Your ShelfYour Projects

Religious Liberty — a Bible Reading

4%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 4, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 31.

Read the full edition

Religious Liberty — a Bible Reading

By C. M. S.

Force Not a Gospel Agency

1. How is the work of God in saving men carried on in the earth? Zech. 4:6.
2. How are men's hearts purified? Acts 15:8, 9.
3. How does Christ dwell in the heart? Eph. 3:17.
4. Can faith be forced? or is it a voluntary act? Note 1.
5. What is our Saviour's attitude toward freedom in belief? John 12:47; note 2.
6. What does Paul say of the weapons of the Christian warfare? 2 Cor. 10:3, 4.
7. What is the only sword he mentions in enumerating the whole armor of God? Eph. 6:13-17.
8. What does he say of its power? Heb. 4:12.
9. What reason did Christ give for his servants not fighting in his behalf? John 18:36.
10. When Peter attempted to defend his Master with a sword, what did Christ say to him? Matt. 26:52.
11. When two of Christ's disciples desired to use force against the Samaritans, who “did not receive him,” how did he rebuke them? Luke 9:51-56.
12. To whom does vengeance belong? Rom. 12:19; note 3.
13. What kind of worshipers does the Lord seek? John 4:23, 24.
14. What did the Saviour say of his attitude toward those who refused to believe his word? John 12:47.
15. What course does he pursue with every soul? Rev. 3:20; John 12:32.
16. What course does he forbid among his disciples? Luke 22:25, 26; Matt. 20:25, 26.
17. What Scriptural expressions indicate proper methods of gospel work? — Answer: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel;” “I entreat thee;” “We persuade men;” “We pray you;” “I beseech you;” “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life.”
18. How is the servant of the Lord to labor for the erring? 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
19. In seeking to convert men, how does God appeal to them? Isa. 1:18.

Notes

1. Faith is the gift of God, but it is ours to exercise. God leaves it optional with us whether we will use the faith he gives. All the nations of earth have not sufficient power to force a single soul to believe anything. If one believes, it must be through force of conviction from accepting certain testimony, and not by outward constraint. Faith is voluntary. Its foundation is the Word of God (Rom. 10:17); but no one can by force compel another to believe the Bible. “Where legal enactment begins, moral suasion ends.”—Christian Union.
2. “Almighty God hath created the mind free; all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens, or by civil incapacitation, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the holy Author of our religion, who, being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercion on either, as was in his power to do.”—Thomas Jefferson.
3. Vengeance, or retributive justice, belongs to God to execute, and not to man, because all men are alike accountable to God for their conduct. Therefore we are not to become angry and avenge ourselves for the wrong-doings of others, but we are to “give place unto wrath,” that is, God's wrath,—for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” The Lord's wrath will be visited in harmony with the principles of justice, love, and righteousness. God has not committed to men the work of judging, condemning, and executing vengeance upon any one. The Papacy has often shown its antichristian character by engaging in such work.
C. M. S.