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Chapter 20
201
in character, and were specially fitted to make known to the world
His precepts and example (
The Spirit of Prophecy 3:243, 244
).
23 (
Matthew 16:18, 19
;
18:18
). Man Cannot Remove One
Stain of Sin
—Christ gave no ecclesiastical right to forgive sin, nor to
sell indulgences, that men may sin without incurring the displeasure
of God, nor did He give His servants liberty to accept a gift or bribe
for cloaking sin, that it may escape merited censure. Jesus charged
His disciples to preach the remission of sin
in His name
among all
nations; but they themselves were not empowered to remove one
stain of sin from the children of Adam.... Whoever would attract the
people to himself as one in whom is invested power to forgive sins,
incurs the wrath of God, for he turns souls away from the heavenly
Pardoner to a weak and erring mortal (
The Spirit of Prophecy 3:245,
246
).
24-29. Tenderness Won Thomas
—Jesus, in His treatment of
Thomas, gave His followers a lesson regarding the manner in which
they should treat those who have doubts upon religious truth, and
who make those doubts prominent. He did not overwhelm Thomas
with words of reproach, nor did He enter into a controversy with
him; but, with marked condescension and tenderness, He revealed
Himself unto the doubting one. Thomas had taken a most unreason-
able position, in dictating the only conditions of his faith; but Jesus,
by His generous love and consideration, broke down all the barriers
he had raised. Persistent controversy will seldom weaken unbelief,
but rather put it upon self-defense, where it will find new support
and excuse. Jesus, revealed in His love and mercy as the crucified
Saviour, will bring from many once unwilling lips the acknowledg-
ment of Thomas, “My Lord, and my God” (
The Spirit of Prophecy
3:222
).