Not of This World

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 3, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 27.

Not of This World.

THIS Gospel is not of this world, even as Christ and His servants are not of this world. Christ’s kingdom and theirs is therefore not of this world. John 17: 14; 18:36. They therefore have no right to use earthly methods or means for its advancement. Matt. 20: 25-28. The greatest is the humblest, and the one who will be chief must best serve.

The officers in Christ’s church are not to be those who have the right either to condemn or discipline those without the church (1 Cor. 5: 12, 13), nor to lord it over the faith of those within (2 Cor. 1: 24), but to be helpers of their joy. In this they have the example and words of the Master: “And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12: 47, 48.

To His disciples who thought it was their duty to execute the judgment of God upon those who rejected Christ, He said: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9: 55, 56. To-day we have proud and pompous lord bishops, and spiritual lords, but the apostle declares of the ministers of Christ that they were not to be “lords over God’s heritage,” but “ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5: 3.

The weapons of the Christian are not carnal, but nevertheless mighty thru God to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Cor. 10: 4, 5. The outward act of man is to rule by regenerating and ruling the inward thought. The whole panoply of the Christian warrior is wrought in the fire and forge of God. Eph. 6: 13-18. Men are not to be compelled or coerced, but besought and persuaded. 2 Cor. 5: 11.