The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 77

November 6, 1900

“Editorial” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 45, p. 712.

AT the dedication, a few days ago, of a Y. M. C. A. building on Governor’s Island, N. Y., for the United States soldiers, one of the most prominent men of the nation said: “Every soldier who marches under our flag must understand and be taught that when he lands upon other shores, American civilization, American humanity, and American Christianity will be measured by the standard he establishes in that far-off land.” This idea that Christianity has become, or could possibly become, American, is one of the greatest deceptions and most mischievous things of these deceptive times. Christianity is not a national religion. To make it national is to abandon it in its reality, and is to substitute for it sheer human and nation prejudices and characteristics. In Christianity “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcisioin,” Filipino nor American, Chinese nor British, Japanese nor Russian, French nor German, “barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” In Christ all are one. And if any profess to be in Christ, and yet are not one, then they are not in Christ at all; and such is not Christianity at all. National religions are always idolatrous, despotic, and persecuting; and “American Christianity,” once confirmed, will be nothing else. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.1

“Editorial Note” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 77, 45, p. 712.

ARCHBISHOP IRELAND continues to tell, and the Associated Press diligently to publish, that the pope is “well pleased with the relation of the American government to the church in Cuba and the Philippine Islands.” In an interview published in the Chicago Times-Herald, October 24, the archbishop not only reiterated that, but added the following words from Cardinal Rampolla, the papal secretary of state:— ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.1

The church needs in Cuba and the Philippines the co-operation of the American government for the protection of its rights and liberties; as indeed the American government needs the co-operation of the church for the pacification of those countries. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.2

And to all this he adds the following words of his own:— ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.3

As a plain matter of fact, the only safety which the Catholic Church at the present time has in the Philippines for the possession of her property and for the lives of her priests is the protection afforded by the American flag, and this is fully understood and fully recognized at Rome. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.4

Thus it is certain that the papacy has now in Cuba and the Philippines the United States government as her support and stay, as really, even if not yet so thoroughly, as she had any government in the Middle Ages. And that is why the relation of this government to the papacy is so “well pleasing” to the pope. And if the relationship were not that, it would not be in any sense pleasing to the pope. And what a position that is for a nation which was founded “upon the principles on which the gospel was first propagated and the Reformation from popery carried on”! ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.5

“The Third Angel’s Message. What Is It to Keep the Faith of Jesus?” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 45, pp. 712, 713.

WHEN the young man came to Jesus, asking, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,” and cited the second table of the ten commandments. The young man replied: “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.1

As the record says that Jesus “looking upon him loved him,” and as Jesus asked him to follow him, it is evident that the young man was a person of good intentions and honesty of purpose, and he undoubtedly supposed that he had really kept the commandments. But it is not our own estimate that is the standard of what constitutes obedience to the law; it is God’s estimate that is the standard. We might conform so strictly to the law that, according to our own estimate, we could see no point of failure; yet when our actions should be measured by God’s estimate, weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, we should be found utterly wanting. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.2

It is not according as we see, but according as God sees, that the question of our keeping the commandments of God is to be decided. And as God sees it, it has been recorded: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” No doubt the young man, when measured by his own standard, stood at the full stature of moral character. But God’s standard declares that he had “come short.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.3

Even granting all the righteousness that the young man might claim by the keeping of the commandments alone,—and there are yet many like him,—yet to him to all who, like him, expect righteousness by the law, the word of Christ is, “One thing thou lackest yet.” All such lack the justifying blood: they lack the sanctifying power of the perfect obedience of the Son of God. In short, they lack “the faith of Jesus;” and so must ever come short until, by accepting Christ, they attain to the righteousness of God which is by faith. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.4

It is in Christ alone that man can reach the full stature of moral character in the sight of God. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13. However hard a man may strive for righteousness by keeping the law, yet, until he accepts Christ and finds in him the righteousness which is of God by faith, against him the word will ever stand, Thou hast “come short of the glory of God,” “one thing thou lackest yet.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.5

So we see that Jesus taught that those who would be his disciples must keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.6

Again: in his sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19, 20. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.7

Happily we have the record of the best Pharisee that ever lived, and in his experience we have the inspired illustration of these words of Jesus: Paul says of himself, “As touching the law, a Pharisee; ... touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Yet this was not enough; for as he says in another place, “I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 4:4. So even though he might, so far as he could see, be blameless, yet that was not proof that he was justified; for it is God who judges: it is God’s standard of righteousness, and not our own, that we must meet, to be justified; and that standard is the righteousness of Christ, to which we can attain only by faith. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.8

So Paul says, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: ... and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:7-9. This is a righteousness which he had not when he was a Pharisee. This, then, is the righteousness which exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees: and this righteousness of faith we must have while doing and teaching the commandments. In his sermon on the mount, therefore, Christ positively taught the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.9

James says, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.... If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said [“that law which said,” margin], Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.... What doth it profit, my brethren, thou a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ... Even so faith, if IT hath not works, is dead, being alone.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.10

Thus James shows that the faith of Jesus is manifested in works, and that these works are the keeping of the law of God. He excludes the very idea that anyone can have the faith of Jesus with respect of persons; and respect of persons he declares to be sin, the transgression of the law. Therefore the faith of Jesus can not be held with the conscious breaking of the commandments of God, even in a single point. In other words, James teaches as strongly as it is possible to teach, that those who have the faith of Jesus keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.11

John says: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the workd, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:1-5. The beloved disciple therefore also teaches that Christianity, the love of God, is the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.12

The Lord Jesus himself, referring to God, said: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do HIS [God’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:13, 14. He also said, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Christ said, “If thou wilt enter into life, kept the commandments;” he also said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.13

The Third Angel’s Message, the last message from God that the world will ever hear, embodies in a single sentence these sayings of Christ: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.14

The Third Angel’s Message is the embodiment of the very gospel of Christ, wherein “is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16, 17. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.15

When the Third Angel’s Message shall be finished, then the mystery of God—the gospel—shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.16

And those who truly obey the Third Angel’s Message will get the victory over the Beast and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name; they will, at the last, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God; and they will be without fault before the throne of God. And it will all be through “him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” Unto him be glory and dominion forever and ever. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.17

We thank God for the message which calls upon all men to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 712.18

“Studies in Galatians. Galatians 6:4-10” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 45, p. 713.

“BUT let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.1

The word “prove” here signifies, as to the thing proved, the test put upon metals by the assayer; and it is well known that such a test is the most thorough that can be employed. It goes even so far as to the testing by fire to such an extent that the fire itself shall be through and through the metal; so that the very metal itself shall be so fairly on fire that everything that is not of the metal itself, is utterly consumed. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.2

As relates to the person who does the proving, the word signifies “to scrutinize,” “to keep an eye upon,” “to watch narrowly,” “to play the spy upon,” “to examine intently.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.3

This is what every Christian is particularly called upon to do respecting his own work—respecting the things he does, and which, from mere impulse, he finds himself apt to do. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.4

The same thought is expressed in 2 Corinthians 13:5, and is applied to the whole person himself, and not only to “his own work:” “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.5

Let each one test his own work, and himself, in all things, in the light of the word of God, illuminated by the Spirit of God, thus holding himself and all his work up to the judgment of God. And to all who do so the blessed promise will be found sure: “Then shall he have rejoicing.” For of this same thing it is written in another place: “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 1 Corinthians 11:31. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.6

All this is to say that in Christianity, in the faith of Christ, God gives to every man in this world the opportunity safely to pass the judgment. And everyone who will thus enter into God’s judgment, who will put himself through the severest tests that the law of God can ever demand, and will thus judge himself in the light of God’s countenance, he thus passes the judgment, and has nothing to fear “when God riseth up.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.7

And all such have God’s promise that they shall “have rejoicing,” and that they have nothing to fear in the great day of judgment itself. This, because they live constantly in the presence of the judgment of God. Their constant prayer is, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thought: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23, 24. And they find it all so; and, so, shall surely be led only in the way everlasting. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.8

He shall have “rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” The parallel thought is in Proverbs 14:14: “A good man shall be satisfied from himself.” “The sentiment is that he will find in himself a source of pure joy. He will not be dependent on the applause of others for happiness. In an approving conscience; in the evidence of the favor of God; in an honest effort to lead a pure and holy life, he will have happiness. The source of his joys will be within; and he will not be dependent, as the man of ambition, and the man who thinks of himself more highly than he ought, will, on the favors of a capricious multitude, and on the breath of popular applause. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.9

“Here is the true secret of happiness. It consists (1) in not forming an improper estimate of ourselves; in knowing just what we are, and what is due to us; in not thinking ourselves to be something, when we are nothing; (2) in leading such a life that it may be examined to the core, that we may know exactly what we are without being distressed or pained; that is, in having a good conscience, and in honest and faithful discharge of our duty to God and man; (3) in not being dependent on fickle applause of the world for our comfort. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.10

“The man who has not internal resources, and who has no approving conscience; who is happy only when others smile, and miserable when they frown is a man who has no security for enjoyment. The man who has a good conscience, and who enjoys the favor of God and the hope of heaven, carries with him a source of perpetual joy. He can not be deprived of it. His purse may be taken, and his house robbed, but the highwayman can not rob him of his comforts. He bears about with him an unfailing source of happiness when abroad, and the same source of happiness abides with him at home; he carries it into society, and it remains with him in solitude; it is his companion when in health, and when surrounded by his friends, and it is no less his companion when his friends leave him, and when he lies upon a bed of death.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.11

“For every man shall bear his own burden.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.12

This is the plain conclusion from all the thought of the preceeding verse; and the whole thought on both sides is expressed in Proverbs 14:14, complete: “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.” And, again, “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins [the conscience], even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.13

Every man is free to choose. To every man the Lord has said, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” God has made most abundant provision, even to all the fullness of God, for everyone grandly to succeed who chooses the service of God; and the burden of him who so chooses is only a burden of rejoicing and gladness, for evermore. But he who chooses not the way of the Lord, but his own way, against all the call of the Lord,—he, too, must bear his burden; it is the burden which he has freely chosen to bear, but it is a burden which can not be borne, and only works his undoing. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.14

“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.15

This word “communicate” means much more than simply to talk or write to a person: it means “to have things in common,” “to be partakers or equal partakers in things.” It is the same word and the same meaning as that given in 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.” So those who are taught in the word count him that teacheth equal partners with themselves, count all other things common with him, and communicate unto him “in all good things.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.16

And so it is written in another place: “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” 1 Corinthians 9:11. And also in yet another place: “Now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” Romans 15:25-27. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.17

And, upon all this, the exhortation in the four verses, which follow is sufficient, and sufficiently forcible, without any further enlargement or explanation: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soeth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” ARSH November 6, 1900, page 713.18

“Back Page” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 45, p. 720.

THE school in Battle Creek College this year is the best that I have ever seen there in the twelve years of my acquaintance with it. there is without exception the best class of young people, and the best school. All young persons in the Battle Creek College district who should be and could be in this school, and are not, are losing what they can never regain. ARSH November 6, 1900, page 720.1

ALONZO T. JONES.