The Power of God

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 9, 1913

WE are often reminded of the peculiar situation in our great cities, the unamalgamated masses of recent immigrants. But look into the New Testament (Acts 2:9-11). What a mixture!—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and Gentiles, Cretes and Arabians. There is no difference between that multitude and the masses in our great cities. There are those who have never heard the gospel, those who have rejected it, and the Jews. The gospel met the needs of all. It changed the Ethiopian, converted the Jew, and conquered the corruption of Rome, for it is the power of God by his Holy Spirit. It is able to meet all needs and conditions today. Man, especially modern man, sometimes thinks he can change the social side of life, and he thinks, and plans, and works, earnestly and determinedly. But his thoughts are vanity, and his labors are vain.

The church has the twofold purpose— spiritual and social. The emphasis must be placed on the spiritual, and when sinners are saved and believers are quickened, then new social life will follow. The word of the Lord which came to Solomon (2 Chron. 7:14) is true still: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Paul always emphasized the spiritual. Whenever the church has maintained this same emphasis, she has prospered. Whenever she has shifted the emphasis upon the social side, she has become weak. The church in all her work should place the emphasis today upon the declaration that Christ came into the world to save sinners.—Selected.