Bible

Principles of True Righteousness

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Those who put their trust and hope in Jesus will find that, day by day, their walk with Him will become closer and less in the world.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5, is one of the most misunderstood messages that He gave. Some believe that it summarizes God’s plan of salvation, that those desiring to be in heaven must obey the rules. Others believe it has no significance today, but that it will apply at some future time during religious trial and persecution.

The key is found in verse 20: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The theme is righteousness.

The Pharisees taught a superficial, external righteousness based on law, but Jesus described a righteousness that comes from within, in the heart. Where the Pharisees were so concerned about minute details of conduct, tithing, fasting, and presenting themselves in holy robes, they neglected the major issues of character.

The lessons that Jesus taught to His followers and recorded in the Gospels were foreign to the rules they had come to believe necessary to be saved.

In the Beatitudes and the pictures of the believer, if you do not fix the inside, it does not matter what you do to the outside; it is not going to work. The crowd’s attention was fixed upon Jesus as He spoke the first word: “Blessed” Matthew 5:3. This was a powerful word to those who heard that day, one they had never heard from the Pharisees. To them it meant divine joy and perfect happiness. It was not a word used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead. “Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. Jesus presented to them a message that would enter their hearts.

There are four attitudes described in Matthew 5 that are common among men and women today.

  1. Attitude toward self

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Verse 3. To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of self.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. It is not for anyone to consider himself any better than others, as all are equal in God’s sight. Jesus died for all. Attitude makes the difference; we must look at others with the sympathy and love with which God sees us. This does not mean to be without a backbone or have false humility saying, “I am not worth anything!” To be “poor in spirit” exhibits honesty and acceptance of self, putting into practice the best of one’s ability to the glory of God without self-praise and self-assertion that is common in the world.

  1. Attitude toward sin

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Verses 4–6.

Meekness is not weakness, for both Moses and Jesus were meek men. The word translated “meek” was used by the Greeks to describe a horse that had been broken. It refers to power under control.

In Numbers 12:3 describing Moses, it says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses surrendered his faculties to God, which enabled him to complete the assignments that God gave him. We also can become conquers over our own problems by surrendering our powers to God.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29. This is the rest and contentment that Jesus had as He surrendered totally to His Father. This is available to all today. We struggle with the righteousness issue because we are not able to totally surrender. We mourn over our sins and think we need to have some control, but rest comes only after total submission and being under the control of God.

While the Pharisees claimed to be defenders of the law of Moses, they forced people to comply with those laws, demonstrating that they did not reflect the character of Jesus.

  1. Attitude toward the Lord

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:7–9. We experience God’s mercy when we trust Christ. “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 shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:4–9.

In very simple words that means that no matter how hard you try you will not achieve righteousness. No matter how hard you work or how dedicated you are to work, or how much you volunteer for work, you just do not have what it takes and never will—only Jesus has it. It is only through Him that we can reach that righteousness. It is only through Jesus Christ and Him in us that we can do anything. His righteousness is a free gift, His life in us. It is through Christ that we attain to eternal life.

  1. Attitude toward the world

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:10–14.

Sadly, this experience is often repeated in our church today. Many say, How dare these people come in here to worship; he is a tax collector. I am better; I fast twice a week; I pay tithe; I pray; what are they doing here? This is an attitude problem. In the story it was the man who humbled himself who went home justified, rejoicing with peace in his heart.

All need the infilling of Christ in the heart to have peace. It is in Christ that all become equal.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10–16.

It is not easy to be a dedicated Christian. Our society is not friendly to Christianity. If it is not friendly to God, it will not be friendly to God’s people either. There is a conflict between the principles of Christianity and the world—conflicting attitudes.

The amusements and fashions of the world do not reflect Christ’s righteousness. There is no Christianity in these things. As your plans for each day are consecrated to God to be carried out or given up as His providence indicates, your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. [See Steps to Christ, 70.] The Beatitudes represent an outlook radically different from that presented by the world. The world praises pride and not humility. Where the world endorses sin, especially if you can “get away with it,” God seeks to reconcile His enemies and make them His children. The world is at war with God so it must be expected that those living godly will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12). But be sure that suffering is not due to personal foolishness or disobedience.

We are told: “All who serve God with purity of soul will know that He is jealous that His honor should be preserved. Many of the most glorious revelations recorded in the Bible were made by the Lord in the darkest days of the church’s history. The Lord has given these revelations of His glory in order that men may be deeply impressed regarding the sacredness of His service. Impressions have been made that should bear with solemn force on the mind, showing that God is God, and that He has not lost His glory. He requires the utmost fidelity in His service today. The impression must be left on human minds that the Lord God is holy, and that He will vindicate His glory.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1160.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31–33.

Note, seek first the kingdom of heaven and righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus, will be provided. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn righteousness; we simply do not have what it takes to gain righteousness.

“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:7.

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:25.

This instruction applies to you and me. We need to be willing to submit to Him. We must be willing to give all to Jesus in order to receive His righteousness. We have none of our own.

Christ’s righteousness, the wedding garment (Matthew 22:11, 12), the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), is the covering necessary to inherit the mansions that Christ is preparing in heaven. He went to prepare a place for us, and when He comes again He has promised to take us home with Him.

The indwelling of Christ transforms sinful man into humble, obedient and faithful people.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17–20.

In the law of Moses, God revealed His standard for holy living. The Pharisees defended it and sought to obey it, but Jesus said that the true righteousness that pleases God must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. To the common people, the scribes and Pharisees were the holiest men in the community! If they had not attained, what hope was there for anybody else?

Jesus made it clear that He had come to honor the law and help God’s people to love it, learn it, and live it but He would not accept the artificial righteousness of the religious leaders that was merely an external masquerade. Their religion was a dead ritual, not a living relationship. It was artificial and did not reproduce itself in others in a living way but promoted pride instead of humility and led to bondage instead of liberty.

We can fulfill the Law by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work in our lives. The Holy Spirit enables us to daily experience the “righteousness of the law.” This does not mean we live sinlessly perfect lives, but it does mean that Christ lives out His life through us by the power of His Spirit (Galatians 2:20).

Within the Beatitudes, we see the perfect character of Jesus Christ. While Jesus never had to mourn over His own sins, He was still a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3. He never had to hunger and thirst after righteousness since He was the holy Son of God, but He did delight in the Father’s will and find His satisfaction in doing it (John 4:34). The only way we can experience the righteousness of the Beatitudes is through the power of Christ.

How do we get victory? By allowing Jesus to purify the desires of the heart and bring into subjection the actions of the body. “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:30.

Obviously, this is not talking about literal surgery; for this would not solve the problem in the heart. Concerning sin, the eye and the hand are usually the two “culprits.” Jesus said, “Deal immediately and decisively with sin! Don’t taper off—cut off!” Spiritual surgery is more important than physical surgery, for the sins of the body can lead to eternal judgment. We think of passages like, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Colossians 3:5, 6.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:13.

We are never to retaliate. Jesus replaced a law with an attitude: be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer. Of course, He applied this to personal insults, not to groups or nations. The person who retaliates only makes himself and the offender feel worse; and the result is a settled war and not peace.

In order to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39), we must stay where we are and not run away. This demands both faith and love. It also means that we will be hurt, but it is better to be hurt on the outside than to be harmed on the inside. It further means that we should try to help the sinner. We are vulnerable, because he may attack us anew; but we are also victorious, because Jesus is on our side, helping us and building our characters. Psychologists tell us that violence is born of weakness, not strength. It is the strong man who can love and suffer hurt; it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts others to protect himself. He hurts others; then runs away to protect himself.

We are to love our enemies. Nowhere did the law teach hatred for one’s enemies. Passages like Exodus 23:4, 5 indicate just the opposite! Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, hate us, and exploit us selfishly. Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He has the right to command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. Praying for our enemies makes it easier to love them. It takes the “poison” out of our attitude.

There are several reasons given for Jesus’ admonition:

This love is a mark of maturity, proving that we are sons of the Father, and not just little children.

It is Godlike. The Father shares His good things with those who oppose Him. Matthew 5:45 suggests that our love “creates a climate” of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends so graciously.

It is a testimony to others. “What do ye more than others” (Matthew 5:47)? is a good question. God expects us to live on a much higher plane than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. As Christians, we must return good for evil as an investment of love. We must remember that God is holy and we must do all we can to preserve His glory.

We rob ourselves of today’s joys when we worry about tomorrow. Worrying about tomorrow does not help either tomorrow or today. If anything, it robs us of our effectiveness today—which means we will be even less effective tomorrow. Someone has said that the average person is crucifying himself between two thieves: the regrets of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow. It is right to plan for the future and even to save for the future. In II Corinthians 12:14 it states, “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” There is also counsel in 1 Timothy 5:8, which says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” It is a sin to worry about the future and permit tomorrow to rob today of its blessings.

There are three things that point the way to victory:

Having faith in God to meet our needs. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matthew 6:30.

Trust in our heavenly Father, knowing that He cares for His children. “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Matthew 6:32.

Putting God first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. We must put God’s will first in our lives so that He might be glorified. If we have faith in our Father and put Him first, He will meet our needs.

All hypocrisy and anxiety must be put away. Hypocrisy and anxiety are sins. If we practice the true righteousness of the kingdom, we will avoid these sins and everything that goes against God’s word and allow the righteousness of Christ to be totally reproduced in us. The Lord said that without Him, no one can see the Father.

The number one priority in life is to have the righteousness of Christ. We each need to surrender all of our ways into the hands of our Redeemer right now while time lasts.

Pastor Domingo Nuñez is director of Outreach Ministry for Steps to Life. He is involved in the coordination of world mission projects and he travels extensively, encouraging the many home churches supported by Steps to Life. He may be contacted at: 316-788-5559 or by email at: domingonunez@stepstolife.org.

The Door – What Does it Represent?

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Within the Bible passage of John 10:1–30 there are many wonderful lessons, one of which is the study on the door. Every person who is saved must go through this door.

Jesus tells the story in which He says:

  1. The person who does not go through the door of the sheepfold, but goes up or gets in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

Still today, if a person enters another’s house other than by the door it is because they do not belong there and they are there for no good reason. They are most probably a thief or a robber.

  1. The one that goes through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (See John 10:2.)
  2. Jesus says, I myself am the Door of the sheep. (See John 10:7.) How can Jesus be the Door and yet go through the door?
  3. Remember, Jesus said He is the Door. “Through Me, if anybody enters in, he will be saved.” John 10:9. This is good news. If you go through this door, you will be saved. There are no exceptions. Not one person who goes through this door will be lost.
  4. The sheepfold has only one door. Everybody in the fold who has not gone through the door is a thief and a robber.
  5. The fold is the church, but the only people who are actually members of the church are the ones who have gone through the door. Suppose a robber comes to your house entering through the window. Though he may be in the house, he is not a member of your household.

In the same way the fold is the church, and only those who have entered through the door are actually members, all others in there do not really belong. Even though they may look like part of the flock, they are not, but imposters.

  1. The Shepherd is the Door. Remember, Jesus said that He was the Door.
  2. If you go through a door, there is both a time before going through it and a time after going through it.
  3. Jesus said He went through the door. That means there was a time before Jesus went through the door and there was a time after He went through the door.
  4. Everyone who gets into the sheepfold without going through the door will be lost, because they are a thief or a robber. The book of Revelation makes it very clear that there will be no thieves or robbers in heaven.
  5. The fold is the church and the door is the entrance into the church. All who enter through the door will be saved without exception.
  6. In Matthew 17, Jesus warned to beware of wolves that are in sheep’s clothing. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing within the church and although they profess to be members of the church, they are not members of the household of God; they are the children of the devil dressed in sheep’s clothing. One way to identify them is by their backbiting. Sheep do not backbite.
  7. At some time all of the sheep must go through the door.

Remember, all who go through the door receive eternal life—without exception. So what does the door represent and what does it mean to go through it? Jesus said that He was the Door but He also said that He went through the door. Since Jesus went through the door, there was a time before He went through the door and a time after He went through it. Since there was a time before He went through, we know for sure that the door does not represent the divinity of Christ, because there never has been a time when Christ was not divine.

“Christ was one with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory.

“Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God. … In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. …

“His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.

“Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. [He was with the Father, but He was a distinct person from all eternity. There never was a time when that was not so.] He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right.

“He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent.” The Faith I Live By, 46.

The following tells us that Jesus was Jehovah. In John 8:56–59, it says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him.”

Why did they take up stones to throw at Him? Because the Jews knew the significance of what He had just said but which some people today do not understand.

“With solemn dignity Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM’ [John 8:58].

“Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as His own by this Galilean Rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One.” The Desire of Ages, 469, 470.

There are many references in the Bible that indicate very clearly that Jesus Christ is Jehovah. But because that is the case, the door cannot represent Christ’s divinity because He said He went through the door. There was a time before and a time after He went through the door.

Both the Shepherd and the sheep all go through the door, and all who will be saved, also have to go through it. The door cannot represent our humanity, because there has never been a time in our existence when we have not been human. The door cannot represent either divinity or humanity, so what does it represent?

In an article written in The Review and Herald, March 10, 1892, Ellen White states, “The only way in which salvation could be provided for man was through the union of divinity with humanity. Christ in human flesh alone could bridge the gulf that sin had made.”

Notice, Jesus was divine, but man could not be saved by His divinity alone. He must also become a man so His divinity could join with our humanity.

We are also told: “Christ came to our world, sent of God to take human nature upon him. The mysterious union was to be formed between human nature and the divine nature. … The great condescension on the part of God is a mystery that is beyond our fathoming. The greatness of the plan cannot be fully comprehended, nor could infinite Wisdom devise a plan that would surpass it. It could be successful only by the clothing of divinity with humanity, by Christ becoming man, and suffering the wrath which sin has made because of the transgression of God’s law.” Ibid., October 22, 1895.

There is a door that the Shepherd (Christ) entered through (John 10:2). There was a time that He was fully divine, but when He entered through the door, He was not only divine, but also a human being. The door then represents a union of divinity and humanity. Jesus said that only those who enter that way will be saved. It takes more than mere humanity to enter through that door. Jesus entered by uniting His divinity to our humanity. We must enter by uniting our humanity with His divinity. This unity is clearly taught in the Bible and is the only way.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” II Peter 1:2–4. It goes on to say that if you will do this you will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God.

“In Christ dwelt all the fullness of the God-head. But the only way in which He could reach men was to vail His glory by a garb of humanity. The angels beheld the hiding of His glory, that divinity might touch humanity.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1898.

That is what it meant for Jesus to go through the door. He is the Door. He took our humanity upon His divinity so that He became both divine and human. Without the union of divinity with humanity the plan of salvation will not work. To enter through the door, humanity must be united, linked up, part of, His divinity. We are to become partakers of the divine nature.

“Divinity took the nature of humanity, and for what purpose? That through the righteousness of Christ humanity might partake of the divine nature. This union of divinity and humanity, which was possible with Christ, is incomprehensible to human minds. The wonderful things to take place in our world—the greatest events of all ages—are incomprehensible to worldly minds; they cannot be explained by human sciences.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 332.

Our minds cannot understand how we can become a partaker of divine nature. The Bible says that spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

There are many Christians today who do not seem to understand this and think that all you have to do is say, “I believe in Jesus” and that is it. That is not it! You must go through the door. Belief is wonderful if you understand the meaning of the Greek word—to make a commitment.

“The powers of heaven shall be shaken. Christ is coming in power and great glory, but His coming is not such a mystery as the things to take place before that event. Man must be a partaker of the divine nature in order to stand in this evil time, when the mysteries of satanic agencies are at work. Only by the divine power united with the human can souls endure through these times of trial.” Ibid.

Have you gone through the door? There is a wide difference between a pretended union and a real connection with Christ. Jesus illustrates this fact in the parable of the vine (John 15). He said He was the vine and we are the branches. The outer branches that are not connected directly to the vine get cut off and thrown into the fire.

This represents those who are in the fold but have not gone through the door. They profess Christianity, they may belong to a church or may be an elder, a preacher, an evangelist, or have some other position, but they have not gone through the door. They do not have that inner connection where the life of the vine comes into the branch. If the inner life of the vine reaches out to the branch, it is alive and bears fruit. But if the branch is connected to the vine with just an outer connection and not a living connection, then it dies and will be cut off. All who are in the fold but have not gone through the door are thieves and robbers and are only there temporarily.

“To know the truth, to claim union with Christ, and yet not to bring forth fruit, not to live in the exercise of constant faith—this hardens the heart in disobedience and self-confidence. Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness, all depend on our union with Christ and the degree of faith we exercise in Him. … Everyone who is united to Christ will depart from all iniquity.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 48, 49.

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” II Timothy 2:19.

Those connected to Christ will depart from all lawlessness. Those entering the fold by jumping the fence do not belong there.

“Every individual, by his own act, either puts Christ from him by refusing to cherish His spirit and follow His example, or he enters into a personal union with Christ by self-renunciation, faith, and obedience.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 46.

How does a person enter into a union with Christ?

Renounce self—no longer trust self. This is one of the most difficult things for people who are successful. After talking to the rich young ruler, Jesus told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24). Because we are human, we have a tendency to judge others as well as ourselves by outward appearance, but to enter through the door requires a change of heart and a new spirit. You cannot go through the door by just changing your appearance. Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders in the time of Christ, became sarcastic when Jesus told him he was not ready to go to heaven (John 3). Jesus said that unless you are born of the water and the spirit, unless you receive a new spirit and a new heart, there is no way to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

That new spirit, the divine spirit, is made manifest when you go through the door. Humanity linked up with divinity! Many people have a desire to be a Christian but are often trapped in one of their darling sins. They have not gone through the door and received the Holy Spirit, which gives power to do certain things that before have been impossible and to stop doing those things that previously you had not been able to stop.

The gospel is offered as a free gift to all. There are people in prison for all manner of sin—murder, rape, theft, to mention just a few. When the person, guilty of any sin, is willing to go through the door and receive the Holy Spirit, he/she will receive a new heart and a new mind and will begin to live a new life. The blood of Jesus Christ, which can take away all uncleanness, will forgive his/her sins. There are many people who want to be saved in their sins without going through the door. They consider their sins not too big, and if the rapist and the murderer can be saved, well, they never robbed a bank or murdered anyone or did anything really bad! Surely their little sins would be overlooked. No! Jesus told Nicodemus that unless he was born of the Holy Spirit; unless he went through the door, he was not really part of the church, but just playing church.

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13. Baptism by water is a symbol. The Jews had symbols. Every sacrificed lamb represented Jesus. John said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. Jesus was the true Lamb of God. Many people offered animal sacrifices having the symbol without understanding what that symbol represented. Caiaphas, the high priest and the leaders of the Jewish church all offered animal sacrifices and will still be lost because they only knew the symbol and not the real thing.

All who put their trust in Jesus, surrendering their lives totally to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ and receive His Spirit, will be saved, but there will be many people who have been baptized by water who will be lost. Baptism by water is a symbol, but unless baptized by the Holy Spirit, they are just playing church.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” Acts 2:38. Paul met some others who had been baptized by John but did not understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit so they were re-baptized (Acts 19:1–7). After going through the door, becoming united with the divine nature, care must be taken to stay connected with Christ.

“This spiritual relation can be established only by the exercise of personal faith. This faith must express on our part supreme preference, perfect reliance, entire consecration. Our will must be wholly yielded to the divine will, our feelings, desires, interests, and honor identified with the prosperity of Christ’s kingdom and the honor of His cause, we constantly receiving grace from Him, and Christ accepting gratitude from us.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 229.

“All Christ’s followers have as deep an interest in this lesson as had the disciples who listened to His words. In the apostasy, man alienated himself from God. The separation is wide and fearful; but Christ has made provision again to connect us with Himself. The power of evil is so identified with human nature that no man can overcome except by union with Christ. Through this union we receive moral and spiritual power.” Ibid., 230.

It is impossible to overcome sin without going through the door and entering into Christ.

“A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first and last and best in everything. But this union costs us something. It is a union of utter dependence, to be entered into by a proud being. All who form this union must feel their need of the atoning blood of Christ. They must have a change of heart. They must submit their own will to the will of God. There will be a struggle with outward and internal obstacles. There must be a painful work of detachment as well as a work of attachment. Pride, selfishness, vanity, worldliness—sin in all its forms—must be overcome if we would enter into a union with Christ. The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, why they are so fickle, so variable, is that they try to attach themselves to Christ without first detaching themselves from these cherished idols.” Ibid., 231.

In order to attach yourselves to Christ you must be detached from the world—detatched from everything that involves sin.

Jesus says the way that leads to destruction is broad but the door of salvation is narrow. Entering through this door, sins must be left outside. Are you willing to do that? This is why there are a lot of Christians who want to jump over the fence and get into the fold another way. They are not willing to go through the narrow door, too narrow for their baggage. The Lord is soon going to clean house and all the thieves and robbers will be cast out.

Do you still want to go through the narrow door where all sins must be left on the outside? All who enter there will be saved without exception. No matter how weak you are, when united with divine power, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all uncleanness and the power of the Holy Spirit will give you the power to live a new life. You will have a new heart and a new spirit with new desires and everything will be changed. Paul said that if any man is in Christ Jesus, old things are passed away and he is a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17). Do you want that experience in your life?

If you are willing to go through the door, the Lord is willing to give you the Holy Spirit that will empower you to live a different kind of a life. Whatever your struggle in this life, if you are willing to go through the door, there is no problem that Jesus cannot solve through the power of the Holy Spirit, as long as you are willing to make a commitment.

We thank God that there is a door to salvation and that if we are willing to make a complete commitment of our lives to Jesus Christ He will give to us the Holy Spirit so that we may receive a new heart, a new spirit, a new mind and a new life.

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Free Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Another Love Story

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Jesus’ prayer for His disciples was not for them alone, but for you and me and all those who appreciate His will, His work, and His words. He prayed for all those who follow Him in Spirit and in truth.

He said, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.”

At that point, the disciple Judas had already left. “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture may be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” Verses 12–18.

Christ was about to take on another role, but His disciples were left to continue preaching and ministering to this world. They would now learn much more as they taught others. Christ’s life was one of continual giving and imparting to others. “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” Verses 19, 20.

Jesus continued, “And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One [referring to Himself and the Father]: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” Verses 22, 23.

The key to being ready when Jesus returns is having “Christ in us,” so when the Father looks at us, He sees the reflection of His Son.

We do not fully understand the love that Christ has for us. As a child, we may recite John 3:16, but as we start to investigate, we find that eternity will not exhaust the study of His love for man.

One of the things I learned when I got married was that every proclamation of love will be tested. What if your mate loses an arm or a leg; are you going to fall out of love with him or her? Love is a principle, and true love overcomes every obstacle.

The more I try to search out Christ, the less I understand what love is. God is love. “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.” Verse 24.

Christ wanted those whom the Father gave Him to be with Him. That is true love.

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.” Matthew 28:16, 17. Here was a Saviour who was crucified, sentenced to death, and was now once again with them, yet some doubted.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Verse 18. Giving the disciples the gospel commission, He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Verses 19, 20.

“The time had come for Christ to ascend to His Father’s throne. As a divine conqueror He was about to return with the trophies of victory to the heavenly court. Before His death He had declared to His Father, ‘I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.’ John 17:4.” The Desire of Ages, 829.

On the cross Christ said, “It is finished.” John 19:30. He declared that all the requirements to redeem the world had been met. He stated, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” John 17:4.

“After His resurrection He tarried on earth for a season, that His disciples might become familiar with Him in His risen and glorified body. Now He was ready for the leave-taking. He had authenticated the fact that He was a living Saviour. His disciples need no longer associate Him with the tomb. They could think of Him as glorified before the heavenly universe.” The Desire of Ages, 829.

Christ led His disciples to the Mount of Olives. He didn’t lead them to Mount Zion, where the devil said, “I will set my throne in the north, the city of the great king” (see Isaiah 14:12–14) that is representative of the city of the great King, God the Father. Christ was rejected in Mount Zion as their king. He did not take them to Mount Moriah, the site of the sanctuary where He was rejected as their priest. He avoided these two hallowed spots and went to where He often visited the house of His friend Lazarus, near the Mount of Olives. The Garden of Gethsemane was there, the place where He often found peace.

Christ ascended that Sunday morning. It was the feast of 50 days or what we call Pentecost. Christ had stayed with His disciples 40 days for them to get accustomed to Him as a risen Saviour. On that fortieth day, He led them to the top of the Mount of Olives. Of this, Ellen White wrote: “Now with the eleven disciples Jesus made His way toward the mountain. As they passed through the gate of Jerusalem, many wondering eyes looked upon the little company, led by One whom a few weeks before the rulers had condemned and crucified.” Ibid., 830.

As He led them up into the mountain, He passed through Gethsemane. One of the disciples’ biggest arguments or contentions throughout the three and a half years was who would be the greatest. But as He walked up to the Mount of Olives, through Gethsemane, not one of them was prideful or boastful, realizing that was the place where they all had deserted Him. All pride had been removed from them. It was almost a sense of guilt they felt, realizing their desertion. But Christ knew it would happen, and He foretold it. As they continued, Jesus talked to His disciples, teaching the same lessons that He had spoken to them for the past three and a half years.

As He reached the top of the mountain, and while still addressing the disciples, His face started to light up as He began to ascend. The disciples were amazed as they watched and strained to get even the last glimpse of Him.

A cloud of angels was waiting to welcome back their King. But even as that was happening, His heart was still with His disciples. He told them, “I want you to go to Jerusalem and wait” (see Luke 24:49). It took them ten days to come into one accord, working out their differences.

The Parallel Story

Invisible to the mortal eye was another scene in heaven. As Jesus departed from this earth and from the ones He loved, there were others patiently waiting for Him to welcome Him home.

“Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus Who had walked and talked and prayed with them; Who had broken bread with them; Who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and Who had that very day toiled with them during the ascent of Olivet—the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father’s throne. And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended.” Ibid., 832.

I am sure those angels wanted to be part of that procession to welcome back their King. “These angels were of the company that had been waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus to His heavenly home. The most exalted of the angel throng, they were the two who had come to the tomb at Christ’s resurrection, and they had been with Him throughout His life on earth. With eager desire all heaven had waited for the end of His tarrying in a world marred by the curse of sin. The time had now come for the heavenly universe to receive their King. Did not the two angels long to join the throng that welcomed Jesus? But in sympathy and love for those whom He had left, they waited to give them comfort.” Ibid.

When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, they were expected to be sad, depressed, and broken, but what they saw was the absolute opposite. They were happy and joyous, because their Saviour was alive, and they knew now that He was at the right hand of God the Father pleading their cause.

“The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future. They knew that Jesus was in heaven, and that His sympathies were with them still. They knew that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were eager to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.’ John 16:23, 24. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the mighty argument, ‘It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.’ Romans 8:34. And Pentecost brought them fullness of joy in the presence of the Comforter, even as Christ had promised.

“All heaven was waiting to welcome the Saviour to the celestial courts. As He ascended, He led the way, and the multitude of captives set free at His resurrection followed. The heavenly host, with shouts and acclamations of praise and celestial song, attended the joyous train.

“As they drew near to the city of God, the challenge is given by the escorting angels—

‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in.’

“Joyfully the waiting sentinels respond—

‘Who is this King of glory?’

“This they say, not because they know not Who He is, but because they would hear the answer of exalted praise—

‘The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in.’

“Again is heard the challenge, ‘Who is this King of glory?’ for the angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. The escorting angels make reply—

‘The Lord of hosts;
He is the King of glory.’

Psalm 24:7–10.

“Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music.

“There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion—all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.” Ibid., 833, 834.

All this was going on while the disciples were getting themselves together into one accord. Normally you don’t hear about that parallel story. It is very important, because the church here had no clue what was happening in the heavenly courts. That is going to be repeated.

Paul says the things that are written are for our learning, and our admonition, and our instruction (Romans 15:4; I Corinthians 10:11; II Timothy 3:16). This is going to be repeated. When Christ was on earth, He was a Saviour—a Lamb. At His ascension He took on the role of High Priest.

When He takes the role as a King, mediation will cease. There will be no more a priest pleading for the people. He is returning as Christ the King. When He comes back the second time it will not be to invite people into the first apartment of the sanctuary. The devil is portraying Christ as coming back as a priest, which means that you can still confess your sins. But He is coming back as a King. When Michael (Christ) stands up and removes His priestly vestures and puts on His kingly robe, we need to take that seriously. At that time, all will have to live in the presence of God without a mediator. There will be no forgiveness for sin after that time.

“And I [John] saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion [another name of King] of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” Revelation 5:1–6.

The individual who opens up the book is a King and Saviour. There is only One person Who fits that description.

“And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” Verses 7–11.

This was a huge celebration. Christ ascends, there are a lot of beings, and there is a throne.

“But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with Whom there is joy over one sinner who repents; Who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, ‘It is finished,’ He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: ‘Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied …’ Here is our Mediator. If Thy justice is satisfied, ‘I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.’ John 19:30; 17:24.” The Desire of Ages, 834.

Christ allowed His intentions to be known that His desire was that wherever He would be, those whom the Father had given to Him would be there also and He was going away to prepare that place.

The response came from the Father. “The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ’s toiling, struggling ones on earth are ‘accepted in the Beloved.’ Ephesians 1:6.” Ibid.

Those who accept the gift of salvation are adopted into the Beloved “with joy unutterable.” Let’s go back a little bit. “Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. ‘Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.’ Psalm 85:10. The Father’s arms encircles His Son, and the word is given, ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’ Hebrews 1:6.”

“With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host prostrate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.’ Revelation 5:12.” Ibid., 834.

John, the youngest of the disciples, in his old age, was shown a vision where Jesus explained to him the workings of the heavenly court. He heard somebody speaking to him: “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.” John saw Jesus doing the priestly work. He was in the first apartment of the sanctuary. “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.” Revelation 1:12–15.

The devil is going to come back with that description. Those who do not understand the workings of the earthly sanctuary will be deceived. The devil is going to personate Christ to deceive the world with a message of peace and safety and to forgive sins. The majority will say, “O, here comes our priest; our king is coming, and when he comes, He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But, at the Second Advent, Jesus does not come to bring peace and safety or cleansing from sin, for the judgment is already completed before He comes.

In 1844, at the end of the 2,300 days prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 8:14), Christ moved into another apartment, the Most Holy Place where the ark of God is, where justice is combined with mercy. Justice is inside the ark—the Law of God. The mercy seat covers the law with the Shekinah glory. Justice and mercy meet in the Most Holy Place. God is both just and merciful. Jesus fulfilled justice by taking our place, suffering the second death for our sins. The plan of redemption has been completed and now there must be an investigation into those who are worthy of His atonement.

Do you really appreciate what God has done for you? Matthew 7:20 says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” You need to know yourself by your fruit. Do you truly appreciate what Christ has done? There are things that must be let go of to appreciate the sacrifice that was made. He says, “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.” Psalm 77:13.

Christ prayed, “Lord, I will that those whom thou hast given Me, be where I am.” Christ has ascended. That is where I want to be—with Him.

Bertrand Harry works for Steps to Life in the audio/video department. 

Enduring Trials

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In rightly dividing the word of truth, it is often necessary to look beyond the stated words to the symbolism represented by those words. By so doing, the deeper meaning of Scripture is revealed and the diligent student can see more clearly the promises and workings of God in the lives of His faithful children today. For example, in Exodus 6:6, 7, when we understand that Egypt is symbolic of sin, we recognize not only a promise that God made to literal Israel—which was indeed fulfilled—but also a wonderful promise that applies today to spiritual Israel—a promise which is now being fulfilled through faith in God’s word.

“Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:6, 7.

Understanding the symbolism in these two verses reveals one of the richest and most uplifting promises in Scripture. Here God promises to relieve us from the burden of sin, take us as His own people, and be to us a God, revealing to us that He is the Lord our God who releases us from the burden of sin. What a glorious promise!

But note how this work is to be accomplished: “with great judgments.” In verse 9, we are told that the children of Israel “hearkened not unto Moses.” Then Moses queried of God, “Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?” Verse 12.

It was not until the judgments began to fall on their overlords that the children of Israel realized that they were indeed to be delivered from their bondage. Similarly, many of God’s professed people will not understand the seriousness of the day until God’s judgments begin to fall today.

Even though as conservative, historic, faithful Seventh-day Adventists we make every effort to turn away from the world and keep our thoughts on things above rather than on things of this earth, regardless of how successful we may be at that, we would have to be living in a cave not to know that God is increasingly withdrawing His protecting hand from the earth. And even though His judgments are beginning to fall, His faithful children—spiritual Israel—can expect the same divine protection today that He manifested toward literal Israel when His judgments fell on Egypt. But just as the literal Israelites experienced trials and temptations all along their journey to the Promised Land, so too will the spiritual Israelites.

James 1:12 tells us, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

The Greek word that is translated as temptation in this verse is the derivative of a root word that means to entice or discipline, often translated as try or trial.

Are there advantages to be gained from being tried by God? Clearly there are. Job noted in Job 23:10: “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Job understands that God knows, as the Hebrew reads literally, “the way that is with him,” that is, his character and what he needs to do to bring it in line with God’s character. The trials that Job faces are for the specific purpose of developing in Job a character that reflects the character of God.

Even Eliphaz, one of the “miserable counselors,” understood to some extent the purpose of the trials and chastenings of God. He said in Job 5:17, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.”

But just as God delivered literal Israel from bondage in Egypt by the imposition of His judgments on the Egyptians, in a similar manner He will deliver spiritual Israel from the bondage of sin in this world through His judgments.

An examination of the trials and chastenings that literal Israel experienced in their journey out of Egypt prior to crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land will give us a fuller understanding of what we can expect on our journey out of sin as we draw closer to the spiritual crossing of the Jordan.

  1. The literal Israelites had to prepare their hearts and homes for the exodus from Egypt by literally sacrificing a lamb and applying the blood to the entrances of their houses.

The Israelites were told, as recorded in Exodus 12:3 and 6, to take a spotless lamb on the tenth day and keep it, safeguard it, until the fourteenth day. Why? During those five days of caring for the lamb, they would undoubtedly become emotionally attached to it. Just as literal Israel grew to know and undoubtedly gain some affection toward the sacrificial lamb, so must spiritual Israel know Christ—the true Lamb of God—and grow to love Him through familiarity with His life and character. How can we gain that familiarity without studying His life, continually and consistently?

“It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.” The Desire of Ages, 83.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:18, 19.

We, as the citizens of spiritual Israel, indeed must prepare our hearts by accepting by faith the sacrifice of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, and by faith applying the blood of Christ to wash our filthy robes of character and make them whiter than snow.

  1. The literal Israelites had to kill and eat the sacrificial lamb.

“And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. … And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Exodus 12:6, 8.

By faith, spiritual Israel has to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the true Lamb.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.” John 6:53.

  1. The Israelites were not released from bondage until the first-borns of their masters were destroyed.

“And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.” Exodus 12:29–31.

Spiritual Israel is only released from the bondage of sin through accepting the sacrifice and death of the firstborn of God, His only begotten Son.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

  1. It was by means of the trials that the literal Israelites went through that the dross, the unbelievers, backsliders, and naysayers were purged from among them.

“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.” Numbers 14:22, 23.

If, when we are tried, the dross is not removed from us, we will be removed from the body of Christ, just as the unbelievers were purged from the literal Israelites during their wilderness sojourn.

“ ‘No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” John 6:65, 66 NKJV.

  1. Just as the blood descendants of Abraham faced one final test involving lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, so must the spiritual descendants of Abraham face similar tests against those same temptations.

“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.” Numbers 25:1–5.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” I John 2:16, 17.

Just as literal Israel had one last opportunity to choose between life and death, so too will spiritual Israel be given that same opportunity. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19.

Paul provided a succinct summary of the journey of the Israelites to the promised land in I Corinthians 10:1–11.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

We would do well to hearken to Paul’s conclusion to that summary: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Verse 12.

John Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. After retiring as chief financial officer for the Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, Arizona USA, he moved to Wichita to join the Steps team and may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

Where Your Treasure Is

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“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19–24.

One of my favorite songs is entitled “With My Whole Heart.” The lyrics say so much:

With my whole heart I trust You.
With my whole heart I seek You.
With my whole heart I rest in You my Lord,
Loving Lord of all my heart.
With Your whole heart You love me.
With Your whole heart You forgive me.
With Your whole heart You lift me up my Lord,
Loving Lord of all my heart.
With my whole heart I love You.
With my whole heart I adore You.
With my whole heart I’ll lift you up, my Lord,
Loving Lord of all my heart.

A while ago as I was staying at the hospital with my mother, I was reading a missionary book by Jean Carter Cochran, The Bells of the Blue Pagoda, Teach Services, Brushton NY, previewing it for my granddaughter. Something in that book really caught my attention. As I thought about it, several other similar incidents from the Bible came to mind and caused me to think seriously about my life, my priorities, and how I act based on those priorities. Do my actions prove that what I think in my own mind and claim are my priorities, truly are my priorities?

The mission story that first instigated my thinking on this topic took place in China quite some time ago. This story concerns a Chinese pastor by the name of Pastor Meng. At the time of this incident, he was working at a clinic with two foreign missionaries, a husband and wife, and a young Chinese woman doctor, Little Small Feet, and a few native assistants.

Little Small Feet had just recently returned from completing her education in the United States. She, along with the two foreigners, chose to set up their clinic in a remote city called The City of the Blue Pagoda. Unbeknown to them all, this was the very city where years before Little Small Feet had been kidnapped by an evil woman for the handsome ransom she expected to extract from Little Small Feet’s wealthy father, Lord Chang. Sadly, Lord Chang had never wanted this daughter, as she was the last of several girls and he had desperately wanted a boy. Therefore he refused to even consider paying the ransom.

Though it may seem irrational to us, Little Small Feet’s captors never forgave her for not bringing them the ransom they had expected. Though Little Small Feet had been rescued by the two foreign missionaries mentioned above, who were at that point in time working in a different hospital and a different city, throughout her lifetime her evil captors plotted and pursued, seeking to kidnap her again in order to wreak their revenge on this innocent girl. So when naively Little Small Feet and her dedicated Christian friends set up their clinic in her native city, the wicked kidnappers were ecstatic. Carefully they made their plans. Silently and patiently they waited and plotted. They wanted no chance of failure as had happened time and again before. Nor did they wish to be found the guilty ones in the carrying out of their wicked scheme.

Finally the time was ripe. An epidemic had recently swept through the city, and though the workers from the clinic had nearly worn out their lives in caring for the sick and dying, the evil ones had slyly insinuated that it was these very ones who had brought the plague upon the city.

Needless to say, this little rumor, this wicked scheming, easily turned the tide of public opinion against these true servants of the Lord. Signs of brooding trouble began trickling to their ears. And soon, it was no longer trickling and brooding, but breaking out into open danger. One afternoon as they were returning to the compound, a mob began following them, and it was only with great difficulty that they succeeded in arriving home.

As the day progressed, Little Small Feet and her colleagues realized the absolute necessity of leaving the city for a time until the disturbances should subside. Given the unrest of the unruly elements, they decided they would escape over a wall in the back of the compound late in the evening, when they hoped things would be more peaceful. Calmly, as though nothing were brewing beyond the compound walls, they each pursued their various tasks, caring for the sick and suffering ones within. However, as evening approached, the unrest in the city grew heated, and they realized waiting was useless; there would be no quiet in the city that night. As they made their preparations to depart over the wall into and through the gardens of loyal and friendly neighbors, the foreign missionaries and Little Small Feet pled with Pastor Meng to leave with them for the sake of his own safety, but he staunchly refused. And soon, it was too late; he could not have left if he had wanted. As he was speaking his refusal, a loud commotion began closing in on the front gate.

Pastor Meng urged his friends to hurry. Taking a rope ladder he quickly assisted each one up and over the wall to the other side. Then, being the only one left, rather than climbing it himself to escape, he took the ladder down and hid it. Then he went to meet the seething mob who had burst through the gate. Boldly he confronted the intruders, questioning them as to why they were attacking the very ones who had saved the lives of so many of them. But rather than listen, they only became more inflamed. The mob, intent on looting, on finding the foreigners, and especially Little Small Feet, swarmed the buildings. But Pastor Meng, rather than escaping in the confusion, stayed. His only thought was that each moment he could delay the mob increased the chances of his friends’ successful escape. Not finding their quarry, the rabble turned on Pastor Meng, demanding that he tell them where his friends had gone.

“An exalted look swept over the pastor’s face; it verily seemed to shine. His lips moved as if in prayer and with a ringing voice he exclaimed: ‘I will not tell you where the foreigners are because they are the best friends I have ever had, and the best friends this city has! Years ago when I was dying of cholera, they took me into their hospital and nursed me back to life. Should I be false to them now? That is not the idea of gratitude the ancients taught us. I am not afraid for’—and his voice took on a note of triumph—‘I believe in God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord!’ At the first words the rioters listened breathless, astonished at the man’s courage; then someone moved and the spell was broken. A hand threw a stone that caught the pastor on the forehead and he fell headlong. A soldier near, as if to complete the mischief, stabbed him with a knife. One of the crowd, with more feeling than the rest, saw the lips of the dying man move and stooping over caught his last words: ‘Oh, I see Jesus, I see Jesus,’ he whispered, and then the brave heart stopped beating.” The Bells of the Blue Pagoda, 212.

It is this scene, the stone, the shining face, the words, “Oh, I see Jesus, I see Jesus” that drew my attention. I thought about another time, another place, another mob, long, long ago; another man, another testimony, another witness for the Saviour, giving his life through stoning for His Lord, and that others might know His God. Then my mind was drawn to the stories of other men whose faces shone with the glory of God in spite of, or maybe because of, the trying situations they were in, and I began thinking; serious thinking. If I am ever in that kind of a situation would I have the courage of the Lord to stand against a mob? Do I have the faith in and the connection with my God that Pastor Meng had or that Stephen had [Acts 7:51–60]? And lastly, I asked myself, have I lived my life with the dedication and doing the deeds of Jesus such that in my dying moments I will see my Jesus? The honest answer to these questions is imperative if we want to know where our hearts really are, where our treasure actually is.

We live in very serious times. We have been blessed with peace and abundance and physical safety. But we are on the very verge of “a time of trouble such as never was” [Daniel 12:1]. And I ask myself and you, where is my treasure, and yours? Where is my heart, and yours? If our hearts and our treasures are not with God in heaven, we will not be able to answer in the affirmative any of the questions above. And if we cannot answer the above questions in the affirmative, we will not be able to say at any point in time, “I see Jesus, I see Jesus.” We will not have the courage necessary to stand. We will not have the faith or the connection that will be essential. And rather than a face shining with the love of God, our face will be one of the faces in the mob, darkened and distorted by the sentiments of Satan, and when the dying moment comes, we will be alone, without a Saviour.

This may sound extreme, but there is no middle ground. There is no middle of the road where there is no commitment one way or the other. Pastor Meng could not protect himself and confront the mob. He could not do both. He had to do one or the other. And so must we choose. To not actively choose one side is to actively select the other. We cannot sit passively on the sidelines. As I read this story of Pastor Meng, as I thought about Stephen being stoned, even as I thought of Moses with his face shining from being in the presence of God (remember God offered to eradicate the rebellious Israelites who continually blamed and mistreated Moses, and make of Moses a great nation, but Moses, rather than finding relief in this offer, interceded and begged the Lord to have mercy on them, but if not to blot his name from the book of life [Exodus 32:30–32]), I realized I have an intense desire to have that faith, that connection with God that these people had. And I realized that it won’t just happen. I have to make a choice. If I want to be able to stand alone in the face of a mob, if I want my face to shine, I must have the same self-renouncing, self-sacrificing love they had. Do I show by my actions that I want to be able to say “I see Jesus, I see Jesus,” when I am faced with death?

Each one of these people made a choice. Each one had chosen to “lay up their treasure in heaven” [Matthew 6:20]. In so doing, each one also chose to forgo the pleasures and treasures of this earth. And I too, if I wish to have the experience these people had, must be willing to suffer and to sacrifice, willing to commit and to take a stand. This desire must be the driving force of my life. This desire must control my choices each and every day.

So I ask you, today, where is your treasure? What is the driving force in your life? What truly controls your choices and your actions? Is it an intense desire to see Jesus? Is it to live your life in such a way that your face will shine with the light of God [Matthew 5:6]? Is it a “hunger and thirst for righteousness” [Matthew 5:6]? Is the driving and controlling motive of your life to have the faith and courage of the Lord, and are your actions proving that this is indeed the case? Is it to have the preparation necessary to stand during the rapidly approaching time of trouble such has never been?

We have all the information necessary to prepare. We have the promise of God that He will be with us. But we must make the choice. And we must act on that choice. Today we must choose to “lay up treasure in heaven.” Remember, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” [Matthew 6:24].

Today, while probation lingers, “Choose you this day whom you will serve” [Joshua 24:15].

Brenda Douay is a member of the Steps to Life staff. She may be contacted by email at: brendadouay@stepstolife.org.

Evidence Against Unbelief

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When crisis develops among God’s people, sometimes it is necessary to talk about things that we would not otherwise discuss.

Let us begin with a statement from The Desire of Ages, 458. It says, “God does not compel men to give up their unbelief. Before them are light and darkness, truth and error. It is for them to decide which they will accept. The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men shall not decide from impulse, but from the weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture.”

The fact that a decision must be made based on the weight of evidence means there is evidence to be considered on both sides of the argument. This also implies that you do not know everything. Because God does know everything, He does not need to make a decision based on the weight of evidence. The apostle Paul said, “We know in part, and we prophesy in part.” I Corinthians 13:9, NKJV.

In weighing the evidence, for what should we look? We are told in The Great Controversy, 595, that, “God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils [all church councils], as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord’ in its support.”

It is very important to know what the word of God actually teaches and commands. Those who do not understand this principle can get misled on subjects, for example, the state of the dead.

We are living in interesting times. Ellen White said that the time would come when every wind of doctrine would be blowing. I cannot help but wonder if we are not living in that time now. There are many deceptive doctrines floating around today, and our only safety is to stand on the word of God.

There is a Scripture that has been confusing to many Seventh-day Adventists. It is something that we need to understand because we are facing a soon-coming Sunday law crisis, not just in the United States but worldwide, and this passage will be used against all Seventh-day Adventists. For this reason it needs to be understood. Many theologians who have written books believe that the Christian Sabbath has been changed to Sunday, and the passage of Scripture that we are going to study is one of their main proof texts.

To understand this text, attention must be given to the antecedents of the pronouns that are used. Many people get in trouble while reading their Bibles because of the use of pronouns. The apostle Paul is an expert at this, and careful attention must be given to what the pronoun refers or we can draw all kinds of conclusions to the text. We are going to look at the antecedent of the pronoun.

Reading Colossians 2:14 from the Greek New Testament, Paul talks about “wiping away the handwriting of the ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us. And He took it out of the midst (out of the way), nailing it to the cross. And having stripped the rulers and the authorities, He made a display of them in public, boldly triumphing over them in Himself.”

Immediately you should know that the apostle Paul is not referring to the Ten Commandments here, as they were not handwritten. Moses, the prophets and the apostles all wrote by hand. The Bible is inspired, and handwritten, but the Ten Commandments were not handwritten.

It is recorded only three times in the Bible where God wrote something. Every time it says explicitly how He wrote—with His finger. One time He wrote in stone (Exodus 31:18). One time He wrote on a wall (Daniel 5:5), and one time He wrote on the ground (John 8:6). God doesn’t use handwriting; He writes with His finger.

Some may argue that your finger is on your hand, but your finger is not your hand. My late brother, while a teenager living on a farm, was involved in a tractor accident. His little finger was cut in such a way that it was just hanging by the skin. Though he was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery to sew the finger back on and reattach the nerves, it had been too long since it was cut off, and the next day that finger was dead. So, he had to go to surgery again to have it cut off. Though my brother lost the end of that finger, he didn’t lose his hand. Your hand and your fingers are two different things.

Whatever the ordinance in Colossians 2:14 is referring to, it has been wiped away. The term wipe away means to be abolished, not existent anymore. Not only that, these are called ordinances which could also be translated as decrees. These ordinances, Paul says, were against us, contrary to us, and they were taken out of the midst. In other words, they were removed. They were nailed to the cross.

Are there ordinances that were nailed to the cross? Yes, that is what this Scripture says. These ordinances, Paul says, were against us, they were taken out of the midst, and they were blotted out or abolished. Because of this, the apostle Paul now is going to draw some conclusions. Notice what he says in verse 16: “Therefore [because of what I’ve told you already, this is the conclusion], do not let anyone judge you in food or in drink, or concerning a feast or a new moon or of sabbath days.”

Our Protestant friends get in trouble because they stop right there. We can get into trouble with documents if we just read to the middle of the sentence. Paul has mentioned five things: eating, drinking, feasts, new moons, and sabbaths, but that is just the first part of the sentence. The next part of the sentence, “which are shadows of things to come,” follows in verse 17. He is not condemning eating or drinking or feasts or new moons or sabbaths. What he is saying is, “Don’t let anybody judge you concerning these things which are shadows of things to come, but the body of Christ.” It could be translated, “but the body is of Christ.”

Let us stop there before we continue. In the Old Testament there were ordinances that had to do with eating. At certain times of the year it was forbidden to eat leavened bread. There were even food offerings. Paul told the Colossians not to let anybody judge them in regard to these things with eating, which were a shadow of things to come.

There were also ordinances in the Old Testament in regard to drinking and also feast days. (See Leviticus 23.) Some of these feast days were called sabbaths. There were also ordinances in regard to new moons. Paul says, “Don’t let anybody judge you in regard to these things which are a shadow of things to come.”

He continues, “Let no one pass judgment on you, wishing in humility and worshiping of angels which he has seen.” Verse 18. However, some manuscripts say, “worshiping of angels which he has not seen, pushing in vain, puffed up by his fleshly mind and not holding the Head from whom all the body through the joints and bands having been supplied and having been fitted together will grow with the growth of God. If then you died with Christ from the fundamental principles of the world, why, as living in the world, are you under ordinances?” Verses 18–20.

That’s a serious question. Christ was the fulfilling of these things. Paul is talking about the ordinances he has just mentioned, the ordinances that have to do with eating, drinking, feast days, new moons, and sabbath days which are a shadow of things to come. Then he makes a really strong statement. Do you remember back in the Garden of Eden what God told Adam and Eve about the forbidden fruit? I want to tell you, most Adventists have not come to grips with what we are going to read now in the Bible from verse 21. This is strong. I didn’t write it, but this is how it reads in the literal translation; “Do not touch, do not taste, do not finger.” In other words don’t even touch it with your fingertips. Some translations say: “Do not handle. Do not touch it. Do not taste it. Do not even put your finger on it, which things are all unto corruption in the using according to the injunctions and teachings of men.” Verses 21, 22.

In verse 23, the phrase “which things” is used. What are these things? Well, they are the ordinances that have been nailed to the cross. Paul says, “Don’t touch these things. Don’t taste them. Don’t even put your finger on it. They have a reputation, indeed of wisdom, in self-imposed worship.”

You see, when God hasn’t commanded something and you do it anyway, that is not of God; it is not divinely directed worship; it is self-imposed worship. “Which things have a reputation, indeed of wisdom, and self-imposed worship, in humility, and severe treatment of the body, not in any honor, but for the satisfaction of the flesh.” Verse 23.

These ordinances, that God gave to His people in the Old Testament, had been covered up with a mass of human tradition which made it almost impossible even for the Jews to keep. And then, there were teachers trying to get the Christians to keep all this tradition that the Jews had come up with over several hundred years since the captivity. Paul says not to have anything to do with it for it is man-made.

Many people confuse the moral law with the ceremonial law and use the same argument used by the Roman Catholic Church in their objection to Protestantism. Paul said, “Therefore, brothers, stand and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether through word or letter from us.” II Thessalonians 2:15.

The Roman Catholic Church believes there are two kinds of tradition—verbal and written. They believe that the oral tradition they have that was handed down from the apostles is even more important than the written tradition—the New Testament. There are Adventists today using this same argument, insisting that the feast days should still be kept; however, decisions cannot be based on apostolic tradition but on a “thus saith the Lord.”

Adventists sometimes have done the same thing with Ellen White. I have received material that asks, Did you know that Ellen White, at a certain date, drank some cocoa? The tradition of Ellen White is not the standard of what to believe or how to eat. I look to the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy to find those instructions.

I once read an account of a pope back in the Middle Ages, the Dark Ages. He had fathered a child by adultery and attempted to justify himself by claiming he was not more holy than David or Solomon who both made many mistakes and still wrote part of the Old Testament.

There are other texts that people misinterpret. Paul, giving a defense before a judge, said, “And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets.” Acts 24:12–14, NKJV. Those advocating keeping of the feasts believe that because the ordinances of feasts were written “in the law and in the prophets,” Paul still kept them. Paul understood what those ordinances pointed forward to, and he kept the ordinances in the antitype, not the type, because Christ had already died on the cross.

Every single one of the feasts has an antitype.

The Passover—This was the first feast of the year. The antitype of the Passover is found in I Corinthians 5, and this is one of the principle passages about which people are really confused. This is the story of a man who was living with his father’s wife. Though Paul was absent, he told them he was there in spirit and very clearly said that the man needed to be disfellowshiped because of his open sin. (See I Corinthians 5:1–5.) In this context he said, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” The little leaven—this man’s sin in living with his father’s wife—would affect the whole lump, the whole church, so he must be removed. “Therefore purge out the old leaven [disfellowship this person] that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.” A church that is unleavened is a church that does not allow a member to be living in open sin and remain a member of that church. “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast.” Verses 6–8, NKJV. Taken out of context, some believe this to mean that we are supposed to keep the feast days.

In The Desire of Ages, 652, when Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper, Ellen White wrote: “Christ was standing at the point of transition between two economies and their two great festivals. [One was the Passover and one was the Lord’s Supper.] He, the spotless Lamb of God, was about to present Himself as a sin offering, that He would thus bring to an end the system of types and ceremonies that for four thousand years had pointed to His death. As He ate the Passover with His disciples, He instituted in its place the service that was to be the memorial of His great sacrifice. The national festival of the Jews was to pass away forever. The service which Christ established was to be observed by His followers in all lands and through all ages.”

Paul speaks of the Lord’s Supper when he says that Christ is our sacrifice. “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Verse 8, NKJV.

“When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.’ ” Acts 25:7, 8, NKJV. This is claimed as further proof that Paul continued to keep the feasts; however, it is not a clear “thus saith the Lord” and stretches the meaning of the verse like all other passages brought forth in this instance. The apostle Paul well understood what those feast days represented. The Passover represented the sacrifice on the cross.

The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost—This represented the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God’s children that would occur 50 days after the first.

The Feast of Trumpets—This represented the prediction of prophecy of the worldwide awakening concerning the Second Advent movement that happened in the later part of the eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth centuries.

The Day of Atonement—We believe in keeping this festival in the antitype. We are at present living in the real Day of Atonement. A careful study of the Bible will reveal that we do not get involved in any other feast while in the Day of Atonement. The literal translation from the Greek New Testament of these texts says, “Neither in the law of the Jews, neither unto the temple or Caesar have I sinned anything at all.”

Sin is the transgression of the law—the Ten Commandments. If it was sin to break the ceremonial law, even Jesus Christ would have been a sinner, because in both the gospel and in the book The Desire of Ages He did not keep every aspect or specification of the ceremonial law at all times. For example, Jesus touched a leper, which was not in accordance with the ceremonial law that declared the leper unclean. (See Matthew 8:2, 3; Mark 1:40, 41.)

Another argument in favor of the feasts is Acts 28:17, NKJV, which says, “It came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: ‘Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.’ ”

Paul did not lie here if he did not keep the ceremonial law because he did continue to keep those ceremonies, but in the antitype. In Acts 18:21, it does read that Paul kept the ceremonial feast in Jerusalem. However, when I looked up that verse in my Greek New Testament, I was shocked to find the evidence is just not there. The footnote in the Greek New Testament reads that this statement didn’t even appear in any of the ancient manuscripts and is absent from several of the oldest translations.

Another so-called proof text is found in Acts 20:16 where Paul hurried to be in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. To be there was not a command to keep the feast. What if I said to somebody that I want to be in Atlanta for Thanksgiving? Is that a command to keep Thanksgiving as a holy day? Not at all. The Jewish Christians had planned the whole year around these different ceremonial feasts. Time was measured by them, and they would talk about before or after Passover, before or after the Feast of Trumpets, before or after the Atonement. The apostles could use that language and say they would be in such a place by this time. It certainly is not a command to keep these feast days as they were kept prior to their fulfillment at the cross of Calvary.

There are some who say they have evidence from the early Christian literature that the twelve apostles, not Paul but the others, kept the ceremonial law. In the book, Sketches from the Life of Paul by Ellen G. White, she says very clearly that among the Christians, the apostle Paul was thought to be a teacher of dangerous doctrines. She makes it very clear in that book, and also in The Acts of the Apostles, 199, that the apostle Paul had to stand alone amongst even the apostles.

The apostles of Jesus were very slow to understand the significance of what had happened when Jesus was crucified and, as such had fulfilled the ceremonial law, making it no longer in effect. There were many of the apostles that probably continued to keep the entire ceremonial law for the rest of their lives, which was a mistake on their part. Do you want to rest your faith on a mistake that somebody else made?

Ellen White says that the apostle Paul so desired to bring harmony and unity into the Christian church that at the end of his life he made a mistake. It is recorded in Acts 21:20–24 NKJV: “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law [ceremonial law]; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them.’ ” In other words, show respect for the ceremonial law so we can have peace. The apostle Paul did what the apostles suggested, and it was the reason he was taken prisoner, cutting short his ministry.

Ellen White says definitely over and over again that it was a mistake. Do you want to base your religion on a mistake that Paul made or on a mistake that the apostles made?

The apostles were human just like us, and they made mistakes. I would never make a decision whether or not to drink cocoa on the basis that Ellen White at one time was seen to drink a cup of cocoa, would you? That is a dangerous way to make a decision. The answer to the question is, “What does God say in His Inspired word?” That should be the only basis for decisions.

“The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away.” The Desire of Ages, 36. This subject here is made clear in very strong language.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts quoted are literal translation.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Free Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Whosoever…

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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

There are many reasons why this text is often referred to as the most precious promise in the entire Bible. Many sermons have centered on the wonderful opportunity that this text offers and the wonderful insight into salvation that it provides.

For most Christians, this verse is the first one committed to memory, usually at a very young age. Many explanations have been provided by many learned people on exactly what this unfathomable gift encompasses and what is involved in believing.

The mystery of this gift, the incarnation of our Saviour, will undoubtedly remain just that—a mystery—until we cross the Jordan, and even then, it will remain an object of study throughout eternity.

One aspect of this verse, however, that is opened for us fairly clearly through mining the word of God is what is involved in believing. Unfortunately, many broad road Christians use the simplest definition of believe to claim assured salvation, while failing to understand the true meaning of this word as Christ used it. They fail to recall (or willingly overlook) the text in which James uses the exact same Greek word when he states in James 2:19 that, “The devils also believe, and tremble.” Thus it is clear that the Holy Spirit impressed upon James that simply believing as it is commonly understood is not sufficient for salvation.

However, the aspect of this text that this article will dwell on is the all-inclusive word that occurs in front of believe: whosoever. There is no greater delight that springs up in the human heart than when the realization occurs that “whosoever” includes “me.”

This word that contains such unrestricted hope for the true believer occurs in the New Testament over one hundred times. However, not only does it offer unrestricted hope, but it also carries dire warnings of condemnation. A study of its use and application reveals to the searcher for truth both the mercy and the justice of an all-wise and loving God.

An exhaustive analysis of its several Greek forms is beyond the scope of this article, though it does make for a very rewarding personal study. Here, however, we will concentrate on one single occurrence and the events that led up to that use.

The instance that this article will focus on occurred following a series of interesting events in Jesus’ life, as recorded in Matthew 21, an intriguing record of several days in Christ’s life just prior to His crucifixion.

Inspiration tells us that, “The events which preceded His great sacrifice must be such as to call attention to the sacrifice itself.” The Desire of Ages, 571.

Matthew 21 is a fascinating chapter. It begins with Christ’s entry into Jerusalem—a fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9. His entry created such a commotion that the bystanders asked what was going on. Who is this who is causing such an uproar? They were told, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Verse 11, NKJV.

“The events connected with this triumphal ride would be the talk of every tongue, and would bring Jesus before every mind.” The Desire of Ages, 571.

While the Jewish leaders were engaged in contentious conversation with the Roman authorities, trying to get them to restrain the tumult raised by Jesus’ entry, Jesus went unnoticed into the temple, where all was relatively quiet, as the worshipers had been drawn outside by the activity surrounding His arrival and had become distracted by the contention between the temple authorities and the Roman soldiers. He subsequently withdrew quietly from the temple with His disciples, returning to Bethany.

The following day, as He headed back to the temple, He passed a fig orchard. Finding a tree fully leafed out, He searched it for figs, but found that it contained no fruit, just as He had found the Jewish nation barren of spiritual fruit.

Inspiration tells us that there were four qualities—four fruits—that He had hoped to find among His people when He came to dwell among them—four qualities that His true followers will and indeed must manifest when He returns to gather them to the kingdom: self-sacrifice [“Put off the old man with his deeds …” Colossians 3:9], compassion [“Do unto others …” Luke 6:31], zeal for God [“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” II Timothy 4:2], and a deep yearning of soul for the salvation of their fellow men [“Go ye therefore and teach …” Matthew 28:19]. (See The Desire of Ages, 583.)

The utter lack of those qualities was symbolized by the barren fig tree. Christ’s cursing of the tree “showed what the Jewish people would be when the grace of God was removed from them. Refusing to impart blessing, they would no longer receive it.” Ibid.

Then Jesus moved on to the temple, where the second cleansing occurred, during which Jesus quoted scripture to show the priests that they were fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies in making God’s house, the temple, a den of thieves.

Recognizing that Jesus was a true prophet, as the multitudes had proclaimed as He entered the city, the blind and the lame came to Him seeking healing. As they were healed, they could not contain their gratitude. Scripture says that the children proclaimed, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Matthew 21:15. Why was it the children who bore the testimony?

In the story of the blind man who was healed on the Sabbath, his parents along with their son were disfellowshiped because they professed faith in Jesus as the Messiah. In fact, the church had issued a warning that any who professed faith in Jesus as the Messiah would be disfellowshiped. Therefore none of the adults were willing to speak what they knew in their hearts to be the truth. Thus it was that the children sang out.

“As the children sang in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord’ (Mark 11:9), so in these last days children’s voices will be raised to give the last message of warning to a perishing world. When heavenly intelligences see that men are no longer permitted to present the truth, the Spirit of God will come upon the children, and they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do because their way will be hedged up.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 176.

Following this event that was so joyous to those blessed and healed by Christ—but that was such a consternation to the Jewish religious leaders—there occurred a confrontation between the latter group and Jesus, during which was fulfilled Christ’s statement spoken in an earlier confrontation with the same group: “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:37.

After being baffled in their efforts to obtain from Jesus a statement on the source of His authority (Matthew 21:23–27), Jesus spoke the parable of the two sons, one who promised his father that he would go work in the father’s vineyard but did not, and the other who said that he wouldn’t, but ultimately did. When the Pharisees and scribes correctly answered that the latter son was the one who did the will of the father, they realized that they had brought condemnation upon themselves in their answer. Christ drove home the point by telling them, “The publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31.

Christ followed this parable with another that further clarified the condition of the Jewish leaders. In the parable of the householder and the tenants, Christ made crystal clear the fate of those who failed to recognize Him as the Messiah. And once again, they pronounced their own condemnation: “They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” Verse 41.

Then comes one of Christ’s clearest statements on the fate of the Jewish nation.

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Verses 42–44.

Here Christ states the fate of those who fail to accept Christ as the only “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

We have two choices, and whosoever makes the wise choice shall be broken—broken from the chain of sin and misery that so besets this world (Romans 3); broken from the bondage of captivity from which Christ came to free His children (Isaiah 49:25); broken from the hold that Satan has on those who fail to avail themselves of the grace of Christ (John 8:36).

“Do not entertain the thought that because you have made mistakes, because your life has been darkened by errors, your Heavenly Father does not love you and will not hear you when you pray. He says, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ ‘The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.’ [John 6:37; James 5:11.] His heart of love is touched by our sorrows, and even by our utterance of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear; for He holds up worlds, He rules over the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. None have fallen so low, none are so vile, that they can not find deliverance in Christ. The demoniacs of Gadara, in the place of prayer could utter only the words of Satan; but yet the heart’s unspoken appeal was heard. No cry from a soul in need is unheeded.

“The ear of the Lord is open to the cry of every suppliant. Even before the prayer is offered or the yearning desire of the soul made known, the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Never has there been a genuine desire, never a tear shed in contrition of soul, but grace from Christ has gone forth to meet the grace working upon the human heart.” The Signs of the Times, June 18, 1902.

“Whosoever believeth … .” Those who claim this promise—so dear to the seeker of salvation, so all-encompassing, so full of hope—must accept with it a responsibility to sink the shaft deeply into the word of God to ensure a full comprehension of what believing in Jesus Christ truly means, and to understand the commitment required to truly believe.

“Whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them … .” Matthew 7:24

“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men … .” Matthew 10:32

“Whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven … .” Matthew 12:50

“Whosoever will save his life … .” Matthew 16:25

“Whosoever will be great among you … .” Matthew 20:26

“Whosoever will be chief among you … .” Matthew 20:27

“Whosoever shall do the will of God … .” Mark 3:35

“Whosoever will come after Me … .” Mark 8:34

“Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4

“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

“Whosoever believeth … .” John 3:16

John Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. After retiring as chief financial officer for the Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, Arizona, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, to join the Steps team. He may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

The Two Suppers

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The book of Revelation is a book of many contrasts. We read of two women—one standing on the moon clothed with the sun, while the other one is decked with gold and jewelry. Two great cities are mentioned—the Holy Jerusalem and one that sits on seven hills. There are also two suppers contrasted, and everyone who has ever lived will sit at the banquet table of either one or the other. However, it is the second supper at which you will want to be a guest.

John, in Revelation 19:11, says, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” This is Jesus when He comes with all the “armies of heaven” (verse 14) in power and great glory. “I saw an angel standing in the sun … saying to all the fowls … Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God.” Verse 17. Those who are part of this supper actually become the meal of carrion for the birds.

“Ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men. … I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse. … And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire … . And the remnant were slain … and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Verses 18–21. This supper is the beast and the false prophet and those who worship the image—not a feast you want to be part of!

Jesus warned that false christs would arise showing great signs and wonders to deceive but not to go there and not to believe it, for wherever the carcass is so will the eagles be gathered together (Matthew 24:24–28). Birds are going to feast on all who are in opposition to God and rebel against Him. This is earth’s final battle, the second coming of Jesus, which is often called the battle of Armageddon.

There are many people who do not believe that there is going to be a last day on this earth. It is hard to imagine, when every day we go about our usual routine of getting up, having breakfast, getting our car filled with gas before going to work, then coming home again and having supper. But that will all be over when Jesus comes and welcomes His guests into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The only way to get beyond that last day and that final battle is to be part of the wedding supper. If you are ever discouraged, thinking you may not be at that banquet, there is much hope in God’s word. It may be impossible with man, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

John contrasts these two suppers when in vision he sees birds eating the flesh of the rebellious people, and then he sees another supper happening.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. … These are the true sayings of God.” Verses 7–9.

These suppers are going to come to pass whether we like it or not, and it is not hard to think which supper we would like to attend. To be served at the marriage supper of the Lamb is the better choice over being food for birds. You cannot be part of the marriage supper unless you have been invited to the marriage. No one goes to the reception of a wedding unless they know the bride or groom and have been invited. Weddings are exciting events, as is this wedding that we are told to rejoice and give honor to Him.

John draws an illustration of the Eastern marriage to understand the wedding of the Lamb. A marriage of the East had four parts to it:

  • a betrothal—This was much more solemn than the western engagement and was more like a covenant. When the couple became betrothed, marriage was a certainty. It was a commitment, a covenant between two people.
  • payment—A dowry was paid.
  • the marriage—This included the consummation.
  • the marriage supper.

The Betrothal

Speaking through Hosea the prophet, God made a covenant, a commitment to His people, and said, “I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.” Hosea 2:19, 20.

Let me ask you something: If God is going to make a covenant with us, a betrothal, what has to happen on our part? We have to agree! When I proposed to my wife, she had to agree. If she said yes, she was agreeing that I was going to marry her. If God betroths me forever, then I must agree to the marriage.

God is willing to do anything it takes to get me to agree with Him. He says, “I will betroth thee in righteousness, judgment, loving kindness, mercy and faithfulness.” He shows all of these things to promise His faithfulness. There is nothing He would not do to get us to agree to this engagement, this betrothal, this covenant.

Why then do we hesitate, and why so easily be swayed by sin and the devil? God wants us to get to a point where we will say, “Yes Lord, I want to fall in love with You.” He shows us His kindness, His judgment, His mercy, His righteousness so we can see that we want to fall in love with Him. If love is taken out of a marriage, the joy has gone. I may have the paper to say that I am married, but my marriage will be miserable. God shows His faithfulness so it will attract us to Him.

It was a very expensive experiment to get human beings to agree to this covenant. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:19. What has separated us from God? Sin! So, in order to get us back together into a betrothal or agreement, Jesus had to come and reconcile us. Our “sins have hid His face” (Isaiah 59:2) from us. Jesus’ whole purpose for coming to this earth was to reconcile us, to get us back together into a relationship with His Father.

God went to great lengths to link heaven and earth again. This whole world has been quarantined, cut off from heaven and from the rest of the unfallen worlds. Through Christ, a link has now been provided to connect heaven and earth. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32. This text explained the way Christ was going to die; He would be lifted up on a cross and by that, the world would be drawn to Him. Imagine what Christ had to go through to get us interested in Him. Just so we could have an agreement together and say, “Yes, I love you Lord,” Jesus had to be lifted up; He had to die on the cruel cross so that we could be betrothed in righteousness, in loving kindness, in faithfulness.

Jesus demonstrated His love for mankind. The Bible says that none of us love God first; none of us would even seek after Him, but we would just all go our own way (Romans 3:11). To get us to notice Him and to draw our attention, He had to be lifted up and die on the cross, all of this to show how much He loves us. In turn, this would start the process of a betrothal, and we would start being drawn to Christ with a desire to be with Him, connected to Him, linked with Him and reconciled to Him.

The Payment

“For ye are bought with a price.” I Corinthians 6:20. Whether we like it or not, we could be a total atheist, but we have been bought.

“God has purchased the will, the affections, the mind, the soul, of every human being. Whether believers or unbelievers, all men are the Lord’s property. All are called to do service for Him, and for the manner in which they have met this claim, all will be required to render an account at the great judgment day.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 326. What have you done with the property that Christ has bought? What a dowry this is!

Genesis 24 and 25 describes the marriage of Isaac. When Abraham sent his trusted servant Eliezer to his father’s home, he knew that the Lord would guide him to just the right woman for his master’s son, Isaac. A specific prayer was made, and minutes later Rebecca came and watered all of the camels. He did not tell her why he was there, but she took him to her father’s house to meet the family. The family wanted to sit down and eat, but Eliezer refused to eat until he revealed his business. The very first thing that he told Nahor was that God had greatly blessed Abraham with gold and silver and manservants and maidservants, donkeys and camels among other things.

Why would this be the first thing that he mentioned to Nahor? In a marriage, if a man does not know how to care for a woman, he should not get married. Eliezer wanted to establish the fact right off that Isaac was able to take care of Rebecca financially. Before he left Abraham, he had loaded up the camels with all kinds of gold and silver and costly arraignment, and he gave these to the family as the dowry. God also has something spiritual for the dowry that secures His marriage and gives us as a guarantee that we will be ready for the marriage.

The apostle Paul said, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth (Christ), the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest [the down payment] of our inheritance [God has paid the dowry. In other Bible versions it is called a deposit or guarantee] until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14.

The Holy Spirit that He puts in our hearts is a guarantee, a deposit, a dowry that Jesus gives to secure that the marriage happens. But there is a condition. A warning is given to “Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. The Spirit is given as a guarantee that we will be sealed as long as we do not grieve away the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit convinces of sin, of righteousness and judgment. How can we grieve the spirit of God? First of all, the Spirit convinces us of Christ. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13. If we obey the Spirit of God, it is a guarantee that we will be ready for the marriage. If we have fellowship with the Spirit and are convinced that some sin in our lives needs to go, and we continue to procrastinate and fight against it because we want our own way, we are in danger of grieving the Spirit. Remember what God has bought—our wills, our souls, our minds, our affections. If we fight against what God has purchased, we will render an account on the Day of Judgment. If we stay in the truth we will not grieve the Spirit of God away.

The Marriage

This is perhaps the most important part, for this is the big day. The engagement is exciting, but the marriage is even more exciting. To illustrate this, let us look at the story of Ruth and Boaz. In Ruth 3, Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, instructs her how to get married. It was the time of harvest, and Boaz, to protect his harvest from theft, slept with the grain. Ruth was told to wait until after Boaz had eaten and fallen asleep and then to go in to him, lie at his feet and uncover them. Boaz woke up in the middle of the night and saw someone at his feet. Ruth identified herself and said something like, I want to be your handmaid. Boaz told her that she had been very kind to him, and more kind than she had been at the first. Then he took his cloak and put it over her signaling that he wanted to marry her.

In Ezekiel 16:8, God says, “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; [notice what He does] and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.” Just like Boaz, He put that covering over her and said, You are now Mine. The marriage has to do with a covering, with what you and I are clothed.

Jesus, speaking a parable, told the story of a marriage. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.” Matthew 22:2. The king here spoken of is God and the Son is Jesus. The steps of betrothal and then a dowry would have to be made and then comes the marriage, which is referred to in verse 9.

The verses in between tell of the people who were not ready and did not want to come to the marriage. “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.” Verses 9–11.

This was an uninvited guest. Everybody who came to this marriage was provided clothing to wear so that they would all know who was a part of the marriage and who was not. There was no excuse; the clothing was provided by the king. He asked the intruder how he could be in there without the wedding garment, but the man was speechless (verses 11, 12). “Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verse 13.

Do you think it is important that we are part of the marriage? It is a life and death issue. The only sure way to be part of the wedding is to wear the proper attire, the wedding garment that is provided by the king. No one clothed in common citizen dress will be allowed into the feast.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed [or clothed] in fine linen, clean and white.” Revelation 19:7, 8. What is that clean linen that is pure and white? The righteousness of saints. But we have no righteousness of our own, so where do the saints get a spotless, pure, bright robe? It is a gift from Jesus; it is His righteousness. “Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311. How many coverings are there? Only one!

Adam and Eve tried to clothe themselves with fig leaves sewn together, works of their own hands (Genesis 3:7), but it wasn’t enough. We cannot be clothed in our own righteousness. “This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul.” Ibid. One must ask himself or herself, Have I repented from every known sin and am I searching my own heart and allowing God to search my heart to see if there is anything else in me that I need to repent? If that is the case and you believe in Christ, you are going to receive that covering. He is going to spread His skirt over you and say, “You are Mine.”

This robe woven in the loom of heaven has in it not one thread of human devising. Too often we try to weave in our own devisings, but there is only one way to be saved. Peter said it; Jesus said it; all the Bible writers said it in different ways, but there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

It is that simple. If you try to devise some way yourself and weave it into the robe, it will ruin the character, that symbolic robe that Christ wants to cover us with, His own righteousness.

Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character and this character He offers to impart to us. “By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

Christ is not going to cover any one of us unless we render perfect obedience to Him. Pictures have been portrayed of people in filthy garments with another covering of Christ’s righteousness over that filthy garment. No way! Zechariah 3:4 says that the filthy garments have to be taken away before being clothed with the new garment. Any human devising weaved into the character will ruin it and will not stand the inspection.

Remember, the king came into the feast to inspect those who were part of the marriage ceremony and to see if they had on the wedding garment that he had provided. Those who did not were bound hand and foot and cast out into darkness. That inspection of the guests is called the investigative judgment, when the characters of the guests are examined to see who is wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness. The inspecting eye of Jehovah will not miss one thing. He is the unerring judge.

Omnipotence is a word that is given only to God, and it is a word that means all powerful. There is no limit to what God can do in our lives. What is impossible with men is possible with God.

The Marriage Supper

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when He will return from the wedding.” Luke 12:35, 36. The marriage is taking place now, and that inspection is taking place in heaven right now.

How do you think you will hold up in the inspection? The only thing you can do is to surrender your will completely and wholly to the Lord. That’s it! We have to do what God asks us to do. When you surrender your will, you must put it into action, do what God asks you to do, give up what He asks you to give up. Then, “when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he [Christ] shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat [eat], and will come forth and serve them.” Verses 36, 37.

What a day that will be! All of our trials will be over when we sit down at that table. This is exactly what Jesus did at that Thursday evening meeting in the upper room when He washed the disciple’s feet and they partook of bread and grape juice. This is what He is waiting for. He said, in Mark 14:25, “I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God”—the marriage supper of the Lamb.

We will all join around a table that will be miles in length, and seated at that table will be the saints from every generation. I hope you are reserving a seat today. You have got to be a part of that celebration, and you will have the privilege of Jesus serving you. You must be clothed with His righteousness and pass the inspecting eye of Jehovah in the investigative judgment.

Many of us may be at different points in our Christian walk; we may be at different stages. Some may still be at the betrothal stage where Jesus will draw them into a relationship with Him. There may be some who have gone beyond that, recognizing the purchased possession on our behalf through the death of Jesus, and surrendered all to Him, but all of us, for sure, are in the third stage of the investigative judgment and are being inspected. Life and death issues are at stake. I want to be ready for the marriage supper so I am not served up as part of the feast for the birds. How about you?

Pastor Mike Bauler serves as pastor of the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. He may be contacted by e-mail at: mbauler@earthlink.net.

A Time for Every Purpose

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The wisdom of King Solomon is given in the Bible:

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

The seasons of my life have varied tremendously, but I never really questioned the purpose. From an early age, I pursued a variety of activities, and my husband Jän and I have shared many interests. We have enjoyed music, camping, backpacking, riding our motorcycles and bicycles, relaxing on our boat, traveling, and have welcomed every opportunity to learn about and experience new things. But challenges have occurred throughout time that have altered these interests.

In late 1985, I began to occasionally stumble, and once in a while I would fall. I tried to ignore the situations, until the day I lost sight in my right eye. Visits to an optometrist and an ophthalmologist identified optic neuritis, inflammation of the optic nerve. Experiencing vision loss and learning the cause led to appointments with my general practice physician and a neurologist specialist. A spinal tap and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test confirmed that I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

MS affects each person differently. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary from person to person depending on which parts of the brain or spinal cord (central nervous system) are damaged. Demyelination, the loss of the myelin sheathes or covering of the nerves, and the scarring caused by MS can affect any part of the central nervous system.

MS symptoms may come and go or become more or less severe from day to day or, in rare cases, from hour to hour. Consequently, the doctors could not predict what I might expect, but within 12 months my sight had returned and the physical issues had dissipated. Regular activities again filled each day until the MS symptoms struck back with a vengeance in 1996.

Strength and agility weakened until I could no longer handle my work requirements. I had been manager of travel and meeting planning for a Fortune 500 mining company. (The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 United States corporations as ranked by their gross revenue.) I had written numerous manuals, introduced cost-saving travel practices, and had traveled to all of the company’s mines and offices throughout the United States and in other countries, giving training seminars and maintaining budgets. But after 20 years of service, in 1999 I was granted permanent disability because of the physical challenges of MS.

Purpose #1: One month after leaving work on permanent disability, the company suffered a hostile takeover by another mining company. I would have been unemployed without compensation. Without work, time was given to me to participate in church activities. Having been raised in Seventh-day Adventist families, Jän and I had built upon the foundation of our early training and, in 1991, had opened the Renaissance Church near Sedalia, Colorado. More time could now be given to its activities and to assist Jän with his work, at that time, as managing editor for LandMarks.

At this time, the neurologist explained that I was experiencing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). SPMS is characterized by a steady progression of clinical neurological damage with or without superimposed relapses and minor remissions and plateaus. People who develop SPMS will have previously experienced a period of Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) which occurred for me in 1985–1986. Over the months, I began to depend on a wheelchair as walking and standing became more difficult.

Everything changed June 27, 2008.

It was a very hot summer afternoon. Completing errands in Castle Rock, Colorado, before the Sabbath hours, we had stopped for Jän to make copies needed for the church. As he parked in front of the UPS store, saying he would be only five minutes, I asked him to open one of the side doors of our van for fresh air, rather than leaving the van’s engine running to provide cooling from the air conditioner. I was sitting in my wheelchair that was secured to the lift, facing the two side doors. He opened one of the doors, exposing my left arm and about one-fourth of the left side of the wheelchair and my body. That is all I remember.

Jän returned to the van within five minutes wondering why people were standing around it, but when he made his way through the crowd, he saw me lying on the ground in a pool of blood with more blood gushing from my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Only the one door of the van was open; the wheelchair was securely in place; our black Labrador was still lying peacefully beside it.

A lady who had seen me fall from the van had stopped her car immediately and called 911. Within moments an ambulance arrived and rushed me to Sky Ridge Medical Center Emergency Room in Lone Tree, a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

When Jän arrived at the ER, CAT scans (computerized axial tomography frequently used to evaluate the brain, neck, and spine) and x-rays had already been taken, revealing that the right side of my skull had been crushed and the artery just above the right ear was severed, hence the continual bleeding. Several bones on the right side of my face were also fractured. A doctor approached Jän and told him that I had only two hours to live. He explained that three options were available: (1) do nothing, (2) insert tubes into the skull to drain the fluid and relieve the building pressure, (3) surgery. Jän asked him to do what he could to save my life. The doctor was the head neurological surgeon for the hospital. Only God could have placed him at the hospital, late in the afternoon (4:00 p.m.), before a holiday weekend.

Following Jän’s request, the doctor, using his cell phone, began calling the doctors and nurses needed for the procedure. Jän heard the doctor’s words, stating such things as, “I know you are leaving on vacation … ,” “I know you are not on call … ,” “I know it is a holiday weekend … ,” to “I need you here immediately.” Soon he had a seven-doctor neurological surgical team and needed assistants in place.

Surgery began in less than the predicted two hours of life I had remaining. Seven bone fragments, embedded in the right side of my brain, had to be carefully removed. The severed artery was a challenge. It was so torn that the doctor had difficulty piecing it together. During the six-hour craniotomy, my heart stopped twice, and six units of blood and four units of plasma were given to help retain life.

When I was taken to recovery, the doctor told Jän that I had a fifty-fifty chance to survive the procedure but would either be a vegetable or need to live in a nursing home the rest of my life. When Jän next saw me, my head was secured in a Styrofoam base and strapped down so it could not move; my body, legs and arms were also strapped to the bed so nothing could move, and I was in an induced coma. He has told me that in addition to my immobility, 25 different tubes were in my body for different purposes, controlling every function of my body.

In the Intensive Care Unit, I remained in the coma. A nurse sat outside my room continually, monitoring me. The medical staff routinely reduced the medication that induced the coma, but my autonomic nervous system would not begin to function. My Living Will states that I am to receive no extra medical assistance after seven days. I know now that many prayers were ascending for me during these days. The afternoon of the sixth day, when the medication was reduced, my autonomic nervous system responded; I began breathing on my own.

Purpose #2: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest … be in health.” III John 1:2.

Twenty days later it was necessary to transfer me from the hospital to a rehabilitation center. Jän was able to have me admitted to the Castle Rock Care Center (CRCC) in Castle Rock, Colorado, just 13 miles from our home.

I remember nothing of the hospital days, and the first days at CRCC are a blur. My vision was not clear; I could not focus to read. I could not speak, and as the words eventually formed, they were jumbled and made no sense. My thoughts were scrambled. My body was very weak—especially my legs—after no movement during those hospital days.

Physical and occupational therapy began immediately. Slowly, physical strength improved, my brain began to heal and memory gradually returned. In addition to the physical therapy and occupational therapy, I regularly met with a speech therapist who focused on my speech and language skills.

Each day at CRCC brought improvement and opportunities in many ways. By mid October 2008, I was dismissed to return home! During my last session in therapy, the physical and occupational therapists read to me what they had written in their notes the first time I met them. They each had written that I would never leave the facility!

Purpose #3: “I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:17. God performed a miracle. He had work for me.

During the months of my recovery, Jän faithfully was by my side. While I was in the hospital, friends from our church and from the community would sit by me while he took some time to eat or rest. He also spent time with me each day at the Care Center, usually sharing a meal during his visit and becoming acquainted with other residents. I enjoyed visits from many friends while I was at CRCC—they came from many parts of the United States and from Ghana.

As my thoughts became clearer and I learned about my accident and the miracle of life, I began to pray, “Father, I don’t know why I’m here, but thank-you. Show me what to do.” He has provided numerous opportunities.

Purpose #4: I conduct knitting circles twice a month at CRCC. It provides time to chat with the group and share the joys God has given each of us. Jän and I also spend many Sabbath afternoons visiting residents at CRCC. The director of activities recently asked Jän to present a Bible study twice a month! He is using the Steps to Life studies prepared by Marshall Grosboll. I assist the attending residents and help read the Bible texts. We have provided large print Bibles for each attendee to use if they are able. The residents attending frequently express their appreciation of the studies.

Purpose #5: We have also accepted volunteer positions to assist the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Several of its members have played at the Renaissance Church, and others are asking when they may play their instruments there. We are continually given the opportunity to answer questions about the church and to share from the Bible what we believe.

Physical challenges have turned the activities I enjoyed previously into memories. The backpacks and camping gear are stored in the closet. The motorcycles and bicycles are dusty in the garage. Travel is difficult. But God has directed me to activities with Jän where we may share Him and experience His purpose for us.

“Every action of ours in befriending God’s people will be rewarded as done unto Himself.” Maranatha, 317.

Anna Schultz is again an integral part of the Landmarks team. She may be contacted by email at: ams80135@aol.com.

Principles of the Two Kingdoms

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God’s word is based on principles. The word principle comes from a Latin word meaning beginning. Some of the definitions of principle are: a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine or assumption; a rule or code of conduct; the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial device. Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts.

Basically, principles produce actions. Right principles produce right actions and wrong principles produce wrong actions. Jesus said, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:17–20.

In the beginning, “God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:11, 12.

God’s word is law. When He says, “Let every tree and herb yield seed and produce after its own kind,” it happens. Everything necessary is in the seed to produce after its own kind. An apple tree can only ever produce an apple.

“God has ordained laws for the government, not only of living beings, but of all the operations of nature. Everything is under fixed laws, which cannot be disregarded.” The Faith I Live By, 179. There are only two types of principles: those connected with Satan’s kingdom and those principles of God’s kingdom. Whatever kingdom man chooses, he will produce like fruit.

God said, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15. Here is mentioned the two seeds and their relevant produce—two opposing sets of principles.

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto Him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:35–40.

Jesus here specified the two underlying principles of the Ten Commandments—love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. John explained this principle further when he said, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:7, 8.

The only way that love is possible is through a relationship with the Source of that love, which is God. Our identity is tied up in that relationship. It is God-centered; it is Christ-centered.

One principle of Satan’s kingdom is brought out in the first lie he told Eve: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4, 5.

The result of that lie is to believe you have life in yourself, outside of a relationship with Christ. You would then have the ability to produce your own works and God Himself could not take that life from you, resulting in the lie of eternal hellfire. The seed of the serpent was planted in the heart of the human race and produced a new fruit.

Of Adam and Eve, the Bible says, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” Verse 7. In their innocence before sin they were naked and did not know it, but now, they knew that they were naked; they were ashamed and sought to clothe themselves to cover their nakedness.

Ellen White wrote, “From eternal ages it was God’s purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the divine One.” The Review and Herald, December 31, 1908.

When man sinned, he lost the glory of God. In the earthly temple the light of the glory of God was represented as the Shekinah glory. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost that covering of light, and they were no longer vessels for the indwelling of the Spirit of God. That relationship had been broken, and now they were naked. They were now born of a different spirit.

“The light of the garments of heavenly innocence departed from them; and in parting with the garments of innocence, they drew about them the dark robes of ignorance of God.” Conflict and Courage, 17.

Not only did they lose the presence of God, but their whole relationship to Him had changed. They now had a different view of Him. With the garments of light removed, they found themselves in darkness concerning His character and were governed by the new principles that Satan had planted in their hearts that would produce a different fruit.

Under Satan’s kingdom we are separated from God, and our identity is performance based and determined by what we do. God’s kingdom is an identity based on relationship. Those under God’s kingdom are valued as sons and daughters of God regardless of performance.

God always deals with principles. “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7.

God is more interested in a man’s heart and the motivation for each action. If the heart is right, the relationship is right, and when the good seed is implanted, the fruit will manifest itself. Performance will be based on the relationship and not the relationship based on performance.

God’s perspective and man’s perspective are completely different. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” Isaiah 55:8.

The scribes and the Pharisees were the most religious people at that time, but they operated under the principles of Satan’s kingdom. Their main focus was their performance.

Jesus said to them, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hyprocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:23–28.

To hear this denunciation was a terrible shock to them for they thought themselves righteous. They did all the right things. They tithed, they fasted, and obeyed all external rules, forgetting the weightier matters. Jesus put things in a proper perspective; He said to work on cleansing the inside of the cup and the outside will also be clean.

One man came to Jesus inquiring what he could do to have eternal life. He claimed to have kept all of the commandments since his youth, but when Jesus told him to go and sell all that he had, the young man went away sorrowful for he was very wealthy (Matthew 19:16–22).

The young man wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life. Jesus went straight to his heart discerning his motivation, which was not a desire for a relationship with Him because this man’s identity was linked to his possessions. He rejected a discipleship to keep his treasure, the things of this world, and as a result, he rejected eternal life. The devil knows exactly what is in the heart of man outside of their relationship with God, because he is the author of those principles.

Satan’s first attack toward Christ, when He was led into the wilderness after His baptism, was to doubt His relationship with His Father. He had succeeded in casting doubt on God’s character and His love for them with Adam and Eve.

First he attacked Christ’s relationship, and then he said, “If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matthew 4:3. Then he appealed to the human nature of Christ—the principles that are inherently in us, in our human nature, to perform or prove ourselves—to prove who He was by performing a miracle. This temptation was repeated throughout Christ’s life as well as on the cross, “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.” Luke 23:39. The devil continually attacked Christ’s relationship with His Father and appealed to the principles of humanity, but there was nothing in His heart to which the devil could take hold for he was of a different seed. He said, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30. There are two opposing principles.

The Devil’s Kingdom God’s Kingdom
Based on receiving the lie Based on receiving the truth
You shall not surely die You shall surely die
You have life in yourself Your life is in the Son
You are able to produce good works The Son produces works in you
Your life is bound up in performance Your life is bound up in relationship
He who has not the Son has not life He who hath the son hath life

Jesus said, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you … . Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” John 15:7, 8.

The principles of the devil’s kingdom lead to pride and feelings of superiority. Those who achieve, look down on others who do not. When not doing so well, we get depressed because our value is based on our performance. Under these principles, truth is mixed with error causing confusion and there is an entitlement to heaven because of our good works. This can never create harmony with God or others. In the church, the natural result is a hierarchical structure of government that develops into different classes and different values where people are valued differently.

In God’s kingdom we realize that everything we have comes from God—our life, our talents, and everything that we possess. This promotes thankfulness and humility. All are in harmony with each other knowing that without God we are nothing but dust and ashes. It is God who gave us life and we are all brethren and equal in value. In God’s kingdom, the reward that God gives us is because of unmerited grace, an undeserved gift that is received by faith.

Peter adds one virtue to another like a ladder showing the Christian experience (II Peter 1:5–7). The closer the relationship is to Christ and the Father, the higher up the ladder we will be, but it has nothing to do with our own works and no one is higher or better than another.

Two Principles Produce Different Fruits

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19–21.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Verses 22, 23.

Which principles are guiding your life; which seed has been planted in your heart?

Jesus told a parable of a son who decided to separate from his father’s house, take his inheritance and go off into a far country to make his own life and to experience life. We are like the young man. The inheritance we have received is everything that God has given to us in this life—our strength, our health, our talents, our ability, and money, whatever it may be.

His inheritance was spent supporting his new life of riotous living. He lived what we call today “the high life” associating with harlots, and in drunkenness he experienced the temporary pleasures of sin. But as always happens, after a while when things start going wrong, it all stops being fun. There was a famine in the land and he found himself destitute and his friends disappeared when his money ran out. Desperate and all alone he hit rock bottom. He was so hungry that the food with which he was feeding the pigs was tempting to him, but no one helped him. Finding no power within himself to change his condition, “He came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” Luke 15:17.

In his distress, his thoughts went back to his father’s house. Though this parable focuses mainly on the son, we can get an idea of what the father was doing while he was away. “How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of the them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:12–14.

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20.

The father did not just wait at the gate for his son to return; he was actively searching for him. “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising. Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.” Psalm 139:1–12.

The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6) and God loves us so much, even when we chose to separate ourselves from Him and were yet enemies, that He sent His Son to die in our place so we might be reconciled to Him. What love!

“The love of God still yearns over the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in operation influences to bring him back to the Father’s house. The prodigal son in his wretchedness ‘came to himself.’ The deceptive power that Satan had exercised over him was broken. He saw that his suffering was the result of his own folly, and he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father’ [Luke 15:17, 18]. Miserable as he was, the prodigal found hope in the conviction of his father’s love. It was that love which was drawing him toward home.”
A Call to Stand Apart, 12.

Even as the prodigal son responded to his father’s love and turned his heart toward home, he wondered what he could do to gain his father’s favor and be accepted. The prodigal son still did not understand the unconditional love that his father had for him and that there was nothing he could do to increase that love.

Jesus spoke this parable to show His Father’s love for man. “For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:16, 17.

“Little did the gay, thoughtless youth, as he went out from his father’s gate, dream of the ache and longing left in that father’s heart. When he danced and feasted with his wild companions, little did he think of the shadow that had fallen on his home.” A Call To Stand Apart, 13.

How little do we understand the ache in the Father’s heart when we are separated from Him. “And now as with weary and painful steps he pursues the homeward way, he knows not that one is watching for his return. But while he is yet ‘a great way off’ the Father discerns his form. Love is of quick sight. Not even the degradation of the years of sin can conceal the son from the father’s eyes. He ‘had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck’ [Luke 15:20] in a long, clinging, tender, embrace.” Ibid.

This is a picture of our heavenly Father, one that the devil does all in his power to hide from us.

“The father will permit no contemptuous eye to mock his son’s misery and tatters. He takes from his own shoulders the broad, rich, mantle, and wraps it around the son’s wasted form, and the youth sobs out his repentance, saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son’ [Luke 15:21].” Ibid. His plan was to confess his sins to his father and then ask to be accepted as one of his hired servants, but his plan was thwarted.

“The father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry’ [Luke 15:22–24].

“In his restless youth the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe. How different his conception of him now! So those who are deceived by Satan look upon God as hard and exacting. They regard Him as watching to denounce and condemn, as unwilling to receive the sinner so long as there is a legal excuse for not helping him. His law they regard as a restriction upon men’s happiness, a burdensome yoke from which they are glad to escape. But he whose eyes have been opened by the love of Christ will behold God as full of compassion. He does not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being, but as a father longing to embrace his repenting son.

“Do not listen to the enemy’s suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come.” Ibid.

The parable ends with a restored relationship. The son received a robe and a ring. The father commanded his servants to kill the fatted calf and to rejoice and be merry. There was a feast in the father’s house, but the parable does not end there. When the older brother returns from the field, he heard the music playing and enquired of the reason for the festivities. On hearing the story, he was angry. He had always stayed home and worked in his father’s house, yet he had never received the reception that was spent on his wayward brother who had wasted his inheritance on harlots and drinking. He reminded his father of all the things he had done for him, but his motivation was from a performance-based philosophy and not from his heart.

“One son had for a time cut himself off from the household, not discerning the father’s love. But now he has returned, and the tide of joy sweeps away every disturbing thought. ‘This thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found’ [Luke 15:32].

“Was the elder brother brought to see his own mean, ungrateful spirit? Did he come to see that though his brother had done wickedly, he was his brother still? Did the elder brother repent of his jealousy and hardheartedness? Concerning this, Christ was silent. For the parable was still enacting, and it rested with His hearers to determine what the outcome should be.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 209.

What principles are guiding your life? Whether part of a church or not, the choice is yours. The only way we can be freed from Satan’s kingdom is to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and be restored back into a relationship with God. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:5–7.

The only way that we can inherit eternal life is to be born again and restored into the relationship that man had with the Father in the Garden of Eden before man sinned. We know that we have this relationship when we love one another. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:7, 8.

It is time to be honest with yourself. You may fool others, but you cannot fool God, for He knows your heart. Ask yourself the question, What principles are guiding me? “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.

Jim Stoeckert worked in many capacities for Steps to Life over many years; video department, Bible worker and maintenance. He is currently living in Australia with his wife.