p. 248 | BIBLE RELIGION by James White

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, April 15, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 16

BIBLE RELIGION.

By James White

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ILLUSTRATED BY THE HUMAN BODY.

“Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh. Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

Christ guards his people on every side. In the figure of the little child, considered last week, he would teach his disciples simple, confiding faith. He also warns them to be very tender of the brethren, and not to offend. But in the figure of the offending members of the church, he would guard them against laxity of discipline, in retaining members in fellowship whose influence is corrupting to the whole body. On the latter we remark:—

1. The hand, the foot, and the eye represent persons. This is evident from the fact that persons are the subject of the discourse. And it will be remembered that Paul uses the several members of the human body to illustrate the members of the church of Christ. Therefore, the offending hand, the offending foot, and the offending eye represent offending persons in the church.

2. All those who shall enter the future, immortal kingdom, will have two hands, two feet, and two eyes. When we apply this figure to the church, all is plain. Some of the members of the church may offend, and be severed from the brotherhood, and be lost; while those who remain true to truth and duty are saved. The main body of that church enter the kingdom, while some of the members, even of those who might have been as important to the church as the hand, the foot, and the eye are to the human body, do not enter the kingdom of God.

3. As the safety of the human body sometimes depends upon amputating an affected limb, so it may be as necessary to the salvation of the church to withdraw from offending members. This important duty in church discipline is forcibly impressed upon our mind by the fact that some churches are completely blotted out by the course of those of its members who have power to exert great influence for good or for evil.

J. W.