It Is Written | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 27, 1886

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 20

“It Is Written.”

A good preacher once gave his auditors the privilege to ask any question they pleased. A gentleman arose and said, “Do you believe that baptism is necessary?” The preacher answered, “Jesus said suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” “But,” said the man, “do you think it is necessary?” Again the preacher said, “Jesus said that many of the scribes and Pharisees rejected the counsel of God against themselves, by refusing to be baptized of John in Jordan.” “But what do you think of it?” said the man. Again the answer came, “Jesus said, Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” “You are trifling with me,” said the querist. “I want to know if you think it is necessary.” Said the preacher, “Jesus said, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” “But I want to know what is your opinion of the matter,” said the querist. Again came the scriptural reply, “Peter said, Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

At this juncture the colloquy ceased. The preacher did just right. There was no room for his “think-so’s” and “opinions.” The Lord had spoken, and what could the loyal preacher do, but give a “thus saith the Lord” in reply to the man’s question? The people should be made to feel that it is rebellion to question the authority of Heaven for a moment. They should be made to feel that baptism is right because it is commanded. That is all the loyal heart needs to know. . . . Too many sermons have been preached on the design of baptism, and too few on the necessity of loyalty to Heaven’s King. Salvation is in Christ and his blood takes away all sin. Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are only stepping-stones to bring us to Christ. . . . In dealing with mooted questions we cannot be too careful to use the very language of Scripture.—Simpson Ely, in Atlantic Missionary.

Quite true, all of it; and if what the Lord has said were allowed to settle all points of faith and practice, there would be fewer “mooted questions” with which to deal. Suppose, for instance, that we apply this rule to the law and Sabbath. The querist asks, “Do you believe that it is necessary to keep the Sabbath?” The answer is, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Question: “Which day is the Sabbath day?” Answer: “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” “But,” says the querist, “do you consider it necessary to keep that law of which the Fourth Commandment is a part?” Answer: “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Question: “But what do you think?” Answer: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Question: “But what is your opinion?” Answer: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” But again comes the question, “Do you regard it as essential?” and again the answer is a “Thus saith the Lord:” “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” “and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”