Loading...
Larger font
Smaller font
Copy
Print
Contents
  • Results
  • Related
  • Featured
No results found for: "".
  • Weighted Relevancy
  • Content Sequence
  • Relevancy
  • Earliest First
  • Latest First
    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents

    July 25, 1899

    “The Sermon. Christian Perfection” 1Sermon delivered before the S.D.A. General Conference the closing night, March 6, 1899, in South Lancaster, Mass. The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 30, pp. 471, 472.

    A. T. JONES

    THE 24th of Jude connects directly with what has been read and said: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be lorry and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.1

    He chose us before the foundation of the world, “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” By the cross he made it possible to every soul, even when by sin we had lost all chance. And by the cross he bought the right “to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight.” The right to do this belongs only to him. You and I could not do it if it were given to us to do; but the right to do it does not belong to us. When we had lost it, nothing but the cross of calvary could restore it. And no one could pay the price of Calvary but he who did pay it. Then as certainly as only he who paid the price that must bring this to us, so certainly the right belongs only to him by right of the cross of Calvary. And no one who has not endured the literal wooden cross of Calvary can ever have any right to take up that task to accomplish it. Only he endured the cross: to him only belongs the task. And there stands the word: “He “is able.” He “is able... to present you faultless before the presence of his glory.” He who is able to endure the cross is able to accomplish all that the cross made possible. So he “is able... to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy”—WHEN? That is the question. When?ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.2

    [Voices: “Now.”]ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.3

    Precisely; he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. He is as able just now as he was then, or as he will ever be.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.4

    Yet bear in mind that it is ever true that only by the way of the cross does it come to you and to me just now or ever. Let us study the Word that you may see this. Read Romans 5:21, and then glance through the sixth chapter; for it is occupied with this one story. The last two verses of the fifth chapter of Romans read thus: “Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.5

    Now the comparison, or rather the contrast,—for it is a comparison that amounts to a contrast,—“as” and “even so.” “As sin hath reigned.” You know how sin reigned. Every one here knows how sin has reigned. Some may know even yet how it reigns. When sin reigned, the reign was absolute, so that it was easier to do wrong than it was to do right. Isn’t that the truth? When sin reigned, it was easier to do wrong than it was to do right. We longed to do right; but “the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:19. That is the reign of sin. Then when sin reigned, it was easier to do wrong than it was to do right.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.6

    Even so might grace reign through righteousness.” When grace reigns, it is easier to do right than it is to do wrong. That is the comparison. Notice: As sin reigned, even so grace reigns. When sin reigned, it reigned against grace; it beat back all the power of grace that God had given; but when the power of sin is broken, and grace reigns, then grace reigns against sin, and beats back all the power of sin. So it is as literally true that under the reign of grace it is easier to do right than to do wrong, as it is true that under the reign of sin it is easier to do wrong than to do right.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.7

    So then the way is clear, isn’t it? Let us go that way. “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.8

    [Voices: “God forbid.”]ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.9

    You say, “God forbid.” That is right. Now God has put his forbid, and you indorse it, against sinning that grace may abound. Then has not God put his forbid against sinning at all? Do you indorse that? Do you put your indorsement upon God’s forbid that you shall sin at all under the reign of grace?ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.10

    [Voices: “Yes.”]ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.11

    Then doesn’t he intend that you and I shall be kept from sinning? And when we know that he intends it, then we can confidently expect it. If we do not expect it, it will never be done.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.12

    So then, the first verse of the sixth chapter of Romans shows that God intends that we shall be kept from sinning, doesn’t it?ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.13

    What does the second verse say?—“How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Well, how shall we? Then what does that verse intend?—That we shall not continue at all in sin. Then being dead brings in the burial. Buried with him by baptism into death, and raised to walk in newness of life. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” There is the course laid out before us, and it is the way of the cross.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.14

    Now notice three things there: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him. What for?—“That the body of sin might be destroyed.” And what is that for?—“That henceforth we should not serve sin.” Unless the body of sin is destroyed, we will serve sin. Unless the old man is crucified, the body of sin is not destroyed. Then the way to be kept from sinning is the way of crucifixion and destruction.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.15

    The only question, then, for us each to settle is, Would I rather be crucified and destroyed than to sin? If with you it is everlastingly settled that you would rather be crucified, and rather meet destruction this moment than to sin, you will never sin. “Crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Then freedom from the service of sin lies only through crucifixion and destruction. Do you choose sin, or do you choose crucifixion and destruction. Will you choose destruction and escape sin? or will you choose sin, and destruction, too? That is the question. It is not an alternative. He who would evade destruction, to escape destruction, meets destruction. He who chooses destruction escapes destruction.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.16

    Well, then, the way of destruction by the cross of Christ is the way of salvation. Jesus Christ went to destruction on the cross, to bring salvation to you and me. It cost the destruction of the Son of God on the cross, to bring salvation to you and me. Will we give destruction for salvation? Will you? Anybody who fixes it, and holds it in his hand as an everlasting bid, that he gives destruction, every moment of his life, for salvation, will never lack salvation.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.17

    But there is where the trouble comes. Destruction is not pleasant; it is not easy—that is, to the old man. To the natural choice, it is not easy to be destroyed; but to him who does it, it is easy. It is easy when it is done, and it is easy to continue it forever when it is done.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.18

    When is it that we are to do this? When is it that he presents us faultless before the presence of his glory?—Now; and the only way is the way of destruction. Now is the time to choose destruction. Now is the time to deliver up yourself forever to destruction. But if I hold myself back, if I shrink from destruction, then what am I shrinking from?—Salvation. For “our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.19

    Then if I meet some experience that puts me into a pressure that seems like destruction, that is all right; for destruction is what I have chosen, that I may not serve sin. Such a surrender brings Christian pleasantness into the life; for the joy, the last peace, and the satisfaction of being kept from sinning, is worth all the destruction that can ever come to you and me. It is worth it. So it is not a hard bargain that is driven; it is the grandest one that ever came to men.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.20

    Crucifixion, destruction, and then henceforth not serving sin,—there, then, is the way to Christian perfection. Why?—“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7. Thank the Lord, he that is dead is freed from sin. Then the only question that can ever come in my life or yours is, Am I dead? And if I am not, and something occurs that accomplishes it, freedom from sin is the only consequence; and that is worth all that it costs.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.21

    See also the next verse: “Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” The first verse intends that we shall be free from sin. The second verse intends that we shall be free from sin. The sixth verse says that we are not henceforth to serve sin; the seventh verse says he that is dead is freed from sin; the eighth verse says if we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with him. Where does he live—in righteousness or in sin?ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.22

    [Voices: “In righteousness.”]ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.23

    Very good. Then it is plain that the first, the second, the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth verses of the sixth chapter of Romans all intend that we shall be kept from sinning.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.24

    How about the ninth verse? “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” How as it that death ever had dominion over him at all?—Because of sin—not his own, but ours; for he was made “to be sin for us, who knew no sin.” Then death hath no more dominion over him. He has victory over sin and all its consequences forever. Then what does that verse tell you and me?—We are risen with hi. “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” Then both the ninth and tenth verses also intend that we shall be kept from sinning.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.25

    The eleventh verse: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” And thus again he intends that we shall not sin.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.1

    “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” The reign of grace lifts the soul above sin, holds it there, reigns against the power of sin, and delivers the soul from sinning.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.2

    “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Thus from the first verse to the fourteenth of the sixth chapter of Romans, there is preached, over and over, deliverance from sin and from sinning. That is great, but there is something still in advance of that. “Let us go on unto perfection.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.3

    Listen: “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 of obedience unto righteousness?” Delivered from the power of sin, to whom did ye yield yourselves?—To God; then you are his servants, set free to the service of righteousness. God does not intend there shall be a blank life in his keeping us from sinning. He intends that there shall be active, intelligent service; and that only righteousness shall be the result. It is a wonderfully great thing to be made free from sin and to be kept from sinning; it is another wonderfully great thing upon that, to be made the servants of righteousness, so that our service is unto righteousness.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.4

    Therefore let every soul echo, “God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which has delivered you. Being then made from fro sin, YE BECAME THE SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Thank the Lord for that! He says you are; and when he says you are, it is so. Thank him for it. Thank him that you are delivered from sin; and thank the Lord that you are the servant of righteousness. He has made you so; for he says so.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.5

    But that is not all yet. “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto HOLINESS. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” The Lord in this appeals to your experience and mine. “When ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” You know that that is so. Take now the complement of it: “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto HOLINESS, and the end EVERLASTING LIFE.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.6

    We are not the servants of sin, free from righteousness; but we are the servants of righteousness, free from sin. As I have dwelt upon this, and the Lord has fed my soul upon the whole of it, I am reminded every once in a while of an expression of Milton’s, where he speaks of the songs of the angels as notes of “measured sweetness long drawn out.” This sixth chapter of Romans is one of those notes of measured sweetness long drawn out.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.7

    It begins with freedom from sin: that is a great thing. Next upon that, freedom from sinning; and that is a great thing. Next upon that, servants of righteousness; and that is a great thing. Next upon that, unto holiness; and that is a great thing. And upon all, the end, everlasting life; and that is a great thing. Isn’t that a note, then, of the Lord’s, of measured sweetness long drawn out? Oh, receive it, dwell upon it, catch the sweet tones, and let them linger in the soul day and night: it does the soul good.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.8

    And there is the way to Christian perfection. It is the way of crucifixion, unto destruction of the body of sin, unto freedom from sinning, unto the service of righteousness, unto holiness, unto perfection in Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost, unto everlasting life.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 471.9

    (To be concluded.)

    “Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 30, p. 476.

    SEVERAL letters have been received asking what law is the subject of consideration in the book of Galatians.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.1

    The answer is, Not any law at all; it is the gospel that is the subject, and the whole subject, under consideration in the book of Galatians.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.2

    So emphatically is this so, that in the very first part of the first chapter it is declared and repeated, “Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I know again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Verses 8, 9.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.3

    “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Verses 11, 12.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.4

    In Galatians it is not a question of one law or another, the sole question is the truth of the gospel; for in telling what he had done, Paul says that he did it, “that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Galatians 2:5. He withstood Peter to the face at Antioch, because he and those who followed his example “walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.” Verse 14.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.5

    It is not a question of one law or another, but of one gospel or another. See, the first words in the book, after the salutation, are these: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.6

    In the book of Galatians, therefore, the question under consideration is not at all a question of two laws; but altogether a question of two gospels,—the true gospel of Christ, as against a perversion of that gospel.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.7

    Now we ask you who are interested in the book of Galatians, to read that book through seven times with this thought in mind; then you will be prepared for some studies of that book, which we may give in these columns soon. Even at slow reading you can easily read the book of Galatians through in half an hour.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.8

    “Health Reform Resources” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 30, p. 476.

    THE following letter illustrates some mistakes that are made by too many people on the subject of health reform and health foods:—ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.1

    KINGSTON, JAMAICA, July 2, 1899.

    To the Review and Herald.

    GENTLEMEN AND BRETHREN: Reading so much of your health reform, I have been living up to it as far as I possibly can, but the resources are small. I would be glad if the products of the island could be considered, and advice be given in regard to making, for our use here, the several dishes required; as to imported foods from America, they are too expensive.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.2

    Yours in the faith,

    The first of these mistakes is in thinking that in order to be health reformers, people must have certain kinds of food, and these specially prepared; and that, not having these, their “resources are small.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.3

    That it may be seen about how small the health-food resources really are in Jamaica, we will state that there, “among the principal fruits, are the orange, shaddock, lime, grape, or cluster fruit, pineapple, mango, banana, grapes, melons, avocado, pear, breadfruit, and tamarind, the papaw, and the guava.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.4

    “English vegetables grow in the hills, and the plains produce plantains, cocoa, yams, cassava, okra, beans, and peas. Maize and guinea-corn are cultivated.”ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.5

    There are also the cocoanut, the breadnut, and the cobnut.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.6

    Now that is a fair list of the health foods of Jamaica; and we submit that it presents not by any means a slim bill of fare.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.7

    Another mistake is in thinking that health reform requires that certain “dishes” shall be concocted, and these in a certain way. And this mistake leads good Christian Seventh-day Adventist women into the pernicious habit of spending hours upon hours, even hours every day, of precious God-given time in mixing up things that never should be mixed, and in cooking things that are rather spoiled than bettered by cooking.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.8

    For instance, what is the use, and even where is the sense, of a good woman’s spending time at a stove, cooking and working up into “dishes,” oranges, pineapples, bananas, grapes, peaches, pears, cherries, strawberries, and the like? Yet almost everywhere there can be seen good and handsome women taking, in their season, smiling, dimpled strawberries, laughing, rosy-checked peaches, etc., and slashing and mashing them out of all semblance, in order to put on the table an “attractive” cobbler or shortcake, too often with the result that when the thing is done, her own dimples and rosy cheeks are spoiled, and her temper is shorter than the cake.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.9

    No; health reform is intended to relieve, rather than to increase or even to continue, the burdens and the toiling of the housewife. There are very few things among the fruits that are not far better just as God has made them, when ripe, than they can be made by any process of cooking. The few vegetables that are used, of course need mostly to be cooked; and also the grains.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.10

    However, there are some of the special health foods that can be made by anybody. Nut butter can be made by anybody who will get a nut butter mill, boil or roast some peanuts, put them into the hopper of the mill, and turn the crank from left to right. Zwieback can be made by anybody who will bake some light bread, let it get thoroughly cold, then cut it into slices, and bake it again; as the word “zwieback” simply means twice baked. Granola can be made by anybody who will take wheat-meal, oatmeal, and corn-meal, or any two of them, cook them well, then make them into biscuit, and bake them thoroughly, let them get cold, and then grind them or beat them up fine. The other special health foods, we believe can not be made without the special machinery that is built for the purpose.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.11

    As for the preparation of savory health reform dishes, anybody who wants to do that can be thoroughly furnished by sending to the Gospel of Health, Battle Creek, Mich., fifty-five cents, receiving in return the book “Every-Day Dishes,” and the Gospel of Health for a whole year.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.12

    And in so doing there will be no mistake.ARSH July 25, 1899, page 476.13

    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents