Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Ms 14, 1893

Sermon/Christ Our All in All

Petone, New Zealand

April 22, 1893

Portions of this manuscript are published in HP 254. +^Note

John 14:12-18, 19-23. Here is the test, “If a man love me, he will keep my words.” [Verse 23.] Verses 24-26. Here we are told what the Comforter is. Verses 27-30. The Prince of this world apparently gained the best. Verse 31. “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.” That is, He carried out the whole plan devised in the heavenly courts. Here is “Christ” that paid the ransom. He died for every son and daughter of Adam. He left His royal crown, and laid aside His royal robe, and clothed His divinity with humanity. What would He have [to] gain by His poverty? That you might have life which measures with the life of God. That you might have the mansions which he said he had gone to prepare. John 14:1-3. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 1

He told His disciples that He rejoices, because in His sufferings He cleaves the way to the throne of God. Is it a cross to you who are believers? You do not want to be of that company who would be ashamed of their Lord. There is truth for somebody in this world. Christ would have the chambers of the mind open that the bright light of truth might shine into the chambers of the mind and soul temple. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 2

John 17:2, 3. “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” That is eternal life. Because Christ is the Redeemer, will not save any soul, but we must lay hold of Him by living faith. That is, we are to know God <by an experimental knowledge,> and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. We cannot know Him without loving Him. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 3

Why did not Jesus come in bright array? Why did He not come clothed in the panoply of heaven? But He clothed His divinity with humanity, that He could take [part] with the human family. He knoweth how to succor those who shall be tempted. Before Him is opened the strongest temptations ever [to] come to man. He could always hear the little children that wailed out their distress in suffering and disease. In the wilderness of temptation He met the wily foe face to face. Satan came upon Him with all his power. And after Christ had fasted forty days, Satan said to Him, “Command this stone that it be made bread.” [Luke 4:3.] But Christ met him with “It is written.” Just so we must present to the tempter, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” [Verse 4.] We that do live by the Word must not hang our souls on any human being. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 4

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” [Matthew 4:5, 6.] That would have been presumption for Christ to have cast himself down. How few can stand a dare. We see this acted out in children. They fail to understand the temptation. They will venture their ambition. They want to receive honor. Satan dares them that he may have full control of mind and body. But Christ said, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” [Verse 7.] 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 5

We must not put ourselves on the enemy’s ground. We are only here as probationers. We must not act as though there was no tempting devil. There are temptations that come to us, and we cannot accept them and give them a place in the mind unless we peril our souls. We want to know that our feet are in safe paths. You who associate with the disobedient and worldly-minded better heed the injunction, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Is this not encouragement enough for us—to have living connection with the God of heaven? 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 6

When you go where sin is, and place yourself on the enemy’s ground, you just place yourself where the angels of God do not preserve you from the evil influence. We are to know that Christ is constantly by our side. We are to put all our trust in Christ and say, “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. We do not want to go on any pinnacle and throw ourselves down. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 7

Then the devil takes Christ to an exceeding high mountain and passes the kingdoms of this world in a panoramic view before Him, and says, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Divinity flashed through humanity, and Christ said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” [Matthew 4:9, 10.] Our duty is to live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. We ought to be gaining the choicest experiences continually. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 8

We cannot neglect this great salvation, unless at a tremendous loss to our own souls. Let me ask you, Was it convenient for the Lord of glory to die, the just for the unjust? Every step from the manger to Calvary was marked. Was it convenient for the Lord of glory to be taken by the mob in the Garden of Gethsemane? It was there His pale and quivering lips repeated these words, “O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” [Matthew 26:39.] Why, Christ and the Father were one. He knew the offensive character of sin. He knew the wrath of God was upon Him because of the offensive character of sin. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 9

The sins of the whole world were upon Him. He said He came not to do His own will, but <the will of His Father.> [John 6:38.] The mysterious cup trembled in His hand, and the destiny of a lost world was balanced. Three times was that prayer heard. But he consented <to drink the cup.> Why? He became the substitute and surety for man. He could have had legions of angels <at His side in a moment,> but no, He must tread the wine press alone. The satanic horrors of darkness were there, but He was victorious. You can overcome in the name of Jesus, and gain a crown, not merely a laurel that would fade. What temptations the Son of God had. He was forced from one tribunal to another. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 10

Pilate brings forth Barabbas, that notable robber and cruel murderer; and beside him stands the Son of the infinite God, in agony and distress of mind, but He bears the superscription of the divine. The image of God is upon Him. Barabbas is by His side and the question is asked, “Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” [Matthew 27:17.] But the hoarse cry is raised, Release Barabbas and crucify Christ. It was the chief of the people, the people that claimed to know God that said, Release unto us Barabbas and crucify Christ. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 11

When Pilate said, What shall I do with Jesus? Hear their hoarse cry, that He should be crucified. I want every one to take in the situation. I want you to go over that scene. What dependence can you place in human nature that is not under the control of the influence of God? The world knows Him not today. The line of demarcation is plain and distinct between those that keep His commandments and those who do not. We cannot serve the world and please God. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 12

Christ came to our world that He might take it and place it in a proper position. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” [Matthew 6:33.] We must have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Do you not think that Satan uses those who serve him to tempt us? We must not be tempted by their enchantments. We must search the Scriptures for ourselves. Do we want to be on the side of the world with those that said to release Barabbas; but crucify Christ? Is there one here who has been drawn away with the enchantments of the world? What we want is a Saviour. We want to acknowledge Him before men. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 13

The peace of Christ is of great value to us. Are we ashamed of Him, [through] whom, if we should come [to Him], we may have life in the kingdom of God? Are you consecrated to Christ? We ought to be consecrated to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29.] We want to be fashioned after the similitude of the Lord Jesus, and not after the similitude of the world that said, “Away with Jesus, but release unto us Barabbas.” [Luke 23:18.] If we do not belong to Christ, we shall be classified with the murderers and unbelievers. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 14

The Apostle Paul inquired, “Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth.” [Galatians 3:1.] It is said of Satan that he was exalted because of his beauty, and he fell. I feel such an intense interest for your soul’s salvation. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 15

I left my home in America that I might speak the words of life to you people in these Colonies. We want you to lose sight of everything but the great Center. We want you to bind to Jesus Christ. Connect by that chain of living faith. You know not how soon your life’s record may close. Have you made your peace with God? Does Jesus abide in your soul by living faith? “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:20.] 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 16

Do not keep that padlock on any longer. You want to know that the God of heaven will acknowledge you among the faithful, that you may hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” [Matthew 25:23.] You ask how much He loves you. I point you to Calvary. There you behold the sufferings that Christ endured for you. You are prisoners of hope. By beholding we become changed. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 17

We read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] Jesus came to save sinners, those in rebellion and pollution. When God gave Jesus, He gave all heaven. He would make the sacrifice so full that He could not do more. Will man dare to complain? They spit in the face of the Lord of glory. Many seem to be sad because of their religion. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 18

We should not go about begging pardon of the world because we are Christians. I beg pardon of Jesus Christ only <because I am not complete in Him.> He has made every provision that we [may] have a Christian character. You put thoughts of God out of the world and how much devotional religion would there be? How much pure, unalloyed service would they give Him? He was “bruised for our iniquities.” [Isaiah 53:5.] We cannot afford to refuse the power of the grace of God. We pity them if there is such here. If we love Jesus we shall become heirs of God, and the Father will love us as He loves His Son, Jesus Christ. We are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 19

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” [1 John 3:2.] We want the truth of heavenly origin. Christ said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” [John 15:20.] We are children of the heavenly King. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 20

It was the highest exaltation of Christ to obey His Father and keep His law as the apple of His eye. Let it have this effect upon our characters. We pray that the Lord God of heaven will let the light of His Holy Spirit shine upon you, that when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened you shall not be ashamed of your own record in that day. You have not put stumbling blocks in the way of others. You have tried to clear the King’s highway. 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 21

Let us exalt Jesus. Let us give Him our hearts’ best and holiest service, and He will say, “I will confess you before my Father and his angels.” [Revelation 3:5.] 8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 22