p. 173 | OUR ROCK by W. S. Foote

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1858

OUR ROCK.

By W. S. Foote

"Their rock is not as our rock, even our enemies themselves being judges." Deut. xxxii, 31.

It is often said by the members of the nominal churches, that the name that we have found for them in the word of God, cannot be applied to them with propriety, as there is perfect agreement among them with regard to the essentials of salvation; which are Repentance, Faith and Obedience, and consequently they all expect to reach the same happy home.

If the foundation of the superstructure which they have raised, is composed exactly of such materials as the great architect of our religion has placed beneath his own temple here, then all is well; but we have some doubts about that matter. Let us hear what the apostle Paul says about the worshipers in the Lord's temple. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom (i. e., Jesus Christ, the apostles and prophets) all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." Eph. ii, 19, 21. "There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Eph. iv, 4, 5. We understand by "one body," one church, not 666 different ones. "And he is the head of the body, the church." Col. i, 18. We understand also that one Spirit animates this body, which is the Spirit of Christ, and that Spirit cannot lead us astray; and the fruit of the Spirit is love, and leads its possessor to love God and keep his commandments. Such a Spirit dares not to sit in judgment on the word of God, receiving a part and rejecting the rest of it.

We believe with the Apostle, that "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Rom. xv, 4. "Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour." 2 Pet. iii, 2. The foundation upon which the apostles and prophets stood is good enough for us, and that is charity; for a full definition of which read in Ex. xx, 3-17, a perfect manuscript of what may be found in the ark of the testimony above, and by which you and I shall be judged worthy of eternal life or eternal death.

The rock upon which the apostles and prophets stood, is eternal rock, which is "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." They have never told us, as some modern teachers do, that the moral law is abrogated; that the Sabbath law is a myth; that the soul is immortal; or that we have nothing to do with the Prophets. We are glad that we have not so learned Christ, but can look up with glorious hope and read over the portals of the heavenly city, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

W. S. FOOTE.

Pendleton, O.