THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST

"Faith cometh by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God!"

Did you know that all who hope to ever enter the Heavenly Gates, must sit at the feet of Jesus in the SCHOOL OF CHRIST here on this earth? Many do not realize it but this is one of the MAIN THEMES of Ellen White's messages from the Throne of God, and one of the most essential to understand!

Everywhere God's true servants, be they men or angels are offering entrance applications for this School in the form of Present Truth for this time. Those who are aroused by this Mighty Message are, like the Bereans of old, to begin to study to LEARN FOR THEMSELVES whether these things are so. This is the Entrance Exam for the SCHOOL OF CHRIST, The Mighty Cleaver of Truth!

"The mighty cleaver of truth has taken them out of the world. Then there is the work to be done for them to fit them for God's temple. They are hewed and squared and chiseled and fitted for the mansions in heaven." Sermons and Talks Volume One -PG- 33

By accepting this truth, they enter the SCHOOL OF CHRIST where under the direct instruction of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and guidance of the angels, they begin the course of study that will prepare them for the Higher School above. Notice what they need to learn and how it is taught:

"Learn of Me," says Jesus; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest." We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God." The Desire of Ages -PG- 330 "All have lessons to learn in the school of Christ, in order to perfect Christian characters, and have a oneness with Christ." Advent Review and Sabbath Herald -DT- 06-22-86 "In the lower school of earth we are to learn the lessons that will prepare us to enter the higher school, where our education will continue under the personal instruction of Christ." UL -PG- 197 "Here is the admonition, "Come. . .and learn of me." How difficult to enter the school of Christ by giving up our wills, and submitting to the will of our heavenly Father! Christ knows our weakness. He has given us promises to encourage us by the way, and is ever ready to bear our burdens for us if we will bring them to Him." Manuscript Releases Volume Three -PG- 72 "The religion of Jesus Christ has a refining influence upon men and women. When the truth of God finds access to the heart, it commences its refining process upon the character. Men who are coarse and rough become humble, teachable, learning, ever learning, in the school of Christ." Talks Volume One -PG- 33

This SCHOOL is a personal course of study; each student is to receive one on one tutoring from the Three Heavenly Dignitaries Themselves, and the assistant Heavenly angels. Although interacting with other believers, and taking part in a church worship group, this NEVER takes the place of your need to sit in the SCHOOL OF CHRIST. As I said before, only individuals enter this SCHOOL, we cannot be given any 'honorary certificates' because we have our name on church books or even are working for the 'church'.

Although a Pastor or Minister may be one of the reference sources you find in your studies; always remember that they, too, are STUDENTS, who must sit beside you and learn or they won't ever enter the Higher School either! Human Pastors and Teachers are not ever to usurp the place of the Heavenly teachers. Never take a human being as an 'Ultimate Authority'!

As long as life on this earth shall last, we are never, never to cease from studying and learning, ever seeking to bring as much of Heaven into our hearts and lives as we possibly can. Never will we graduate if we merely try to learn only from Pastors and ministers; fellow students themselves; and do not have the one on one tutoring of the Heavenly Powers!

What are the text books in the SCHOOL OF CHRIST? The number one is the Holy Bible, and part of the course is to learn to recognise the TRUE textbook from modern per-versions! Then we have the wonderful resource given to us in the Spirit of Prophecy writings, the special Gift of the Master of the School to His last day people. We are taught also lessons from the books of experience, including crash courses in suffering and trials.

We learn from the books of History and Nature; which must always be studied by the Light of Inspiration in order to be rightly translated and understood. The Master of the School has hidden countless lessons for us in these books.

Part of the Course is learning the Lessons woven into our own wonderfully made Bodies; by learning and living under the discipline of the Laws of Health designed by the Creator, we are helped in all our other studies.

Remember, we are never to graduate from the SCHOOL OF CHRIST as long as life continues here on earth. Never are we to sit back and feel; I have heard it all before, I know all the Bible Lessons, I can just relax and be entertained week after week by the Pastor. If we stop learning for ourselves as individuals under the DIRECT instruction of Jesus and the Holy Spirit —we are DROPOUTS!! We will never reach the HIGHER SCHOOL in Heaven!

Remember too, that reading papers or books from other students must NEVER take the place of reading and studying the Inspired Writings with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Other books and papers are only helpful to the degree in which they draw upon and utilize the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy; man's own ideas and opinions are WORTHLESS! Indeed a student feeding on these will soon flunk out of the SCHOOL OF CHRIST and never graduate to the Heavenly School! Instead, he will transfer to the School of Antichrist, a branch of the School of Satan, and often will not notice the change until too late!

We are pleased to be able to present to you a compilation of 122 of the over 500 references to this ESSENTIAL SUBJECT, through the labors of Elder William O. Berry. We urge you to study these and also go to the context and study more deeply. Your Eternal Life depends on the awareness given in these references!

Mt 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.