that in the state of innocence there are only two ways out: one by death into heaven; second by transgression into condemnation. From the condemned state only two ways out: one by obedience into the justified state; one by death into the eternal death state. From the state of justification there are only two ways out: one by faithfulness until death we enter heaven; the other by unfaithfulness we go to hell.

From heaven, No. 5, nor hell No. 4, no one ever departs.

It is left to every man and woman to choose which shall be their eternal home.