The Sin of Presumption by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 9, 1872

The Sin of Presumption.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

PRESUMING is defined to be “venturing without permission, too confident, unreasonably bold.” Presumption, “blind, or unreasonable confidence” (Webster).

The death of the Son of God was to redeem man from his fallen condition and fit him to dwell in the kingdom of glory. The redemption covers his entire condition, all that was lost in consequence of the fall, both physical and moral. The object of the promises of God is to bestow upon man, in answer to prayer, such graces and blessings as will assist him in the formation of a character that will be God-like, and thus possess godliness which is profitable for the life that now is, and that which is to come. Therefore, to secure these promises, it is necessary for man to place himself in such a condition that the blessings promised may have this effect upon him. To claim these promises without duly considering the object of them, and placing ourselves in such conditions that the blessings promised will have the designed effect, is presuming upon the mercy of God, and should this be persisted in, and were they granted, they would prove a curse instead of a blessing.

When God took the children of Israel by the hand to lead them in the wilderness, he promised, “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” Ex. 15 : 26.

Such promises are many times repeated in the Bible. Certain conditions were as prominent as the promises and as necessary to be complied with if the promised blessings would be secured. That there might be no obstruction to their faith, and no hindrance to their receiving the blessings promised, he not only gave them

the ten commandments, which are strictly moral in a prominent sense, but gave them particular directions relative to their physical habits. A compliance with all these conditions would just as surely bring the blessing of God upon them as the word of God is reliable; but to disregard these conditions and then attempt to claim the promises would be presumption on the part of the individual; and for God to grant them, he must deny himself and forfeit his own word. The promises of health are as explicit in the New Testament as in the Old. One gift of the Spirit that is placed in the church is the gift of healing (1 Cor. 12); and instances of the sick being healed by the apostles, as well as by Christ, are very many.

No one can doubt the willingness of Christ to grant these blessings inasmuch as the price for the redemption of the body was paid by his blood on Calvary. A kind of foretaste of the redemption of the body (which takes place at the resurrection of the just) has been, and may be, experienced here in the restoration of health. Healing the sick and forgiving sins were often used by the Saviour as meaning about the same thing.

Physical duties are as clearly enjoined in the New Testament as in the Old. It is therefore presuming upon the mercy of God, and lightly esteeming the price paid for these blessings, to neglect to give heed to the laws of our being.

Is it too much to say that one great cause of the weakness, spiritually and physically, among the professed people of God, is neglect to obey the laws of our being? The laws that govern our physical being emanate from the same Being that spoke amid the thunderings of Sinai’s mount, and are as unchangeable as himself. Therefore, to neglect to inform ourselves on this important subject, and still expect God to bless with health is to occupy the position of the sinner who has no interest to know what sin is, yet expects that God, somehow, will forgive and save him. It is therefore presuming upon the mercy of God in a definite manner; and the Judgment will reveal that a fatal mistake has been made.

There should be more of a waking up on this important subject. The religion of the Bible is as extensive as the world, and as high as Heaven; for it originated there. It embraces everything that is good. In lying down and rising up, in going out and coming in, the language of the heart should be, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” And when he speaks, we make haste to do his commandments; and his voice is as distinctly heard in physical law, as in moral. Then will be verified the promise, “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3 : 22. But where there is a disregard for the practical duties of the Christian religion, and neglect to give heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit in what relates to health, then to venture to claim the promises of God is solemn mockery.

S. N. HASKELL.