Issue: 2013 July

Inspiration – Satan’s Devices

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The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried on for almost six thousand years, is soon to close. And yet how few have their attention called to this matter, how few realize that we are living amid the closing scenes of earth’s history! Satan is working diligently, binding his sheaves preparatory to gathering in his harvest. He is uniting the elements of his kingdom for the final struggle. Since his fall, he has been the great adversary of God and man, and has shown a masterly activity in trying to defeat our Saviour’s efforts in our behalf. He thinks that because so many readily yield to his temptations and believe his lies, he may yet gain some advantage over Christ, who left the royal courts of Heaven that he might defeat this wily foe on his own battle-field, and open a way whereby man might escape from his cruel power.

He is called in the Bible, Satan, Beelzebub, the serpent, the deceiver, a liar, the accuser of the brethren, the prince of the power of the air, the prince of darkness, and the god of this world. Frightful names, infernal agencies! This fallen spirit, so malignant and subtle, is walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when profound indifference prevails in the church and in the world, he is not concerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, “What shall I do to be saved?” he is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of Christ, and doubling his efforts to counteract the influences of the Holy Spirit. Angels of God, with Jesus at their head, are present to press back the powers of darkness; but no one is forced to accept Jesus, and no one can be compelled by Satan’s power to reject him.

Satan is at your side when you least suspect it, watching to find a weak spot in your armor, where he can introduce his darts, and wound your soul by betraying you into sin. He has access to minds that are open to receive his suggestions, and by long experience he has learned how to apply his temptations to the best advantage. His first effort is to keep as many minds as possible in a state of careless indifference. He will invent every imaginable excuse to keep people away from meetings where they might receive benefit from hearing the truth. He will especially work to make of none effect these morning meetings, where the Spirit of God is at work; and when he cannot keep persons away, his next effort will be to fill the mind with unimportant matters, thus preventing them from treasuring up the truths they hear.

This work Satan is engaged in at every meeting. He has different temptations prepared for different minds, and souls are continually yielding to his suggestions. He will adopt any means by which he may gain control of the thoughts and purposes of the heart. He will work to divert the mind from Heaven and heavenly things by the absorbing cares of this life. He will produce temporary indisposition to keep you away from meetings where testimonies from Heaven will be borne, and your hearts would be impressed with the deep movings of the Spirit of God. If you attend the meetings, and your heart is impressed, he will tempt you to engage in unprofitable conversation on trivial things, so that you will forget the words spoken.

Circumstances will arise to divert the mind. Visitors, relatives, or worldly friends, or some temporal matter, will engage the attention; and then “cometh the devil, and taketh the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12). These friends will make demands upon your time and strength, and thus God is robbed of the service due him. Yet you flatter yourselves that you cannot do otherwise; for how can you displease your friends? God will not bring a curse upon you for thus robbing him, but your own course of action brings its sure result. But however alluring Satan’s temptations, however natural and unavoidable they may seem to the mind that is not clear and sharp in spiritual discernment, you must not be lulled to carnal security. However dear your friends may be, if they lead you away from God they are emissaries of Satan, who works through the children of disobedience, speaks through human organs.

God will not work a miracle to change natural causes which you can control. If you place yourself and family in the current of the world, you and your children will be borne downward by it. Be wise and discriminating in regard to spiritual advantages, and gather about yourselves and your children correct influences. We may have a beautiful and fertile country; but surrounding influences may be weaving a spell upon our souls that will sink us to perdition, and our children may be lost to the cause of God because we did not place them where they would cultivate a love for divine things. We may save our own souls, as did Lot when he fled from Sodom; but the habits and customs with which we have become familiar may cling to us, and we may find that we have assimilated to them more than we were aware. This is a risk that we cannot afford to run. We might better lose every worldly advantage than to lose Jesus, or dishonor him by our careless inattention to his requirements. It is best to obey God at any sacrifice. …

The way to eternal life is a battle and a march. The great adversary of souls is continually seeking to insinuate himself between you and the Source of your strength. If you allow your mind to be taken up with worldly cares, he will manage to have these cares so varied in character, and press so continually upon you, that you can find no time for the spiritual and the eternal. Worldly acquaintances introduce subjects that are of the greatest importance to them; you listen and are attracted, and these things of minor consequence absorb the mind and affections. You give time and attention, skill and inventive faculties, to outward ornamentation, to the neglect of the inward adorning of the soul. Time is worse than lost which should be devoted to the searching of the Scriptures and to earnest prayer for divine guidance; you rob your own souls of grace and power, and others of the light that should be reflected through you to the world.

But few know the real power of religion. They do not appreciate its refining and elevating influence on the character; they do not partake of its joys nor enter into its spirit. We need constant communion with Jesus just as much as we need daily food to nourish the body. If there is a moment when we are in no danger of being deceived by the enemy, then for that moment we may dispense with divine aid. If there is any moment when we are not dependent on God for our breath, then there is a time when we need not obey the injunctions of his word.

We should be sanctified by the truth. The conscience and the understanding, the words, the deeds, and the thoughts, should be controlled by truth, and not error. The principle of truth and righteousness implanted in the heart, will be revealed in the life, and especially in the family circle. God estimates a man by what he is in the bosom of his family. Fix the mind on things that are pure and holy. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). And the life will be clothed with the beauty of holiness even here; but who shall tell what it will be, when the great controversy between sin and righteousness is forever closed, and we appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God” (Psalm 90:17)?

The Signs of the Times, May 8, 1884.

Health – Carrageenan–Is it Safe?

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“Carrageenan has a long history of causing inflammation, specifically gastrointestinal inflammation. In fact, in the past, many scientists used carrageenan to CAUSE inflammation in order to study how specific drugs could reduce inflammation and to study the cells involved in the inflammatory response. Regular consumption of carrageenan also has a high correlation to different types of gastrointestinal cancers in rats. …” www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/beware-carrageenan-a-food-additive-common-in-organic-products.

The following information is taken from Total Health Magazine and provides understanding on just how important it is to read labels and understand how each ingredient may affect health. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and Satan delights in causing illness and sorrow.

“Carrageenan Food Additive and Aircraft De-icer,” written by Gloria Gilbère, DAHom, PhD:

Carrageenan is a water-soluble polymer, a gum, used as a fat substitute in processed meats and also found in a multitude of food products for its thickening and gelatin-like qualities.

It is extracted from red seaweed by a powerful chemical alkali solvent—capable of removing skin as quick as any acid. In its natural state it is healthy; in its processed state, it is highly antagonistic to humans. It is the vegetarian equivalent of casein—protein isolated from milk to thicken foods. Carrageenan is the magic ingredient used to de-ice frozen airplanes sitting on tarmacs. … Oh great, and we are ingesting this stuff! If you don’t believe a food additive is also an aircraft de-icer, check out the “official” explanation for de-icing aircraft by the U. S. Patent Office website: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4698172.html

Why It Is Used

Besides food additive uses, carrageenan is in cosmetics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, room deodorizers, ulcer medications, petrolatum, and cod liver oil. Predominantly it is in food preparations as a substitute for fat—combining with milk proteins, increasing solubility and improves texture. Because of this, it is used in low-calorie formulations like beverages, infant formula, processed low-fat meats, whipped cream, cottage cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc.—often combined with gums like locust bean or guar, to improve texture.

Dangers of Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a suspected factor linking it to varieties of gastrointestinal disorders including inflammatory bowel syndrome, colorectal malignancy, intestinal ulcerations, tumors and growths.

Health Effects

  • Research shows carrageenan coats the inside of the stomach like gooey honey—often causing digestive challenges. If a person consumes a soy product and reacts negatively, blaming soy for their stomach or lower gastrointestinal discomfort, it may be carrageenan they are actually reacting to.
  • High weight molecular carrageenans are considered safe by the FDA. Low weight carrageenans are considered dangerous—even soy milk manufacturer SILK™ admits this.
  • Another concern about carrageenan is that it stimulates glutamate in the body—similar to MSG or any sodium glutamate. Symptoms often associated with its consumption in products include excessive thirst, a “snappy” attitude, headache and that next day feeling of having one too many glasses of wine. In children it often manifests as anger, short-temper, hyperactivity and immediate need to empty bowels or literally diarrhea.

Scientifically Speaking

Research from Joanne Tobacman, M. D., professor at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, scientist and carrageenan expert, discusses valid concerns that digestive enzymes and bacterial action convert high weight carrageenans to dangerous low molecular weight carrageenans and poligeenans in the human gut—linked to human cancers and digestive disorders. Tobacman’s evidence and conclusions are based upon human tissue samples, not animal studies.

Tobacman studied effects of carrageenan on growth of cultured human mammary epithelial cells for two weeks. She found that extremely low doses of carrageenan disrupted the internal cellular architecture of healthy breast tissue, leading her to conclude: “The food additive, carrageenan, has marked effects on growth and characteristics of human mammary cells in tissue cultures at concentrations much less than those frequently used in food products—carrageenan destroys human cells in tissue cultures, including epithelial intestinal and prostate cells.” To further her research, Tobacman published an extensive review of 45 investigations on the harmful gastrointestinal effects of carrageenan in animal experiments. Her article was published in the October, 2001 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, the journal of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. Her conclusion, “There seems to be enough evidence associating carrageenan with significant gastrointestinal lesions, including malignancies, to avoid ingesting it—carrageenans are dangerous for human consumption, period! I believe the first consideration is to inform people about the risks associated with carrageenan. There was evidence back in the 1970s that carrageenan has harmful effects, and I think we’ve waited too long to act on that information.”

Some products known to contain carrageenan are: non-dairy puddings, liquid coffee creamers, processed cheeses, frosting mixes, ice cream and sherbets, jams and jellies, processed meat or fish, cottage cheese/yogurt, prepared pie fillings. These are just a few. Read your labels.

Immediate and Delayed Responses

If you experience any symptoms, especially gastrointestinal, go back and see if what you consumed contained carrageenan. Listen to your body language; it never steers you wrong. Remember, symptoms may be immediate or as delayed as 48 hours.

Carrageenan Allergy—Case History

“Our son had an as-of-yet undiagnosed metabolic disorder as an infant and was not growing. The doctors surgically installed a g-tube in his belly and force-fed him formula containing high amounts of carrageenan (not that they cared; it was the scientifically engineered nutrient content they wanted).

“The more they insisted we pump through him, the sicker he became, the more mucous his body produced, and he nearly died. Rapid improvement occurred when we stopped feeding him the formula under a new doctor’s care, who wanted him breastfed and self-selecting his diet (all whole foods) while his gut healed. It was then we started looking into food additives, most of which trigger our son’s gastro-reflex issues. After complete avoidance of food containing carrageenan, he quickly recovered.” Total Health Magazine: http://totalhealthmagazine.com/features/the-health-detective/carrageenan-food-additive-and-aircraft-de-icer.html

Current Events – Religious Freedom Challenged

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“One woman sits at the center of the developing—and utterly confusing—Internal Revenue Service scandal. It was Lois Lerner, director of the IRS’s Exempt Organizations Division, who let slip at an American Bar Association meeting on Friday that, between 2010 and 2012, conservative nonprofit groups were improperly scrutinized by the IRS. And it is Lerner who has since become the target of a number of accusations and conspiracy theories, lobbed from both ends of the political spectrum. As the media waits impatiently for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to release an investigative report detailing who knew about the IRS’s inappropriate practices and when, it seems crucial to get to know the main character in this unfolding drama and the core issues swirling around her.” www.thedailybeast.com, May 14, 2013.

“The IRS has admitted to unfairly targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.” http://hotair.com, May 29, 2013.

“The framework for 501(c) organizations —what we commonly call nonprofits—was established over 75 years ago, when the federal tax laws were first codified. Because these are tax designations, any and all 501(c) organizations—regardless of function—are approved by, and primarily regulated by, the IRS. At present, there are over 29 different sub classifications for the 501(c) designation. But, for the case in question, there are only two that really matter:

  • 501(c)(3) — Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals Organizations
  • 501(c)(4) — Civic Leagues, Social Welfare Organizations, and Local Associations of Employees”

www.outsidethebeltway.com, May 29, 2013.

“Let not one who believes the truth, be silent now. None should be careless now; let all urge their petitions at the throne of grace, pleading the promise, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.” It is a perilous time now. If this land of boasted liberty is preparing to sacrifice every principle which enters into her constitution, making decrees to suppress religious freedom, and for the enforcing of papal falsehood and delusion, then the people of God need to present their petitions in faith to the Most High. There is every encouragement, in the promises of God, for those who put their trust in him. The prospect of being brought into personal danger and distress, need not cause despondency, but should quicken the vigor and hopes of God’s people; for the time of their peril is the season for God to grant them clearer manifestations of his power. We are not to sit in calm expectancy of oppression and tribulation, and fold our hands, doing nothing to avert the evil. Let our united cries be sent up to heaven. Pray and work, and work and pray. But let none act rashly. Learn as never before that you must be meek and lowly in heart. You must not bring a railing accusation against any, whether individuals or churches. Learn to deal with minds as Christ did. Sharp things must sometimes be spoken; but be sure that the Holy Spirit of God is abiding in your heart before you speak the clear-cut truth; then let it cut its way. You are not to do the cutting.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 902.

Second Advent Era of Prophecy

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The second advent era of prophecies began in about A.D. 1845 and continued to about A.D. 1915. The purpose of this era of prophecy is to prepare the world for the close of probation and the restoration of the kingdom of glory. The spirit of prophecy in the second advent movement places much emphasis on the purification of God’s people and the putting away of sin. It gives a detailed account of the day of atonement process in the most holy place of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven and the application of Christ’s blood to atone for the confessed sins of His people.

We have seen how Satan led the Jewish church to misapply the Old Testament prophecies. We have seen the successful attack Satan made against the “daily ministry” of Jesus in the holy place.

In the second advent movement, in our day, Satan is continuing his all-out war against the ministry of Jesus in the most holy place of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven.

Revelation 12:17 says, “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Today Satan is making his final attack against the sanctuary message. The devil is prowling around “like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8. He is destroying the faith of the people in the testimony of Jesus—the spirit of prophecy—as revealed in the life and writings of Ellen G. White, and misconstruing the whole sanctuary message. We know that the remnant —“the woman,” the church—obey the sanctuary message because they obey the commandments of God which are located in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. They have gone to Jesus, have confessed their sins, and Christ has given them power to obey the truth. Notice what Ellen White said about this warfare in a morning talk at Battle Creek, Michigan, January 29, 1890:

“We want [need] to understand the time in which we live. We do not half understand it. [In 1890 she says the people did not understand 50 percent of the time in which they live.] We do not half take it in. [How much do you understand of the sanctuary message today?] My heart trembles in me when I think of what a foe we have to meet, and how poorly we are prepared to meet him. The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ.” The Review and Herald, February 18, 1890.

What happened to the Jews at the first coming of Christ? They did not accept Jesus as their Saviour and His ascension to open the holy place of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven. We have the same attitude today in the second advent movement as the Jews had during the first advent. They should have understood the work of Jesus in the daily service. We should today understand the work of Jesus in the most holy place of the sanctuary in heaven.

In 1844 the sanctuary message was not understood. But Daniel 8:14 says that it will be restored to its rightful state, and that has been fulfilled.

Daniel 8:14 RSV says, “And he said to him, ‘For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.’ ” The New American Standard Bible (NASB) says: “And he said to me, ‘For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.’ ” This has been completely fulfilled. Many today do not know much about the heavenly sanctuary.

Today we have a complete record of the pioneer’s research on the sanctuary message and what they believed. The Great Controversy has four full chapters on this message:

Chapter 23, pages 409–422, “What is the Sanctuary?” is a record of the development of the pioneer’s understanding of the sanctuary. Chapter 24, pages 423–432, “In the Holy of Holies,” completely explains Christ’s ministry in the judgment. Chapter 25, pages 433–450, “God’s Law Immutable,” outlines the pioneers’ understanding as to what is involved in the sanctuary message. They understood that the Three Angels’ Messages were a warning to the world not to reject the teaching regarding the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary. Chapter 28, pages 479–491, “Facing Life’s Record,” presents crucial information regarding our records that are being reviewed in the most holy place during the investigative judgment in our day.

In addition, much more information about the sanctuary is given throughout The Great Controversy. Additional information is found in Patriarchs and Prophets, 343–358; 634–637; The Desire of Ages, 785–801; Acts of the Apostles, 38, 39, 593–602 and Early Writings, 54, 55; 232–236; 237–239; 250–260 which include the first, second and third angels’ messages.

Why should we be in trouble with our understanding of the sanctuary message when all of this information concerning the ministration of Jesus in the sanctuary in heaven is available to us? We are told that Satan is conducting a war against this message. (See Revelation 12:17.) The following is a list of some of the battles he has directed in his effort to destroy these precious truths.

  1. The 1888 General Conference in Minneapolis. This is more tragic in light of the fact that in 1888 the first complete addition of The Great Controversy was published. At that conference, the book was available which contained these four chapters and all of the other information. It was their privilege to make plans to distribute this precious truth to the world at that conference. But this did not happen.
  2. By the turn of the century pantheism was introduced into the second advent movement. Dr. Kellogg began to teach pantheistic concepts to the sanitarium staff. The significance of this is important when you understand that the sanitarium staff had a larger business than the General Conference. It had more people, more employees and more finances than the General Conference itself. The Battle Creek Sanitarium also had a wider sphere of influence. Through Dr. Kellogg’s writings and through students who were trained under him, pantheistic theories spread everywhere. Pantheism teaches that God is in everything. He is in the book, the pew, in nature and in ourselves—all we need to do is to improve the god within us and we will be like God. Thus pantheism obviates the need for an intercessor and makes Christ’s role as high priest pointless. The church was so confused on the sanctuary message that they could not fight the battle, so God took it into His own hand and in 1902 burned down the sanitarium. They could not understand why it burned, so they planned to rebuild it. The officers of the General Conference asked Dr. Kellogg to write a book on medical missionary work to raise funds for a new sanitarium but on one condition. He was not to put anything in there about pantheism. This resulted in the book, The Living Temple.

Ellen White was instructed to tell the leaders not to print that book. Against her counsel, the manuscript was sent to the Review and Herald for publication; they set the type and were ready to run the presses. On December 29, 1902, the Review and Herald Publishing Association burned down. God was fighting the battle Himself to get His church back on the right foundation. Dr. Kellogg was not to be defeated; he went to another publisher in Battle Creek and had the book published himself.

  1. The church had not recovered from this battle when, in 1905, A. F. Ballenger came from England with a whole document on the sanctuary to present to the General Conference. In that document, he asserted that there was no sanctuary in heaven and that the atonement was completed at the cross.

In 1905 Ellen White wrote, “I declare in the name of the Lord that the most dangerous heresies are seeking to find entrance among us as a people, and Elder Ballenger is making spoil of his own soul. … There is not truth in the explanations of Scripture that Elder Ballenger and those associated with him are presenting. The words are right but misapplied to vindicate error.” Manuscript Release No. 760, page 4.

That is exactly what the Jews did in the first advent; that is exactly what the Protestant churches did in the early advent awakening. They accepted error; they misapplied the Scriptures. The article continues,

“God forbids your course of action—making the blessed Scriptures, by grouping them in your way, to testify to build up a falsehood.

“Let us all cling to the established truth of the sanctuary. … The men who have lost their hold on the truths of the sanctuary question … had better pray more and talk less. I testify in the name of the Lord that Elder Ballenger is led by satanic agencies and spiritualistic, invisible leaders.” That was written in 1905. Ellen White died in 1915. Her battle was over, but 15 years later a statement of 22 fundamental beliefs was written in 1931 containing men’s explanations of the Scriptures. It was changed quite a few times, but in 1980, it became an official document of the Seventh-day Adventist church. This document, with the church manual, has become the equivalent of a creed, just like the rest of the Protestant churches have and this statement of beliefs has been changed quite a few times since then.

  1. During this same time Desmond Ford attacked the sanctuary message. He asserted that the atonement was completed at the cross. He basically denied the whole sanctuary message with the same end result as A. F. Ballenger.

However, that was not the end of Satan’s battle against the sanctuary message.

  1. The Evangelical Compromise – Dr. Walter Martin, an Evangelical Christian apologist, published a book in 1955 on cults, in which he indicated his opposition to Adventist teachings in a brief paragraph in the inaugural edition of his book The Rise of the Cults (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1955). Word got to the General Conference that Seventh-day Adventists were being presented to the public as a cult. They did not want that to happen. They wanted to be considered a mainline church. Negotiations were started with Dr. Walter Martin and Dr. Donald Barnhouse on how to state the fundamental beliefs so that the church could be accepted as a mainline church. In his book, Our Evangelical Earthquake (Harvestime Books, Altamont, Tennessee, 2009), Vance Farrell has documented these negotiations and the whole history of that apostasy and fundamental beliefs.

The whole idea of Christ’s blood to atone for sin in the heavenly sanctuary had to be deleted to become a mainline church because of the Evangelicals’ objection to that doctrine and to the first angel’s message.

  1. Spiritual Formation – Today we are in the midst of the worst apostasy yet. Spiritual formation is sweeping the churches. Seventh-day Adventist universities and ministers are being trained and offered degrees in these spiritualistic teachings, which goes directly against the sanctuary message and Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary.

We are in a swirl of apostasy today. But we can claim the promise that the sanctuary message will be restored.

“For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the Word—especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of heaven for these last days as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. … But the waymarks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved as God has signified through His Word and through the testimony of His Spirit.” Ibid., 7.

No matter how bad the apostasy gets, there will be a remnant that will preserve the new covenant and sanctuary messages.

“He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority. Manuscript 44, 1905.” Ibid.

“The third angel closes his message thus: ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus’ (Revelation 14:12). As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place.” Early Writings, 254.

“The third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan.” Ibid., 256.

This anchor—this “perfect chain of truth,” the sanctuary message—is the foundation and central pillar of the Christian faith. Cling to this “perfect chain of truth”—lay hold on that anchor.

These truths “opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people.” The Great Controversy, 423.

“The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill.” Ibid., 488.

If you do not have a clear understanding of the sanctuary message, begin to study it diligently now, because you cannot be a worker for God in the time of the latter rain without understanding it. It is that critical.

The sanctuary message will be restored and will be the center and focus of the latter rain.

“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing time will come.” Ibid., 625. “As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. … Then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.” Ibid., 624.

This is the great final test. We will not have time to get the message straight after the close of probation. We need to get on the right foundation now while Christ is still our Mediator in the heavenly sanctuary.

This is urgent, because we are told that probation will close sooner for the faithful believers, before the loud cry. Those who stand on the true foundation of the new covenant and its sanctuary are sealed at the beginning of the loud cry when the latter rain—the power and glory of the Holy Spirit—is poured out in full measure on the true people of God.

“The light that was shed upon the waiting ones penetrated everywhere, and those in the churches who had any light, who had not heard and rejected the three messages, obeyed the call and left the fallen churches.” Early Writings, 278.

“The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; his hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.” The Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.

“While the door is closed to those who would not enter” refers to the foolish virgins that come up to the time of the latter rain and find they are not on the foundation of the sanctuary truth. They do not know what it is about, and they have misconceptions about the sanctuary message.

There is a powerful false sanctuary message today. The difference between the true and the false is simply an understanding of the atonement process during which Christ blots out the sins of His repentant people in the heavenly sanctuary.

The false message talks about Christ’s ministry in the holy place. It may even talk about His ministry in the most holy place and the cleansing of the sanctuary, but it does not talk about the need for confession and separation from sin now. Probation is soon to close and there is little time to get ready. The third angel’s message is all about the new covenant—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12). We need to give the true third angel’s message that points people to the heavenly sanctuary. If you have not been to the heavenly sanctuary and confessed your own sins, it is impossible to give the third angel’s message. I plead with you today to get on the right foundation with Jesus Christ—the foundation of the new covenant and the sanctuary of the new covenant, Christ’s ministry in the most holy place—and the seven pillars of the faith that rest on this eternal truth. These truths provide an anchor for you, and this anchor will hold during the time of storm soon to break upon us.

The third era of prophecy has been given to help the people in the second advent movement prepare for the time when their name will come up in the judgment, for the close of probation and for eternal life. Each era of prophecy fulfills a specific purpose in the great plan of salvation.

(Emphasis in quoted references has been added. Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New International Version.)

Maurice Hoppe is Director of the Steps to Life training programs and a member of the Steps to Life Board. The Training Program for Ministers and Church Leaders is a correspondence course that prepares individuals to serve as pastors or Bible workers. Preparing for the Final Conflict is a correspondence course for the laity. Both of these courses teach present truth that will be an anchor for the soul during the storm of opposition and persecution just ahead. He and his wife also have a correspondence course offered through Revelation Ministry. He can be contacted at: mauricehoppe@stepstolife.org.

How to Live in a Corrupt World

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One of these days soon, we will not have to deal with the problems of this world any longer but live in peace and harmony in heaven. Jesus gave some interesting insights describing the condition of the world just before He returns. “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37–39.

The book of Genesis describes the condition of the people that caused God to send a flood to destroy them. It will be the same just before He returns the second time. Genesis 4:16, 17 gives the genealogy of Cain after he killed his brother, Abel. “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.” The marriage institution, that began in the Garden of Eden, was under attack when Lamech “had two wives” (verse 19). Taking two wives was not in God’s order, and we read a few verses later that he killed a man because he did him wrong (verse 23).

Ellen White wrote in The Signs of the Times, October 6, 1898: “Had man co-operated with God, there would have been no Cain-worshippers.” This is significant to our study on what it was like in the days of Noah. When Cain brought his offering to worship God, he took no heed to God’s instruction, but brought the fruits of his own labor. This is one of the reasons that caused the persecution of Abel by Cain. Abel “was a righteous man” (Hebrews 11:4) who did exactly what God told him to do. He brought an offering of an animal, as God had instructed, and sacrificed it. Cain came with an offering of his fruits and vegetables—the works of his own hands. Most of the world today worship as did Cain, trying to be saved by their own works.

Sabbath keepers are often accused of trying to save themselves by keeping the law of God. It was God who gave the commandments, giving specific instructions and leaving no room to doubt. The fourth commandment does not say, “Man, you worship Me, but you can just do it on whatever day that you would think convenient.” No, God specified the day; He said the seventh day is the Sabbath. When we obey God by keeping the Sabbath day we are simply doing what God has asked us to do. Those who worship on Sunday are following man, because it was man who changed the day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday. In fact, they are Cain worshippers.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:1–4. Often the focus of the events of Noah’s day is about the wicked acts, but some things were happening that we have not yet seen. In fact, I believe there was a revival in Noah’s day before the flood came.

The term “sons of God” is designated for God’s church. This is translated in another version as nephilim. There is a difference between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men” who were the worldlings, the Cain worshippers. These were the heathen who went out from the presence of the Lord.

Notice in Genesis 4:25, 26 it says, “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.” Seth means the one who took the place of. When people began to call on the name of the Lord, there was a revival. You can read about it in Zephaniah 3. I believe Zephaniah 3 is actually a prophecy of what is going to happen again.

Remember, Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah.” Before the second coming of Jesus it will be the same. I believe that there is going to be a reformation in God’s church. As in Genesis 6, when the sons of God went after the daughters of men, they became intermingled and married. The fruit of these marriages was the children. Genesis 6:4 described them as giants (nephilim).

Let us examine this word nephilim. The same word occurs in Numbers 13:33. Numbers 13 tells about the twelve spies who went into the land of Canaan to give a report of what they saw there. Ten of the spies gave an evil report, and when Caleb and Joshua said they could take the land, the people were ready to stone them. The ten that gave the wicked report said, “And there we saw the giants [nephilim], … and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” The root word of nephilim is nephil, which means to cause to fall.

Let me explain this. When Israel was up against the Philistines, Goliath came out and taunted them every day for forty days. Goliath was from Gath, of the tribe of nephilim, called Anak. The Bible says that when Goliath came out he caused all Israel, from King Saul clear down to the last person, to fear.

In the days of Noah, the nephilim were the ones who used terror to put fear into the hearts of other people to cause them to submit to them. Today, they would be called terrorists.

Jesus said that before He comes, conditions will be the same as in the days of Noah. There are people today who use violence to force others to fall down and submit to them. In Noah’s day this came as a result of God’s church mingling with the world and intermarrying with them.

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5.

The descendants of Cain were the originators of city living; they built a city (Genesis 4:17). When a large population of people live in close proximity, crime, violence and every evil thing imaginable can happen. “And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.” Genesis 6:6, 7.

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Verses 11, 12. Can you imagine, the whole earth was corrupted? “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Verse 8.

Things were bad then, like they are today, with violence filling the land. The marriage institution is being attacked, and every day in the news we read of more murders. At the grocery store we have to walk through all the evil things before we get to the check out to buy food. The thoughts of men are evil continually, and we are being bombarded. Sin is all around us; it is everywhere, on billboards, on television and on radio. Violence is spoiling the land and the earth is becoming corrupted.

Look at Revelation 19:2. It says, “For true and righteous are His judgments: and He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.” The Bible predicts again that the earth is going to be totally corrupt. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the beast power].” Revelation 13:8. The entire world is going to worship the beast. You can read it again in Revelation 12:9, which says that the devil is going to deceive the entire world.

In Revelation 14, John sees in vision three messages going out to the entire world, just as it was in the days of Noah when all the world heard Noah’s message. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. John, looking into the future, sees this mass of people, and it seemed to him as if every single one of them had given his or her allegiance to the beast. But the angel said, “Here, look a little bit closer.” Like faithful Noah, he sees a people that are not worshiping the beast but give their allegiance to the God of heaven. They keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

It is this group of people that we must be a part of to be ready when Jesus returns. While the rest of the world disregards God’s commandments, there is going to be a people who will obey God’s commandments. Noah was not alone in his stand for truth; there was another man who was keeping God’s commandments. He was a Seventh-day Adventist, and his name was Enoch.

Enoch lived in a corrupt world, but he was not tainted by the sin all around him. You might question in your mind just how it is possible to live in a corrupt world and not be corrupted. This is possible only when self is dead. Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19.

Jesus said, “I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16. Jesus here is praying specifically about His disciples. He says, “They’re not of the world. They have had a conversion, and the world hates them because of it.” They hate the world.

Enoch lived in the world in an atmosphere that was tainted with sin. He was bombarded with it all around him, just like you and I are today. It was everywhere in the things that he saw and in the things that he heard. There is not a lot said about Enoch, but we have some insights from the Spirit of Prophecy that tell us how he was uncorrupted though he lived in a corrupt world.

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14, 15.

Enoch believed there was going to be a judgment. He believed in the second coming of Jesus; he was a Seventh-day Adventist. Seventh-day Adventists have existed since the very beginning of time. You see, a lot of people think Adventist is an organization, but it is not. It is the name of a designated people who obey the commandments of God and who are looking forward to the second coming of Jesus. It is a designated name—a code word for the sons of God.

“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.” Hebrews 11:5 Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord. Enoch lived by faith.

Indeed, as Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” These people are like Enoch. Enoch is a real person, but he is also a symbol of God’s church near the end that will be translated without seeing death. By God’s grace, you and I can all be a part of it if we choose, but we need to live as Enoch lived.

Genesis 4:26 says, “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.” There was a revival among the people of that land. It was not amongst the city dwellers but the people who lived in the country, and out of that line of people came Enoch. “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years.” Genesis 5:21, 22. Methuselah means year of the flood, and Methuselah died in the year of the flood. What an amazing testimony of a man who walked with God for three hundred years! He was a man who walked by faith, and he pleased God. His walk with the Lord began when He had little Methuselah. As he held Methuselah in his arms, he began to realize the relationship that God wanted to have with him and that he wanted to have with God. “Enoch walked with God … begat Methuselah … 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.” Genesis 5:22–24.

The only way to live in a corrupt world, without being tainted by it, is to walk with God. The following will help you with that walk.

A Constant Conflict

It was through constant conflict and simple faith that Enoch walked with God. Be intentional to avoid the distractions in magazines when in the grocery store buying supplies. Make a covenant with your eyes to avoid the pictures or scantily dressed people. Listen to the still small voice and turn off the television when your conscience warns you. Walk with God as Enoch did; he was not sporadic, but constantly aware of the battle he faced and overcame the temptations with simple trust in God.

As it was in the days of Noah

Call on the name of the Lord. There is going to be a revival, and it was thus that Enoch walked with God. “It was not easier for Enoch to live a righteous life in his day than it is for us at the present time. The world at that time was no more favorable to growth in grace and holiness than it is now, but Enoch devoted time to prayer and communion with God.” The Review and Herald, April 15, 1909.

Life is a constant conflict, so do not let down your guard for even a moment. Spend time in prayer with Jesus. If you want to have victory in your life and live as Enoch did, develop habits of constant communion. We are in a spiritual war, so never go out without your armor (Ephesians 6). You are no match for the devil. Eve, who had far more intellectual power than we have today, tried to reason with him and lost. Spend time in prayer. “This enabled him [Enoch] to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. It was his devotion to God that fitted him for translation.” Ibid. Enoch did not have a Bible, but he had the book of nature, which is God’s second Bible that teaches us of Him. If you want a deeper knowledge of God, go out in nature and learn how to commune with Him. There is no better place to spend time with Him and meditate upon what He has created.

Train Your Mind

Our minds are the battlefield here, but Enoch learned to control his thoughts. “Enoch’s case is before us. Hundreds of years he walked with God. He lived in a corrupt age, when moral pollution was teeming all around him; yet he trained his mind to devotion, to love purity. His conversation was upon heavenly things. He educated his mind to run in this channel, and he bore the impress of the divine.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 121.

It is impossible to develop purity while looking about at the corruption all around. It is a deception to think that you can be in this world and of the world and still be a Christian. It is impossible. This life is a constant conflict with sin. Enoch prayed and communed with God, and then he trained his mind to dwell upon only what was lovely. He kept his conversation on heavenly things. It is profitable, for us today, to train our lips to speak only of heavenly things on the Sabbath day. We have six days to talk about work, and we have one day to talk only about God, of His love and of what He is doing. Spend time training your thoughts, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Train your mind and fill it with the word of God.

“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.” I Peter 1:13. What does it mean to gird up the loins of your mind? Let me give you an illustration. In Bible times, men wore flowing loose robes. If they had to run, they would pick up all the loose fabrics, gathering it up, and with a wide girdle or belt they would tie it around themselves.

If your mind starts to wander, bring it back to focus and center and don’t allow it to drift. The Bible says, “Gird up the loins of your mind.” God backs His word with promises. Paul said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5. “We have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:16. Our mind is the battlefield, so don’t allow it to wander off into the forbidden paths of this world. Eve made this mistake. She found herself looking at the tree that God had forbidden. Her imagination began to wander, and she heard her thoughts picked up by a serpent in the tree. Keep focused!

A Stranger on Earth

Enoch was looking for a heavenly home for this world was not his home. He was what the Bible calls a pilgrim and a stranger in a strange world (Exodus 2:22).

Evangelist

Enoch won souls to the Lord. “Then at times he went forth to the inhabitants of the world with his God-given message.” Maranatha, 184. “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14, 15.

  • Enoch was in a constant conflict with himself, the devil and the corruptions of this world.
  • Enoch prayed and communed with God in nature.
  • Enoch girded up the loins of his mind, training it to stay focused.
  • Enoch lived as though he was but a stranger in this world, a pilgrim passing through.
  • Enoch went out to win souls for the Lord.

“Enoch had temptations as well as we. He was surrounded with society no more friendly to righteousness than is that which surrounds us. The atmosphere he breathed was tainted with sin and corruption, the same as ours; yet he lived a life of holiness. He was unsullied with the prevailing sins of the age in which he lived. So may we remain pure and uncorrupted. He was a representative of the saints who live amid the perils and corruptions of the last days. For his faithful obedience to God he was translated. So, also, the faithful, who are alive and remain, will be translated. They will be removed from a sinful and corrupt world to the pure joys of heaven.” The Faith I Live By, 350.

Enoch was a representative of the saints that are going to live just before the second coming of Jesus.

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

Mike Bauler was ordained into the ministry in 2005 and serves as pastor of the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. Prior to locating in Portland, Pastor Bauler served as a Bible worker for Steps to Life Ministries. His goal is to help give the gospel to the greater Portland area with an emphasis in helping his Bible students discover the truths in Bible prophecy, which are so often neglected today. His wife, Amanda, a family nurse practitioner, and their daughters Hannah, Esther and Abigail assist him in his ministry.

Overcoming

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Sometimes the word perfection strikes people as being too harsh or unattainable. In the book, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, by A. T. Jones (Leaves of Autumn Books, Inc., Payson, Arizona [1978], 118), it says, “The service in the earthly sanctuary shows also that in order for the sanctuary to be cleansed, and the course of the gospel service there to be finished, it must first be finished in the people who have a part in the service. That is to say: In the sanctuary itself, transgression could not be finished, an end of sins and reconciliation for iniquity could not be made, and everlasting righteousness could not be brought in, until all this had been accomplished in each person who had a part in the service of the sanctuary.”

The sanctuary is the central part of the message that defines us as Seventh-day Adventists. It goes on to say, “Therefore the very first work in the cleansing of the sanctuary was the cleansing of the people. That which was preliminary and essential to the cleansing of the sanctuary itself, to the finishing of the transgression and bringing in everlasting righteousness there, was the finishing of transgression, and the making an end of sins, and making reconciliation for iniquity, and bringing in everlasting righteousness in the heart and life of each one of the people themselves. When the stream that flowed into the sanctuary was thus stopped at its source, then, and then alone, could the sanctuary itself be cleansed from the sins and transgression which, from the people, by the intercession of the priests, had flowed into the sanctuary.” Ibid., 118, 119.

Perfection was required on the day of atonement. It was only when sin stopped flowing into the sanctuary that it could be cleansed; otherwise the blood of the sacrificial lambs would continually defile it. In the earthly sanctuary, Jesus has given us an example.

James 1:27 identifies what is needed to belong to the true church—true religion! “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble [in their affliction KJV], and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Notice that this is not just a social visit. It is for a specific purpose to help them in their need or affliction. God has a special care for the widows and orphans, and if you touch the orphan, you have touched the apple of God’s eye.

We are told to “keep unspotted from the world.” Paul says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. We can understand peace, even though there is misunderstanding as to how to pursue it. Don’t let the trouble be on you, but let you be the peacemaker. So “pursue peace … and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord.” These words sometimes strike fear or terror in people, but they are necessary, for God is holy and only holy people will be with Him in eternity.

In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He said, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16.

What is the world spoken of here? We speak about Babylon and to come out of her and it is related, because Babylon is the world. However, Jesus here says, “You should [not] take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” Verse 16.

“The world” gets to us through our senses. Satan gains entrance into our minds through the senses. He does not know what we are thinking, but he is a master at watching us our whole lives. We are to guard the avenues of the soul, which includes what we allow into our minds through our senses. We always talk about the temptations and how they need to be resisted. Joseph was tempted daily from the outside. The entire universe was watching what Joseph would do when confronted by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph’s intentions were pure, and when tempted he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. Joseph’s integrity cost him many years in prison, but God’s hand was over him, preparing him to be a ruler in Egypt.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” James 1:13, 14. According to James, the temptation comes from within, and we are enticed through our own desires. Through the senses the desire is worked up and becomes enticed. When you give in and agree to the temptation, it is then sin. When a person realizes he is tempted, and in the strength of the Lord resists and repents of it, he beats the desire. All are tempted through the world but we all have free will to choose either to give in to the temptation or resist.

There are many Adventists who do not really believe that it is possible to live the Christian life and continually overcome, claiming that even Paul struggled every day. They quote Paul in Romans 7 where he says he wanted to do what was right, but he couldn’t do it, always catching himself doing what he shouldn’t be doing, and they identify with him. In Romans 8, Paul writes that he was successful in overcoming that vacillating life of in and out of sin. In verses 5 and 6 he tells us, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

He points out that it is not just being tempted or enticed, but there is a choice in what to think about and where to direct your mind. He says, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.” This is making a deliberate choice on what to focus. It can be compared to driving. While your focus is on the road ahead you are unlikely to sway from your lane, but if you start focusing on something out to the side, you could be off the road in seconds. It is a natural law that you will go where you are looking.

The first half of Romans 8 deals with focusing the mind. This is the key, and it is your choice whether you set it on the Spirit or on the flesh. No one can do it for you.

Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34. He said, it is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out, that defiles a person. We know that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Who you really are will eventually come out and be made public. You cannot hold it in. Some people are great actors. The word actor in Greek means hypocrite. It was a profession just as today in Hollywood we have actors in this world that profess. In Greece they would be called hypocrites. An actor cannot act continually without what is in the heart coming out sooner or later.

True Christians are to be apart from the world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15–17. Jesus said that the world will pass away and all the lusts, but whoever does the will of God will abide forever. He said, “I always do the will of My Father.” He did not say, “Yes, I pray five times and I study so long.” No, He said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father.” John 5:30.

One of the worst-case scenarios at the end of time is found in Matthew 7. There is a group of people who go around converting people in the world with great success, but then the Lord will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Matthew 7:23. The reason for this is that they did not do the will of His Father. Jesus said that they might have done all the right things, but it was not from the heart, not from the will.

Jesus spoke of “all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” 1 John 2:16. These are the three things of which the world consists. The word lust means passion or passionately liking something. It is far more than just a like or a dislike. It involves selfishness. For example, I want everything for me. I want nice clothes and my belly full. The lust of the eyes would be greed. You have enough, but you want more, and you also want what the other person has. You see it and you want it. The pride of life is the self-identity that we have. It may not be really true, but I build myself up to think highly of who I am, considering myself better than others. It is who I am in my own estimation, disregarding who I am in Christ. Others might see me differently than I see myself. This is the pride of life.

These are the three things that include everything in this world and provide the motives for everything we do. It applies to each business transaction, how we present ourselves in the church and in our homes. Sadly, this includes selfishness, greed and our ego or pride.

In Galatians 5:19–23, Paul talks about the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” We must be aware of the works of the flesh and fight against those kinds of fruits, for a tree is known by its fruits.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6. Here is the description of how Eve fell. Three things Satan promised Eve that were going to happen. Then, when she bit into it, it seemed like it had happened. The fruit tasted good. It was like black light. You can see things under black light that you have never seen before, but remember—it is black light, not light!

Isaiah 14:13 says, “For you [Satan] have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation.’ ” Above the stars, me! I’m going to be over all this. And then, “sit on the mount of the congregation” and look over my kingdom; I am going to have it all!

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Verse 14. In other words, Satan would have the adoration that belonged to Christ. He said, “I’m somebody; I’m not just a servant around here.”

God did not create sin. He wants each person to think freely and choose wisely. Which direction are you putting your thoughts, inward or outward? Satan turned his inward. He said, “I don’t have to do what God says; I can do what I want to do.” That is exactly what many children do. They get to be old enough and then say, “You’re not going to tell me what to do again.” That is the same thinking that started the sin problem. Satan was a free thinker, and he turned inward saying, “I am going to do.” As long as our mind is running in the same direction there is no difference. The problem begins with what is in our hearts.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14, 15.

How can this be? Jesus did not have a wife. He did not have children that were born to Him. He didn’t suffer a broken arm, or get cancer or those kinds of things, so how could He be tempted in all points as we are?

When you examine carefully the temptations Jesus endured in the wilderness, they boil down to just three. He overcame sin on a very basic level. The problem we have is not dissecting our temptations to the basic level. We are often so concerned about our own little situation and do not recognize the root problem, preferring to just take a pill and make it go away.

Let’s examine the temptations that Jesus endured. “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.” Matthew 4:2. I remember years ago something that happened in Ireland. The English were fighting against the Irish and England had rounded up some Irish men and put them in jail. The Irish prisoners went on a hunger strike that lasted about 35 or 38 days. They refused to give in to the English, resulting in ten or twelve of them dying. Forty days is about the maximum anyone can last fasting.

Stones into Bread

After forty days, the first thing Jesus would think is, “I need something to eat.” It was at that point that Satan came as an angel of light suggesting that He turn the stones into bread. Didn’t He need to take care of Himself? After all, didn’t He have to live and save the world? Wasn’t that the reason for Him being there? He tried to put doubt in Jesus’ mind that His Father would take care of Him, so wouldn’t it be better to try and take care of Himself?

How often we readily fall for this same temptation and stop waiting on the Lord. We pray, and things keep happening. Then an idea may come and we take matters into our own hands, forgetting to wait on the Lord and do what we think is best. Jesus refused to accept the temptation from Satan.

Cast Thyself Down

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give his angels charge over You,” and, “In their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.” ’ ” Matthew 4:5, 6.

Basically, the devil said, “You want people to believe You. You want people to know who You are. You didn’t change the stones into bread, ok. But, hey, the Bible says You can do this. It’s permissible to show them that you are the One.” The devil tempted Jesus to prove who He was to all. But Jesus replied, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Verse 7.

Fall Down and Worship Me

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” ’ ” Matthew 4:8–10. As soon as Jesus saw this presentation, He turned so that He was not drawn by the desires.

In His humanity, Jesus overcame every temptation that we have to overcome. We need to bow down in the morning and surrender our lives to Him. Then in the evening bow again, asking forgiveness for where we have fallen short during the day. Jesus led a holy life. He was the second Adam who did not sin.

Paul contrasts the two natures: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16, 17. Here we get the idea that when we walk in the Spirit, we are not part of the world. We live in the world, but are not part of it, with all the lust and passionate desires controlling our lives.

When He was arrested, Jesus’ disciples did not understand, because their hearts were still in this world. They told Him, “No, we’ll die for you. No problem!” And they may have died if there would have been a battle between Him and the high priest, his guards and Herod. Peter whipped out the sword, and he was going to fight. Peter rebuked Jesus because He humbled Himself ready to meet death and allowing them kill Him. Peter said, “No, you can’t do that.” Jesus said to him: “You favor things that be of men, not that be of God” (Matthew 16:23). Peter did not know his true motivation.

As Jesus preached to the people, they realized that He was getting serious, and they were not prepared to face the real issues that He was coming down to so they all left. Finally, when only the twelve were there, Jesus asked, “Are you also going to leave?” But they said, “Where would we go?”

Galatians 5:18–21 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” He was not finished with the list but ended that way because there would be too many to mention.

He continued, “Just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Jesus had none of these characteristics in Himself. The Bible says that, if possible, the very elect would be deceived (Matthew 24:24). But the very elect are not deceived because Satan’s temptations have no appeal to their senses.

We need to understand why we always want more money or bigger houses, etc. The reason is because of greed. We must admit and confess our wrong fruits and repent; otherwise we will never be overcomers. Some people walk with the Lord for a time and then say, “I’ve had enough of this self-sacrifice. I’ve had enough of this self-denial. Everybody else is doing those things that I am restricting and they are still here; it hasn’t hurt them.” They start living for self. Jesus was tempted on all points as we are, and He overcame and promises us the victory also in His strength.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23. Jesus was perfect. He went about healing and doing good for the thirty years that He lived on earth. When you think about this, don’t think of the three and a half years that He ministered, but think of the thirty years that He lived, when He was in the shop, when He worked, when He delivered the furniture and when He talked with the people. And when He got home His brothers would say things like: “You’re just no good. You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know how to run this business.” Read the chapter in The Desire of Ages about Judas. Mrs. White definitely says that they thought Jesus was making a big mistake by not listening to Judas. Unbelievable! Why? Because Judas had a fine way about him, and he knew what to do. Because of his demeanor, all the rest of the disciples saw eye to eye with him, and when he doubted what Jesus did, that doubt influenced their minds. They never would have believed that Judas was the one who would betray Him.

But Judas was too smart. Because of his evil greed and his selfishness, he thought he could make a good deal. Judas thought, “This is enough now. I’ve been with Jesus three years and I have lost a lot of money because I was in business. Jesus doesn’t know how to handle money and even when the situation was right to make Him king He did not accept it.” Selfish people can be helpful people, but they help so they can help themselves. Judas thought he had made a good deal with the priests, so he thought that if Jesus was who He said He was, there would be no way that He would allow Himself to die; that would be silly. He was convinced, so decided to push the issue. Thinking himself pretty smart, he came up with a little plan. Jesus was captured, and he thought that if Jesus was not who He said He was, he would have the thirty pieces of silver.

Judas had no idea what He was all about, because Jesus gained the victory right from the beginning. He already dealt with the issue of dying, dying to self, not wanting anything of this world or its ensuing pride. Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Exactly nothing! Satan could not appeal to Him, so he was furious and threw the final vehemence at Him because there was nothing with which he could accuse him. That is why we need the mind of Jesus.

There will come a time when people in the world are no longer appealing to Christ for forgiveness in the sanctuary, for all sins will be forgiven. The blood will cease to flow in the heavenly sanctuary and Jesus will have no more work to do and will no longer need to intercede. He will take off His high priestly robe and put on His kingly robe and claim His people who He has cleansed from sin. Heaven will be free of sin. There will be no more temptation because the one who began sin will finally be done away with and there will be joy in heaven.

May God help us to see and understand this issue as we study how to overcome sin at its root, and let God put His seed in us every day.

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

John Korponay and his wife, Robin, moved to Wichita from Washington state in July, 2012, after John had accepted a position at Steps to Life. John and Robin are life-long Adventists with much experience in self-supporting work. He may be contacted by email at: johnkorponay@stepstolife.org.

The Lord’s Favorite Theme

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Jesus was both a teacher and a preacher. It is often said that during His ministry He spent more time healing the people than in either preaching or teaching. Ellen White says, in the book, Christ’s Object Lessons, 40, that there was one subject that He favored above all others. “Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” If the grace of God was His favorite theme, it should also be our favorite subject to study and to know well. The Bible has many fascinating passages on the subject of grace, but especially in the book of Ephesians.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:3–7.

Notice that by the glory of His grace He has caused us to be accepted in the Beloved and that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8.

The Importance of Grace

Grace brings salvation; it is grace that brings forgiveness of sins. This is all that many Christians seem to know about grace, but it has far more to do than bringing forgiveness of sins. In 11 Corinthians 12:9 and 10, we read that the apostle Paul prayed three times for the Lord to deliver him from a certain affliction. His prayer was not answered in the affirmative, but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We are living in a pessimistic age today where the subject of grace is not understood. Many are discouraged and doubt their salvation believing it impossible to reach the Bible standard for the Christian, because they see themselves as such sinners. Grace does not only bring forgiveness of sins, but it is divine power that gives all the help and assistance needed for whatever circumstance.

The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient.” Sufficient for what? The Bible is very specific about its requirements. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. Only holy people whose lives are in perfect harmony with the law of God will dwell in God’s presence. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ ” Romans 7:7. “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Verse 12. “… the law is spiritual.” Verse 14.

The law is holy. Holy people will be in harmony with the law in their outward life, their inward life, their thoughts and their feelings as well as their words and actions. But we find that we have a sinful human nature. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

What can we do then with this impossible situation? It is through grace alone that a person receives power to accomplish what God requires in their life. It is through grace alone that a person is able to resist and subdue the tendencies of the fallen nature. Paul discusses this in detail in Romans 6, 7 and 8. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4.

Everything that God requires can be accomplished through grace. Successfully resisting the tendencies of the sinful, fallen depraved human nature can be done only through grace. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14–16.

It is through grace that we can receive the help that is needed to resist temptation. One great battle that occurs in the human heart is against unlawful thoughts. Jesus talked about it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Paul says, “Some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:2–5.

If every thought is in obedience to Christ, the thoughts will be pure, and through grace the mind will be barricaded against licentiousness. Salvation comes only through grace. Without grace we can never be holy, and unless we are holy we cannot see God. Grace enables us to do what is right, not only with our hands, but to control our minds, our thoughts and our words. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11, 12.

Notice, he says this grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men. The apostles predicted it; Jude predicted it; Peter predicted it and Paul predicted that in the latter days there would be some people who would come into the church and make merchandise of the grace of God. They would use the subject of grace to lead men to believe that you can live any way you want and just keep asking to have your sins forgiven.

Grace is provided to forgive sins, but it is also the power of God to enable you to live righteously now. To live soberly means to not be intoxicated; righteously means doing what is right; and godly means to live in a holy way, in the present.

Paul describes himself in I Corinthians 15:9, 10: “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

He said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” It is through grace that we receive everything including the forgiveness of sins. It is grace that subdues the tendencies of the fallen sinful nature to enable us to live a holy life in harmony with all of God’s requirements.

My Grace is Sufficient

Jesus sent out His disciples on the missionary journey and told them that persecutions (Matthew 10:23) would come. He told them that they would be hated (verse 22) by all men. Then He said, “Do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Verse 26. He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Verse 28.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29–31. Jesus here says that in spite of the fact that you are going to be hated by all nations and even your own family will deliver you up to death, He said, you do not need to be afraid. He repeats over and over again, do not fear them; do not worry. Why? Ellen White explained this in The Desire of Ages, 354. She said, “God’s grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency.”

Do you have any emergencies in your life or get into difficult situations, either in your job, or with your family, or with your friends? There is enough grace for all who are going through crises or emergencies. Our Lord is equal to any emergency; He gives to us more grace as it is needed.

“His grace is sufficient” means all that you need. If you are weak and sinful and need more grace, you will receive all the grace that you need. That is the divine promise. “My grace is sufficient for you.” Not only has He promised you for the crisis situation you are in, but also in the future. You never need to worry about any crisis or emergency for God has promised His grace is sufficient.

The Bible teaches that God’s children are children of a divine King; not only a Creator and Redeemer, but a King. The title written over His cross was Jesus of Nazareth, King; of the Jews.

If you are the child of the King, then you are an elevated person in thought, ennobled in mind and in body. God wants to lift you up from the miasma, the pit, the fog and darkness of sin. He wants to lift you up into a holy, righteous, and peaceful atmosphere and ennoble your mind so that your thoughts, aspirations, desires and your feelings will be holy and righteous. This is only possible when God imparts to you His grace.

We need God’s grace; it is our only safety. We have a fallen, sinful human nature and without grace every thought, word and action will be sinful because it proceeds from a fallen, sinful, selfish human heart. Selfishness is the root of sin. But grace lifts you into a holy, righteous and peaceful atmosphere of mind.

We are all surrounded by an atmosphere, which can be poisonous with sinful thoughts and desires, or righteous, pure and holy because we have received the grace of God. Our only safety is to receive the grace of God and to walk by His grace. It is only by His grace that our tongues are controlled. Notice what James 3:6–8 says: “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. For every kind of beast and bird, or reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

An uncontrolled tongue breaks up marriages and causes divorce. It causes trouble in the family between parents and the children. It causes strife and commotion and unhappiness in the church. It causes a world of trouble in the workplace and nations are set at war with each other by the tongue. James says that no man can tame it. The only hope that we have of getting it under control is to receive grace. “Of ourselves we cannot control the unruly member. Divine grace is our only hope.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 175.

To receive grace is the only way we are going to be able to control our tongues; the only way we are going to be able to form new habits that will be in harmony with the law of God; the only way we can have help sufficient for the emergencies and trials that we go through in life. That is the only way we can receive salvation. That’s the only way our thoughts can become pure. That’s the only way we can do everything that God requires. That is the only way we can be barricaded against licentiousness, and it is the only way that we can overcome the depravity of human nature and receive forgiveness of the sins that we have committed. It is the only way we can be saved. Salvation is entirely of grace.

How Can You Receive Grace?

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” He says in verse 11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”

Number 1—Ask for it!

This is the most powerful and precious gift that God has to give to you without money and without price. Before you leave the bedroom in the morning or the dinner table, pray to the Lord and say, “Lord, please, bestow your grace upon me and help me to walk by faith and be empowered by grace to do your will, today.” The gospel is the power of God unto salvation and it imparts to man the grace of God by which we are saved and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.

Number 2—How do you ask?

Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in His heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23, 24. You will not receive grace unless you ask and expect to receive it.

Number 3—In Luke 6:38 is a divine principle:

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

The more grace you give to others the more you will be able to receive. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6. The Christian’s words should be continually imparting grace to others.

Grace is something unique to this sinful world. Angels do not need it because they have never sinned. Human beings need grace because of our fallen, depraved nature that makes all kinds of mistakes. Grace is linked with mercy. We should show the same grace and mercy to others that God shows us. Notice what James 2:13 says: “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Those who refuse to give grace or mercy to others cannot expect their heavenly Father to show them grace or mercy. Jesus expressed this same thought. He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15.

A principle for receiving grace is to give grace to others. We receive grace through faith; ask for it and believe that you will receive it. Paul expresses that very succinctly in Ephesians 2:8. He says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” I’ve heard many people say that we are saved by faith. All the faith in world would not save you if it was not for the grace of God. If Jesus had not died on the cross to pay the price for your sins, all the faith in the world would not save you. But you are saved through faith because grace is available, and when you have faith in God and you believe, then the grace will be given to you.

Where Does Faith Come From?

If you receive grace through faith, where do you get the faith that you need to receive the grace that you want? Paul says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. The Bible is a treasure house for grace. It is in the Bible that you find the promises of God, and if you accept these promises and ask for them by faith you will receive all the grace that you need. It does not matter how much treasure you mine, you will never run out. The grace of God is an inexhaustible treasure, but to receive it, we must do our part and cooperate with the heavenly agencies. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.

It is God Who works in you a work of grace. Grace is promised only to those who are humble. “Surely He [God] scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34. Grace cannot be purchased with money. It cannot be acquired with silver or gold or any of the precious things of this earth. It is given free to all who seek it by repentance and faith.

If you are willing to forsake your sins and follow Jesus, all the grace needed will be given to overcome temper, wrong words, wrong thoughts and wrong feelings. He will give you all the grace that you need. There is only one thing that you do need to be concerned about and that is that you use it for what it was intended, to follow Jesus and do His will.

But what happens if you receive the grace of God and refuse to live soberly and become intoxicated; you don’t live righteously, but break God’s law and live wickedly? Then you have received the grace of God in vain. Paul talks about this in II Corinthians 6:1. He says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you, not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy under the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:28–31. It is a fearful thing to receive the grace of God in vain and instead of using the power to follow Christ, continue to live sinfully.

The great delusion of our time is that people profess to accept Christianity, get baptized and become members of a church, but don’t follow Jesus and receive His power to overcome their besetting sins and live righteously. The grace of God is used for lasciviousness and loose living believing that there is always time to confess their sins. Watch out! The God we serve is not Someone to be trifled with. This is not a game. It is dangerous to be guilty of presumptuousness and misuse the grace of God.

How is it with you? Even if you are the weakest and most sinful person, God has promised you all the grace that you need that you might be able to follow Jesus and walk as He walked. We are still living in probationary time. Do not be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who ran out of oil. They did not have enough grace in their lamp to carry them through the second coming of Christ. Call on God today and He will hear and answer your prayer and shower you with His blessings. His grace is equal to any emergency.

(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.

Editorial – Boundary Line

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Do not resist the appeals of the Holy Spirit to your conscience to forsake evil and do what is right. If you do, the following explains what will happen. It is happening even now all over the world.

“The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan. The destruction of Jerusalem is a fearful and solemn warning to all who are trifling with the offers of divine grace and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy. Never was there given a more decisive testimony to God’s hatred of sin and to the certain punishment that will fall upon the guilty.” The Great Controversy, 36.

“The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.” Ibid., 614.

“The word of the Lord comes to us all who have not resisted His Spirit by determining not to hear and obey. This voice is heard in warnings, in counsels, in reproof. It is the Lord’s message of light to His people. If we wait for louder calls or better opportunities, the light may be withdrawn, and we left in darkness.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 28.

“When Jesus leaves the most holy, His restraining Spirit is withdrawn from rulers and people. They are left to the control of evil angels. Then such laws will be made by the counsel and direction of Satan, that unless time should be very short, no flesh could be saved.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 204.

“After God has shown individuals their sins and given them grace to overcome, and His Spirit has been long striving with them, He will not work a miracle to prevent the sure result of resisting that Spirit and persisting in a wrong course. There is a boundary to His grace and mercy; and when this boundary is passed, the aid of His Spirit, so wickedly refused and insulted, is withdrawn, and the soul is given over to the worst of tyrants—the power of a perverted will.” The Signs of the Times, June 5, 1884.

See also Hebrews 3, 6, 10; Genesis 6:3; Isaiah 55; I Corinthians 10; Isaiah 1; Proverbs 1 and II Peter 2.