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David Shelby Corlett

David Shelby Corlett (November 17, 1890 – January 12, 1969) was an American preacher, educator, and author whose ministry profoundly shaped the Church of the Nazarene through his leadership and writings on holiness theology. Born in Chetopa, Kansas, to Henry W. Corlett and Mary Shelby, he graduated from Peniel College in 1916 with a B.A., earned an M.A. from Pasadena College in 1922, and completed a B.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1928, later receiving honorary D.D. degrees from Bethany-Peniel College (1930) and Northwest Nazarene College (1945). Converted in his youth, he was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene in 1915 and began preaching in Texas churches. Corlett’s preaching career included pastoring in Texas and serving as a revivalist before transitioning into education and leadership roles. He was president of Peniel College (1920–1927), dean at Arkansas Holiness College (1927–1928), president of Bethany-Peniel College (1930–1935), and dean at Nazarene Theological Seminary (1945–1952), where he also taught theology. From 1940 to 1965, he edited the Herald of Holiness, the denomination’s flagship publication, amplifying his influence. Author of books like The Baptism with the Holy Ghost (1945) and Forward with Christ (1935), he emphasized sanctification and practical Christian living. Married to Lillie Morgan in 1915, with whom he had two children, he died at age 78 in Kansas City, Missouri, leaving a legacy of holiness preaching and Nazarene scholarship.
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David Shelby Corlett preaches about the purpose of Christ's coming into the world, emphasizing His mission to redeem humanity from sin. He delves into the significance of Christ's death, highlighting how it provided atonement for sin and purified believers. The sermon explores the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice to settle humanity's debt of sin and the ample provision made in His atonement for the forgiveness and cleansing of sins, addressing the twofold nature of sin and the twofold provision in the atonement. Corlett emphasizes that there is no other source for redemption from sin except through Jesus Christ.
The Provision of Redemption
1. What was the purpose of Christ's coming into this world? The purpose of His coming was to redeem man from sin. 'Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). 2. What was the purpose of His death? The purpose of His death was to provide an atonement for sin. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). 3. Was the sacrifice of Christ in death sufficient to fully settle man's debt of sin? It was. "That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9). "Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, ... that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:24-26). 4. Is there ample provision made in this atonement for the forgiveness of sins? There is ample provision for the remission of sins. "This is my blood which is shed ... for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7). "Being now justified by his blood" (Rom. 5:9). 5. Is there likewise provision made for the cleansing of man's nature from sin? There is. The atonement is twofold in its provision and it fully deals with the twofold nature of sin. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate" (Hebrews 13:12). "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7). 6. Is there any other source from which man may obtain redemption from sin? There is no other source. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
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David Shelby Corlett (November 17, 1890 – January 12, 1969) was an American preacher, educator, and author whose ministry profoundly shaped the Church of the Nazarene through his leadership and writings on holiness theology. Born in Chetopa, Kansas, to Henry W. Corlett and Mary Shelby, he graduated from Peniel College in 1916 with a B.A., earned an M.A. from Pasadena College in 1922, and completed a B.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1928, later receiving honorary D.D. degrees from Bethany-Peniel College (1930) and Northwest Nazarene College (1945). Converted in his youth, he was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene in 1915 and began preaching in Texas churches. Corlett’s preaching career included pastoring in Texas and serving as a revivalist before transitioning into education and leadership roles. He was president of Peniel College (1920–1927), dean at Arkansas Holiness College (1927–1928), president of Bethany-Peniel College (1930–1935), and dean at Nazarene Theological Seminary (1945–1952), where he also taught theology. From 1940 to 1965, he edited the Herald of Holiness, the denomination’s flagship publication, amplifying his influence. Author of books like The Baptism with the Holy Ghost (1945) and Forward with Christ (1935), he emphasized sanctification and practical Christian living. Married to Lillie Morgan in 1915, with whom he had two children, he died at age 78 in Kansas City, Missouri, leaving a legacy of holiness preaching and Nazarene scholarship.