Preaching the Gospel by H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1875

Preaching the Gospel.

By H. F. Phelps

“Why don’t you preach the gospel?” “Why don’t you preach Christ?” These questions are often asked by our opponents, who thus insinuate that we do not preach Christ and the gospel, and their insinuations have an effect upon the minds of some. These questions are often asked with great emphasis upon the words “gospel” and “Christ,” as though our preaching was entirely void of the teachings of Christ. They would have it appear that we do not expect to be saved through Christ, but by our own works. All who have had the honesty to examine the reasons of our faith know that we do believe in Christ, that we expect to be saved through Christ or not at all, and that those who are saved at last will ascribe their salvation to God and the Lamb forever and ever.

We might ask this question of our opponents and with reason too—for they do not preach the whole gospel—What does the gospel embrace? The word gospel means good news. The gospel of the kingdom means good news concerning the kingdom. The gospel embraces the promise to the woman. This was the first gospel sermon to man. Its fulfillment must cover the entire plan of salvation, all of which a man must preach or preach only a part of the gospel. The gospel plan embraces, 1. The first coming of Christ. 2. His resurrection. 3. His Ascension. 4. His ministration in the first apartment of the sanctuary above. 5. His ministration in the most holy place—a work of especial interest to the church of God. This work is the atonement for the sins of God’s people. And as “sin is the transgression of the law,” it follows that he is to atone for the violation of the commandments, including the Sabbath precept. 6. His second coming in the clouds of heaven, to take vengeance on the ungodly, and to resurrect the righteous dead and change the righteous living; in short, to save his people in the everlasting kingdom of God.

All these great truths are plainly taught in the Bible. They constitute the gospel. Those who preach them are emphatically preaching the gospel, preaching Christ. Those who preach the gospel must preach the law also; for Christ is to save his people from their sins, not in them. No promise is given to save people in violation of any one of God’s holy precepts. Hence it is very easy to see that those who preach Christ and the gospel must preach also the law.

We do preach Christ, Christian friend. We preach him crucified, buried, risen again, and ascended up to Heaven. And we do not stop here; but we preach him ministering there over a broken law, and finally coming to save his people and punish those who persist in disobedience. Be they high or low, rich or poor, priest or people, they will soon be convinced that God’s righteousness (or law) is not abolished.

We do preach the gospel. We preach the everlasting gospel; and it is going to peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Who will join in the glorious work? H. F. PHELPS.