The Present Truth, vol. 17
September 5, 1901
“The Two Sides in the Great Controversy” The Present Truth 17, 36, p. 564.
SELF-SACRIFICE OR SELF-DEFENCE
“SELF-PRESERVATION is the first law of nature.” PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.1
But self-sacrifice is the first law of grace. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.2
In order to self-preservation, self-defence is essential. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.3
In order to self-sacrifice, self-surrender is essential. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.4
In self-defense, the only thing that can be employed is force. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.5
In self-surrender, the only thing that can be employed is love. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.6
In self-preservation, by self-defence, through the employment of force, force meets force, and this means only war. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.7
In self-sacrifice, by self-surrender, thru love, force is met by love, and this means only peace. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.8
Self-preservation, then, means only war; while self-sacrifice means only peace. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.9
But war means only death. Self-preservation, then, meaning only war, means only death; while self-sacrifice, meaning only peace, means only life. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.10
Self-preservation being the first law of nature, nature then means only death; while self-sacrifice being the first law of grace, grace means only life. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.11
But death only is the wages of sin; nature, then, meaning only death, it is so only because nature means sin; while life, being only the reward of righteousness; grace, meaning only life, it is so only because grace means righteousness. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.12
Sin and righteousness, nature and grace, are directly opposite and antagonistic elements. They occupy realms absolutely distinct. Nature, self-preservation, self-defence, force, war, and death, occupy only the realm of sin; grace, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, love, peace, and life occupy only the realm of righteousness. PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.13
The realm of sin is the realm of Satan. The realm of grace is the realm of God. All the power of the domain of grace is devoted to saving men from the dominion of sin. This in order that, “as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign, thru righteousness, unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.14
On which side do you stand in this great controversy? PTUK September 5, 1901, page 564.15
A. T. JONES.