Christian Life

When Worship Is Worthless

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Does Job fear God for nothing? You have placed a hedge around him and everything that he has and You have blessed him and his possessions have increased.” The Bible records that this was the question Satan asked the Lord. But Jesus said, “Some people’s worship of God is in vain, good for nothing.” What makes the difference?

The difference

The third commandment is a prohibition, a warning. It reads, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

Some think the third commandment is just about using profanity, and it does include that. But it also includes irreverence and hypocrisy, claiming to be Christian when the life clearly reflects something else, and it prohibits all forms of vain worship.

Although this prohibition was written in the negative, it also has a positive meaning. “… let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28

Reverence is the very gateway to the divine presence, and those who approach the eternal with a reverent attitude, recognizing the holy character of His name, will fulfill this command.

In both ancient times and today, some do not know God and therefore have no reverence for or fear of Him. We find one such incident in Exodus 5:1, 2:

“Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.’ ”

God’s name is taken in vain by people who do not know Him. If they knew him, they would love and reverence His name.

Name and character are the same

In the Bible, a person’s name and character are inseparable. The Bible says that a good name is to be desired above great riches (Proverbs 22:1). On one occasion, Moses asked the Lord, “ ‘Please show me Your glory.’ Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.’ ” Exodus 33:18–20

Had Moses looked directly at God’s face, he would have perished, so the Lord placed him in the cleft of a rock and covered his eyes with His hand. As the Lord passed by him, He removed His hand, and Moses was allowed to see His back parts. As He passed by, He proclaimed, “… ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation.’ ” Exodus 34:6, 7. When the Lord proclaimed His glory [His character] to Moses, He was also proclaiming His name.

In a carefree manner

We need to be careful not to use words that describe God’s character in a flippant or carefree manner. Some people carelessly use the words mercy, gracious, and goodness in their everyday speech, and when they do, they are breaking the third commandment. These words describe the character of God. When we take the name of God upon our lips, we are on holy ground, and we should be careful not to use His name or the words that describe His character frivolously or as expletives in our everyday speech.

There are Christians who repeatedly use the name God or Father in prayer, perhaps 10, 20, or even 30 times in a single prayer. In the Lord’s prayer—the model prayer given by Jesus as the example to follow when we pray—the name Father is used once. Even the heathen understand that you can pollute a person’s name by repeating it over and over.

No profanity

The third commandment prohibits profanity and cursing, but it is not just a prohibition on how we speak. It is also a prohibition on the manner and spirit in which we speak. Profanity is never a sign of intelligence. It has always been the most prevalent among people who are crude, uncultured, and illiterate. If profanity is intended to be humorous, it is humor of a very low order, and it is often more of a bluff than a substitute for courage. It is very dangerous to profane the name of God. If there is no God, then the use of profanity is useless and simply a sign of crass ignorance, but if there is a God, then it is very serious to profane His name.

There was a man who excused his bad speech to his minister, saying, “I have such an awful temper. I excuse myself because I got it from my father. He had an awful temper, too, and I’m just like him.”

The minister said, “Have you been born again?”

“Yes,” was the answer.

“Were you born of God?”

“Yes,” was the reply.

“Then is God your Father?”

“Yes.”

The minister then asked, “What kind of temper did you get when you were born again?”

When we are born again of the Holy Spirit, we inherit a new disposition.

Common words and idle talk

The Christian who keeps the law of God will avoid the use of many common words that are on the verge of profanity. Jesus referred to these as idle words and talk. He said that we will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every idle word that we speak. We should especially guard ourselves against speaking words that are attributes of God’s character—goodness, gracious, or mercy—and avoid saying words such as gee or golly, which are slang words of God’s and Jesus’ name.

The Bible says that God will, in the last days, give His people a pure language. Zephaniah says, “ ‘For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord … . The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.’ ” Zephaniah 3:9, 13, first part

It doesn’t matter if my religion is phony or fake. If I have been born again, my speech will reveal my transformed character.

False swearing

The third commandment forbids using God’s name in a common way (Leviticus 19).

There is a lot of confusion about this because many people have decided that swearing falsely includes things it really doesn’t. They believe Matthew 5 says they cannot swear an oath.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Verses 33–37

People believe from these texts that a Christian should never take an oath, not even the judicial oath in a court of law. However, when we have fully studied this subject, we find that Jesus Himself took the judicial oath when He was tried in a human court of law. “The high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I adjure you.’ ” In other words, he’s asking Him to take an oath. “ ‘I adjure you by the living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.’ ” Matthew 26:63, 64

“You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and you shall swear by His name.” Deuteronomy 6:13

This text is written regarding a judicial oath. We must be careful not to use one text in the Bible to explain away another. The text in the third commandment and the words of Jesus in Mathew 5 are talking about the common everyday swearing that people engage in. It is this type of swearing that the Bible forbids. It does not mean that it is wrong for you to take a judicial oath to tell only the truth when you are in a court of law.

What happens if you take a judicial oath and then tell a lie? Sadly, perjury is very common in our world today. How does the third commandment relate to perjury?

The third commandment prohibits linking God’s name with any falsehood by violating an oath or by false swearing. It is actually not swearing that is prohibited here; perjury is telling a lie after a person has taken a judicial oath to only tell the truth. Some writers have said that perjury is one of the greatest crimes of the modern world and is almost universal. If you say that you are going to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God, have you not insulted the Creator of the universe, the One who is not only the Truth but the Author of all truth by telling a lie? It is impossible for God to lie, and one of the characteristics of His children from the beginning to the end is that they tell the truth under all circumstances. They do not swear falsely.

Over and over again, the book of Revelation specifies that God’s people, those who will be saved in the last days, will tell the truth (Revelation 21:27, 8; Revelation 22:15; Revelation 14:5). If we are guilty of perjury, if we swear to God that we will tell the truth and then we don’t tell the truth, we will not be held guiltless, but will be punished.

The third commandment deals not only with God’s name but with His word.

Comedy, jesting, joking, and laughter

“You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” Psalm 138:2, last part

All jesting and joking based on scriptural statements is dangerous. It may be very easy to create a laugh in a modern audience by frivolous and grotesque association with the word of God. Still, the Bible should never be used as material for manufacturing jokes or jests.

Preaching is altogether too solemn a matter to be mixed with the unholy common fire of the comical and ludicrous. Inattention, whispering, laughing, and other forms of disrespect while attending a religious service are all forms of profanity. We are guilty of blasphemy, and if we do not repent and turn away from this behavior, we will be punished.

How to behave in God’s house

The Bible is very clear about how we should behave in the house of God.

“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore, let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2

In an organized society, behavior is based on respect and trust. Manifesting disrespectful behavior in the house of God proves that we lack what is necessary for us to be worthy of heaven, and we will have to answer for our lack of respect on the day of judgment.

Two-faced

Now we will look at what perhaps may be the main thrust, the chief application of the third commandment—the sin of hypocrisy. When we profess one thing but live another, when we pretend to be something we are not, we are playing a double role; we are practicing hypocrisy.

The New Testament tells us that no other sin so arouses the indignation of Christ as this one, and He hurled some of His most dreadful curses against it. The third commandment is against all kinds of hypocrisy and lying in all its forms; hypocrisy is one of the worst forms of lying or bearing false witness.

The person who accepts Christ takes on His name and becomes a Christian. The Lord speaks of His people as those who are called by His name (2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 7:10, 11).

The man who professes to be a Christian but at the same time lives a life that is a denial of his profession is taking God’s name in vain; he is a false professor of Christianity. God’s name is taken in vain often in our modern world. A person who professes to be a Christian but is not Christlike in character is a blasphemer.

“ ‘Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah; who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth or in righteousness; for they call themselves after the holy city, and lean on the God of Israel.’ ” Isaiah 48:1, 2

They lean on the God of Israel, but it is in vain because what they profess and how they live are two different things.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” Matthew 7:21–23

Jesus rebuked the Jews because He said their worship was in vain.

“Isaiah predicted about you. ‘These people draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and they honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, but in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Mathew 15:7–9

In both the modern world and in Christendom, there is a lot of vain worship due to hypocrisy. Christ said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and you don’t do what I say?” Luke 6:46

It is dangerous to use the name of the Lord if we do not know Him and are not known by Him. A vulgar oath may never have stained a person’s lips, but they are breaking the third commandment every day if they are living a hypocritical life, professing to be a Christian when they are actually living in sin.

While visiting an art museum, a farmer was shown some modernist paintings which he was unable to appreciate.

The guide said, “The paintings depict not merely the things the artist saw but his state of mind.”

The farmer retorted, “If I had a mind like that, I would never expose it.”

Sooner or later, what is inside will be exposed.

How is it with you? Is your worship in vain, or are you worshiping God in truth? Is what you profess the same as what you live?

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

A Search for an Undistorted Version of this Spiritual Truth

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What a profound Bible truth—without Jesus I am a lost soul. There is nothing within me that I could achieve that would make me worthy of being granted eternal life. If I would be taken to heaven as I am in this sinful condition, I would only stain that high and lofty place. What can I do to be saved, but most importantly what I must understand is, from what do I need to be saved?

Statement

Justification by faith is God’s provided tool to each one of us to bring about our restoration to the perfection of creation, saving us from sin, which is a distortion of His loving work, and making us fit again to be re-instituted in the New Jerusalem.

Example

Justification is the complete act of pardoning someone for a fault or omission on their part. For example, if a student is absent from school one day, the teacher will require the student to provide an excuse to justify his absence. The student must bring a justification note on the following day validated by an adult who proves the veracity of cause for the young one to miss class. For instance, if the cause of the absence was an illness or health problem, the person providing the justification should be a doctor for it to be valid. It would be unacceptable that a medical justification note would be signed by another classmate of the student in question.

Once a student’s absence is justified by a responsible adult and submitted to the teacher, the student may be reinstated in class to continue with his studies. This justification for this particular situation does not excuse the student from indefinitely missing classes, nor does it grant him a certificate of achievement after the end of the school year. The justification merely excuses the student for the specific absence, preventing removal from the class. Furthermore, the justification does not give the student permission to continue missing classes whenever he wishes, nor does it exempt him from preparing for exams.

Parallelism

In short, justification is a request for excuse or apology for the infraction committed by failing to comply with what has been established.

With this background, we can see how this legal framework centers on the work that Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit perform to restore us to the state of original perfection.

Sin and Consequences

As the absolute judge in this tribunal, we find God the Father, who has established His law as the standard of conduct for all created beings, indissoluble and perfect. The law establishes that upon violating one of its precepts, the transgressor must die; therefore, the punishment for one who transgresses God’s law is death.

Adam and Eve were created in complete harmony with God’s law. There was no need for them to require a justifier nor did they need justification before God, since they had never committed a sin nor disobeyed the law in any way. They could see God face to face and be accepted into His presence because of their perfect, untainted condition.

By violating a precept of God’s law, Adam and Eve broke that perfect bond between their own existence and compatibility with God’s law, becoming liable to execution for their disobedience. From our first parents and now each one of us, we face the same condemnation that Adam and Eve received.

Divine Grace

It is here, thanks to and solely due to the unique and unconditional love of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit toward each one of us, a love that we can understand as divine grace and undeserved mercy is bestowed upon us. To give us hope of eternal life, the Deity of the Godhead set in motion the Plan of Redemption for our rescue, thus removing us from the condemnation of eternal death, the consequence of our own disobedience to God’s requirements; giving us a second chance to live in perfect harmony and obedience to God’s law.

Restoration and Redemption

Jesus interceded on behalf of disobedient humanity. Standing before God the Father, He was willing to receive the punishment of death in our place.

To be able to fully reconcile man to God, it was necessary for Jesus Himself to leave heaven and come to this earth that He might experience the results of our fallen condition and to become a part of the human race, which had become captive to sin.

The role of the Holy Spirit, as the indwelling power of divine Providence, would strengthen Jesus in His decision to obey God’s law and grant Him a life of victory over sin while living on this earth surrounded by sinners.

In being exposed to temptation, Jesus gained an understanding of our human weakness firsthand. He therefore identified Himself with our current condition. While He chose at every step of this earthly way to obey all the requirements of God’s law and live a perfect life before God’s eyes, He became familiar with our frailties and struggles.

Finally, taking our place, He willingly accepted execution and death for the sins and disobedience we are guilty of. In this way, He now stands before the Father as the authorized Advocate to sign our much-needed justification note excusing us from our transgression. Thus, He grants us a second chance to make things right in this life. We are renewed within ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. He empowers us, as a renewed being, restored to the image of God, to live in harmony and obedience to His law, just as it was in the beginning.

Just as the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to live a perfect life of obedience to God’s law, this same Holy Spirit can grant us the transforming power to bring about a new birth in us. Thus, we are delivered from that captivity to sin and brought back into a new life of harmony with the original plan of creation and perfection.

Point of Thought

Justification by faith comprehends the work of the Godhead in our behalf to first pardon us from our faults and then, along with our own choice, to empower us to live in harmony with the laws of heaven, reconciled to God.

Bible

We can compare the previous statements with the following verses from the Bible in order to obtain a Biblical foundation. We can find additional explanation in the Spirit of Prophecy quotations.

– Sin

– Consequences of Sin

– Grace

– Justification

– Sanctification

– Salvation

Sin

Individual transgression and disobedience of God’s law.

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4

Consequences of Sin

The consequence of transgressing and disobeying God’s law is separation from God and ultimately death.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1, 2

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the sons. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:20

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

Grace

An undeserved gift. God’s goodwill to forgive and divine initiative to give us a second chance for eternal life.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.” Galatians 1:6

Justification

This is what only God can do in our favor and is essential within the Plan of Salvation. Jesus lived a perfect life through the power of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to God’s Law. He lived a life without the stain of sin, and therefore was accepted by the Father as righteous. For this reason, nothing and no one can justify us before the Father except Jesus. No good work from our own part justifies us. Only our faith in the work Jesus is performing in us and with us is what allows us to appropriate and receive justification.

“Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19, 20

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the worlds of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16

“And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So, they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced having believed in God with all his household.” Acts 16:30–34

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them ‘Repent, and let every one 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. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ ” Acts 2:37–39

“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13

Sanctification

It is the work that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, performs in us, that provides the basis for a new life. We choose to obey and walk in harmony with God’s Law. God does not force this decision. It is a synergistic mechanism for an end goal that integrates God and man.

The degree of responsibility we have for our sanctification corresponds to the degree of willingness we have to be changed.

The word of God reveals how we are reconciled to God.

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Romans 6:22

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20, 21

“Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8

“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Matthew 28:19, 20

“And so, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’ ” Romans 11:26, 27

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” 1 Timothy 6:3–5

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:6

“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. ‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:21–23

Salvation

It is the result of Divine grace manifested in justification and sanctification. Salvation is having experienced the new birth and being a new creation in Christ Jesus. We are finally saved from our past.

“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ ” John 3:5

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ ” Acts 2:40

“And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16

“ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.’ ” Isaiah 1:18, 19

“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17

“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His throne.” Revelation 3:21

Spirit of Prophecy

About Repentance:

“But sorrow had not worked true repentance. The people mourned because their sins had brought suffering upon themselves, but not because they had dishonored God by transgression of His holy law. True repentance is more than sorrow for sin. It is a resolute turning away from evil.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 557

About the Victory of God in His Children

“When the plan of salvation was revealed to the angels, joy, inexpressible joy, filled heaven. The glory and the blessedness of a world redeemed outmeasured even the anguish of the Prince of Life. Through the celestial courts echoed the first strain of that song that angels sang above the hills of Bethlehem—’Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to men.’ And the lost pair in the garden of Eden, standing as criminals before the righteous Judge, waiting the sentence their transgression merited, heard the first notes of the divine promise. Before the life of toil and sorrow which sin had brought upon them was depicted before them, before the decree that the wages of sin is death was pronounced, they heard the promise of redemption. Though they must suffer from the power of their mighty foe, still through the merits of Christ they could look forward to victory. The mystery of the gospel was spoken in Eden, when God said to the serpent, ‘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.’ If Satan could have touched the head with his specious temptations, the human family would have been lost; but the Lord had made known the purpose and plan of the mystery of grace, declaring that Christ had bruised the serpent under His feet.” The Signs of the Times, February 13, 1893

About the Kingdom of Grace

“The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man, when a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race. It then existed in the purpose and by the promise of God; and through faith, men could become its subjects. Yet it was not actually established until the death of Christ. Even after entering upon His earthly mission, the Saviour, wearied with the stubbornness and ingratitude of men, might have drawn back from the sacrifice of Calvary. In Gethsemane, the cup of woe trembled in His hand. He might even then have wiped the blood-sweat from His brow, and have left the guilty race to perish in their iniquity. Had He done this, there could have been no redemption for fallen men. But when the Saviour yielded up His life, and with His expiring breath cried out, ‘It is finished,’ then the fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured. The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which had before existed by the promise of God, was then established.” The Great Controversy (1888), 347, 348

Summary

In spite of the many arguments brought by scholastic debates, the simple consistent point of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy is that we can only find the hope of salvation when we realize that our own rebellion against God and His law is what has separated us from Him. This consistent line of thought throughout the Scriptures establishes justification by faith and the doctrine regarding salvation.

Sin is breaking the law of God. We are condemned by that transgression to death. Jesus took that damnation upon Himself and died in our place. The Holy Spirit now appeals to our conscience so that we might see our true wicked condition, living a life in transgression of God’s word, that keeps us separated from Him. As we see our extreme doom, we beg God to forgive our sins and ask Him to cleanse us by the blood of Jesus.

As the promise of God is fulfilled: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9, the Holy Spirit now convinces us to seek conversion and righteousness. “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8. Through His power we may have victory over sin and live a life of obedience.

Victory requires a constant, moment-by-moment experience of surrendering to the will of God. As long as we distrust ourselves and cling to our Saviour for help, this work of the Holy Spirit can continue in us. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on his own power, achievement, and delight, he sank into the depths of the raging sea. It was only by grasping the hand of Christ that he was saved from the waves. The continual connection through the Holy Spirit was, in the end, what saved Peter from spiritual death. And we are promised the same.

At the very end, we realize that we are our own enemy and we need to be saved from our own rebellion.

That’s why we can never say, “once saved always saved.” The surrendering of self to the will of God, is an act of choice at every step of the way. Nevertheless, if we do this, we have the assurance indeed that in Christ we are more than conquerors.

Esteban Salazar is a preventive medicine and lifestyle coach with more than 25 years of experience. His work has expanded as an international speaker and featured guest in many TV and radio shows around the world. He has a bachelor’s degree in Health Ministries and Nutrition from Hartland College in Virginia and also completed additional studies at the E. I. Institute of Applied Chemistry in Mittlesinn, Germany. He enjoys country living with his wife Maritza in the Sierra region of Ecuador, South America. He loves playing the piano, traveling, and vegan cuisine.

Must I Be Crucified?

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Natural Tendency – Man’s inherited natural tendency to and desire for doing wrong; a condition that is forever who we are without Divine intervention and transformation.

Cultivated Tendency – Man’s nurtured, cultivated tendency to wrongdoing, the sin committed that, with repetition, soon becomes habit and precious to us.

Tempted by our natural, sinful nature to sin and enticed to sin by the devil and influenced by the world around us, we must understand our natural, sinful nature because it has everything to do with our eternal destiny.

Paul wrote this interesting statement, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Anatomy of a Crucifixion

One of the most horrible forms of death ever invented by the devil was crucifixion; not actually death, it is a living death. A person can live, hanging on a cross, for days.

The apostle James was crucified, but while on the cross, he preached for two or three days before he died to the people who came to see him die. So, a cross did not mean death right away. Unable to do anything because the person is nailed to it, a crucifixion does not injure any of the vital organs of the body. The heart will still beat. The brain continues to function, as do the liver and kidneys. The nails are strategically placed so that when they are driven into the flesh, major arteries are missed, so there is minimal blood loss. And by pushing up against the cross, your lungs will still inhale and exhale air. Soon enough, however, the legs of the person being crucified are almost always broken so that he can no longer push up, and eventually he would die from a slow, agonizing asphyxiation. This was the fate of the two thieves who died with Christ.

Paul says, I am crucified with Christ so I am no longer alive, it is Christ who lives in me. The consequence of this relationship—my death and His life—is that my natural, sinful self must die, and, by faith in Jesus Christ, I am given the ability to live His life of righteousness in place of my life of selfishness and sinfulness.

Anatomy of Dying and yet Living

Paul’s main point in Galatians 2:20 is that he has died. He no longer lives the life he once lived, driven by his natural, sinful nature. That life was gone, and in its place, Paul accepted Christ as the Ruler of his heart. Paul knew that he could not continue to live as he had been living. His life had to be changed, and this Paul could not do alone.

While hanging on the cross, Jesus was mocked. The people jeered, “Come down and save Yourself. He says He can save us, but He can’t even save Himself.” Little did they know that what they meant as a taunt, Christ could have done. They didn’t believe in Him, that was obvious. They had rejected Him and the gift of salvation He offered by dying on the cross. He could have summoned the entire heavenly host, who waited for just such a moment, to take Him back to heaven, leaving mankind to fend for itself and eventually to destroy itself. This world, all of us living in it, are safe today with the opportunity of salvation still available because Jesus wouldn’t come down from the cross.

Jesus had to die to pay the penalty demanded by sin (Romans 6:23), but it is equally important to understand that He lived His life to show us the only true example of victory in living a righteous life.

Anatomy of Trouble

We, however, want to be in charge, and that, my friend, is when the trouble starts.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, John Harvey Kellogg was a leading Adventist physician. The world’s most famous people of the time came to the Battle Creek Sanitarium to be healed from their diseases by Dr. Kellogg; and what he did was marvelous. He became renowned throughout the world for His work. Sadly, however, it was this worldly fame that caused him to spiritually lose his way.

In 1887, Mrs. White wrote to him, “The Christian’s life is a strangely-mingled scene of sorrows and joys, disappointments and hopes, fears and confidence. There will be much dissatisfaction with self, as he views his own heart so deeply stirred, surged with passion that it seems to bear all before it and then follows remorse and sorrow and repentance followed by peace and deep hidden joys, because he knows as his faith grasps the promises that are revealed in God’s word that he has the forgiving love of a longsuffering Saviour. And that Saviour he seeks to bring into his life, weave into his character.

“It is these revealings, these discoveries of God’s goodness that makes the soul humble and leads it to cry out in gratitude, I live, yet not I, for Christ liveth in me, we have reason to be comforted. Severe outward trials may press around the soul where Jesus lives. Let us turn to Him, for the consolations He has promised for us in His word.

“The nether springs of hope and comfort may appear to fail us, but the upper springs which feed the river of God are full of supply and can never be dried up. God would have you [Kellogg] look away from the cause of your afflictions [mainly coming from leading ministers and leaders in the church] to Him who is the owner of soul, body, and spirit. He is the lover of the soul. He knows the value of the soul. He is the true vine, and we are the branches. We shall have no spiritual nourishment only as we draw it from Jesus who is the true life of the soul.” Battle Creek Letters, 8, 9

There were significant differences between Adventism and Dr. Kellogg’s personal theological beliefs, and these differences caused issues between him and the Adventist church. His book The Living Temple was sharply criticized by Mrs. White because of his pantheistic ideas as stated in the book. By 1907, conflicts between Dr. Kellogg, A. G. Daniells, and others in the church, led to Dr. Kellogg being disfellowshipped, and resulted in a schism in the church. Dr. Kellogg retained control of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and the American Medical Missionary College, while continuing to promote Adventist health ideas at those institutions. (wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harvey_Kellogg)

The Anatomy of Repetition

Passion comes. Desire is strong. So easily swayed by the desire within to sin and enticed from without by the excitement of the world to sin. But then, recrimination: Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Why did I think that? Why did that happen? I didn’t mean it. Lord, I’m so sorry, please forgive me. I won’t do it again. But even sorrow and repentance mean little if there is no transformation in the life—sin, confess, repent, repeat.

How do we reach the point where we stop this continual up and down experience? How do we submit to the transformation wrought by love?

Jesus said, “ ‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So, shall it also be with this wicked generation.” ’ ” Matthew 12:43–45

Jesus is talking in these texts about the man who listened to the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus. He is touched by what he heard and influenced to determinedly remove from his life the evil spirit that had long controlled him. He praised God for His love and grace, and sought to follow Him only, allowing the Holy Spirit to control his life.

As long as the man praises God and surrenders himself to the Holy Spirit, the evil spirit stays away. But one day, the evil spirit came back to check on the man. He finds that he no longer praises God. The Holy Spirit is gone. This man had not entered into a covenant relationship with God even though he has had a lot of religious influence in his life. Sadly, the evil spirit finds the house is empty, and so he comes back, but not alone. The text says that he came back with seven evil spirit friends. Together, they all move in with the man, making the man worse now that he was before.

“We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.” The Desire of Ages, 324

Who Can Help?

There are two supernatural powers seeking for control of the world and all who live in it. As we approach the end of time, this spiritual battle becomes fiercer and more bitter. Spiritual war, for the souls and bodies of men and women is taking place all over the world. This spiritual war is between Christ and Satan—the heavenly host and the host of darkness, the servants of Christ and the servants of Satan. Unless we are connected with divinity, the devil will be in control of us. Moment by moment we must be fully surrendered to Christ or we will be overcome, at the mercy of the enemy and doing his bidding in the end. We are not able to deal with our own fallen, sinful nature alone. We must have divine help.

“All have the same sinful nature. All are liable to make mistakes. No one is perfect. The Lord Jesus died for the erring, that they might be forgiven. It is not our work to condemn … but to save.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 18, 334, 335

“The work of repairing souls broken down through errors, through manifest sin, is the most difficult we can do. Some pet sin has been cultivated which has taken the lines of control, one bad habit has not been vigorously fought and conquered, and oh, how hard [it is] to efface the bruises that soul has sustained.” The Upward Look, 162

Here are represented those who are spiritually sick, having been overtaken by some type of sinful habit that has control of their mind.

“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all gone out of the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’ ” Romans 3:10, 11

Everyone wants to help someone in need, but they interpret experiences with a filter made up of their own background, training, and life experiences. One of the biggest problems in helping the sick is that few understand the spiritual component of the problems we face. Jesus, the Spirit of Prophecy, the apostles all teach that if some pet sin has taken control of a person’s life, they can never be free unless they are set free by divine power.

A psychologist wants to shape the mind to understand why a man has a sinful habit and what exercises can be used to gain control over it.

A nutritionist wants to plan a diet that will make him healthier in order to fight the habit.

A physical therapist wants to use therapy to make him stronger in the fight against the habit.

A surgeon wants to operate and remove the sinful habit.

An internist wants to use medicine to destroy the habit.

But if we are truly to overcome our sinful nature and besetting sins, there is only One to whom we must turn.

“To the careless, the indifferent, the unconcerned, those standing on the precipice of ruin, Christ says: Open the door of your heart; give Me entrance, and I will make you a child of God. I will transform your weak, sinful nature into the divine image, giving it beauty and perfection.” That I May Know Him, 106

“Our lifework now should be to prepare for eternity. We know not how soon our lifework here may close, and how essential that our low, sinful nature should be overcome, and we conform to the image of Christ.” This Day With God, 117

Is There Any Way Out?

The law of God cannot help us, because we are unable to keep it in our sinful nature. So, is there any way out? Yes, there is. Our low, sinful nature must be overcome. Revelation 2, 3, and 21 repeatedly show us the necessity of overcoming.

Jesus says if we will let Him into our lives, He will change our hearts and minds, transform our sinful nature. “The sinful nature is to be kept under the control of the Spirit of God.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, February 6, 1893

I am stuck. I cannot control my sinful nature. I cannot control my own tongue or my own thoughts. I cannot control my affections, passions, or desires, and the Bible is very clear that it is impossible for me alone to control them. I cannot keep the law of God in my sinful nature except if I am under the control of the Holy Spirit.

“ ‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’ ” John 15:4, 5

“When He [God] gave Jesus to our world, He included all heaven in that one gift. He did not leave us to retain our defects and deformities of character, or to serve Him as best we could in the corruption of our sinful nature. He has made provision that we may be complete in His Son, not having our own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ.” The Review and Herald, March 18, 1902

“He takes away the destructive tendencies of the sinful nature and brings the human agency into His service.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 18, 208

Just Quit or Struggle

There are people in this world who have tremendous willpower when it comes to making changes in their life. A smoker might decide that this is his last cigarette and he will never smoke again. And he is successful. Or the person who decides they just weigh too much and want to lose weight and live a healthy life. They make a diet plan, follow it each day, sticking to it until the desired weight loss has been achieved.

However, another smoker may awaken every day for the rest of his life fighting against that deep desire for just one cigarette, or an obese individual will struggle each day to stay committed to the effort of losing weight and keeping it off. For these individuals, they fight against a besetting sin, the one they just cannot overcome alone.

“God has not left us to battle with evil in our own finite strength [because we cannot win]. Whatever may be our inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong, we can overcome through the power that He is ready to impart.” The Ministry of Healing, 176, 177

“The converting power of God can transform inherited and cultivated tendencies; for the religion of Jesus is uplifting.” The Review and Herald, April 13, 1897

The Deplorable Effects of the Original Apostasy

Because of the garment of light, Adam and Eve were enabled to read the message of God in every plant, flower, and leaf. They could understand the wisdom of God in everything in nature. But when they ate the forbidden fruit, that garment of light was removed and they were no longer able to interpret or understand God’s wisdom. Where they had loved and respected one another, they now began to reproach each other. The sacred unity that had existed between Adam and Eve was destroyed.

“The experience of Adam is a constant warning and reproof to us. We are not to turn aside from the word of God under any circumstances; but the Lord compels obedience from no one. He gives the human agent all the help that he requires to be an overcomer, but leaves him free to place himself, with his inherited and cultivated tendencies, under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, or to follow his own imaginations which are only evil, and that continually.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 4, 198

“One of the deplorable effects of the original apostasy was the loss of man’s power to govern his own heart.” Ibid., Vol. 8, 208. Our promises are like ropes of sand (Steps to Christ). A rope of sand doesn’t hold anything. Your promises are like ropes of sand and you find that you can’t control your thoughts, your passions, your affections; you can’t control anything. A person just feels helpless. Inspiration says that was one of the most awful things that happened at the original apostasy. We lost the ability to control our own heart.

God gives us the free will to choose to place our whole being under the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit or to follow our own imaginations. Without a connection with God, it is absolutely certain that we will sin.

“Many are inquiring, ‘How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?’ You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus, your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him.

“Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians.

“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” Steps to Christ, 47, 48

Few Agree

Paul wrote about our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil many times (Romans 6, 7, and 9; Galatians 6).

Theologians (Adventists and other churches alike) disagree, argue, debate, and write conflicting articles about mankind’s dilemma regarding his inherited, sinful nature and the sinful traits he cultivates throughout his life. The conclusion? We cannot control ourselves and keep the law of God. The answer? To be under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Still Waiting

Strife and contention throughout Adventism are signs that, as Paul writes, happen when we are still carnal, in the flesh, not walking in the Spirit. We must come to a place where we plead with the Spirit to show us the sins we must overcome, helping us to recognize that we cannot overcome them alone. Our prayer must be one of surrender, asking the Holy Spirit to intervene in our lives.

We talk about probation closing soon, about the time of trouble, about Sunday laws, about Jesus’ coming. We are waiting for the latter rain, but we cannot expect the latter rain to fall until we have received the early rain, and we will not receive the early rain until we are fully surrendered to God and the Holy Spirit holds control of our lives.

We cannot read the heart, but we can look at the fruit. We are in a desperate situation. The early rain has not fallen on those who are still at variance and in contention. We must crucify self and accept Christ living within us.

“The Holy Spirit is to do its work upon mind and character, exerting an influence upon thoughts and actions. If received, cultivated, and appreciated, it will always be reformatory, refining, elevating, and ennobling. He who always aims for entire conformity to God’s will, who does not follow his own natural inclinations, will allow the Holy Spirit to improve and mold and fashion his character upon a plan and model different from his own inherited and cultivated tendencies, changing him to another man.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, 23

We have inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil that we cannot change and we cannot with this nature keep the law of God. We cannot keep the law of God unless we are crucified with Christ, and the Holy Spirit comes into our minds and makes us into a different person, transforming our nature. That’s what the early rain of the Holy Spirit is about, the character change that happens in a person when they accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

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

 

Criticism

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The Spirit of Prophecy recommends to us the beautiful suggestion to take time day by day to immerse ourselves in the life of Jesus and His teachings, as found in the record of His life here on earth in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What a wonderful picture of Jesus they have given to us. As we open these pages, we are transported to stand beside His disciples and listen to Him as He speaks to them and to the multitude:

“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

“But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47–49

A Terrible Tragedy

Just a few miles from Eden Valley in Colorado, in the Big Thompson Canyon, a terrible tragedy occurred in 1976. Heavy rain in the Rocky Mountains sent a terrific torrent of water down the Big Thompson River. In some places, the water rapidly flowed as ten-foot walls down the canyon. Caused by a stalled thunderstorm, the area received 12–14 inches (including 7.5 inches that fell in one hour) of rainfall near Estes Park.

At that time, 600 people lived full time in the Canyon. On that day, an estimated 2,500-3,500 additional people were in the area or camped along the river to celebrate the anniversary of Colorado’s statehood on August 1.

The flood damaged or destroyed 418 homes, 152 businesses, an additional 138 other buildings, and swept away 400 vehicles. U.S. Route 34 was partially washed away. In total, 144 died, 250 were injured, with five missing.

Considered one of the deadliest floods in Colorado’s history, the widespread damage was estimated to be $40 million ($226 million in today’s money).

I have been up and down Thompson Canyon many times. There are many beautiful spots to build a home down by the stream as it winds its way between the canyon walls. Month after month, year after year, it was safe; until it wasn’t.

But, Jesus is able to keep us safe when we make Him the foundation of our life. That is what our opening scripture tells us.

“We are each of us building for ourselves a structure which will one day be scrutinized by the Judge of the whole earth. This structure is our individual character; and every act of our lives, every thought and word, is a stone in the building. The words of Inspiration warn us, ‘Take heed how ye build.’ See to it that the foundation is sure. If we build on the Rock Christ Jesus, the structure will grow into symmetrical proportions, and will be a fair and holy temple for God.” The Signs of the Times, July 14, 1887

“Here are brought before us two classes—the hearer and the doer. There is one that hears and does not; there is one that hears and does. This is he that not only hears but is a doer of the Word of the Lord: and this is the class that is building on the Rock. We want to be among the class that is riveted to the eternal Rock, and not of that class that is building upon the sand. For in these two classes of builders brought to view here, the one is laying his foundation in the sand, the other on the rocks. And the question comes home to us, How are we building?” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 13

If you really want to be safe, build on the Rock.

“The great principles of the law, of the very nature of God, are embodied in the words of Christ on the mount. Whoever builds upon them is building upon Christ, the Rock of Ages. In receiving the word, we receive Christ. And only those who thus receive His words are building upon Him. ‘Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 3:11. ‘There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12. Christ, the Word, the revelation of God—the manifestation of His character, His law, His love, His life—is the only foundation upon which we can build a character that will endure.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 148, 149

Who does Jesus say builds on the Rock? The man who hears and does. Who does He say builds on the sand? The man who hears and does not. In what ways are these two individuals alike? They both hear. So, Jesus is not talking about infidels and heathen. He’s talking about the people that hear His word, and they either obey or they don’t. The rock builders are building and preparing for the storm ahead that is coming upon this world and in this church. God has given me such an opportunity and privilege to say to you the things that will help you be ready by building on the Rock, so let’s study the life of Christ and His teachings a little more deeply to see how we can be ready for what is coming. You can be. I want to study a little more now from the life and teachings of Jesus to see if we can find help in being made ready for what’s ahead.

Starting in Matthew 9, we find Jesus passing by the Jewish Internal Revenue office, and there he saw Matthew, the tax collector. He said to him, “Matthew, I need you. Come with Me” (verse 9). Matthew left his very lucrative government job and became one of Christ’s disciples. He was so happy to be with Jesus, that he invited many of his friends, the publicans and other characters of poor repute to a party. But look at verse 11:

“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Finding fault with Jesus, the Pharisees complained to the disciples.

“At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.’ ” Matthew 12:1, 2

Now, finding fault with the disciples, the Pharisees complained to Jesus about the disciples.

“It was their policy to accuse Christ to the disciples, and the disciples to Christ, aiming their arrows where they would be most likely to wound. This is the way in which Satan has worked ever since the disaffection in heaven; and all who try to cause discord and alienation are actuated by his spirit.” The Desire of Ages, 275

I was much impressed by the apparent conscientiousness, the sanctimonious, critical faultfinding exhibited by the Pharisees. Let’s look at what the prophet to the remnant has to say about the origins of faultfinding and complaining.

“If Satan can excite criticism among any of the Lord’s professed people, then it is communicated like leaven from one to another. Give the spirit of criticism no quarter, for it is Satan’s science. Accept it, and envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings of one another follow.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 351

“Satan plants his seeds of unbelief, of picking flaws, and of finding fault, when you should be diligently listening to the message which God is addressing to every one of you. He wants you to hear and obey, and so escape the snares which Satan has set for your feet.” The Review and Herald, July 19, 1887

The Pharisees were not the originators of criticism. For 4,000 years before the Jews became a people, this criticizing and faultfinding had been used in full force to the point that it was already threadbare with repeated use. Complain to the leader about the mistakes, real or imaginary, of the disciples. Complain to the disciples about the mistakes, real or imaginary, of the leadership. Who started it?

Before the history of man began, Lucifer sold the idea to one-third of the heavenly host. Consider this, if Lucifer could convince holy, perfect beings to criticize and find fault, how do you think he does here among mortal men?

“Oh,” Lucifer said, “but I just want to improve things.” He said, “We are holy beings. We don’t need rules to make and keep us holy. We can use our own minds to make the right choices.” With feigned earnestness and sincerity, and in a backhanded way, he was criticizing and finding fault with God and spreading the criticism around through the angels. So, how did Lucifer make heaven better using this strategy? He didn’t, of course. Ultimately, it drove a wedge between them and God, Jesus, and all the remaining host of heaven; and he and one-third of the angels were thrown out of heaven forever.

Will criticizing and finding fault make us or the circumstances in our church any better? No, it won’t. So, what can we do about it?

What Would Jesus Do?

Jesus never allowed the criticism focused toward His disciples to bring the slightest wedge between Him and them.

“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” John 13:1, last part

He wants us to have that same relationship with one another.

Note:

When buffalo roamed the vast expanse of America, wolves would harass the herd in search of food. Wise enough not to take on a mature buffalo, the wolves would search for a calf and attempt to snatch it away from its mother. But this was not as easy an effort as it might seem. To protect the herd’s cows and calves, the bull buffalo would encircle them, facing out toward the circling wolves, with their great, bushy heads and big horns ready to defend against an attack. One after another, the wolves would trot around the circle trying to find an opening between the massive defenders to break through. However, many times, the wolves would leave still hungry and the herd completely safe.

This is how we must be. In times of criticism and fault-finding from without, we must press together and not allow ourselves to be drawn away, creating an opening through a wedge that can be driven in among us.

“There is no encouragement given for unbelief. The Lord manifests His grace and His power over and over again, and this should teach us that it is always profitable under all circumstances to cherish faith, to talk faith, to act faith. We are not to have our hearts and hands weakened by allowing the suggestions of suspicious minds to plant in our hearts the seeds of doubt and distrust.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 928

To Our Leaders.

Do not allow the enemy to work upon your mind in planting seeds of suspicion, doubt, and distrust concerning the helpers. And to our students and helpers in any line, do not allow the enemy to plant in your mind seeds of suspicion, doubt, and distrust concerning the leaders. The Pharisees were the most sanctimonious, punctilious people, careful to follow the rules down to the minutest detail; it made it easy for them to find fault in others struggling to do what is right.

I am speaking of those helpers in the many different lines of service—health reform, medical practice, sanitarium work, medical missionary work, Christian education, dress reform, and Sabbath-keeping. We are often so careful and conscientious, that we allow ourselves to become critical of those who do not perform just as we think they ought. Then we carry our criticism of the helpers to the leaders, or find fault with the leaders, sharing our disgruntled feelings to the helpers. It is then we become like the Pharisees, like Satan, the one who began it all.

Friends, we need to be like ducks. You surely have heard the saying, “like water off a duck’s back.” The criticisms, fault-finding and resulting gossip should be allowed to flow right off of us like water running off the duck’s waterproof feathers. We must be well equipped with the oil of love that when the rain of faultfinding and criticism comes, it just runs off. The more our attitude is like this, the less we will hear the harsh, critical words.

On the other hand, the more the enemy finds that our ears are open to hearing criticism—whether either of those who are helping or those being helped—the more our ears are open to listening to criticisms and pious suggestions, and even references against someone who ought to do something differently, the more you will hear it.

We must learn to have confidence in Jesus and in our brethren. Confidence can be broken, I know. Someone could say, “Brother Frazee, you might get fooled.” In fact, it has happened a time or two during my life. But I would rather be fooled while believing my brethren love me than to miss a blessing by being suspicious of someone who does really love me.

“We are not to have our hearts and hands weakened by allowing the suggestions of suspicious minds to plant in our hearts the seeds of doubt and distrust. ‘Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.’ Hebrews 3:12.” Ibid.

To Sum Up.

Where do we build? On the Rock. Not on something, but on Someone. We build our spiritual foundation on the solid Rock, Jesus Christ. When we face the coming storms of the future, strife, the floods of wrath and violence, we can with confidence stand strong because we did not build on a shifting foundation, but He who is the rock of love, having faith in God and in His church, having confidence in one another.

People will still make mistakes; they will disappoint and betray, criticize and find fault, but if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, He will give us confidence that He—the same One who took those 12 imperfect men and finally brought them through to the place where they could receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit—will do the same for us today.

I want to be a part of that, don’t you?

Pastor W. D. Frazee was a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist, minister, and author. In 1942, he began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for establishing the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute, now Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital. In 1996, he was laid to rest, awaiting the Lord’s return.

Is Sin Inherited?

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It is very important for us to understand what Christ was so we know what we are to become.

There was war.

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael [Hebrew meaning “One who is like God”] and His angels fought with the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7–9

War broke out in heaven and its peaceful atmosphere was completely shattered. Every single angel in heaven was on one side or the other in this war. But we see that Satan and his angels were unable to prevail and were forced out of heaven, cast out, banished to this world.

Before the war, heaven’s angels had lived happy and harmoniously with each other for millennia, but Satan had sewn doubt among the angelic host. Every war begins with some type of disagreement or argument between the parties involved. The war in heaven was caused by a disagreement. How could this happen? It is very important for us to know what the argument was about because it still exists in the world today, and each one of us must decide on whose side of the disagreement we are.

God had a problem.

“It was difficult to uproot Satan from the affection of the angels in heaven.” Christ Triumphant, 216

The Father could have stopped Lucifer immediately. Instead, He permitted him to continue his work of disaffection until it erupted in active revolt, and the true nature of his plans could be seen by all (The Faith I Live By, 70). God gave all the angels a choice. Believe the lies of Lucifer and join in his rebellion against God or trust and obey the Creator and remain loyal to His Son, Michael. Neutrality was not an option, neither then, nor now.

“He [Lucifer] took the position that the law of God was against the heavenly intelligences, and the warfare and controversy between Christ and Satan was started in heaven and is going on in the earth to the present day.” Ibid.

Satan’s assertion was that the law of God is too restrictive. He first insinuated that the angels, though created beings, were pure and strong enough to make their own decisions about right and wrong. The law was not needed for them. The great majority of people in the world today, even professed Christians, claim this as a right. They will say, “I have a right to choose what I will believe and do.” It is easy to see that they are opposed to one or more of the principles of God’s law.

Today, people everywhere, Christians, too, are breaking the seventh commandment, especially the young people. It is difficult to find someone who honors and cares for their parents as we are instructed in the fifth commandment. There are church-going people who believe that one day during the week is good enough to worship God, thereby breaking the fourth commandment. The devil says that the law of God is against us, that it is burdensome and unnecessary.

The devil was not alone.

“It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” Psalm 119:126, 127

Not only was the devil cast out of heaven. The angels who sympathized with him were cast out, too.

Sympathy is a good emotion. The Bible says to treat people the way you would want them to treat you (Matthew 7:12) and to esteem others better than yourself (Philippians 2:3). Sympathy causes us to reach out when someone is in pain, or when we observe the helplessness of a person in need, leading us to provide aid. But it can also be a very dangerous thing. When we sympathize with sin, we are on the devil’s side of the great controversy. God has no sympathy for sin of any kind nor for those who side with the devil. Christ said the law of God is honorable, and you need to keep it. But too many refuse to do God’s will, and thereby, are sympathizing with the devil.

“Angels of great power were expelled from heaven because of the spirit of self-exaltation. They felt that they should be above Christ.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 76

This will become more clear at the end of the millennium when all the wicked are raised. They have said that if you believe in Christ, you don’t need to keep the law. But the Christian world in this generation will see that they were wrong. They will see something they didn’t expect: Christ sitting on a throne, not as our Saviour, but as our Judge. In His hands He holds two tables of stone. It is then that they realize you cannot belong to Christ and break the law.

When Satan was cast out to this earth, he decided to take revenge on God by capturing this world and establishing his kingdom here. But the devil had a problem because he didn’t own this world. This world wasn’t his; it had been given to someone else. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ ” Genesis 1:26–28. God gave the entire world to Adam and Eve, including dominion over every living thing. The only way the devil could set up his kingdom in this world was to wrest it from its rightful owners.

A master strategist.

So, the devil set about developing a strategy to overcome Adam and Eve. He would persuade them to give their allegiance to him instead of to the God of heaven. He started by telling a series of lies and using trickery. Once the devil obtained control over Adam and Eve, it was a simple matter of continued deception and the world became his by deception.

However, if you obtain something, anything, by deception, is it really yours? Absolutely not. You stole it. “By whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19, last part. Adam and Eve were brought into bondage. By choosing to believe Satan, they were no longer free.

God designed that Adam and Eve would have children. Their character was perfect; they were sinless, and their children would be perfect and sinless. The children of Adam and Eve were to go out from the garden of Eden and establish other gardens of Eden all over the world; but the devil kept that from happening. It looked like for a long time that he would succeed, but there was only one Person in the whole universe that could actually solve this problem, redeem the human race, and give them back their freedom.

You can be free

God wants you to be free, but human beings are in bondage to sin. However, the plan of salvation was devised to set you free from that bondage. No sinner can have eternal life unless he has been set free from the guilt and power of sin; only then will he receive the gift of eternal life.

The angels who were cast out of heaven with Lucifer wanted to exalt themselves above Christ. They didn’t need to follow the law. They were created perfect, and therefore, they could determine right from wrong on their own. This was Lucifer’s argument in heaven, and it has been the same argument for over 6,000 years. Sin came in through the desire for self-exaltation

The plan of salvation was established by Jesus. It said that Christ would humiliate Himself by coming to this world as a man, and fighting the devil as we must fight him. Christ would prove that mankind can keep the law of God in spite of the devil’s temptations.

But that’s not what Satan wanted.

Lucifer had become jealous of Christ. He wanted, first, to be equal with Him, but soon he wanted to be like God, until he settled on being God. He would make heaven a place of freedom, where all could choose to live as they deemed right. After all, they were perfect, and they would make perfect choices; therefore, the law of God was not necessary for them, and neither was His government.

How does one change a government? By changing its laws. And what do we know about God’s law? It is the transcript of His character, embodying the principles of His kingdom (God’s Amazing Grace, 141). To abolish the law of God and His government, would mean God would have to change, and we know that He does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Satan does not have the power to change God, His law, or His government.

“Satan wished to change the government of God.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 180

“Satan wished to change the government of God, to fix his own seal to the rules of God’s kingdom. … Working in secrecy but known to God, Lucifer became a deceiving character.

“He was expelled from heaven … .” Ibid.

Falsehood for truth, deceit, through these and many other tools of his trade, Satan created his kingdom on this Earth. He whose deceiving power was so great that he persuaded one-third of the angels in heaven to unite with him against God and Jesus Christ, their Creator, has found mortal man to be easy subjects.

His claims would be false.

“He knew that all his claims to the kingdoms of the world were false and could not be sustained unless he should overcome Christ.

“It is impossible to take in the depth and the force of these temptations. …

“Christ’s perfect humanity is the same that man may have through connection with Christ.” Ibid., 181

Alone, man does not have perfect humanity, but he may have it through connection with Christ. “As Christ humbled Himself to the nature of man, He could be tempted. He had not taken on Him even the nature of the angels, but humanity, perfectly identical with our own nature, except without the taint of sin.” Ibid., 182

His nature was perfectly identical to ours except without the taint of sin. If you cannot understand anything else about Christ’s human nature, you must understand this, it was “without the taint of sin.”

“A human body, a human mind, with all the peculiar properties, He was bone, brain, and muscle. A man of our flesh, He was compassed with the weakness of humanity. The circumstances of His life were of that character that He was exposed to all the inconveniences that belong to men, not in wealth, not in ease, but in poverty and want and humiliation. He breathed the very air man must breathe. He trod our earth as man. He had reason, conscience, memory, will, and affections of the human soul which was united with His divine nature.

“He was capable of yielding to temptations, as are human beings. His finite nature was pure and spotless, but the divine nature that led Him to say to Philip, ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father’ also, was not humanized; neither was humanity deified by the blending or union of the two natures; each retained its essential character and properties.

“But here we must not become in our ideas common and earthly and in our perverted ideas we must not think that the liability of Christ to yield to Satan’s temptations degraded His humanity and He possessed the same sinful, corrupt propensities as man.” Ibid.

We must not think that He possessed the same sinful propensities that human beings have. He had our weaknesses but not our guilt, not the taint of sin.

“The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan’s temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God.” Ibid., 182, 183

To have an eternal kingdom of his own, Satan knew he must overcome Christ. He felt this could be accomplished when Christ came to Earth as a man. After all, man is so easily deceived. And we read in 2 Peter 2, that when man was overcome, he was in bondage to the one who overcame him. The entire human race was brought into bondage to Satan—Adam and all of his posterity. Now he must overcome Christ.

God had a plan.

”God made every provision in man’s behalf, creating him only a little lower than the angels. Adam disobeyed, and entailed sin upon his posterity; but God gave His Son for the redemption of the race.” Ibid., Vol. 6, 3. The word entail means “something transmitted as if by unalterable inheritance.”

The angels understood this from the beginning. They were sorrowful because they understood that all the descendants of Adam and Eve would not only have to die, but, they would never wake up, for the price of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The Bible also says that when a person dies the body returns to dust and the spirit goes back to God who gave it. When a person dies in this world, they don’t go to a physical heaven or hell. They rest in the grave until everyone is resurrected—good and bad—just not at the same time.

If you are good, you will be resurrected when Christ comes. If you are bad, you will be part of the resurrection of the damned. The good will be changed from mortal to immorality and will go with Jesus to His home, a physical heaven. This is called the first death. But the bad, will not be resurrected until the end of the millennium, and ultimately will perish in the lake of fire. Not an ever-burning hell, but a fire so hot that it will not only burn up every man, woman, and child until there is nothing left but ash, but it will also destroy sin, root and branch. Sin and sinners will be gone forever. God sent His Son to this world so that we would never have to face eternal death, if we would only believe in Him.

We are born into this world as sinners with an evil nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23), and it is this nature that must be changed if we are to be with Jesus in the kingdom of heaven.

“It is at an immense cost that we have been placed on the high vantage ground where we can be liberated from the bondage of sin, which has been wrought by the fall of Adam.” Christ Triumphant, 215

An immense cost! The life of Jesus Christ so that I can be liberated from the bondage of sin.

“He [Christ] made the infinite sacrifice not only that sin might be removed, but that human nature might be restored, re-beautified, reconstructed from its ruins, and made fit for the presence of God.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 11

The Lord wants to reconstruct our nature back to His own image, like we were meant to be from the beginning. Have you been liberated? Do you want to go to the kingdom of heaven? Then this transformation must happen. And here is the really good news, it can happen to every person.

“It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to possess Christ’s nature, a nature far above that which Adam forfeited by transgression.” The Upward Look, 18

Christianity is a process.

Jesus accepts us the way we are, but He does not leave us that way. It is His supreme desire to change us, to make us completely over like Himself, and He can do it. No one can say they are too bad to be changed. If we yield ourselves to Him, obey and follow Him, He will change us and restore our nature into His own image.

“Let us realize the weakness of humanity, and see where man fails in his self-sufficiency. We shall then be filled with a desire to be just what God desires us to be—pure, noble, sanctified. We shall hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ. To be like God will be the one desire of the soul.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1087

“Salvation is a gift offered to you free; on no other condition can you obtain it, only as a free gift. But cooperation on your part is essential for your salvation. …

“There must be a cooperation of the human with the divine. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord; but Jesus is ready to receive you now; and if you will only believe that He is your Saviour, that He died to redeem you, He will be found of you as the most precious friend.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 19

If we could have paid the price of salvation ourselves, Christ would not have had to die. But we could not pay the price in the first place, so He came and paid it for us, making salvation free to all who would accept it.

Do you want your sinful nature to be changed? The Lord has promised to change every member of mankind if they will but accept His salvation and surrender themselves—heart, body, and soul—to Him. How much does God want to change us? Look to the cross and Christ’s life on this earth. Christ is the Pattern Man. Though we cannot change ourselves, we must never say that it is impossible for us to be changed. Every necessity needed for this transformation to occur is promised and provided, according to God’s promise if we will believe (Philippians 1:6, 7).

They were ready.

When sin entered the world, the Godhead was ready to meet the crisis. Christ assembled the two-thirds of the angels who remained faithful to Him, and they went to war, casting Lucifer and his angels out of heaven. Then He explained the plan of salvation to the remaining heavenly host.

“When Christ first announced to the heavenly host His mission and work in the world, He declared that He was to leave His position of dignity and disguise His holy mission by assuming the likeness of a man, when in reality He was the Son of the infinite God.” Christ Triumphant, 227

Sadly, however, when the Son of the Infinite God, came to His chosen people, all they saw was His humanity. They did not recognize the divinity of Christ. Their Messiah had come, but they did not know Him; and it is still so today. They could have, should have, known Him, but they did not see, and though they found no fault with His humanity, they killed Him because they could not accept that God, in the person of His Son, had come to be sacrificed to save them from certain death.

“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who 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.” 2 Peter 1:3, 4

God wants us to become partakers of His divine nature.

“The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God’s power to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have.

“The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, could only keep the commandments of God, in the same way that humanity can keep them. ‘Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.’ 2 Peter 1:4.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 341, 342

Jesus is all powerful. He is a conqueror with the ability to subdue and overcome every evil trait of character we possess, completely transforming it to be like His character. This is true Christianity, the miracle of our religion. We do not have to stay the way we are. We can be set free from the bondage of sin, our natural condition, and be made a partaker of the divine nature; no longer reflecting the image of the devil, but now reflecting the image of Jesus Christ.

Do you want that miracle to take place in your life? Do you want it badly enough to cooperate with the Holy Spirit? That is the only way to have eternal life. At the end of this world, every single person will have to make this choice.

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

Are Opiates Affecting Your Walk on the Narrow Way?

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“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:17–24

Opiates have been in the news quite a bit in the last few years. The first dictionary definition of the word is “a drug derived from opium that induces sedation or sleep, depresses respiration, and produces calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance, physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use.” A second definition is “something likened to a drug that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness.” Synonyms for the effect of opiates include tranquilizing, deadening, stupefying.

However, opiate is used in inspired writings in an unusual and completely different way.

Let’s begin with a passage from Inspiration. “ ‘Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’ Once they [the Ephesians] were corrupt, degraded, enslaved by lustful passions; they were drugged by worldly opiates, blinded, bewildered, and betrayed by Satan’s devices. Now that they had been taught the truth as it is in Jesus, there must be a decided change in their life and character.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 172

What are worldly opiates? If being drugged by them, it seems critical that we know what they are to avoid being in the condition that Paul attributes to the Ephesians.

We have already defined an opiate as a drug that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness. So, we ask, What is it in the world that has that effect on us? What is it that induces inaction or quiets uneasiness?

There is one easy answer: anything that takes our minds off eternal realities. This would include such things as television, movies, fictional literature, amusements and amusement parks, the internet, social media in all its forms. When you stop to think about it, the list is really long. Satan has mastered the art of creating diversions that take the mind into territories that prevent his subjects from being ever mindful of eternal realities.

According to worldly sources, which often speak more truth than they realize, opiates induce rest. Inspiration confirms that.

“If the watchmen sleep under an opiate of Satan’s and do not recognize the voice of the true Shepherd, and do not take up the warning, I tell you in the fear of God, they will be charged with the blood of souls. The watchmen must be wide awake, men who will not slumber at their post of duty, day nor night. They must give the trumpet a certain sound, that the people may shun the evil and choose the good. Stupidity and careless indifference cannot be excused. On every side of us there are breakers and hidden rocks which will dash our bark in pieces, and leave us helpless wrecks, unless we make God our refuge and help.” The Review and Herald, December 24, 1889

Clearly, the effects of opiates can have eternal consequences.

“Those who neglect to search the Scriptures, choosing rather to read books of skeptical writers, or of writers who are frivolous or worldly, will be tempted to neglect prayer, to withdraw from religious meetings, to invest money in cheap literature, and will so educate themselves that all taste for the sacred oracles will be erased from the mind. Thus, will they be led to refuse to hear, to refuse to incline the heart to seek God while He may be found, to call upon Him while He is near, while He is still sending messages of reproof, warning, and entreaty.

“They say to all the tender entreaties of God’s Spirit, ‘Not now; I will go into another city, and buy and sell and get gain; and after that I will begin a new life.’ O do not be deceived by this suggestion of the enemy to wait, and that after a time you will repent. The longer you put it off, the less will be your inclination to turn to God and obey the invitations of mercy. The most discouraging development in your case is the very fact that you say, ‘Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.’ This is an evidence that conscience has become aroused, and then put to sleep again with an opiate. But think of this: conscience may never wake again! While God grants you life, while you are sure of probation, embrace your day of opportunity and privilege.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 7, 1893

It is a common practice, following surgery, to prescribe opiates as part of pain management. What I have discovered is that the drugs don’t necessarily alleviate the pain; they just induce a euphoria that overrides the painfulness of pain. The mind becomes beclouded to the pain. He is still in pain, but just doesn’t care. And that is the objective of Satan’s opiates.

“The enemies of truth are working with all their unconsecrated powers to hinder the advance of the message. The churches of the world are being drugged with the opiates of error. The great deceiver is making determined efforts to becloud the understanding of the people.” Spalding and Magan, 436

What are some of the opiates of error that Satan is drugging his victims with?

One of the most common, I think, is the power of the clergy. How many times do we hear from those we are witnessing to, “My pastor says … ,” or “My priest says … .”

It seems that for many people, it is easier to ask supposed ecclesiastical experts than it is to investigate for themselves. We often encounter this reaction after explaining the seventh-day Sabbath to an associate. They will come back after a day or two stating they asked their pastor and he explained that they observe Sunday as the Sabbath in honor of Christ’s resurrection, thus receiving the opiate needed to quiet their uneasiness.

Closely related to that is the power of loved ones. How many do we know who are bound by their spouses, parents, sons, or daughters, and fail to do what they know to be right, just to maintain peace in the family while their hearts are at war with the truth?

Another opiate of error is tradition. We all know how Christ addressed teaching for doctrine the tradition of men.

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’—then he need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” ’ ” Matthew 15:1–9

Another opiate of error is inertia. It might be difficult to understand inertia as an opiate, but in the broadest definition of an opiate as something that induces inaction, inertia certainly qualifies. Inertia is defined as a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. It is often far easier to continue doing what you always have done than it is to initiate a change in behavior. I’m sure we all have experienced this at some point in our lives.

I was raised a Sundaykeeper and for 50 years, observed Sunday as the Sabbath. Thankfully, the Lord opened my eyes to the error of my ways, but I still occasionally slip and call the Sabbath Sunday, or use the term “Sunday school.” They say “Old habits die hard,” and the truth of that leads me to a fifth opiate of error.

My seventh grade English teacher once wrote the word “HABIT” on the blackboard in all capital letters. She erased the H, explaining that after working hard to overcome a bad habit, we still had “A-BIT.” Working harder, we still had “BIT.” Working even harder we still had “IT.”

There is a passage in Inspiration that we’ve all read or heard more than once acknowledging the effects of failing to overcome our wrong habits.

“There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self that Christ may live in them. [Clearly, living for self is a wrong habit!] Therefore they do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the cross and follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly saved means to be not almost but wholly lost.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 118

We see from this passage that Inspiration recognizes wrong habits and worldly attractions as opiates—tranquilizing, deadening, stupefying “drugs”—that, if we do not break free, will prevent us from entering the kingdom of heaven.

“Who will turn away from every worldly attraction, from earthly enterprises that promise great gain and selfish gratification, and count all things but loss if he may win Christ? Winning Christ, we win everything. Jesus says He will be in us ‘a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’

“ … ‘Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.’ There is a necessity for a decided choice; for Jesus said, ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’ ‘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.’

“He who is mighty in counsel speaks to you; will you hear His voice, will you obey His words? Jesus says, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ He invites you to step upon new and higher ground than that which you have occupied in the past. If your heart is filled with love to Christ, it will be demonstrated that He is stronger than the passions which have ruled you, whose indulgence have undermined noble impulses, and left the soul to the mercy of Satan’s temptations.

“ ‘Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price.’ The world is under the most solemn obligation to render to the Lord Jesus His purchased possession,—soul, body, and spirit. But because the people of the world ignore their responsibility to God, and refuse to accept the great gift of salvation, they are not excused from their obligation to be faithful servants of Christ. In serving their own lust, they make it manifest that they are not subject to the rule of Christ, but day by day are robbing God of that which is His due. They refuse to be the children of Christ, and choose rather to be the slaves of Satan. In astonishment at their blindness, we reiterate the words of the apostle, ‘Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?’

“Christ invites the sinner to come to Him. With what loving entreaties He follows the sinner! When the heart of the sinner is touched, he yields his will to God’s will, and selfish inclination is no longer the controlling power; for the slavery of Satan is broken, and the soul brought into subjection to Christ. Impressed with the sense of the Saviour’s long-suffering, forbearance, compassion, and measureless love, the repenting soul is deeply conscious of his own unworthiness and guilt. He yields his will to the will of God, and longs to reveal his loyalty to Christ, watching for opportunities to speak forth His goodness and love. He sees in Jesus matchless charms, and his heart is captivated. He has tasted of the love of Christ, and the gratitude of his heart is expressed in speaking to those who do not know the goodness of the Lord. He becomes a partaker of the divine nature.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 27, 1892

May the Lord give us reason, grace, and moral strength to overcome the effect these opiates have on our spiritual journey and that Satan uses so effectively to thwart us in our efforts to walk the narrow way successfully.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

Policy versus Principle

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“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.”
John 11:49–52

Many different factors influence our actions. In psychology, there is a concept known as Maslow’s Hierarchy, which was the result of an attempt to categories these influences. Abraham Maslow proposed what is now called “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” in the early 1940s, asserting that human motivation stems from a hierarchy of five fundamental categories: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization.

In effect, our actions are motivated by the five fundamental categories in this hierarchy. Once the basic physiological needs of air, food, and water are satisfied—which in the lives of most of us are easily met—we move on to the next step in the hierarchy: the need for safety, such as personal security, employment, health, and property. Then comes love and belonging. Once those needs are met, we move on to concerns such as self-esteem, status, respect, and freedom. At the top of the hierarchy is self-actualization—the desire to reach one’s fullest potential.

Note that in this pyramid of basic human needs, Maslow does not mention developing a Christ-like character based on biblical principles. While intellectually this proposal may seem logical in worldly terms, it is seriously lacking in spiritual terms. Thus, this, like a lot of psychological theories, is a contrived invention of the corrupt human mind and not the result of the promptings of an all-wise Creator.

While psychology suggests that our life decisions are based on meeting our basic physical and mental needs, the Bible and inspired writings tell us that life decisions should be based on the principles clearly laid out in God’s word—the books of Proverbs and Psalms being excellent sources, in addition to the revelation of events in the lives of the patriarchs of God’s children, beginning with Adam himself and continuing through the record of Paul’s work given us in his epistles and larger works.

Augmenting the biblical record is the vast body of work of Ellen G. White. A study of these two sources would not only produce a well-rounded Christian character, but would also ensure a safe passage across the Jordan into the kingdom of eternal bliss and happiness.

Ultimately, what this comes down to today is whether we base our decisions on divine principles or worldly policy. Inspiration has much to say about both principle and policy.

Policy can be defined as a set of ideas or a plan of action for particular situations that has been agreed upon by a group of people. Thus, in one sense, Maslow’s Hierarchy is a policy for the conduct of daily life. However, it is completely lacking in Christian principles.

“The natural mind leans toward pleasure and self-gratification. It is Satan’s policy to manufacture an abundance of this.” The Adventist Home, 521. “This” means pleasure and self-gratification—the top element in Maslow’s hierarchy, which might be considered an attempt by Satan to counterfeit Peter’s ladder.

Inspiration provides an interesting example that illustrates a decision based on principle versus policy.

“In the joy of his new discipleship, Matthew longed to bring his former associates to Jesus. Accordingly, he made a feast at his own house, and called together his relatives and friends. …

“The entertainment was given in honor of Jesus, and He did not hesitate to accept the courtesy. He well knew that this would give offense to the Pharisaic party, and would also compromise Him in the eyes of the people. But no question of policy could influence His movements. With Him external distinctions weighed nothing. That which appealed to His heart was a soul thirsting for the water of life.” The Desire of Ages, 273, 274

In other words, Christ’s decision to attend the feast at Matthew’s home was based entirely on principle and not on policy.

Inspiration often uses the word policy, whereas we would use the word politics. Thus, when reading Inspiration and encountering the word policy, it is usually helpful to mentally substitute it with politics. Although that substitution doesn’t always work to clarify the passage, it often does. Like many words, the complete understanding depends on the context.

Back to our subject of policy versus principle in contrast with the high principles that influenced Christ’s life. We have this statement concerning the basis for the actions of the Jewish leaders in their deliberations about Jesus’ attendance at Matthew’s feast:

“When the rabbis learned of the presence of Jesus at Matthew’s feast, they seized the opportunity of accusing Him. But they chose to work through the disciples. By arousing their prejudices, they hoped to alienate them from their Master. It was their policy [their plan about what to do in this particular situation] to accuse Christ to the disciples, and the disciples to Christ, aiming their arrows where they would be most likely to wound. This is the way in which Satan has worked ever since the disaffection in heaven; and all who try to cause discord and alienation are actuated by his spirit.” Ibid., 275

The distinction between actions guided by policy versus principle is clearly expressed in Inspiration.

“Worldly policy and the undeviating principles of righteousness do not blend into each other imperceptibly, like the colors of the rainbow. Between the two, a broad, clear line is drawn by the eternal God. The likeness of Christ stands out as distinct from that of Satan as midday in contrast with midnight. And only those who live the life of Christ are His co-workers. If one sin is cherished in the soul, or one wrong practice is retained in the life, the whole being is contaminated. The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness.” Ibid., 313

That’s a pretty scary thought. If our actions are based on worldly policy rather than on the undeviating principles of righteousness, we become instruments of unrighteousness.

The value of basing our decisions on principles versus policies depends on the principles we use as the basis for our decisions.

In determining the fate of Christ, the Jewish leaders based their decision on principle, just not the right one.

“In declaring that one man should die for the nation, Caiaphas indicated that he had some knowledge of the prophecies, although it was very limited. But John, in his account of this scene [this scene in which the Jewish leaders are plotting the death of Christ], takes up the prophecy, and shows its broad and deep significance. He says, ‘And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.’ How blindly did the haughty Caiaphas acknowledge the Saviour’s mission!

“On the lips of Caiaphas this most precious truth [that one man should die for the nation] was turned into a lie. The policy he advocated was based on a principle borrowed from heathenism. Among the heathen, the dim consciousness that one was to die for the human race had led to the offering of human sacrifices. So Caiaphas proposed by the sacrifice of Jesus to save the guilty nation, not from transgression, but in transgression, that they might continue in sin. And by his reasoning he thought to silence the remonstrances of those who might dare to say that as yet nothing worthy of death had been found in Jesus.” Ibid., 540

Thus, we have seen that the foundation on which we base life’s decisions should not be policy or politics but rather principles. And even then, the principles we use have to be the right ones.

May the Holy Spirit give us the guidance we need to make decisions based on righteous principles, decisions that will be approved in the courts of heaven.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

Sowing and Reaping

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Earlier this year, I determined to study the concept of sowing and reaping. Perhaps I thought of it while setting out my tomato plants and anticipating a harvest of homegrown deliciousness. Or, it could also have been when Pastor John mentioned the concept in one of his sermons. But as I studied, I came across this definitive statement from Inspiration:

“The Lord has made it a part of His plan that man’s reaping shall be according to his sowing.” Healthful Living, 25

The Plan

The “plan” referred to in this quote is the plan of salvation, which adds weighty importance to the significance of being acutely aware of what we sow, for clearly, our eternal destiny depends on it.

Regardless of the cause that provoked this study, I began with Galatians 6:7, 8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

An Important Concept

Early in my study, I realized that this is a fairly common concept mentioned many times in Scripture.

Reaping what we sow was an important concept for the Apostle Paul. Not only did he write about it in his letters to the Galatians and the Colossians, but he also mentioned it in his second letter to the Corinthians:

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

“But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:25

The obvious corollary to that is that he who does right will also be repaid accordingly. We are left to determine for ourselves which kind of repayment we will receive based on the type of actions we commit and the kind of seed we sow.

Once again, we see that it is up to us to determine what kind of crop we will have.

Job

Moses also alluded to this concept when he recorded Job’s experience.

We generally recognize Job’s three friends as “miserable comforters.” However, the dubious counsel they gave Job occasionally contained a gem of truth. In one of Eliphaz’s diatribes, he stated, “Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” Job 4:8

Even though it is clear from the context that Eliphaz meant this as an indictment of Job’s character, implying that Job’s troubles were the result of his supposed iniquitous behavior, if we remove it from the context, it remains a gem of truth. Although Eliphaz neglected to state it, the opposite is also true—those who till the soil with righteousness will receive a righteous reward.

Inspiration has much to say about this concept as well, revealing that there are many different aspects to sowing and reaping.

By Beholding

“You see that your brethren do not come up to the Bible standard, that there are defects in them, and you dwell upon these defects. You feed upon them instead of feeding upon Christ … .” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 334

If we continually and consistently dwell upon the faults of others, it is a universal law that those faults will become ingrained in our characters. But if we look ever to Jesus, the faults of others will fade as we will see more clearly our own faults and realize the necessity of change. “[For] by beholding we become changed. Let us look to Jesus and consider the loveliness of His character, and by beholding, we shall become changed into the same likeness.” Our High Calling, 334

There is a saying that you are what you eat. That is a statement of an obvious truth—in more ways than one. But it is also true that your character will be molded by whatever it is that you allow to occupy the avenues of the soul—your senses.

A More Detailed Example

“The soul does not become more and more like Christ by beholding evil, but like the evil which it beholds. The same love of self, the same indulgence of self, the same hastiness of Spirit, the same petulance of temper, the same sensitiveness and pride of opinion, the same unwillingness to receive counsel, the same unsanctified, independent judgment, will be manifest in those who criticize as in those who are criticized. They will act as if they had not Christ as their pattern and example.” The Review and Herald, August 15, 1893

“Those who feel it their prerogative to criticize their fellow men are doing the work of the enemy. The Lord has set none to correct the supposed errors of others; for by beholding these imperfections they themselves become harsh and self-centered. They compare themselves with themselves, and measure themselves among themselves. There are jealous and sensitive souls who foster their pride until, like an inflamed wound, it cannot bear the slightest touch. They fancy that they have been slighted, when no slight exists, until they create in themselves the very evils they imagine in others.” Ibid., November 21, 1899

So, You Reap What You Sow

In our original text from Galatians, Paul wrote, “He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” The obvious question to ask from this statement is, What does it mean to sow to the flesh?

“Every seed sown produces a harvest of its kind. So it is in human life. We all need to sow the seeds of compassion, sympathy, and love; for we shall reap what we sow. Every characteristic of selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, every act of self-indulgence, will bring forth a like harvest. He who lives for self is sowing to the flesh, and of the flesh he will reap corruption.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 84

So, what we plant and cultivate in our hearts is what will grow and become our characters.

The following passage contrasts sowing to the flesh with sowing for a harvest of good.

“Fellow laborers, we are each sowing seed in the fields of life. As is the seed, so will be the harvest. If we sow distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love, bitterness of thought and feeling, we shall reap bitterness to our own souls. If we manifest kindness, love, tender thought for the feelings of others, we shall receive the same in return.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 30

The Harvest Sown in this World is Carried into the Next

“Those who have sought for the development and perfection of Christian character by exercising their faculties in good works will, in the world to come, reap that which they have sown. The work begun upon earth will reach its consummation in that higher and holier life to endure throughout eternity.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 83

What we need is to be educated in the perfecting of Christian character. Mrs. White gives us counsel that is useful in this education—counsel, as you might expect, that deals with the universal concept that the nature and quality of the harvest is the result of the earlier sowing.

“By the laws of God in nature, effect follows cause with unvarying certainty. The reaping testifies to the sowing. Here, no pretense is tolerated. Men may deceive their fellow men and may receive praise and compensation for service which they have not rendered. But in nature, there can be no deception. On the unfaithful husbandman the harvest passes sentence of condemnation. And in the highest sense, this is true also in the spiritual realm. It is in appearance, not in reality, that evil succeeds. The child who plays truant from school, the youth who is slothful in his studies, the clerk or apprentice who fails of serving the interests of his employer, the man in any business or profession who is untrue to his highest responsibilities, may flatter himself that, so long as the wrong is concealed, he is gaining an advantage. But not so; he is cheating himself. The harvest of life is character, and it is this that determines destiny, both for this life and for the life to come.

“The harvest is a reproduction of the seed sown. Every seed yields fruit after its kind. So it is with the traits of character we cherish. Selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, self-indulgence, reproduce themselves, and the end is wretchedness and ruin. ‘He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:8. Love, sympathy, and kindness yield fruitage of blessing, a harvest that is imperishable.” Education, 108, 109

A Different Aspect of the Same Concept

“Every day, we are sowing some kind of seed. If we sow the seeds of unbelief, we shall reap unbelief; if we sow pride, we shall reap pride; if we sow stubbornness, we shall reap stubbornness, ‘for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ ” Lift Him Up, 266

The following passage, published over a century ago, provides an accurate description of this concept as it is applied to society today.

“The widespread iniquity prevalent today may in a great degree be attributed to a failure to study and obey the Scriptures, for when the word of God is set aside, its power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected. Men sow to the flesh, and of the flesh reap corruption.” Prophets and Kings, 624

Our Free Will

It is in the exercise of our free will that we sow. Whether we sow rebellion or obedience determines the nature of the crop.

“Lucifer took the position that as a result of the law of God, wrong existed in heaven and on this earth. This brought against God’s government the charge of being arbitrary. But this is a falsehood framed by the author of all falsehoods. God’s government is a government of free will, and there is no act of rebellion or obedience which is not an act of free will.” The Signs of the Times, June 5, 1901

By transgressing God’s law, regardless of the method or manner, we are sowing seeds that will yield a failed crop—one destined by universal law to be only discord, anarchy, and ruin.

Remember, part of the Lord’s plan is that man will reap according to how he has sown.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

The Sanctified Home

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If we are ready when Jesus comes, He will take us with Him to heaven. Though we know very little about the social and family arrangements in heaven, we do know that angels are social beings, and Jesus has said that we would be like them. The important thing, however, is to understand that how we live here—as families, spouses, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and brothers and sisters in Christ—will determine whether or not we will be there. What we do know is that heaven, and ultimately the new earth, will be populated with a diverse congregation of people, all united by their love for God.

Happiness is where the heart is.

Many people feel that their home is where they will find happiness, and I hope that is true. But there is a more profound reason behind why God instituted the home and families, and Mrs. White gives us that reason when she wrote that our homes should be “a little heaven to go to heaven in.” (The Review and Herald, April 21, 1891). God established homes on earth as the practical classroom in which we are prepared to live as the saints will live in heaven. And if everyone in our home is living in this way, then our earthly home will exude the atmosphere of heaven. Therefore, learning how to have a sanctified home here would be a study of great importance.

To begin our study, let’s ask ourselves this question, “If Jesus were to come right now, would we feel perfectly at ease in heaven?” If the way we speak and interact with those in our family here would cause us to answer “no” to this question, then we have some work to do to be ready for heaven. Now is the time when we must individually work to develop a Christlike life and character (Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 206, 207; The Upward Look, 374). Our earthly home is where we can practice living as Christ did in His earthly life.

Mrs. White said that “it was heaven to be in Jesus’ presence” (The Ministry of Healing, 18). Most people think that heaven is a place with golden streets, pearly gates, and mansions, and that is all true. But heaven is heaven because Jesus is there. So, if we allow Him to dwell in our hearts and transform our lives, then we will have heaven within us every day.

Some homes are long-standing battlefields. Parents and children alike fight with one another, sometimes physically bruising and breaking the body, and sometimes with words that wither the spirit and cause lifelong desolation to the heart. God will not allow anyone who chooses to retain their selfish nature to be in heaven.

And so, it began.

When Lucifer rebelled against God and His government, war raged in heaven (Revelation 12:7–9). Christ and His angels fought against the devil and his angels until they were cast out of heaven. Thus began the great controversy—the war for the souls of humanity—between Christ and Satan. This isn’t just a story in the Bible; you can see it happening throughout the world. But worst of all, this war is being waged in our hearts and homes every day. Jesus seeks to make every home a little piece of heaven on earth, thereby saving every member of every family. Satan seeks to destroy everyone and everything.

Heaven, no matter where it is.

“No unpleasant words are spoken in heaven. There, no unkind thoughts are cherished. There envy, evil surmising, hatred, and strife find no place. Perfect harmony pervades the heavenly courts.” The Upward Look, 163

What a beautiful description of our earthly homes if only we would surrender our hearts to be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

“What a precious privilege is this—that we may be sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ! What love, what matchless love, that, sinners and aliens as we are, we may be brought back to God and adopted into his family! …

“To everyone who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the law of heaven. …

“God requires of us perfect obedience. We are to purify ourselves, even as He is pure. By keeping His commandments, we are to reveal our love for the Supreme Ruler of the universe.” The Review and Herald, September 27, 1906

Me, me, me, I, I, I.

Strife comes when we say, “I want to do things my way. I want what I want.” This attitude is born from selfishness, which is the foundation of our naturally sinful self. In a home where family members all express selfishness and the desire to have things just as they want them, strife is the sure result because everyone sees themselves as the most important. If we want our homes to be like heaven, there can be no strife, for there is no strife in heaven.

When I fully surrender myself, the Holy Spirit can then do His work of transformation, and my selfish nature no longer holds the governing place in my life. Instead, my selfish nature has been transformed to respond to the government of God—one of love that loves God supremely and esteems others above myself.

Yes, he knows.

We live in a world cursed by sin and filled with strife and troubles of every kind. For millennia, mankind has dreamed and longed for heaven. He sings of its beauties and marvels, he reads Mrs. White’s description of what she saw when taken there in vision, and we plead in prayer that we might soon be there, yet it remains beyond our reach.

“He [Satan] knew that the value of heaven far exceeded the anticipation and appreciation of fallen man. The most costly treasures of the world, he knew, would not compare with its worth. …

“He had knowledge of the inestimable value of eternal riches that man had not. …

Satan knew what he had lost.” Confrontation, 30

Yes, Satan knows exactly how wonderful heaven is. And he is determined that you and I won’t have the opportunity to understand how wonderful it is nor how to get there. He fills the world with excitement, glamor, glitter, addiction, troubles, hardships, and selfishness. Our eyes are blinded to the beauty of heaven by the bright and shiny things around us. Our ears cannot hear heavenly voices for the continual cacophony of sounds heard throughout the world. He sends temptations that will speak to each one of us until it is nigh impossible for us to feel the wooing of the Holy Spirit. Satan’s philosophy is, why would they want heaven when I can make them feel so happy and satisfied here? But are we truly happy and satisfied?

“What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

The Bible tells us that the day is coming when everything in this world that we possess or want to possess will be worthless. Ezekiel says:

“They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like refuse; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord; they will not satisfy their souls, nor fill their stomachs because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.” Ezekiel 7:19

Nothing of this world can make up for losing heaven.

Destroy the family and …

“Well does Satan know what heaven is, and what the influence of the angels is. His work is to bring into every family the cruel elements of self-will, harshness, selfishness. Thus, he seeks to destroy the happiness of the family. …

“Let the father and mother always be guarded in their words and actions. The husband is to treat his wife, the mother of his children, with due respect, and the wife is to love and reverence her husband. How can she do this if he treats her like a servant, to be dictated to, ordered about, scolded, found fault with before the children? He is forcing her to dislike him and even to hate him.

“May God help fathers and mothers to open the windows of the soul heavenward and let the sunshine of Christ into the home life. Unless they do this, they will be surrounded by a mist and fog most injurious to spirituality.

“Fathers and mothers, bring sweetness and brightness and hopefulness into the lives of your children. Kindness and love will work wonders.” The Upward Look, 163

The devil brings contention and selfishness into every home and, if we are contentious and selfish at home, we will bring contention and selfishness into every other aspect of our lives, including church, work, friendships, and even gospel work.

Surrender. Now.

Alone, we are unable to prevent the devil from bringing these elements into our homes. However, when we surrender to the will of God, Satan no longer has control of our hearts. Jesus is waiting to give you the power to become His child. He longs to change your life and your home, and this is how He will do it.

To have a happy, sanctified home, we must have love. The whole world needs and wants love, but very few know how to get it. They try to force it, thinking it stems from a physical relationship or an overpowering feeling of desire. But you can’t buy it at the store, you can’t major in it in college, you can’t learn it on the job. No, there is only one source of true love, and 1 John 4:19 tells us what it is. “We love Him [God] because He first loved us.” God created us to be loving human beings and to love Him above all else. But sin changed us. No longer loving and pure, we are now selfish and sinful.

Too often, I meet people who are terribly discouraged because they have given love but have received none in return. Human beings can be so hard-hearted, and it seems no matter how much love you give, a hard heart does not reciprocate. It takes a long time for a hardened heart to realize what it needs; it may even take a long time for the Holy Spirit to soften a heart and help it accept God’s love. The only way to have true love in this world is by giving it away. And this is precisely what God did. The only remedy for a hardened heart is never-ending love.

Love is a precious gift we receive from Jesus. We only have love to give because He gives it to us. He gives it, and then we give it to somebody else. Giving and receiving love is one of the reasons we have heaven in our hearts and homes. However, to truly understand love, experience it, and share it, we must spend time every day with Jesus.

To understand how God’s love can change our hearts and homes, we must first understand that God created us because He wanted children to shower His love upon us and to receive love in return. But when Adam and Eve chose to believe the deceiver, God activated the plan of salvation which had existed from the foundation of the world. God gave all of heaven, everything He had, to save us. That plan culminated in Jesus’ death on the cross. God gave Himself, in the person of His Son, that They might save mankind from sin.

“God’s love for the world was not manifest because He sent His Son, but because He loved the world He sent His Son into the world … . Though sin had produced a gulf between man and his God, a divine benevolence provided a plan to bridge that gulf. And what material did He use? A part of Himself. …

“Had God given us less, we could not have been saved. But He gave to our world so abundantly that it could not be said that He could love us more. … God has exhausted His benevolence … in pouring out all heaven to man in one great gift. …

“God claims the whole of the affections of man, the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole mind, the whole strength. He lays claim to all that there is of man because He has poured out the whole treasure of heaven by giving us His all at once, reserving nothing greater that heaven can do.” Our High Calling, 12

“While we contemplate the cross, the Son of God assuming the mass of human guilt, the mystery of redemption seems wonderful. Jesus points us to the love of God; the Father provided this propitiation because He loved us, that there might be a medium through which He could be reconciled to man and man to Him. And our Lord, having committed Himself to the wonderful work of redemption, would withhold nothing necessary to the completion of His plan. He poured out all heaven to man in that one great gift.” The Signs of the Times, August 17, 1891

While the devil has a massive arsenal of spiritual weaponry to use against us in this war with God, God Himself has only one weapon that He uses to draw us to Him. Love. When we accept His love, then our preparation for heaven begins.

At the cross, I see what Jesus is like. And the more time I spend with Him, and the more I surrender to Him, the more like Him I will become—at home, at church, at work. My words and actions will be the same as His. I will love and care for my family as He loves and cares for them. Only in this way can I bring love into my home.

It rarely happens right away.

Have you ever considered just how long God waits before some of us respond? Think of all the happiness we could have had if only we had responded sooner. Marriage is often one-sided, with one spouse giving all while the other takes all and give little. Imagine if the relationship and home had been one where each spouse gave love to the other, regarding their spouse of greater value. Think of how happy the home could have been.

But even as you do your best, life is fraught with failure, and when you have trouble at home, there is Someone who understands. Jesus knows because He endured persecution from His family in His own home. He was accused all of His life of being born of fornication, an illegitimate son (John 8).

Sanctification means “to be made holy.” “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:12. The context of this scripture makes it very evident that Paul is talking about the ten commandments. He says that the law is holy. If you want to live a holy life, then your life must be in harmony with God’s law, and your family must keep God’s law if, together with you, they are to be a holy family.

The prescription for a happy home.

There are many homes, even professed Christian homes, that, in just a very short time, could be transformed from being a living hell to being like heaven. Every family member can choose to keep all of God’s law. God’s law is the prescription for a happy home and family. Many of the commandments deal specifically with the family.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

In Ephesians, we find that the fifth commandment is called “the first commandment with promise.” The Lord says that if you keep this commandment, He will give you a long life. Regardless of our age, we need to ask the Lord to teach us how to honor and respect our parents.

In the Old Testament culture, if a child cursed their parents, they were stoned to death. This is important to remember because the way we treat our parents here is the way we will treat them in heaven. Heaven is a place where people honor each other and give deference and respect to each other.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

The seventh commandment recommends that honoring your spouse will bring happiness to your home. Adultery is the ultimate act of disrespect toward both your spouse and your vow to “cleave only unto” them (Genesis 2:24). Jesus said that “… ‘whoever divorces his wife [or husband], except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery … .’ ” Matthew 19:9

Jesus did not allow for divorce except in the case of adultery. Adultery is a terrible thing in a family—causing pain and leaving scars—preventing happiness in the home.

We do the same with God. We believe we can do what we like, and He will forgive us. It is true that if we are sincere in asking for forgiveness and are willing to repent of our sins, He will forgive; however, the scar remains on the soul for a lifetime, providing a doorway through which the devil can continually slip temptations.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.” Exodus 20:17

Coveting is like a wrecking ball to the happiness of your family. When we covet things outside our home and family, we place a higher value on things that are, and perhaps should be, out of our reach and care too little for what we have. My house is nice, but I’d rather have one like my neighbor. My wife is pretty and sweet, but my neighbor’s wife or the lady at the office is beautiful. My car is serviceable, but I’d rather have one that drives fast. The spirit of covetousness is a monster with an appetite that is never satisfied.

To have a happy home, we must each be sanctified.

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is the truth.” John 17:17

To be happy and holy, God’s great guidebook, the Bible, must be in the home and must be read. God’s word teaches us how to live. Studying the Bible and praying together opens the way for the Holy Spirit to begin His work of transformation in our hearts and minds. We need to have family worship if we are going to have a sanctified home.

“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalms 55:17

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

“O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Psalm 95:6

We must first yield our hearts to God, entirely consecrating ourselves to Him; then, there is no problem that He cannot solve on our behalf. But He does not force His way into our lives and homes. If we set aside specific periods of time, as David and Daniel did, to earnestly spend in prayer, telling Him about the problems in our homes, we can be confident that He will answer. The Lord has told us that we should pray every day to be divested of the selfishness that ruins the happiness, peace, and joy of our home (Our High Calling, 242).

Jesus was a person of prayer. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35

The Lord never tells us to do something unless it is necessary while we strive against our sinful natures. He promises that we can overcome all of our sinful propensities—inherent or cultivated—and resist the temptation to sin. However, this can only happen as we continue to pray and surrender. The devil declares that there is not a single unselfish person in the world who can obey the law of God. But is that true?

God says if I study His word and pray, if I surrender my heart and will to Him, if I look to Him always for everything I need, then He will provide the power and grace necessary to change me from a person who thinks only of himself, to a person who unselfishly serves God first and others second.

If everyone in my family is selfish, then our prayer must be, “Lord, help us to prove the devil is a liar, to prove that there is one person in my home who is unselfish.” Your best chance of helping others in your home, is to be unselfish and Christlike yourself. As you give love to others, the barrier of selfishness that destroys the happiness in a home is broken down and love and joy can reign in your home.

The Lord has been so gracious to us in our weakness and tendency to misunderstand that He has given us specific counsel regarding how to talk and act at home. Bible study, prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and praise are all essential parts of a happy home, but let’s not forget that we must love and obey the law of God.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:5–9

When we follow God’s commandments, seeking always to do His will, then we are learning how to be happy.

Here are some actions that can make strong relationships and bring happiness into the home:

  • Expressing affection
  • Kindly attentions
  • Refined manners
  • Kind, loving words
  • Faithfulness
  • Gentleness
  • Humility, meekness
  • Patience
  • No envy
  • No pride
  • Understanding
  • Courtesy
  • Encouragement
  • Gratitude
  • Sympathy
  • Helpfulness

“We want a spirit of gentleness. We cannot live right in the family circle without it. In order to have the proper control of our children, we must manifest a spirit of gentleness and of meekness and of longsuffering. We do not want to have a faultfinding, fretful, scolding spirit. If we teach them to have a spirit of gentleness, we must have a spirit of gentleness ourselves; … if we would have them manifest a spirit of love toward us, we must manifest a gentle, loving spirit toward them. But at the same time, there need be no weakness or unwise indulgence on the part of parents.” The Review and Herald, December 21, 1886

We must exhibit gratitude in our homes. This may be one of the most difficult attitudes to bring into the home as we too often take for granted the members of our families and the things they do as part of the family. While it is sometimes needful to discipline a child, a “Thank you” or “I appreciate that so much” are simple ways to express gratitude, and young children flourish and grow when gratitude is expressed for their small efforts and obedience.

“We should be self-forgetful, ever looking out for opportunities, even in little things, to show gratitude for the favors we have received of others, and watching for opportunities to cheer others and lighten and relieve their sorrows and burdens by acts of tender kindness and little deeds of love. These thoughtful courtesies that, commencing in our families, extend outside the family circle, help make up the sum of life’s happiness, and the neglect of these little things make up the sum of life’s bitterness and sorrow.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, 539, 540

“It is by beholding love in their parents that children are led to obey the fifth commandment. …

Parents often stir up the worst passions of the human heart because of their lack of self-control. They correct them [the children] in a spirit of anger and rather confirm them in their evil ways and defiant spirit than influence them in the way of right. By their own arbitrary spirit, they thrust their children under satanic influences, instead of rescuing them from the snares of Satan by gentleness and love. … By their violent, unforgiving temper, make them adverse to all religion.” The Review and Herald, November 15, 1892

Every one of us has faults, and it is the devil’s handiwork to cause us to focus on the faults of others, particularly those of our spouses, until the faults are so significant that we can no longer see our own faults, nor do we appreciate the good things in them and the marriage.

The Lord wants us to do just the opposite. “Let all seek to discover the excellencies rather than the defects.” The Adventist Home, 105. We are to be quick to recognize the good qualities in our spouses. They must have them, or why else would we have married them?

“Love cannot long exist without expression.” Ibid., 107. There are many ways of expressing love, but it must be expressed.

“Around every family, there is a sacred circle that should be kept unbroken. Within this circle, no other person has a right to come.” The Ministry of Healing, 361

We should not share private matters or feelings with others outside our homes. We all have faults, and some of those faults are known only by our spouses and God. It is God’s will to cure us and save us from these faults. It is the devil’s purpose to have us share these private things with the world. When this is done, the faults and problems become more significant, and discouragement creeps into the marriage and home, ultimately leading to the loss of respect and, in some cases, love for one another.

“Determine to be all that it is possible to be to each other. Continue the early attentions. In every way, encourage each other in fighting the battles of life. Study to advance the happiness of each other. Let there be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Then marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be, as it were, the very beginning of love. The warmth of true friendship, the love that binds heart to heart, is a foretaste of the joys of heaven.” Ibid., 360

We are not to compel our spouse to do what we want. We should not try to control their lives by various means of manipulation. Men are more direct because they have physical strength. Women lacking that physical strength use emotional and mental manipulation. But in the end, it brings the same disastrous result.

“Neither the husband nor the wife should attempt to exercise over the other an arbitrary control. Do not try to compel each other to yield to your wishes. You cannot do this and retain each other’s love. Be kind, patient, and forbearing, considerate, and courteous. By the grace of God, you can succeed in making each other happy, as in your marriage vow you promised to do. …

“Both husband and wife should be willing to yield his or her way or opinion.” Adventist Home, 118

If we want to have a happy home, we must not think only of ourselves. We will not be happy in our marriages if we are not contributing to our spouses’ happiness, and our homes will not be happy if we are not helping others outside our homes find happiness as well. Some of the unhappiest people are those whose lives are entirely self-centered and who contribute nothing to the happiness of others. The truest happiness is to be found in unselfish service—at home, at church, in the community, in missionary work.

Saved Without the Loss of One

It must be the desire of every Christian that their family as a whole will be saved. This can be a reality, but if you want your family saved without the loss of one, then you must be saved. If you are not there, your family will not be complete.

The truth is, the majority of families will have someone missing. But God is willing to save every member of every family, and He will if they are surrendered to Him. It is crucial, then, that we surrender ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit so that on that day, when the voice of Jesus is heard, and all His children are gathered to Him to be taken home, every family, with every member, will be able to meet together on the sea of glass, once lost souls, but now members of the eternal family of God.

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

Did Jesus take the nature of Adam

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Today God’s people are faced with a question that is designed in such a way as to deceive, if possible, the very elect. The question, “Did Jesus take the nature of Adam before the Fall or after the Fall” is asked in a way that will lead to one of two soul-destroying conclusions.

  1. We cannot overcome sin until Jesus comes.
  2. We unwittingly ascribe to the human nature of Christ the attributes of Satan.

Who Do Men Say …

In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asked His disciples a very important question, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Their answer indicated that men only saw Jesus as a man; they did not discern His divinity, His divine nature.

Then Jesus asked His disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” They recognized Christ as more than just a man; they recognized His divinity blended with His humanity in one Person, the Son (humanity) of the living God (divinity).

“Was the human nature of the Son of Mary changed into the divine nature of the Son of God? No; the two natures were mysteriously blended in one Person—the Man Christ Jesus. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 21, 418

When two things are blended they become one. Jesus was fully human and fully divine; humanity and divinity were blended in one Person.

In the next verse, Jesus blessed Peter and said that flesh and blood did not reveal this truth to him. In other words, man cannot reveal to man the divinity of Christ, but God the Father revealed that the Man Christ Jesus was more than just a man; He was the Son of the living God and in His real and fully human body, “dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead.” This truth is what makes Christ the Rock, the foundation, upon which God’s church is built, and faith in this truth is essential to salvation.

The Scribes

There is another story, recorded in Mark 12:28–34, that directly relates to the divinity of Christ and complements the story in Matthew, but also adds the component of the law of God which is a transcript of God’s character. Together they begin to expose the error of the deceptive question that is facing God’s people today.

Scribe: “Which is the first commandment of all?”

Jesus: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Scribe: “Well, Master, Thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He: And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

The scribe recognized that love to God and man is the underlying principle, the foundation of all the commandments. But then what did Jesus say to the scribe?

Jesus: “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”

Why did Jesus tell the scribe that he was not far from the kingdom of God? Before looking at the answer we need to know what the kingdom of God is. Paul answers this question in Romans.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isaiah 32:17

So why did Jesus tell the scribe that he was not far from the kingdom?

“The scribe was near to the kingdom of God, in that he recognized deeds of righteousness as more acceptable to God than burnt offerings and sacrifices. But he needed to recognize the divine character of Christ, and through faith in Him receive power to do the works of righteousness.” The Desire of Ages, 608

The kingdom of God is His righteousness and it is through faith in His righteousness that we receive power to do the works of righteousness. Faith in the righteousness of Christ is the basis of justification. But unless we recognize His righteousness in contrast to our unrighteousness, we cannot be justified and all efforts to obey the law of God will simply be legalism.

The Rich Young Ruler

Another individual in the Bible who is pointed out as not recognizing the divinity of Christ is the rich young ruler. His story pinpoints the very issue that prevents men from recognizing Christ, the Son of man, as also the Son of the living God. Matthew 19:16–22 records this story. The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Before answering his question, Jesus asked him, “Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is God.” What is the problem with the way the young ruler addressed Jesus?

“The ruler had addressed Christ merely as an honored rabbi, not discerning in Him the Son of God. … On what ground do you call Me good? God is the one good. If you recognize Me as such, you must receive Me as His Son and representative.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 390

The word good in these verses refers to an “intrinsic goodness.” Jesus said that there is only One who is inherently good and that is God. The young ruler did not recognize the inherent goodness in Jesus and without recognizing His inherent goodness, we cannot recognize Him as the Son of God nor as His representative. Jesus came to this earth to represent His Father’s righteous character, and in order to represent His character, He had to possess it. So, did He?

“I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, Thou knowest. I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.” Psalm 40:8–10

The law of God is a transcript of His character, the very essence of His goodness and righteousness. The law was written in the human heart of Jesus. Therefore, the righteousness of this holy law was manifested in His life.

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. … For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Matthew 12:33, 34, last part, 35

So, in addition to receiving Jesus as the Son of God, the rich young ruler needed to receive Him as His Father’s representative. But Jesus continued explaining what else was required, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” First, He essentially quotes the last six commandments but when He gets to the last commandment instead of saying, “Thou shalt not covet …” Jesus said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

What is covetousness?

“All covetousness is condemned as idolatry.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 261

“Put away all selfishness, all covetousness.” The General Conference Bulletin, October 1, 1899

Are we born selfish? Or do we become selfish sometime after we are born and if so, how?

“Under God, Adam was to stand at the head of the earthly family, to maintain the principles of the heavenly family [the principles of the law of God]. This would have brought peace and happiness. But the law [of self-sacrificing love] that none ‘liveth to himself’ (Romans 14:7), Satan was determined to oppose. He desired to live for self. He sought to make himself a center of influence. It was this [selfishness] that had incited rebellion in heaven, and it was man’s acceptance of this [selfish] principle that brought sin on earth. When Adam sinned, man broke away from the heaven-ordained center. A demon became the central power in the world. Where God’s throne should have been [in the heart of man], Satan placed his throne. The world [representing men] laid its homage [loyalty], as a willing offering, at the feet of the enemy.

“The transgression of God’s law brought woe and death in its train. Through disobedience man’s powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 33

Where does Inspiration say that God’s throne is to be?

“God has bought us, and He claims a throne in each heart.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 18, 48

“When God has His rightful place on the throne of the heart, the right place will be given to our neighbor. We shall love him as ourselves. And only as we love God supremely is it possible to love our neighbor impartially.” The Desire of Ages, 607

“Until self is laid upon the altar of sacrifice, Christ will not be reflected in the character. When self is buried, and Christ occupies the throne of the heart, there will be a revelation of principles that will clear the moral atmosphere surrounding the soul.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1098

The heart of man is to be the throne of God, but when Adam sinned, the powers of man were perverted with selfishness because Satan placed his throne in man’s heart.

“All sin is selfishness. Satan’s first sin was selfishness. He sought to grasp power, to exalt self. A species of insanity led him to seek to supersede God. And the temptation which led Adam to sin was the false statement of Satan that it was possible for him to attain to something more than he already enjoyed—possible for him to be as God Himself. Thus, seeds of selfishness were sown in the human heart.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1763

Do the seeds of selfishness affect the nature or the character of man?

“We have hereditary tendencies to wrong. This is a part of self that no one need carry about. It is a weakness of humanity to pet selfishness, because it is a natural trait of character.” The Faith I Live By, 140

Yes, seeds of selfishness do affect the character of man, because selfishness is “a natural trait of human character.”

“By nature, man has no love for God. It is not natural for him to think of heavenly things. Satan has worked against God and His government, leading men to attribute to God the traits which belong to the power of evil. Christ came to this world to reveal the Father.” The Review and Herald, March 12, 1901

When Adam failed to maintain the principles of God’s law of divine love, the seeds of selfishness were sown in the human heart and selfishness took the place of love. Selfishness became the inherent, natural trait of character, the driving force in man’s nature.

Back to the rich young ruler

“Christ does not lessen the claims of the law. In unmistakable language, He presents obedience to it as the condition of eternal life—the same condition that was required of Adam before his fall. The Lord expects no less of the soul now than He expected of man in paradise, perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness. The requirement under the covenant of grace is just as broad as the requirement made in Eden—harmony with God’s law, which is holy, just, and good.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 391

“The lover of self is a transgressor of the law. This Jesus desired to reveal to the young man, and He gave him a test that would make manifest the selfishness of his heart. He showed him the plague spot in his character [thoughts and feelings]. The young man desired no further enlightenment. He had cherished an idol in the soul; the world was his god. He professed to have kept the commandments, but he was destitute of the principle [divine love] which is the very spirit and life of them all. He did not possess true love for God or man. This want was the want of everything that would qualify him to enter the kingdom of heaven. In his love of self and worldly gain, he was out of harmony with the principles of heaven [the law of God].” Ibid., 392

“A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things. God does not deal with actions so much as with the heart that prompts them.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 4, 440

“Holiness of heart will produce right actions. It is the absence of spirituality, of holiness, which leads to unrighteous acts, to envy, hatred, jealousy, evil surmisings, and every hateful and abominable sin.” Testimonies, Vol. 2, 445

Is sin limited to our actions?

“Until the requirements of the holy law were applied as the rule of life, fallen man could not understand his own guilt, nor realize his condemned, lost condition. Jesus made application of the law directly to the soul, and laid under its jurisdiction the will and desires and works of man. Wrongdoing and all thoughts and feelings condemned by the law are to be overcome.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, 235, 236

“The law of God takes note of the jealousy, envy, hatred, malignity, revenge, lust, and ambition that surge through the soul, but have not found expression in outward action, because the opportunity, not the will, has been wanting. And these sinful emotions will be brought into the account in the day when ‘God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.’ ” The Signs of the Times, April 15, 1886

The deeds of the law may be performed, there may be an outward obedience, but what is the principle in the heart that motivates the action? What is the principle in the heart that is being worked out in the life? The natural principle in the heart is what determines whether outward action is true obedience or legalism. Without the power to do the works of righteousness, obedience is legalism.

“Even the moral law fails of its purpose, unless it is understood in its relation to the Saviour.” The Desire of Ages, 608

Before looking at the purpose of the law we want to understand its relation to the Saviour.

The Requirement of the Law in Relation to Sinful Man and Christ

“The law requires righteousness—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law.” The Desire of Ages, 762

The law requires righteousness and a perfect character. Sinful man has neither one. What about Jesus’ finite human nature?

“Jesus volunteered to meet the highest claims of the law, that He might be the Justifier of all who believe on Him. We look to the cross, and see in Jesus a fully-satisfied and reconciled God. Jesus is righteousness. What fullness is expressed in these words!” The Review and Herald, September 2, 1890

“To human eyes, Christ was only a man, yet He was a perfect man. In His humanity, He was the impersonation of the divine character. God embodied His own attributes in His Son—His power, His wisdom, His goodness, His purity, His truthfulness, His spirituality, and His benevolence. In Him, though human, all perfection of character, all divine excellence, dwelt.” The Youth’s Instructor, September 16, 1897

In the next reference, notice how Inspiration uses the words character and nature synonymously in describing what happened when man sinned in Eden.

“When man sinned, all heaven was filled with sorrow; for through yielding to temptation, man became the enemy of God, a partaker of the satanic nature. The image of God in which he had been created was marred and distorted. The character of man was out of harmony with the character of God; for through sin man became carnal, and the carnal heart is enmity against God, is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” The Signs of the Times, February 13, 1893

At the Fall, man became a partaker of the satanic nature because the seeds of selfishness were sown in the heart of man. Selfishness is the very essence of Satan’s nature and this is the nature, the character, that we inherit from Adam.

The next two references refer to the humanity of Christ. Notice the contrast.

“The Sun of Righteousness, shining amid the moral darkness in such distinct rays, revealed the contrast between sin and holiness, purity and defilement, and such light was not welcome to them [the Jews]. Christ was not such a one as themselves.” The Review and Herald, July 12, 1898

“Christ points us to the key of all His suffering and humiliation—the love of God. We read in the parable, ‘Last of all He sent unto them His Son, saying, They will reverence My Son.’ Again and again, the Jewish nation had apostatized. Christ came to see what He could do for His vineyard that He had not done. With His divinity clothed with humanity, He stood before the people, presenting to them their true condition.” Ibid., July 17, 1900

Without recognizing His divinity, we cannot see our true condition. And if we do not see our true condition as a partaker of the satanic nature and then ascribe our condition to Christ, whose character, whose nature are we ascribing to Him?

“Satan has worked against God and His government, leading men to attribute to God the traits which belong to the power of evil.” Ibid., March 12, 1901

What is the purpose of the moral law?

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24

“Christ had repeatedly shown that His Father’s law contained something deeper than mere authoritative commands. In the law is embodied the same principle that is revealed in the gospel. The law points out man’s duty and shows him his guilt. To Christ he must look for pardon and for power to do what the law enjoins.” The Desire of the Ages, 608

The purpose of the law is to bring us to Christ that we might be justified. If we recognize Christ as the Son of God in human nature, we will recognize the contrast between His natural righteousness [divinity] and our natural unrighteousness [humanity]; the difference between self-sacrificing love and the plague of selfishness or covetousness. This is the only way that we can recognize our guilt and the only remedy for our guilt is Jesus. We must look to Him for two things: pardon and power to obey.

“Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, 301

When we are justified, we become a loyal subject of Christ, not because of an inherent goodness. The law requires this inherent goodness and while we do not inherit this righteousness, Jesus did, and notice what He said in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Mrs. White explains what Jesus meant when He said that He came to fulfill the law.

“He here used the word ‘fulfill’ in the same sense as when He declared to John the Baptist His purpose to ‘fulfill all righteousness’ (Matthew 3:15); that is, to fill up the measure of the law’s requirement, to give an example of perfect conformity to the will of God.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 48, 49

Jesus is our substitute in fulfilling the law’s requirement of righteousness, just as His baptism fulfilled the requirement of baptism for the thief on the cross.

“His mission was to ‘magnify the law, and make it honorable.’ Isaiah 42:21. He was to show the spiritual nature of the law, to present its far-reaching principles, and to make plain its eternal obligation.” Ibid., 49

If we confess our guilt and recognize that Jesus is righteousness and as our substitute filled up the measure of the law for us, then He will pardon us. This is the very essence of justification by faith. But faith does not end here. We must look to Christ not only for pardon [justification], but also for power to do what the law enjoins. What is the power?

“Love is power. Intellectual and moral strength are involved in this principle, and cannot be separated from it. The power of wealth has a tendency to corrupt and destroy; the power of force is strong to do hurt; but the excellence and value of pure love consist in its efficiency to do good, and to do nothing else than good. Whatsoever is done out of pure love, be it ever so little or contemptible in the sight of men, is wholly fruitful; for God regards more with how much love one worketh, than the amount he doeth. Love is of God. The unconverted heart cannot originate nor produce this plant of heavenly origin, which lives and flourishes only where Christ reigns.

“Love cannot live without action, and every act increases, strengthens, and extends it. Love will gain the victory when argument and authority are powerless. Love works not for profit nor reward; yet God has ordained that great gain shall be the certain result of every labor of love. It is diffusive in its nature, and quiet in its operation, yet strong, mighty, to overcome great evils. It is melting and transforming in its influence, and will take hold of the lives of the sinful and affect their hearts when every other means has proved unsuccessful. Wherever the power of intellect, of authority, or of force is employed, and love is not manifestly present, the affections and will of those whom we seek to reach assume a defensive, repelling position, and their strength of resistance is increased. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. He came into the world to bring resistance and authority into subjection to Himself. Wisdom and strength He could command, but the means He employed with which to overcome evil were the wisdom and strength of love. …” Gospel Workers (1915), 311, 312

“The divine beauty of the character of Christ, of whom the noblest and most gentle among men are but a faint reflection; of whom Solomon by the Spirit of inspiration wrote, He is ‘the chiefest among ten thousand, … yea, He is altogether lovely’ (Song of Solomon 5:10–16); of whom David, seeing Him in prophetic vision, said, ‘Thou art fairer than the children of men’ (Psalm 45:2); Jesus, the express image of the Father’s person, the effulgence of His glory; the self-denying Redeemer, throughout His pilgrimage of love on earth, was a living representation of the character of the law of God. In His life it is made manifest that heaven-born love, Christlike principles, underlie the laws of eternal rectitude.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 49

Rectitude involves both the mind and the conduct. Rectitude of mind is the natural inclination, the natural tendency or propensity to do what the law requires. Rectitude of conduct is doing what the law requires.

The issue in the controversy regarding the nature of Christ is justification. Jesus filled up the full measure of the law and brought into human nature the power of divine love, the power that we need to not only meet the law’s requirement of righteousness but also the power of divine love for true obedience to be sanctified. But before His divine love can be imparted to us in the life-long process of sanctification we must be justified; His righteousness must be imputed to us, put in our account. And before His righteousness can be applied to our record we must recognize our guilt of natural covetousness, natural selfishness, and confess this sin.

“If we say that we have [present tense] no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [justification] our sins, and to cleanse us [sanctification] from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8, 9 (brackets added.)

Prior to the conversion of Paul, he was a stickler for outward obedience but when Jesus revealed His divine nature to Saul on the road to Damascus, Paul was convicted of his sin. And what commandment did Paul say convicted him? “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:7

We have been warned

“The danger has been presented to me again and again of entertaining, as a people, false ideas of justification by faith. I have been shown for years that Satan would work in a special manner to confuse the mind on this point. The law of God has been largely dwelt upon, and has been presented to congregations, almost as destitute of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His relation to the law as was the offering of Cain. I have been shown that many have been kept from the faith because of the mixed, confused ideas of salvation, because the ministers have worked in a wrong manner to reach hearts. The point which has been urged upon my mind for years is the imputed righteousness of Christ. I have wondered that this matter was not made the subject of discourses in our churches throughout the land, when the matter has been kept so constantly urged upon me, and I have made it the subject of nearly every discourse and talk that I have given to the people.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 810

If we do not understand how the humanity of Christ is related to the law of God, we will have false ideas of justification by faith, which is the imputed righteousness of Christ. It is impossible to do the works of righteousness without first being justified, and before we can be justified we must be convicted that our condition of selfishness, our state of evil, is sin because it is an imperfection of character, out of harmony with the perfect character of God as manifested in His only begotten Son.

The law of God convicted the scribe of his duty that obedience [deeds of righteousness], is necessary for salvation, and because of this Jesus said that he was “not far from the kingdom of God.” But he also “needed to recognize that the divine character of Christ, that the kingdom of God was in Him.” This story does not reveal whether or not the scribe ever recognized His divine character and through faith in His righteousness received the power of divine love to obey. But Inspiration is crystal clear that without recognizing that His finite human nature possessed the divine attributes of His Father, the righteousness that the law requires, we will never gain an entrance into His kingdom, His righteousness.

Those who do not understand the difference between the human nature of sinful man and the human nature of the Son of God unwittingly ascribe to Jesus the attributes of the satanic nature, for that is what we inherit from Adam.

We may intellectually understand that it is our duty to obey the law of God, but until we are convicted of our guilt we will never receive the power, the divine love of God, to do the works of righteousness. And we will never be convicted of our guilt until we see the contrast between our condition of evil, our lack of righteousness, and the human condition of Jesus, full of righteousness and holiness. He was the personification of the law of God, the law of self-sacrificing love. Without His righteousness we are the personification of Satan’s law, the law of selfishness.

There are many scribes today in God’s church who recognize that deeds of righteousness are necessary; they profess to believe in obedience but they limit sin to a choice and thereby deny that our state or condition of evil is sin. Then they teach that the human nature of Jesus inherited all that we inherit from Adam. Lacking knowledge regarding the far-reaching principles of God’s law and how the humanity of Christ is related to His law, they unwittingly join Satan in working “against God and His government, leading men to attribute to God the traits which belong to the power of evil.” The Review and Herald, March 12, 1901

“Christ was the pattern minister. He was the greatest teacher the world ever saw.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 2, 75

“Let it never be forgotten that the teacher must be what he desires his pupils to become.” The Review and Herald, January 10, 1882

“We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the Pattern Man. His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain. His character is our model.” Ibid., March 9, 1905

All scriptures are from the King James Bible.

Peggy Nixon has a deep love for the “truth as it is in Jesus.” She does not claim to be an expert on this subject but found that it opened to her a better understanding of righteousness by faith, both in justification and sanctification.  She can be reached at natureofchrist@gmail.com.