Although Christ was the Master of earth, sea and sky—He could do nothing for those who did not feel their need. “He who was ever touched by human woe, who healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to the dumb, who fed the hungry and comforted the sorrowful, was driven from the people He had labored to save. He who walked upon the heaving billows, and by a word silenced their angry roaring, who cast out devils that in departing acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, who broke the slumbers of the dead, who held thousands entranced by His words of wisdom, was unable to reach the hearts of those who were blinded by prejudice and hatred, and who stubbornly rejected the light.” The Desire of Ages, 541, 542. To the weakest, He gave strength. To the sickest, He gave healing. To the most sinful, He offered forgiveness. Why did not the whole world accept Him? And above all, why did the “good” men reject Him? How could religious teachers and elders reject the kind and gentle Saviour? It is a great mystery—the mystery of iniquity, that those He came to save, who claimed to be the best of men, rejected Him—the Way, the Truth and the Life. While we can never fully understand this terrible mystery, we need to learn enough about it to avoid making the same mistake—the mistake of missing the true church while thinking we are a part of it.
When on this earth, Jesus spoke instructive words to these “good” men, the religious leaders. These words will help us to avoid the mystery of iniquity that the Jewish nation fell into. Before we look at these words we need to remind ourselves that the servant of the Lord has told us that we are repeating their history: “Sometimes the case seems hopeless to me, because you have been treading in the very footsteps of the Jewish nation. You are repeating their history. The whole heavenly universe is astonished at the spiritual condition of things at Battle Creek. Now and then there is a comfortable, easy feeling, but this is not the deep moving of the Spirit of God. All heaven sees that if you had a more correct experimental knowledge of the truth, you would never assume jurisdiction and command over your fellow-men as you have done. You would never think that you could take control of the great interests all over the field, nigh and afar off. It is because of a departure from God that such gross ignorance in regard to the management of His work has come in.” 1888 Materials, 1631, 1632. [All emphasis supplied.] “We want to understand the time in which we live . . . The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 406.
Since we are repeating the history of these “good” men, the words that Jesus spoke to them also apply to us. The words that we will study together are found in John 8. What Jesus said, teaches us a great and simple truth—that everything, absolutely everything, can be understood in the light from God’s law. These are the words: “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. (Sin is breaking God’s law. See 1 John 3:4.) How profound and magnificent, how all inclusive and timeless are these words. They settle every difficulty on the great question as to who are God’s true people.
Instead of jumping to another thought—let us drive this one closer home: if anyone sins, they are not the servant of God. They are the servant of sin. Jesus taught us that no man can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24.) One cannot be the servant of God and obey Him and also be the servant of sin. That is an absolute impossibility. Whose servant would one be who taught others that it is “OK” to sin? Could that person possibly be a servant of God? The servants of Christ will never be confused on the point of overcoming sin. So if one claims to be a servant of God and yet teaches people that they need not overcome their besetting sins, that teacher has a different master than Christ.
Here is another question. Would servants of Christ hire pastors who teach that people cannot overcome sin? The ones who hire those kind of teachers are servng the wrong master.
True Jews
If people, Jews or Adventists, are servants of sin, who is their father? Whose children are they? Jesus answers this question in the same discourse we have been studying from John 8. Jesus said, “I know you are Abraham’s children . . . but really you are not Abraham’s children, but you are children of the devil” (Some people today want to make Jesus contradict Himself! But truth never contradicts itself.) The Jews could prove their blood relationship to Abraham and in that respect were his children. But since they were not acting like the righteous Abraham—they were not really his children. Abraham was a servant of Christ, and desired to behold Him, but these so-called descendants of Abraham crucified Christ. They were the children of sin, they broke God’s law and taught others to break it. Paul explains this apparent contradiction, clearly placing it beyond all human questioning: “For he is not a Jew, [Seventh-day Adventist] which is one outwardly . . . But he is a Jew, [Seventh-day Adventist] which is one inwardly.” Romans 2:28, 29. These men were not really Jews at all! Thus is forever settled the question of who God’s true people are. It is those who love and obey Him and teach others to do the same, those who are like Him in character.
“The Pharisees had declared themselves the children of Abraham. Jesus told them that this claim could be established only by doing the works of Abraham. The true children of Abraham would live, as he did, a life of obedience to God. They would not try to kill One who was speaking the truth that was given Him from God. In plotting against Christ, the rabbis were not doing the works of Abraham. A mere lineal descent from Abraham was of no value. Without a spiritual connection with him, which would be manifested in possessing the same spirit, and doing the same works, they were not his children.
“This principle bears with equal weight upon a question that has long agitated the Christian world—the question of apostolic succession. Descent from Abraham was proved, not by name and lineage, but by likeness of character. So the apostolic succession rests not upon the transmission of ecclesiastical authority, but upon spiritual relationship. A life actuated by the apostles’ spirit, the belief and teaching of the truth they taught, this is the true evidence of apostolic succession. This is what constitutes men the successors of the first teachers of the gospel.
“Jesus denied that the Jews were children of Abraham. He [remember He always portrayed brotherly love] said, ‘Ye do the deeds of your father.’ . . . “Their works testified of their relationship to him who was a liar and a murderer. ‘Ye are of your father the devil,’ said Jesus, ‘and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him . . . Because I say the truth, ye believe Me not.’ John 8:44, 45, R. V. The fact that Jesus spoke the truth, and that with certainty, was why He was not received by the Jewish leaders. It was the truth that offended these self-righteous men. The truth exposed the fallacy of error; it condemned their teaching and practice, and it was unwelcome. They would rather close their eyes to the truth than humble themselves to confess that they had been in error. They did not love the truth. They did not desire it, even though it was truth.” The Desire of Ages, 466, 467.
Whoever sins is the servant of sin; his master is the devil. The reality of this truth bears with equal weight today on Seventh-day Adventists. Many claim to be Seventh-day Adventists—but it is only a righteous character that truely makes one a Seventh-day Adventist. This is the very message that is needed to prepare a people for Christ’s coming. It is the same message that the forerunner of Christ gave at His first coming: “Not by its name, but by its fruit, is the value of a tree determined. If the fruit is worthless, the name cannot save the tree from destruction. John declared to the Jews that their standing before God was to be decided by their character and life. Profession was worthless. If their life and character were not in harmony with God’s law, they were not His people.” The Desire of Ages, 107.
It is time to boldly declare this message again: Not by its name, (Seventh-day Adventist) but by its fruit, (lawsuits against those using the “name,” stoning and beating up faithful pastors who are giving the message, disfellowshipping those who are standing for truth, new theology, NLP, celebration worship style, etc.) is the value of a tree determined. Profession (claiming to be a Seventh-day Adventist) is worthless. If our life and character is not in harmony with God’s law, we (Seventh-day Adventists) are not His people.
The Dividing Line
God’s law gives us a perfect understanding of how to know who God’s people are. It is the great dividing line of protection between God’s people and the world. “They [God’s people] were hedged about by the precepts of His law, the everlasting principles of truth, justice, and purity. Obedience to these principles was to be their protection, for it would save them from destroying themselves by sinful practices. And as the tower in the vineyard, God placed in the midst of the land His holy temple. Christ’s Object Lessons, 287.
God’s true people will be raising a voice of warning against sin, but those who are not protesting against sin and apostasy are in a serious condition. We are either for it or against it. “There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 261, 262. “As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 552.
If the upholding of God’s law is the great dividing line between God’s people and His enemies, what of those apparently unconditional promises to certain groups of people? Do there exist unconditional promises that make some people “the” church, even if they do not support God’s law? Is there a “once” true church, “always” true church promise somewhere? These look like weighty theological questions which would frighten away the bravest. But is it really that difficult?
Jesus gave us a test by which we can settle these questions. The reason the answer becomes difficult for us to accept is because there are certain organizations that we tend to think should be exempt from Jesus’ test.
God ’s Test
“Jesus gives a test by which false teachers may be distinguished from the true. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits,’ He says. ‘Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?’
“We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the Word of God. ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.’ ‘Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.’ Isaiah 8:20; Proverbs 19:27. What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments? If men do not feel the weight of the moral law; if they make light of God’s precepts; if they break one of the least of His commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of heaven. We may know that their claims are without foundation. They are doing the very work that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God.
“Not all who profess His name and wear His badge are Christ’s. Many who have taught in My name, said Jesus, will be found wanting at last. ‘Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’
“There are persons who believe that they are right, when they are wrong. While claiming Christ as their Lord, and professedly doing great works in His name, they are workers of iniquity. ‘With their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.’ He who declares God’s word is to them ‘as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear Thy words, but they do them not.’ Ezekiel 33:31, 32.
“A mere profession of discipleship is of no value. The faith in Christ which saves the soul is not what it is represented to be by many. ‘Believe, believe,’ they say, ‘and you need not keep the law.’ But a belief that does not lead to obedience is presumption. The apostle John says, ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ 1 John 2:4. Let none cherish the idea that special providences or miraculous manifestations are to be the proof of the genuineness of their work or of the ideas they advocate. When persons will speak lightly of the word of God, and set their impressions, feelings, and exercises above the divine standard, we may know that they have no light in them.
“Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order. ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 2:3.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 145, 146.
The knowledge of God’s law lived out in the life is the only thing that will save us from destruction. “In these days of peril, nothing but obedience will keep man from apostasy.” Manuscript 135, October 31, 1902. Quoted in Manuscript and Letters, Last Day Events, 80. A much different picture than that of obedience meets the eye today.
Hosea describes our condition: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away . . . My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.” Hosea 4:1–3, 6–9.
Although, Jesus came to save the most sinful, the wicked will no go unpunished. While mercy’s door is still open, anyone that turns to Him for help will be rescued from the snares of Satan. All we have to do is believe on Him. But that belief will always lead to obedience to God’s law. The group of the faithful may become very small, and the work difficult, but even if all appearances are against the truth, we must be wholehearted for Jesus! The true church will go through, there is absolutely no question. The question is if we will be a part of it.
One time (before 34 A.D.) the church got so small that it consisted of a handful of disciples. To this small group Christ promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against them. “How feeble the church appeared when Christ spoke these words! There was only a handful of believers, against whom all the power of demons and evil men would be directed; yet the followers of Christ were not to fear. Built upon the Rock of their strength, they could not be overthrown.” The Desire of Ages, 413. (Here is something to study for those who say that the apostate Jewish nation was God’s true church until 34 A.D.)
” ‘He that is not with Me,’ said Christ, ‘is against Me.’ It is wholehearted, thoroughly decided men and women who will stand now. Christ sifted His followers again and again, until at one time there remained only eleven and a few faithful women to lay the foundation of the Christian church. There are those who will stand back when burdens are to be borne; but when the church is all aglow, they catch the enthusiasm, sing and shout, and become rapturous; but watch them. When the fervor is gone, only a few faithful Calebs will come to the front and display unwavering principle. These are salt that retains the savor. It is when the work moves hard that the churches develop the true helpers. These will not be talking of self, vindicating self, but will lose their identity in Jesus Christ. To be great in God’s kingdom is to be a little child in humility, in simplicity of faith, and in the purity of love. All pride must perish, all jealousy be overcome, all ambition for supremacy be given up, and the meekness and trust of the child be encouraged. All such will find Christ their rock of defense, their strong tower. In Him they may trust implicitly, and He will never fail them.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 130.
What is the fruit that is growing on the tree? Is it meekness or pride? Is obedience or the new theology? If the fruit is sin—we can know for sure that the master of the tree is Satan. May the Lord help us to have spiritual discernment!