"The Principles of God's government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined. The lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men."-Prophets and Kings, p. 700.
Because of our speedier type of evangelism today, the Bible instructor often does not seem to find time to teach certain fundamental points of truth as carefully as she used to. Perhaps she does not teach at all those vital points of salvation which reveal God's divine purpose in Christ. True, she gradually covers some of these points in other studies with her readers, but it is more evident from year to year that these very kernels of the gospel are not so well digested by people now as they were a few years ago. And yet there is today a most urgent need that these fundamentals be taught specifically and with new simplicity.
The personality of the Godhead, and of Satan, are not generally understood by many who may call themselves Christian. A terrible confusion of cults is prominent. We live in an age that has inherited from ancient heathenism every specie of confusion and heresy, and is adding to it every Satanic deception of this modern age. This makes it all the more important that our readers well understand the background of the great controversy. They must see clearly that rebellion against the law of God was Satan's masterstroke from the beginning, and that it will also be the great issue in the final crisis of earth's history.
In observing the work of many younger Bible instructors we have become conscious that these principles of truth are too often not definitely taught by them to their readers. We would not question their ability to understand the underlying issues of the plan of redemption themselves, but we are seriously led to question the practice which seems to be quite prevalent-that of "cutting the corners," and leaving out of the series of studies principles which, if well understood, would prove a great anchor to the faith of the inquirer.
We are outlining herewith, in rather detailed form, the basic textual argument for each study. We are not suggesting this to be the detailed Bible study each one should follow, but we are concerned that those who study our message today become well acquainted with these fundamentals upon which we must rear our great prophetic structure of truth. We have divided this outline into two sections. Part I should be fundamental instruction in our work with truth seekers. Part II will lay more groundwork for teaching man's obligation to choose to obey all God's commandments.
"He [the Bible student] should gain a knowledge of its grand central theme, of God's original purpose for the world, of the rise of the great controversy, and of the work of redemption. He should understand the
nature of the two principles that are contending for supremacy, and should learn to trace their working through the records of history and prophecy to the great consummation. He should see how this controversy enters into every phase of human experience ; how in every act of life he himself reveals the one or the other of the two antagonistic motives; and how, whether he will or not, he is eyen now deciding upon which side of the controversy he will be found."-Education, p. 19o.
From the foregoing statement* it is clear that a thorough knowledge of these very principles, and this method of truth-teaching in particular, enters greatly into the decision the Bible student will make. We believe that too many decisions are lost when souls should be deciding to obey the Sabbath message, merely because readers fail to understand the seriousness of the true issue. Again, painstakingly teaching these truths lays a solid foundation for conversion. More than the mind must be changed on some points ; the heart must be converted on all points. Let us as Bible instructors grasp the significance of this caution.
L. C. K.