Within or Without? by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 10, 1904

Within or Without?

By Editor

Editorial

Within or Without?

Where shall we look to find the God of our salvation? Shall we look within or without? Is the power for righteousness developed from within, or is it a gift from without? In the gospel according to man we are instructed to look within, and to develop the power within. In the gospel according to God we are invited to accept power from without. “Power belongeth unto God.” “Except one be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God.” “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” “The bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” “He that hath the Son hath the life.” We may well be afraid of any teaching which leads us to look within for salvation, even though it claims to find God within. Such teaching is simply a variation of Spiritualism, and will lead us finally to despair. That God who created all things, whose throne is in heaven, and whose kingdom ruleth over all, the giver of life, is the only Saviour. To his throne of grace he invites us to come that “we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.” “Cursed is the man that trusteth in man,” even though that man be himself. “From within . . . proceed . . . wickedness, deceit, . . . pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within.” “Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Heaven’s Pledge

There is no possible excuse for weakness and failure in the Christian life. Every provision has been made for success, and he who accepts the gospel of Christ, “the power of God unto salvation,” may have the constant assurance that he is more than conqueror. In entering into covenant relationship with God through faith in Christ we become connected with infinite resources, which can be drawn upon in time of need. This is the pledge of heaven which is given to us as we become united to Christ in his experience of death and resurrection by being “buried with him by baptism.” “As a Christian submits to the solemn rite of baptism, the three highest powers in the universe—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—place their approval on his act, pledging themselves to exert their power in his behalf as he strives to honor God. He is buried in the likeness of Christ’s death, and is raised in the likeness of his resurrection. He went down into the grave, but he rose from the dead, proclaiming over the rent sepulcher, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life.’ The three great powers of heaven pledge themselves to furnish to the Christian all the assistance he requires. The Spirit changes the heart of stone to the heart of flesh. And by partaking of the word of God, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of his Son, Christians obtain an experience that is after the divine similitude. When Christ abides in the heart by faith, the Christian is the temple of God. Christ does not abide in the heart of the sinner, but hearts that are susceptible to the influences of heaven’s instrumentalities, and have been sanctified by obedience to the truth, are representatives of his righteousness. The light that shines forth from the lives of such ones testifies to their humility. Self is hidden from view, and Christ is revealed by good works.” How wonderful is the loving-kindness of the Lord! How complete is the provision for our salvation! How full of meaning is that gospel ordinance, when we are truly baptized “into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”! “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness!”