A Hope Revived by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1902

A Hope Revived

By Editor

Editorial

A Hope Revived

DURING the last ten or fifteen years some hearts have grown weary in waiting for the consummation of their hopes in the second advent of our Lord, and some have been led to question whether they would see the end of this work, and be among those who would be translated. It is refreshing to know that the hope of some is being strongly revived as they see the indications that this people are really planning to send this message speedily to the nations of the earth. We know that some who have been long connected with this movement are thanking the Lord for the prospect of more rapid progress in the different fields. The solution of the whole problem will quickly be realized when each one who knows this truth will give the message to those just near him in whatever field he may be. In this way the work will be carried forward with rapid strides, the millions will learn the glad news of the soon-coming Saviour, and a people will be prepared to meet him. So let it be.

Genuine Justification

THERE is a great difference between the truth and the mere form of words in which the truth may be stated. Knowledge of the form of the statement is not necessarily knowledge of the truth. There are many texts in the Scripture in which the word “justification” is found, and there are many other texts which teach the truth of justification without using the word “justification.” The real essence of justification can be understood only through personal experience. It is sharing in the character of God. It is the restoration to man of that which was lost through sin. It is the repudiation of human nature, and the acceptance of the divine nature. It is learning the meekness of him who is “meek and lowly in heart.” This is clear from the Lord’s own statement through the prophet Habakkuk: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just [righteous] shall live by his faith.” In the final analysis, all sin is a rebellion against God, an effort to cast God down from his own throne, and to put self in the place of God. It begins in the lifting up of the heart against God. This was the experience of Lucifer. “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” All sin since that original one has been the continuance of that same sin, a lifting up of the heart against God. The experience of justification by faith reverses all this, and changes the defiant rebel into the humble servant. By it self is repudiated, humbled in the dust, and the true relationship between the creature and the Creator is re-established. And the only way to understand the doctrine of justification by faith is through this very experience, and it can be taught with the success which God desires to attend the teaching of his truth only after it has been known to the teacher through this experience. This way of learning truth does not always seem joyous while the lesson is being taught, but “it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” What a blessed Teacher we have! What precious lessons he teaches us! What possibilities of comfort are found in the promise, “They shall be all taught of God”! What a glorious privilege is offered to us in the invitation to humble ourselves to walk with God! Blessed is the man who does it.