NO CROSS, NO CROWN by J. M.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1877

NO CROSS, NO CROWN.

By J. M.

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” —JESUS.

By the cross is signified religious duties of every kind. Self-denial, self-discipline, and self-conquest, are made indispensable prerequisites for the kingdom of Heaven. The cross stands in the path of duty. To proceed as a Christian it must be embraced. Christ is the only way to God. By his atonement, example, doctrine, and commandments, we may enter in at the narrow gate. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1. There is no other way, there can be no other way, than by Christ.

Religious duties are irksome and disagreeable to the carnal mind. Of all who present themselves as candidates for Heaven, it is required that they become humble as a little child, penitent for sin, and pure as he is pure, that they deny self, crucify the flesh, subdue inordinate desire, set the affections on things above, hunger and thirst after righteousness, forgive enemies, submit to persecutions for Christ’s sake, exercise a constant watchfulness over themselves and against the world and the devil.

Religious duties are imposed, not that by performing them we may earn a title to Heaven, but because they are necessary to the purification of our moral nature. Through the grace of God we may be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. To neglect the cross is to neglect all. It is to go forth to meet the bridegroom without your lamps trimmed, and without oil in your vessels; it is to go to the feast without the wedding garment on.

They that put their hands to the plow, and look back, become unfit for the kingdom of God. This is why we have so many deformed Christians to-day, ignorant of the great principles of religion, of its power to save. They wear it as a cloak to hide the deformity within. So inadequate are their conceptions of its excellency that they will not sacrifice a single lust, a momentary gratification, or one darling idol, to insure the eternal weight of glory which it promises.

This is the conclusion of the whole matter. When Christ comes to judge the world, all who will not now take up the cross will be regarded as enemies. Instead of the crown, they will have the curse. Instead of Heaven, they will have everlasting destruction in that lake that burns with fire and brimstone, that is prepared for the devil and his angels. J. M.