The Opposition
How sad, how deeply regrettable, it is that this message of righteousness in Christ should, at the time of its coming, have met with opposition on the part of earnest, well-meaning men in the cause of God! The message has never been received, nor proclaimed, nor given free course as it should have been in order to convey to the church the measureless blessings that were wrapped within it. The seriousness of exerting such an influence is indicated through the reproofs that were given. These words of reproof and admonition should receive most thoughtful consideration at this time:COR 47.2
“God has raised up men to meet the necessity of this time who will ‘cry aloud and spare not,’ who will lift up their ‘voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.’ Their work is not only to proclaim the law, but to preach the truth for this time,-the Lord our righteousness....COR 47.3
“But there are those who see no necessity for a special work at this time. While God is working to arouse the people, they seek to turn aside the message of warning, reproof, and entreaty. Their influence tends to quiet the fears of the people, and to prevent them from awaking to the solemnity of this time. Those who are doing this, are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound. They ought to be awake to the situation, but they have become ensnared by the enemy.”-The Review and Herald, August 13, 1889.COR 48.1
Mark the serious indictment which follows:COR 48.2
“You will meet with those who will say, ‘You are too much excited over the matter. You are too much in earnest. You should not be reaching for the righteousness of Christ, and making so much of that. You should preach the law.’ As a people we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa, that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God. We must not trust in our own merits at all, but in the merits of Jesus of Nazareth.”-The Review and Herald, March 11, 1890.COR 48.3
Note also the serious implication in the following statements:COR 48.4
“Some of our brethren are not receiving the message of God upon this subject. They appear to be anxious that none of our ministers shall depart from their former manner of teaching the good old doctrines. We inquire, Is it not time that fresh light should come to the people of God, to awaken them to greater earnestness and zeal? The exceeding great and precious promises given us in the Holy Scriptures have been lost sight of to a great extent, just as the enemy of all righteousness designed that they should be. He has cast his own dark shadow between us and our God, that we may not see the true character of God.”-The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.COR 48.5
“God has sent to His people testimonies of truth and righteousness, and they are called to lift up Jesus, and to exalt His righteousness. Those whom God has sent with a message are only men, but what is the character of the message which they bear? Will you dare to turn from, or make light of, the warnings, because God did not consult you as to what would be preferred? God calls men who will speak, who will cry aloud and spare not. God has raised up His messengers to do His work for this time. Some have turned from the message of the righteousness of Christ to criticize the men.”- The Review and Herald, December 27, 1890.COR 49.1
“The Lord has sent a message to arouse His people to repent, and do their first works; but how has His message been received? While some have heeded it, others have cast contempt and reproach on the message and the messenger. Spirituality deadened, humility and childlike simplicity gone, a mechanical, formal profession of faith has taken the place of love and devotion. Is this mournful condition of things to continue? Is the lamp of God’s love to go out in darkness?”-The Review and Herald Extra, December 23, 1890.COR 49.2
Lest we miss the force of these heart-searching messages, let us recount the salient points:COR 50.1
1. God raised up men to meet the necessity of the time.COR 50.2
2. Some sought to turn aside the message, and to prevent an awakening among the people.COR 50.3
3. Such persons were ensnared by the enemy, and gave the trumpet an uncertain sound.COR 50.4
4. These men declared that the law should be preached,-not the righteousness of Christ.COR 50.5
5. The exhortation is to preach Christ in the law.COR 50.6
6. Some were fearful of a departure from the former manner of preaching the good old doctrines.COR 50.7
7. God raised up men to herald the message of Righteousness by Faith.COR 50.8
8. The challenge: “Will you dare to turn from, or make light of, the warnings?”COR 50.9
9. The twofold result of rejecting the message.COR 50.10
a. Deadening of spirituality.COR 50.11
b. Influx of a mechanical, formal profession of faith.COR 50.12
10. The climactic question: “Is this mournful condition of things to continue?”COR 50.13
Verily it is a sobering resume!COR 50.14