WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING? by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 5, 1901

WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING?

By Editor

EDITORS OF THE REVIEW AND HERALD: The members of our Sabbath-school have been studying, or trying to study, the book of Galatians all through the quarter, and do not know what we have been studying about. Some of us think we have studied both laws together; others think we have studied the moral law; while others say it is the ceremonial law all through the book of Galatians, and nothing else. Now I wish you would tell us what law we have studied this quarter. Please answer through the REVIEW.

We publish this letter and answer it in the REVIEW, because it is a sample of a number that we have received; and we fear that it tells the experience of a great many persons, and, indeed, a good many whole Sabbath-schools throughout the United States.

The letter asks us to tell what law these folks have studied the past quarter, in the Sabbath-school lessons. We can not tell. For when they themselves can not tell what law they have been studying, who are the very ones who have been doing the studying, how can we be expected to tell, when we were not there at all to know what they were studying? Perhaps even if we ourselves had been among them, it would have been as difficult for us to tell what law they were studying, as it is for them to tell.

One thing we do know; that is, that no law at all has been the subject of study in the Sabbath-school lessons themselves; but the gospel only. We know that in the Sabbath-school lessons as written and as published in the Sabbath-school lesson books, papers, etc., the sole subject for study, from the first verse of Galatians unto the last one that has been before the schools, and even to the end of the book, has been and is the gospel, and the gospel only.

It could not be otherwise, and be a study of the book of Galatians; for the gospel is the only subject of the book. This is made plain at the very outset of the book itself. The very first words of actual address in the book are: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” And that is the gospel, and the gospel alone.

The very next words of the book are: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

That shows emphatically that the only subject that was in the mind of the writer of the book of Galatians, is the gospel. There is, indeed, a question as to whether it is the true or the false gospel, the genuine gospel or the perverted gospel; yet, for all that, the only subject is the gospel.

The following verses in the first chapter (11-14) show that the subject is still the gospel; that the gospel is received by the “revelation of Jesus Christ,” and that it delivered Paul from the false gospel, the traditions of the Jews’ religion.

The next verses (15, 16) still emphasize the fact that it is only the gospel that is treated, showing how the revelation of that gospel is Christ in you the hope of glory: “It pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen.” And that is the gospel.

The narrative of Paul’s experience, in the remaining part of the first chapter and the greater part of the second chapter, is all given as a means of demonstrating how he stood firmly, and even alone, and alone against even Peter himself, for “the truth of the gospel,” and in order that “the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

Then the book takes up the thought of what this gospel is, and demonstrates by every possible consideration, with all the intensity of the Spirit of God, that it is righteousness by faith—justification, salvation, redemption, sanctification, by faith of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit of God.

And so it continues throughout the whole book. There is no other subject, there is no other thought in the whole book, than the gospel, and “the truth of the gospel,” and the salvation that is wrought in those in whom that “truth of the gospel” shall find a place.

We say that the letter at the beginning of this article is a sample. And, indeed, it is only a fair sample of a number of letters that have come to this Office, with respect to the Sabbath-school lessons of the book of Galatians. But what a sad story it tells: that there are people, professing to be Christians, who are studying Sabbath after Sabbath, and week in and week out, for six months, and more, a book of the Bible that deals wholly with the gospel, and yet have not been able to find any gospel at all! but only questions, disputations, and strivings about some law, or what law!

This is astonishing, and as painful as it is astonishing. We are exceedingly sorry to have to print such a letter. And if this had been the only one, or a sample of only two or three, or half a dozen, we should not have printed it. But when it is only a fair sample of a considerable number, and simply reveals a condition that, though indeed not general, is far too widespread, it is only proper that it should be printed, and that some endeavor be made to better the condition.

We are glad to say that we do not believe that this condition is general. We know that there are thousands upon thousands of persons who, in the study of the Sabbath-school lessons, have found, from the beginning, and have studied from the beginning, that which is the true subject of the book, and of all the studies—the gospel, “the truth of the gospel.” And we know that these have been made glad with the joy and the fullness of the great salvation that is revealed in that gospel, as it is in this precious book of Galatians. These have found a great improvement and a general advancement in their experience in Christ and the power of the gospel.

But what can be done for these others who have wholly missed the subject of the lessons, from beginning to end? What can be done to help these who have been studying the gospel for more than six months, and yet “do not know what we have been studying about”? The studies in this book are almost ended; there remain but four lessons. And since these have gone through the whole series of more than six months without discovering the subject, and, so, without having really studied the lessons at all—how can these now be helped to find it, and to have the benefit of it?

We know what will supply this loss: we know what will accomplish in these the purpose of the book of Galatians. It is this: Let each one read, carefully and prayerfully, the book of Galatians THROUGH, each day, praying constantly: “Lord, show me thy gospel, the true gospel, the truth of the gospel.” Put away forever all discussions and “strivings about the law,” even as saith the Scripture: “Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Titus 3:9.

Ask only for the gospel, study only for the gospel. And once find in your life the revelation of that gospel; and, in one minute, by that revelation, you will know ten thousand times more about the law and all laws than you could ever possibly know, to all eternity, by any questions, discussions, and “strivings about the law,” or as to which law, or whether it is one law or another, or whether it is all together.

It is not the law at all, but the gospel, that saves, and that gives light on all the law.

“The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”