THE GOSPEL COMMITTED TO MEN by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 26, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 9

THE GOSPEL COMMITTED TO MEN.

By R. F. Cottrell

BY ELD. R. F. COTTRELL.

The Father, the Son, angels, and men are co-laborers in the work of human salvation. The Father and the Son originated the great plan, but angels and men have each a part assigned to them to act. Even men, who were fallen and lost by sin, may become “laborers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9), and angels are fellow-servants with men. Rev. 19:10, and 22:9.

But the preaching of the gospel, the presenting of the conditions of salvation through a crucified and risen Saviour, for the obedience of men, was committed to men chosen of God; and this was to continue to the end of the world. Said Jesus, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matt. 28:19, 20. According to this, men were to present to men the claims and the terms of the gospel to the end of the gospel age; consequently the commission was not confined to the first apostles, the twelve, but extended to other chosen men throughout the age.

Christ and angels still communicated with men on special occasions; but when they did, instead of presenting the terms of the gospel, telling them what to do to be saved from their past sins, they referred them to the chosen instrumentality,—directed them to men to tell them what to do. The following examples will illustrate this.

Jesus Christ appeared to Saul, as he was on his way

to Damascus to persecute the saints. Some speak of this event as Saul’s conversion. He was indeed here convicted, and being struck blind, he remained three days fasting and praying, before he was released from the burden of his sins. But he here received his call to the ministry. This was the purpose for which Jesus appeared to him. Said he, “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee.” Acts 26:16, 17.

But when Saul inquired, “What shall I do, Lord?” the Lord said, “Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.” Thus the Lord himself sent Saul to learn his duty of a man, and he not one of the twelve, but a disciple named Ananias, a devout man dwelling in Damascus. And Ananias came to Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” Acts 9:17, 18.

On the notable day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was promised on condition of obedience to the faith. Said the apostle, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. Ananias, to whom Saul was sent to be told what to do, omitted no part of these duties. When he had said to him, “Brother Saul, receive thy sight,” and had stated to him that God had chosen him to see that Just One and hear his voice, so that he might be his witness unto all men, said he, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16.

Another illustration is found in Acts 10. An angel appeared to Cornelius, a devout Gentile, as he was lying in his house, and told him that his prayers and his alms were come up for a memorial before God. “And now,” said he, “send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter; he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” Acts 10:5, 6.

Why did not the angel preach the good news of Jesus Christ to him, and tell him what to do to be saved? Why send away to Joppa for Peter to do this? Simply because this work had been committed to men. And the Lord designed to convince his servant, who had opened the gospel of a risen Saviour at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, that God is not a respecter of persons, but designed to save the Gentiles who would believe and obey, as well as the Jews.

It was for this purpose that Peter had the vision of the great sheet let down from heaven, while upon the house-top at Joppa. And as another sign to convince him that God would accept of believing Gentiles, the Holy Spirit, which was promised to those who obey the gospel by repentance and baptism, was poured upon the believers before they were baptized. The apostle’s prejudice against the Gentiles had been gradually yielding. The vision at Joppa, and the command to go with the men sent from Cornelius, nothing doubting, had induced him to venture so far as to go to “one of another nation.” And when Cornelius had related to him what God had communicated to him by his angel, Peter was emboldened to open his mouth. He preached to them Jesus,—his works, his death and resurrection, and the proclamation of remission of sins through his name. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” The evidence was now conclusive. The last remains of prejudice were swept away. The apostle exclaims, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized?” “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”