The Lord Himself by Selected

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 31, 1882

The Lord Himself.

By Selected

SOME systems of human philosophy exist irrespective of the character or existence of their founders. Bad men may teach good doctrine; heathen philosophers may say things which are well worthy of regard; and these things thus taught or spoken, stand upon their own merits, independent of the characters of their authors. Hence, when people can dig out some choice sentence from the dunghill of heathen fables, they parade it abroad, as proving its author the equal of Christ, who may have said things in some respects similar.

But the gospel of Christ is no mere system of ethics, existing independently, and on its own merits. It has ethical merits unapproached by other systems, but its existence does not depend upon them. Its existence depends upon Christ, and it depends upon Him, as no earthly system depends upon its founder. His truth is so wrapped up and interwoven with his personality, that they stand and fall together.

Our Saviour does not come to us with beautiful theories, but he comes to us with mighty facts. He does not come simply as a Great Teacher, but he comes as an Almighty Saviour. He does not so much occupy his time with telling us what we should do for ourselves or for him, as he does with telling us what he has done and proposes to do for us. Heathen philosophers have been generous of their advice and counsel, but sparing of their help. They tell us what we must do for ourselves, but if we ask what they propose to do for us, we get no response. But throughout the teachings of Christ there runs this sublime consciousness of gracious power, this divine egotism, which, though joined with the utmost humility, yet is entirely unparalleled in all the experience of man.

We have read beautiful things in Plato and Socrates, but we have never heard either of them say, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." We have heard various fine-spun theories concerning life and immortality, but among them all there has been but one voice which has said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." There is no other teacher, no other leader, who has dared to say, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." "I am the True Vine." "I am the Good Shepherd." "I am come that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly." "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."

Such statements, assertions, and promises as these, emanate from only a single source. No other man, however wise, pious, presumptuous, or conceited, has ever dared or cared to say such words as these. These are the utterances of one of whom it is said, "It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." And the preaching of the gospel is not the preaching of theories, opinions, guesses, or dreams; but it is the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified; Christ, forsaking the glory which he had before the world was; Christ, coming into this world to save the lost, and to do the Father's will; Christ, who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor; Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, brought up at Nazareth, baptized in Jordan, crucified on Calvary, buried in Joseph's tomb, raised the third day, and who ascended to Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God, ever living to make intercession for us. This is the one great center of the Christian system—not an idea, not a doctrine, not a fact, but a living, immortal, personal Christ, who sits enthroned in Heaven; and who there waits the accomplishment of the divine purposes, the subjection of all things to himself.

Our faith must keep pace with him, and with the march of God’s mighty providence. We are not to linger at Bethlehem’s manger, nor at Calvary’s cross, nor at Joseph’s tomb; our Christ is not there; he is risen. Our hearts are going up in adoration to him, as he sits enthroned today; and our thoughts are to go forward to that hour when "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." 2 Thess. 4: 16, 17.

Around the person of our Lord, in that day of his coming, "and our gathering together unto him," shall congregate "the general assembly and church of the first-born whose names are written in Heaven." He who has been the author of our faith shall then be its finisher. He who has planted in our hearts the life and light and joy of God, shall reveal himself as the sun and center of God’s great plan and system; "and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation."

Let us not preach a Christless gospel. Let the theme of our testimony and our song be "Jesus and the resurrection;" and let us, as we love him, proclaim his grace and lead other sinners to draw nigh to him, and "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world."—Selected.