Issue: 2011 October

Nature – Vernal Pools

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Vernal pools, also called ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water that support a unique ecosystem of plants and animals. They can vary in size from large puddles to small lakes and occur in a variety of habitats, such as forests, prairies, and even deserts. Vernal pools are usually filled with water by rainfall or snowmelt during the winter and spring and go dry during the hot dry weather of summer. In some drought years they may not fill at all, and during really wet years they may not go dry. The underlying soils of vernal pools are a fundamental part of the habitat and usually consist of a hardpan layer or bedrock, which causes retention of the water in the pools.

Vernal pools, because of periodic drying, do not support breeding populations of fish. For this reason many species of amphibians, Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies), and crustaceans have evolved to use vernal pools as part of their life-cycles. These species are referred to as obligate vernal pool species, because they will only breed in temporary pools of water where there are no fish to eat their eggs and young.

The hydroperiod is the length of time that surface water inundates the pools and determines which species will be present. Fewer species are able to exist in pools that dry up relatively rapidly as compared to pools that keep their water longer. Toad larvae mature about the fastest of all amphibians, and they can breed successfully in the smallest of puddles, requiring just a few days to mature. They usually breed in pools that are in open sunny areas so that the extra warmth will help their larvae grow faster.

In North America, many species of mole salamanders, frogs, and toads use vernal pools for breeding. Some lay their eggs in the fall, and some lay their eggs in late winter through spring. All are capable of maturing into adults in just a few weeks before the pools go dry. Numerous aquatic insects and other invertebrates live and breed in these ponds and provide food for the growing salamander larvae. Odonate larvae are ferocious predators which feed on the larvae of other insects. The larger larvae of the dragonflies will even take small tadpoles. Fairy shrimps and various types of microscopic crustaceans live and complete their whole life-cycles in vernal pools. Their eggs are capable of surviving the dry spells and hatch when the pools flood again. Various types of algae and annual plants grow here as well and provide food for tadpoles, crustaceans, and insect larvae.

“Earth’s cisterns will often be emptied, its pools become dry; but in Christ there is a living spring from which we may continually draw. However much we draw and give to others, an abundance will remain. There is no danger of exhausting the supply; for Christ is the inexhaustible well-spring of truth. He has been the fountain of living water ever since the fall of Adam. He says, ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.’ And ‘whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ ” The Signs of the Times, April 22, 1897.

“He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish eager to drink of the water of life.” God’s Amazing Grace, 119.

David Arbour writes from his home in De Queen, Arkansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Lifestyle – Rest

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Nightly sleep—a rest vitamin. Many people want to sleep as little as possible. There are so many things that seem more interesting or important than getting a few more hours of sleep. But just as exercise and nutrition are essential for optimal health and happiness, so is sleep. The quality of sleep directly affects the quality of the waking time. There is no other activity that delivers so many benefits with so little effort!

Sleep is regulated by the circadian rhythm, which is affected by the rays of the sun. The sunlight that enters through the eye helps develop chemicals in the body that encourage the feeling of, and need for, sleep in a cyclic pattern of about every 24 hours. Nightly sleep is most vital for the brain and especially the frontal lobe. With adequate sleep the frontal lobe can function with greater speed, greater accuracy, and greater efficiency. An understanding of how to maximize the benefits from sleep is not only important for physical health but also spiritual health.

The required amount of sleep needed varies per individual. One factor in determining this is age. Infants need the most sleep and usually require about 16 to 18 hours per day, while teenagers need, on average, around 9 hours per day. Most adults need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Despite popular thought, people do not seem to adapt to getting less sleep than they need.

There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by with, and the amount you need to function optimally. The best way to figure out if you’re meeting your sleep needs is to evaluate how you feel as you go about your day. If you are logging enough hours, you’ll feel energetic and alert all day long, from the moment you awake until your regular bedtime.

Many problems can result from being sleep deprived. At least 40 million Americans each year suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems.

While it may seem like losing sleep isn’t such a big deal, sleep deprivation has a wide range of negative effects. These include:

  • Fatigue, lethargy, and lack of motivation
  • Moodiness and irritability
  • Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills and the ability to cope with stress
  • Reduced immunity; frequent colds and infections
  • Concentration and memory problems
  • Weight gain
  • Impaired motor skills and increased risk of accidents
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems
  • The following are signs that you may be sleep deprived:
  • Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time
  • Rely on the snooze button
  • Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning
  • Feel sluggish in the afternoon
  • Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms
  • Get drowsy after heavy meals or when driving
  • Need to nap to get through the day
  • Fall asleep while watching television or relaxing in the evening
  • Feel the need to sleep in on weekends
  • Fall asleep within five minutes of going to bed

While you can’t pay off sleep debt in a night or even a weekend, with a little effort and planning, you can get back on track:

  • Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Make sure you don’t fall further in debt by blocking off a minimum of 8 hours for sleep each night. Consistency is the key.
  • Settle short-term sleep debt with an extra hour or two per night.
  • Record when you go to bed, when you get up, your total hours of sleep, and how you feel during the day. As you keep track of your sleep, you’ll discover your natural patterns and get to know your sleep needs.
  • Pick a two-week period when you have a flexible schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and allow yourself to sleep until you wake up naturally. No alarm clocks! If you continue to keep the same bedtime and wake up naturally, you’ll eventually dig your way out of debt and arrive at the sleep schedule that’s ideal for you.
  • Make sleep a priority. Just as you schedule time for work and other commitments, you should schedule enough time for sleep. Instead of cutting back on sleep in order to tackle the rest of your daily tasks, put sleep at the top of your to-do list.
  • The following principles improve sleep:
  • Sleep in a dark, quiet, cool room with fresh air throughout the night
  • Be regular in your hours of sleep
  • Experience daily exercise
  • Go to bed on an empty stomach
  • Avoid stimulants, drugs, sleeping pills
  • Eliminate alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and caffeine
  • Develop proper relationships with man and God
  • Establish regular times for going to sleep and rising
  • Your deepest and best sleep is between 9:00 p.m.–midnight.

Health – First Principles

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A “diseased” condition develops when we fail to maintain health; it is the absence of health. Disease is not always some entity which drives out and overcomes health. The true science of conquering disease is to do so by restoring the health rather than to expect to restore the health by conquering disease. Health is maintained by forces which are always persistently at work, which need to have all hindrances to their work removed and all possible assistance given.

Possibly too much attention has been given to the study of disease, and not enough to the study of health, that the study of health has been approached from the standpoint of disease. It is certain that the study of sick, diseased bodies is much more common than the study of sound, healthy ones. To propose reversing this may seem to be like asking one to “stand on his head to get a right point of view,” and yet that change in outlook is the very thing that is needed. …

“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health. In case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to re-establish right conditions in the system.” The Ministry of Healing, 127.

A Balanced Program

There ought to be a way of daily living which will keep its adherents in good health so that they may perform the ordinary duties of life with ease and without undue fatigue, that the daily rounds of life may be one continuous pleasure rather than a struggle to “keep going” from the sheer force of necessity.

Such a happy way of living consists of a balanced program, which must include among other items:

  1. Perfect nutrition—natural foods, raw and cooked, proportioned to provide the right amount of protein to repair the body cells, starch, sugar and fat to supply heat and energy for the body and its activities, with water, minerals, and vitamins to sustain all of the life processes—a program of feeding which will nourish every organ, gland and cell in the body. …
  2. A proper amount of exercise to maintain good circulation of the blood that it may promptly bring fresh supplies of oxygen and food to the body cells and quickly transport their wastes to the skin, lungs, and kidneys for elimination so that toxins will not be allowed to accumulate in the body.

The Body’s Life

The body is built of cells. All body functions are associated with the function of cells. If the cells are normal, the organs and body are normal, and that is health.

The life is in the cell. The continuance of the life and functions of cells is made possible by forces which reside in air, sunshine, water, and food.

Plants can attain perfect development only when all of the elements they need for life and growth are in the soil.

“A plant, in order to obtain perfect growth, must find in soil a certain minimum of each of many elements. Consider, for example, the element potassium. Suppose only half of the necessary amount of potassium be present, then no matter how abundant may be all the other soil and air constituents, their normal utilization is limited to one-half. The rate of growth and the ultimate development of the plant are consequently depressed. Applying this principle to food absorption, showing that the lack of any one mineral requirement in the body will, to the extent it is lacking, thereby deprive the system of the ability to utilize all of the minerals present.” Dr. F. G. Hoskins, Cambridge University.

This is similar to the maxim the sages gave us long ago—“a chain is no stronger than its weakest link.” This seems to be so clear that it is useless to dispute it, and yet, when applied to a balanced ration it is almost revolutionary.

Animals—cows, horses, pigs, chickens—are the most profitable when fed scientifically.

The average farmer knows more about fertilizing the soil so that it may bring forth proper crops; the feeding of a balanced ration to the hens that they will lay a goodly number of eggs, and to the cows that they may give a profitable supply of milk, than he does about feeding those for whom all these things exist—himself and his family.

The average mother knows less about the foods needed to nourish the inside of the bodies of her children than about the style of the clothes for the outside. She does not discern that the body is more than the raiment.

Animals in the laboratory can be kept in good health, or fall ill with common ailments and diseases similar to ours, according to the food given them.

The engine of the automobile is “fed” scientifically to secure the greatest efficiency and the longest service.

Man alone—he who is lord of all living creatures and of every mechanical device, and who holds their destiny in his hands—too often eats according to the caprice of appetite and does not use as good judgment concerning his own health as he does in the protection of the animate and inanimate things under his care.

The Life-Span Is Decreasing

Man is the only creature given to the practice of self-destroying habits. Because of such habits, degenerative diseases of the vital organs are rapidly increasing with a consequent shortening of the life span. The much-lauded reports that human life is lengthening are deceptive in that they give a false impression. Through better care of babies and their mothers, and by better control of contagious and infectious diseases, more children grow to adult life than formerly; but when they reach adult life—age forty—they have already indulged in so many life-destroying habits that, on the average, they will not live as long as their grandparents did. “The young live longer but the old die sooner.” People do not live longer, but more babies grow up to adult life and this increases the average length of all lives. The age limit is lowering at the same time the average length of life is increasing. We cannot continue indefinitely to add to the average length of life by conquering infectious diseases, because when they are wiped out there will be no more to conquer, but degenerative diseases are increasing with accelerating rapidity.

Excerpts from Abundant Health, Northwestern Publishing Association, 1951, 1–11.

Q&A – Explain Luke 23:43

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Will you please explain Luke 23:43 NKJV? When Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise,” what exactly did He mean?

All punctuation in the Scripture was added by the translators, as there was none in the original manuscripts. Adding the comma where it is in the above verse appears to change the timing of when the thief would be with Jesus in Paradise. However, by looking at other verses pertaining to those who have died, it is clear that Jesus did not mean that on that very day the forgiven thief would go to Paradise.

Job said, “Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.” Job 21:32.

John said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29.

The promise made that day, as they were both hanging on a cross, was that the thief would be remembered among the redeemed for whom Jesus is coming back and will take to heaven to live with Him in Paradise throughout eternity.

“Assuredly I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Neither did Jesus Himself go to Paradise that day. On the Sunday after His crucifixion, Mary stood weeping at the empty tomb in the garden thinking the body of Jesus had been stolen. She first mistook Jesus for the gardener, but when recognizing her Lord, she was the first to see the risen Saviour. He told her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father” (John 20:17 NKJV). This verse makes it very clear that He did not go to Paradise on the day of His crucifixion.

Paradise is where the tree of life is (Revelation 2: 7), and the tree of life is “fast by the throne of God” (Revelation 22:1, 2).

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Keys to the Storehouse – Ponder Thy Path

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Do you realize how much you are loved? God loves you so much that He “gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

There is a statement in Selected Messages, Book 1, 311 that is well worth thinking upon. It begins, “The Creator loves His creatures, but …” (Emphasis added.)

That little word but alters our whole thought process.

We are told to “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:26, 27.

Have you pondered the path of your feet lately? We are told, “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” Deuteronomy 5:32.

“Joshua, the commander of Israel, searched the books diligently in which Moses had faithfully chronicled the directions given by God—His requirements, reproofs, and restrictions—lest he should move unadvisedly. Joshua was afraid to trust his own impulses, or his own wisdom. He regarded everything that came from Christ, … as of sufficient importance to be sacredly cherished. “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2, 993, 994.

Have you pondered the path of your feet lately? I ask this because we are told:

“The Creator loves His creatures, but he who loves sin more than righteousness, error more than truth, perpetuates the transgression that brought woe into our world, and cannot be regarded with favor by the God of truth. The way of truth and righteousness involves a cross.” (Emphasis added.) Selected Messages, Book 1, 311.

If you love sin more than righteousness or error more than truth, you perpetuate that sin—you preserve it from extinction, and you will never be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Are you choosing to follow the heavenly path, pondering the path of your feet so that sin is not preserved?

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:7, 8.

“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” Proverbs 16:17.

When you sin, or violate the law,

  • you have chosen sin over righteousness;
  • you love error more than truth;
  • you perpetuate the transgression and preserve it from extinction.

When you want to “preserve” sin from extinction by your actions,

  • you cannot be regarded with favor by the God of truth.

“The Creator loves His creatures, but … .” If you were to place your name in the place of His creatures, would the word but appear after your name? Send up the prayer found in Psalm 139:23, 24 which says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Lord, I pray that I will always be regarded with favor by You. As I ponder the path of my feet, please give me spiritual discernment that I may see where the devil is deceiving me into preserving sin. I do not ever want to choose sin over righteousness or error over truth. Please hold up my goings in Thy paths that my footsteps slip not. Amen.

Call to Prayer – Why is there a Historic Adventist Movement Today

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Some may not even know that there is such a movement. Still others may have heard of it, but do not know what or why it exists. In this brief article, we would like to share with you what could be a life saving history of our church and where it is today.

Early in the church’s history, and after the Great Disappointment in 1844, several of the people and many “Millerites” (followers of the teachings of William Miller) were convinced that “the mistake had not been in the reckoning of the prophetic periods, but in the event to take place at the end of the 2300 days [Daniel 8:14].” The Great Controversy, 425. Their study of the prophecies was correct, but the event was wrong. It was during this time that Ellen G. White discovered that the event “pointed to Christ’s ministration in the most holy place, to the investigative judgment, and not to the coming of Christ for the redemption of His people and the destruction of the wicked.” Ibid.

It was also during this time that, through prayer, study, and visions, the fundamental doctrines of the second-advent movement were further developed. The Sabbath, the heavenly sanctuary revealing the spiritual condition necessary to be ready for the second coming of Christ and many other subjects including the state of the dead, the health reform, the gift of prophecy in the remnant church, etc., were brought forward and adopted. So why is there such confusion in the church today about these and other subjects? Have we forgotten the way we were led into truth?

Historic Adventist is an informal designation for conservative individuals and organizations that seek to preserve certain fundamental beliefs and practices of the church. As a general rule, Historic Adventists feel that the church leadership has shifted or departed from key doctrinal “pillars” ever since the middle of the 20th century. Historic Adventists have tended to promote the message through independent ministries, some of which have a strained relationship with the official church.

Historic Adventist theology differs from mainstream Adventist theology in the areas of sin, salvation and end times. Mainstream Adventist theology often uses the term “new theology” as a pejorative term for perceived doctrinal shifts in the church. Much of the confusion started with a misunderstanding of Righteousness by Faith and the belief that we can be saved in our sins. Instead of preaching the Three Angels’ Messages, the Sanctuary message, and overcoming sin, the church has fallen into the popular topics of the day.

In the late years of the 1980s and early part of the 1990s, several ministers had been studying and preaching the gospel as it was understood at the inception of the church. The Reformation and Revival message of the time of the end and the fact that there will be a people living without sin just before Jesus comes are salvational messages. As their reward, many such ministers and laity were disfellowshiped from organized conference churches for doing what the Bible tells us to do—preach the Word.

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, founder of Steps to Life; Elder Ron Spear, founder of Hope International; Dr. Ralph Larson, evangelist, teacher and college administrator; and others were instrumental in forming a network of independent historic ministries and home churches. Unity meetings were held during the 1990s in an attempt to draw the work of the historic churches and ministries together.

Today, many of the historic churches and ministries have joined together in the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists. This movement is an international body consisting of a multiracial network of Seventh-day Adventist believers who desire to maintain and advance the original beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist faith at a time when many of the original beliefs, worship style, and practices are being compromised by the established Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Bible sums it up best in Ephesians 5:23–27: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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.”

Let us pray together for God to prepare His people for the events that are just before us. Teachings on Christian perfection and personal holiness were present in the religious revival of the Great Awakening in America and were evident in early Adventist movements. Pray that these teachings be brought back to life and sin is separated from sinners. As we are told in the Bible, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48.

Jän C. Schultz is an elder of Renaissance Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists, Sedalia, Colorado. He may be contacted at: RenChurch@aol.com.

My Story

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My life, so far, reveals God’s righteous right hand at work, not-withstanding my unrighteousness. I never really got to see and understand the fact that our ever-living God simply watched and waited for me to present myself for service before He began unfolding Himself to me in various ways. I can only accord to Jesus Christ honor and glory for His loving-kindness and mercies towards me while in sin. Now, I realize all this and praise Him for that.

I was raised well in a Christian home, my parents being members of the N.K.S.T Church, which is the Church of Christ in the Sudan among the Tiv. I hail from Kwande local government area of Benue state in Central Nigeria where Tiv language is widely spoken. I could read and write in Tiv and English language as well as read the Bible in Tiv right from my primary school, much thanks to my parents.

It was at F.G.C. Ogbomoso in Western Nigeria at age 12 during my secondary education that I had a different orientation of Christianity. Here I came face to face with Pentecostalism. I was deeply involved with the tongues-speaking movement. My little knowledge of the Holy Scriptures with regards to speaking in tongues, as taught by my Orthodox Church, was quite different from that of the Pentecostals (fellowship group) in school, such as 1 Corinthians 14 and other texts. I had my reservations with their answers, knowing full well that they were incorrect, but I had no way to counter them.

With the completion of my secondary education, I returned home more confused, because I could observe even more errors with my Orthodox Church practices, not to mention the tongues practice session in school. This had terribly affected my relationship with God, so much so that during my university days in Jos, I drifted further away from God and almost stopped attending church. Parties and all forms of social vices became part of my life; drinking, smoking, you name it and I did it! I simply drifted in and out of churches and found myself attending Eckankar [a cult believing that the soul is multidimensional and shares all the aspects of God—the that part of God that you are] meetings in school. One sure fact is that I always experienced an empty feeling with a desire to know what was missing and how to find it.

With my graduation from the university in 1996 and one-year national service in Benin City in mid-western Nigeria, God decided to start revealing Himself and His truth to me in the most marvelous way ever imagined. However, I must state here categorically that my road to becoming a member of God’s remnant church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, started way back in 1985.

I was home on holidays visiting with my parents who moved to our country home in the village. One Sunday morning, my mother, as usual, asked me to prepare for church. My response was, “Saturday is the right worship day, according to the Bible, and not Sunday.” She laughed and retorted that young men always come out of school with strange thoughts and behaviors. One may wonder how that statement came from one who had not heard of the Sabbath truth, neither did he know that the Seventh-day Adventist church was in existence. This is simply due to the fact that I so much loved history and always read historical accounts of the children of Israel in the Holy Scriptures and I also enjoyed reading world affairs in Time and Newsweek magazines. This is where I got the idea of Saturday being the right day of worship according to the Scriptures, and I was able to confirm from the magazines that in the present day land of Israel, the Jews still keep Saturday as the Sabbath of the Lord.

My question then was, If Christians believe the Bible, why do we refuse to rightly obey Bible doctrines since the seventh day was the fourth amongst the Ten Commandments, which are read every Sunday at worship in churches? This was a question that required an answer, but could not be found at that time.

My service year in Benin did not change much. I still drifted in and out of churches, but they never made any impact in my life! I attended several denominations but still felt empty. The irony was that any church I found myself in, I would come out with something that never demanded my presence therein again, due to their beliefs and doctrines. A friend finally took me to Krishna consciousness. My desire to seek for the unknown led me to read their Bhagavad Ghita and other books of the movement. I began practicing the Yoga, chanting the mantra and attending meetings with the spiritual head in Nigeria. The feeling of dissatisfaction increased in me and I confronted the leader with my questions challenging the reincarnation doctrine. I quoted Hebrews where the Bible says, “It is appointed unto man to die once, but after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

He made efforts to defend the belief, but I was not convinced. After the meeting, I never went there again, returning all the books. Shortly thereafter, I was again invited to the meeting with the Mormons. I received copies of Joseph Smith’s testimony and the Book of Mormon. More confusion came with more unanswered questions.

With the completion of my service year in 1998, I stayed back in Benin with a close friend who was still in service. A discussion ensued between us one day and the subject of the Sabbath came in focus. He pointed out my constant emphasis on Sabbath being Saturday and thereafter offered me a book, which can help explain more on the subject. He pulled out from his bag a booklet entitled Mysterious Answers to Prayers. This book was simply exceptional and wonderful; immediate answers to some questions started unfolding; and my troubled conscience began experiencing peace. This was God-sent. I went over the book twice with my Bible, cross-checking to confirm all the texts that were quoted and was convinced and relieved that I had found the truth at last after years of wandering in spiritual darkness. I simply told my friend that this little book had changed my life.

I left Benin for Lagos in October 1998 to stay with a friend. Within the next four months of business I drifted into a life of criminality, cheating, fornication, and alcoholism because the funds were coming in but also going out the same way they came in. I tried to obtain a Master’s Degree but without success. The cities of Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Abuja, Jos Ilorin, etc., were our business points.

I give thanks to God that I escaped arrests. On one of our business trips a careful thought brought my mind home and my parental care and Christian upbringing came into focus. I left Lagos against my friend’s wish on February 26, 1999, for Makurdi with a decision never to return to such a life again. My return to Makurdi opened my eyes to see truth. My joblessness gave me the opportunity to remain indoors where I again stumbled across the booklet Mysterious Answers to Prayers. Another Bible study session ensued. I was challenged by a friend, whom I had high regard in respect to Bible knowledge while attempting to explain the Sabbath message. He referred me to Hebrews 4 and that the Sabbath simply meant rest and all the apostles kept Sunday and not Saturday. To straighten this out, I resorted to searching the Scriptures for confirmation, reading through the New Testament pocket Bible twice. The revelation was just wonderful, seeing from the Bible that the Sabbath is the seventh day and it will never be changed. Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer, kept it, as did all of the apostles and the early Christian church. I became convinced, but never knew what church or group of believers to join in Makurdi. I simply stopped attending church on Sundays.

It was while riding in a commuter bus within Makurdi one day that I sighted the sign of the Seventh-day Adventist church. I thought that must be the same church I had read about in the booklet. The second Saturday of November 1999 saw me experiencing my first Sabbath worship. The experience cannot be penned down; talk of the joy of fellowshiping in truth and righteousness with special Sabbath blessings! I felt at home at last. Bible studies continued in earnest and soon answers to my questions cleared out all the troubles I had previously with regard to the Sabbath and other doctrines. Today I owe my sincere gratitude to the God of heaven who has been patient with me and for bringing me into the knowledge of the truth in Christ Jesus. It is my earnest and sincere prayer that all earnest seekers for truth find that which sets us at liberty from spiritual blindness and brings us into newness of life by the infinite power of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus.

Daniel Terence is founder and director of Daily Manna Ministries, Makurdi, Nigeria.

Do you have a testimony that you would like to share of how the Lord is working in your life? Because of space limitations, not all submissions can be published, but we would love to hear from you. Please write or email us at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Principles of True Righteousness

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Those who put their trust and hope in Jesus will find that, day by day, their walk with Him will become closer and less in the world.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5, is one of the most misunderstood messages that He gave. Some believe that it summarizes God’s plan of salvation, that those desiring to be in heaven must obey the rules. Others believe it has no significance today, but that it will apply at some future time during religious trial and persecution.

The key is found in verse 20: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The theme is righteousness.

The Pharisees taught a superficial, external righteousness based on law, but Jesus described a righteousness that comes from within, in the heart. Where the Pharisees were so concerned about minute details of conduct, tithing, fasting, and presenting themselves in holy robes, they neglected the major issues of character.

The lessons that Jesus taught to His followers and recorded in the Gospels were foreign to the rules they had come to believe necessary to be saved.

In the Beatitudes and the pictures of the believer, if you do not fix the inside, it does not matter what you do to the outside; it is not going to work. The crowd’s attention was fixed upon Jesus as He spoke the first word: “Blessed” Matthew 5:3. This was a powerful word to those who heard that day, one they had never heard from the Pharisees. To them it meant divine joy and perfect happiness. It was not a word used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead. “Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. Jesus presented to them a message that would enter their hearts.

There are four attitudes described in Matthew 5 that are common among men and women today.

  1. Attitude toward self

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Verse 3. To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of self.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. It is not for anyone to consider himself any better than others, as all are equal in God’s sight. Jesus died for all. Attitude makes the difference; we must look at others with the sympathy and love with which God sees us. This does not mean to be without a backbone or have false humility saying, “I am not worth anything!” To be “poor in spirit” exhibits honesty and acceptance of self, putting into practice the best of one’s ability to the glory of God without self-praise and self-assertion that is common in the world.

  1. Attitude toward sin

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Verses 4–6.

Meekness is not weakness, for both Moses and Jesus were meek men. The word translated “meek” was used by the Greeks to describe a horse that had been broken. It refers to power under control.

In Numbers 12:3 describing Moses, it says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses surrendered his faculties to God, which enabled him to complete the assignments that God gave him. We also can become conquers over our own problems by surrendering our powers to God.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29. This is the rest and contentment that Jesus had as He surrendered totally to His Father. This is available to all today. We struggle with the righteousness issue because we are not able to totally surrender. We mourn over our sins and think we need to have some control, but rest comes only after total submission and being under the control of God.

While the Pharisees claimed to be defenders of the law of Moses, they forced people to comply with those laws, demonstrating that they did not reflect the character of Jesus.

  1. Attitude toward the Lord

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:7–9. We experience God’s mercy when we trust Christ. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:4–9.

In very simple words that means that no matter how hard you try you will not achieve righteousness. No matter how hard you work or how dedicated you are to work, or how much you volunteer for work, you just do not have what it takes and never will—only Jesus has it. It is only through Him that we can reach that righteousness. It is only through Jesus Christ and Him in us that we can do anything. His righteousness is a free gift, His life in us. It is through Christ that we attain to eternal life.

  1. Attitude toward the world

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:10–14.

Sadly, this experience is often repeated in our church today. Many say, How dare these people come in here to worship; he is a tax collector. I am better; I fast twice a week; I pay tithe; I pray; what are they doing here? This is an attitude problem. In the story it was the man who humbled himself who went home justified, rejoicing with peace in his heart.

All need the infilling of Christ in the heart to have peace. It is in Christ that all become equal.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10–16.

It is not easy to be a dedicated Christian. Our society is not friendly to Christianity. If it is not friendly to God, it will not be friendly to God’s people either. There is a conflict between the principles of Christianity and the world—conflicting attitudes.

The amusements and fashions of the world do not reflect Christ’s righteousness. There is no Christianity in these things. As your plans for each day are consecrated to God to be carried out or given up as His providence indicates, your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. [See Steps to Christ, 70.] The Beatitudes represent an outlook radically different from that presented by the world. The world praises pride and not humility. Where the world endorses sin, especially if you can “get away with it,” God seeks to reconcile His enemies and make them His children. The world is at war with God so it must be expected that those living godly will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12). But be sure that suffering is not due to personal foolishness or disobedience.

We are told: “All who serve God with purity of soul will know that He is jealous that His honor should be preserved. Many of the most glorious revelations recorded in the Bible were made by the Lord in the darkest days of the church’s history. The Lord has given these revelations of His glory in order that men may be deeply impressed regarding the sacredness of His service. Impressions have been made that should bear with solemn force on the mind, showing that God is God, and that He has not lost His glory. He requires the utmost fidelity in His service today. The impression must be left on human minds that the Lord God is holy, and that He will vindicate His glory.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1160.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31–33.

Note, seek first the kingdom of heaven and righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus, will be provided. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn righteousness; we simply do not have what it takes to gain righteousness.

“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:7.

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:25.

This instruction applies to you and me. We need to be willing to submit to Him. We must be willing to give all to Jesus in order to receive His righteousness. We have none of our own.

Christ’s righteousness, the wedding garment (Matthew 22:11, 12), the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), is the covering necessary to inherit the mansions that Christ is preparing in heaven. He went to prepare a place for us, and when He comes again He has promised to take us home with Him.

The indwelling of Christ transforms sinful man into humble, obedient and faithful people.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17–20.

In the law of Moses, God revealed His standard for holy living. The Pharisees defended it and sought to obey it, but Jesus said that the true righteousness that pleases God must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. To the common people, the scribes and Pharisees were the holiest men in the community! If they had not attained, what hope was there for anybody else?

Jesus made it clear that He had come to honor the law and help God’s people to love it, learn it, and live it but He would not accept the artificial righteousness of the religious leaders that was merely an external masquerade. Their religion was a dead ritual, not a living relationship. It was artificial and did not reproduce itself in others in a living way but promoted pride instead of humility and led to bondage instead of liberty.

We can fulfill the Law by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work in our lives. The Holy Spirit enables us to daily experience the “righteousness of the law.” This does not mean we live sinlessly perfect lives, but it does mean that Christ lives out His life through us by the power of His Spirit (Galatians 2:20).

Within the Beatitudes, we see the perfect character of Jesus Christ. While Jesus never had to mourn over His own sins, He was still a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3. He never had to hunger and thirst after righteousness since He was the holy Son of God, but He did delight in the Father’s will and find His satisfaction in doing it (John 4:34). The only way we can experience the righteousness of the Beatitudes is through the power of Christ.

How do we get victory? By allowing Jesus to purify the desires of the heart and bring into subjection the actions of the body. “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:30.

Obviously, this is not talking about literal surgery; for this would not solve the problem in the heart. Concerning sin, the eye and the hand are usually the two “culprits.” Jesus said, “Deal immediately and decisively with sin! Don’t taper off—cut off!” Spiritual surgery is more important than physical surgery, for the sins of the body can lead to eternal judgment. We think of passages like, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Colossians 3:5, 6.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:13.

We are never to retaliate. Jesus replaced a law with an attitude: be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer. Of course, He applied this to personal insults, not to groups or nations. The person who retaliates only makes himself and the offender feel worse; and the result is a settled war and not peace.

In order to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39), we must stay where we are and not run away. This demands both faith and love. It also means that we will be hurt, but it is better to be hurt on the outside than to be harmed on the inside. It further means that we should try to help the sinner. We are vulnerable, because he may attack us anew; but we are also victorious, because Jesus is on our side, helping us and building our characters. Psychologists tell us that violence is born of weakness, not strength. It is the strong man who can love and suffer hurt; it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts others to protect himself. He hurts others; then runs away to protect himself.

We are to love our enemies. Nowhere did the law teach hatred for one’s enemies. Passages like Exodus 23:4, 5 indicate just the opposite! Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, hate us, and exploit us selfishly. Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He has the right to command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. Praying for our enemies makes it easier to love them. It takes the “poison” out of our attitude.

There are several reasons given for Jesus’ admonition:

This love is a mark of maturity, proving that we are sons of the Father, and not just little children.

It is Godlike. The Father shares His good things with those who oppose Him. Matthew 5:45 suggests that our love “creates a climate” of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends so graciously.

It is a testimony to others. “What do ye more than others” (Matthew 5:47)? is a good question. God expects us to live on a much higher plane than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. As Christians, we must return good for evil as an investment of love. We must remember that God is holy and we must do all we can to preserve His glory.

We rob ourselves of today’s joys when we worry about tomorrow. Worrying about tomorrow does not help either tomorrow or today. If anything, it robs us of our effectiveness today—which means we will be even less effective tomorrow. Someone has said that the average person is crucifying himself between two thieves: the regrets of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow. It is right to plan for the future and even to save for the future. In II Corinthians 12:14 it states, “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” There is also counsel in 1 Timothy 5:8, which says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” It is a sin to worry about the future and permit tomorrow to rob today of its blessings.

There are three things that point the way to victory:

Having faith in God to meet our needs. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matthew 6:30.

Trust in our heavenly Father, knowing that He cares for His children. “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Matthew 6:32.

Putting God first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. We must put God’s will first in our lives so that He might be glorified. If we have faith in our Father and put Him first, He will meet our needs.

All hypocrisy and anxiety must be put away. Hypocrisy and anxiety are sins. If we practice the true righteousness of the kingdom, we will avoid these sins and everything that goes against God’s word and allow the righteousness of Christ to be totally reproduced in us. The Lord said that without Him, no one can see the Father.

The number one priority in life is to have the righteousness of Christ. We each need to surrender all of our ways into the hands of our Redeemer right now while time lasts.

Pastor Domingo Nuñez is director of Outreach Ministry for Steps to Life. He is involved in the coordination of world mission projects and he travels extensively, encouraging the many home churches supported by Steps to Life. He may be contacted at: 316-788-5559 or by email at: domingonunez@stepstolife.org.

Merit or Grace

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In the beginning of Acts 16, it says that while Paul and Silas were answering the Macedonian call in Philippi, they were beaten and put in jail without a trial. That night there was an earthquake, and the jailer was also afraid that the prisoners would escape, which would result in him being under the death sentence, so he decided to kill himself. “But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ ” Acts 16:28–30.

That is the most important question that any human being can ask: “What must I do to be saved?” Paul says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household” (verse 31). That night was a successful one night evangelistic series. No sermons were preached; it consisted only of a song service. Paul and Silas, in chains, sang in the prison praising the Lord. Then, suddenly, there was an earthquake. The jailer realized the prisoners had something that he did not have, and he wanted it; he wanted to be saved. They told him to, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Salvation is not complicated. It is simple enough that a child can understand it. All you have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Believe is often translated faith in the Bible. The Greek word translated believe, means to believe something enough to make a commitment to it. It is not merely an intellectual knowledge; it is a commitment. To believe in Jesus is to make a commitment to Him.

United States citizens are proud that they live in the land of the free and the home of the brave and do not live under the servitude of lords. The Roman Empire did understand the meaning of the word lord, because approximately two-thirds of the population was in slavery, with only one-third free. Those who were unfortunate to be slaves had a lord. Their master was called their lord. And that master, or lord, had absolute authority over their lives. In fact, if the slave did something that the lord did not like, he had authority to kill him without a trial because he was a slave. When Paul said, “Believe in the Lord,” the jailer knew exactly what the word Lord meant.

In Western society today, there are many who say they believe in Jesus as their Lord, but He had something to say to them. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46. Is Jesus really Lord to those who disobey Him and are they guaranteed salvation? Jesus predicted that in the last generation this very thing would happen.

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

Notice, these are people who call Jesus Lord, but they do not do what He says. They break His law. There is no nation in the world that does not have laws. Judges in the courts of all countries consider a person to be a loyal citizen if he keeps the laws. God also has laws, and He decides the loyalty of the citizen of His government by the keeping of His law. In the final judgment, God will ask the same question that worldly judges ask: “Have you kept the law?”

When countries make laws, they are ever changing them and updating them. It is estimated that there have been over 35 million different human laws made; however, in God’s government, He has made only one law that has ten parts. The whole universe can be governed with one law that a child can read and understand. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.

Ellen White wrote, “Let this point be fully settled in every mind: If we accept Christ as a Redeemer, we must accept Him as a Ruler. We cannot have the assurance and perfect confiding trust in Christ as our Saviour until we acknowledge Him as our King and are obedient to His commandments. Thus we evidence our allegiance to God.” Faith and Works, 16.

Is Jesus the Lord of your life? Many people today in the Western world want Jesus to be the Saviour of their life, but they do not want Him to be the Lord of their life. In essence they are saying, “We won’t have this man reign over us” (Luke 19:14).

  • Paraphrasing John 3:16, it is seen to have seven parts after recognizing God:
  • “God” – brings us to acknowledge an Almighty Authority, Himself, He
  • “so loved the world” – the strongest motive, love
  • “that He gave” – at ultimate cost
  • “His only begotten Son” – that resulted in the greatest gift that has ever been given
  • “that whoever” – this is the widest welcome that has ever been given
  • “believes in Him” – that is the easiest escape that has ever been given
  • “should not perish” – assuring divine deliverance
  • “but have everlasting life” – they will receive a priceless possession

Putting it all together, John 3:16 would read, “The One who has Almighty authority, motivated by the strongest motivation, gave the greatest gift, to give us the widest welcome, and the easiest escape, and divine deliverance, so that we might have a priceless possession.”

It is this subject that we are admonished to talk about the most. Ellen White wrote, “There is not a point that needs to be dwelt upon more earnestly, repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all, than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. …

“Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 420.

If we are going to inherit eternal life, we need to understand that there is nothing we can ever do to provide any part of the merit. It is a gift that comes through grace alone, to the person who believes. One of the greatest deceptions of all time, that has permeated all heathen religions and also the Christian world, is the idea that we are saved by faith and works.

Martin Luther fought this idea during the reformation. The belief that a person is saved by faith and works opens the door for believing that not only your own good works, but also those of others and even the saints give merit to salvation.

The book of James says that, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). True faith produces works; however, those works have no merit and have no saving power.

“Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 420.

When you work or have a job, your employer is obligated to give you the appropriate wages. But if a man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, and it is received by him, as a sinner, just because he receives and believes the promise in Jesus, then it is completely by grace—a free gift.

The apostle Paul wrote about this a great deal in the books of Romans, Galatians and Ephesians. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9. “If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imparts righteousness apart from works.” Romans 4:2–6 (Literal translation).

Paul emphasized this point because of the error being taught in Christ’s day that a person was saved by grace, but they needed to do something first; they needed to be circumcised first, and then they would receive the grace.

That same teaching is very popular in churches today, including the Protestant churches, but it is not called circumcision. Some say first you need to repent, and that is true, but there are no merits in repentance. Some say that you need to have faith—belief. There is no merit just because you have faith. Salvation is through grace alone; it is a free gift and does not come because of anything that you do.

“It [salvation] is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him.” Faith and Works, 20.

But the devil pulls another trick on those who do understand that there is nothing you can do to save yourself. Hundreds of millions of Christians in the world today believe that the church can save you if you are a member or are baptized. If you are a member of the Catholic Church, you need to be an active participant in the seven sacraments, which, if observed, enable you to receive the grace.

Stated bluntly, the church is unable to save anyone, and there will be billions of people lost who have been baptized. Billions of people who have partaken of the communion supper will not be in the kingdom of heaven. We cannot save ourselves, and the church cannot save us either. This same deception that is popular today was also popular in the days of Christ. The people believed that if they were not connected to Israel, the church, they would not be saved. Even Christ’s disciples believed this.

John records an incident when Jesus gave sight to the man who was born blind. There was a big church trial, and before it was over, because the man confessed Christ, he was disfellowshiped. “The Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered them and said, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.’ ” John 9:18–21.

Everybody in town, including his parents, knew what had happened, because the news had gone all over town, so why did they lie? They must have known it was wrong to lie and that no liars will be in heaven (Revelation 21:8). “His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, because the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed He was the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22 (Literal translation).

They were under one of the most powerful delusions that can happen to a person. They had been taught that if you were disfellowshiped from the synagogue, you would not have eternal life. Ironically, the very thing they did do, lie, would keep them out of the kingdom of God. They thought that as long as they stayed in and had that connection with the church, they would be saved.

If they really wanted to be saved, they would have had to allow themselves to be disfellowshiped and not lie. This story is important, because this has happened millions of times since then. The very thing that people think will assure them of eternal life is the very thing that guarantees their destruction. Jesus’ own disciples believed this.

“ ‘I am the true Vine’ [John 15:1]. The Jews had always regarded the vine as the most noble of plants, and a type of all that was powerful, excellent, and fruitful. Israel had been represented as a vine which God had planted in the Promised Land. The Jews based their hope of salvation on the fact of their connection with Israel.” The Desire of Ages, 675.

Jesus says, “I am the real vine. Think not that through a connection with Israel you may become partakers of the life of God and inheritors of His promise. Through Me alone is spiritual life received.” Are you connected with the True Vine? Baptism with water is a symbol and important, but if you do not have what it represents, the symbol will not save you.

Peter explains what baptism represents. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” Acts 2:37, 38. Baptism by water represents baptism by the Holy Spirit.

Even though church will not save you, it is important to belong to one. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (the church)—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13. Baptism, water baptism, is the door into the church. But water baptism is a symbol that won’t save you if you don’t have what it represents.

You become a member of the body of Christ when you are baptized by the Holy Spirit. Paul met some people in Acts 19 who had been baptized, and he asked if they had received the Holy Spirit. They said they had been baptized into John’s baptism and were told they needed to be baptized again. This clearly indicates that baptism is not really valid if you have not received the Holy Spirit.

There are many who have attended church all their life and decide to be rebaptized because they did not know before what they were doing or were not prepared. They did not receive the Holy Spirit.

If you have not received the Holy Spirit, the church cannot save you. The big question is, Are you connected with Jesus? Jesus said, “I am the true Vine.” There are two things working to connect the branches to the grape vines. The outer connection, the lignite in the wood, just holds them physically to the vine. The outer connection could be likened to church membership. When a person is baptized with water and makes a profession, they are now a “member” of the church, outwardly. It has an outer connection, but if the life sap does not flow through the inner part of that vine into the branch, it will die. This is described in John 15.

The dead branch is a person who is a member of the church, professing to be a Christian. They profess to be getting ready for Jesus to come, and they look like they are connected, but the only trouble is, there is no life in them.

When working with grape vines, you learn to trim and tie up the vines. Every dead branch is cut off. Jesus said, “That’s what My Father does.” Notice what He says in John 15:2–5: “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes [cleanses/purifies], that it may bear more fruit. You are already purified or cleansed, because of the word which I have spoken to you. ‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’ ” (Literal translation).

Is the life of Christ coming into your life and is the Holy Spirit working a transformation in your life, changing the way you think and the way you act? Do others recognize you as a Christian?

There have been many discussions about creature merit. Theologians have been arguing these things for hundreds of years. Ellen White wrote about these discussions. She said,

“Discussions may be entered into by mortals strenuously advocating creature merit, and each man striving for the supremacy, but they simply do not know that all the time, in principle and character, they are misrepresenting the truth as it is in Jesus. They are in a fog of bewilderment. They need the divine love of God which is represented by gold tried in the fire; they need the white raiment of Christ’s pure character; and they need the heavenly eyesalve that they might discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life.” Faith and Works, 23.

How much is creature merit worth? She calls it utter worthlessness.

“The Lord Jesus imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the penitence, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins, in presenting His righteousness for man to grasp by living faith—which is also the gift of God. If you would gather together everything that is good and holy and noble and lovely in man and then present the subject to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as treason.” Ibid., 24. Even the angels would say it was treason against the government of God.

Salvation is not complicated. It is a natural human tendency to want to do something to gain merit, so that we can be saved, but we can never be saved that way. Ellen White says, “He need not wait until he has made a suitable repentance before he may take hold upon Christ’s righteousness. We do not understand the matter of salvation. It is just as simple as ABC. But we don’t understand it.” Ibid., 64.

How can you receive the gift of salvation? Just say, “Lord, I’m choosing to believe in Jesus as the Lord of my life and Saviour from sin.” Jesus stated it in that simple language, over and over again. The apostle John, more than any other apostle, quoted Jesus’ words on that subject. For instance, he said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47. That is not complicated. Jesus said, “If you believe in Me, you have eternal life.”

There is much to be thankful for. “The people had not been destroyed by the serpents in their long travels through the wilderness. They had been an ungrateful people.

“We are just so. We do not realize the thousand dangers that our heavenly Father has kept us from. We do not realize the great blessing that He has bestowed upon us in giving us food and raiment, in preserving our lives by sending the guardian angels to watch over us. Every day we should be thankful for this. We ought to have gratitude stirring in our hearts and come to God with a gratitude offering every day. We ought to gather around the family altar every day and praise Him for His watchcare over us. The children of Israel had lost sight that God was protecting them from the venomous beasts. But when He withdrew His hand their sting was upon them.” Ibid., 69.

We ought to have such gratitude that we gather around the family altar every day and praise Him for His watchcare over us. The children of Israel had lost sight that God was protecting them from the venomous beasts, but when He withdrew His hand, their sting was upon them. If we could just comprehend how simple the plan of salvation is. All you have to do is choose to believe. Some may say they cannot. Remember the man who came to Jesus and He said, “If you can believe, everything is possible” (Mark 9:23). The man then said, “Lord, I believe,” but he was struggling with doubt, just the way people are today. It is the devil’s intention to try to destroy all who believe by causing doubt. This man was struggling with doubt, and he said, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” [verse 24].

Ellen White says that if you pray that prayer you can never perish. The plan of salvation is that simple. If we really believed it, we would be happy; we would be thankful; we would be rejoicing; we would be praising God every day for what He has done for us.

In the wilderness, the children of Israel were told to look at the brass snake and be saved (Numbers 21:8, 9). The Lord says, “Look unto Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and none else.” Isaiah 45:22 (Literal translation). This is not complicated. Are you willing to look? A dead snake, a brass snake, cannot save anybody. The Lord says, “If you will look, I will save you.” The problem we have is that we live in a world where the religion of Cain is more popular than the true religion. The religion of Cain says you have to do something for the Lord to save you. That is a deception. Just come to Jesus, just the way you are right now, with all of your sins, with all of your weaknesses. You cannot make yourself better.

Jesus said, “He who comes to Me, I will in no case cast out” (John 6:37). If you will come, He will save you. If you look, He will save you. You don’t have to do something first; just come to Jesus right now, just the way you are, with all of your sins, with all of your guilt, with all of your failings, with all of your past; come with everything that is wrong with you. He just says, “Look to Me. Come to Me, I will save you. You do the coming, I will do the saving.”

We cannot save ourselves; the church cannot save us, and no human being can save us. Only Jesus can save us.

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

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

Editorial – Understanding the Prophecies

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Recently, I studied a theological presentation given by an Adventist minister, in which he attempted to destroy the foundation and central pillar on which the Adventist faith is built. Since this person was well-versed in Greek and Hebrew and religious history, he was able to make an interesting attempt to actually destroy the faith of which he claimed to be a part. As I was studying this and comparing his comments with my Hebrew Bible of the book of Daniel, I was wondering in my mind, how would a person that was not trained in theology deal with this. One of these days, all of God’s people, whether trained in theology or not, will have an opportunity to deal with these things, because “Every position of our faith will be searched into, and if we are not thorough Bible students, established, strengthened, settled, the wisdom of the world’s great men will be too much for us.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 386.

Are you getting ready to have a talk with one of the world’s great men about what you believe from the Bible about the times in which we live and what we are to do to be ready for the second coming of Christ?

Have you studied the prophecies in Daniel verse by verse and word by word until you know how each statement and phrase fits into every other statement and phrase in the prophecy? If what you believe is really the truth, every phrase and every clause in the prophecy will perfectly fit, and you will be able to explain what the main themes or subjects are; and you will be able to fit all the parenthetical statements into their appropriate place within the main subject.

Theologians today try to explain the Bible in what they suppose is the historical context, but Peter says that the Bible writers actually did not know and understand what they were writing about except as they attempted to search it out. (See I Peter 1:10, 11.)

Many years ago, an elderly minister gave some young men, of whom I was one, a quiz concerning what we believed from the book of Daniel and why we believed it. It was appalling how little we understood. Maybe you need to have some quizzes in your church to see whether you believe historical Adventist theology or whether you have a name that does not really describe what you believe.