This Gospel of the Kingdom

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 30, 1916

This Gospel of the Kingdom

In Matt. 24:14 we are told that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

The responsibility of hastening or delaying the coming of Christ rests upon the church; for we are told by the servant of the Lord that the church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.

From the earliest times it has been God’s purpose that the entire church should be instructed and trained to do service for him. To this end “he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ.”

“If every church member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.”

The Church an Agent

“Christ’s church on earth is to be an agent for him. Its members are to be devoted to the work to which God has appointed them, taking their places according to God’s order, and doing the work he has assigned them. The tidings of every successful effort on their part to dispel the darkness and to diffuse the light and knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, are borne upward. The act is presented before all the heavenly intelligences, and thrills through all the principalities and powers, enlisting the sympathy of all heavenly beings. . . .

“Every man, according to his several ability, has been given his work. You are to occupy a place as a laborer together with God, and as his agent you are to gather other agencies and unite them with those already in the work, that the instrumentalities for winning souls to look to Christ may be as many as possible.

“Angels of God are soliciting you to work in fellowship with them, doing the will of God on earth as verily and unitedly and devotedly as they do the work appointed them in heaven and earth. These angels are surveying the ground occupied by the individual members of the church. They see the advantage gained by Satan when men and women neglect their God-appointed work. They see this work neglected or done in a bungling manner by those who claim to be Christ’s, and they sorrow over souls that are lost in consequence of this neglect. They cannot take your place or discharge your duty. Could they do this, they would do it gladly, for they know that your eternal welfare depends upon the use you make of your intrusted talents, your intellect, your reason. They cannot do your work, but they stand ready to cooperate with human agencies as they work to draw souls to Jesus Christ, striving to recover them through the infinite gift made for their redemption.

“It is the duty of every one who claims to believe on Jesus Christ to become a worker for God. Entire consecration and unity are demanded in the work which must be done to bring greater results. I inquire, How can any one be silent when he knows what the Lord Jesus expects from every human being? I implore you that name the name of Christ to no longer be selfishly and wickedly indifferent to your duty.”

The Church to Give the Message

This great reformatory movement with which we are privileged to be connected will never be completed, the full realization of our hopes can never be entered into, “until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers. . . .

“In every church there is talent which, with the right kind of labor, might be developed to become a great help in this work. That which is needed now for the upbuilding of our churches is the nice work of wise laborers to discern and develop talent in the church,—talent that can be educated for the Master’s use. There should be a well-organized plan for the employment of workers to go into all our churches, large and small, to instruct the members how to labor for the upbuilding of the church,— and also for unbelievers. It is training, education, that is needed. Those who labor in visiting the churches should give the brethren and sisters instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work.”

“The strength of an army is measured largely by the efficiency of the men in the ranks. A wise general instructs his officers to train every soldier for active service. He seeks to develop the highest efficiency on the part of all. If he were to depend on his officers alone, he could never expect to conduct a successful campaign. He counts on loyal and untiring service from every man in his army. The responsibility rests largely upon the men in the ranks.

“And so it is in the army of Prince Immanuel. Our General, who has never lost a battle, expects willing, faithful service from every one who has enlisted under his banner in the closing controversy now waging between the forces for good and the hosts of evil. He expects all, laymen as well as ministers, to take part. All who have enlisted as his soldiers are to render faithful service as ministers, with a keen sense of the responsibility resting upon them individually.”