p. 125 | CONFESSING CHRIST by B. F. Robbins.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 8, 1860

CONFESSING CHRIST.

By B. F. Robbins.

CONFESSING Christ in the public assembly is as much the duty and privilege of the Christian as it is to believe on his name unto righteousness. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." For the true believer it is a great privilege to testify to others the truth and faithfulness of his covenant-keeping God. The experience of the faithful is a constant advance in a life of godliness, developing more and more the wonders of grace, and proving more and more the faithfulness of God in the precious promises of his word; and brighter and brighter shines the light of life from the sure word of prophecy, so that they always feel the obligation at all times, and in the public assembly, to confess the truth to the glory of God.

But cold formality in the ministry and in the churches of these last days, has dispensed with confession for Christ in the Sabbath assembly. It is unpopular with the worldly, and the minister fears his own popularity may suffer if the plain-spoken brother or sister should be a public witness for Jesus, and certainly so, if they were looking for and loving his appearing.

In the church that had my name upon its record until a few months since, the pastor usually gave liberty for testimony after his discourse, but a few of us only availing ourselves of the privilege, and that few being Adventists, it was thought best to give no more liberty to us lest the leaven of the Advent heresy should infuse itself into the church, and destroy her popularity and offend the worldly and fashionable. So the minister assumes the responsibility of confessing for the church and congregation, and all others must be silent.

Paul in 1 Cor. xiv, 23–25, gives directions in regard to meetings of the whole church: "If therefore the whole church be come together in one place," &c. "But if all prophesy and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all." "And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling down upon his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth." Faithfulness in confessing Christ will be attended with the same results now as then, and constrain the unbelieving and the unlearned to the same confession that God is in us of a truth; and thus the precious truth of God's word will be honored and God glorified in the church.

Paul recognizes here a meeting of the whole church. The servants and hand-maidens of the Lord had come together into one place, and all prophesied—how much like the blessed day of Pentecost when upon all there the tongue of flame descended and sat upon them.

But what is the prophesying in which the whole church are to take part when come together in one place? The third verse of this chapter answers the question. "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort." Now mark: all the brethren and sisters prophesy; and this is what gives the meeting efficiency and power to edify and comfort the saints; all will be mutually blessed and encouraged. How much does our experience prove this truth, and how important that all realize our responsibility! for if unfaithful in this duty we have not only injure ourselves, but we also injure others. I have long been of the opinion that in the assemblies of the saints, all of them at some time in the meeting, are moved by the Spirit to prophesy, and if all faithfully follow the promptings of the Spirit, the interview will be blessed abundantly; because in so doing there is harmony with the Spirit—it is being led by the Spirit. Hence the responsibility upon all to be faithful. But another effect of faithfulness in confessing Christ, or in prophesying on the part of all the church is, "If there come in one (or more) that believeth not or is unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all; and so falling down upon his face, he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth." This is as certainly true now as in the Apostle's day; and if so, who of us will dare to be silent in our church assemblies, when the glory of Christ is concerned and the honor of the truth, and when the instruction of the unbelieving and unlearned may result in their glorifying God and submitting to the truth? Let the timid and weak be encouraged! let them be bold for Jesus, and remember that the time has come spoken of by the prophet Malachi: "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels."

Timid disciple, be strong! Put on a holy boldness. Let the weak say, I am strong in the Lord! Be faithful in speaking often one to another amid the trials and discouragements of these last days.

God will write us in the book of his remembrance and gather us as his bright jewels in the day of our Master's coming. How the fashionable bodies of this day delight to exhibit their jewels of gold fixed upon their bosoms, or pendant from their ears, or encircling their wrists. With infinitely greater delight will the great God display his bright purchased jewels—his faithful ones—in the coronet of the Prince of the house of David before the enraptured gaze of all the glorious hosts of angels in the day of redemption. May you and I, reader, be among them. Amen.

I bless the Lord that there is a people willing to plant themselves upon the apostolic platform, both in faith and practice. With them I delight to be, with them confess Jesus before men, and with Bro. J. Clarke in the 11th number of the Review I concur in adopting the salutation when we meet, "The Lord is coming." This would be confessing Christ with the mouth, while in our heart we believe this truth.

B. F. ROBBINS.

Friendship, N. Y.