Untitled article by P. Strong

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 17, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 14

PAUL SLAIN.

By P. Strong

“For I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Rom. vii, 9. Evidently Paul does not refer here to any period that he did not obey the letter of the law, but to the time when he was living out his Pharisaical religion, and did not see the spiritual force of the law.

Paul had been zealous in his former profession, and thought that he was doing God’s service in persecuting the disciples of this new religion. Therefore, having authority, he starts on a tour of persecution; but the Lord meets him in the way, and reveals to him the truth of the gospel. He sees his error, and a reformation commences. And the commandment which was ordained to [their, the disciples’] life, Paul found to be unto death to him. Verse 10. He had coveted power, and broken the tenth commandment. Verse 7. He feels that he is dead, and the curse of the law is resting on him. And who is to point him the saving way? He cannot go to his former brethren for light. Their light is darkness to him. He therefore turns to this new light, and cries, What shall I do, Lord? Acts xxii, 10. I did not understand that I was fighting against present truth. The Lord does not give him the desired information; but sends him to Straight street, among those whom he had come to persecute, for information.

Ananias is given a vision of Paul’s situation, and what he is destined to suffer with them, and then charged with a message; and after giving it, he said, And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts xxii, 16. Paul had broken one of the commandments, and they slew him. Ananias then buried him with the Lord in baptism, in order to fully initiate him, or bring him to life in the new way, or truth.

How different the conversions of the present time. Some start professing to be dead to the world, but never have been buried, while others live for years without a burial, and then do not follow the pattern given them by the Lord. And there is still another class who profess to have been slain, like Paul, by the law, but do not feel the need of a burial. Paul broke the tenth commandment, and it slew him. He felt the necessity of a burial, and was buried. They have broken the fourth commandment, and were buried while doing so. They now see their sin. Sin revives, and they profess to be slain. Why not be buried? Or is Paul’s sin greater than theirs? Paul had been lusting or coveting honor, and they had been robbing God of his sanctified time. Both are condemned by the same law. Both did it through ignorance. Both ought to follow the same example, and be buried.

And there are others who have laid Christ off by open violation of many of the commandments, returned to the world, and have been renewed again. Would it not be scriptural for such to do their first works over again? Many such embrace the truth; and yet trust in their old experience, and worldly practices. Would it not be safer to begin the work from the foundation? We have a Heaven-sent message in the truths which we as a people believe; which is to cleanse us from all our sins, through obedience, and fit and prepare us to stand the trials of the last day; and that we can meet Jesus with peace when he comes.

P. STRONG. Orange, Ionia Co., Mich.