THE MONUMENTS by B. F. Merritt

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 27, 1878

THE MONUMENTS.

By B. F. Merritt

JUDE exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." It is for the "old paths" that we inquire. Since it is through faith that we are saved, and "without faith it is impossible to please God," how important is the question, "What must we believe?"

A belief in man-made theories which are opposed to God's truth, can never please God, however ardent the believer may be; nor does the performance of rites and ceremonies, should they cost us much, recommend us in any degree to God, if he has not required it. It is a belief of the truth, and the works that consequently follow the belief, that please God. As all points of the compass are embraced in the four cardinal points, east, west, north and south, so the truths of revealed religion are all embraced in four great truths, which I shall call cardinal points of faith. To each of these points God has erected what I shall call a monument to keep it from being lost.

1. We must believe that the Author of the Universe is God.

"He that cometh to God must believe that he is." Said the angel with the everlasting gospel, "Fear God . . . . and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water." By a little thought you will see that many truths cluster about this first great truth. If God be the Author of the universe, then he is the author of our existence; and if he be the author of our being, it is our duty to honor, love, and obey him.

Now behold the monument erected to this truth. "And hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Ezek. 20:20. "I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Verse 12.

"It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." Ex. 31:17.

By keeping the Sabbath, men show that they believe in the true God, the Creator of all things. Had this institution always been observed by all mankind, a knowledge of the living and true God would never have been lost by any. There never would have been erected an idol, but this truth would have been believed by all: The Author of all things is God.

2. We must believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God, died for us.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15. We have all been poisoned by sin, and only by laying our sins by faith upon that sacrifice can we be cleansed. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree."

How many truths cluster about this! If Christ died to redeem us, then we were lost. By believing this we acknowledge ourselves sinners. It follows as a consequent truth that if Christ died for us, then we may be saved.

Now let us see the monument erected at this cardinal point.

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." 1 Cor. 11:25, 26.

Here, then, we have a fitting ordinance, which, like a monument, keeps this great truth from being hidden: that Jesus Christ died for us.

3. We must believe that Christ was raised from the dead.

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.

By reading the 15th chapter of the first Corinthian letter, it will be seen how important Paul considered it to be, that we believe that Christ was raised from the dead.

The fact that Christ now lives, and that he will raise to life all his sleeping saints at the last day, and many other important facts of faith, cluster around this great truth that Christ was raised from the dead.

Now let us see the monument at this point.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Rom. 6:3, 4.

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Col. 2:12. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above." Col. 3:1.

As Christ was buried, and rose again so we, when dead to sin, are buried in the watery grave, and rise to walk the new life. Thus we give a public assent to the gospel, confessing ourselves to be sinners, and our faith in him who died for us, and showing forth his burial and resurrection.

Some have thought that a day should be kept as a memorial of the resurrection of Christ; but how much more fitting is the appointed ordinance of God to show forth this great fact.

4. We must believe that the teachings of Christ are Divine, and for us to follow.

The example and teaching of Christ are one to us, as he practiced what he taught. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12.

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:34, 35. Now what ordinance have we, in which we show (1) our humility and special love for each other, and (2) that we are disciples (that is learners) of Christ, and believe his example is for us to follow?

We turn to John, 13th chapter and read, "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Here, then, we have in the ordinance of feet washing a monument declaring, not only the excellency of the teaching of Christ in producing humility and cementing love in believers, but also our belief that the teachings of Christ are to be circumspectly followed.

Here we see four monuments, each declaring a great truth which we must believe. During the dark ages, the commandments of God and every ordinance of the Christian church, were changed. In the place of the Sabbath was put the first day of the week. In the place of broken bread were put wafers, the mind being impressed with the thought that they were in reality Jesus. In the place of baptism was put sprinkling; and in the place of feet-washing, among brethren, the pope, as Christ's vicar on earth, washed the feet of priests.

As the reformation has progressed, one new truth after another has been developed till now we see such beauty and harmony in the Christian system, that every honest thinking man must confess its excellence.

Let us thank God for the truth and take courage, and with renewed zeal "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."—B. F. Merritt, in Review.