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The Desire of Ages
The disciples began to realize the nature and extent of their work.
They were to proclaim to the world the wonderful truths which Christ
had entrusted to them. The events of His life, His death and resurrec-
tion, the prophecies that pointed to these events, the sacredness of the
law of God, the mysteries of the plan of salvation, the power of Jesus
for the remission of sins,—to all these things they were witnesses, and
they were to make them known to the world. They were to proclaim
the gospel of peace and salvation through repentance and the power of
the Saviour.
“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto
them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are
remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.”
The Holy Spirit was not yet fully manifested; for Christ had not yet
been glorified. The more abundant impartation of the Spirit did not
take place till after Christ’s ascension. Not until this was received
could the disciples fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to the
world. But the Spirit was now given for a special purpose. Before
the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the
church, Christ breathed His Spirit upon them. He was committing to
them a most sacred trust, and He desired to impress them with the fact
that without the Holy Spirit this work could not be accomplished.
The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The
impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It
imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who
are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the
Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as
representative men, to minister in behalf of the church.
“Whosesoever sins ye remit,” said Christ, “they are remitted; ...
and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” Christ here gives
no liberty for any man to pass judgment upon others. In the Sermon
on the Mount He forbade this. It is the prerogative of God. But on
the church in its organized capacity He places a responsibility for
the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church
has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. “Reprove,
rebuke, exhort,” the Lord says, “with all long-suffering and doctrine.”
2 Timothy 4:2
. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that
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is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right
name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking,