The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 76

October 10, 1899

“The Sermon. Christian Education” ¹ Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 41, pp. 647, 648.

A. T. JONES

THERE is another defect in that view that puts Christ away from men; that separates him entirely from humanity; and that opens to him means of grace that are not open to men in general in the flesh. And that is that when that view is held, those who profess to be Christians do not receive as a truth, and hold it as a principle, that God is indeed able himself to teach a person in this world. That it is possible for God to teach a person himself alone, through his word, is demonstrated in the life, in the education, in the Christianity, of Jesus Christ. Therefore it is Christianity to believe that God is able to do this for a person in this world. That is the beginning. It does not follow that God will always teach each person directly, without any other person being connected with the teaching. It was not so even in the case of Jesus; for May was his first teacher; and he grew in wisdom as well as in stature. God may use other persons as means of teaching. Yet even then God is the teacher; as it is written: “Thy children shall be taught of the Lord;” and, “Who teacheth like him?” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.1

Jesus Christ calls all to him: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” He is a teacher, a teacher sent from God. Now God has demonstrated that he himself is able to teach a person in this world. Christ, in his life and education, has demonstrated that any person in this world is able to learn of God. And now, having demonstrated that in human flesh, these two united, the Father and the Son, still come to mankind in this world, and call them to the Christianity of Jesus Christ, in which God and Christ are united in teaching human beings who believe Christ, and who wish to be Christians, and desire Christian education. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.2

The world’s system of education of ancient times, the wholly human system, culminated in the crucifixion of Christ. The world’s system of education in ancient times culminated on the one side—the side of the world—in paganism, which was utterly without the knowledge of God. On the other side—on the side of the professed church of God—it culminated in a church so altogether of the world that it could not recognize God when he came and spoke to them in person. And these two—paganism that did not know God, and a church that had forgotten God because of the world—joined themselves together and crucified him out of the world, when he came to give them the true knowledge of God, when he came to show the true education. Therefore I say that the world’s system of education of ancient times culminated in the rejection of God and the crucifixion of Christ. That is the measure of its failure. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.3

On the other hand, through all that period, from the time of Abraham down to the time of Jesus Christ, God’s system of education was maintained in the world, and IT culminated in Jesus Christ himself, the glory of God and of man, and the Saviour of the world. And that is the measure of its value, and its success. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.4

The Lord was crucified, and ascended to heaven. He poured out the Holy Spirit, and so returned to abide with his disciples forever, and to be their Teacher and Guide. Then they went out into the world, preaching Christ, conveying Jesus Christ to mankind. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.5

The world at that time is described to us in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, verse 18 to the end of the chapter. The world was wise. The world was educated, so perfectly educated, so supremely learned, that to-day professed Christian schools—the ones referred to by that master of theology in the Chicago University—these schools count that the greatest thing a student can study is the literature that was produced by the men of whom I read in this chapter. Beginning with verse 21: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.6

There are two propositions in that verse. The first is that “the world by wisdom knew not God.” How was it, by what was it, that the world knew not God?—“By wisdom,” by education. And, bear in mind, that wisdom is the very wisdom that is the pride of professed Christian schools, universities, and colleges, as well as of the worldly schools, in the United States to-day. It is found in the classical literature—the Greek and Roman literature. It is the classical phase of education. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.7

Now what that wisdom, that education, do for those who had it in its “perfection”? What did it do for those who created it?—It led them to where they did not know God. What, then, can it do for a people who did not create it, who are mere copyists in it? ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.8

The second proposition of the verse is that when the world by this means had been brought to where it did not know God, it pleased God to save people. It pleased God to present to the world his views; and he did it in the preaching of the gospel. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” And preaching is only teaching. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.9

Now, mark the situation. Here was the world’s education. The world’s education had brought the world to where it did not know God. God comes to reach the world by preaching, which is simply teaching; and he sends out his apostles, those whom he had taught, to teach the world. Now, what did they use in their teaching? What did God employ from which to teach the world, when the world by wisdom had reached the point where it did not know God?—His word, the Bible. Every one who is sent forth to preach under his commission is charged by the Lord himself: “Preach the Word.” They are not to diminish aught from it: “Preach the Word.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.10

Then: preaching is teaching; the world by its wisdom had reached the point where it did not know God; God comes now to teach the world, to give it the true education; and to do this, he takes his word and presents that to the world. And when that is done, it is counted foolishness, by the world. The Spirit of the Lord, when writing of it, recognizes the fact that it was called foolishness: “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” It pleased him to do in that way—by the foolishness of preaching the gospel—by the foolishness of teaching the word of God—what the wisdom of the teaching of the world and of the schools of the world had not been able to do. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.11

And that is not the last time in which that idea has been called foolishness. You yourselves have heard it in Battle Creek. And not only has it been heard in Battle Creek, but also in almost every place where it has been proposed to have the Bible as the text-book and the basis of all education. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.12

Now, let us read the Lord’s estimate of that view of things. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” Now, note: To whom is the preaching of the word of God, and of the word of God only, foolishness? The preaching of the cross, that preaching that God sent into the world,—that is foolishness “to them that perish.” Then beware of this fearful danger—it must be pointed out: Whenever any person expresses the thought, or entertains the view, that the use of the Bible as the only source of Christian education, is foolishness, he thereby gives notice to the world that he is one of “them that perish.” Do you see? “For the preaching of the cross [this foolishness of preaching] is to that that perish foolishness.” It is foolishness only to them that perish. Then, to whomsoever that is foolishness, whoever holds it to be foolishness,—it is settled that he is advertising himself as a candidate for perishing. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.13

“But unto us which are saved,” the use of the Bible as the basis of all education—that education which is Christian education—that education which comes from God—he who will receive that as Christianity, to him “it is the power of God.” “But unto us which are saved it [the preaching of the cross] is the power of God.” [Voices: Amen.] Not only is it the power of God; but it is “the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” [Voices: Amen.] ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.14

Thus went forth the gospel, Christian education, in that day when Jesus sent forth his disciples preaching the Word. Presently, there were those who, in their professed Christianity and half-hearted Christian experience, thought that Christian education, Bible teaching—the teaching of the word of God—was too narrow. It was not sufficiently deep, nor sufficiently broad, not sufficiently balanced, to give Christianity the proper standing before the world. To give it its proper place, Christian education must be blended with the world’s education. Therefore they took the world’s philosophy and the world’s literature, and made them the real basis of education, and made the Bible and Christian education conform to them. That was the great apostasy, which finally seized upon the power of the Roman government; and of which the result was “the beast” of the book of Revelation. When that result of the abandonment of true Christian education had manifested itself in the world, God again sent a message to the world in the great Reformation. In that again he exalted the Bible as truly educative, as that which has in it Christian education, root and branch. And that made Protestantism. But instead of Protestantism holding fast to that principle, it, too, gradually became cold and half-hearted, adopted the world’s wisdom and the world’s literature, and imitated the world in its work of education. And so much is this so that, as you know, Protestantism is now making the very image of the beast. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.15

Now, what shall be the end of all this? You know that the end of all things is at hand in this world. And you know that this world will utterly reject that which is Christian; and will receive as Jesus Christ the opposite of Christ, which is Satan. You know, likewise, that at that time—at the time when this world ends —when this world shall have rejected Jesus Christ—there will be one hundred and forty-four thousand persons in this world who will be just like Jesus Christ was when he was in the world. They will reflect his perfect image. They will stand in the world precisely as he stood. Upon them God can look, and see no fault at all; for it is written, “They are without fault before the throne of God.” This whole company will stand before the world and before God without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; they will be holy, and without blemish. And as such, Jesus Christ will present this people to himself when he comes in the clouds of heaven. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 647.16

Thus it is the truth that at Jesus Christ’s second coming, the world will have reached precisely the point at which it stood at his first coming, and by the same means too. God’s work in the world when Christ comes the second time, will also have reached precisely the point at which it stood at the time of Christ’s first coming; for it will have culminated in the one hundred and forty-four thousand in whom the mystery of God is finished, which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 648.1

And now, it is a question to-day, a testing question to the professed church of Christ, as to whether this church will eat of the tree of life, or whether she will turn to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; whether she will have Christian education, or a mixture of professedly Christian education with worldly education, after the living likeness of the great apostasy which made the beast mentioned in the book of Revelation, and which has wrought so much mischief in the world. That is the philosophy of Christian education as against an education that is utterly worldly; and as against an education that is a mixture of professed godliness and actual worldliness. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 648.2

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is no better to-day than it was the day when Eve and Adam partook of it. Refuse the evil, choose the good, and the good alone; for good and evil is only evil alone. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 648.3

(To be concluded.)

“Editorial” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 41, p. 652.

IN the time of the supremacy of Babylon, the people who had the Scriptures were scattered throughout the empire. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.1

In those Scriptures it was written that Babylon should be overwhelmed by a mighty host of the nations, the city would be captured, and the people slain. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.2

In those Scriptures also was there written instruction to the people, by which they might know when the destruction of Babylon was imminent, and know what they themselves should do. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.3

They were told to “flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.” “Forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.” “My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.4

They were told what nations would come against Babylon; they were told from what direction the armies would come; they were told the name of the leader of the forces; and they were told how they might know just when to flee: “Lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumor that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.5

Now all that instruction was written from fifty-seven to one hundred and seventy-four years before the time when those things would occur. It was written not only for the instruction of the people who had the Scriptures, but for the instruction of all the people throughout the great empire; and especially for the benefit of all who were in Babylon or its immediate vicinity. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.6

Having thus been written for the instruction and benefit of all, but not all of them having the Scriptures in which the instruction was given, there rested upon those who did have the Scriptures, the obligation to give the instruction to all who did not have the Scriptures. And this obligation was so great that not to give it was to allow fellow men to pass unknowing and unwarned to certain destruction, when only the simple telling of it to them might give them the knowledge of God, and save them from all harm. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.7

Therefore all who had the Scriptures were, by the very fact of their having the Scriptures, under the most solemn obligation to convey to all within their reach the knowledge of those things which were certainly coming, and to call their attention to the passing events, and the meaning of them, which marked the approach of the great culminating event, the fall of the mighty city and empire. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.8

But how could those who had the Scriptures know these things to tell them to others, except by studying the Scriptures? Suppose that those who had the Scriptures did not themselves know of these things that were written in the Scriptures for that very time: they would be no better prepared than were those who did have the Scriptures at all; and they would be far worse off than those, because of their neglect of the light which they held in their hands, and for which, having it in their hands, they were fully responsible. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.9

And were not those portions of the Scriptures that relate particularly to their own time and the events occurring in their own day, in the empire under which they lived, the most important of all to those who had the Scriptures? What god would it have done for them to study the kingdoms of Nimrod, Egypt, and Assyria, and not know what was written in the Word concerning the kingdom of their own day? All that of Nimrod, Egypt, and Assyria could be studied to profit, when they also studied what was said of the kingdom of their own day. This was the all-important study for them. This was to them present truth, and as such, was to be especially studied. They needed to be familiar with every feature of the truth for their own time, much more than with that for other times. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.10

It is so to-day. There are portions of Scripture that relate particularly to our day and to the kingdoms and great empires of our own day. what is it, that we be familiar with Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, and not know the place, the course, and the end of the kingdoms and empires of our own day? The Bible speaks just as plainly of these as of those. We must study these, and know the passing events, and be able to tell the meaning of these things to those who do not know. “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” What kings? What are these kings to do? ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.11

“Editorial Note” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 41, p. 652.

TRUE loyalty to the government of God, allegiance to the constitution, the supreme law, of the Most High, is the keeping of the commandments of God. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.1

This, because the keeping of the commandments of God is the greatest blessing, the highest honor, and the richest gift that even God can bestow upon any soul. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.2

The mystery of God is God “manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16); it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27. And when that mystery shall be finished, the result is described in the statement, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.3

This great thing will be accomplished by the truth and power of God in the third angel’s message. Therefore with all who believe the third angel’s message the one great aim, the one thing that stands above all other things to be attained, and to the attaining of which all other things must contribute, is the keeping of the commandments of God. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.4

With all who receive the third angel’s message, whatsoever does not conduce to the keeping of the commandments of God will be instantly discountenanced and utterly rejected. Anything and everything that to any degree tends to lessen regard for the commands of God will be by these utterly refused as only evil. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.5

Now it is not only a fair question, but an important question for this time, to every Seventh-day Adventist, Are you so loyal to the law of God that you will not countenance anything that does not draw to the keeping of the commandments of God? Is your allegiance to the constitution of the Most High so firmly fixed that you will have no fellowship nor any connection whatever with anything that disregards, or in any way makes light of, the keeping of the commandments of God? ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.6

These are important questions for this time especially, because the dragon is wroth with the woman, and makes “war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. And he does this because she keeps the commandments of God, and has the testimony of Jesus. And the more firmly and devotedly she holds to the keeping of the commandments of God, the more earnestly will the dragon make his war. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.7

He will not always make his war openly in a straight contest of the evil against the good, of sin against righteousness, of disobedience against obedience, of rebellion against loyalty. He will many times seek to carry his point by making great pretensions to doing good. By great displays of benefits to men he will draw the attention of Seventh-day Adventists away from the keeping of the commandments of God. And one of the chief things he thus employs is seen in the many pretensions made, and ways offered, of ridding people of disease. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.8

Here, too, he has a wide and most inviting field in which to ply his efforts. This because of the vast multitude of people with whom the getting rid of disease is the first and greatest of all possible considerations; and who, consequently, will welcome any means or procedure that will rid them of disease, and especially whatsoever will do it the quickest. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.9

But the truth is that the getting rid of disease is not the greatest, it is not the most important, of all considerations: the keeping of the commandments of God is the first, the greatest, the highest, of all possible considerations. And whoever believes the third angel’s message would rather die of disease than to be rid of his disease by means that is contrary to the commandments of God, and by influences that draw away from the keeping of the commandments of God. That is only to say, in other words, that he would rather die in obeying God than to live by disobeying him: he would rather die in righteousness than to live by sinning: he would rather die in loyalty than to live by rebellion. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.10

To employ means that is contrary to the commandments of God to be rid of disease that can be removed by conformity to the commandments of God, is plainly disloyalty to the commandments of God. To employ a miracle that is contrary to the commandments of God, in order to be rid of a disease that can be removed only by a miracle in conformity with the commandments of God is plainly disloyalty to God. To employ means that is contrary to the commandments of God, and which bring the individual under a power and grace of God can deliver him, in order to be rid of disease even by a miracle, is plainly disloyalty to God. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.11

It is the truth that the Lord can, and he does, even by a special miracle, remove diseases. But the object of it is to bring the person to the keeping of the commandments of God. Whoever would employ the means, or use the blessing, to any other end, in so doing, pervert it, and make the Lord the minister of sin. For all the gifts and blessings of God are to bring us to charity, which is the love of God, which is the keeping of the commandments of God. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.12

Therefore to Seventh-day Adventists it is a proper question to-day, Is the keeping the commandments of God the highest of all considerations with you? Does this stand higher with you than does the getting rid of a disease that you might, or that you may, have, so that you positively will not employ any means of getting rid of the disease that is not in harmony with the commandments of God, nor any influence that does not draw to the keeping of the commandments of God. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.13

“Editorial Notes” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 41, pp. 652, 653.

IT is now planned, with the distinct approval of the Secretary of State of the United States, that “court dress” shall be worn by the members of the diplomatic corps on state occasions at the White House, at Washington, the capital of this professed republic. When Secretary Hay was sounded on the subject by the chief mover, “the idea found singular favor with Mr. Hay:“— ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.1

When the subject was broached that some of the South American diplomats were very much afraid of offending the taste of the officials of the United States by appearing in special uniform, Mr. Hay informed Senor Arriaga that so far was he from objecting that he cordially indorsed the project as a move in the right direction. He went further, and stated that the customs which have grown up in the United States of restricting its ambassadors, ministers, and other diplomatic officers to the severe black evening dress were now, to say the least, OBSOLETE. Indeed, the practise exposed the American diplomat to the charge of ostentation more than if he were clothed in the most gorgeous raiment. His plain black was a conspicuous display of republican humility, and might well be dropped as a concession to the taste of the rest of the world. At any rate, it would be more in consonance with good taste to accord to the usual fashion than to be conspicuously different. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.2

With the adoption of court dress, court pride and haughtiness will not be long in following. Then imperialism will be found in more than territory and the islands of the sea. With republican dress and manners abandoned as “obsolete,” and republican humility “dropped as a concession to the taste of the rest of the world;” with the Declaration of Independence repudiated, and the Constitution disregarded; and with imperialistic and monarchical principles adopted instead, how much of the original republic of the United States now remains? Can the people possibly any longer hide their eyes to the fact of national apostasy? ARSH October 10, 1899, page 652.3

“Studies in Galatians. Galatians 2:17” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 76, 41, p. 653.

“BUT if, we while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.1

Having abandoned all law as a means of justification, have we abandoned all law altogether?—God forbid. For while seeking to be justified by Christ, it is possible that we might be found sinners. And what is a sinner?—“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.” 1 John 3:4. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.2

And what law is it, the transgression of which is sin?—“I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:7. The word then—“Thou shalt not covet”—belongs in a law: it is a part of a law. It is not simply the commandments; it is not, I had not known lust except the commandment had said, Thou shalt not covet. But it is, “I had not know sin, but by THE LAW.” It is, “I had not know lust, except THE LAW had said, Thou shalt not covet.” ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.3

Now that law which says, “Thou shalt not covet,” says also, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt have no other gods before me, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. It is the Ten Commandment law: it is the law of God, which he spoke from heaven, and wrote twice with his own hand on tables of stone, and which he writes with his own Spirit on the tables of the heart of the believer in Jesus. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.4

That is the law by which is the knowledge of sin. That is “THE LAW,” the transgression of which is “sin.” And that is the law, and the only law, by which, while seeking “to be justified by Christ,” we could be “found sinners.” And as this word in Galatians recognizes the possibility that, while seeking to be justified by Christ, we might be found sinners; and as there is no knowledge of sin without the law of Ten Commandments, this is therefore conclusive evidence that, while it is true that all law must be abandoned as a means of justification, all law is not abandoned altogether. It is conclusive evidence that THAT law by which is the knowledge of sin, the law of Ten Commandments, is NOT abandoned as the means of the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.5

That law, the law of Ten Commandments, while it, with all other law, must never be used as a means of justification is NOT abandoned altogether; because that would make Christ THE MINISTER OF SIN. And against any such suggestion as that the Lord plunges his emphatic “Gob forbid” against all idea that the law of Ten Commandments is abolished or in any sense “loosed down” or done away. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.6

The Lord Jesus did not come into the world to minister to sin, but altogether to save from sin. Sin is the transgression of the law of Ten Commandments; and as the Lord Jesus came to save men from the transgression of that law. By that law is the knowledge of sin; and as Jesus came to save men from sin, his mission would be completely nullified and altogether vain if the law were taken away: for to take away the law would take away the knowledge of sin and the very means of the knowledge of sin; and this in itself would make it impossible to save men from sin. And to make the coming of the Lord Jesus create a condition of things in which it would be impossible to save men from sin, would be nothing else than to make Jesus the minister of sin. It would make Christ confirm what would satisfy Satan forever. And why should not God cry out against it forever, “God forbid”? And to this everlasting “God forbid,” who that would not play directly into the hands of Satan can ever say anything but Amen? ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.7

Therefore “if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners,” transgressors of the law of Ten Commandments, does Christ sanction that?—“God forbid.” Does he justify men in order that they may be free to transgress the law?—“God forbid.” Does he save men from sin in order that they may continue in sin?—“God forbid.” Do we believe in Jesus in order that we may continue to be sinners?—“God forbid.” Do we “seek to be justified [made righteous] by Christ” in order that we may continue to sin?—“God forbid.” And let all the people forever say Amen. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.8

Let it be borne in mind and upon the heart forever by every soul, that justification (being made righteous) by faith of Jesus Christ, means, in itself, in every sentiment of it, the total abandonment of sins, and the destruction of the body of sin in order that henceforth we should not serve sin. Otherwise I build again in works what I destroyed by faith: and “if I built again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Faith will never justify sin. The two are eternal opposites; for “whatsoever is NOT of faith is sin.” And in Christ Jesus nothing avails but faith, which worketh by love that keeps the commandments of God. ARSH October 10, 1899, page 653.9