What is the 1888 Message? Many sincere believers ask this question.

Forty years had passed since the beginning of Adventism and the church was going through “growing pains.” Our principal messages such as the Second Coming of Christ, the Sabbath, the State of the Dead, and the Judgment were being debated by our preachers with advocates of other Christian denominations. They had all the biblical proof, and the church was gaining ground - the membership was growing.

Where was Christ in all this preaching and debating? It seems as if Christ had been left behind. This was what Jones and Waggoner were trying to explain.

Let us pause right here. Where is Christ in your life? Are you living by the law, or are you living by Christ? You see, it is possible to live the law through Christ, but it is impossible to live the law without Christ. Confused? The apostle Paul said that “a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Although the Scripture says that “not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:13), the question of justification was still at the very center of the controversy among the SDA leadership (ministry). Much was misunderstood, and the Book of Galatians became the focus of extensive debate.

The young preachers, Jones and Waggoner, were backed up by Ellen G. White, who stated that “the Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.”1

The above statement from the Spirit of Prophecy summarizes the entire 1888 message. Let us read in this statement attentively, since this is the Lord’s “most precious message to His people.” Remember, “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

1. The messages given by Waggoner and Jones were sent by God, and therefore the messages are of heavenly origin. Anything of heavenly origin needs our full attention. We should take interest in these messages and study them, making a personal application.

2. The message was given by God’s “great mercy.” Whenever this language (great mercy) is used in inspiration it is indicative of the person receiving the message (in this case, the church is the recipient of the message) standing on dangerous ground. God was merciful to the church at the right time. We will name a few of the dangers the church faced: a. Spiritual pride as a denomination; b. Division over the interpretation of prophecy and Scripture; c. Imminent passage of the National Sunday Law by the United States Congress; d. Disbelief in the inspired counsels.

3. The message was “most precious.” What should be done with that which is “most precious”? Should it be ignored? Should it be hidden? On the contrary, that which is sent by God as “most precious” deserves our most earnest attention.

4. The message was to focus on Christ, the “uplifted Saviour.” The apostle Paul said “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). Further, inspiration counsels us to “let the cross of Christ be made the science of all education, the center of all teaching and all study. Let it be brought into the daily experience in practical life.”2

5. The message “presented justification through faith in the Surety.” Webster says that “surety” is “one who has become legally liable for the debt of another.” Needless to say, and as confirmed by the fact that “Surety” in this statement is written with an initial capital this Surety is no doubt the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The message presents justification through faith in Christ who has assumed our debt, and Who received the punishment (death) for our sins (Romans 6:23).

“There are but few who have an appreciation of the grievous character of sin, and who comprehend the greatness of the ruin that has resulted from the transgression of God’s law. By examining the wonderful plan of redemption to restore the sinner to the moral image of God, we see that the only means for man’s deliverance was wrought out by the self-sacrifice, and the unparalleled condescension and love of the Son of God. He alone had the strength to fight the battles with the great adversary of God and man, and, as our Substitute and Surety, He has given power to those who lay hold of Him by faith, to become victors in His name, and through His merits.

“We can see in the cross of Calvary what it has cost the Son of God to bring salvation to a fallen race. . . . The knowledge of the law would condemn the sinner, and crush hope from his breast, if he did not see Jesus as his Substitute and Surety, ready to pardon his transgression, and to forgive his sin.”3

“You should let your hearts break, and let the iron melt out of your souls. Let us be pitiful and courteous. Let us have the Spirit of Christ. He left His royal throne, clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to this earth, all marred and seared by the curse, to meet man’s adversary, and deliver us from the bondage of sin and death. . . .

“How is it that men can make their hearts like adamant, and not be moved by the love of Christ? Through the merit of Christ’s blood, everyone can be a conqueror. Jesus has brought moral power to combine with human effort, whereby we may obtain the victory. Christ is our helper, and He invites us to take hold of His strength, and we shall make peace with Him. In our conscious weakness we are to lay hold of His merit, and we may become triumphant through the grace of the Man of Nazareth.”4

6. The message “invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ.” This statement as well as the entire message must be placed in the “present” tense, since it is applicable to our present time. “These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2).

“Christ gave His life that those who have sinned might be saved; and He calls upon His children to make personal efforts for the saving of souls that are ready to perish. That which Christ has taught and done, His representatives are to teach and do; His influence is to be diffused to others by the well-ordered lives and godly conversation of His followers. God’s people are to be links in the golden chain that binds souls to one another and to God.

“Those who have received light from Him who is the light of the world can, if they will consecrate themselves to Him, be instruments in His hands of enlightening many souls. As they share their light with others, it is not lessened, but increased and made more brilliant. As we give to others the riches of the grace of Christ, we too grow in grace; for as we bestow, we receive from the Source of all, light and power to bestow.

“Preaching the Word is one way of spreading the truth, but it is not the only or the most effectual way. It is by personal interviews that the truth is most effectually communicated. Visiting the people in their homes, speaking to them personally, not in regard to worldly matters, but about Christ’s power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him - this makes the deepest impression. A few simple words, spoken from a heart filled with the love of Christ, will frequently do more good than the most powerful sermon. Speak calmly, tenderly; drop the seeds of truth into the minds of your hearers, praying that God will bless your work; and your words will spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God.

“This is the work God would have His children do. Whatever may be our circumstances, we can be laborers together with God. We are not all called upon to preach, but each one can tell those around him of the wonderful love of Jesus. Those who have not been blessed with our privileges, those who have not received the light that has flashed into our minds, are to be sought out and labored for. To these souls we must go, saying as did Philip, ‘We have found Jesus.’ And as they see our earnestness for the Master, they too will be led to look and live.”5

The message invites the people to come to Christ, but the message needs “messengers” to carry the message. Who are the messengers? Ministers? Canvassers? Medical Missionaries? Yes, and yes, and further, it includes everyone who believes.

“Everyone who believes the message of God should lift up Jesus, point men to Christ, and say, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). This is the message that everyone will bear who believes in Jesus Christ as his Saviour. This is the message we are to bear to warn the impenitent, encouraging those who love and fear God, inducing souls to look to the cross of Calvary, to behold the Lamb of God.”6 All who accept Christ become His messengers. More than this, we must not only take the message and distribute it, as in distributing a pamphlet, or a CD containing the message, but we are to live the message. “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

7. The righteousness of Christ “is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.” This is the mystery the apostle Paul spoke about to the Colossians: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). “Christ in you,” “Christ in me,” will manifest (result) in a life of obedience for the glory of God.

8. “Many had lost sight of Jesus.” This was the experience of our early Advent believers. How can a Christian lose sight of Jesus? The apostle Peter lost sight of Jesus when he was walking on the water. “At the command of Jesus, Peter was able to walk on water. But he had to keep his eyes on the Saviour. As soon as he looked away, he began to doubt and sink.”7 “Ardent Peter is nearly beside himself with delight. He . . . had taken only a step upon the surface of the boiling deep, when he looked back proudly toward his companions to see if they were watching.”8 Do you have your eyes fixed on Christ, or are you looking towards your “companions?”

9. The remnant people of God need “to have their eyes directed to [Christ’s] divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family.” The 1888 message calls us to turn our eyes upon Jesus (see Hebrews 12:2). Listen to the beautiful words (do not just read the words) of this hymn written by Helen H. Lemmel:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

There’s a light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.”

10 “All power is given into His hands.” Some of Christ’s parting words to His disciples were “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). What does He do with this power? He promised to give His power to His disciples: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

11 “This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world.” This is Present Truth, the message to be given at this time. The message of the “righteousness of Christ” is to be accompanied with power. This is the loud cry of the third angel’s message (see Revelation 18:1-4). God is eager to pour out His power upon His people, but are we ready to receive it? In what condition must we be in order to receive power from on high? Listen to what the apostle Paul said to the Ephesians: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26, 27).

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.”9

12 “It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.” In summary, the 1888 message is the third angel’s message. If we want to simplify it further, or say it in one word, that word would be “Christ.”

Are you ready to give the third angel’s message? Are you ready to present Christ to the world? We cannot give that which we do not have. Therefore, dear brother or sister, first receive Christ in your heart. Surrender your life to Him fully. Then you will be able to say with the apostle Paul “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). May the Lord pour out His blessing upon you as you strive to be like Him.