The Signs of the Times
October 20, 1898
Life, Love, and Union
The religion of Christ can bless only where it works and influences, as the leaven the meal. When the leaven of truth is hidden in the heart, it becomes a vital working power, to bring into conformity to itself all the capabilities of the being. The mind, the affections, the motives, all the powers become converted through the truth. All are worked by the same spirit. God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. ST October 20, 1898, par. 1
The apostle Paul says: “I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” ST October 20, 1898, par. 2
The people of God must strive to be one, as Christ is one with the Father. The figure of the members that compose the body represents the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another. Through His servant Paul, the Lord has placed these truths before us for our consideration, that those who have the privilege of being brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently. ST October 20, 1898, par. 3
Again the apostle says: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.... For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” “I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” ST October 20, 1898, par. 4
The apostle James, in writing of this, says: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” ST October 20, 1898, par. 5
And Christ declares: “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.... This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” ST October 20, 1898, par. 6
How broad, how full, is this love! The disciples were to love one another as Christ had loved them. This was to be their testimony to the world that Christ was formed within, the hope of glory. At the time the disciples did not understand the new part of that commandment; but after the sufferings of Christ, after His crucifixion and resurrection and ascension to heaven, they began to have some idea of what the love of God comprehended, and of the love they were to exercise one toward another. After the Holy Spirit rested upon them on the day of Pentecost, that love was revealed. John could say to his fellow-disciples: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.... If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.” ST October 20, 1898, par. 7
Here the beloved disciple faithfully portrays our religious obligations to one another. The test of genuine religious experience and sanctification through the truth is clearly defined. The teaching of the Word is clear and explicit in regard to the love we should have for one another. Our course of action is to be fashioned after the divine standard. And the love of Christ in the heart will be like the leaven; its life-giving power will bring all there is of mind and soul and strength into complete harmony with the divine life. ST October 20, 1898, par. 8
Mrs. E. G. White