p. 18 | A Synopsis of Studies Given at the Philadelphia Ministerial Institute

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 20, 1911

A Synopsis of Studies Given at the Philadelphia Ministerial Institute

By Arthur G. Daniells

The Gospel Ministry — No. 1

A Synopsis of Studies Given at the Philadelphia Ministerial Institute

IN planning the work of the ministerial institute held in Philadelphia, it was arranged for me to give a series of studies on the gospel ministry. Our first study was devoted to a consideration of three fundamental propositions relating to the great question of salvation:—

1. The gospel is the means which God has provided for the salvation of man from sin. Here is the proof: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. Thus the gospel and sin are brought into sharp conflict. Sin reveals the power of Satan; for “the devil,” it is declared, “sinneth from the beginning.” 1 John 3:8. The gospel reveals the power of God. Sin leads into bondage. “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin;” “for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” John 8:34; 2 Peter 2:19. The gospel delivers from this bondage “into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Rom. 8:21; Gal. 5:1.

Now the gospel of Christ is not only the means of salvation from sin, but it is the only means; for it is written, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. The gospel is the only hope of this lost world. Every human being who desires salvation must look to the gospel of Christ for it. Here, and here alone, may it be found.

What a dark, lamentable condition is presented in those heathen lands whose teeming millions know nothing of the gospel of Jesus Christ! They have their gods and their religions, in which they put their trust; but these religions are all Christless, and can not, therefore, save them from sin. There is absolutely no hope for one of these countless millions except through the gospel of the blessed Christ. Every Christian, and especially every minister of the gospel, should understand and sense this great, important fact; for it is only by a full realization of it that we can truly appreciate the appalling condition of this great mass of humanity going down in eternal ruin. The preacher who is prepared to admit that any other religion than that of the gospel of Christ has any power to save men from sin, will surely prove a failure in his endeavor to win the lost.

2. Preaching is the primary means God has appointed for making the gospel known to men. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; but, as saith the Scripture, “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Rom. 10:14. Here is the answer: “For . . . it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Cor. 1:21. Jesus, who came to seek and to save the lost, declared at the beginning of his public work that the Lord had anointed him to preach the gospel (Luke 4:18); and Paul, who was called to that same work, said: “Wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Cor. 9:16. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14. And finally, the closing work of God for the world is set before us as follows: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

Thus it is clear that God has very definitely chosen and designated preaching as the great, primary means of conveying to men his remedy for saving them from sin. This lifts preaching to a high plane. It is a divine calling and vocation. It is the foundation of all true gospel activity. No other kind of gospel service can of right be substituted for preaching. No other class of gospel workers can rightly take the place of the preachers. Whenever any

other means has been allowed to supplant the preaching of the gospel, the cause of Christ has suffered loss.

3. The Holy Spirit is the divine agency God has given to make the preaching of the gospel effective. Perhaps the facts recorded concerning the ministry of Christ constitute the most impressive evidence that can be given in proof of this proposition. He entered upon his public ministry “in the power of the Spirit.” Luke 4:14. In his first recorded sermon he told why he was thus endued: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel.” Verse 18. Of the effectiveness of his preaching we have the following statements: “Never man spake like this man.” John 7:46. “All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” Luke 4:22. “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7:29. “When the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” Matt. 9:8. “He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works?” Matt. 13:54.

Jesus did not hesitate to tell the people the source of the wisdom and power which so impressed them. He said: “I can of mine own self do nothing;” “As the Father hath taught me, I speak these things;” “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

Now it is more than evident that if it was necessary for Christ to be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to make his preaching effective, it is surely necessary for every other preacher to receive this same enduement. Christ forcibly impressed this upon his disciples. When he was about to leave the world, he said to them: “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20:21, 22. When telling them that they were to be his witnesses among all nations, he charged them thus: “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. And he made it very clear to them just how they would get this power which would make their preaching effective. He said: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Acts 1:8.

The question of the preacher’s being endued with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to preach effectively is a vital question. It is fundamental in God’s endeavor to save sinners. The gospel is the divine means for saving men. Preaching is the divinely appointed way of conveying the gospel to men. The Holy Spirit is the divine agency to make the preaching of the gospel reach the hearts of men. Without the last the first two must surely fail.

How important, then, that this great, fundamental question be given due consideration by the ministry! This must be done. There is no way of evading it, except at the peril of both the minister and the sinner. There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. Learning, eloquence, long experience, material equipment, great personality, or even busy activity, can never take the place of the Holy Spirit in the effectual preaching of the gospel. Men may succeed as financiers, lawyers, surgeons, teachers, etc., without even recognizing the existence of the Holy Spirit. We may even operate our denominational and institutional machinery with some success without feeling any special need of the Spirit’s help. We may manage a printing-house, stand at the head of a college, and direct the administrative affairs of a department of a conference, or even of the conference itself, without any special enduement of the Holy Spirit’s power. But there is one thing that can never be done by man, and that is to preach the gospel effectually without the power of the Holy Spirit. We can not win souls to Christ without that. O that God may teach us who are gathered at this institute our great need of this heavenly enduement, and bestow it upon us in larger measure than we have ever received it! This alone will surely repay us for having come here.

A. G. DANIELLS.