The Pure Gospel

Fire, Smoke, Brimstone

1. Our Earnest Prayer:

May the Lord open the closed eyes of His people and quicken their dulled senses,

that they may realize that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe….

May they be so filled with the Spirit that dwells in Him that the world will have no power to divert them from the work of presenting to men the wonderful possibilities before every soul who receives Christ. {7T 11.4}

2. Gospel of the Kingdom

Mat_24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

…Gospel of Jesus Christ - Mar_1:1;

…Jesus preach the ‘Gospel of the kingdom of God’, - Mar_1:14

Mar_8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1Pe_1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation** ready to be revealed in the last time.

Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Gal_1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

3. The Need for the Savings Power of God

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3A. Power to become the Sons of God

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power** to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

4. We Need the Gift of Faith

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

4A. In the gospel

Christ presented the principles of truth;

we drink of the pure streams that flow from the throne of God.

Christ imparted the knowledge that would have surpassed any previous disclosures**, and put in the background every other discovery.

He unlocked mystery after mystery, ……around these wonderful revelations the active, earnest thought of successive generations till the close of time.

..He would not spare a moment from teaching ….the salvation of the souls of men. {MH 448.1}

5. Lesson of the Barren Fig-tree

God is looking for fruit-bearing branches. "Feed my sheep with pure provender," is the Lord's command to those who stand as teachers of the gospel of salvation. He has made provision that the gospel's saving power shall be presented in all places. {RH, February 18, 1909 par. 3}

6. Gospel shall be Imparted in its Purity

…the light and knowledge of the gospel shall be imparted in its purity. Timothy was instructed to commit it to faithful men, who would seek others equally faithful, so that the precious truth might reach even to our day, and shine upon our pathway in undimmed brightness. {ST, April 7, 1890 par. 4}

7. Pure Gospel Leads to Purity of Life

But every one who has this hope of pardon through Christ, must "purify himself, even as he is pure." His life thenceforth must be governed by a new principle. The influence of a gospel hope will not lead the sinner to look upon the salvation of Christ as a matter of free grace, while he continues to live in transgression of the law of God. {SW, August 14, 1906 par. 7}

7A. The Remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity

"The remnant of Israel* shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." (Zeph. 3:13.)

"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses** holiness unto the Lord; and the pots*** in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar**** .

7B. Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts

Yea, every pot in Jerusalem [the church] and in Judah [the leading part of the church] shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts, and all they that sacrifice [offering] shall come and take of them,

and seeth therein [they who administer in sacred things], and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite [unconverted] in the house of the Lord of hosts." (Zech. 14:20, 21.) Shepherd's Rod book, Vol. 2 265

7c. Mouth was Found no Guile

"And in their mouth was found no guile" (Rev. 14:5), for they have a pure gospel to proclaim to the nations, in the power of the fullness of the Spirit. Tract 3 (Supplement)

…that "in their mouth was found no guile" (Rev. 14:5), plainly goes to show that they are to proclaim nothing but ‘‘pure gospel truth’’, and makes their words as authoritative and as mandatory as the written words of the prophets and of the apostles. Tract 8 18

7d. Pure Gospel in a Pure Language

Zeph. 3:9 -- "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent."

….then will the Gospel be proclaimed in a pure language (in pure Gospel Truth) that whosoever will, may call upon the name of the Lord, "to serve Him" with heart and soul.

Then it is that "only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will have a right to proclaim it [Third Angel's Message] when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry." -- "Review and Herald," Nov. 19, 1908. Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 23

8. The Pure Gospel Message: Fire, Smoke, and Brimstone

….their words will instead be powerful like ‘fire, smoke, and brimstone’. And speaking of fire, where there is smoke there is also fire. Since smoke ascended out of the bottomless pit, fire must have been in the pit. And as fire and smoke and brimstone issued forth from the mouths of the horses, what can it represent but the Spirit of God, the Gospel of Christ? Is not the Spirit of God a number of times represented by fire? The smoke fittingly represents a complete sacrifice burned by fire, consumed by the Holy Spirit. Symbolic Code, Vol. 12, No. 2 21

Consequently, the "fire," "smoke," and "brimstone," which issue "out of their mouths," are figurative of the message which they proclaim:

the power of the Holy Spirit (the "fire"),

the sacrifices of Christ ("the smoke"), and

the destructive judgments of God ("the brimstone").

By this three-fold message "was the third part of men killed." Rev. 9:18. Symbolic Code, Vol. 12, No. 2 21

8A. Those who will Proclaim the Message

Isaiah 52:1 is a prophetic call, and is to be sounded to those who are to occupy responsible positions in the closing work of the gospel, and the last part of the verse proves that this prophecy is to find its fulfillment at a time when Christ is purifying His church, for it says: "For henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean," …

…and Jerusalem her "beautiful garments," the gospel will be carried to completion by a pure and undefiled ministry,…"Review and Herald," Nov. 19, 1908. Vol. 2 Symbolic Code No. 9 pg. 9

9. Cultivate the Pure Principles of the Gospel

'Let us diligently cultivate the pure principles of the gospel of Christ, -- …..not of self-esteem, but of love, meekness, and lowliness of heart. Then we shall love our brethren, and esteem them better than ourselves.

Our minds will not dwell on scandal and flying reports. But "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise," we shall "think on these things'." –"Testimonies to Ministers," pp. 504, 505. Vol. 2 Symbolic Code No. 10 pg. 14

9A. Further instructions:

"Instead of discussing erroneous theories, or seeking to combat the opponents of the gospel,

follow the example of Christ.

Let fresh truths from God's treasure-house flash into life.

'Preach the word.' 'Sow beside all waters

Be instant in season, out of season.'

'He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.'

'Every word of God is pure.... Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.'"

10. What we should Pray

We should pray …..

…for the ability to follow the example of Christ in teaching.

….pray that we shall remember that we are instructed not to engage in debate with those who disagree with us; that Christ did not debate, and neither must we if we are to win; Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 5 2

….that God will supply us with fresh truths to bring to the people; that if such truths do not convince the opposers of the "everlasting gospel," nothing will, even if the dead should arise for a witness against them;

that we exalt the Bible above all other books; that we measure all else with the Bible yardstick, and forever break all other measuring sticks. Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 5 2

11. Those who will Proclaim the Message – the Pure Gospel

"Only those who have withstood and overcome temptation in the strength of the Mighty One*** will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming this message when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry." -- "Review and Herald," Nov. 19, 1908. Vol. 2 Symbolic Code No. 9 pg. 9

AMEN!

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