The Signs of the Times
November 16, 1891
Christ the Power that Draws Men to God
The Spirit of inspiration addresses those who refuse to be drawn to Christ, “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” How is this? Divine agencies are constantly at work to bring men into harmony with God. Every means in heaven and in earth is employed to draw men to the great Center of the world's hope. And as they fasten their eyes upon the dying Man of Calvary, they are led to exclaim, “Why, oh why, is all this suffering?” And the answer comes, “It is the revelation of the goodness of God, to lead thee to repentance.” ST November 16, 1891, par. 1
Christ suffered the penalty of man's transgression of the holy law of God. The mercy and love of God, so full, so rich, so free, breaks down every barrier, and the soul is surrendered to God. Such agony, such humiliation of the Son of God, leads the sinner to repent of the sins that have cost such a sacrifice. He has repentance toward God, because his holy law has been transgressed; and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, the sinner's only hope, the One who can save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him. The sinner's position before God is then that of one whose sins are forgiven, whose transgressions are covered, and he becomes a partaker “of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” A new element of life and power is imparted, which cannot be accepted and received by man until he views Christ as his only hope; then through Christ he discerns the magnitude of his guilt in transgressing the law of Jehovah. ST November 16, 1891, par. 2
Man must be emptied of self before he can be in the fullest sense a believer in Jesus; and when self is subdued, then the Lord can make of man a new creature. New bottles can contain new wine. Truth will be received into the heart, the character will be transformed into the likeness of Christ; the Son of God will be revealed to the world by his followers, as the Father was revealed to the world by the Son. And all who reveal Christ, are revealing the Father also. ST November 16, 1891, par. 3
The word of inspiration pronounces judgment against all who pass by the wonderful exhibition of the love of God, and refuse the gift that the Father has given to the world, even his only-begotten Son. “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in welldoing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.” Mark the terms; for it is essential for everyone to know the conditions on which we are called to the service of Christ, to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. We are “laborers together with God.” And we should desire most earnestly to know, and we must know or die in our sins, what terms or conditions he requires in this partnership. You cannot trust to the multitude, because they walk in a false way. You must learn for yourself what are God's requirements, and know whether you are obeying them. ST November 16, 1891, par. 4
Is not the reward of obedience rich and full? What more can we ask? Has not the Lord Jesus opened for us the gates of paradise? Has he not, in doing this, given the faithful seeker all the treasures of the eternal world? “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth [the commandments of God], but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first [for he has the greatest light, and his guilt will be proportioned to the knowledge which he might have had, had he followed on to know the Lord], and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; for there is no respect of persons with God.” ST November 16, 1891, par. 5
Mark the words of Christ: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” In keeping his commandments there is “great reward.” It is in obeying the commandment that man is called a worker together with God. “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot [but Judas the brother of James], Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” Mark the answer: “If a man love me, he will keep my words.” There will be no betraying of sacred trust, no disrespect or careless inattention to the words of Jesus, but the commandments of God will be revered. Human enactments and requirements may lead men away from God. The “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not” of earthly laws often interpose obstacles in the way of obeying God's holy requirements. ST November 16, 1891, par. 6
Every idol that men raise—their own ideas and opinions—obscures the true commandments of God, and then the only progress made will be into error and darkness. Those who are doers of the words of Christ will exemplify their love for him; and when the church is living, not in profession merely, but in spirit and in truth, by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, they will keep the commandments. Their words and example will reflect light to the world, because they work the works of God. Their light will shine clear and distinct amid the moral darkness, for it is the light of the gospel, which “is the power of God unto salvation.” ST November 16, 1891, par. 7
“And my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning [the law of Jehovah, the ten commandments]. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” ST November 16, 1891, par. 8
“He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” God has made known his truth to the world through his Son. Christ taught his apostles, and they have given to us his words. The words of Christ are to dwell in his followers, and thus the truth is to be made manifest to the understanding and conscience of men. The aggressive power of the gospel is more dependent upon the personal piety of its disciples than upon any other means; and the world has a right to expect the highest virtue and the purest, Christlike works from them. Christ abiding in the soul by faith will enable us to represent his character in all meekness and gentleness, in true goodness and love. Thus, through the consistent lives of the people of God, the world will see the Father and the Son. ST November 16, 1891, par. 9
“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Holy Spirit is ever waiting to do its office work upon the human heart. Those who desire to learn can place themselves in close connection with God, and the promise that the Comforter shall teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance, whatever Christ had said to his disciples when he was upon the earth, will be fulfilled. But if we disconnect from God, we can be no longer students in the school of Christ. Then we shall feel no special burden for the souls for whom Christ has died. ST November 16, 1891, par. 10
It was most difficult for the disciples of Christ to keep his lessons distinct from the traditions and maxims of the rabbis, the scribes and Pharisees. The teachings which the disciples had been educated to respect as the voice of God, held a power over their minds and moulded their sentiments. The disciples could not be a living and shining light until they were freed from the influence of the sayings and commandments of men, and the words of Christ were deeply impressed upon their minds and hearts as distinct truths, as precious jewels, to be appreciated, loved, and acted upon. ST November 16, 1891, par. 11
Jesus came to the world, lived a holy life, and died, to leave to the church his legacy in the valuable treasures he intrusted to them. He made his disciples the depositaries of most precious doctrines, to be placed in the hands of his church unmixed with the errors and traditions of men. He revealed himself to them as the light of the world, the Sun of Righteousness. And he promised them the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father was to send in his name. ST November 16, 1891, par. 12
After his resurrection he said unto them: “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” ST November 16, 1891, par. 13
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” The glorious promise is unto us who live in the last days: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” ST November 16, 1891, par. 14