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Are you a Christian?

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In order to establish in your minds and mine the urgency of maintaining the substance of apostolic Christianity, I would like to direct your minds to two very important statements made by two prominent religious leaders. These two statements help us Christians to understand that there is an outright war on apostolic Christianity with a sinister motive. Quoting Arthur Goldwag from his book, ISMS & OLOGIES (Vintage Books, New York, October 2007), 237, “Secular humanism is the bugaboo (some imaginary thing that causes fear or worry) of many fundamentalist Christian groups in the United States. Dr. David Noebel, the founder of Summit Ministries and author of many books … argues that secular ‘humanists preach a faith every bit as dogmatic as Christianity. Moral relativism is foundational for Secular Humanist ethics; spontaneous generation and evolution are basis to their biology; naturalism is foundational to their philosophy; and atheism is their theological perspective.’ ”

Before I share the second statement, I would like to define naturalism, seeing it is foundational to secular humanists philosophy. Naturalism in philosophy apart from other areas is the rejection of supernaturalism (magic, religion, mysticism, etc.) as an explanation for natural phenomena or as a category of being. Naturalists assumed that environment and heredity were the chief determinants of human character (no great believer in religion or the soul). Emile Zola (1840–1902), who is considered to be literary naturalist’s leading theorist once declared, “Civilization will not attain to its perfection until the last stone from the last church falls on the last priest.”

Can a born again Christian be a naturalist or secular humanist? Something to think about in light of what it truly means to be a Christian! The second statement is also from Arthur Goldwag; he writes, “In April 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger (who would shortly become Pope Benedict XVI) delivered a homily before the College of Cardinals in which he contrasted a steadfast faith in Christ and church with the pernicious pluralism of the day: ‘The small boat of thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves—thrown from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism, and so forth. … Having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and “swept along by every wind of teaching,” looks like the only attitude (acceptable) to today’s standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desires.’ ” Ibid., 125.

While the statement in itself is a statement of challenge to every follower of Christ, yet being a Christian means more than “having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church.” Christianity means having a clear faith based on the infallible word of God. As Augustine puts it, “Faith is to believe, on the word of God, what we do not see, and its reward is to see and enjoy what we believe.” So in the context of pleasing God which is the heart of the Christian experience, the apostle Paul states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

The question is, how can a person truly please or agree with God in such a world like ours plagued with all these Isms: pluralism, relativism, humanism, secularism, intellectualism, materialism, etc., which in a general sense are expressed in such dictums as “Do your own thing!” “Be yourself!” and “Have fun!” The matter of agreeing with God is out of the question, the focus is self-centeredness and self-pleasing. So to quiet the conscience, God and true Christianity is denied and rejected for the imperatives are too restricting. Drs. Colin and Russell Standish in their book, Keepers of the Faith (Hartland Publications, Rapidan, Virginia, January 2003), 57, wrote the following: “In the skeptical climate of the 20th century, fueled by the philosophical concepts of scientific investigation, it is no longer popular to hold firm and unequivocal views. It is considered arbitrary and closed-minded. The scientific methods allows for no absolutes, no final proofs or truths. Scientific hypotheses and theories can never be proved, but may be disproved. This same notion has been applied to the word of God.”

Therefore, what has happened to the minds of many, many Christians today is that they have been immersed so deeply in these philosophies to the extent that they have little regard for the word of God which says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. So, if the word of God is lightly regarded or is disregarded by so called Christians, how then can there be faith, and if there be no faith how then can we truly please God, and how then can we be Christians? Let us remember the words of Scripture, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

The true Christian possesses faith in Jesus Christ, for it is the means, avenue by which he/she pleases or agrees with God. That’s why Paul states, “Without faith” or “apart from faith” or “apart from faithfulness” it is impossible to please God.

Faith is defined by the pen of Inspiration in the following ways: “Faith is the living power that presses through every barrier, overrides all obstacles, and plants its banner in the heart of the enemy’s camp.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 163.

“Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin. Faith can present Christ’s perfect obedience instead of the sinner’s transgression and defection.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1073. So then, it is our faith in Christ and His righteousness, which allows us to become Christians. Ellen White also says of faith, “Faith is the very lifeblood of the soul. Its presence gives warmth, health, consistency, and sound judgment.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 472.

This definition of faith says it all for this message within the context of what we are studying: “Said the angel: ‘Feeling is not faith. Faith is simply to take God at His word.’ ” Ibid., vol. 1, 620.

To begin the Christian journey, faith is necessary, and to continue being a Christian, faith is indispensable! Faith recognizes and acknowledges the absoluteness of the word of Jesus. It accepts without questioning the immutability of God, that in Him “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. Therefore, without taking God at His word it is impossible to measure up to His requirement, and isn’t this what Christianity is all about, agreeing with God? So, for the apostle, what makes any man well-pleasing to God is faith; without it there is no possibility of pleasing Him (Hebrews 11:6).

In order to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to please God or agree with God, Paul said in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” He connects this verse with the account that Moses wrote concerning Enoch in Genesis 5:22–24, “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

Moses records that “Enoch walked with God.” This phrase was used also of Noah (Genesis 6:9) and by Micah (Micah 6:8) and the similar expressions, “to walk before God” (Genesis 17:1; Psalm 116:9), and “to walk after God” (Deuteronomy 13:4; Ephesians 5:1), portrays a life of singularly elevated piety, not merely a constant realization of the Divine presence or even a perpetual effort at holy obedience, but also a maintenance of the most confidential intercourse with the personal God. It implies a situation of nearness to God, if not in place at least in spirit, a character of likeness to God (Amos 3:3), and a life of converse with God. The apostle describes it as a life that was “pleasing to God,” as springing from the root of faith (Hebrews 11:5). What we see here is that Enoch’s life was most evidently in complete and beautiful harmony with the divine will. Therefore we can all agree that the walk that Enoch walked for over three hundred years was a life lived in perfect harmony to the word of God. We can agree that he was a true Christian.

Enoch’s walk with God was a walk of faith, and this is how he did it: “Enoch walked with God three hundred years previous to his translation to heaven, and the state of the world was not then more favorable for the perfection of Christian character than it is today. And how did Enoch walk with God? He educated his mind and heart to ever feel that he was in the presence of God, and when in perplexity his prayers would ascend to God to keep him. He refused to take any course that would offend his God. He kept the Lord continually before him. He would pray, ‘Teach me Thy way, that I may not err. What is Thy pleasure concerning me? What shall I do to honor Thee, my God?’ ” Christ Triumphant, 43.

Enoch lived out in his life the words of King Solomon: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5–7. For Enoch, self was disowned; his will was always subordinated to God’s will, and he endeavored always to agree with God. This was so because he had a conscious realization of the existence of God, “for he that cometh to God must believe that He is.” Hebrews 11:6.

Enoch did not allow the isms and ideologies of his day to destroy his Christian witness or influence. Though he was not in the actual presence of the Eternal, yet he accepted the word of the Lord, which said, “In the beginning God.” Genesis 1:1. He believed when the word of God states, “For He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9. Enoch was a creationist; he totally rejected the naturalist and evolutionist philosophies. For him, God was a living, active, ever present being, “in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28.

With the realization of God’s existence comes the acknowledgment of our responsibility to Him, the fact that, “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. There are those who believe that God is morally indifferent, that He has given man freedom of choice and is not concerned about the kinds of choices he makes. This verse informs us that this conception is not true. God does care what men do, and virtue will not go unrewarded. God will reward those who diligently seek Him.

The servant of the Lord instructs us that we Christians, living in this perverse and wicked generation, should endeavor to live as did faithful Enoch: “Like Enoch, we must walk with God, bringing the will into submission to His will. We must be willing to go where Jesus leads, willing to suffer for His dear sake. In seeking to save the souls for whom Christ has died, in conquering difficulties, and in keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, we reveal the genuineness of our religion. Faithful Christians do not seek the easiest place, the lightest burdens. They are found where the work is hardest, where their help is most needed.” Christ Triumphant, 48. She further states, “Our present work is to come out from the world and be separate. This is the only way we can walk with God, as did Enoch.” Conflict and Courage, 29.

The word of God declares, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4. The prophet here affirms that he who lives by a simple faith and trust in the Lord will be saved, but “the soul which is lifted up” through its own willful pride and perverseness in sin will perish. Therefore is it any wonder that so many professed Christians today are not able to please God or agree with His word? Through false education they are greatly affected by the many manmade philosophies, which repudiate the existence of God and His word. Skepticism is the order of the day. It is from the Greek word skepsis meaning consideration or doubt. It is the view that reason has no capacity to come to any conclusions at all. Therefore a skeptic is a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual, one who doubts the truth about a religion, especially Christianity. So we hear expressions like “Yea hath God said … ?”

It is customary today for professed Christians to question and doubt the word of God. Satan would have it so, for he knows that so long as Christians doubt God’s word, they are no longer pleasing God. Many, many Christians claim that they accept and believe the Bible, but at the same time they are very selective concerning the imperatives that are applicable to their lives. This act of accepting some part of the Scriptures and rejecting those areas with which they are not in agreement is the plan of the devil. Ellen White wrote, “It is one thing to treat the Bible as a book of good moral instruction, to be heeded so far as is consistent with the spirit of the times and our position in the world; it is another thing to regard it as it really is—the word of the living God, the word that is our life, the word that is to mold our actions, our words, and our thoughts. To hold God’s word as anything less than this is to reject it. And this rejection by those who profess to believe it, is foremost among the causes of skepticism and infidelity in the youth.” Prayer, 319.

Jonathan Edwards, the famous puritan preacher, in one of his sermons made the following remarks, “If the godly had only a heart to purpose to do the will, but did not have a heart to actually do as they purpose, they would still be slaves to sin.” We read of some who believed on Christ, but Christ would not commit Himself to them. The reason was that He knew they did not have a heart to actually do the will of God. The gospel writer John in chapter 2:23, 24, tells us, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men.”

Jesus knew that many of those now eager to acknowledge Him would turn away and walk no more with Him. He knew the fickleness of the human heart, and how many fair-weather converts were heedless or hypocritical. They were only following for the loaves and fishes. They did not possess that faith which works by love and purifies the soul, thus they were unable to please Jesus, likewise many Christians today!

Jesus, recognizing the overwhelming influence that vain philosophies would have on His followers, asks a question which each one of us needs to answer: “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.

I leave with you these words, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. With this in mind I ask you, are you a Christian?

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

The Power of Forgiveness

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In the area of forgiveness and as far as the gospel is concerned, Seventh-day Adventists believe differently from many other denominations and Christians. We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is at the heart of the Three Angels’ Messages, and for that reason it is called the everlasting gospel. It was first preached in the Garden of Eden and then repeated through many prophets and apostles. Jesus Christ presented this same gospel to the dying humanity in this world. For many thousands of years it has never been altered or changed.

Christians of other faiths often proclaim with jubilance that they are saved and have been forgiven. What does forgiveness mean to you? I have literally had a resurrection experience (after heart surgery), and I really feel that the life I now enjoy in my heart is a new life. This is a gift from God. We cannot entertain, we cannot abuse, we cannot create a single day of our lives, but the new heart experience is a precious gift from God every day. Each inhale and exhale, each heartbeat every moment of your life is an infinite, which should be received with gratitude.

Forgiveness is the act of pardon after a guilty party recognizes his/her wrong and repents. It can be the result when two parties both recognize they have not been right or fair and they forgive each other. Of course, we can never say we forgive God, but what happens between God and us when He forgives us? The answer to this is really the center discussion of the gospel. Our salvation begins with forgiveness. Through God’s grace and mercy, He forgives our sins, which is the beginning of our salvation.

When we believe that Jesus Christ has forgiven us, we believe that something tremendous was done on Calvary. Jesus was crucified on the cross as a redemptive sacrifice for us and prepared a platform for our salvation. This is not just the fact of forgiveness but the power of forgiveness. We all believe in God’s mercy and His love, but His forgiveness is more than a judicial act, it is more than a legal action from our condemnation. After all, we are condemned sinners and can do nothing about our sins. We cannot forgive ourselves, or save ourselves from sins or from our own false information. We are puppets to sin and can do nothing, except to trust that God will save our souls from condemnation and from guilt.

Unlike ourselves who have to physically put action to our words to accomplish any act, God is the Creator of all things. When He speaks, whatever it is that He says, happens. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” Psalm 33:6.

There is power in God’s word. When He speaks something is created, something is going to be transformed and changed. So when God forgives, something happens. His Word is a full promise of His forgiveness, and when read and received and believed and the gift of forgiveness is accepted, it changes the heart and behavior of the penitent. We celebrate the Sabbath because our God is the Creator. He has done His own work for our salvation. When we accept His work we accept His creative power. It is this power that keeps us from falling into the same sins; it guarantees us salvation and holiness.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

“And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city. And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:1, 2.

Not only does Jesus heal a person by His power, but at the same time gives a living illustration to future Bible students’ understanding of what it means to be forgiven; to see what it means to be touched by God and be forgiven. Mark records this same incident in his epistle chapters 1 and 2, where we find out that the house in which this healing took place was the house of Peter. Wherever Jesus was, the crowds gathered, and Peter’s house was packed with people. Others stood by the doors and windows, everywhere; people surrounded the house that not a single other soul could enter.

This story reminds me of an experience I had several years ago while in China. I was standing in a small room (to hold about 100 people). I stood in the front and watched the people as they came in. They kept coming until I was pushed into the corner. I counted 92 people in that small room. It was jammed packed, and when I looked up there were two heads hanging down from the holes in the ceiling, not able to come down because there was no more room.

There was such a crowd that not another person could fit into the house of Peter where Jesus was. There was a man who heard that Jesus Christ had even cured others of the leprosy. His heart pounded with joy at the thought of seeing Jesus. He believed that his own crippled condition would be cured and his own sins forgiven, if he could only get into the house and talk to Jesus. He asked his friends to take him to Jesus. Seeing the crowd, they were not discouraged but took him up onto the roof and tore apart a section large enough to lower him down into the room.

You can only imagine the reaction of Peter seeing his home being demolished and the revival meeting being interrupted. This man needed Jesus, more than anybody that was crowded in the house. With ropes they lowered him on his bed. His muscles had become hard and stiff like a stick, and he could not move his hands or his feet. There are many Christians today that, even though they go to church every Sabbath, are crippled. They do not know how to walk, how to witness, how to share with others their salvation experiences. They are lame and palsied; they always need to be carried by their pastors and elders and their brothers and sisters in the church. They are sick and do not know how to move around and show the world about God’s healing power.

If you are one of those Christians, you need to come to Jesus Christ and be revived and healed by His power. We are talking here about the power of forgiveness. When the paralytic was lowered, Jesus Christ looked at him and had pity. When we come to Jesus Christ, we faint with yearning hearts appealing to Him and say, “Jesus, I’m here. All I want is Your simple touch. I believe and trust Your power. So come, put Your hand on me and save me.”

When we come as we are with that simple yearning heart not desiring anything else, Christ will perform the miracle that only the Creator can perform. Jesus said this: “Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2). Jesus saw this as more important than physical healing. Healing came secondary as a result of the forgiveness of his sins. Do you want to receive the forgiveness that God wants to give you? So many Christians do not realize that to be forgiven by the Saviour is the most important single thing for your soul in the entire world. When Jesus looked at the man on the stretcher, He saw the heart-felt desire of his soul. He had made many mistakes, and when he was young, he was intemperate and committed many sins. He had many regrets in his life, and when he came to Jesus Christ, the thing that he really wanted was the assurance of his own salvation. Can I be saved? Can my sins be forgiven? He witnessed the priests, the scribes, Pharisees and Levites, who served in the service of the synagogues, look at him demeaningly because of his affliction. As he reviewed his life, all he saw was filthiness and wickedness and questioned if there was hope for him. He longed to find the hope and assurance of forgiveness and salvation from Jesus.

As he was being lowered down, Jesus could read his heart. So the first thing he spoke was, “Son, be of good cheer. Don’t be so desperate. Don’t be distressed or depressed. You have a hope, be of good cheer, my son. Your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2. He was so happy and relieved from the burden of sins and the guilt of condemnation that he wanted to jump up and stand. Jesus told him, “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Mark 2:11.

There were many witnesses to this event. “And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” Matthew 9:3–5.

Which one is easier? Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven? This can be spoken by anyone. Actors and actresses can say it, and I can say it. Jesus called Himself, Son of man. He became one of us, assumed our sinful nature, the incarnation, and lived our lives in our shoes, a holy life by the touch of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, a sinless life. You see, this was not because He was a different man. He was the same man with the same nature as we have, but He was filled with the Spirit of God.

New Life in Jesus

This same life of Jesus is available to all who consecrate themselves to Him; a life that is powered of God, with the authority of God. Jesus, as one of us, and as the Son of man, He had the authority and the power of God to forgive sins. I am not saying that we can have power to forgive sin, but Jesus did in His Father’s power. He and His Father identified with each other.

Jesus said, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” Verse 6. Jesus was here demonstrating the freedom of forgiveness. He said, Get up, take your bed with you and walk home. You are not tied to that filthy bed anymore. You do not have to stay there anymore. Rise and walk. You are, by the cords of condemnation, no longer tied down, but are free to live a new life. God has forgiven you and has given you the power to rise and to walk.

He immediately understood the meaning of freedom from sin, and in the sight of the crowd, he arose and took up his bed. He could walk again!

When the people saw him and heard him praising God’s name, they were amazed, having never seen anything like this happen before. As he departed to his house, multitudes saw it and marveled, glorifying God Who had given such power unto man.

When Christians experience this same power of forgiveness in their lives, others will notice they have been touched by the power of God and freed from the power and bondage of sin and been released by God’s word; their sins are forgiven.

When Christians are released from this bondage and arise and live and walk, praise and pray, and help others and live like a forgiven person, others will witness the true gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what it means to “Fear God, and give glory to Him.” Revelation 14:7.

Understanding Forgiveness

Do you really understand what it means to be forgiven? When God forgives, He does not only forgive the sinful records of the past, as does a judge in a courtroom, reminding you of the amount of sins you have committed and then forgiving them. There is legal forgiveness, which is seen in the sacrificial service. But His main objective in forgiving is to heal. He restores you from the condemnation of sin. He cleanses, He claims you from the power of sin so that you do not sin anymore. Forgiveness releases you from the chains and bondage of sin so that you become a new person, a free person. That is not merely a judicial act, but that is power, the healing power of Jesus Christ who frees us from the bondage of Satan.

Jesus Christ, our God who created us, came down to this earth to save us from sin, not in the sin. I really believe it; do you? When we really understand this, then we will understand what is God’s salvation.

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John 20:31. If we believe in Jesus’ name, then we are going to be saved. When we are saved, we are going to receive the life of God. When God gives us this life, we will be revived in Spirit, in our thoughts, in our desires, in our intentions. Our plans, our thoughts and our lifestyles are all going to be changed. We are new creatures, and we don’t dwell in the past anymore. We become a living witness of the Saviour, who has forgiven our sins. Salvation brings with it the forgiveness of God. When we come to Jesus Christ with a contrite heart, and say, “Lord, Jesus, I’m a sinner, I’ve sinned against Thee, only against Thee. Forgive me, cleanse me, and give me a new heart.” When we come to Jesus with all our heart, begging for forgiveness, Jesus Christ is going to forgive us with the power of the Creator. He will give us a new heart, new thoughts, new motivations, new desires, created for His honor and glory. This is the gospel!

No Sin Too Bad

One time when I was in China, a pastor’s meeting was called. With the political climate, the meeting had to be held secretly. The pastors were asked to write questions for me to answer, and when one question came and was translated I thought it a bit odd, as I thought everyone at the meeting were either evangelists or pastors. The question was, “Pastor Kang, can God forgive my sins? Can my great sins that I have committed in the past be forgiven, even me and my sins?” That was not the kind of question I expected from anyone in that group. So, after the meeting I requested that the person who asked that question remain. I found out that the man was a layman who had tagged along with his pastor, for he wanted to attend the meeting and listen to the lectures.

This big man began to sob as he told his story. He told me, “Pastor, I had a wife and children and I was a gangster, a loan shark. I went from business to business and house to house to get the money for our boss and our gang groups. I have committed many, many great sins. I cannot even look up to heaven. I do not know if God is able to forgive me or not. I don’t know if He really wants to forgive me or if I’m condemned. But I heard you and I have a little hope in my heart. Can God forgive my sins?” I asked if he believed in the word of God, the Bible. He did, so I asked him to open his Bible and read a few verses with me.

“He will turn again, He will have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19.

“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

I asked him, “Can you believe it? Do you see any conditions mentioned here? As long as you come to Jesus Christ, and say, ‘Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner, forgive me.’ That’s all it takes, if you come with all your heart.” I asked him, “Do you believe in His promise?” And he said, “Yes. I want to believe this promise.” “Do you want to, or do you believe it?” And he said, “I believe it.”

Praise God! I knelt down with him and I prayed, going over the promise of Jesus again in the prayer. I told the man to thank Him for His forgiveness. I finished the prayer saying, “Jesus, You heard his confession; he came to You with all his heart. As You have promised, forgive his sin now, so he may go with a happy heart and with a healing touch.”

With tears in his eyes, the man rose, he hugged me with a hug so hard it was suffocating.

You may attend church for twenty or thirty years or for all your life, but are you really forgiven? Do you know for sure that Jesus Christ has forgiven your sins?

When God forgives you, He reclaims you from the condemnation of sin. He heals you from all the scars and takes away the excess baggage loaded with past sins. When God heals the palsy and says, “Son, thy sins are forgiven,” at that same time He says, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” He means arise from your past. Shun all those weaknesses and problems, sorrows, pains and sufferings that are caused by your sins and iniquities. Arise from that; you don’t have to be entangled with them anymore. He is healing you just as He created the earth. He created the trees and flowers, the sun, moon and stars and with that same power He will heal you. He commands you, come, arise and walk in newness of life.

There is a power in God’s forgiveness, something happens. Many Christians believe that when God forgives, something happens on God’s part, that a contrite heart and confession in the spirit of repentance will cause in God’s heart the release of His anger and condemnation. They forget that God the Father is the One who sent Jesus Christ to save us. Long before we have a contrite heart, like the father of the prodigal son, He already has determined in His mind to forgive us. It was when the prodigal son remembered the love of his father that he rose and turned and began to walk home. But even before he made that decision to return, his father turned on the lantern on the porch every night in anticipation. He was waiting and waiting for his son to return. So when his father saw him in the distance, he immediately recognized him, saying, “That is my son!”

When the distance was still far, the father ran and embraced his son in his bosom and accepted him, even before he said, “Father, forgive me.” His father had already forgiven him, and just like that father long ago, our heavenly Father is waiting for our return. Many people say they are forgiven and that maybe it is only in the books or records, but God’s intention is to heal our soul from the problems caused by our iniquities.

This is good news. When God forgives, something happens to us, not to God. We can rise with healing.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12–14.

Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed. Many Christians have a different gospel, claiming the forgiveness of God while retaining habitual sins in their heart. They claim forgiveness of the records of sin only and without the power to cleanse the heart.

“But forgiveness has a broader meaning than many suppose. When God gives the promise that He ‘will abundantly pardon,’ He adds, as if the meaning of that promise exceeded all that we could comprehend: ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’ (Isaiah 55:7–9). God’s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 114.

Pastor David Kang is the director of Light for Life U.S. Ministry operation out of Fort Lee, New Jersey. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang also frequently travels to Asia where he trains pastors who often work “underground.” 

“In Wrath, Remember Mercy”

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If you want to study the character of the children of Jacob, a good place to begin is in Genesis 49. That chapter begins, “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, ‘Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father’ (Genesis 49:1, 2).”

Jacob then proceeds to relate the fate of all twelve of his children and of their descendants.

These depictions can be read simply as interesting stories, or they can serve as a basis for self-examination, using them as Paul suggested in I Corinthians 10:11: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Of particular note should be those character traits that are unchristlike in nature. If I am truly desirous of being among the 144,000, I need to be diligent to expunge these traits from myself and to “uproot every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted” (Matthew 15:13).

A quick scan of Genesis 49 reveals the following unchristlike character traits:

  • Instability
  • Incest
  • Cruelty
  • Murder
  • Anger
  • Wrath
  • Envy
  • Jealousy
  • Backbiting

A continuing study of these tribes through the Old Testament reveals even more barriers to salvation as the descendants of Jacob’s children multiply and spread.

It is not possible in this limited space to address each of these flaws. The one I would like to look at closely here is wrath—anger, and a hasty temper.

As I studied the character of Jacob’s children, I was particularly struck by what Jacob prophesied about Simeon and Levi: “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel (Genesis 49:7)!”

My study revealed that in Scripture, there are three depictions of wrath: man’s, God’s, and Satan’s. Each has definite characteristics and definite outcomes.

Strong’s Concordance defines wrath as violent anger; vehement [passionate, heated, violent, intense] exasperation; indignation.

The first mention of wrath in Scripture occurs in the reference mentioned initially, when Jacob is prophesying about the future of his children:

Genesis 49:5–7: “Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.”

Throughout Scripture, examples of man’s wrath have similar outcomes as did that of Simeon and Levi—it is never good.

We are given much instruction and caution in the Scriptures, thankfully, about wrath and anger. Of particular note is James 1:19: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Inspiration alludes to that text in Testimonies, vol. 4, 243: “That which is done in haste and anger is not excusable. … You may, by a single word spoken in haste and passion, leave a sting in the hearts of friends which may never be forgotten.”

James expands on this theme in several places as his letter continues.

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5, 6.

The single Greek word that is translated into the English phrase “set on fire” means to inflame with passion. Clearly James understood that outbursts of wrath are provoked by Satan: “set on fire by hell.”

Solomon in his wisdom had earlier addressed this same issue several times in his proverbs.

“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly.” Proverbs 14:17.

“A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays [dispels, alleviates, relieves] contention.” Proverbs 15:18.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32.

It was also on his mind when he wrote out his repentance for his grievous sins: “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9.

Paul also addresses this issue. Apparently anger, wrath, and a hasty temper were a significant problem in the early church.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul includes outbursts of wrath among the works of the flesh. (See Galatians 5:19–21.) He advised the Ephesians to “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Ephesians 4:31. To the Colossians, he wrote, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” Colossians 3:8.

Imagine what a peaceful world this would be if all the world’s professed Christians would follow Paul’s advice.

Inspiration addresses these issues very directly and very often.

“Meekness in the school of Christ is one of the marked fruits of the Spirit. It is a grace wrought by the Holy Spirit as a sanctifier, and enables its possessor at all times to control a rash and impetuous temper. When the grace of meekness is cherished by those who are naturally sour or hasty in disposition, they will put forth the most earnest efforts to subdue their unhappy temper. Every day they will gain self-control, until that which is unlovely and unlike Jesus is conquered. They become assimilated to the Divine Pattern, until they can obey the inspired injunction, ‘Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath’ (James 1:19).” The Sanctified Life, 15, 16.

It is interesting to note, by the way, that every one of the fruits of the spirit Paul gave to the Galatians—and subsequently to us—is the antithesis of anger.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23 KJV.

Obviously, one whose heart is filled with love, joy, and peace, one who is longsuffering, gentle, meek, and temperate, will not be guilty of outbursts of wrath or anger.

Interestingly, there is only one instance in the New Testament in which it is specifically stated that Christ was angry. It occurred after He had been accused of Sabbath-breaking when He was about to perform another miracle that would result in the same charge.

“And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Step forward.’ Then He said to them, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” Mark 3:1–5.

Of all the references to wrath and anger in Scripture, by far the most frequent are to God. The words wrath and anger occur over 400 times. Of those, the majority refer to God’s, which, it should be noted, is always manifested toward sin and sinners. A study of these occurrences will give the serious Bible student a comprehensive understanding of what God deems to be sinful actions and character traits.

Paul and Isaiah give us two general examples among the many hundreds that occur in Scripture:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18.

“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it.” Isaiah 13:9.

One of the most surprising revelations that resulted from the study of wrath and anger is that only one reference to Satan occurs. It is in a text that is familiar to all Adventists: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12.

Obviously, that time is far shorter now than it was when John was inspired to write these words. Inspiration addressed this issue as follows:

“I have been shown that Satan has not been stupid and careless these many years since his fall, but has been learning. He has grown more artful. His plans are laid deeper and are more covered with a religious garment to hide their deformity. The power of Satan now to tempt and deceive is ten-fold greater than it was in the days of the apostles. His power has increased, and it will increase, until it is taken away. His wrath and hate grow stronger as his time to work draws near its close.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 277.

Though we do indeed have an enemy, we also have a divine Redeemer, who has pledged to redeem those who turn their hearts to Him for salvation. The promises in Scripture that assure us of eternal life are too numerous to detail here. However, if we truly fear the Lord and hate evil, these promises are for us—His children by creation, by redemption, by adoption, by choice, and by faith.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:8-13

“In wrath remember mercy.”

Habakkuk 3:2

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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

Completing the Temple with the Gospel of Jesus

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Through the ages that have passed since the days of the apostles, the building of God’s temple has never ceased. “Paul and the other apostles, and all the righteous who have lived since then, have acted their part in the building of the temple. But the structure is not yet complete. We who are living in this age have a work to do, a part to act.” The Acts of the Apostles, 598, 599.

In a previous article [LandMarks, November 2013], we studied about completing the temple with the law of God. We learned that, for ancient Israel, the ark of the covenant was a symbol of God’s presence and power. As we looked into the sanctuary we learned that wherever God’s law and mercy were found, there is where God’s presence was found and where communion with God occurred. Then we made the connection with modern Israel, the church. We learned that the law of God, as well as the mercy of God, should be located in the church and, specifically, in the hearts of His people.

The reason for addressing this is because, according to Early Writings, 254, “The minds of all who embrace this [the third angel’s] message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God.” The third angel’s message emphasizes the law of God and the faith of Jesus which is present truth at its core and our primary message.

Another reason is because of what may be read in The Great Controversy, 478: “It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His [God’s] professed people.” Friends, do you want to see a revival of primitive faith and godliness? Inspiration says, “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 121. Such a revival can come only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position, and that position is in the heart. Let us therefore do as Jesus did, magnify the law and make it honorable, first and foremost in our lives.

While the law of God is essential to the finishing of God’s work, the completion of God’s temple, there is something else that is as essential as the law. Without it the law of God would leave us sinners under eternal condemnation with no hope of eternal life. The Bible says that by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 7:7). Therefore, if we had only a knowledge of our sins, what rest or peace could we receive from such guilt? The law brings condemnation to the sinner; therefore, if man is to be restored to the image of God, there must be something blended with the law.

“The law and the gospel go hand in hand. The one is the complement of the other. The law without faith in the gospel of Jesus cannot save the transgressor of law. The gospel without the law is inefficient and powerless. The law and the gospel are a perfect whole. … The two blended—the gospel of Jesus and the law of God—produce the love and faith unfeigned.” Our High Calling, 141.

With this in mind, let’s consider completing the temple with the gospel of Jesus. But before discussing the completion of the temple, let us take a brief look at the gospel as it was given to man at the beginning of time and also as it is given to man at the end of time.

In Genesis 3:15, we read, “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.” Here God, in the Garden of Eden, made a decree that He would put enmity (hatred) between the serpent (Satan) and the woman (the church). He would also put enmity between Satan’s seed (his followers) and the woman’s seed (Jesus and all who belong to Him). There is one point from this that needs to be emphasized. According to this text, although Satan and his army will fight against Christ and His church, the promise is that Jesus will ultimately gain the victory in this war. God told the serpent that although he would bruise the heel of the woman’s seed, that seed would bruise the serpent’s head, signifying victory for Jesus and defeat for the devil.

Notice the following quotation concerning this Scripture: “To man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden. … This sentence, uttered in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise. While it foretold war between man and Satan, it declared that the power of the great adversary would finally be broken. … Though they must suffer from the power of their mighty foe, they could look forward to final victory.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 65, 66. According to this statement, the sentence pronounced in Genesis 3:15 was a promise to Adam and Eve. It was a promise that the power of the adversary would eventually be broken and that they could look forward to final victory. In simple terms, this is the gospel, and this gospel is a promise of victory. Friends, I want you to keep the word victory in mind, because we will come back to it at the end.

While this gospel was first given to man at the beginning of time, the Bible declares that, in the last days, the same gospel, the everlasting gospel, is given to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:6, 7.

Look at the phrase “another angel.” The word angel refers to a messenger. It can refer to a heavenly messenger, or it can refer to a human messenger. The angel in Revelation 14:6 has the everlasting gospel to preach. Notice what Jesus said in Mark 16:15: “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Here we learn that the responsibility of preaching the gospel was given to the church. Therefore, the angel referred to in Revelation 14:6 must represent a movement in which the church would proclaim a message to the world.

The message of the first angel is a message announcing the judgment hour. This message began to be proclaimed in the early 1830s by William Miller, Joseph Wolff and others. The movement became known as the Millerite movement and later on as the Advent movement. The Scripture that laid the foundation for this movement was Daniel 8:14: “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Here we have a prophecy that the sanctuary is to be cleansed at the end of 2300 days. In this article we will not discuss this prophecy in detail or the misunderstanding of the Millerites concerning the sanctuary, but note that, in the everlasting gospel, the sanctuary is to be cleansed. This is the gospel of the first angel. It is a message of final victory.

This is the first angel that preaches the everlasting gospel at the end of time; however, it is not the last. The message of judgment was to be followed by two other messages, and all were to be proclaimed together. Skipping directly to the third and last angel’s message: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:9–12.

There are at least five descriptions within the third angel’s message, but draw your attention to that which the angel of God directs. Recall the quotation mentioned earlier from the book, Early Writings, 254: “The minds of all who embrace this [the third angel’s] message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God.”

Notice that the third angel draws the attention of God’s people to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. Our attention is drawn to the work that Jesus is doing for us, and according to this quotation, Jesus is making His final intercession for sinners. God’s mercy is still lingering for that man or woman who is ladened with the burden of sin, and it is the third angel’s message that points us to the sin-bearer. Once again, this is the gospel. This is the hope of the world. Preaching the law of God without this gospel would leave us sinners under eternal condemnation and with no hope of eternal life. Yet, because we have a gospel message, we have the hope that, though we are sinners, we can become saints by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is the gospel, and the sooner we fully receive the provisions of this gospel, the sooner the building of God’s temple will be completed and the sooner we can leave this world of sorrow and sin.

In conclusion, consider what is the provision of the third angel’s message and how it is connected with the finishing of God’s temple. In Revelation 14:12, it says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Here is described the characteristics of the saints. Because sanctification is a lifetime process, this Scripture also gives a clue to the work that should occupy our attention in the last days. The keeping of God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus is the most important work we are called to do. Nothing should divert our attention from this. Because we have already discussed the importance of God’s law, let us now consider the importance of the “faith of Jesus.”

What is the faith of Jesus? “ ‘The faith of Jesus.’ It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs to the third angel’s message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. And faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 172.

Friends, do you have the faith of Jesus? Do you believe that He can completely save you from all of your besetting sins, even today? The only solution for the transgressor of God’s law is the sacrifice and intercession of Jesus Christ. There is no need for us to bear our own guilt. There is no need for us to be doubtful, hateful, lonely, distressed, depressed, despaired or defeated. There is a Saviour who can, even at this moment, deliver you from the power of sin and give you the power to live victoriously. Not only can He do it, but He wants to do it, even right now. All you have to do is have faith in the promise, yea in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and He will give you the victory that was promised to Adam in the beginning and that is still being offered to all who will receive it today.

“Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God’s to give. The grace of God comes to the soul through the channel of living faith, and that faith it is in our power to exercise.

“True faith lays hold of and claims the promised blessing before it is realized and felt. We must send up our petitions in faith within the second veil and let our faith take hold of the promised blessing and claim it as ours. We are then to believe that we receive the blessing, because our faith has hold of it, and according to the Word it is ours. ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them’ (Mark 11:24). Here is faith, naked faith, to believe that we receive the blessing, even before we realize it. When the promised blessing is realized and enjoyed, faith is swallowed up.” Early Writings, 72.

Friends, do you have faith in the promises of God? Do you believe that God can deliver you from all evil? Remember the word victory that was mentioned in the beginning? Victory over sin is the promise of the gospel, but it will come to those only who ask, believe, and receive it by faith.

Demario Carter is currently a Bible worker for Steps to Life. 

James White Collection, One Hundred Infidels Converted

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With the 1st of January, 1838, William Miller commenced a second course of lectures at Lansingburgh, New York, in compliance with the urgent request of the Baptist Church in that place, and of E. B. Crandall, their pastor. The lectures continued nine days, and were listened to by crowded and attentive audiences. The result also was most heart cheering. Infidelity had several strongholds in that neighborhood, and many of that class attended his lectures, and were greatly affected by them. In a letter dated on the 25th of that month, two weeks after the close of the lectures, a gentleman of that place writes to Mr. Miller:

“I have never witnessed so powerful an effect in any place as in this, on all who heard. I am of the opinion that not less than one hundred persons who held infidel sentiments are brought to believe the Bible. Infidelity is dumb in this place, as if frightened, and converts are many.”

Testimony of One Converted

 

The following testimony of one who was converted from infidelity during these lectures is copied from the Boston Investigator (an infidel paper) of January, 1845.

“Mr. Editor: I was a warm supporter of the views of Abner Kneeland, attended his lectures and protracted dances, disbelieved in Divine revelation and a future existence, and fully accorded with Mr. Kneeland’s views of religion. Having read every work of note that I could obtain, and having heard many lectures opposed to God and the Bible, I considered myself prepared to overthrow the Christian faith, and feared no argument that could be brought from the Bible. With these feelings, I attended a full course of Mr. Miller’s lectures. He gave rules of interpretation, and pledged himself to prove his position. I approved of his rules,—to which I refer you,—and the result was, he established the fact that the Bible is what it purports to be—the Word of God—to my mind, beyond a doubt; and I have taken it as the man of my counsel. I notice your doubts of the truth of the statement in relation to hundreds of infidels being converted under the preaching of Mr. Miller. This may possibly be owing to your never having given Mr. Miller a candid and thorough hearing. He is a man mighty in the Scriptures, and has done terrible execution in the ranks of the ‘King’s enemies,’ with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I am personally acquainted with nearly one hundred who held to similar views with Abner Kneeland, who were converted under the preaching of Mr. Miller; and we did not yield the point without a struggle, nor without due consideration. Each and every prop and refuge of infidelity and unbelief was swept by the truth of the Almighty as chaff is driven by the wind. Yet we parted with them much as a man parts with a diseased tooth. We tried to cure and keep it there, and when made to know that the root and foundation was rotten, it was painful to part with; but we rejoiced and felt better after the separation; for there is balm in Gilead—there is a Physician there.”

Life and Health – Three Delicious Recipes for Health and Stregnth

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In the last few years we have heard a great deal about Candida Albicans (yeast infection), due to a defective immune system. These defense mechanisms are broken down when you take antibiotics, specifically, penicillin, preparing the way for Candida. This can indeed become serious and if left to invade the system, one may have it for life. Diet is of utmost importance, and one of the items that must be eliminated is yeast. Bread, being the “staff of life”, is a very important item in millions of households. So, it seems essential that we substitute unleavened bread in a variety of ways to take care of this need.

 

“When hot, or new, raised bread of any kind is difficult of digestion. It should never appear on the table. This rule does not, however, apply to unleavened bread. Fresh rolls made of wheaten meal, without yeast or leaven, and baked in a well-heated oven, are both wholesome and palatable.” “Counsels on Diets and Foods, 316, 317. Also beneficial is the thorough mastication process required which is a considerable drawback in eating porridges and soups.

 

How many of us really realize what we owe to our Heavenly Father, who has created us and redeemed us by His precious blood on Calvary, for the perfect “blueprint”, enabling us to have health and strength to work for Him, using our varied talents in His service.

 

“The transgression of physical law is the transgression of God’s law. Our creator is Jesus Christ. He is the author of our being. He has created the human structure. He is the author of physical laws, as He is the author of the moral law. And the human being, who is careless and reckless of the habits and practices that concern his physical life and health, sins against God. Many who profess to love Jesus Christ do not show proper reverence and respect for Him who gave His life to save them from eternal death. He is not reverenced, or respected, or recognized. This is shown by the injury done to their bodies in violation of the laws of their being.” Manuscript 49, 1897.

 

“If we close our eyes to the light for fear we shall see our wrongs, which we are unwilling to forsake, our sins are not lessened, but increased. If light is turned from in one case, it will be disregarded in another. It is just as much sin to violate the laws of our being as to break one of the Ten Commandments, for we cannot do either without breaking God’s Law. We cannot love the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength while we are loving our appetites, our tastes, a great deal better than we love the Lord. We are daily lessening our strength to glorify God, when he requires all our strength, all our mind. By our wrong habits we are lessening our hold on life, and yet professing to be Christ’s followers, preparing for the finishing touch of immortality.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 70, 71.

 

May God help us to keep the channels open, the delicate nerve endings of the brain, by not beclouding or benumbing them, that the Holy Spirit may do its work in our lives and prepare us for the soon coming of our Saviour!

 

Cornbread

 

1-3/4 cups cornmeal

 

1/4 cup date sugar

 

1 cup Quick Oats

 

1 tsp. Sea Salt

 

1 cup chopped cashews

 

2 cups Soy or Nut Milk

 

Mix all ingredients well. Place in a shallow baking dish or silverstone cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

 

Oat Crackers

 

4 cups Quick Oats (ground in blender)

 

4 Tablespoons date sugar or granulated Fruit Source

 

1 tsp. Sea Salt

 

1 cup finely ground walnuts

 

Mix all ingredients well. Measure out half of the mixture, and add enough Soy or Nut milk to form a dough, and roll out between wax paper and cut out crackers. Place on non-stick cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees until done, about 20-30 minutes.

 

These unleavened recipes have tremendous food value. If Soymilk is used you have the 8 essential amino acids.

 

Oatmeal Pecan Crisps

 

2 cups oat flour

 

3 /4 tsp. Sea Salt

1 cup millet flour

 

1/2 cup fruit source (dates)

 

1 cup chopped pecans (walnuts)

 

2 cups Soy or Nut Milk

 

Add milk to proper consistency, thick but spreadable, on a non-stick cookie sheet, about one inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

 

Address To Believers In Christ Of All Denominations

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Written: February, 1844 (from Memoirs of William Miller, 249–253, by Sylvester Bliss, 1853.)

Dear Brethren—We would ask in the name of our dear Master, Jesus Christ, by all that is holy, by the fellowship of the saints, and the love of the truth, why you cast us off as if we were heretics? What have we believed that we have not been commanded to believe by the Word of God, which you yourselves allow is the rule and only rule of our faith and practice? What have we done that should call down such virulent denunciations against us from pulpit and press, and give you just cause to exclude us (Adventists) from your churches and fellowship? In the name of all that is dear, all that is holy and good, we call upon some of you to come out and tell us wherein our great sin lies. Have we denied the faith once delivered to the saints? Tell us, we pray you, or, wherein is our fault? If there is an honest man among you, of which we cannot doubt, we shall expect to see your reasons publicly and honestly avowed; and if we are guilty of heresy or crime, let the Christian community know it, that we may be shunned by all who know and love the truth.

 

Is it heterodox to believe that Jesus Christ will come again to this earth, to receive His saints to Himself, and to reward all men as their works shall be? If so, then our fathers, and our ministers, our creeds, and our Bibles, have taught us heresy; and from our infancy we have misunderstood our teachers, and misapplied our Bible. Do tell us what mean a class of texts like these:

 

  • John 14:3: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

 

  • Acts 1:11: “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”

 

  • I Peter 1:7, 13: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

⦁ Revelation 1:7: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.”

 

Does our crime consist in our looking for Him and loving His appearing? This, too, we charge upon our fathers and teachers; we have heard, ever since we had consciousness, as our duty explained and enforced, to watch and look, to love and be prepared for His return, that when He comes we may enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. We also have Christ and the apostles for our example in so doing. Witness Matthew 24:44; 25:13; Mark 13:34–37; Philippians 3:20, 21; II Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13; II Peter 3:12; Revelation 14:15.

 

Or are we to be severed from our brethren because we believe the prophecies of the Old and New Testament to be the true prophecies of God; or because that we think we can understand them, and see in the history of our world their fulfillment? Are we to be cut off from our connection with your churches because we believe as your ministers have told us we ought to for ages past?

 

  •  Acts 24:14: “But this I confess unto you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the prophets.”

 

  • Acts 26:22: “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?”

 

  • I Timothy 6:14: “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

  • Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

 

Again, let me inquire: Are we treated as heretics because we believe Christ will come this year? Are we not all commanded to watch?

 

  • Mark 13:37: “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” And I would ask, Is it not our duty to watch this year? If so, will you tell us how a man can watch, and not expect the object for which he watches? If this is the crime, we plead guilty to the charge, and throw ourselves upon the Word of God, and the example of our fathers, to justify us in so doing.

 

  • Ecclesiastes 8:5, 6: “Whoso keepeth the commandments shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment; because to every purpose there is time and judgment.”

 

  • Daniel 12:6, 7: “And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”

 

  • I Peter 1:9–13: “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

Now, if we are wrong, pray show us wherein consists our wrong. Show us from the Word of God that we are in error; we have had ridicule enough; that can never convince us that we are in the wrong; the Word of God alone can change our views. Our conclusions have been formed deliberately and prayerfully, as we have seen the evidence in the Scriptures; and all reasoning against our views has only served to confirm us in them.

 

Or, are you ready to say that our crime consists in examining the Bible for ourselves? We have inquired, “Watchman, what of the night?” We have besought and entreated them to give us any signs of the coming morning, and have waited patiently for the answer; but have waited in vain; have been turned off with some German or French philosophy, or had the Book closed in our face, and been insulted for our deep anxiety. We have, therefore, been obliged to study for ourselves; and if we are to be cut off for honestly believing in the exactness of prophetic time, then Scott, and Wesley, and the Newtons, and Mede, Gill, and others should all be excommunicated for the like offense. We, therefore, once more call upon you to show us our errors; and until this is done, we must continue to believe the Lord will come this Jewish year.

 

Letters to the Churches, The Heavenly Ministration of Christ

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“Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man’s nature, He could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, He could not have been tempted, as man has been. If it were not possible for Him to yield to temptation, He could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that Christ came to fight the battles as man, in man’s behalf. His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the divine nature.” Review and Herald, February 18, 1890.

We were appalled to learn that in some way these evangelical clergymen have had enough influence over our leaders to cause the Voice of Prophecy and Signs of the Times to trim their sails to “avoid charges that have been brought against them by evangelicals.” This is terrifying news. These organs are instruments of God, and it is unbelievable that the leaders should permit any outside influence to affect them. In this great sin against the denomination has been committed that can be blotted out only by deep repentance of the guilty parties, or in lieu of this, that the men concerned, quietly resign from holy office.

Our members are largely unaware of the conditions existing, and every effort is being made to keep them in ignorance. Orders have been issued to keep everything secret, and it will be noted that even at the late General Conference session (1958), no report was given of our leaders’ trafficking with the evangelicals and making alliances with them. Our officials are playing with fire, and the resulting conflagration will fulfill the prediction that the coming Omega “will be of a most startling nature.”

Seven times, I have asked for a hearing, and I have been promised one, but only on condition that I meet privately with certain men and that no record be given me of the proceedings. I have asked for a public hearing, or if it is to be a private one, that a tape recording be made, and that I be given a copy. This has been denied me. As I cannot have such a hearing, I am writing of these messages which contain, and will contain what I would have said at such a hearing. Can the reader surmise the reason why the officers do not want the hearing I ask?

I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I love this message that I have preached for so long. I grieve deeply as I see the foundation pillars being destroyed, the blessed truths that have made us what we are, abandoned.

According to the minutes of the Board of Trustees at the White Estate, it was on the first day of May, 1957, when two men, members of the committee which had been appointed to write the book which came to be known as Questions on Doctrine, were invited by the board to meet with them to discuss a question that had received some consideration at a meeting the previous January. It concerned statements made by Mrs. White in regard to the atonement now in progress in the sanctuary above. This conception did not agree with the conclusions reached by the leaders of the denomination in counsel with the evangelicals.

At these conferences with the evangelicals, they objected to our teaching on the Investigative Judgment which Dr. Barnhouse characterized as “the most colossal, psychological, face-saving phenomenon in religious history.”

Dr. Barnhouse reported that he and Mr. Martin heard the Adventist leaders say flatly, that they repudiated all such extremes. This they said in no uncertain terms. Some of their earlier teachers taught that Jesus’ atoning work was not completed on Calvary, but instead that He had been carrying on a second ministerial work since 1844. The Adventist leaders also stated that they did not believe this teaching.

About the time when the two men first visited the vault, a series of articles appeared in the Ministry, which claimed to be “the Adventist understanding of atonement, confirmed and illuminated and clarified by the Spirit of Prophecy.” In the February issue, 1957, the statement occurs that the “sacrificial act on the cross (is) a complete, perfect and final atonement for man’s sin.” This pronouncement is in harmony with the belief of our leaders as Dr. Barnhouse quoted them. It is also in harmony with a statement signed by a chief officer in a personal letter: “You cannot, Brother Andreasen, take away from us this precious teaching that Jesus made a complete and all-sufficient atoning sacrifice from the cross. . . . This we shall ever hold fast, and continue to proclaim it, even as our dear venerated forefathers in the faith.

It would interesting if the writer would produce proof of his assertion. The truth is that our forefathers believed and proclaimed no such thing. They did not believe that the work on the cross was complete and all sufficient. They did believe that a ransom was there paid, and that this was all-sufficient; but the final atonement awaited Christ’s entrance into the most holy in 1844. This the Adventists have always taught and believed, and this is the old and established doctrine, which our venerated forefathers believed and proclaimed. They could not teach that the atonement on the cross was final, complete and all sufficient, and yet believe that another atonement, also final, occurred in 1844. Such would be absurd and meaningless. Paying the penalty for our sins was, indeed, a vital and necessary part of God’s plan for our salvation, but it was by no means all. It was, as it were, placing in the bank of heaven, a sum sufficient and in every way adequate for any contingency, and which could be drawn on by and for each individual as needed. This payment was “the precious blood of Christ, as of the lamb, without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:19. In his death on the cross, Jesus “paid it all;” but the precious treasure becomes efficacious for us only as Christ draws upon it for us, and this must await the coming into the world of each individual; hence, the atonement must continue as long as people are born. Hear this:

“There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His obedience. How is it, that such an infinite treasure is not appropriated? In heaven, the merits of Christ, His self-denial and self-sacrifice, are treasured up as incense, to be offered up with the prayers of His people.” General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3, 101, 102, Fourth Quarter, 1899.

Note the phrases: “inexhaustible fund,” “infinite treasure,” “merits of Christ.” This fund was deposited at the cross, but not “used up” there. It is “treasured up” and offered up with the prayers of God’s people. And especially since 1844 is this fund drawn on heavily as God’s people advance to holiness; but it is not exhausted, there is sufficient and to spare. Here again, “He, who through His own atonement, provided for them an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ this power in their behalf. He will impute to them His own righteousness. . . . There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His obedience. . . as sincere, humble prayers are sent to the throne of God, Christ mingles with them the merits of His own life of perfect obedience. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense. Christ has pledged Himself to intercede in our behalf and the Father always hears His Son.” Ibid.

When we pray, this very year of 1959, Christ intercedes for us and mingles with our prayers “the merits of His own life of perfect obedience. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense . . . and the Father always hears His Son.”

Contrast this with the statement in Questions on Doctrine, 381: “(Jesus) appeared in the presence of God for us. . . . But it was not with the hope of attaining something for us at that time or at some future time. No! He had already obtained it for us on the cross.” [Emphasis his.] Note the picture: Christ appears in the presence of God for us. He pleads, but He gets nothing. For 1800 years He pleads, and gets nothing. Does He not know that He already has it? Will no one inform Him that it is useless to plead? He Himself has “no hope” of getting anything now or at any future time, and yet He pleads, and keeps on pleading? What a sight for the angels! And this is representative of Adventist teaching! This is the book that has the approval of Adventist leaders and is sent out to the world to show what we believe. May God forgive us.

Thank God this is not Adventist doctrine! Hear this from Sister White, as quoted above: “Christ has pledged Himself to intercede in our behalf and the Father always hears His Son.” This is Christianity and the other is not!

Shall we remain silent under such conditions? Asks Sister White.

“For the past 50 years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us . . . especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. . . . Do you wonder that when I see the beginning of a work that would remove some of the pillars of our faith, I have something to say? I must obey the command, ‘Meet it.’” Series B, No. 2, 58.

Again: “The enemy of souls that has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church would be discarded. The fundamental truths that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. . . . Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement.” Ibid., 54, 55.

“Shall we keep silent for fear of hurting their feelings? . . . Shall we keep silent for fear of injuring their influence while souls are being beguiled?. . . My message is: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth.” [Emphasis ours.] Ibid., 9, 15.

Ellen White makes definite pronouncements in regard to the atoning work of Christ now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary. For example, “At the termination of the 2300 days, in 1844, Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to His coming.” The Great Controversy, 422. “Christ had only completed one part of His work as our Intercessor to enter upon another portion of the work, and He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners.” Ibid., 429. At “the opening of the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, (as) Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement, they saw that He was now officiating before the ark of God, pleading His blood in behalf of sinners.” Ibid., 433.

“Christ is represented as continually standing at the altar, momentarily offering up the sacrifice for the sins of the world. . . . A Mediator is essential because of the continual commission of sin. . . . Jesus presents the oblation offered for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner.” Manuscript 50, 1900.

These statements are definite. It was at the end of the 2300 days, in 1844, that Christ entered the most holy “to perform the closing work of the atonement.” He had ONLY COMPLETED ONE PART OF HIS WORK as our Intercessor” in the first apartment. Now He “enters upon another portion of the work.” He pleads “His blood before the Father.” He is “continually standing at the altar.” This is necessary “because of the continual commission of sin.” “Jesus presents the oblation for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner.” This argues a continuing, present atonement. He offers up “momentarily.” “Jesus presents the oblation offered for every offense.” “He ever liveth to make intercession for them..” Hebrews 7:25.

It is presumed that when the two men stated that they had “become acutely aware of E. G. White statements which indicated that the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the sanctuary,” that they had read the quotations here given and perhaps others. In view of this knowledge, what did they suggest should be done? Would they change their former erroneous opinions and harmonize with the plain words of the Spirit of Prophecy? No, on the contrary, they “suggested to the trustees that some footnotes or Appendix notes might appear in certain of the E. G. White books clarifying very largely on the words of Ellen White, our understanding of the various phases of the atoning work of Christ.” Minutes 1483.

The claim which Questions on Doctrine makes, that she means what she does not say, effectively destroys the force of all she has every written. If we have to consult an inspired interpreter from Washington before knowing what she means, we might better discard the Testimonies altogether. May God save His people. [Months later when the vote was taken by the White Estate Board, the request mentioned above was not granted.]

The men who visited the vault on May 1, stated clearly that they had discovered that Mrs. White taught plainly “that the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary.” On the other hand, the Ministry of February, 1957, stated the very opposite. It said that the “sacrificial act on the cross (is) a complete, perfect and final atonement for men’s sins.” Questions on Doctrine attempts to reconcile these opposing views by stating that whether one “hears an Adventist say, or reads in Adventist literature—even in the writings of Ellen G. White—that Christ is making atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making application,” etc., 354, 355. It is clear that if the atonement on the cross was final, there cannot be a later atonement also final. When we therefore, for one hundred years, have preached that the day of atonement began in 1844, we were wrong. It ended 1800 years before. The hundreds of books we have published; the more than a million copies of Bible Readings we have sold; the millions of handbills we have distributed saying that it was “court week in heaven,” were all false doctrine; the Bible instruction we have given the children and the young ministry and which they have imbibed as Bible truth, is a fable. Uriah Smith, Loughborough, Andrews, Andross, Watson, Daniells, Branson, Johnson, Lacey, Spicer, Haskell, Gilbert, and a host of others stand convicted of having taught false doctrine; and the whole denomination whose chief contribution to Christianity is the sanctuary doctrine and Christ’s ministry, must now confess that we were all wrong, and that we have no message to the world for these last days. In other words, we are a deceived and deceiving people. The fact that we may have been honest does not alter the fact that we have given a false message. Take away from us the sanctuary question, the Investigative Judgment, the message of the 2300 days, Christ’s work in the most holy, and we have no right to exist as a denominated people, as God’s messengers to a doomed world. If the Spirit of Prophecy has led us astray these many years, let us throw it away.

But no! Halt! God has not led us astray. We have not told cunningly devised fables. We have a message that will stand the test and confound the undermining theories that are finding their way in among us. In this instance, it is not the people that have gone astray except as they have followed the leaders. It is time that there be a turn-about.

It is now more than four years ago that the apostasy began to be plainly evident. Since that time there has been a deliberate attempt to weaken the faith in the Spirit of Prophecy, as it is clear that as long as the people revere the gift among us, they cannot be led far astray. The time for action has come. The time to open up the dark corners has arrived. There must no longer by any secret agreements, no compact with other denominations who hate the law and the Sabbath, who ridicule our most holy faith. We must no longer hobnob with enemies of the truth, no more promise that we will not proselytize. We must not tolerate leadership which condones tampering with the writings entrusted to us, and stigmatizes us as belonging to the lunatic fringe, those who dare disagree with them. We must no longer remain silent. To they tents, Oh Israel!

A Portrait of William Miller

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In September, 1842, Elders Himes, Miller, and others, held a meeting in the mammoth tent in Eastern Maine. In company with one Moses Polly, a Christian minister of my acquaintance, I attended that meeting. I there for the first time saw that great and good man, William Miller. His form and features showed great physical and mental strength. The benevolent, affable, and kind spirit manifested by him in conversation with numerous strangers, who called on him to ask questions, proved him a humble, Christian gentleman. Infidels, Universalists, and some others came to him with opposing questions. He was quick to perceive their designs, and with becoming firmness and dignity promptly met their objections and sent them away in silence. So long had he, even then, been in the field meeting opposition from every quarter, that he was prepared for any emergency.

In his public labors his arguments were clear, and his appeals and exhortations most powerful. The tent in which he spoke was a circle whose diameter was one hundred and twenty feet. On one occasion, when this tent was full, and thousands stood around, he was unfortunate in the use of language, which the baser sort in the crowd turned against him in a general burst of laughter. He left his subject with ease, and in a moment his spirit rose above the mob-like spirit that prevailed, and in language the most scorching he spoke of the corruption of the hearts of those who chose to understand hi to be as vile as they were. In a moment all was quiet and the speaker continued to describe the terrible end of the ungodly in a solemn and impressive manner. He then affectionately exhorted them to repent of their sins, come to Christ, and be ready for His appearing. Many in that vast crowd wept. He then resumed his subject, and spoke with clearness and spirit, as though nothing had happened. In fact, it seemed that nothing could have occurred to fully give him the ears of thousands before him, and to make his subject to impressive as this circumstance.

A Man for His Time

God raised up Paul to do a great work in his time. In order that the Gentiles might be clearly taught the great plan of redemption through Jesus, and that the infidelity of the Jews might be met, a great man was selected.

Martin Luther was the man for his time. He was daring and sometimes rash, yet was a great and good man. The little horn had prevailed and millions of the saints of the Most High had been put to death. To fearlessly expose the vileness of the papal monks and to meet their learning and their rage, and also to win the hearts of the common people with all the tenderness and affection of the gospel, called for just such a man as Martin Luther. He could battle with the lion, or feed and tenderly nurse the lambs of Christ’s fold.

So William Miller, in the hands of God, was the man for his time. True, he was a farmer, had been in the service of his country, and had not the benefits of an early classical education. And it was not till he had passed the noon of life that God called him to search His Word and open the prophecies to the people. He was, however, a historian from his love of history, and had a good practical knowledge of men and things. He had been an infidel. But on receiving the Bible as a revelation from God, he did not also receive the popular, contradictory ideas that many of its prophecies were clad in impenetrable mystery. Said William Miller: “The Bible, if it is what it purports to be, will explain itself.”

He sought for the harmony of Scripture and found it. And in the benevolence of his great and good heart and head, he spent the balance of his life in teaching it to the people in his written and oral lectures, and in warning and exhorting them to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.

Much of the fruits of his labors are now seen. Much more will be seen hereafter. Heaven will be hung with the fruits of the labors of this truly great and good man. He sleeps. But if it can be said of any who have toiled and worn and suffered amid vile persecutions, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, that they may rest from their labors, and their works to follow them,” it can be said of William Miler. He nobly and faithfully did his duty, and the popular church, united with the world, paid him in persecutions and reproaches. The very name of William Miller was despised everywhere, and Millerism was the jeer of the people from the pulpit to the brothel.

The Last Interview

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There was a small Seventh-day Adventist Church in North Dakota years ago that was located not far away from where I lived. One by one the members either moved away or died until there was only one man left. He was in his 80s, an interesting man who shared many stories about the past and was still operating his own farm. The time came when my wife and I were going to move, but we had planned to return in a couple of years. Becoming close friends with the man, I assured him that as soon as I returned from California, I would come and see him again. He said that would not happen because he would not be there. Believing him to be in very good health and still farming full time, I did not understand his reasoning. Many a person has had the last conversation with another without realizing it would be their last. We visited and had prayer together, and as it turned out, he knew the future a lot better than I did, for I never saw him again.

If you knew that the communication you were having would be the last, what would you say? My wife had a relative who, during the Civil War, was captured. He was told that he would be shot the next morning at sunrise. Whatever he had to say to his family or friends or anyone else would have to be communicated that night. What would you write to them? The time came in the life of Jesus when He would have the last interview with His disciples. The apostle John thought that this last interview was so important that he took five chapters in the gospel of John to record what Jesus said to His disciples on that occasion. (See John 13–17.)

life

  1. Never Alone – The first thing that I would say to my children is, “Even when I am gone, you are not going to be alone.” This is one of the major topics Jesus covered in His last interview with His disciples. Read it in John 14:16–24. Jesus said, “I am making a request to My Father, and He will send you the Holy Spirit Who will stay with you forever.” Jesus had just told them that He was going to leave, and they were terrified, as is a child when they find out that their parent is dying. Jesus said to them, “Do not let your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many permanent dwellings. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you, and if I go, I will prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1–3 literal translation. He said, “Believe Me, trust in Me, and you will not be left alone.”

In the book, The Desire of Ages, 669, 670, Ellen White comments on these words of Jesus promising His disciples that they would not be left alone. “At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.” That is just wonderful news. You may lose your parent, spouse or best friend, but there is Somebody you will never lose and you will not be alone. Jesus said, “I am going, but you are not going to be alone.”

He is going to be with you forever. It is wonderful to know that whoever you may lose in this world, if circumstances separate you from every earthly friend and you feel helpless and alone and the future looks dark and perplexing, if you will pray and ask for it, Jesus will send His Holy Spirit to be right beside you to support you and to comfort and help you, and you need never be alone. God’s children will never be deprived of the Holy Spirit.

  1. Assurance of Salvation – Do you know for sure that your name is in the Book of Life? How can you be sure? The Bible makes it very clear, in Revelation 20, that you cannot have eternal life unless your name is in the Book of Life. Many Christians do not have this assurance. If it is not there, then you need to do something today so that it is.

In Luke 10, after the 70 disciples returned from their missionary work, Jesus said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Verses 18–20. The people whose names were written in heaven were involved in evangelism.

I noticed in my Bible studies that every time it referred to somebody whose name was in the book, it was somebody who was involved in helping somebody else to be saved. Someone who is saved will always be convicted to help others. Paul speaks of some women whose names were in the book. He said, “And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Philippians 4:3. These women who were Paul’s fellow workers, laboring with him in the gospel, are going to have eternal life, and if you go to heaven, you will meet these people. They did what they could to help their fellow men to be saved. When you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour from sin and as the Lord of your life and have been baptized into the church, then at that time, your name is registered in the Book of Life. But this does not guarantee salvation, as your name could be taken out at any time. John the revelator tells us what to do so that our names will not be taken out. “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5. To be retained in the Book of Life, you must be an overcomer.

Another text, found in Revelation 21:27, describes the type of people who will not enter the New Jerusalem, the Holy City: “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

To find out what things defile, go to the book of Leviticus. You will need to read the context, but you will see the conclusions. “Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you.” Leviticus 18:24–26. The Israelites were not even to allow a stranger, a person who was not a believer in the true God or an Israelite, to do these things in the land of Israel, “(for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.” Verses 27–30.

Today, particularly in the western world, by what we watch on television, videos and Internet, we are doing the very things that we were commanded not to do in this chapter, and then we wonder why there is so much crime. Leviticus 19:31 says, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” Young people are fascinated by and play all kinds of satanic games that defile. God said, “You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things and therefore I abhor them. But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, Who has separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” Leviticus 20:22–26.

Notice that you can be defiled by what you eat, what you are looking at, what you are listening to and in what you are participating. Read the law of Moses. To be defiled is to be unclean. In Leviticus 22:32, it says, “You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you [makes you holy].”

Nothing that is defiled, unclean or profane will enter the Holy City. Nothing that makes abomination will enter there. We are told some of the abominations in Proverbs 6:16–19: “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

The condition of those entering the Holy City are clear, and those who want their names to remain in the Book of Life will not be engaging in any of these things that are described as an abomination. Lying has been mentioned as one of the things that God hates. Those who have entrance into God’s Holy City will overcome all guile; that is, all deceit. One of the characteristics of the 144,000 is that they have no deceit.

“The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.” Zephaniah 3:13.

We need to pray and plead for help because it is impossible for a human being to always tell the exact truth without the aid and direction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not tell a lie, and if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will be able to always be honest.

  1. Secure Your Name in the Book of Life – Those whose names are not written in the book will have an eternal separation from those who are saved. If your name is in the book, it does not matter whether you live or die, because when Jesus returns, you will be together again.
  2. Knowing Where Jesus is Now – Another important thing to discuss in our last interview is, “Where is Jesus now?” I am well aware of the fact about what Seventh-day Adventists have been taught since the 1940s, and I believe that Jesus is ministering for the remnant and the whole world in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. Can Jesus be in more than one place at a time? While talking to Nicodemus, Jesus said that no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (See John 3:13.) Jesus was in Judea at the time and speaks about the “Son of man Who is,” that is present tense, “in heaven.” Jesus is now ministering for us in heaven, but that is not the only place where He is. Ellen White wrote this on August 2, 1900: “God had a church when Adam and Eve and Abel accepted and hailed with joy the good news that Jesus was their Redeemer. These realized as fully then as we realize now the promise of the presence of God in their midst.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 4, 293. So, when Adam and Eve and Abel met together outside the Garden of Eden, they realized the presence of God in their midst—the Lord was right with them. Some may say that we are not talking about Jesus, but God the Father. She continues, “Whenever Enoch found one or two who were willing to hear the message he had for them, Jesus joined with them in their worship of God. In Enoch’s day there were some among the wicked inhabitants of earth who believed. The Lord never yet has left His faithful few without His presence nor the world without a witness.” Ibid.

Jesus joined those who came to worship Him. If I were leaving this place or this life, I would want people to know that it is important to meet with God’s people to worship on the Sabbath day to be where Jesus is present.

  1. A New Commandment – In Jesus’ last interview, He had so much on His mind. One of the first things He told His disciples was that He was going away, but He was going to give them a new commandment—to love one another as He had loved them. This was before He had gone to the cross, and they just did not realize what He meant when He said that by this all men will know that you are disciples to Me if you have love for one another (John 13:35).

We have the most wonderful truth in the world, but it does not have the impact on people that it should, because we do not love one another as Jesus loved us. If we did, the gospel would have a force and impact that we cannot imagine. This world is a cruel, cold, dark and awful place. There are people in this world that have never seen the love of Jesus. If they saw it, they would immediately want it. Jesus is depending upon His followers to show this love to the world.

One of the huge problems is that we say we love somebody when we do not love them at all, because we do not know what love is. People confuse sexual passion with love, and that is as far different as the east is from the west. Let’s see what the Bible says about love. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10. There are many people who believe they are Christians, but who do not know that they are children of the devil. Remember when the disciples went to Jesus and said these Samaritans are not even inviting You home, so if You want us to, we will call down fire from heaven on these people and burn them up. Jesus had given these disciples power to work miracles. Ellen White says they were shocked when they saw the expression on His face, and they were even more shocked when He opened His mouth and said, “You don’t know what spirit you are of” (Luke 9:55). They were of the spirit of the devil, but since they were followers of Jesus, they thought everything was fine. In The Desire of Ages, 487, Ellen White said, “There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.”

How do you feel toward those people who do not appreciate what you do or act contrary to what you think they ought to do? If you want to hurt them, then there is no more conclusive evidence than that you have the spirit of Satan. No church that tries to destroy another church is really a Christian church but has the spirit of the devil. Many professed Christians of all denominations will be shocked to hear Jesus say, “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Matthew 7:23.

It is impossible to have the spirit of the devil and have your name retained in the Book of Life. Our theme is Christ is love, Christ is forgiveness and Christ is purity. John says, in I John 3:3, “Every man who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (literal translation). No one will go into the Holy City that is not pure. The Bible says there is nobody in the world that is pure and that nobody can bring something pure out of something that is impure (Job 14:4). This requirement is impossible for us on our own merits, and that is why Jesus had to die on the cross. The Bible says it is essential to receive a new heart and a new spirit and the old man has to be crucified, because it is hopeless. Jesus said to Nicodemus that unless you are born from above, unless you receive a new heart and a new spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. If you have received a new heart and a new spirit, you cannot remain pure if you stay connected with an organization, including a church organization, that is in open sin. There will be people in the last days who have a form of godliness and deny the power of it. Paul says to turn away from those people (II Timothy 3:5). By remaining with them, you will become like them. Paul tells us, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather rebuke them.” Ephesians 5:11. If you have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, you will become like them.

  1. Are You a Member of the True Church – If I were having my last interview, I would want to ask, Are you a member of the true church? Many may say yes, but that is not always true. There is a wonderful promise, but it is only for certain people. “Speaking to His church Christ said, ‘Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:19, 20).” Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, 164.

You and I have the most wonderful privilege, the privilege of reading special testimonies given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the people that are living in the last days. In these testimonies the Holy Spirit opens things up to our eyes, just like putting a magnifying glass on the Bible so you can see exactly what it is saying. Ellen White continues, “The professing Christian who is not a Christian in practice, is not included in this promise. It is only when the voice of the church becomes the voice of Christ, that the promise can be received in its fullness.” Ibid.

Jesus says when two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there (Matthew 18:20). He is speaking to His church. But then He says that there are some Christians who are not included in this promise. They are the Christians who profess Christianity but they are not Christian in practice. A Christian in practice is a person who is living a Christlike life. There are many people who claim to be Christian, but they do not love their neighbor. The more you love somebody, the more it will change how you treat him/her.

I was always astonished at the stories I read in the history books about Christians. My brother was reading about some Christian ministers, who got together over a thousand years ago near Constantinople, and were arguing about doctrinal issues. Before the meeting was over, they were all in a big fist fight with each other. What does it matter who is right or wrong if you are in a fist fight? Someday the things that people fight about now they will wonder why in the world they ever fought about that.

The great need in Christianity today is to learn how to get along with others. The reason we don’t get along is because we do not love each other like we should. We need to pray that we will be converted, that we will have love in our heart for others, and that we be not Christians in name only but that we practice the principles of the Christian religion so we may become Christlike in character. We want our names to be retained in the Book of Life, so we will be ready to meet our Lord when He comes.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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