Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 131, 1898

True Education

October 17, 1898

Previously unpublished.

What is true education? Read the record of Christ’s life, and you will find Him to be the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. He came to this world to teach men and women that the object and purpose of life is to realize the possibility of working out their own salvation with fear and trembling. When man learns the meaning of the words, “Without me ye can do nothing” [John 15:5], he will open the door of his heart to the Holy Spirit. “For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” [Philippians 2:13.] 13LtMs, Ms 131, 1898, par. 1

Christ came to this world to give all an opportunity of knowing God. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and that by faith humanity might lay hold of divinity. The living oracles of God have been given to us to teach us that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The great Teacher plainly marks out the way, and gives every needed help to enable man to form a character that he can take with him into the future life. 13LtMs, Ms 131, 1898, par. 2

Man must decide himself whether he will accept heavenly influences, or whether he will choose earthy things. All have the privilege of learning from the great Teacher. His lessons show man’s utter inability to find the way to heaven, unless he follows the light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. In God’s word the fulness and glory of Christ is revealed. He places us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that we may know all truth. This Spirit takes the things of Christ and shows them unto us. The truth which fell from Christ’s lips are conveyed with living power into the obedient heart, and are a savor of life unto life. 13LtMs, Ms 131, 1898, par. 3