The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 76

March 21, 1899

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 12, p. 184.

THE righteousness of God is his own character; it is himself. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.1

This is one of the only two things that the children of men can profitably seek: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.2

This righteousness is not attained by exertion: it is received by revelation. In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed. Romans 1:16, 17. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.3

Anything that is a revelation can be received by man only through his believing. The righteousness of God coming to men only by revelation can be received by men only through faith. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.4

Therefore it is written that in the gospel not only “is the righteousness of God of God revealed,” but it is manifested (revealed) “by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference.” Romans 3:21, 22. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.5

And not only is the righteousness of God revealed to faith; it is revealed not alone to the measure of faith that you have to begin with; but also to faith beyond that—to greater faith. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.6

That is to say, the revelation of the righteousness of God to faith to begin with, and to the measure of faith with which you begin, causes that faith to grow,—causes that measure to expand into greater faith; and then the righteousness of God is revealed more largely than before, to this greatly increased measure of faith. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.7

On the other hand, the very exercise of the faith that you have to begin with in receiving the righteousness of God, causes that faith to grow. And in the very nature of the case, as the faith has grown, and there is a larger measure of it, there is larger room for the revelation of the righteousness of God. And there being a larger measure of faith, and the righteousness of God being revealed to faith, it is plain that more of the righteousness of God is revealed and received. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.8

Thus with faith being caused to grow by the expansive power of the righteousness of God received, and also by virtue of the exercise of the faith itself, it is easy to see both the truth and the “how” of it that “faith growth exceedingly.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.9

And, bless the Lord, however exceedingly faith may grow, the righteousness of God is revealed to the soul to the fullest measure of that exceedingly grown and growing faith. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.10

And this revelation and this growth will never cease to him that believeth. Faith is of God; it is divine, and is capable of eternal growth. The righteousness of God is inexhaustible, and so will be eternally revealed more fully to the eternally growing faith. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.11

To him that believeth this is true,—he grows “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;” and thus grace and peace is multiplied, and will be eternally “multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” For “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isaiah 32:17. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.12

Such is the way, the blessing, and the joy of the exercise of faith. And this is why it is that “the knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.13

This is the science of faith. And there is no higher, richer, nor nobler science. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.14

“Hast thou faith?” Have the faith of God. “Here are they that keep” “the faith of Jesus.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.15

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 12, p. 184.

IT is a glorious promise, and the divine truth, that when we “walk in the Spirit,” we “shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.1

But, you see, our not fulfilling the lust of the flesh depends altogether upon our walking in the Spirit. Do you walk in the Spirit? ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.2

Our walking in the Spirit also depends upon something yet back of this: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.3

How can we walk in the Spirit unless we live in the Spirit? How can we walk at all unless we live? ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.4

There is suggested and emphasized the great truth that the first of all things is the life. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.5

And in that is also suggested and emphasized the great truth that we must first be before we can do; we must first be something before we can do anything. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.6

And what we are,—this itself decides what we will do. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.7

When Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do,” it was not a taunt. It was simply the statement of the truth. So long as any are such, they will do so: and it is impossible to do otherwise. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.8

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” “A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Matthew 12:44; 7:18. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.9

So long, and just as certainly, as a person is a child of the wicked one, the lusts of his father will he do. And just as certainly as a person is a child of God, the virtues of his father will he show. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.10

It all depends upon what you are. And what you are depends upon whose child you are. Look to your parentage: whose child are you? ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.11

Do you do evil things? Do you fulfil the lusts of the flesh?—It is all because of your parentage and birth. But do not be discouraged: get a new parentage; get a new birth. Then, being of a new parentage, being born again, being a new creature, being a child of God, you will “show forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.12

Nor is it enough to have been born again. We must be born again. It is well to have been born again, if we are born again. But for a person to have been born again, and yet he be not now born again,—this counts nothing. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.13

No; “Ye must be born again.” Ye must be that all the time. The new birth must be continued in all its newness and power. We must be born into newness of life,—larger experiences, new experiences, and greater grace, every day, and every hour of the day. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.14

This is what it is to be born, in truth. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Are you in Christ? If so, then you are a new creature. Not you were a new creature; but you are. And being a new creature, it is easy to do new things; indeed, new things are only what are done; for “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.15

Born of the Spirit, living in the Spirit, led of the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit, ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. This is Christian experience. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.16

“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” “Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Every one that asketh receiveth.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with the Spirit,” “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.17

“Human Rights” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 12, pp. 184, 185.

MEN are human. Human rights are those which belong to men simply because they are men. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.1

Rights, in this connection, signifies that which belongs personally to you and me, and which can never justly be taken away. We can not resign them, they can not be justly exercised by any other person or combination of persons anywhere. There is no exception to this; for when we speak of rights, it must be unqualifiedly and without exception. To speak of rights with an exception, is to deny, in fact, the things which we profess, and which we claim in behalf of rights. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.2

Human beings possess rights by direct endowment of the Creator. Whoever disregards the rights of men shows disrespect to the Creator. Whoever encroaches upon the rights of men ignores the prerogative of God. Therefore, of all people in the world, those who stand before the world as Christians should be the most respectful of the rights of men, and the most vigilant and tenacious in regarding those rights. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.3

The Bible is given to instruct men how to be Christians. The Bible is addressed to all men for the sole purpose of causing them to become Christians, and meets its purpose only in those who do become Christians. And the shining in these of the light that they have so received makes them the light of the world. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.4

Sacred regard for human rights is a Christian virtue. And for people who stand before the world as Christians, to disregard human rights is doubly wrong, in that (a) it is wrong in itself, and (b) it turns the light into darkness, causing others to stumble on in darkness. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.5

The fourteenth chapter of Romans briefly covers the whole ground of instruction to all men, and especially to Christians, as to true respect for human rights. This fourteenth chapter belongs really with the thirteenth; for it is a direct continuation of the subject introduced in the beginning of the thirteenth chapter. There is much truth lost many times by holding strictly to the chapter divisions. If it were borne in mind that often the chapter divisions are just where they ought not to be, much would be gained in Bible study. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 184.6

The thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Romans deal with exactly the same subject,—the relationship of individuals as Christians to all men both a individuals and as organized in governments; as individuals and as “the powers that be,“—powers that are beyond the individual. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.1

The first and second verses of the thirteenth chapter say, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.2

Next we are told what we are to render to the powers that be: “Tribute to whom tribute is due; honor to whom honor.” Then the law of God is quoted, showing wherein “the powers that be” have no jurisdiction at all. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.3

While the powers that be may have jurisdiction of things which concern man’s relation to his fellow man, by which “the powers” would protect one from the encroachment of another, these powers have no jurisdiction whatever in those things that belong between man and God. The thirteenth chapter sets forth those things which belong to the powers that be, and all the commandments that are referred to are those that touch only the relation of men to men; and not at all the relation of men to God. Love is the fulfilling of the law. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.4

The fourteenth chapter goes right on with the same subject: “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations,” etc. We are not to judge anybody when he does not do as we do; nor when he does not do as we think he ought to do; nor when he does not do even as God says he ought to do. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.5

We are not to judge anybody at all; because every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Jesus said, “But be ye not called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” Matthew 23:8. James also speaks of this: “Be not many masters, knowing that ye shall receive the greater condemnation.” James 3:1. Many masters receive greater condemnation: then what would few masters receive?—Less condemnation. Then what would no master at all receive?—No condemnation. The more masters, the more condemnation: then only condemnation goes with mastership at all. There is but one Master: and all other would-be masters are usurpers. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.6

Whoever assumes mastership of anybody’s conduct, wishes, faith, rights, or his standing before God, comes under the condemnation of him who is the master of all individuals alike. As the Lord Jesus has bought, at an infinite price, every soul in the world, he alone is master of each soul in the world. Each one is responsible to him; and to him alone that person stands or falls. Each one is forbidden to judge any other man, because we shall each one stand before the judgment-seat of Christ to give an account of himself, not of somebody else. I must give an account of myself to God, not of you. ARSH March 21, 1899, page 185.7