DENYING THE POWER by A. Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 10, 1879

DENYING THE POWER.

By A. Smith

We are forewarned in the Scriptures of a class of religionists that should appear just prior to the second advent, possessing a form of godliness, but denying its power. Evidently the Holy Spirit would not name a peculiarity as distinguishing any time, place, or people, without also making it possible to determine what constitutes such peculiarity. It is not likely that the class in question will deny what they believe to be the power of godliness; but, on the contrary, we may expect them to boast of possessing it, for they are declared to be boasters. Their negations, therefore, must be concerning what really constitutes the power of godliness.

This power, at any time, evidently consists in believing and accepting the truth of God for the time then present; and a denial thereof consists in denying such truth.

Had the Jews accepted the testimony of John the Baptist, when he preached the first advent of Christ, they would have been prepared to receive the Messiah; their policy and nation, freed from a foreign yoke, and their sacred capital with its beautiful temple, would doubtless have stood forever. But the care with which the zealous sects of that day taught and practiced their ancient customs and ceremonies, had no power to save while they denied what to them was present truth, and rejected and crucified the Saviour.

The flood, the exode, the Babylonish captivity, and the first advent, were all events to the preaching of which the Holy Spirit witnessed in due time; but had any man or class of men undertaken to transpose them, the Holy Spirit could not have applied the testimony to the hearts and consciences of men, though such testimony should have been given in the prescribed form, except as to the time of application; and such preaching would have failed to save the souls of men.

The preaching of the second advent as an impending event is God’s truth for this time, or it is a fanatical movement upon which Heaven will frown. Let the fruit which it bears witness to its character. From a small beginning, within the present generation, it has become mighty in its power, and world-wide in the extent of its influence. But, what is better, it has transformed the infidel into a devout believer; changed the thoughtless, selfish worldling into the humble Christian; and raised the child of God, whom it found in fetters of error, to an elevated plane of spirituality and usefulness. Is this the fruit of fanaticism, the result of deception? No. God is in this movement; and in the Judgment those who clog its wheels or delay its progress will have to answer to him for their misdeeds.

That there are many now claiming to be Christians who deny the importance of the advent movement, and especially reject the Sabbath of the Bible, even after the claims of the third angel’s message have been set forth before them with convincing power, is apparent to the most casual observer. Professed ministers of the gospel will, from the desk, infer or directly express their antagonism to the whole law of God, in order to get rid of the Sabbath which it embodies. The destiny of souls may hang upon their words, yet they do not fear to allow personal feeling or interest to dictate their enunciation.

What a fearful responsibility rests upon those who, while claiming to be ambassadors for Christ, and pointing the way to Heaven, lead souls on to irretrievable ruin!

Reader, God has given you the Bible as a sure guide amid the errors of these last days; then, though a professed angel from Heaven should appear with a testimony not confirmed by that holy word, receive him not. “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20. “From such turn away.” 2 Tim. 3:5.

A. SMITH.