Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1892

Editorial.

By Editor

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.”—2 Tim. 3:16.

Of that organization connected with the cause of God which takes to itself all glory for good done in its line, one of two things may well be questioned: There is a wrong spirit in the hearts of those who make the claims, or the principles underlying the organization are wrong. The latter will almost surely lead to the former.

God quickens, or makes alive, those who accept his gifts. He does not do this after they have attained a certain character or condition by their own efforts, but when they are dead in trespasses and sins. He does not do it because they are worthy, but “for his great love wherewith he loved us.” He does not quicken by our power, but by his Holy Spirit. The when, the why, the how is all of him. All he asks of us is to believe; and if we believe, we choose; and if we choose, we submit. God then works in the submissive soul to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Thus God would do by all, and thus, reader, he would do by you. Why not choose him this day? Now is the accepted time.

The apostle Paul says that those who hope in Christ should be “to the praise of the glory of his grace;” that is, the work wrought in us by his grace should be such as would redound to God’s grace, magnify that grace, and show its wonderful fullness. See Eph. 1:12, 14. What this work is, is shown in verses 4, 5: “In love having predestinated us [marked us out] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” This is the exalted position (children of God) to which he has called us. This is the exalted character (that of Jesus Christ) to which he has marked us out. This is the benevolent plan by which it is accomplished, “the good pleasure of his will.” What wonderful encouragement such assurances should give every Christian! All this is what God wishes to do, is able to do, and Jesus died to do, in us if we will only yield ourselves to his will that he may. When we yield to God, and choose the good pleasure of his will, we may know that his will will work out that which is only for our good. Rom. 8:28. Such is his grace.

There is no greater evidence of a back-slidden church than to see it catering to the world, and seeking for civil power to support its creed or institutions. “Go ye into all the world” is the extent of the mission which Jesus gave his servants. “Preach the gospel,” “preach the word,” to every creature is the scope of the great commission. “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth; go ye therefore,” is the assurance that all the church needed to fulfill her mission was power from Christ, and that would be freely given. Why, then, should a church do as did Israel of old, forsake the Fountain of living waters, and hew out cisterns that can hold no waters? The marshaled powers of earth may seem to be a worthy, noble ally, and promise great results, but defeat and disaster are as sure to follow such an alliance as did the wreck of the merchant ships sent out by the idolatrous Ahab and good Jehoshaphat. He who chooses an earthly ally to meet the barriers of wickedness will find himself pierced by the broken staff on which he leaned.