BIBLE RELIGION by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 17

BIBLE RELIGION.

By James White

AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:18–20.

These words of our Lord were spoken in direct reference to the definite orders he had given in cases of trespass, and show the authority invested in that church which walks in strict obedience to these orders. Such a church has more power in the sight of God than any government on earth. But that church, whatever may be its name or tenets, that disregards these explicit orders of the Son of God, is clothed with no more authority in the sight of Heaven than a disgusting mob. Such a church is ever in confusion, and is a disgrace to the holy religion of Jesus Christ. But let us definitely notice these important words:—

1. “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven.” These words refer to the action of the church in the case of trespass. Every other step must first be taken, then if the offender refuses to hear the church he is to be regarded as a heathen. And this decision of the church, after the plan of Christ has been strictly carried out in every particular, is ratified in Heaven. In this sense what the worthy church of Christ bind on earth is bound in the court of Heaven.

2. “And whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” If the stubborn offender repents of his rebellion, and returns to the church with confession and true repentance, and surrenders to the proper discipline of the church, the action of that church in receiving him back again is also ratified in Heaven.

3. It is no small thing to be an obedient member of a true church. It is a fearful thing to be a disorderly, burdensome, rebellious member of any church. As this subject opens before us, and the real condition of many of our churches and people appears in true colors, the picture is frightful. Here our people stand with the responsibilities of the message upon them, and the powers of darkness gathering around them; and they are almost as powerless as babes. We never traced lines on paper with such feelings as move us to write these words.

As a people, we have insulted Christ by our neglect to keep his words, and he is taking his Spirit from us. In this state of things disorderly walkers and the most unreasonable fault-finders can gain the sympathy of certain ones, and can play off impositions upon God’s people. And it is of no use to deny the fact that the entire body, with few exceptions, is more or less affected with this spirit. Wherever our ministers labor among the churches, they are pained to meet its blighting influence. May God have mercy and open blind eyes and touch hard hearts. When our people shall return unto the Lord with true repentance, confession of sins, and weeping before God, and let the words of Christ dwell in them richly, then will he return to us graciously, and we shall realize in our labors and experiences the wonderful fulfillment of his precious promise:—

4. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.” But this promise is to be fulfilled only to the members of that church who obey not only the commandments of God but the commandments of Christ. The promise and the conditions are found in another place in these words: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. When the words of Christ are engraven on our hearts, and strictly obeyed in our words and actions, it is then that they abide in us. Then shall we know from experience the preciousness and power of these words of Christ: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:10, 12.

J. W.