Issue: 2006 November

The Ten Commandments, Part XVII – Thou Shalt Not Covet

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In Romans 7:12, the apostle Paul says, “Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” This statement is a conclusion that he draws concerning the value of the Ten Commandments—holy, just, and good. Paul could very well have been answering the same spirit that is charged against those who love the Law of God today.

Paul is saying, “Do not think for a minute that there is anything wrong with the Law of God!” There are a number of people today who are challenging the Law of God, saying that it has been done away with. And, indeed, they, as those in Paul’s day, may very well be appealing for the justification of such a thing. But Paul says, “Do not even think such a thing! The law is good; it serves a purpose. It is righteous; it is holy, and it is good.”

The Psalmist confirmed this when he wrote, “The law of the Lord [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord [is] sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7.

As we have gone through this series on the Ten Commandments, we have seen that indeed the intent of the law is to point out sin in a way that directs us to the Saviour. It is not the purpose of the commandments to save us. The commandments are there to point out the sin so we may be directed to the Saviour, find grace, find mercy, and ultimately be saved because we have sought Him.

The Law of God is perfect and eternal. It contains depth that we do not comprehend as we superficially read the law. If you just read the Ten Commandment Law, and you think that your duty and your responsibility is to just keep the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law, you have missed the point. The law goes much, much deeper than that. It is very comprehensive; it is immeasurable, and it encompasses every virtue within the range of human duty. It also strictly and directly prohibits every sin within the reach of human conduct. It contains the whole duty of man.

Full Circle

The Ten Commandments complete a full circle. Basically the law does not just start with the first commandment and end with the tenth commandment, because when we end with the tenth, we are back around to the first again. Making a full circle, we find ourselves back at the beginning. It is like the Bible. The Bible is not just Genesis to Revelation. When we finish Revelation, we can be directed back to Genesis again. It is a circle, and it is a whole.

The Bible begins with the creation of man in the perfect setting of the Garden of Eden, and when John closes the Book of Revelation, we see that the story of redemption has completed itself to the extent that we find man back in his perfect, restored state in the Garden of Eden again. So the Bible is circular, as is the Law of God.

The Ten Commandments, beginning with the first which deals with the worship of the true God, we will see again in Ephesians 5:5: “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” The apostle Paul puts covetousness into the setting of the whole law, dealing with all aspects of the law—anything that is unclean.

The Tenth

In Deuteronomy 5, from where we have been studying the Ten Commandments, we read: “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any [thing] that [is] thy neighbour’s.” Verse 21.

As I have mentioned before, there are some changes in the commandments as they first appear in Exodus 20 and as they appear in Deuteronomy 5. Did you catch what the difference is in this commandment, other than the first word, “neither”? Moses adds one word here; he says: “You are not supposed to covet your neighbor’s field.” So we see that there is a difference in the wording of the commandments, including the tenth one.

Covetous Defined

We can look longingly at the automobiles on a car lot, not recognizing our desire as coveting, because the cars do not belong to a specific individual. Or we can look out across the countryside at beautiful houses and say, “I wish that I had that house.” This expresses excessive desire. But Webster says that it is excessive desire concerning wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions. While it appears that there is a prohibition concerning just what belongs to our neighbors, in reality, anything that is not ours belongs to someone else, and our clamor to obtain it constitutes covetousness.

Some of the synonyms of covetous are: greedy, acquisitive (not inquisitive but acquisitive), grasping, and avaricious. Webster goes on to say that,

“Greedy stresses the lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire. Acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep. Grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means. Avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness [acquiring] especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.” Ibid.

It is interesting to note, as we go through these definitions that the synonyms Webster gives for the word covetous itself, reveal that this is probably one of the areas of life that we almost applaud! Almost every advertising campaign that is launched today bases its advertising on this concept of covetousness. The advertisers usually try to flavor their advertisements with all kinds of desirable objects in an attempt to enhance the desire for the object that they are trying to sell. They try to get us on a two-pronged approach, not only from the object of advertising but from the object itself, so this commandment is tremendously flouted today.

Covetousness is Unrighteous

In looking through the Bible, we find that a goodly amount of Scripture deals with the sin of covetousness. Paul wrote again, concerning this, in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10, which basically says the same thing as Ephesians 5:5, but it is a little more defined: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Notice that when Paul says “unrighteous,” then a list follows that defines those things that are unrighteous. The one thing to which we need to pay attention in this list of sins is that covetousness is placed with those that are considered to be the grossest sins. Right in the very middle of all these sins that we find very distasteful is covetousness. It is a sin that, when left uncontrolled by the person who can control it, grows until it completely possesses that person and corrupts his or her character.

Undetected

This is a sin that goes undetected except by the persons themselves. I think this is probably the reason why this sin is listed as the last commandment. There is a sequence to the commandments, starting with “Thou shalt have no other gods.” If we can make that application in our lives, then we can move down to the next one, that says, “Do not make any graven images,” and down to the next one that says, “Do not take the name of the Lord in vain,” and then “Remember the Sabbath day,” and on through the relationships between man and man. Once we can focus on all of those, once we get all of those together in our thinking, we can with the Psalmist say, “The law of God is perfect, converting the soul.”

A conversion process occurs that can take a man of wretchedness and turn him around. I do not know that any of us can actually understand it, except by what we see transpiring in our lives—but it is there.

So, as we have made our way through God’s Law, we find ourselves at that tenth commandment that declares, If you can be judged by all of these others from an outward appearance, once you get to the tenth, you have to judge yourself. You have to deal with that.

A Heart Matter

Ellen White wrote: “Satan carries out his plans well. As the servants of God appoint meetings, Satan with his angels is on the ground to hinder the work. He is constantly putting suggestions into the minds of God’s people.” Early Writings, 267.

From this quotation, we can see how covetousness makes a foothold in our minds. If we have gone through the sequencing of the commandments and have been converted to God, but we have not quite yet come to the tenth commandment, the devil is going to get on our trails like we would not believe! He may not put thoughts of covetousness into our minds, but Ellen White says that he and his angels work on God’s people and that he puts suggestions into their minds.

Covetousness is the only sin that deals with the heart in terms of an internal way that cannot really be seen from the outside. If the devil can put those thoughts into our hearts, into our minds, we need to be very, very careful of guarding our hearts so that he is not able to put those thoughts there.

Continuing, Ellen White wrote: “He leads some in one way and some in another, always taking advantage of evil traits in the brethren and sisters, exciting and stirring up their natural besetments.” Ibid. What are “their natural besetments”? Well, “their natural besetments” are those weaknesses of the flesh that are either inherited or cultivated. The devil knows what those inherited and those cultivated tendencies may be for each one of us, so he puts thoughts into our minds of covetousness. As a warning to us, God put in place a commandment to deal with all the various aspects of this, which can be magnified even farther beyond just the word.

“If they are disposed to be selfish and covetous, Satan takes his stand by their side, and with all his power seeks to lead them to indulge their besetting sins.” Ibid. Now, that is alarming!

Battle Raging

We are in what is called the great controversy. There is a battle raging for our souls, and the devil is going to do anything and everything that he can to destroy us, not only from this earth but also from any inheritance into eternal life. Remember that we earlier read that the unrighteous are not going to inherit eternal life, and the list of sins that are associated with unrighteousness.

Ellen White also wrote: “Covetousness, selfishness, love of money, and love of the world, are all through the ranks of Sabbath-keepers. . . . Those that have this covetousness in their hearts are not aware of it. It has gained upon them imperceptibly.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b, 26. This sin cannot be seen on the outside of those suffering from it. We cannot see into others’ minds.

In Testimonies, vol. 1, 141, we read: “Worldly-mindedness, selfishness, and covetousness have been eating out the spirituality and life of God’s people.”

Camouflaged Covetousness

Allow me to ask the question: Do you think covetousness is a problem for Seventh-day Adventists? I think it is. Some of the things that we can see that are manifested from covetousness, we do not specifically identify as covetousness, but it becomes an outgrowth of that. As an example, say that a man and a woman get involved in a personal relationship. There is a little saying that suggests that a man chases a woman until she catches him. It works both ways, but there is a chasing that occurs, and sometimes, once the catching takes place and the two begin to bond into a relationship, one or the other begins to treat the other individual very meanly and very badly and to take advantage of them. Sometimes it even turns into physical abuse. There are shelters now to protect individuals from such things, but we have probably all observed such a relationship at some time.

This is kind of a twisted example of covetousness, because a person can desire someone, and, after the conquest is over, the motivation for going after that person has been a covetous, greedy motivation, not love. It is really a lustful kind of motivation. As we study the Bible, we find that the word lust and the word covetous are interchangeable. In the Strong’s Concordance (James Strong, New Strong’s Concordance of the Bible, Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, Tennessee, 1985) you will find the same Greek word, epithumia, can be translated one way or the other, as lust or as covetous.

In a relationship such as I described above, the man or woman, instead of building the relationship on love, appreciation, and companionship, becomes possessive, when the challenge is over, and greedy. The attitude of “you are mine; you will do as I say,” is displayed. In this attitude of covetousness, the other person is treated as a possession or a piece of property that the other person has sought after and now owns. This is why many of these relationships turn so bad. That is how covetousness works.

Selfish Orientation

The whole orientation of a covetous person seems to be about himself or herself. We might often hear from such an individual, “What about me?” I will never forget an experience that I had several years ago. I was called to a home to pray for and anoint a lady who was quite ill. This lady’s mother and husband were in the home when I arrived. The husband and I went into his wife’s sick room, and I talked with them to ascertain where their experience with the Lord was before doing the anointing. After the anointing and the prayer were over, we opened the bedroom door and went into the living room where the mother was waiting to come into the bedroom, thinking that the anointing had not yet taken place. She was on fire when she learned that the service was completed. “What about me?” she demanded. “What about me? I am the mother. What about me?”

What about me? is basically the motivation for a covetous person—What about me? What do I get out of this? Why cannot I have what others have? They have a house along the lake; why cannot I have a house by the lake? They have a new car; why cannot I have a new car? He has a beautiful wife; why cannot I have a beautiful wife?—Everything is about “me.”

The interesting thing is that this commandment covers all of these areas and says, You need to search your own heart and make sure what your own motivation is, so that you are right in all of these areas.

Application for Today

From Deuteronomy 5:21, look at the things that are meaningful to us today. This was not something that Moses wrote 3,500 years ago and has no application to us today. It definitely has application to us today.

“Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife.” We could save so much pain in society today if that was followed! So that is very applicable today.

“Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house.” We could certainly make application of this as well.

What does it mean, Thou shalt not covet “his field”? This is actually referring to the aspect of supplying the needs for sustenance of life. In our time we might say, “Thou shalt not covet his job.” This is where political maneuvering, ladder climbing, and all of these kinds of things come into play so we can get into position to get the right job. In the Bible, the reference is made to a man who had a field from which he got his sustenance to support not only himself, but his family as well. The command is, “Do not make any move toward the man’s field.”

“. . . or his manservant.” It is not uncommon for a company to attempt to entice a prized employee from a competitor or other company. The manservant is seen as something that is valuable for the sake of greediness. Is it applicable today? You better believe it is applicable today! “. . . or his maidservant” falls into the same category.

“. . . his ox” is part of the machinery that is necessary for the man to earn his living. An ox was a “tractor” in the days of Moses. At that time, a person might desire to have the man’s ox—his “tractor” or “farm implement”—so that he could do his work better and more efficiently.

“. . . his ass.” It is an interesting point that Israel always had, as its mode of transportation, the ass. The people did not ride horses. As a matter of fact, as we read Scripture, we find that there was a very strong disapproval of Israelites having horses, notwithstanding King Solomon. The reason for this was that horses were considered implements of war. God wanted His people to be agrarian; He did not want them to be covetous. He did not want them to overreach, so they were not horse people; they were donkey people. That was the means of transportation for the Israelites. What is our means of transportation today? We do not have donkeys that we ride today, but we have automobiles and all kinds of other conveyances. These may be necessary, but God says that we are not to covet what belongs to someone else.

And then comes what may be called a blanket statement: “Do not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.”

When we stop and consider the practicality of such a commandment as this, we see that, in reality, it produces a great degree of harmony and peace of mind. The people who are always out there wanting to grab ahold of something that does not belong to them are generally very unhappy individuals. Happy is the man who is content with his lot.

Parallels

There are many parallels to which covetousness gives birth, and, in its ultimate, covetousness is the seed that can produce the plant of violation of every other one of the Ten Commandments. For example, consider these.

First Commandment: Coveting tempts us to the violation of the first commandment, which prohibits the worship of gods other than Jehovah. Polytheism is the worship of many gods, or at least of two or more. Mammon is one of the most popular gods that has been a silent rival for worship. Jesus said that the worship of mammon and of Jehovah is incapable of being compatible with one another. He said, “You cannot have them both. You have to choose one or the other.” (See Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13.)

Many people have tried, silently, to covet after mammon and yet worship God at the same time. Ultimately, they must make a decision at some point. Jesus said that, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24. As is so often the case, mammon wins. Material wealth and possessions command attention of God’s people in ways that they should not.

Job gave some wise counsel when he said, in Job 31:24, 25, 28, “If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much; . . . This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.” He recognized a choice must be made between mammon and God, and he chose God.

Second Commandment: What about the second commandment? We do not have to go to the heathen in mission lands in order to find worshippers of images. There are plenty of idol worshippers of gold and silver, stocks and bonds, real estate and business. This worship is going on all the time, and it is never really identified in the area of sin as it should be, because it is a sin of the heart. It is something that can be concealed, and nobody else can know that it is happening.

Third Commandment: Coveting leads us to violate the third commandment, which deals with sacrilegious falsehood. An example of this is found in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

Gehazi, you may remember, was Elisha’s servant. Seemingly, in the earlier part of his life, he was a dedicated man, but when Naaman was healed, Gehazi could not stand the fact that Elisha did not take any reward for this. Elisha was a man of God; he was a man who stood for God’s name; he did not take God’s name in vain. Gehazi, who also professed to be a follower of Jehovah, decided that he would go after some reward, so he denied the name of God for the purpose of covetousness. Swift judgment came upon him because of his sin of covetousness. (See 11 Kings 5:20–27.)

Ananias and Sapphira selfishly tried to retain part of the pledge they had made to God. As a result, they lost everything that this earthly life could hold for them, including eternal life. (See Acts 5:1–10.) Again, their sin is an example of what can come to one who has a covetous nature.

Fourth Commandment: Does covetousness cause the violation of the fourth commandment? Breaking of the Sabbath always comes through a motivation of covetousness. One of the primary violations of the fourth commandment is that of employment. People choose to work on the Sabbath for the sake of their employment.

We can be tempted to play during the Sabbath hours for the sake of our own personal pleasure. We can be tempted to buy or sell for our own convenience. Violation of the Sabbath really boils down to the sin of covetousness that starts in the heart.

Fifth Commandment: The fifth commandment can be trampled through covetousness, tempting the young person to forget parental counsel that limits wants and desires. A covetous spirit may also keep children from honoring parents and attending to their needs as they grow older.

Sixth Commandment: The sixth commandment concerning murder has been broken to satisfy the cravings of a covetous mind. It was Judas’ love of money that lured him into the betrayal of his Lord into the hands of murderers. Writing of Judas, Ellen White stated, “How tenderly the Saviour dealt with him who was to be His betrayer! In His teaching, Jesus dwelt upon principles of benevolence that struck at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the heinous character of greed. . . .

“Instead of walking in the light, Judas chose to retain his defects. Evil desires, revengeful passions, dark and sullen thoughts, were cherished, until Satan had full control of the man.” The Desire of Ages, 295.

Seventh Commandment: Being tempted into adultery comes from a direct violation of this tenth commandment that says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife.” A Bible example of this is found in the story of David and Bathsheba. (See 11 Samuel 11:3–17.) The length to which this violation can carry a person is revealed there. What a shame the sin of covetousness brought upon the nation of Israel.

Eighth Commandment: Covetousness tempts us into the violation of the eighth commandment that says, “Thou shalt not steal.” This, of course, is what led to Achan’s downfall. (See Joshua 7:18–26.) “The deadly sin that led to Achan’s ruin had its root in covetousness, of all sins one of the most common and the most lightly regarded. While other offenses meet with detection and punishment, how rarely does the violation of the tenth commandment so much as call forth censure. The enormity of this sin, and its terrible results, are the lessons of Achan’s history.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 496. Achan sold his soul for “a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight.” Joshua 7:21. What a cheap price for forfeiting eternal life!

Ninth Commandment: The ninth commandment, bearing false witness, also has its basis in covetousness. How often have we heard people lie about someone or something to better their own positions? As discussed previously, covetousness is motivated by the selfish attitude of “me.”

How very important for us to follow Jesus’ counsel: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15.

All of the commandments deal with the issue of covetousness rooted in the heart. If this sin is not dealt with between ourselves and God, we are destined to violate openly the Ten Commandments, and, ultimately, we can lose everything in the end.

Importance of the Ten

We must realize just how precious the Ten Commandments are to us, as a people. As we read in the Book of Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.”

God means what He says. The Ten Commandments are revealed in all the stories and documentation of Scripture. It all comes down to Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. There is the whole duty of man.

A retired minister of the gospel, Pastor Mike Baugher may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

How Will God Finish His Work? Part II

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Angels are holding the four winds, represented as an angry horse seeking to break loose, and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path. . . .

“I tell you in the name of the Lord God of Israel that all injurious, discouraging influences are held in control by unseen angel hands, until everyone that works in the fear and love of God is sealed in his forehead.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 409.

If you study this carefully, Ellen White is talking about firstfruits. You may read about firstfruits in Revelation 14. The 144,000 are called firstfruits. Why? In the Old Testament, the Levitical feast days and customs were observed. When the harvest was ready, the farmers would not harvest their crops until a sheaf of the firstfriuts had been waved before the Lord by the High Priest. (Leviticus 23:10, 11.)

“From the harvest fields the first heads of ripened grain were gathered, and when the people went up to Jerusalem to the Passover, the sheaf of firstfruits was waved as a thank offering before the Lord. Not until this was presented could the sickle be put to the grain, and it be gathered into sheaves.” The Desire of Ages, 786.

That offering was waved up and down, up and down, as the Lord’s acceptance of the firstfruits was sought. The firstfruits offering was brought with the query, Lord, are they ripened correctly? Are these firstfruits acceptable unto Thee? When God accepted that firstfruits offering, the harvest could then proceed.

So it is that the harvest must have one condition: the firstfruits must be approved. Spiritually speaking, that has to do with the understanding of the truth and sanctification by the truth. One must not only know the truth intellectually but also spiritually. That is why Mrs. White said that the sealing experience is a settling into the truth in two ways, intellectually and spiritually, so that we will not be moved anymore.

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1161.

The Harvest

We must understand the truth and know what it is. We must be deeply grounded spiritually. We must experience the truth. When we experience the truth, we will then be sealed in our foreheads. Then, God is going to ready the firstfruits, bundled up, offered, and accepted. The High Priest will direct the harvest to commence. All of the tares will be taken out and burned, and the wheat will be taken into the storage.

Jesus Christ is still lingering and waiting in the heavenly sanctuary because the firstfruits are not ready. The Bible says the 144,000 are the firstfruits. As you study history, Jesus Christ was the firstfruits, was He not? Twelve disciples were the firstfruits. About 120 people in the upper room were the firstfruits, and, as you continue down through the ages, other firstfruits may be identified, but at the end, God must have 144,000 who are sealed with the seal of the living God, who have the true Sabbath-keeping experience.

No Fakes Accepted

If you truly keep the Sabbath, you can keep all of the other nine commandments. How can you keep the Sabbath while you are coveting? How can you keep the Sabbath while you are committing adultery? How can you keep the Sabbath when you hate someone? How can you truly keep the Sabbath while you are not obeying the other commandments, while you have idols in your heart? How can you keep the Sabbath, let alone go to church and pretend that you love Jesus Christ? Oh, you can pretend it; you can fake it, but faking cannot be accepted by God.

The seal of the living God is the Sabbath-keeping experience, because that is the outward sign for our inner experience with Jesus. We must become firstfruits, and then Jesus will let the four winds loose. This life then will soon be finished, and we will go home.

Winds Loosed

“The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 408.

“The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances.” Ibid., vol. 5, 463.

I tell you, Adventist churches are boasting about their growth, but in many, many of their programs, they are following the growth programs of Babylonian churches, which is devastating. To follow and implement those programs, the churches must lower the standard of righteousness and truth in order to accommodate the people who are not ready to come in. Many times we are increasing our future persecutors within the church.

I say this because I love God’s people, and I pray that someone may read my article or hear a sermon I preach and maybe think again.

Happenings of Our Time

Sometimes I receive Signs and Wonders for Our Times, a Catholic magazine. (Signs and Wonders for Our Times, Herndon, Virginia.) It features articles about all the signs of Jesus’ coming, keeping God’s Commandments, miracles of supernatural power of the Virgin Mary, and even about Satan talking about Jesus’ coming and about his keeping God’s Commandments. Interesting!

Recently, some conservative groups have started saying that God’s judgment day is 2007!

Recently we have heard and seen a great controversy over the display of the Ten Commandments in public places, especially in government buildings. Tremendous things are happening.

Even though the fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments being displayed says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” when someone in the secular world refers to this, they are talking about the Sunday.

Have you ever heard about Christian Churches Together (C.C.T.)? This ecumenical movement states on its web site that, “34 churches and national Christian organizations, representing over 100 million Americans, have officially formed the broadest, most inclusive fellowship of Christian churches and traditions in the U.S.A.” Formed in January 2003, it is a significant force now. It is pushing for the Sunday law. Incidentally, this organization was initiated by a Catholic priest.

To All The World

Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

I do believe this gospel of the kingdom has been preached to all the world already. Why do I believe this? In Colossians 1:23, the apostle Paul said, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

He said, very plainly, “The gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached.” That is already past tense, right? “Was preached to every creature which is under heaven.” Is that not clear? This gospel has been preached to everybody under heaven once before.

Upon what basis did he say this? He did not say, “The gospel of the kingdom of God persuaded everyone.” Nor did he say, “The gospel of the kingdom of God convinced everyone.” What he did say is, “This gospel of the kingdom has been scattered so widely in the world, at this time, that if there is anyone, even on an island or on a mountainside, who is really sincerely seeking for the truth, he can look around and find it.”

So the gospel and truth have been scattered that much! That is what he was talking about. In the same sense, the same principle, I tell you that I believe that the Three Angels’ Messages have been preached to all the parts of the world. Any person who is sincerely seeking for the truth and prays to God can look around and find it. Those living in any country in the world can do this.

If you do not understand this, you do not understand that God is doing wondrous things in the world. He is making sure that this gospel of the kingdom is being made ready, so, as the firstfruits appear, He can seal them and say, “Let us go and harvest.”

Read Leviticus 23:10, 11: “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.”

“Genuine conversion is needed, not once in years, but daily. . . . Divine grace must be received daily, or no man will stay converted.” Our High Calling, 215. There are those who will say, “Oh, I was converted and born again two years ago.” You must be converted every day, by the grace of God.

“Excitement is not sanctification. Entire conformity to the will of our Father which is in heaven is alone sanctification, and the will of God is expressed in His holy law. The keeping of all the commandments of God is sanctification. Proving yourselves obedient children to God’s Word is sanctification. The Word of God is to be our guide, not the opinions or ideas of men.” Review and Herald, March 25, 1902.

A Finished Work

But, how will God finish this work?

  1. By simple methods.

“God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 300.

  1. By wonderful workings of divine providence.

“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.” The Great Controversy, 612.

“While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he [Satan] will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence.” Ibid., 589, 590.

Allow me to illustrate. Suppose that there is a tremendous earthquake in your area today. It registers as a 9.5 earthquake on the Richter scale. Every building is collapsed, and many, many people are killed, yet you are safe. Do you know what would happen? All of the media would surround you; helicopters would swarm above you. They will come from every direction and will start to ask you questions: “What kind of person are you? What kind of God are you worshipping? What do you believe? There is tremendous devastation all around this area. What is happening?”

Do you think you would be a testimony? Yes, you definitely would be. Do you think all of the world would watch you? Just think, your testimony would receive free airtime throughout the world. God is going to use very wonderful workings of divine providence that His truth will be known to the people.

  1. With the help of the holy angels.

In the Book of Acts, you may read about the assistance of holy angels. The same thing is going to take place in our time. Angels are going to come to us in the form of humanity to aid us.

“When divine power is combined with human effort, the work will spread like fire in the stubble. God will employ agencies whose origin man will be unable to discern; angels will do a work which men might have had the blessing of accomplishing, had they not neglected to answer the claims of God.” Review and Herald, December 15, 1885.

God is going to finish this work in His own way.

  1. With the help of the eleventh hour workers. This is very important.

“God has children, many of them, in the Protestant churches, and a large number in the Catholic churches, who are more true to obey the light and to do [to] the very best of their knowledge than a large number among Sabbathkeeping Adventists who do not walk in the light. The Lord will have the message of truth proclaimed, that Protestants may be warned and awakened to the true state of things, and consider the worth of the privilege of religious freedom which they have long enjoyed.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 386. Do you need to read this paragraph again?

“There are many souls to come out of the ranks of the world, out of the churches—even the Catholic Church—whose zeal will far exceed that of those who have stood in rank and file to proclaim the truth heretofore. For this reason the eleventh hour laborers will receive their penny.” Ibid., 386, 387.

Eleventh hour workers are the people who are going to come out from the Babylonian churches. In Matthew 20, Jesus Christ said that this work is going to be finished by the eleventh hour workers in the vineyard. Eleventh hour workers are going to come in to help us.

“These will see the battle coming and will give the trumpet a certain sound. When the crisis is upon us, when the season of calamity shall come, they will come to the front, gird themselves with the whole armor of God, and exalt His law, adhere to the faith of Jesus [another expression of keeping God’s Commandments and having the faith of Jesus], and maintain the cause of religious liberty which reformers defended with toil and for which they sacrificed their lives.” Ibid., 387.

Eleventh hour workers are outside right now, and God is going to bring them to the harvest to finish the work so that we can go home. When God takes the reins into His own hands, He is going to use simple people and simple methods, and it is going to take no time at all. He has to finish the work, and we have to let Him. How? You and I must become firstfruits.

Pastor David Kang is Director of Light for Life Ministry operating out of Hartwell, Georgia. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang also frequently travels to Asia where he trains pastors who often work “underground.” Pastor Kang may be contacted by telephone at: 706-377-1004.

Imputed and Imparted

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The two words, imputed and imparted, are seldom used these days, yet they are so meaningful in God’s plan of salvation. The Lord has impressed me to devote this presentation to an understanding of imputed and imparted righteousness so we may be ready to meet Jesus when He comes.

As we read the following statement by Ellen White from the Review and Herald, June 4, 1895, we can see that there is a vast difference between imputed and imparted righteousness. “The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven; the second is our fitness for heaven.”

In Ephesians 5:27, God describes His church:

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

I am sure that each of us has at some time visited a home where the carpets were spotless and had just been vacuumed. The walls had recently been painted, and there were no dirty dishes in the sink. How beautiful the windows were as well; they were so clean that they just sparkled in the sunlight. In the bedroom, the bedspread was without a wrinkle. In fact, the entire house was so clean and inviting that you would have liked to live there.

In this text, God is not describing the carpets or the windows or the furnishings, for we are the church He is describing. As individuals God has a final objective for each of His people. He wants every member to become holy and without blemish. When this objective is realized, His church will become glorious, without spot or wrinkle. Praise God! This will be accomplished, for we read, in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification.”

Sanctification

Before we study imputed and imparted righteousness, let us study the process of sanctification, for sanctification is the means that God will use to accomplish His glorious purpose for His church. God’s sanctification process brings holiness within us, and holiness is righteousness. Let me be a little more specific. A righteous person is an individual who has experienced the giving of himself wholly and without reserve both in mind and body to God so that through the power of the Holy Spirit God is able to transform the character to become spotless in Christ Jesus.

Allow me to use a Bible illustration to make this process so simple that even the children can understand. Let us take the example of John, a disciple of Christ. Usually we think of him as a most loving disciple; and artists always seem to picture John as leaning on the bosom of the Saviour, looking up into the face of Jesus with tenderness, love, and compassion. But I have news for you! This was not the nature of John’s character when Jesus called him to be a disciple. The Spirit of Prophecy describes John as having a violent spirit. (See The Acts of the Apostles, 557.)

You and I are acquainted with violence. We lock our car doors and make sure the windows are up when we travel through some of our large cities. One never knows when some thug will try to open your car door when you stop at a traffic light and thrust a gun in your face.

Contrasts

John had a violent spirit, which Jesus was able to change. The Saviour daily warned, cautioned, and reproved John. How did John react to such reproof? He discovered his deficiencies, and he humbled himself. John resisted his evil tendencies and used every possible energy to overcome. Slowly, but surely, John made progress. He yielded his resentful, ambitious temper to the molding power of Christ.

Are you struggling with an evil temper? Do not give up! God can give you the victory just as John obtained a loving character. The secret key to John’s change of character is found in the fact that he desired to be like Jesus. He wanted the love of Christ to completely transform him. Thus God was able to do a work of sanctification within him, and the results were amazing.

This “Son of Thunder,” as the Bible describes him in Mark 3:17, was someone to fear. Before he met Jesus, he was the kind of a fellow about whom, if you saw him coming down the street toward you, your first inclination would be to step into a store or turn down a side street to avoid meeting him, for you never knew what he might do.

John permitted Christ to completely change his life. Later in life God was able to give him a divine revelation in which he beheld the ascended Redeemer in heaven. Christ was able to give him a mighty revelation of end-time events, revealing to him the final destruction of Satan’s kingdom. It was the sanctifying power of God that changed John from a violent sinner to a loving saint.

In contrast, let us examine the life of another disciple, Judas. This fellow attained only a form of godliness in his daily walk with Jesus. Judas likewise observed the same patience, meekness, and tenderness expressed by Jesus; but Judas would not humble himself. Instead of desiring a change in his life, he resisted the divine love. He refused to acknowledge his failures.

John and Judas represent the two classes of individuals that are found in God’s church today. Both classes profess to believe.

While John warred earnestly against his faults, Judas daily violated his conscience. He chose to yield to temptation rather than yield his will to Christ. In doing so, he refused the wisdom of heaven. Judas chose to walk in darkness. Secretly he cherished evil desires, even covetousness, filling his mind with sullen thoughts. Worst of all, he harbored doubt as to whether Christ was the Son of God.

Doubt

Will you permit me to pause here and briefly address doubt? Some years ago, when I was the youth director of the Southern Union Conference (Decatur, Georgia), I often met a young man by the name of Walter Rae. He was a young minister who attended workers’ meetings where I spoke. I discovered that between meetings he liked to gather a group of the young ministers around him and tell them of his latest discoveries in the writings of Ellen White in which she had used the same words as some other author, thus creating doubt about her inspired writings.

I took this young man aside and told him that if he continued to cast doubts upon her writings that some day he would lose confidence and become an enemy of God’s truth. How well I remember his answer: “Why, Elder Nelson, I believe Ellen White’s writings. She was a prophet of God. I would never, never turn against her writings.”

But I firmly insisted, “If you continue to dwell upon doubt, mark my words, you will someday become an enemy of God’s mouthpiece.” After years of such doubt, he finally wrote the book, The White Lie (M&R Publications, Turlock, California, 1982), denying the validity of the ministry and the writings of Ellen White.

I plead with you; you cannot harbor doubt and remain committed to God. So it was with Judas. He continued to doubt Christ’s claim to be the Son of God, and Satan finally gained a full control of Judas—even while he was a professed believer and one of His disciples.

Equal Opportunities

I hope my comparison of these two disciples has alarmed you, for both had the same opportunity to study the divine pattern. Both were daily associated with Christ. Both listened to Christ’s teachings. Both possessed serious defects in their characters. Both had the same access to divine power. But mark the difference. John surrendered his life to become more and more like Jesus. He became a doer of the Word. John became sanctified through his faith in Christ while, on the other hand, Judas resisted the transforming power of grace and was finally brought into the bondage of Satan while still professing to be a disciple of Christ.

Forgive me, but I must ask you this question, Are you a John or a Judas? I know you have been attracted to Jesus or you would not be reading this magazine. You have become a professed believer in Him, so you are actually a disciple of Christ. But I must ask you again, Are you a John or a Judas? Oh, how I trust that you are a John in your daily life, that you are permitting Christ’s righteousness to daily sanctify you by His transforming grace.

Abiding in His Love

When we want an example of what sanctification can accomplish, we look to John who, by experience, teaches in his Book of 1 John 3:3, “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Such an experience is accomplished through submission to the will of God. This is why John said, in 1 John 2:6, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

We must never be satisfied with empty profession, for sanctification can be summarized in these words penned by Ellen White: “As God is holy in His sphere, so fallen man, through faith in Christ, is to be holy in his sphere.” The Acts of the Apostles, 559.

The secret of attaining such a goal in this life is to be continually abiding in the love of God. John learned this by experience. In 1 John 4:16 we read, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” Yes, it is that simple. When Christ abides in the heart, the life will reveal practical godliness. The character will become purified. Pure doctrine will blend with works of righteousness. Heavenly precepts will mingle with holy practice. This is what we call sanctification. It is a lifelong experience.

Lifelong Experience

“Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. . . .

“So will it be with all who behold Christ. The nearer we come to Jesus, and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like exalting ourselves. There will be a continual reaching out of the soul after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the heart before Him. At every advance step in our Christian experience our repentance will deepen. We shall know that our sufficiency is in Christ alone and shall make the apostle’s confession our own: ‘I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.’ ‘God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.’ Romans 7:18; Galatians 6:14.” Ibid., 560, 561.

Difference Between

This brings us to the core of our subject. In this salvation process, what is the difference between imputed and imparted righteousness? Inspiration answers this question with the clearest definition I have ever found. “The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven; the second is our fitness for heaven.” Review and Herald, June 4, 1895,

Let us define the meaning of these two words. Imputed means, “to instantly credit to one’s account.” Imparted means, “to give daily from one’s abundance to another.” Imputed takes place instantly; imparted takes place continually, even for a lifetime.

Now we are ready to closely examine the phrase “imputed righteousness.” This is the term used to explain what takes place when we ask God for forgiveness for past sins that we have confessed. Because He instantly justifies us by imputing Christ’s righteousness to our record of sins, therefore we can stand before God as though we have never sinned. Because of this, God gives us a title to heaven.

An Allegory

Permit me to illustrate further, for I want you to grasp what is actually involved by using this allegory of myself. Let us say that I am a young, married man with a wife and two small children to support, but I have a problem—I have lost my job. I am having difficulty finding another job. In the meantime, the house rent is in arrears, and my wife tells me there is no more food in the house. The cupboards are bare. The children are hungry.

Fortunately I have a small savings account, so I go to the bank to get some money with which to buy food and pay some of the pressing bills. I stand in line waiting my turn. Finally I approach the teller’s window with my withdrawal slip in my hand. I have signed my name on the slip, and I hand it to the teller, asking for $100. The lady at the teller window has a strange look on her face. In fact she looks troubled. Finally she says, “Mr. Nelson, I cannot give you the $100 because you have already overdrawn your account in this bank for $100. In fact, you owe the bank $100.”

“What!” I am stunned. I had no idea I was in that much financial trouble. Not only am I out of a job and I have many bills, such as the house rent, but now I owe the bank! Today my children are hungry. What am I going to do?

Behind me, in the same line, is a very godly man who knows me, for I have worked for him from time to time. God has greatly blessed this gentleman with much, and he has helped many in their time of need. Seeing my dilemma, he steps forward and speaks to the teller, saying, “Take a hundred dollars out of my account and credit it to this man’s account.” I can hardly believe my ears! Instantly I do not owe the bank a penny. My account is paid in full. This friend has imputed credit from his account to my account. In other words, he has given me something that is not my own, yet when credited to my account, it cancels my debt. I turn around with a big smile and a handshake. I thank this godly gentleman and walk out of the bank, but then I stop. It is almost too good to believe.

As I pause to grasp the situation and decide what to do to get some food for my family, this same kind, loving man comes up and puts his arm around my shoulder. With the other hand he places a hundred dollar bill in my hand and says, “Mr. Nelson, you are still in need. Your children are hungry. Go to the market and buy the needed food.” How can I show my gratitude and my thanks to this man?

In this allegory, we have discovered the meaning of imputed and imparted righteousness. This man tells me that I am in need of much more help. He tells me, “This is what I want you to do. Each morning, call me on the telephone and tell me how much you need for the day as long as you are in need of help.” Thus, my daily needs are met by this good man. He imparts to me each day just what I need to meet my necessities. I cooperate with him by calling him daily. Then I take care of my business needs such as shopping.

How God Provides

This is exactly how God provides for the sinner’s need. Not only does He instantly impute forgiveness for our sins of the past, while canceling our debts, but He covers these sins with Christ’s righteousness. This gives us title to heaven, yet we need something more. We need the imparted righteousness of Christ for a daily sanctification, for when the righteousness of Christ is applied to our hearts, it gives us power to daily overcome all temptations and sins. Furthermore, through this sanctification process, we become victorious Christians, for the Holy Spirit is able to daily fit us for heaven where we will never sin again.

Christ demonstrated in His daily life while He was on earth how this is to take place. “Christ’s humanity was united with divinity, and in this strength He would bear all the temptations that Satan could bring against Him, and yet keep His soul untainted by sin. And this power to overcome He would give to every son and daughter of Adam who would accept by faith the righteous attributes of His character. . . .

“He showed that the sinner, by repentance and the exercise of faith in the righteousness of Christ, can be reconciled to God, and become a partaker of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 223, 224.

What a power this is that is available to all of us! Ellen White states also that, “Men may have a power to resist evil—a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them.” Ibid., 409.

Lesson of the Virgins

Let us recall the story of the ten virgins. The story of the ten virgins illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before Christ’s Second Coming. (See Christ’s Object Lessons, 406.) This refers to you and to me.

Read Matthew 25:1–10: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”

Difference Between

Though not apparent at first, there is a vast difference between the wise group and the foolish group. “The foolish virgins do not represent those who are hypocritical. They had a regard for truth, they advocated the truth, they were intending to go forth to meet the bridegroom. They are attached to those who believe the truth, and go with them, having lamps, which represent a knowledge of the truth. When there was a revival in the church, their feelings were stirred; but they failed to have oil in their vessels, because they did not bring the principles of godliness into their daily life and character. They did not fall upon the rock Christ Jesus, and permit their old nature to be broken up. . . .

“Practical piety will not be attained by giving the grand truths of the Bible a place in the outer courts of the heart. The religion of the Bible must be brought into the large and the little affairs of life. It must furnish the powerful motives and principles that will regulate the Christian’s character and course of action.” Review and Herald, September 17, 1895.

In this same passage, the wise virgins are described as follows: “Those who earnestly search the Scriptures with much prayer, who rely upon God with firm faith, who obey his commandments, will be among those who are represented as wise virgins.” Ibid. The wise virgins keep God’s commandments through faith.

The foolish virgins were not truly born again; their old natures were not broken up. They had neither imputed nor imparted righteousness. They may have had periods in their lives when they were justified and were being sanctified, but this did not continue. “The foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 411. They had not the indwelling Holy Spirit to furnish the powerful motives and principles that would have influenced their actions and changed their characters. Alas, while they loved the truth, had good intentions, and even taught the truth, they did not follow the example that Jesus had demonstrated.

The Foolish

Now, let us consider the foolish virgins further down the stream of time. We will note that the difference between the two groups widens and becomes more apparent. During the “tarrying time,” the lamps of the foolish virgins grew dim and went out. If the lamps in the parable represent a knowledge of the truth, as stated by Ellen White, what then does this mean?

Ellen White tells us that the foolish virgins become agents of Satan to utter his falsehoods and transmit his darkness: “The enemy has men in our ranks through whom he works, that the light which God has permitted to shine upon the heart and illuminate the chambers of the mind may be darkened. There are persons who have received the precious light of the righteousness of Christ, but they do not act upon it; they are foolish virgins. They prefer the sophistry of the enemy rather than the plain ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ When the blessing of God rested upon them in order that they might become channels of light, they did not go forward from light to a greater light; they permitted doubt and unbelief to come in, so that the truth which they had seen, became an uncertainty to them.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

“Those who hide their light will soon lose all power to let it shine. They are represented by the foolish virgins; and when the crisis comes, and the last call is made, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him’ [Matthew 25:6], they will find that while they have been mingling with the world, their light has gone out. They did not continue to provide themselves with the oil of grace. The peace-and-safety cry hushed them to slumber, and made them careless in regard to their light.” Ibid., August 23, 1898. Though the foolish virgins had heard the precious message of the righteousness of faith, of justification and sanctification by faith, they had not acted upon it.

As we near the end of time, the foolish virgins in the church grow more and more careless as they mingle with the world and allow doubt and unbelief to ensnare them. Not until the crisis comes suddenly upon them will they realize that their lamps of truth have gone out, that the truth, which they once embraced, has become to them obscure and uncertain.

Instead of presenting truth to the world, they will have been proclaiming Satan’s errors—such as the New Theology and that which takes place in Celebration. Is not this the part of the parable of the ten virgins being fulfilled in our very midst this very day? “Testing times come to all. How do we conduct ourselves under the test and proving of God? Do our lamps go out? or do we still keep them burning?” Ibid., September 17, 1895.

The Wise

Consider the facts. The five wise virgins had extra oil for their lamps. When asked by the foolish virgins to give them some of their oil, they refused. Why? Because the oil of the Holy Spirit changes the character by its sanctifying process. Therefore, the wise virgins had been fitted for heaven and were ready for the bridegroom. “That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable. No man can secure it for another. Each must obtain for himself a character purified from every stain of sin.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 234. Now you can understand why the wise virgins could not give of their oil.

A Personal Experience

Our fitness for heaven is obtained through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is a lifelong process in which Christ’s righteousness is imparted to our characters daily, just as the need arises. This is a personal experience and cannot be transferred. Husbands cannot go to heaven on their wives’ characters just as wives cannot go to heaven on their husbands’ characters. When children reach the age of accountability, they cannot go to heaven on their parents’ characters. We must each individually have a daily infusion of the imparted righteousness of Christ in an experience with Jesus.

I feel like shouting this far and wide and praising God, for He has provided for each of us complete salvation. It is found in imputed righteousness, which is instantly available when we ask for forgiveness of past confessed sins, and He will impart His righteousness for our daily needs when we ask in faith. Ellen White expressed it this way: “Christ bears the penalty of man’s past transgressions [this is imputed righteousness], and by imparting to man His righteousness, makes it possible for man to keep God’s holy law.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentaries, vol. 6, 1092.

What About You?

Beloved, are you a wise virgin? Are you aware of these precious gifts of righteousness? Are you daily pleading with God for His righteousness? Are you permitting the imparted righteousness to daily transform your character? Are you living each day in anticipation of the soon-coming Saviour, when you may go to heaven with Him where you will never sin? Are you preparing to live in the presence of the sinless, holy angels? Remember, this ultimate experience will take place for the wise virgins when the latter rain is poured out, for this will fit them for translation.

“Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness [the Holy Spirit], and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 187.

“The heavenly character must be acquired on earth, or it can never be acquired at all.” Maranatha, 46.

Pray that God will reveal any unconfessed sins to you that you may claim His imputed righteousness to cover such sins by being repentant and asking for forgiveness. Daily seek a fitness for heaven through His imparted righteousness that you may be among the wise virgins and become fitted to live without sinning.

For over 60 years Pastor Lawrence Nelson served as an evangelist and minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of that time, he served 13 years as the director of evangelism for youth at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Upon retirement from the General Conference, he continued to pastor, but when, as a result of his stand for truth, he was denied the opportunity to continue his pastorate, he started Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry, recording his sermons and making them available to individuals. Before his retirement from this ministry in 2004, over 18,000 audio tapes were being sent around the world each month.

Learning to Walk With God, Part II

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We can learn much from Martin Luther, the Reformer in the Dark Ages. He was a man for his time; rightly described as a champion of truth. This man also went through difficult experiences like Elijah and Elisha. Luther had to face the religious leaders of his day to answer for his faith. This called forth from this man of God the need for much prayer and strong faith. As a result, these spiritual exercises, plus a knowledge of Christ and His truths, produced heavenly bravery and holy boldness in this servant of God.

As you read the story of his encounters with the authorities, imagine the scenes in your mind, and let us endeavor to discover what kind of mind Luther had and what kind of thoughts made him as solid as he was. We pick up his experience as he is about to set out on a long and very dangerous journey:

“Luther was not to make his perilous journey alone. Besides the imperial messenger, three of his firmest friends determined to accompany him. Melanchthon earnestly desired to join them. His heart was knit to Luther’s, and he yearned to follow him, if need be, to prison or to death. But his entreaties were denied. Should Luther perish, the hopes of the Reformation must center upon his youthful colaborer. Said the Reformer as he parted from Melanchthon: ‘If I do not return, and my enemies put me to death, continue to teach, and stand fast in the truth. Labor in my stead. . . . If you survive, my death will be of little consequence.’ [J. H. Merle D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, London ed., b. 7, ch. 7.] Students and citizens who had gathered to witness Luther’s departure were deeply moved. A multitude whose hearts had been touched by the gospel, bade him farewell with weeping. Thus the Reformer and his companions set out from Wittenburg.

“On the journey they saw that the minds of the people were oppressed by gloomy forebodings. At some towns no honors were proffered them. As they stopped for the night, a friendly priest expressed his fears by holding up before Luther the portrait of an Italian reformer who had suffered martyrdom. The next day they learned that Luther’s writings had been condemned at Worms. Imperial messengers were proclaiming the emperor’s decree and calling upon the people to bring the proscribed works to the magistrates. The herald, fearing for Luther’s safety at the council, and thinking that already his resolution might be shaken, asked if he still wished to go forward. He answered, ‘Although interdicted in every city, I shall go on.’ Ibid., b. 7, ch. 7.

“At Erfurt, Luther was received with honor. Surrounded by admiring crowds, he passed through the streets that he had often traversed with his beggar’s wallet. He visited his convent cell, and thought upon the struggles through which the light now flooding Germany had been shed upon his soul. He was urged to preach. This he had been forbidden to do, but the herald granted him permission, and the friar who had once been made the drudge of the convent, now entered the pulpit.

“To a crowded assembly he spoke from the words of Christ, ‘Peace be unto you.’ ‘Philosophers, doctors, and writers,’ he said, ‘have endeavored to teach men the way to obtain everlasting life, and they have not succeeded. I will now tell it to you: . . . God has raised one Man from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He might destroy death, extirpate sin, and shut the gates of hell. This is the work of salvation. . . . Christ has vanquished! this is the joyful news; and we are saved by His work, and not by our own. . . . Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Peace be unto you; behold My hands;” this is to say, Behold, O man! it is I, I alone, who have taken away thy sin, and ransomed thee; and now thou hast peace, saith the Lord.’ Ibid., b. 7, ch. 7.

“He continued, showing that true faith will be manifested by a holy life. ‘Since God has saved us, let us so order our works that they may be acceptable to Him. Art thou rich? let thy goods administer to the necessities of the poor. Art thou poor? let thy services be acceptable to the rich. If thy labor is useful to thyself alone, the service that thou pretendest to render unto God is a lie.’ Ibid., b. 7, ch. 7.

“The people listened as if spellbound. The bread of life was broken to those starving souls. Christ was lifted up before them as above popes, legates, emperors, and kings. Luther made no reference to his own perilous position. He did not seek to make himself the object of thought or sympathy. In the contemplation of Christ he had lost sight of himself. He hid behind the Man of Calvary, seeking only to present Jesus as the sinner’s Redeemer. [Emphasis added.]

“As the Reformer proceeded on his journey, he was everywhere regarded with great interest. An eager multitude thronged about him, and friendly voices warned him of the purpose of the Romanists. ‘They will burn you,’ said some, ‘and reduce your body to ashes, as they did with John Huss.’ Luther answered, ‘Though they should kindle a fire all the way from Worms to Wittenberg, the flames of which reached to heaven, I would walk through it in the name of the Lord; I would appear before them; I would enter the jaws of this behemoth, and break his teeth, confessing the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Ibid., b. 7, ch. 7.

“The news of his approach to Worms created great commotion. His friends trembled for his safety; his enemies feared for the success of their cause. Strenuous efforts were made to dissuade him from entering the city. At the instigation of the papists he was urged to repair to the castle of a friendly knight, where, it was declared, all difficulties could be amicably adjusted. Friends endeavored to excite his fears by describing the dangers that threatened him. All their efforts failed. Luther, still unshaken, declared: ‘Even should there be as many devils in Worms as tiles on the housetops, still I would enter it.’ ” The Great Controversy, 151–153.

Not Alone

This was a brave man! Imagine the number of tiles or shingles it takes to make one roof, and imagine all those tiles on all the housetops in a whole city, each of them representing a demon who wants to destroy you. Imagine that you have to make a long journey, and you have to pass each and every one of them. The only way you could speak like Luther is if you have the experience of Luther. What made Luther’s experience so solid was his belief that he was not alone. He believed that God was with him, in him, and for him. When this became his outlook, his faith became a reality—his belief was real to him, he was not alone. His constant communion and strong faith in God prepared him to do his Master’s will; this is what made him a champion of God.

Lost Sight of God

However, one particular night Martin Luther became afraid to face these rulers. He was on his knees nearly all night, begging God to be with him. He feared that he would have to come up against these men by himself. Like Elijah when Jezebel was coming after him, Luther temporarily lost sight of Him who was his support all along. (See The Great Controversy, 156, 157.)

This happens again and again with the people of God, even with those who stand in the forefront of many spiritual battles. They are human too. The apostle James writes: “Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:17, 18.

Just Like Us

Elijah and Martin Luther were human beings just like us. They had emotions similar to ours, including fear. Therefore, we have to learn from their experiences. We have to learn how they gained victories, how and when they were successful, what made them heroes for God. One sure ingredient was that their faith was strengthened by their constant prayers and belief that they were not alone. When they prayed and believed that the Creator was with them, like Enoch, they were able to walk with God.

Faith is something that often confuses people. We wonder what faith is. But faith can be narrowed down to the concept of believing that God loves you and wants to bless you, that if you seek to abide in Him, He will abide with and in you, that you are not alone in any situation, in any place, at any point in time. When we can take hold of this truth, we will know what it means to “be still, and know that I am [the Lord is] God.” Psalm 46:10. Yes, only then will we know what it means to be a hero for God.

The Mind of a Champion

A man who fails to pray often and trust God cannot say or do the things that champions of truth, such as Luther and many others, have said or done. Because Luther believed that the Lord was with him, he went on his long journey to Worms to face his enemies and answer for his faith. Despite the earnest cries of those who loved him and did all they could to urge him not to go because his life was in danger, Luther bravely and boldly went on. He prayed constantly; he had faith; he knew God loved him, and was with him. He, like Enoch, walked with God.

We again pick up the story just after he had made a clear and noble defense of his faith. Let us now see what was Luther’s experience and what was going on in his mind when he stood before those in authority.

“He was directed to withdraw from the Diet while the princes consulted together. It was felt that a great crisis had come. Luther’s persistent refusal to submit might affect the history of the church for ages. It was decided to give him one more opportunity to retract. For the last time he was brought into the assembly. Again the question was put, whether he would renounce his doctrines. ‘I have no other reply to make,’ he said, ‘than that which I have already made.’ It was evident that he could not be induced, either by promises or threats, to yield to the mandate of Rome.

“The papal leaders were chagrined that their power, which had caused kings and nobles to tremble, should be thus despised by a humble monk; they longed to make him feel their wrath by torturing his life away. But Luther, understanding his danger, had spoken to all with Christian dignity and calmness. His words had been free from pride, passion, and misrepresentation. He had lost sight of himself, and the great men surrounding him, and felt only that he was in the presence of One infinitely superior to popes, prelates, kings, and emperors.” The Great Controversy, 161. [Emphasis added.]

A Champion of Truth

This really gives an insight into the mind of the man and what made him who he was, a champion of truth. Luther was very prayerful and obedient and possessed great faith in God, and, as a result, the power of God abided in him and with him. This was the secret of Luther’s life of heavenly bravery and holy boldness. Because of his prayerfulness and faith, Luther did not see himself alone. He saw himself in the presence of the Lord. So when he spoke to these men, he looked beyond them and spoke as one who was addressing the Lord in behalf of His cause. This, the man of God believed, was a reality, and it was, for the Lord of hosts was truly present as a protector of His servant and a witness to the whole event.

Luther looked within the invisible realm. He looked beyond the physical and saw that he was not alone, and because of this belief, he uttered what he knew would be pleasing and acceptable in the ears of God, regardless of men’s opinions. Such faith, coupled with a genuine Christian experience, was the secret of Luther’s bravery and boldness for the cause of God. He was a man with Enoch’s experience; he was a man who walked with God.

Armies of Heaven

Summing up the experiences of Luther and other faithful workers, Ellen White plainly declares: “God’s faithful servants were not toiling alone. While principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places were leagued against them, the Lord did not forsake His people. Could their eyes have been opened, they would have seen marked evidence of divine presence and aid as was granted to a prophet of old. When Elisha’s servant pointed his master to the hostile army surrounding them and cutting off all opportunity for escape, the prophet prayed: ‘Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.’ 11 Kings 6:17. And, lo, the mountain was filled with chariots and horses of fire, the army of heaven stationed to protect the man of God. Thus did angels guard the workers in the cause of the Reformation.” Ibid., 208. [Emphasis added.]

All of God’s true laborers were guarded by these same armies of heaven during the Reformation. It is a gift that God extends to all of His true servants clear down to the end of time. It is something we need to know, believe in, and cherish in our hearts even now, because it will help us to become the much-needed champions of truth in these last days.

Champions of Truth

In order to become champions of truth, we too must pray in season and out of season and trust in God’s care always. We must also become diligent students of God’s Word. But we must not only know the truth, we must also choose to obey it every day. The prophet Daniel and his friends studied the Scriptures earnestly and were approved unto God. So did Luther. Like Enoch, these men walked with God by striving to trust in Him, studying God’s Word, and obeying His will in all things. As a result, they were blessed with the Master’s presence and protection.

“In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his companions were far more successful than their fellow students; but their learning did not come by chance. They obtained their knowledge by the faithful use of their powers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They placed themselves in connection with the Source of all wisdom, making the knowledge of God the foundation of their education. In faith they prayed for wisdom, and they lived their prayers. They placed themselves where God could bless them. They avoided that which would weaken their powers, and improved every opportunity to become intelligent in all lines of learning. They followed the rules of life that could not fail to give them strength of intellect. They sought to acquire knowledge for one purpose—that they might honor God. They realized that in order to stand as representatives of true religion amid the false religions of heathenism they must have clearness of intellect and must perfect a Christian character. And God Himself was their teacher. Constantly praying, conscientiously studying, keeping in touch with the Unseen, they walked with God as did Enoch.” Prophets and Kings, 486. [Emphasis added.]

We, too, can become champions like these great men of old. Remember, they were not much different from us, and we, like them, also have the assurance that the Lord our God “in the midst of [us] is mighty” and willing to work in our behalf and “save” us. Zephaniah 3:17.

To be continued . . .

Pastor Patrick Herbert is the senior pastor of the Tucker-Norcross Adventist Church and Director of the Gilead Institute of America, a medical missionary evangelistic training institution located in Norcross, Georgia. He holds a Doctorate in religion and speaks and writes on a wide range of religious and health topics. He may be contacted by e-mail at: gilead.net@usa.net.

How to Get Your Name in the Book, Part II

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What must we do so that the power of God will be revealed in our lives, enabling us to be overcomers? There are a number of points I wish to give you. I will give you the texts, and you can study them on your own.

Walk in the Spirit

We must learn how to walk in the Spirit, not after the flesh. Study Romans 6, 7, and 8. We should study these three chapters together. We will never understand this subject unless we study all three of them together. Study also Galatians 5.

Ellen White wrote that, “The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.” The Desire of Ages, 671.

Since Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, the power of sin has been developing and working in the human race for centuries. Sin can be overcome only in the power of the Third Person of the Godhead. Who is the Third Person of the Godhead? It is the Holy Spirit. So we must learn how to walk in the Spirit.

Learn to Fight

We must fight! Now, this is unpopular today. A lot of people want an easy religion, where they just call on the name of the Lord then relax, and He does everything. This is not Bible religion. Study the first several verses of Hebrews 12. Study 1 Corinthians 9:24–27.

Unfortunately, the Bible translators use what is known as euphemisms to soften the message sometimes, because the biblical language is so strong. Most Bible translations have softened 1 Corinthians 9:24–27.

In this passage, Paul is talking about fighting with his own sinful nature. He says, “I fight, not like somebody that is beating the air,” and then he uses a very strong word. It is a word that is used when you beat somebody up and make him all black and blue with bruises. That is, literally, how this word is used in the Greek; somebody is taken and, in street language, is beaten to a pulp. Paul uses this word, and says, “This is what I do to my body, to my flesh, to my sinful nature; I am strict with it.”

Hebrews 12:4 says, “You have not yet resisted unto blood, fighting, striving, struggling against sin.”

Do not think that you will overcome and be saved if you are not making any effort. You have to be like Jacob and say, “Lord, only You can save me, but I am never going to quit trying.” (See Genesis 32:25, 26.)

Lay Aside Sin

In the first verses also of Hebrews 12, Paul says that we are to “lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets or entangles us.” Every person has one or more easily besetting or entangling sins.

We are not all the same. Everybody does not have exactly the same besetting sin, but everybody has at least one besetting sin with which to struggle and overcome. “If you cling to any besetting sin, you will find the gateway too narrow for you to enter. Your own ways, your own will, your wrong habits and unchristlike practises [sic], must be given up if you would keep the way of the Lord.” The Signs of the Times, June 22, 1904.

Paul says, “Lay aside every weight.” He is using a figure of speech from the runners’ world. The idea is that a runner straps the weights onto his legs and runs with them every day. But when it is actually time for a race, the weights are left off, and the runner feels like he is running on air.

Paul says, “Lay aside the weight. It is not practice time; you are in the race now; lay aside every easily entangling sin.” Oh, friend, for the sake of your own soul and salvation, please spend some time studying that phrase and praying about it. What is the easily entangling sin that you need to lay aside? If you are going to lay aside an easily entangling sin, allow me to give you a crude illustration so you will have something to start thinking through.

I have dealt with a number of people whose easily entangling sin is alcoholic beverages. Now, if that is a person’s easily entangling sin and if he wants to lay that aside, it would be very unwise for him to decide to go to witness to people in the bars and taverns. In fact, that person should try to stay away from any place where alcoholic beverages are being used.

My wife and I have attended many parties where alcoholic beverages were used. It did not bother me, because I have never drunk, and I am not tempted by alcohol. I can witness to people in a situation like that, and it is not troublesome for me. But if using alcohol is your besetting sin, you better not go to a party like that. You better do your witnessing somewhere else.

You see, whatever is your besetting sin, you need to do everything humanly possible to not put yourself in the way of temptation. If you put yourself in the way of temptation, that is presumption. Should you deliberately place yourself in such a position, the Lord will have to work a miracle to get you out of there undefiled.

Pray Without Ceasing

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” Do you remember the time when the disciples were trying to cast a demon out of a boy, but they could not do it? Jesus said to them, “Oh, faithless generation. How long am I going to endure you? Bring him to me.” Mark 9:19. Then Jesus cast out the devil, and, afterwards, the disciples came to Him, asking: “Lord, why could we not cast him out?” Verse 28. Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief. Truly, truly I say to you, this kind does not go out except by prayer.” Verse 29.

If you have a besetting sin that you cannot overcome, you need to go to your closet, fast, and pray, “Lord, I am not going to quit struggling. I am not going to quit praying, until You give to me the victory over this.”

Memorize Promises

Memorize your Bible, especially the promises. Read Psalm 119:9, 11: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”

Music as a Weapon

Use Christian song—not “Christian” rock and roll or rap or hip hop—as a weapon when you are tempted. Paul says we should do this: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16. Use the words from Christian songs as a weapon against temptation.

Did you know that Jesus did this? Ellen White wrote:

“With a song, Jesus in His earthly life met temptation. Often when sharp, stinging words were spoken, often when the atmosphere about Him was heavy with gloom, with dissatisfaction, distrust, or oppressive fear, was heard His song of faith and holy cheer.” Education, 166.

Then, “Let praise and thanksgiving be expressed in song. When tempted, instead of giving utterance to our feelings, let us by faith lift up a song of thanksgiving to God. . . . Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement.” The Ministry of Healing, 254.

“If you sit in heavenly places with Christ, you cannot refrain from praising God. Begin to educate your tongues to praise him, and train your hearts to make melody to God; and when the evil one begins to settle his gloom about you, sing praise to God. When things go crossways at your homes, strike up a song about the matchless charms of the Son of God, and I tell you, when you touch this strain, Satan will leave you.” Review and Herald, August 5, 1890.

Follow Health Message

If you want to overcome, you must follow the health message that God has revealed in inspired writings. This is so important that I could write a whole article just on this point to show why, if you do not follow health reform, you will not be an overcomer. But, for now, consider the following:

“Let the young men and young women determine to love God supremely and to do His commandments. Under circumstances the most trying, let them remain faithful to duty—especially in their attitude toward the principles of health reform. Instead of being half-hearted reformers, let them make a whole hearted reformation, in all things practicing chastity and temperance. Let none begin to reform, and then stop. Resolve to overcome the wicked one.” Messages to Young People, 9, 10.

I wish I could find an English translation that translates 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 correctly. The reason these translations do not translate it correctly is because of one word that can mean two things. This word can mean either “to defile something” or it can mean “to destroy something.” This passage gives a parallel statement, and since it is a parallel statement, whichever way it is translated should be the same both times. Translators almost never do this.

One translation can be: “. . . that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and whoever defiles it, God will defile him.” Most people do not like the idea of God defiling somebody, so they do not translate it that way. The only other way to translate it yet keep it parallel, as it is written, is this: “Anyone who destroys his body, God will destroy him.” This, I believe, is the correct translation.

If you are not following the health message and you are deliberately doing something that is destroying your body, what does the text say that God is going to do to you? He is going to destroy you! If you want to be an overcomer, you must follow the health message.

Mrs. White also counsels that James 1:16–27 provides for us “God’s great remedy for the diseases of the body and soul. It is God’s health reform prescription. The whole chapter is a practical one. I advise all to follow the instruction; for if they take heed to it day by day, they will triumph at last with the overcomers.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 1.

Weep Not

In Nehemiah 8:9, Ezra told the people of Israel not to weep. In the book carrying his name, it is recorded that, “Many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes.” Ezra 3:12. They were weeping because of their problems and because the second temple was not nearly as beautiful as the first. They were told, “Do not weep. Do not allow yourself to be sad, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10.

This is something it would be good to individually study further. If you want to be an overcomer, you need to study about being thankful and having the joy of the Lord.

Ellen White says, “A praise meeting should be held, a simple service of thanksgiving to God. There would be much more power in our camp meetings if we had a true sense of the goodness, mercy, and long-suffering of God, and if more praise flowed forth from our lips to the honor and glory of His name. We need to cultivate more fervor of soul. The Lord says: ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.’ Psalm 50:23.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 62.

“Well now, commence to praise God. And praise Him with heart and soul and voice. The devil does not want you [to], because you would be a living witness to them that you had drunk of the living waters, and he does not want you to praise God.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, 213. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Avoid Temptation

Do not deliberately walk into temptation, or, if I could state it in even more simple language, do not look at or listen to sin.

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: ‘Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?’ He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.” Isaiah 33:14–16. This passage is talking about the time when the sinners in Zion will be terrified because Jesus is coming. Verse 17 continues, “You are going to see the King in His beauty, and you are going to see the land that is very far off.”

Do you know what “the land that is very far off” is? It is that land that is over 600 light years away. Who are the people who will see this? Some of their characteristics are mentioned, and one of the characteristics given is that these people stop their ears; they do not allow their ears to hear evil. Neither do they allow their eyes to watch bloodshed. They will not look at it; they will not listen to it.

Our people are being destroyed spiritually because of what they are looking at on television and on videos, reading in magazines, and listening to musically. They are listening to sin. They are looking at sin. And then they wonder why they cannot overcome sin!

All Powerful

The Lord has plenty of power so that the weakest and the most sinful can overcome. The question is, are you and I going to cooperate? Pray and ask the Lord to help you to cooperate, for if you are going to be inside the city, your name must be written in that book. For that to happen, you must confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If your name is not going to be blotted out of that book in the Day of Judgment, you must overcome, so you may be clothed with the change of garment.

You must realize your absolute dependence upon God, that you have no power of your own. You have no ability or strength to overcome the world, the devil, or the flesh except you look to Him and choose to cooperate with Him.

Pray that the power of the Third Person of the Godhead may be exercised in your life, that you might not only be born of the Spirit, but that you might walk in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lust of the flesh, not loving the world, and not falling for the temptations of the evil one that seem so enticing to the sinful human nature.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

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

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance, Part IV

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In the Steps to Life staff worship each workday morning, we have recently been reading the many testimonies of Ellen White, which were sent as letters to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and are published in volume 8 of Testimonies for the Church.

Dr. Kellogg was the leader who attempted to introduce pantheism into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He might have been successful if there had not been a living prophet at that time. Few people in the church today realize how many leaders in Adventism accepted all or parts of this theory. It was in regard to these developments that Ellen White wrote, “In the book Living Temple [authored by Dr. Kellogg] there is presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 200.

“Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature.” Ibid., 197. We are warned, “many will depart from the faith.” Will you be one of them, or will you be among those who will be able to say with the apostle Paul, “I have kept the faith,” 11 Timothy 4:7? Most of those who depart from the faith do not know it.

Ellen White described it as follows: “The developments of these last days will soon become decided. When these spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are,—the secret workings of evil spirits,—those who have acted a part in them will become as men who have lost their minds. . . .

“The world is to be flooded with specious fallacies. One human mind, accepting these fallacies, will work upon other human minds, who have been turning the precious evidence of God’s truth into a lie. These men will be deceived by fallen angels, when they should have stood as faithful guardians, watching for souls, as they that must give an account. They have laid down the weapons of their warfare, and have given heed to seducing spirits. They make of no effect the counsel of God and set aside His warnings and reproofs, and are positively on Satan’s side. . . .

“A marvelous work shall take place. Ministers, lawyers, doctors, who have permitted these falsehoods to overmaster their spirit of discernment, will be themselves deceivers, united with the deceived. A spiritual drunkenness will take possession of them. . . .

“Some who have been deceived by men in responsible places will repent, and be converted. And in all our dealings with them, we must remember that none of those who are in the depth of Satan’s snares know that they are there. . . .

“Those who are bound in Satan’s coils are the most confident and the most boastful. They will protest at the thought that they are ensnared, yet it is the truth.” Battle Creek Letters, 124–128. [Emphasis added.]

There is only one way for us to avoid being snared in these last days. We must humble ourselves on our knees before God, asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we study the Bible, comparing Scripture with Scripture. “Brethren, cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your criticisms in regard to its validity, and obey the Word, and not one of you will be lost.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 18.

How does the Bible read? (Have you checked carefully in your concordances the meaning of each Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic word before accepting new teachings?) What does it say? What is the weight of evidence? Are there any texts of Scripture that say something different than does a new teaching? If there are, it is time to be more than just cautious, because truth never contradicts itself even in a single instance. Have you counseled with Christians of experience before accepting new teachings? If not, how do you know that you will not be deceived as have millions of others?