The Acts of the Apostles
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 31: The Message Heeded
This chapter is based on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians.
 |
 |
Many of the Corinthian believers accepted
the instruction contained in Paul's letter
and repented of their sins.
Illustration ©
Review and Herald Publ. Assoc. |
|
From Ephesus Paul set forth on another missionary tour,
during which he hoped to visit once more the scenes of his former labors in
Europe. Tarrying for a time at Troas, "to preach Christ's gospel," he
found some who were ready to listen to his message. "A door was opened
unto me of the Lord," he afterward declared of his labors in this place.
But successful as were his efforts at Troas, he could not remain there long.
"The care of all the churches," and particularly of the church at
Corinth, rested heavily on his heart. He had hoped to meet Titus at Troas and
to learn from him how the words of counsel and reproof sent to the Corinthian
brethren had been received, but in this he was disappointed. "I had no
rest in my spirit," he wrote concerning this experience, "because I
found not Titus my brother." He therefore left Troas and crossed over to
Macedonia, where, at Philippi he met Timothy. [324] {AA 323.1}
During this time of anxiety concerning the church at
Corinth, Paul hoped for the best; yet at times feelings of deep sadness would
sweep over his soul, lest his counsels and admonitions might be misunderstood.
"Our flesh had no rest," he afterward wrote, "but we were
troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless
God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of
Titus." {AA 324.1}
This faithful messenger brought the cheering news that a
wonderful change had taken place among the Corinthian believers. Many had
accepted the instruction contained in Paul's letter and had repented of their
sins. Their lives were no longer a reproach to Christianity, but exerted a
powerful influence in favor of practical godliness. {AA 324.2}
Filled with joy, the apostle sent another letter to the
Corinthian believers, expressing his gladness of heart because of the good work
wrought in them: "Though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent,
though I did repent." When tortured by the fear that his words would be
despised, he had sometimes regretted that he had written so decidedly and
severely. "Now I rejoice," he continued, "not that ye were made
sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly
manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh
repentance to salvation not to be repented of." That repentance which is
produced by the influence of divine grace upon the heart will lead to
confession and forsaking of sin. Such were the fruits which the apostle
declared had been seen in the lives of the Corinthian believers. "What [325]
carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what
indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal." {AA 324.3}
For some time Paul had been carrying a burden of soul for
the churches—a burden so heavy that he could scarcely endure it.
False teachers had sought to destroy his influence among the believers and to
urge their own doctrines in the place of gospel truth. The perplexities and
discouragements with which Paul was surrounded are revealed in the words,
"We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we
despaired even of life." {AA 325.1}
But now one cause of anxiety was removed. At the tidings of
the acceptance of his letter to the Corinthians, Paul broke forth into words of
rejoicing: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by
the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And
whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is
effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or
whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope
of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so
shall ye be also of the consolation." {AA 325.2}
In expressing his joy over their reconversion and their
growth in grace, Paul ascribed to God all the praise for this transformation of
heart and life. "Thanks be unto God," [326] he
exclaimed, "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a
sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish."
It was the custom of the day for a general victorious in warfare to bring with
him on his return a train of captives. On such occasions incense bearers were
appointed, and as the army marched triumphantly home, the fragrant odor was to
the captives appointed to die, a savor of death, showing that they were nearing
the time of their execution; but to those of the prisoners who had found favor
with their captors, and whose lives were to be spared, it was a savor of life,
in that it showed them that their freedom was near. {AA 325.3}
Paul was now full of faith and hope. He felt that Satan was
not to triumph over the work of God in Corinth, and in words of praise he
poured forth the gratitude of his heart. He and his fellow laborers would
celebrate their victory over the enemies of Christ and the truth, by going
forth with new zeal to extend the knowledge of the Saviour. Like incense the
fragrance of the gospel was to be diffused throughout the world. To those who
should accept Christ, the message would be a savor of life unto life; but to
those who should persist in unbelief, a savor of death unto death. {AA 326.1}
Realizing the overwhelming magnitude of the work, Paul
exclaimed, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Who is able to
preach Christ in such a way that His enemies shall have no just cause to
despise the messenger or the message [327] that
he bears? Paul desired to impress upon believers the solemn responsibility of
the gospel ministry. Faithfulness in preaching the word, united with a pure,
consistent life, can alone make the efforts of ministers acceptable to God and
profitable to souls. Ministers of our day, burdened with a sense of the
greatness of the work, may well exclaim with the apostle, "Who is
sufficient for these things?" {AA 326.2}
There were those who had charged Paul with self-commendation
in writing his former letter. The apostle now referred to this by asking the
members of the church if they thus judged his motives. "Do we begin again
to commend ourselves?" he inquired; "or need we, as some others,
epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?"
Believers moving to a new place often carried with them letters of commendation
from the church with which they had formerly been united; but the leading
workers, the founders of these churches, had no need of such commendation. The
Corinthian believers, who had been led from the worship of idols to the faith
of the gospel, were themselves all the recommendation that Paul needed. Their
reception of the truth, and the reformation wrought in their lives, bore
eloquent testimony to the faithfulness of his labors and to his authority to
counsel, reprove, and exhort as a minister of Christ. {AA 327.1}
Paul regarded the Corinthian brethren as his testimonial.
"Ye are our epistle," he said, "written in our hearts, known and
read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with [328] ink,
but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy
tables of the heart." {AA
327.2}
The conversion of sinners and their sanctification through
the truth is the strongest proof a minister can have that God has called him to
the ministry. The evidence of his apostleship is written upon the hearts of
those converted, and is witnessed to by their renewed lives. Christ is formed
within, the hope of glory. A minister is greatly strengthened by these seals of
his ministry. {AA 328.1}
Today the ministers of Christ should have the same witness
as that which the Corinthian church bore to Paul's labors. But though in this
age there are many preachers, there is a great scarcity of able, holy ministers—men
filled with the love that dwelt in the heart of Christ. Pride, self-confidence,
love of the world, faultfinding, bitterness, envy, are the fruit borne by many
who profess the religion of Christ. Their lives, in sharp contrast to the life
of the Saviour, often bear sad testimony to the character of the ministerial
labor under which they were converted. {AA 328.2}
A man can have no greater honor than to be accepted by God
as an able minister of the gospel. But those whom the Lord blesses with power
and success in His work do not boast. They acknowledge their entire dependence
on Him, realizing that of themselves they have no power. With Paul they say,
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of
ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers
of the new testament." {AA
328.3}
A true minister does the work of the Master. He feels [329]
the importance of his work, realizing that he sustains to the church and to the
world a relation similar to that which Christ sustained. He works untiringly to
lead sinners to a nobler, higher life, that they may obtain the reward of the
overcomer. His lips are touched with a live coal from the altar, and he uplifts
Jesus as the sinner's only hope. Those who hear him know that he has drawn near
to God in fervent, effectual prayer. The Holy Spirit has rested upon him, his
soul has felt the vital, heavenly fire, and he is able to compare spiritual
things with spiritual. Power is given him to tear down the strongholds of
Satan. Hearts are broken by his presentation of the love of God, and many are
led to inquire, "What must I do to be saved?" {AA 328.4}
"Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God
deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to
them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ." [330] {AA 329.1}
Thus the apostle magnified the grace and mercy of God, shown
in the sacred trust committed to him as a minister of Christ. By God's abundant
mercy he and his brethren had been sustained in difficulty, affliction, and
danger. They had not modeled their faith and teaching to suit the desires of their
hearers, nor kept back truths essential to salvation in order to make their
teaching more attractive. They had presented the truth with simplicity and
clearness, praying for the conviction and conversion of souls. And they had
endeavored to bring their conduct into harmony with their teaching, that the
truth presented might commend itself to every man's conscience. {AA 330.1}
"We have this treasure," the apostle continued,
"in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and
not of us." God could have proclaimed His truth through sinless angels,
but this is not His plan. He chooses human beings, men compassed with
infirmity, as instruments in the working out of His designs. The priceless
treasure is placed in earthen vessels. Through men His blessings are to be
conveyed to the world. Through them His glory is to shine forth into the
darkness of sin. In loving ministry they are to meet the sinful and the needy,
and lead them to the cross. And in all their work they are to ascribe glory, honor,
and praise to Him who is above all and over all. {AA 330.2}
Referring to his own experience, Paul showed that in
choosing the service of Christ he had not been prompted by selfish motives, for
his pathway had been beset by trial and temptation. "We are troubled on
every side," he wrote, "yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not
in despair; [331] persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the
Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our
body." {AA 330.3}
Paul reminded his brethren that as Christ's messengers he
and his fellow laborers were continually in peril. The hardships they endured
were wearing away their strength. "We which live," he wrote,
"are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us,
but life in you." Suffering physically through privation and toil, these
ministers of Christ were conforming to His death. But that which was working
death in them was bringing spiritual life and health to the Corinthians, who by
a belief in the truth were being made partakers of life eternal. In view of
this, the followers of Jesus were to be careful not to increase, by neglect and
disaffection, the burdens and trials of the laborers. {AA 331.1}
"We having the same spirit of faith," Paul
continued, "according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I
spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak." Fully convinced of the
reality of the truth entrusted to him, nothing could induce Paul to handle the
word of God deceitfully or to conceal the convictions of his soul. He would not
purchase wealth, honor, or pleasure by conformity to the opinions of the world.
Though in constant danger of martyrdom for the faith that he had preached to
the Corinthians, he was not intimidated, for he knew that He who had died and
risen again would raise him from the grave and present him to the Father. [332]
{AA 331.2}
"All things are for your sakes," he said,
"that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to
the glory of God." Not for self-aggrandizement did the apostles preach the
gospel. It was the hope of saving souls that led them to devote their lives to
this work. And it was this hope that kept them from ceasing their efforts
because of threatened danger or actual suffering. {AA 332.1}
"For which cause," Paul declared, "we faint
not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by
day." Paul felt the power of the enemy; but though his physical strength
was declining, yet faithfully and unflinchingly he declared the gospel of
Christ. Clad in the whole armor of God, this hero of the cross pressed forward
in the conflict. His voice of cheer proclaimed him triumphant in the combat.
Fixing his gaze on the reward of the faithful, he exclaimed in tones of
victory, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us
a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal." {AA 332.2}
Very earnest and touching is the apostle's appeal that his
Corinthian brethren consider anew the matchless love of their Redeemer.
"Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," he wrote, "that,
though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His
poverty might be rich." You know the height from which He stooped, the depth
of humiliation to which He descended. Having once entered upon the path of
self-denial and sacrifice, he turned [333] not
aside until He had given His life. There was no rest for Him between the throne
and the cross. {AA 332.3}
Point after point Paul lingered over, in order that those
who should read his epistle might fully comprehend the wonderful condescension
of the Saviour in their behalf. Presenting Christ as He was when equal with God
and with Him receiving the homage of the angels, the apostle traced His course
until He had reached the lowest depths of humiliation. Paul was convinced that
if they could be brought to comprehend the amazing sacrifice made by the
Majesty of heaven, all selfishness would be banished from their lives. He
showed how the Son of God had laid aside His glory, voluntarily subjecting
Himself to the conditions of human nature, and then had humbled Himself as a
servant, becoming obedient unto death, "even the death of the cross"
(Philippians 2:8), that He might lift fallen man from degradation to hope and
joy and heaven. {AA 333.1}
When we study the divine character in the light of the cross
we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice. We
see in the midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the marks
of the suffering endured to reconcile man to God. We see a Father, infinite,
dwelling in light unapproachable, yet receiving us to Himself through the
merits of His Son. The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and
despair, in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God:
Live, sinner, live! ye penitent, believing souls, live! I have paid a ransom. {AA 333.2}
Find out more today how to purchase a
hardcover or
paperback
copy of The Acts of the Apostles.
|
|
In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of [334]
a love that is measureless. We endeavor to tell of this love, and language
fails us. We consider His life on earth, His sacrifice for us, His work in
heaven as our advocate, and the mansions He is preparing for those who love
Him, and we can only exclaim, O the height and depth of the love of Christ!
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His
Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "Behold, what manner of
love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God." 1 John 4:10; 3:1. {AA
333.3}
In every true disciple this love, like sacred fire, burns on
the altar of the heart. It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed
through Christ. It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love
through blameless lives. Thus sinners will be led to the cross to behold the
Lamb of God. {AA 334.1}
Click here to read the next chapter:
"A Liberal Church"
|
