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The Testimony of Jesus

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    Speak the Words of Truth and Righteousness

    The last statement we shall give regarding the position of the church on the subject of spiritual gifts is the action taken by the General Conference Autumn Council, held in Battle Creek, Michigan, October 18-26, 1932. There was prepared for adoption by this council a letter addressed to the church in Europe, its statement adapting in part the words of an early pioneer, Uriah Smith. After unanimous approval by the delegates, this letter, signed by C. H. Watson and C. K. Meyers, president and secretary, respectively, of the General Conference, was sent to our believers in Europe. We quote a part of this letter as published in the The Review and Herald, November 24, 1932:TOJ 47.3

    “We also believe that the Holy Scriptures, which constitute the ground of faith and practice for the church, teach that spiritual gifts will continue to be manifested in the church until ‘that which is perfect is come.’ (See 1 Corinthians 13:10; Ephesians 4:13.) Our faith in this doctrine is confirmed by the assurance given through the apostle Paul to the advent people when he said, ‘So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 1:7, 8.TOJ 47.4

    “We believe that the writings of Mrs. E. G. White were given to the church through the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit of prophecy, not as a substitute for the Holy Scriptures nor as a new rule of faith, but for the spiritual uplift of the church, for instruction, for warning, for reproof, for admonition, and for the special guidance of God’s people through the perils of the last days. This was the belief of the pioneers of this movement, and it is our abiding belief today, for the reason that both their faith and ours is founded on the teachings of the Scriptures.TOJ 48.1

    “The writings of the Spirit of prophecy always lead us to the Bible. They set forth that Book as the inspired and infallible word of God. These writings exhort us to take that word as the man of our counsel and the rule of our faith. As evidence of this we quote from the first bound volume given to this people through this gift as follows: ‘I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the last days, not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth.’—Christian Experience and Views (1851), p. 64.TOJ 48.2

    “The fruit of these writings is such as to reveal that their origin is of God. They lead to the most perfect standard of morality. They discountenance every vice, and exhort to the practice of every virtue. They point out the perils through which we are to pass on our way to the kingdom. They reveal the devices of Satan. They warn us against his snares. They have protected us from fanatical and unreasonable men and movements. They have exposed hidden iniquity, and have brought to light concealed wrongs, laying bare the evil motives of the falsehearted. They have repeatedly aroused the church to greater consecration to God and to more zealous efforts for the salvation of the lost and erring.TOJ 49.1

    “They lead us to Christ. Like the Bible, they set Him forth as the only hope and only Saviour of mankind. They portray before us in living characters His holy life and His godly example, and with irresistible appeals they urge us to follow in His steps.TOJ 49.2

    “They have brought comfort and consolation to many hearts. They have strengthened the weak, encouraged the feeble, raised up the despondent. They have brought order out of confusion, made crooked places straight, and thrown light on what was dark and obscure. We believe that no person with an unprejudiced mind can read their stirring appeals for a pure and lofty morality, their exaltation of God and the Saviour, their denunciations of every evil, and their exhortations to everything that is holy and of good report, without being compelled to say, These writings do verily ‘speak forth the words of truth and soberness.’”TOJ 49.3

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