Question

Question – What does it mean: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” [riches]?

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The inhabitants had before them living evidences of the power and mercy of Him whom they drove from their midst. They saw that the lunatics had been restored to reason; but they were so fearful of incurring pecuniary loss that the Saviour, who had baffled the Prince of Darkness before their eyes, was treated as an unwelcome invader, and they turned the priceless Gift of Heaven from their doors, and blindly rejected His visit of mercy. We have not the opportunity of turning from the person of Christ, as did the Gadarenes; but there are many in these days who refuse to follow His teachings, because in so doing they must sacrifice some worldly interest. Many, in the various pursuits of life, turn Jesus from their hearts, fearful that His presence may cost them pecuniary loss. Like the selfish Gadarenes, they overlook His grace, and ruthlessly drive His Spirit from them. To such His words apply: ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon’ (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13, last parts).” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 314.

“Double-minded men and women are Satan’s best allies. Whatever favorable opinion they may have of themselves, they are dissemblers. All who are loyal to God and the truth must stand firmly for the right because it is right. To yoke up with those who are unconsecrated, and yet be loyal to the truth, is simply impossible. We cannot unite with those who are serving themselves, who are working on worldly plans, and not lose our connection with the heavenly Counselor. We may recover ourselves from the snare of the enemy, but we are bruised and wounded, and our experience is dwarfed.” The Review and Herald, April 19, 1898.

“Those who stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel cannot be united with the Free Masons or with any secret organization. The seal of the living God will not be placed upon anyone who maintains such a connection after the light of truth has shone upon his pathway. Christ is not divided, and Christians cannot serve God and mammon. The Lord says, ‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate … and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty’ (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18).” Selected Messages, Book 2, 140.

Question – Least in the Kingdom of Heaven

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Explain the “least in the kingdom” and if they will be in heaven?

Jesus said, “Whosoever … shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19.

After stating Matthew 5:19, Ellen White says: “That is, he shall have no place therein. For he who willfully breaks one commandment, does not, in spirit and truth, keep any of them. ‘Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all’ (James 2:10).” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 51.

“It is not the greatness of the act of disobedience that constitutes sin, but the fact of variance from God’s expressed will in the least particular; for this shows that there is yet communion between the soul and sin. The heart is divided in its service. There is a virtual denial of God, a rebellion against the laws of His government.

“Were men free to depart from the Lord’s requirements and to set up a standard of duty for themselves, there would be a variety of standards to suit different minds and the government would be taken out of the Lord’s hands. The will of man would be made supreme, and the high and holy will of God—His purpose of love toward His creatures—would be dishonored, disrespected. …

“By venturing to disregard the will of God upon one point, our first parents opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. And every individual who follows their example will reap a similar result. The love of God underlies every precept of His law, and he who departs from the commandment is working his own unhappiness and ruin.” Ibid., 51, 52.

Question – What is the “yoke of bondage”?

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“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

“There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred and their life made a weariness. The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, ‘My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.’ Worry is blind and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. ‘No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly’ (Matthew 11:30; Psalm 84:11).” Help in Daily Living, 21.

“Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God, which was the condition of the divine covenant with Abraham, was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life.” Conflict and Courage, 61.

“As soon as the seeker for truth opens the Bible to read the utterances of God with reverence, possessing an earnest desire to know ‘what saith the Lord,’ light and grace will be given him, and he will see wondrous things out of God’s law. He will not regard the law of Jehovah as a yoke of bondage, but as the gracious commands of One who is all-wise and full of compassion. He will make haste to fulfill His requirements.”  Counsels on Sabbath School Work, 34, 35.

“Never will evil again be manifest. Says the word of God: ‘Affliction shall not rise up the second time’ (Nahum 1:9). The law of God, which Satan has reproached as the yoke of bondage, will be honored as the law of liberty. A tested and proved creation will never again be turned from allegiance to Him whose character has been fully manifested before them as fathomless love and infinite wisdom.” The Great Controversy, 504.

“ ‘But,’ one says, ‘I thought the commandments were a yoke of bondage.’ It is those only who break the law that find it a yoke of bondage. To those who keep the law it is life and joy and peace and happiness.” Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 130.

Question – What does the “narrow way” involve?

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“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

“Tests are placed all along the way from earth to heaven. It is because of this that the road to heaven is called the narrow way. Character must be tested, else there would be many spurious Christians who would keep up a fair semblance of religion until their inclinations, their desire to have their own way, their pride and ambition, were crossed. When by the Lord’s permission sharp trials come to them, their lack of genuine religion, of the meekness and lowliness of Christ, shows them to be in need of the work of the Holy Spirit. …

“He [Christ] invites all to wear His yoke and learn His meekness and lowliness. He knows that it is positively necessary for them to do this. But no human being can wear the yoke of submission and obedience who does not learn daily in the school of Christ. … No one, whatever his supposed abilities, can bear the test of trial unless he is a student in the school of Christ. …

“The true Christian keeps his eyes fixed on Him who searches the heart and tries the reins, who requires truth in the inward parts. His constant prayer is, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting’ (Psalm 139:23, 24).” In Heavenly Places, 266.

“Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying, humble life? Because professed Christians are not dead to the world. It is easy living after we are dead. But many are longing for the leeks and onions of Egypt. They have a disposition to dress and act as much like the world as possible, and yet go to heaven. Such climb up some other way. They do not enter through the strait gate and narrow way. …” Messages to Young People, 127, 128.

“Before you are two ways—the broad road of self-indulgence and the narrow path of self-sacrifice. Into the broad road you can take selfishness, pride, love of the world; but those who walk in the narrow way must lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset. Which road have you chosen—the road which leads to everlasting death, or the road which leads to glory and immortality?” Our High Calling, 8.

Question & Answer – How Did Simeon describe the baby Jesus?

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“Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against …” (Luke 2:34). [Emphasis supplied.]

“ ‘Behold,’ Simeon had said, ‘this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.’ They must fall who would rise again. We must fall upon the Rock and be broken before we can be uplifted in Christ. Self must be dethroned, pride must be humbled, if we would know the glory of the spiritual kingdom. The Jews would not accept the honor that is reached through humiliation. Therefore they would not receive their Redeemer. He was a sign that was spoken against.” The Desire of Ages, 56, 57.

“Many who have never been placed in positions of trial appear to be excellent Christians, their lives seem faultless; but God sees that they have traits of character that must be revealed to them before they can perceive and correct them. Simeon prophesied under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and said unto Mary in reference to Jesus: ‘Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed’ (Luke 2:34, 35). In the providence of God we are placed in different positions to call into exercise qualities of mind calculated to develop character under a variety of circumstances. ‘Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all’ (James 2:10). Professed Christians may live unexceptionable lives so far as outward appearance is concerned; but when a change of circumstances throws them into entirely different positions, strong traits of character are discovered, which would have remained hidden had their surroundings continued the same.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 55, 56.

“ ‘Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene’ (John 19:25). As Christ’s mother stood by the cross upon which He hung, she realized the truth of the words spoken by Simeon, when he took the infant Saviour in his arms and blessed him. ‘Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,’ he said, ‘which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. … Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed’ (Luke 2:30–32, 34, 35).

“That time had come. The hearts of the persecutors, the revilers, the murderers, were indeed revealed. Attributes which form character were developed. Unbelieving Israel took sides with the first great apostate.” The Review and Herald, December 28, 1897.

Ask the Pastor – Where we will spend eternity

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Question:

Dear Pastor Mike,

I would like to know where we will spend eternity. Some people say that we will go to heaven when Jesus comes and stay there. Others say that we will go to heaven, but we will come back to this earth to spend eternity. What does the Bible say about this?

Answer:

Before we see where the Bible says we will spend eternity, let’s look at some background information, which should help us understand this issue.

On the sixth day of creation, the Bible tells us that God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . .” Genesis 1:26. Verse 27 continues, “So God created man in his [own] image, . . . male and female created he them.” Genesis 2:7 tells us how this was done: “And the Lord God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life . . . .”

Man was formed out of the dust of this earth’s surface. The very elements of which man consists come from this planet. That in itself is significant. Man did not come from some foreign soil in outer space. Man is an earth creature.

When sin entered this planet, God had to delay His plan for this particular world, for the man and the woman and for all the rest of creation. We can now only glean little glimpses of just what God had in mind. But it must have been something! Every thing that God had created was good. (Genesis 1:31.)

Sin has caused a delay in the realization of God’s plan for some 6,000 years. But one day soon sin will no longer be able to interrupt God’s plan. That which He planned out long ago will become a reality to the redeemed and to this earth.

When God called Abraham, He gave him a promise that he and his offspring would inherit this earth. (See Genesis 17:8.) The Hebrews were to multiply upon the face of the earth, and they were to occupy the entire land. Sadly, the plan that God had for Abraham never reached fulfillment. When Jesus came to earth and died, the nation of Israel was cast aside and those who follow Jesus took its place. Jesus, speaking to the leadership of His day in Matthew 23:38, tells them, “Your house is left unto you desolate.” The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 3:29, “If [ye be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

The promise to Abraham is not lost. It will still be realized, but now through those who follow Jesus. When He comes back again, He will take us to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 assures us of that. But we are also told that after the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 are over, God is going to create a new earth. (See Revelation 21:1–7.) This new earth will be the home of the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God. The inheritance will then become a reality. This earth will be the home of the redeemed throughout eternity. Jesus promised us this. (See Matthew 5:5.) So, we are going to heaven, for a while. But we will come back to earth and live here forever.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to Landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to LandMarks, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Ask the Pastor – Is Michael the Archangel?

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Question:

Is Michael the Archangel?

Answer:

Most Christians who have been presented with this idea have rejected it.  However, there are a number of good reasons to believe that the personage known as Michael the Archangel can be identified as the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, let’s establish the truth that Jesus is not just an angel but that He is God.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit, through prophetic utterances, gave Him many appopriate names.  Emmanual (“God with us,” Matthew 1:23); Jesus (“Saviour,” Matthew 1:21); the Lamb of God (John 1:29); Christ (“Messiah,” “annointed One” or “King,” John 1:41).  Names in Biblical times were very important.  Whenever the letters “el” were attached to a name, it had a reference to God.  In the very name of Michael (“One like God”), only Jesus could be described as “One like God,” because He is God.

Some believe that the title, Michael the Archangel, could not refer to Jesus, because they feel this would bring Christ down to the level of a mere angel.  But we need to understand that the prefix arch comes from the Greek word that means ruler, one who reigns over.  Jesus can rightfully assume the position of ruler over all angels without being an angel Himself.

The Bible is given to us to teach us the truths of the kingdom of heaven.  In Joshua 5:13–15, we read of the Lord telling Joshua how to capture the city of Jericho.  As we read further, we find that this heavenly being assumed the form of a man.  When Joshua asked if he was friend or foe, he was told that this person was “Captain of the host of the Lord.”  This is just another way of saying, He is the archangel or ruler of the heavenly hosts.

Daniel 12:1 tells us that Michael is the great prince who stands watch over the sons of the people.  A prince is the son of a king and Jesus is the Son of God, the King of heaven.

As we read Daniel, we discover that Michael is a prince and that the Messiah is a prince.  Now, if Michael is a prince and Messiah is a prince, then two things equal to the same are equal to each other.  In this context then, the Messiah and Michael are the same person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to LandMarks@StepstoLife.org, or mail it to LandMarks, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Ask The Pastor – Original Sin

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Question:

Dear Pastor Mike,

I was listening to a person teach about our human nature the other night. He said that we are all born sinners. I have always understood that sin is a choice. Can you help me understand this issue?

Answer:

There are many people who believe the doctrine that we are all born sinners. This comes from misunderstanding a false doctrine called “Original Sin.” The original sin doctrine teaches that when a human being is born, he inherits sin from his parent. Starting in the beginning, this of course would come from Adam. But the truth of the matter is that we do not inherit the sin of our parents. We inherit the sinful nature. There is a big difference!

The confusion comes by misinterpreting such texts as Ecclesiastes 7:20 which says: “For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Also, Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” While these texts tell us that this is the way that all the world has gone, they do not teach that we are born sinners or that we inherit the sin of our parents. We would have to inherit the sin of our parents in order to be born sinners. Sin does not come through bloodlines; it comes from transgression. (See 1 John 3:4.)

Ezekiel 18 gives us good counsel about this matter. While the whole chapter should be read, we cannot quote it here because of space limitations, but it deals very clearly with this doctrine. The heart of the chapter has these words to say in verse 20: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

This text very clearly tells us that the one who commits the sinful act bears the guilt. Guilt does not come through inheritance. Remember that this must be read in the context of the whole chapter, which clarifies this even more.

While we do come into this world with a sinful nature, we do not need to sin. Sin is a choice. The Bible tells us, in 11 Peter 1:3, 4, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 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.” Many people leave us with the hopeless thought that we will be sinning until Jesus comes. Peter here says No! We do not need to remain in a sinful condition. We can become a partaker of the divine nature and be a victorious Christian. We need not be held captive to false teachings such as the “Original Sin” doctrine. I hope that this helps you in your understanding of this issue.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to LandMarks, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Ask the Pastor – Can We Now Eat Anything and Everything?

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Question:

I have been told that chapter 10 of Acts teaches that we can now eat anything and everything without any condemnation of the Lord. Is this true? If it is not true, with what does Acts 10 deal?

Answer:

You have asked a very good question. Acts 10 has been terribly misunderstood for many, many centuries. And it seems that if something has age on its side that people think this makes it truth. Age never makes error truth.
As you read the book of Acts, it becomes apparent that God is making an attempt to reach all peoples, nations, and tongues everywhere. We see this during Pentecost in Acts 2:5, 9–11. This sets the stage for the Book of Acts. God loves all people and wants everyone to be saved that chooses to be saved. He is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 gives us a clue that this chapter is not talking about what to eat but is talking about how God feels about people. “I perceive that God is no respecter of persons [shows no partiality].” If you read Acts 10 from verse 1 to verse 34, it tells the story of mission outreach to those who had previously been looked upon as “unclean.” Acts 10 deals with the prejudice mind set against those who are different than we are. Let us face the fact that the apostle Peter was a man of learned prejudice. He suffered from his upbringing just like many of us today. Prejudice is a learned character defect. God loved Peter and wanted to use him to reach the lost, but He had to re-educate Peter concerning his prejudice so Peter could teach the truth without any hindrances. Prejudice is a hindrance to the gospel. The story of Acts 10 unfolds about a Roman centurion named Cornelius who was different from Peter as far as his ethnic background was concerned. Cornelius calls for Peter to come and teach him and his household the truth. But Peter, having the prejudice that he had, needed to be corrected of these unholy attitudes before he would be ready to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. God gives to Peter a dream in which various animals are shown to him—clean and unclean. (Acts 10:12.) These animals represented all the various ethnic classes of humanity. (See Daniel 7.)

This dream was designed to teach Peter an important lesson in regard to the introduction of all nations to the gospel. The teaching here is not what to eat, but how to love humanity enough to call them brethren. This is reaffirmed in verses 34 and 35 when Peter states: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted by Him.”

The devil has so perverted this portion of Scripture that the work of spreading the gospel has just crawled forward rather than going like one running a race. What would it have been like if the truth of this passage had always been taught correctly rather than centering on one’s belly! What would the world be like not to have any prejudice in it? How much faster the Gospel would have done its work!

Prejudice in any form is hated by God. It has no place in God’s work. He was trying to teach this to Peter and consequently to those who followed in every age, but this message has been twisted and distorted. Prejudices still hamper the work, and we are still in this world, as a result. This chapter needs to be studied in depth so that the truth of the crowning text can be understood that “God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Question & Answer – What is the meaning of Sackcloth?

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“Sackcloth” – Strong’s Exhaustive concordance of the Bible, #4526-New Testament = sackcloth—material or garments made to be worn as a sign of grief; #8242-Old Testament = coarse, loose clothing used in mourning.

“There should be, not a clothing of the body with sackcloth, as in ancient times, but a deep humiliation of soul. We have not the first reason for self-congratulation and self-exaltation. We should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. He will appear to comfort and bless the true seekers.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 126. [Emphasis supplied.]

“We are not to make crosses for ourselves, by wearing sackcloth, by pinching our bodies, or by denying ourselves wholesome, nourishing food. We are not to shut ourselves in monasteries, away from the world, and do no good to our fellow beings, thinking this is the cross of Christ; neither are we required to expose health and life unnecessarily, nor to go mourning up the hill of Christian life, feeling it a sin to be cheerful, contented, happy, and joyful. These are all self-made crosses, but not the cross of Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 626.

“When the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth—then the faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth. Yet they continued their testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God’s word and were jealous for His honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare His truth during the whole of this time.” The Great Controversy, 267, 268.

“The knowledge of the way of the Lord is increasing, and will continue to increase. Heresy and superstition are clothing the world in the sackcloth garments of rebellion and transgression. Literature and cheap fiction of every order is circulated like the leaves of autumn, and the minds of thousands are so taken up with irreligious, cheap trash that there is no place in the mind for solid reading. The word of God and all that would elevate man from his degradation is passed by with indifference.” This Day With God, 131.