Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Ms 8, 1893

Sermon/Are We Doers of His Word?

Auckland, New Zealand

February 9, 1893

Previously unpublished.

John 14:12-18. Now we have the rich promises of God in His Word, if we shall keep the truth. Verse 15. Then the promise is ask in His name and He will give it us. Precious promise. If we do not keep God’s commandments, we are not His children. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy strength.” [Mark 12:30.] ([John 14] Verse 21): Hath the light upon His commandments. ... Verses 22, 23-27. Brethren, do we keep the commandments of God? Are we doers of His Word? (John 14:21): What a wonderful statement that is! Are we cherishing the precious spirit of love? 8LtMs, Ms 8, 1893, par. 1

How stands the case with us? “As I have loved you.” [John 13:34.] How much? I laid aside my crown, that I might come to the earth, that humanity might touch humanity. Love one another as Christ has loved us. If we do this, the world will know that we are of Christ. “Love as Christ has loved us.” “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” [Verse 35.] John 15:12-17. We want you to see that professing to keep commandments of God is not an evidence that we keep them. Love to God and love to our neighbor is required. 8LtMs, Ms 8, 1893, par. 2

Talking of ourselves and making ourselves a center we lose hold upon Jesus Christ. We feel intensely upon this subject. John 17:19, 20. Here is their work. The argument is in the last clause of (verse 21), “That the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (Verse 22), “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” What is that glory? Character. Changed from glory to glory; from character to character. We become assimilated to Christ. The glory which God has given Him He has given to His disciples. 8LtMs, Ms 8, 1893, par. 3