Duty of Ministers to Present the Message of Righteousness by Faith

The following paragraphs furnish most excellent and appropriate counsel to ministers and other gospel workers, clearly pointing out the sad fact that the center of attraction, Jesus, has been made secondary by many, while theories and arguments have been given first place. What a fatal mistake!

“Laborers in the cause of truth should present the righteousness of Christ, not as new light, but as precious light that has for a time been lost sight of by the people. We are to accept Christ as our personal Saviour, and He imputes unto us the righteousness of God in Christ.”-The Review and Herald, March 20, 1894.

“Do not allow your minds to be diverted from the all-important theme of the righteousness of Christ by the study of theories. Do not imagine that the performance of ceremonies, the observance of outward forms, will make you an heir of heaven. We want to keep the mind steadfastly to the point for which we are working; for it is now the day of the Lord’s preparation, and we should yield our hearts to God, that they may be softened and subdued by the Holy Spirit.”-The Review and Herald, April 5, 1892.

“The great center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel’s message. By many who have been engaged in the work for this time, Christ has been made secondary, and theories and arguments have had the first place.”-The Review and Herald, March 20, 1894.

“The mystery of the incarnation of Christ, the account of His sufferings, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension, open to all humanity the marvelous love of God. This imparts a power to the truth.”-The Review and Herald, June 18, 1895.

“The small churches have been presented to me as so destitute of spiritual food that they are ready to die, and God says to you, ‘Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God.’”-The Review and Herald, March 4, 1890.

“This I do know, that our churches are dying for the want of teaching on the subject of righteousness by faith in Christ, and on kindred truths.”-Gospel Workers, 301.

“The theme that attracts the heart of the sinner is Christ and Him crucified. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus stands revealed to the world in unparalleled love. Present Him thus to the hungering multitudes, and the light of His love will win men from darkness to light, from transgression to obedience and true holiness. Beholding Jesus upon the cross of Calvary arouses the conscience to the heinous character of sin as nothing else can do.”-The Review and Herald, November 22, 1892.

“Christ crucified-talk it, pray it, sing it, and it will break and win hearts. Set, formal phrases, the presentation of merely argumentative subjects, is productive of little good. The melting love of God in the hearts of the workers will be recognized by those for whom they labor. Souls are thirsting for the water of life. Do not allow them to go from you empty. Reveal the love of Christ to them. Lead them to Jesus, and He will give them the bread of life and the water of salvation.”-The Review and Herald, June 2, 1903.

This chapter may be fittingly closed by the following peerless statement, which sums up the burden of the message of the Spirit of prophecy and gives us the clue to the line of our investigation:

“If through the grace of Christ His people will become new bottles, He will fill them with the new wine. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered, and replaced in the framework of truth; and wherever the laborers go, they will triumph. As Christ’s ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures, to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error. And every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,-Christ our righteousness.”-The Review and Herald, Extra. December 23, 1890.