Lessons from The History of
How the True Light on the Covenants Was Established
1888 – 1900
Lesson 3
Waggoner On The Subject Of Promises
Historical Prologue
Elder E.J. Waggoner had a busy time in early 1892. He led out in ministerial institutes in Georgia, Kansas, California and Iowa (Letter of E.J. Waggoner to W.C. White, April 1, 1892) (Penno, page 194).
One notable ministerial institute took place at Healdsburg,
California, in February 1892. President O.A. Olsen arrived
on February 19 and reported, a good attendance. He wrote
to W.C. White on February 28, 1892:
" I had entertained some fears in reference to how
things would be. I had heard some reports that gave me
some anxiety; but I am glad to say that the Institute is
prosperous in every respect … Brother A.T. Jones
and E.J. Waggoner are carrying the largest portion of the
time" (MMM 185, 186) (Penno).
In May 1892 E.J. Waggoner was sent to Europe for a tour
of speaking engage-ments. The President Elder O.A. Olsen
wrote to W.C. White, Feb 1, 1892:
" Dr. Waggoner and others will in all probability
sail for Europe about 11th of May." Waggoner led out
in ministers' institutes in Switzerland, Copenhagen and
Stockholm. (P.E. Penno Jr page 195).
The General Conference had assigned him to edit the British Journal - The Present Truth. He, Jessie, the children, and his sister Alta, arrived in London on July 17, 1892. They rented a house in the city.
Elder Waggoner received a warm British welcome. He saw
the immensity of the challenges of spreading the truth
to the millions of people living in London. He wrote to
E.G. White:
" I am glad that I am here … to be
used of the Lord. (Letter March 10, 1893)
At the beginning of the new year 1893 Waggoner took the opportunity to address the issue of resolutions.
Waggoner on promises
In the British SDA Journal The Present Truth Elder Waggoner wrote an article entitled "Promises" on February 9, 1893. He pointed out how easily new year resolutions are broken and he compared this to making promises to God. He wrote:
"Think of a man making a promise to the Lord and then coming to Him and asking for favours on the strength of the good promises that he has made! (E.J.W. Promises, P.T. (9), 3 Feb 9, 1893).
Waggoner developed his theme more fully. His scriptural logic was as follows:
All men are sinners (Romans 3:23) and nothing good dwells in them (Romans 7:18, first part) Therefore, speaking within the context of obtaining salvation and victory over sin, men are unable to keep their promises to God (Romans 7:18, last part). Waggoner clearly saw in Romans 7:18-24 Paul's doctrine that the 'old man' the old 'I' cannot perform that which is good according to God's standard of righteousness!
“For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18.
Waggoner also clearly saw that Paul in Hebrews classifies "salvation promises" into two categories: God's promises which are called better promises; and Human promises which are faulty; this is according to Paul in Hebrews 8:6-8. Waggoner said that when men make promises they seem satisfied with them, this causes them to overlook better promises. He wrote:
"Not only are our promises unnecessary but they are harmful because they shut out the promises of God. They imply that His promises are not sufficient. Surely no one who has any just sense of the exceeding value of the promises of God, will think of supplementing them by worthless promises of his own." Ibid.
Waggoner was asked if there is any value in promises. He answered that only God's promises are worth something.
"We do not ask the Lord to bless us because we have made good promises but because He has made His promises." Ibid.
This very practical counsel was based on Waggoner's covenant theology. He saw the clear difference between the old and new covenants. The old covenant was based on human promises. The new covenant was based on God's promises. This was the light that was confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy.
Search the scriptures as thoroughly as you may and you will never find any command or instruction from God requiring us to make any salvific promises to Him. On the contrary the clear teaching of the Bible is that we are to believe God's promises. The Bible contains over 5000 promises all made by God to us.
A comprehensive review of the biblical doctrine of God's promises
God has promised us all things that pertain to spiritual life and godliness, and God has given us all things that pertain to spiritual life and godliness.
All of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ for us. In other words God has promised us all things and given us all things in Christ!
Therefore when you are determined to overcome, to serve the Lord and to obey the Lord what you need to do is to believe His exceeding great and precious promises. By believing and receiving these promises you become a partaker of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through selfishness and lust.
And how do you believe and receive God's promises? By believing in and receiving Jesus! And you receive Jesus by receiving His word!
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:17, 18.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3, 4.
“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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13.
“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Gal 4:28.
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Cor. 1:20.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63.
Sin is overcome not by our promising God but by our having God's promises.
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.
The Jews, with an old covenant mentality, once asked Jesus what to do in order to work the works of God. They were really asking Him what work they were to do in order to earn heaven. Jesus answered and told them that the work of God was that they should believe on Him.
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:28, 29.
When we want to do things for the advancement of God's kingdom of grace or when we want to bear fruit, what should we do? Should we promise God? Jesus did not bid his disciples to bear fruit, He told them, and tells us to abide in Him and we will bring forth much fruit.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4, 5.
When our hearts are troubled what should we do? Are we to promise God that we will not be fearful? No! We are to believe in God's promise of deliverance and our fears will be overcome!
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them
that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall
be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD
thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear
not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye
men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy
redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 41:10-14.
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” Ps. 91:15.
When we are worried about whether we will fall in our Christian walk or whether we will make it to the kingdom or not, what should we do? Make promises to God? No. Rather we should believe and receive His promises in Christ.
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25.
Or when we are concerned about finishing the work, what should we do? Claim by faith the promise of God.
“For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Rom. 9:28.
Elder Waggoner understood the profound truth that all things come of God. We have nothing that we have not received. As a matter of fact, everything we have has been purchased for us by the life of God. Therefore is there anything that we have a right to pledge, as if it were our own, for the fulfillment of our word? No!
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne.” Matthew 5:34.
Elder Waggoner's teaching on promises was based solidly on the scriptures. And remember we are talking here about making promises to God within the context of salvation and victory over sin.
the spirit of prophecy agrees
The book Steps to Christ was published after 1888 and reflected much of the sweet gospel emphasis of the 1888 righteousness by faith and covenant messages.
In Steps to Christ page 47 we are told how much our promises and resolutions to God are worth.
“Many are inquiring, "How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?" You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair.” S.C. 47.
Note well the power of God's promises in the following
gem:
“ In like manner you are a sinner. You cannot
atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart
and make
yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you
through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your
sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. Just
as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His word to
you. If you believe the promise,--believe that you are
forgiven and cleansed,--God supplies the fact; you are
made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to
walk when the man believed that he was healed. It is so
if you believe it.
Do not wait to feel that you are made whole, but say, "I believe it; it is so, not because I feel it, but because God has promised." S.C. 51.
Adam's disobedience sold you out to Satan. Christ's obedience even unto His infinite sacrifice at the cross has paid the price for your redemption. Christ's choice to save you is the basis of your salvation. It is His choice that gives you a choice in the matter of salvation.
“What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him.” S.C. 47.
God's promises will drive doubt out of your mind and create faith in your heart. Let us read Romans 4:20, 21. Listen to this:
“With the rich promises of the Bible before you, can you give place to doubt? Can you believe that when the poor sinner longs to return, longs to forsake his sins, the Lord sternly withholds him from coming to His feet in repentance? Away with such thoughts! Nothing can hurt your own soul more than to entertain such a conception of our heavenly Father. He hates sin, but He loves the sinner, and He gave Himself in the person of Christ, that all who would might be saved and have eternal blessedness in the kingdom of glory. What stronger or more tender language could have been employed than He has chosen in which to express His love toward us? He declares, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Isaiah 49:15.
Look up, you that are doubting and trembling; for Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Thank God for the gift of His dear Son and pray that He may not have died for you in vain. The Spirit invites you today. Come with your whole heart to Jesus, and you may claim His blessing.
As you read the promises, remember they are the expression of unutterable love and pity. The great heart of Infinite Love is drawn toward the sinner with boundless compassion. "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Ephesians 1:7. Yes, only believe that God is your helper. He wants to restore His moral image in man. As you draw near to Him with confession and repentance, He will draw near to you with mercy and forgiveness.” S.C. 54, 55. When we rely upon our good intentions and resolutions we are giving evidence that "self" is "alive" rather than “crucified.”
Let us read John 17:21, 23.
Listen to this admonition from Testimony Treasures Vol
1, page 427:
“ When trials press you, when despondency and dark
unbelief control your thoughts, when selfishness molds
your actions, you do not see your need of God and of a
deep and thorough knowledge of His will. You know not the
will of God, neither can you know it while you live for
self. You rely upon your good intentions and resolutions,
and the principal sum of life is composed of resolutions
made and resolutions broken. What you all need is to die
to self, cease clinging to self, and surrender to God.” (1875,
vol. 3. pages 541-544).
Look and live!
“Look away from yourselves to Jesus. He is all and in all. The merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour will avail to cleanse from the least and greatest sin. In trusting faith commit the keeping of your souls to God as unto a faithful Creator. Be not continually in fear and apprehension that God will leave you. He never will unless you depart from Him. Christ will come in and dwell with you if you will open the door of your hearts to Him. There may be perfect harmony between you and the Father and His Son if you will die to self and live unto God.” Ibid.
financial vows and pledges
A believer may, if he so chooses, make a financial pledge to the Lord. If you make such a vow it must be paid. To break a vow is to sin.
“When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.” Deut. 23:21-23.
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” Eccl. 5:4,5.
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12.
All swearing prohibited except the judicial oath
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne.” Matt. 5:34.
“The reason for this command is given: We are not to swear "by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black." R.V.
All things come of God. We have nothing that we have not received; and, more than this, we have nothing that has not been purchased for us by the blood of Christ. Everything we possess comes to us stamped with the cross, bought with the blood that is precious above all estimate, because it is the life of God. Hence there is nothing that we have a right to pledge, as if it were our own, for the fulfillment of our word.
The Jews understood the third commandment as prohibiting the profane use of the name of God; but they thought themselves at liberty to employ other oaths. Oath taking was common among them. Through Moses they had been forbidden to swear falsely, but they had many devices for freeing themselves from the obligation imposed by an oath. They did not fear to indulge in what was really profanity, nor did they shrink from perjury so long as it was veiled by some technical evasion of the law. Jesus condemned their practices, declaring that their custom in oath taking was a transgression of the commandment of God. Our Saviour did not, however, forbid the use of the judicial oath, in which God is solemnly called to witness that what is said is truth and nothing but the truth. Jesus Himself, at His trial before the Sanhedrin, did not refuse to testify under oath. The high priest said unto Him, "I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered, "Thou hast said." Matthew 26:63, 64. Had Christ in the Sermon on the Mount condemned the judicial oath, He would at His trial have reproved the high priest and thus, for the benefit of His followers, have enforced His own teaching.” Mount of Blessings, page 66-67.
A bright flash of the light of the Revelation 18:1 messenger
Ellen White described the 1888 message of the covenants and righteousness by faith as the beginning of that light which is to lighten the whole world with the glory of God. (Rev. 18:1-4).
One brilliant flash of that light is contained in the following gem from E.J. Waggoner. It inspires that quantity and quality of faith which will be needed for God’s remnant to endure the final crisis through faith in His promises.
Here now is the gem:
“ The existence of God’s
government depends on the fulfillment of His promises.
The Christian has the
assurance of the government of the universe that every
lawful request that he makes will be granted. Government
is especially for the protection of the weak. Suppose now
that God should fail to fulfill one of his promises to
the very weakest and most insignificant person in the world;
that single failure would destroy the entire government
of God. The whole universe would at once be thrown in confusion.
If God should break one of his promises, no one in the
universe could ever have any confidence in them, and his
rule would be at an end; for trust in the ruling power
is the only sure ground of obedience. The Nihilists of
Russia do not obey the czar, because they do not trust
him. Any government that, through failure to meet its obligations,
loses the respect of its subjects, is in an unstable condition.
Therefore the humble Christian depends on the word of God,
knowing that God has more at stake than he has. If such
a thing were possible as that God should break his word,
the Christian would lose only his life, but God would lose
his character, the stability of his government, and the
control of the universe.
“The man who thinks that “perhaps” God will hear his prayer, thinks that “perhaps” he will not; such an one cannot ask in faith, nothing wavering, and consequently cannot receive anything. The only way to come is to come boldly. The violent take the kingdom of heaven by force.
“One more thought. God is pleased to have us come to him with confidence, because it shows that we believe what he says; and his own glory depends on the fulfillment of his promises. Says Paul: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” Eph 2:4-7. That is, God intends to exhibit us throughout eternity, as an evidence of the exceeding riches of his grace; the souls that are saved will be an everlasting trophy of his unchanging goodness; how then can it be imagined that he will not hear the prayer of the contrite soul, with whom he has said that he delights to dwell?” E.J. Waggoner June 16, 1890. The Full Assurance Of Faith.
Conclusion
“The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate upon themselves. He desires His chosen heritage to value themselves according to the price He has placed upon them. God wanted them, else He would not have sent His Son on such an expensive errand to redeem them. He has a use for them, and He is well pleased when they make the very highest demands upon Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect large things if they have faith in His promises.” D.A. 668.
“It is the privilege of every earnest seeker for truth and righteousness, to rely upon the sure promises of God.” R.H. Aug 26, 1890.
Next in the series: The Schoolmaster
Appeal
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5 – 7.
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