sin

The Latter Rain

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The latter rain is a most important topic for our generation, because Jesus Christ must come soon. With so many personal as well as world problems the only answer is the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “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.” Matthew 24:14. The only thing holding back Christ’s coming is our witness to all nations. I would like to devote my whole life and all that I have to hasten that day.

According to Colossians 1:23, the apostle Paul said that this gospel has been preached to the whole world. That was written 30 or 40 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of persecution, the early Christians had been scattered, and the gospel of the kingdom was preached in the whole world; truth was available for any seeking soul.

A life witness, powered by the unction of the Holy Spirit, is what we need. We live in a very unique generation with technology capable of communicating information worldwide in seconds. Even countries that were previously difficult to evangelize now have the opportunity to hear truthful messages via Internet broadcasting from many ministries.

China is now producing their own programs that are having a tremendous impact on many people in that country. The Lord has convicted my heart to work for the Korean and Chinese-speaking people for whom our ministry is responsible. God has been working tremendous miracles through Light for Life Ministry. It is no human achievement, but purely the work of holy angels and the Spirit. More than 20,000 Sunday church pastors in the United States are regularly receiving materials, including magazines and DVDs. Up to 100,000 DVDs and CDs are being sent to China every month. Most of these are targeting Sunday church people. It is nothing short of a miracle that this amount of literature can be distributed. The last events of this earth are going to happen very rapidly, and this world’s history is not going to last much longer.

With so many of the devil’s sophistries, erroneous doctrines and teachings, many human hearts are becoming depraved. But the power of the Holy Spirit is breaking through the darkness to reach those whose hearts are yearning, and there are many people who are really seeking for the truth.

“To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Jesus Christ.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 20.

This promise is for all who claim to be followers of Jesus. But what does it mean to empty ourselves? It is not to become a programmed robot or machine without personal characteristics or personality, but to be willing to dethrone self from our life and allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and feelings in righteousness.

We are born with a sinful, selfish nature, and the only thing we can do is to have the desire to be born again and be willing to respond to God’s Spirit and daily receive new dew from heaven which will imbue with new motivations, new thoughts, new desires and new plans. This is available right now, not tomorrow, not months from now, but today! “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If you do, there is no love of the Father in you.” I John 2:15, literal translation. Pray today to be given new motivation, new desires, and Jesus will answer your prayer.

There is not much time to waste. Our life duty is to hasten the coming of Jesus Christ. The same measure of the Spirit given to Jesus—without measure—is promised to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered.

To surrender is just an empty expression to many Christians. We talk about it often, but what difference does it make when trials come or when a problem arises? How does it make a difference when we interact with other people in our jobs or businesses? How does being surrendered to Christ affect our plans and conversation when around those who do not know the truth of the Three Angels’ Messages?

God allows us to face the stumbling blocks of troubles and trials to expose the hidden things of the heart. These trials expose the true heart desire and what we are willing to surrender for the cause of God’s work, and whether or not we are willing to pay any cost to follow Jesus Christ all the way. To walk the narrow road surrendering self is not a natural desire, but one that comes only when the heart is purified.

Would you, like the widow who gave her last mite, give your entire savings if the Lord required it? What if Jesus asked you to devote all of your talents to God, even though you could make millions of dollars with them, what would you do? If we had been willing to empty ourselves of pride and surrender all to God to be used as a living testimony, a living vessel and instrument to hasten Jesus Christ’s coming, He could have come a long time ago and we would be in heaven.

In my travels throughout many different parts of the world, I have seen many people suffering. There is much sorrow and sadness. It hurts my heart deeply when I think of some of our leaders who are still locked in jail. Many brothers and sisters in China are working under the pressure of persecution every day. Many people sacrifice themselves and their finances to print and distribute materials and books to people to hasten Jesus’ coming.

The latter rain experience is the anointing of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. “That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:37, 38.

After Jesus was baptized, He was anointed for His messiahship by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The world, the angels and the whole universe were witness when the Father said: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. Jesus’ sole mission was to separate humanity from their sins. The latter rain experience is an anointing, it is a commission to a special task, a sealing of the Father to give the final message to the world.

Consider the anointing of John the Baptist. “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15. He was filled with the Holy Ghost even when He was in His mother’s womb! He was chosen, delegated, commissioned, anointed for a special task. That is the purpose of the latter rain. Are you ready to receive this anointing and have a special commission, or task, coming down from heaven? Our Father is yearning and heaven is yearning for Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to return for His people.

Heaven is anxious for a people to be ready for this commission. “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16, 17.

The Lord gave me a new kind of life after my open-heart surgery. I heard from my doctors that my chance of survival was very dismal, yet the Lord gave me perfect recovery. I knew immediately that I was given this new opportunity and new life to start preaching again. I knew that Light for Life Ministry had a last portion to accomplish by the power and unction of the Holy Spirit to prepare a people to receive the latter rain and to go out and become harvesters.

Friends, it is time to bring in the harvesters. It is time to bring in the eleventh hour workers, so they can be ready to receive the latter rain power that will empower them to go out and give the loud cry so the work can be finished and we can go home.

God has a plan for your life just as John the Baptist was chosen and anointed from his mother’s womb. Your life has been destined; God has called you for a special task. We call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists, and we are a people of prophecy with a special commission to finish the work of the gospel so we can go home.

I make this appeal to you with all my heart. As John the Baptist was called to prepare the way before the Messiah, we are chosen to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us.” Luke 1:76–78.

We are to prepare people for a Most Holy Place cleansing experience by helping them understand and receive righteousness by faith, so they can experience a continuous overcoming of sin. I yearn for the day that God’s people will stand together as a square on the sea of glass with palm branches in their hands praising God. This is the true spiritual Israel, the overcomers. Verse 79 says, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

“The soul of the prophet [John the Baptist], emptied of self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour’s glory, his words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview with Nicodemus. John said, ‘He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. … For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him’ (John 3:31).” The Desire of Ages, 181.

Our experience is to be the same as Christ who could say, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” John 5:30. To Him it is declared, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity: therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Psalm 45:7. This experience of Jesus Christ should be the experience of all believers. When this experience comes, we will be endowed from heaven with the Spirit of God without measure. That is the latter rain.

Many voices are heard saying that to receive the latter rain we should be kind, merciful and more meek, being careful of our words and actions and do more evangelistic work. Of course this would be the result, but most of all we should behold Jesus, empty ourselves of self and give our all for God for the salvation of humanity. All thoughts and desires must be captivated for that work. That is our work and my desire, to give all to Jesus. Nothing else is important in my life.

“So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven’s light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure.” The Desire of Ages, 181. \

What a promise!

Mary, the mother of Jesus and her cousin, Elizabeth, were two godly mothers who surrendered themselves to God’s service and were given the honor of bearing their two special sons. An angel visited Mary to prepare her for her mission of bringing forth Jesus, and to convince her, she was told that her relative, Elizabeth, who was an old lady, had conceived a child, and it was in its sixth month. After those words, Mary submitted herself and said, “Be it unto me according to Thy word.” Luke 1:38.

Once she accepted God’s will to conceive the Son of God in her own womb, she stood up and went to Elizabeth’s house, and they stayed together there for three months. Their conversation during that time must have been on the miraculous working of God in their lives and the special mission they and their sons were to accomplish. Is this the subject of your conversations now? Are your thoughts on the Lord and what He has done and is about to do in the world?

“I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Early Writings, 71.

Every besetment, every possible sentiment we still have lingering in our sinful nature is to be overcome. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. When a glass is shaken, any dirt that has settled on the bottom will muddy the water. Are there any hidden sins in your life that need to be removed? They all must go, with all pride, in order to be ready and prepared to receive the latter rain. It will take a complete emptying of self! Our self-esteem should only be in our confidence in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. We should know our God and have the assurance of salvation and forgiveness.

Pride that desires the admiration of others must go. It is an emotion that blocks the Holy Spirit from flowing into the heart. Pride is a very dangerous enemy and was the cause of Lucifer’s rebellion against God, turning him into the devil.

The gift of righteousness by faith is available daily from Jesus to enable us to overcome sin. The Holy Spirit plants a renewed motivation every day, together with the power to respond to the call. That is the righteousness by faith experience.

In 1844, when the early Adventist believers expected Jesus to come, they prayed every morning. They would not eat their breakfast until they received the assurance that their sins were forgiven. That should be our experience today. We are so in need of the latter rain. It is the most crucial need at this time, for we must be about our Father’s business.

Light for Life Ministry is committed to work for the Chinese-speaking people. Today, one person out of every three in the world speaks Chinese. Please remember the work that we have undertaken and pray for us.

The latter rain is about to fall. If you plan on being part of this great work in the end time, now is the time to give it all; place all you have and all you are on the altar and become a burned offering acceptable to the Lord. Only when we die to self can God use us in a wonderful way. Let’s get ready so we can go home!

Pastor David Kang is the director of Light for Life United States Ministry operating out of Fort Lee, New Jersey. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang also frequently travels to Asia where he trains pastors who often work “underground.” Pastor Kang may be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Editorial – Sinners in Zion, part 2

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The sinners in Zion are the same as the tares who are in the church. “There are many sinners in Zion, and they are likened to tares among the wheat.” Review and Herald, November 10, 1893.

Jesus gave many illustrations to help us understand the difference between the true Israel (church) and Israel (professed church) according to the flesh. Romans 9:1–8. One illustration is that of the true vine. (See Desire of Ages, 830.)

There is an outward connection that apparently is part of the vine, but really is not, and there is an inner vital connection that makes a person part of the vine. The one with the outer connection only is a professed Christian, a professed church member, his name is on the roll on this earth but he is not really a member of the true church, he is a false or pretended brother or believer. Testimonies to Battle Creek Church, 64. When tested this person does not produce fruit. It is the same with the tares, they look like wheat but they are pretended or false brethren or believers and do not produce fruit. Christ Object Lessons, 71, 72. Notice how the following quotations explicitly state these facts: “The branch which does not derive its nourishment from the vine, is unable to bear fruit. Having no real, vital connection with the vine, not receiving the sap which flows through the parent stock, it is fruitless. So it is with those who are not truly united to Christ. They may claim to know him, their names may be on the church roll, but unless they are living branches of the True Vine, this is of no value. There is a union with the church that avails nothing with God. Their profession will not save them, for their want of faith, their lack of fruit, proves that they are false branches.” Signs of the Times, December 3, 1896. (A false branch, a pretended or false brother or believer, cannot be a true brother or believer, and a true brother is obviously a member of the true church, because we are all brethren. Matthew 23:8.)

“Faith is that mysterious and mighty principle that attracts the soul of man to God. As the sapless branch is united to the living vine, so we must be connected with Christ. There are two kinds of connection between the branches and the vine stock. One is visible, but superficial. The other is invisible and vital. So there is an apparent union, a membership with the church, and a profession of religion, which, though in itself good, is too often unaccompanied by saving faith in Jesus or living obedience to the commandments of God. The branches that are connected with Christ, the living vine, will make it manifest by bearing much fruit in good works to the glory of God. But the branches which have nothing but an apparent union, will be fruitless. As the branch cannot possibly bring forth fruit without a vital connection with the parent stock, so the Christian can be fruitful in good works only as union with Christ is made and preserved. The ruin [the sifting of the sinners in Zion] of those who are not connected with Christ, is as complete as though they had no name to live; for they are dead. Christ compares them to lifeless branches that are gathered and burned in the fire.” Signs of the Times, July 27, 1888.

See also Christ Object Lessons, 216, 279, 304.

So the sinners in Zion are outward, professed members of the body of Christ, the true church, but their profession is not accompanied by the real vital connection to Christ, which would enable them to overcome sin. During the time of the shaking and sifting they will be sifted (separated) from the loyal and faithful and true. Notice that the 1886 statement (see Manuscript Release, vol. 12, 324; or Selected Messages, vol. 2, 380) does not say that they will be sifted from the church organization; it distinctly says that they will be sifted from the loyal and true and that this is a most terrible ordeal. In a later article in Land Marks we will look at inspired statements about this sifting process in more detail but for now let us notice just who Zion is. There is a Zion according to the flesh, according to profession—all those who profess the Seventh-day Adventist faith—but, “He whom God accounts a citizen of Zion is he that ‘speaketh the truth in his heart;’ ‘that backbiteth not with his tongue,’ ‘nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.’ ” Education, 235, 236. [All emphasis supplied.]

“False brethren will continue to increase.” Signs of the Times, January 3, 1884.

“When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ.” Testimonies to the Battle Creek Church, 64.

The End

Bible Study Guides – Power From Above

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May 5, 2013 – May 11, 2013

Key Text

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16.

Study Help: Fundamentals of Christian Education, 196–200; The Acts of the Apostles, 557–567.

Introduction

“The gospel is the power of God unto salvation when it is interwoven with the practical life, when it is lived and practiced.” My Life Today, 224.

1 GRASPING THE SOLUTION

  • How does the Bible define sin? I John 3:4; James 4:17. Why do we struggle with sin, and how can we gain the victory over it? Romans 7:14–24; John 8:34, 36; 15:5.

Note: “Enslaved by sin, the moral powers are under the tyranny of Satan. The soul is made the sport of his temptations; and unless some mighty arm is stretched out to rescue him, man goes where the arch-rebel leads the way.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 42.

  • What should we realize in seeking Christ’s strength? Hebrews 4:15, 16; 7:25; 12:2.

Note: “Many have a feeble religious experience because, instead of seeking the Lord for the efficiency of the Holy Spirit, they make flesh their arm.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 381.

“Our faith must pierce beyond the veil, seeing things that are invisible. No one else can look for you. You must behold for yourself.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 930.

2 JUSTIFICATION

  • What happens when we come to Christ? Ephesians 2:8; Romans 2:4; 5:1, 2.

Note: “The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Spirit of God; as man responds to this drawing, he advances toward Christ in order that he may repent.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 390.

“If we are drawn to Christ, it is through His power and virtue. The grace of contrition comes through Him, and from Him comes justification.” Ibid., 391.

  • When we accept Christ as our personal Saviour, how are we benefited by the work that Christ has done for us? Romans 5:18, 19; II Corinthians 5:21.

Note: “Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed [credited] to him, and he is no more to doubt God’s forgiving grace.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1071.

“By faith he [the repentant sinner] can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account. Christ’s righteousness is accepted in place of man’s failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous.” Ibid., 1073.

“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).” The Acts of the Apostles, 561.

3 SANCTIFICATION

  • What work does Christ do in us through the Holy Spirit, with our consent and cooperation? John 3:7, 8; II Corinthians 5:17; 7:1.

Note: “It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power, man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from above.” The Great Controversy, 506.

  • In what way does the process of sanctification involve daily choices on our part? Romans 8:1, 5, 13; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:8–11.

Note: “To walk in the light means to resolve, to exercise thought, to exert will-power, in an earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character. It means to put away all gloom. You are not to rest satisfied simply in saying, ‘I am a child of God.’ Are you beholding Jesus, and, by beholding, becoming changed into His likeness? To walk in the light means advancement and progress in spiritual attainments. Paul declared, ‘Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but … forgetting those things which are behind,’ constantly beholding the Pattern, I reach ‘forth unto those things which are before’ (Philippians 3:12, 13). To walk in the light means to ‘walk uprightly,’ to walk ‘in the way of the Lord,’ to ‘walk by faith,’ to ‘walk in the Spirit,’ to ‘walk in the truth,’ to ‘walk in love,’ to ‘walk in the newness of life’ (Romans 6:4). It is ‘perfecting holiness in the fear of God’ (II Corinthians 7:1).” Sons and Daughters of God, 200.

“To learn of Christ means to receive His grace, which is His character. But those who do not appreciate and utilize the precious opportunities and sacred influences granted them on earth, are not fitted to take part in the pure devotion of heaven. Their characters are not molded according to the divine similitude. By their own neglect they have formed a chasm which nothing can bridge. Between them and the righteous there is a great gulf fixed.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 271.

4 A JOINT OPERATION

  • How do justification and sanctification operate together in our salvation? I John 1:9; Romans 6:1, 2, 7, 22.

Note: “Justification means the saving of a soul from perdition, that he may obtain sanctification, and through sanctification, the life of heaven. Justification means that the conscience, purged from dead works, is placed where it can receive the blessings of sanctification.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 908.

  • Who directs the combined operation of justification and sanctification? I Corinthians 6:9–11; Colossians 3:8–10; Philippians 4:13.

Note: “The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, but he will maintain a constant warfare against it. Here is where Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength.” The Great Controversy, 469, 470.

  • In what sense do we have to cooperate with Christ to become holy? Colossians 1:21–23, 29.
  • For what purpose do we receive power through the gospel? Romans 1:16; Ephesians 3:16–20.

Note: “The work of gaining salvation is one of co-partnership, a joint operation. There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant sinner. This is necessary for the formation of right principles in the character. Man is to make earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to perfection. But he is wholly dependent upon God for success. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works. Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his power from God.” The Acts of the Apostles, 482.

5 THE POWER OF GOD IN MAN

  • What changes does God bring forth in giving us His grace? Titus 2:11–14; 3:5. How does the leaven in the parable illustrate the radical change? Matthew 13:33.

Note: “As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 97.

“The grace of Christ is to control the temper and the voice. Its working will be seen in politeness and tender regard shown by brother for brother, in kind, encouraging words. An angel presence is in the home. The life breathes a sweet perfume, which ascends to God as holy incense. Love is manifested in kindness, gentleness, forbearance, and long-suffering.

“The countenance is changed. Christ abiding in the heart shines out in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The sweet peace of heaven is revealed. There is expressed a habitual gentleness, a more than human love.” Ibid., 102.

  • On what condition can we receive the power of God’s grace? What kind of faith do we need? Matthew 17:20; Jude 20.

Note: “The heavenly intelligences will work with the human agent who seeks with determined faith that perfection of character which will reach out to perfection in action. To everyone engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to help you.

“As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 332, 333.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 How can we overcome feebleness in our religious experience?

2 What is justification, and how can we obtain it?

3 What is sanctification, and how can we obtain it?

4 Explain our co-partnership with Christ in the plan of redemption.

5 What symptoms reveal the action of the leaven of truth in the Christian’s heart?

© 2007 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – A Plan With a Purpose

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April 28, 2013 – May 4, 2013

That I Might Live

Key Text

“The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

Study Help: “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 926, 927; Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 149–152.

Introduction

“Through the goodness and mercy of Christ the sinner is to be restored to the divine favor. God in Christ is daily beseeching men to be reconciled to God.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 178.

1 RESTORATION TO GOD’S FAVOR

  • For what purpose does the gospel call come to us? Mark 2:17, last part.

Note: “He [the Majesty of heaven] is too pure, He is too just, to behold iniquity. But even this need not keep you away from Him; for He says, ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance’ (Mark 2:17). Let perishing souls come to Him just as they are, without one plea, and plead the atoning blood of Christ, and they will find acceptance with God.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 252.

  • What does salvation through Christ mean for us, here and now? Matthew 1:21; Revelation 1:5, last part.

Note: “God has spoken, and He means that man shall obey. He does not inquire if it is convenient for him to do so. The Lord of life and glory did not consult His convenience or pleasure when He left His station of high command to become a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, accepting ignominy and death in order to deliver man from the consequence of his disobedience. Jesus died, not to save man in his sins, but from his sins. Man is to leave the error of his ways, to follow the example of Christ, to take up his cross and follow Him, denying self, and obeying God at any cost.” [Author’s italics.] Testimonies, vol. 4, 250, 251

2 TWO THINGS OFFERED

  • What does God offer us, and on what condition, as a first step in our restoration? Isaiah 55:6, 7; Luke 24:47.

Note: “Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1070.

“God does not deal with us as finite men deal with one another. His thoughts are thoughts of mercy, love, and tenderest compassion. He says, ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.’ ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins’ (Isaiah 55:7; 44:22).” Steps to Christ, 53.

  • Besides forgiving us, what else does God do in behalf of our salvation? I John 1:9. What aim is put before us, and what is our responsibility? Philippians 3:12–14; John 5:14; 8:11.

Note: “Abstain from all evil. Common sins, however insignificant they may be regarded, will impair your moral sense, and extinguish the inward impression of the Spirit of God. The character of the thoughts leaves its imprint upon the soul, and all low conversation pollutes the mind. All evil works ruin to those who commit it. God may and will forgive the repenting sinner, but though forgiven, the soul is marred; the power of the elevated thought possible to the unimpaired mind is destroyed. Through all time the soul bears the scars. Then let us seek for that faith which works by love and purifies the heart, that we may represent the character of Christ to the world.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 195.

“It is by following in the path of obedience in simple faith that the character obtains perfection.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1137.

3 DELIVERANCE FROM SATAN’S GRASP

  • What did Paul say about the deliverance that Christ operates in us when we accept Him? Hebrews 2:15; Colossians 1:13. Sadly, how do some people cooperate with Satan rather than with Christ?

Note: “Satan will move upon minds that have been indulged, upon men who have always had their own way, and anything presented to them in counsel or reproof to change their objectionable traits of character, is considered fault-finding, binding them, restraining them, that they cannot have liberty to act themselves. The Lord in great mercy has sent messages of warning to them, but they would not listen to reproof. Like the enemy who rebelled in heaven, they did not like to hear; they do not correct the wrong they have done, but become accusers, declaring themselves misused and unappreciated.

“Now is the time of trial, of test, of proving. Those who like Saul, will persist in having their own way, will suffer as he did, loss of honor, and finally the loss of the soul.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1163, 1164.

  • How does Christ make us free from the penalty of the law that condemn us? Romans 3:24–26; 5:1.
  • What should we learn from the experience of the apostle Paul? Romans 7:9.

Note: “The apostle Paul, in relating his experience, presents an important truth concerning the work to be wrought in conversion. He says, ‘I was alive without the law once’—he felt no condemnation; ‘but when the commandment came,’ when the law of God was urged upon his conscience, ‘sin revived, and I died’ (Romans 7:9). Then he saw himself a sinner, condemned by the divine law. Mark, it was Paul, and not the law, that died.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1076.

4 RESTORING THE IMAGE OF GOD IN US

  • How does faith in the gospel relate to the law of God? Romans 3:31.
  • What warning are we given against transgressing God’s law? Romans 2:23–27; 8:7; I Timothy 1:9, 10.

Note: “The law of God is the mirror to show man the defects in his character. But it is not pleasant to those who take pleasure in unrighteousness to see their moral deformity. They do not prize this faithful mirror, because it reveals to them their sins. Therefore, instead of instituting a war against their carnal minds, they war against the true and faithful mirror, given them by Jehovah for the very purpose that they may not be deceived, but that they may have revealed to them the defects in their character.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1077.

  • What do we lose through sin? Romans 3:23; 6:23.
  • What is to be restored in us through the gospel? II Corinthians 3:18. How? John 16:13; 17:17, 19.
  • How does Christ perform the ministry of restoration? I Thessalonians 5:23.

Note: “God is clothed with power; He is able to take those who are dead in trespasses and sins, and by the operation of the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead, transform the human character, bringing back to the soul the lost image of God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are changed from being rebels against the law of God into obedient servants and subjects of His kingdom. They are born again, regenerated, sanctified through the truth.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 332.

5 HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM

  • On what condition, and for what purpose, has God given us “the Spirit of adoption”? Romans 8:14–17. What evidence reveals our adoption as God’s children? II Corinthians 6:16–18; II Peter 1:4.

Note: “Let every one who desires to be a partaker of the divine nature appreciate the fact that he must escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. There must be a constant, earnest struggling of the soul against the evil imaginings of the mind. There must be a steadfast resistance of temptation to sin in thought or act. The soul must be kept from every stain, through faith in Him who is able to keep you from falling. We should meditate upon the scriptures, thinking soberly and candidly upon the things that pertain to our eternal salvation.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1145.

  • How are we enabled to resist the clamoring of our own carnal nature? Colossians 1:10, 11; Ephesians 3:16, 20.

Note: “Man cannot transform himself by the exercise of his will. He possesses no power by which this change can be effected. … All the culture and education which the world can give will fail of making a degraded child of sin a child of heaven. The renewing energy must come from God. The change can be made only by the Holy Spirit. All who would be saved, high or low, rich or poor, must submit to the working of this power.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 96, 97.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What is the main purpose of the gospel?

2 Name two benefits granted us through God’s forgiveness.

3 How is the experience of the apostle Paul an example for us?

4 How are we to relate to the law and the gospel?

5 What is the depth of the value of the gospel message?

© 2007 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

True Success

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“Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor.”

Education, 262

Based on this quotation, we see that true success must have a definite aim. Whether it is in the realm of studying to be a physician, mechanic, engineer, pastor, or a chef, if you are going to succeed, you must have a definite aim.

“Those who feel the constraining love of God ask not how little may be given, in order to obtain the heavenly reward; they ask not for the lowest standard, but aim at a perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. With ardent desire they will yield all, and manifest zeal proportionate to the value of the object they are in pursuit of. What is the object? Immortality, eternal life.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 260.

The highest aim of the Christian is, “Perfect conformity to the will of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 745. Remember, success in any line requires a definite aim. Those who are in perfect harmony, or perfect conformity to the will of God, and aim for perfection of character are promised victory, even though many Christians believe that is impossible.

Consider these Scriptures:

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8:61. Be perfect!

Jesus Himself said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Be perfect!

It is required that we are to reach moral perfection, even in this world. Ellen White states, “The Lord requires perfection from His redeemed family. He calls for perfection in character-building.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1085. If we are to ever enter the Kingdom of God, it must be with perfect characters, not having spot or wrinkle. It is a requirement to be ready to go with Jesus when He returns. However, while in this spiritual battle on earth that strives against sin and the world, it is only by God’s grace that this state is possible.

“God requires moral perfection in all. Those who have been given light and opportunities should, as God’s stewards, aim for perfection.” This Day with God, 32.

Is this your aim? Never insult our Saviour by lowering the standard of righteousness to which we are called to accommodate any of our inherited or cultivated tendencies to do wrong. We are invited to behold Jesus and reflect His beautiful image of moral perfection in this world.

The Obstacles

We live in a sinful world, and as we set our goal and aim for moral perfection, we are sure to meet with obstacles or barriers that must be overcome. These obstacles are sin and self. A woman, caught in the act of adultery, was brought to Jesus. “When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:10, 11. The words of Jesus to her were not a suggestion but a command. He said, “Go, and sin no more.”

Look at John 5:14. Coming upon a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed and walk. “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14. Several times Jesus said to “sin no more.” Why would He say that if it were impossible?

With such high expectation, it is encouraging to know that we have a compassionate friend who understands the weakness of human flesh. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I John 2:1. John, under Inspiration, says, “I write to you that you may not sin, but if you do fall, get back up. My Son, Jesus Christ the righteous, is ever pleading for His Spirit to help you to overcome that you may not sin.”

John continues, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” I John 3:9. This is referring to the deliberate continual practice of sin. The born again Christian experiences the constraining love of Christ that changes his desires and purposes that he cannot sin without going against his conscience, because he is born of God.

In contrast, he says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” This verse requires each to search his or her own heart and be honest with himself or herself. If it is found that one is walking repeatedly in sin, it is the enemy of souls who inspires those actions. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil [destroy sin].” Verse 8.

In the book of John there are other Scriptures concerning the obstacles that each one faces. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. This is a question for each to ask himself or herself, “Whom do you serve?” A person’s lifestyle portrays whom they serve, either sin, self, the world and the devil, or Christ and His righteousness.

It comes naturally to be a slave of sin

Why is it so hard to break the chain of sin? “Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident.” Messages to Young People, 99.

By nature, because of our first parents’ sin, we inherit their lean toward sin—our natures are fallen. The perfection of moral character required by God is not inherited, nor does it come by chance. How then do we reach that goal? “A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.” Ibid. It is clear that in the strength of Jesus Christ we are to battle against our own natural tendencies to win the victory over our inner self.

While this battle rages within, other battles rage from without. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.

We definitely have an adversary, someone who is continually against us, opposing every good decision. He is a wily foe and he walks about seeking whom he may devour. He never sleeps, so we must be sober and vigilant and in the right state of mind, ever watchful.

Paul tells us a little bit more about our “wiley foe.” He says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. This is a fierce conflict that we are in. Everything that comes naturally to us, as well as all the forces of darkness, oppress us from every direction, and man is no match for the evil one without Divine assistance.

“Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey. They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict is severe. And if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility confess their wrongs, angels who excel in strength will prevail and wrench them from the power of the evil angels.” Messages to Young People, 60.

What a word picture this gives! If the curtains could be pulled up and we could see into the spiritual realm, what a fierce shock would come upon us as we witness the spirits engaging in fierce battle over each and every soul. It is severe and worse than any war in which this earth has been involved. The Bible gives a little view of these battles.

“And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit. … And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Mark 9:17, 22.

This also should be our prayer when we find ourselves struggling with some habit. “Lord, have compassion on me and help me.”

“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, he is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.” Verses 25–27. It took a struggle for the demon trying to destroy him to let him go.

That is just a little glimpse into the conflict that goes on for each and every soul. The man’s son was possessed of a demon that the disciples of Jesus could not cast out. We are no match for the devil and his evil angels. Only Jesus can deliver us from sin and from the chains of the enemy.

We have been given our marching orders in our personal battle with Satan. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resists the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Resist the devil, stand fast in the name of the Lord and do not give in and he will flee. In fact, this is the only way to be victorious; submit to God, surrender to Him and all power is given to resist the devil, not just one time, but every time, to live a continual life of victory.

In the sad history of Israel is seen a people who, after all the favors bestowed on them, missed the very person, Christ, Who was the fulfillment of their whole history. When it comes to submitting to God, Paul says, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:3, 4.

“Man is naturally inclined to follow Satan’s suggestions, and he cannot of himself successfully resist so terrible a foe, unless Christ, the mighty conqueror, dwells in him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength.” Messages to Young People, 51. To successfully resist this foe, Christ must dwell within. This is a must. The concerns and affections of the heart, whatever triggers the emotions and the thoughts dwell on, are an indication of who controls the person. When Christ dwells within, He guides our desires and teaches us to make righteous choices. When recognizing a thought or desire not to be of God, the only safe choice is to recognize the author, let it go and resist the devil in the strength of Jesus Christ.

Weapons of War

We are in a spiritual battle and need weapons to conquer the obstacles. Knowing the weakness of the enemy is a great advantage. James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Devils know that God exists. These fallen angels have been in His presence and know, without a doubt, that His word is sure and whatever He says is going to come to pass. They actually tremble before God.

“And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:28, 29.

They were afraid. They knew Jesus as the commander of heaven, and when He came upon the scene, they thought they were about to be tormented before the time. Satan’s whole host of angels tremble before the presence of the mighty King. “Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles before His [Christ’s] strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole host trembles. … And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost.” Messages to Young People, 53.

That being the case, how important is it to refuse or neglect fervent prayer? Without prayer we remain the prey of demons. “Beware how you neglect secret prayer and a study of God’s word. These are your weapons against him who is striving to hinder your progress heavenward.” Ibid., 96.

Secret prayer and study—the big guns of spiritual war! Do not forget to read the Word, get understanding and apply what you learn to your life; these are the only weapons against demonic forces. If you are struggling or being continually defeated, check your inventory to see if you are spending time in secret prayer and a study of God’s word.

It is so easy, even with good intentions, to slip backwards. “The first neglect of prayer and Bible study makes easier the second neglect. The first resistance to the Spirit’s pleading prepares the way for the second resistance. Thus the heart is hardened, and the conscience seared.” Ibid.

A perfect example of this is given to us in the history of Pharaoh in Egypt at the time of the Exodus. He resisted nine times to respond to the Spirit’s pleading, but the tenth time was the last. At each rejection his heart was hardened a little more until he crossed the line and his probation was closed. Day by day this same thing happens in many lives as they continue to resist the pleadings of the Holy Spirit, refusing to study the Bible and pray. They become hardened at each refusal not realizing their time is running out, and without their knowledge, the Spirit will cease to draw them, and too late they will find out they have committed the unpardonable sin for which there is no forgiveness.

Good News

Progress to perfection can become easier. We are told that each resistance to temptation strengthens our resistance to the next temptation. “Every denial of self makes self-denial easier. Every victory gained prepares the way for a fresh victory.” Ibid. Each victory strengthens faith, causing no concern about what may come your way because you have proved your weapons. You can be confident of victory at whatever temptation the enemy may throw, or even that which may come from within, because Christ dwells within.

What to do if we do fall

The wise man gives instruction if we fall: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” He does not remain down. He does not stay there on the ground, but he gets right back up. That is what we are encouraged to do, not wallow in the mud. If we fall into sin, get right back up. Don’t be discouraged, because it goes on to say, “but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16.

Remember what 1 John 2:1, 2 says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

If we fall into sin, we know that we have a great high priest; we have an Intercessor, a Mediator, a Saviour, a Redeemer, a Deliverer, a Forgiver, and we can go to Him in prayer. He stands at the right hand of the Father, in the most holy sacred place of heaven, pleading on our behalf. We do not have to remain in that sin. We can get right back up and keep going. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice, and His blood was shed for that sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9. That is the hope that we have as children of God. Lay hold of that hope!

“The Lord will recognize every effort you make to reach His ideal for you. When you make a failure, when you are betrayed into sin, do not feel that you cannot pray, that you are not worthy to come before the Lord. … With outstretched arms He waits to welcome the prodigal. Go to Him, and tell Him about your mistakes and failures. Ask Him to strengthen you for fresh endeavor. He will never disappoint you, never abuse your confidence.” Messages to Young People, 97. Do not allow your feelings to keep you from coming to Christ for He loves you.

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:4, 5.

We must accustom ourselves to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. We must guard what we think and meditate upon. Cast down imaginations, or pretenses, high things, things that exalt itself against the truth, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. “We should accustom ourselves to often lift the thoughts to God in prayer.” Daughters of God, 81. This is what it means to pray without ceasing. Meditate upon the things of God, always try to lift your thoughts up to God as much as possible; fight hard to keep your mind stayed on heavenly things.

We are told: “If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy.” Ibid. Lift the thoughts to God in prayer, and if the mind wanders, earnestly bring it back to focus on Jesus Christ, because we are aiming for perfection. The secret of success is found in John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

“The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm.” Colporteur Ministry, 106.

“The Christian life is a warfare. … In this conflict of righteousness against unrighteousness we can be successful only by divine aid. Our finite will must be brought into submission to the will of the infinite; the human will must be blended with the divine. This will bring the Holy Spirit to our aid.” Messages to Young People, 55. The secret of success is Christ’s divinity united with our humanity.

It is important that our thoughts and feelings are constantly under the control of God. Messages to Young People states, “Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God, and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. … If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Ibid., 92.

The goal of the Christian is perfection of character. It is so important to guard all thoughts, feelings and actions for “God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.

Jesus says to us today, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

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

The Lord’s Favorite Theme

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

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

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

The Importance of Grace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Grace is Sufficient

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Can You Receive Grace?

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

Number 1—Ask for it!

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

Number 2—How do you ask?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where Does Faith Come From?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Cleansing of the Sanctuary from Sin

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In the book of Hebrews, we are shown that the cleansing of the Sanctuary from sin is an integral part of the New Covenant. “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Hebrews 9:23. This work of cleansing is the only work that remains between us and the Second Coming of Christ. As soon as Jesus has completed His work of atonement, He will take off His High Priestly robes, put on His kingly garments, and return to this world to take His people home. All other events, including the Sunday laws and the time of trouble, are peripheral events to that central focal point of the New Covenant.

In Revelation 11:1, we are told, “And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.’” The question arises, Who are these worshippers in God’s Sanctuary in heaven? Turning to Hebrews 10:19, we read, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Further, the apostle tells us that, “God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we wee dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4–6.

According to Paul, by faith we are to enter into holy places of the Sanctuary in Heaven where we are to participate in the work that Jesus, as our High Priest, is doing for His people. While our body is down here, by faith we are to enter into the Sanctuary in Heaven. We are, therefore the worshippers. As we grasp this truth, we begin to understand that the Sanctuary in Heaven cannot be cleansed if the worshippers are still defiled by sin.

There are two ways that the Sanctuary can be cleansed. One way is for the sins of God’s people to be blotted out; the other is for their names to be removed from the books in Heaven. The defilement an only be ended by the complete removal of either the sin or the sinner. Paul describes the provision of the New Covenant in this way, “Now, once in the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:16. Ellen White refers to it as the final atonement. “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement. . . . As in the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven. . . .” Patriarchs and Prophets, 357, 358.

The Day of Atonement

It is well to remember that in the daily service of the Sanctuary, the priest made atonement. That atonement, however, was not sufficient unless the person participated in the work that took place on the Day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 23:28–30.) This service was the typical service; but since October 22, 1844, we are living in the antitype, or the reality of that service.

In the daily Sanctuary service, the worshippers had a conditional pardon. It was conditional on their participation in the work that took place on the Day of Atonement. In the typical Day of Atonement, any person who did not afflict his soul, or who did any work, was to be cut off from the people. The apostle Paul talks about the provisions of the typical service in dealing with sin. “For the law [ceremonial law], having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year [Day of Atonement], make those who approach perfect. For them would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Hebrews 10:1–4.

If it was possible for those sacrifices to really take away sins, then after the Day of Atonement there would have been no sacrifices and no need of confession of sins because their sins would already have been taken away. They would have been perfect. The Old Covenant, however, could not really take away sins. It was merely a description, or type, to explain the work to be accomplished by the New Covenant. As a result, the same people who had come to the Day of Atonement returned to offer more sacrifices the next year.

Paul then goes on to show that what the Old Covenant could not do, really takes place under the New Covenant. God is not simply going to forgive our sins; He is actually going to take them away. God’s people will then be perfect in regard to the conscience; they will have no more consciousness of sins.

In Hebrews, the apostle Paul links the experience of Christ with the experience of the New Covenant. He also ties the experience of those who will be translated with Christ’s experience. As Jesus went through a time of trouble just before He left this world, the saints are going to have to experience a time of trouble just before they are translated. As we will see, this experience through which they pass is closely connected to the cleansing of the Sanctuary. It will also be shown that when we speak of the cleansing of the Sanctuary, we are talking of the cleansing of the worshippers and that this cleansing is intimately related to what takes place in the mind of the believer.

Final Removal of Sin

It was not God’s will, even in Old Testament times, for His people to continually sin and then bring sacrifices. (See Hebrews 10:5, 6.) The New Covenant provides just one sacrifice; and that Sacrifice delivers the believer not just from guilt, but from the power of sin. Speaking of the New Covenant, Paul continues, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.” Then he adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Verses 16, 17. He is speaking of the removal of their sins, after which He will remember them no more.

Whenever you read the texts in the Bible that speak about casting our sins in the bottom of the sea, if you will notice the context, you will see that it is always referring to the results to be accomplished as a result of the completed work of the New Covenant. Sins are not cast into the depths of the sea and forgotten by the Lord until the New Covenant is consummated. Until that time they are kept on record, even thought you are forgiven. The apostle Peter, speaking of this, says, “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. This is the time of refreshing, also foretold in Joel 2 and Zachariah 10, that is going to come just before Jesus returns to this earth. This spiritual refreshing is what we refer to as the Latter Rain.

“Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:18. The significance of overcoming sin is found in the fact that the New Covenant cannot be put into effect in a person’s life until he has victory over sin because under the New Covenant, there is only one sacrifice and the sins are taken away only once and for all. While you can confess and receive forgiveness many times, your sins are only taken away once.

The Preparation

We are told, “I saw that none could share the refreshing unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action.” Early Writings, 71. And what does the Latter Rain accomplish? “While we cherish the blessing of the early rain, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that without the Latter Rain, to fill out the ears and ripen the grain, the harvest will not be ready for the sickle, and the labor of the sower will have been in vain.” Testimonies to Ministers, 507.

The Latter Rain prepares God’s people to receive His seal. To receive the seal of God we must reflect the image of Jesus fully. And what does it man to reflect the image of Jesus fully? It is to have His Law written the heart. This final work takes place during the time that we refer to as the time of trouble.

God does not just arbitrarily say, “I am not going to take you to heaven unless you go through the time of trouble first.” The time of trouble has to do with the final purification or cleansing of the Sanctuary. It is a vital part of the purification of God’s people. “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.’ I Peter 4:1, 2.

Notice carefully that the apostle closely links the discipline of chastening with perfection of character. “If you endure chastening, God deal with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:7–11.

The Final Shaking

The final shaking and the presentation of an unshakable kingdom and a glorious church is what the time of trouble is all about. Ellen White says that the purification of God’s people can only be accomplished through suffering. “The purification of the people of God cannot be accomplished without their suffering. God permits the fires of affliction to consume the dross, to separate the worthless from the valuable, that the pure metal may shine forth.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 85.

God does not allow you to get into trouble because He enjoys seeing you suffer but because He knows that there is no other way that your character can be purified. We do not realize how much sin has degraded and affected our characters; and even for divine power, there is no way to accomplish our purification without suffering. One Saturday night, when my brother Marshall was alive, we were talking about persecution and the suffering of God’s saints. Marshall said that no matter how bad it becomes, it will only be temporary.

“The time of trouble is the crucible that is to bring out Christ-like characters. It is designed to lead the people of God to renounce Satan and his temptations. The last conflict will reveal Satan to them in his true character, that of a cruel tyrant, and it will do for them what nothing else could do, up-root him entirely form their affections. For to love and cherish sin is to love and cherish its author, that deadly foe of Christ. When they excuse sin and cling to perversity of character, they give Satan a place in their affections, and pay him homage.” Review and Herald, August 12, 1884. Whenever you are in trouble, always remember that it is all for a purpose and that it is only temporary.

It is interesting to note that the earthliness is going to be removed from those who have already gained the victory over sin. These are not people who are still smoking, drinking, carousing, and living like the world. This is all in the past in their lives, but the root of the sin problem has not yet been fully eradicated from their heart. We can never be ready for Jesus to come and to be translated, unless it comes out. That is what the time of trouble is all about.

Describing these scenes, Ellen White wrote, “It is an hour of fearful, terrible agony to the saints. Day and night they cried unto God for deliverance. To outward appearance, there was no possibility of their escape. The wicked had already begun to triumph, crying out, “Why doesn’t your God deliver you out of our hands? Why don’t you go up and save your lives?’ But the saints heeded them not. Like Jacob, they were wrestling with God. The angels longed to deliver them, but they must wait a little longer; the people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism. The angels, faithful to their trust, continued their watch. God would not suffer His name to be reproached among the heathen. The time had nearly come when He was to manifest His mighty power and gloriously deliver His saints. For His name’s glory He would deliver every one of those who had patiently waited for Him and whose names were written in the book.” Early Writings, 283.

Are you praying and asking the Lord to help you to receive the maximum benefit out of every trial and trouble that He allows to come to you? The troubles that God’s people experience are not the result of happenstance or arbitrary in nature, but they are for a purpose. God is preparing a people to be ready to meet Him when He comes. As long as you abide in His will, every trial and trouble that you experience is a necessary preparation for that experience. “The fact that we are called upon to endure trial, proves that the Lord sees something in us very precious, which He desires to develop. If He saw nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. We do not take special pains in pruning brambles. Christ does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He tests.” Signs of the Times, August 18, 1909.

The New Covenant provides for the removal of sin from God’s people. As soon as this work is accomplished, friends, Jesus is going to come; and we are going to go home. Always remember when you are in trouble that all of our troubles are temporary, but the consequences are eternal.

May God help each one of us to gain from our trials an experience that will prepare us to be ready to look up and meet Jesus with joy when He comes.

Getting Out of a Bad Marriage, part 1

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In the eighth chapter of Romans, the epistle reaches its highest point. The seventh has presented to us the deplorable condition of the man who has been awakened by the law to a sense of his condition, bound to sin by cords that can be loosened only by death. It closes with a glimpse of the Lord Jesus Christ as the One Who alone can set us free from the body of death.

Our union with Christ and with His righteousness may be and should be just as close and complete as our union has been with sin. The figure of marriage shows that to be so. We were held in union with sin—married to the old man—to the body of sin. That was an unlawful connection; consequently, the body of sin was a body of death to us, because we could not be separated from that body except by death. That body and ourselves were identified—we were married; therefore, we were one, and the body of sin was the controlling influence in that union; it dominated everything.

Now Christ comes to us; and when we yield ourselves to Him, He looses the bonds that have bound us to the body of sin. Then we enter into the same intimate relation with our Lord Jesus Christ that we previously sustained with the body of sin. We become united to Christ—married to Him—and then we are one. As in the other case, where the body of sin was the controlling influence, so in this second marriage, Christ is the controlling influence.

Notice how perfectly that figure of marriage is carried out. We are represented as the woman. The husband is the head of the family; and so Christ is our head, and we yield ourselves to Him. We are one with Him. What a precious thought it is, that we are one flesh with Christ! In this we see the mystery of the incarnation appearing again. If we can believe that Christ was in the flesh, God incarnate in Christ, we can believe this—Christ dwelling in us and working through us—through our flesh, just the same as when He took flesh upon Himself and controlled it. It is a mystery that we cannot understand, but we acknowledge it; and that gives us freedom.

He says that our old man was crucified with Him. That is true, but it is not raised with Him. Christ came to minister, not to be ministered unto; but He came to minister to us, not to be the minister of sin. Therefore, when we and the body of sin together are crucified with Christ and are buried together, we are raised up to walk in newness of life; but the body of sin remains buried, so we are free from it. Now what follows?

Freedom from Condemnation

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.

Why is there no condemnation to those who are in Christ? Because He received the curse of the law that the blessing might come on us. Nothing can come to us while we are in Him without first passing through Him; but in Him, all curses are turned to blessings and sin is displaced by righteousness. His endless life triumphs over everything that comes against it. We are made “complete in Him.” Colossians 2:10.

Some say, “I do not find this scripture fulfilled in my case, because I find something to condemn me every time I look at myself.” To be sure; for the freedom from condemnation is not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus. We are to look at Him, instead of at ourselves. If we obey His orders and trust Him, He takes the responsibility of making us clear before the law. There will never be a time when one will not find condemnation in looking at himself.

The fall of Satan was due to his looking at himself. The restoration for those whom he has made to fall is only through looking to Jesus. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” John 3:14. The serpent was lifted up to be looked at. Those who looked were healed. Even so with Christ. In the world to come, the servants of the Lord “shall see His face,” and they will not be drawn away to themselves. The light of His countenance will be their glory, and it is in that same light that they will be brought to that glorious state.

The text does not say that those who are in Christ Jesus will never be reproved. Getting into Christ is only the beginning, not the end, of Christian life. Association with Christ will more and more reveal to us our failings, just as association with a learned man will make us conscious of our ignorance. As a faithful witness, He tells us of our failings. But it is not to condemn us. We receive sympathy, not condemnation, from Him. It is this sympathy that gives us courage and enables us to overcome.

When the Lord points out a defect in our characters, it is the same as saying to us, “There is something that you are in need of, and I have it for you.” When we learn to look at reproof in this way, we shall rejoice in it instead of being discouraged.

The law without Christ is death. The law in Christ is life. His life is the law of God; for out of the heart are the issues of life, and the law was in His heart. The law of sin and death works in our members, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ gives us freedom from this. It does not give us freedom from obedience to the law; for we had that before, and that was bondage, not freedom. What He gives us is freedom from the transgression of the law.

This is made very plain in verses 3 and 4. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12. There is no fault to be found with it but with us, because we have transgressed it. Christ’s work is not to change the law in any particular but to change us in every particular. It is to put the law into our hearts in perfection in place of the marred and broken copy.

The law is strong enough to condemn; but it is powerless, with respect to what man needs—namely, salvation. It was and is “weak through the flesh.” The law is good, and holy, and just; but man has no strength to perform it. Just as an ax may be of good steel and very sharp yet unable to cut down a tree because the arm that has hold of it has no strength, so the law of God could not perform itself. It set forth man’s duty; it remained for him to do it. But he could not, and therefore Christ came to do it in him. What the law could not do, God did by His Son.

There is a common idea that this means that Christ simulated sinful flesh, that He did not take upon Himself actual sinful flesh but only what appeared to be such. But the Scriptures do not teach such a thing. “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17. He was “made of a woman, made under the law, that He might redeem them that were under the law.” Galatians 4:4, 5.

He took the same flesh that all have who are born of woman. A parallel text to Romans 8:3, 4 is found in II Corinthians 5:21. The former says that Christ was sent in the likeness of sinful flesh “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” The latter says that God “made Him to be sin for us, although He knew no sin, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

All the comfort that we can get from Christ lies in the knowledge that He was made in all things as we are. Otherwise we should hesitate to tell Him of our weaknesses and failures. The priest who makes sacrifices for sins must be one “who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that He Himself also is compassed with infirmity.” Hebrews 5:2.

This applies perfectly to Christ. “For we have not an High Priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. This is why we may come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy. So perfectly has Christ identified Himself with us that He even now feels our sufferings.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5. Note that this depends on the preceding statement, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Verse 4. The things of the Spirit are the commandments of God, because the law is spiritual. The flesh serves the law of sin (see the preceding chapter and Galatians 5:19–21. where the works of the flesh are described.) But Christ came in the same flesh to show the power of the Spirit over the flesh. “They that are in the flesh can not please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Christ dwell in you.” Romans 8:8, 9.

Now no one will claim that the flesh of a man is any different after his conversion from what it was before. Least of all will the converted man himself say so; for he has continual evidence of its perversity. But if he is really converted and the Spirit of Christ dwells in him, he is no more in the power of the flesh. Even so, Christ came in the same sinful flesh, yet He was without sin because He was always led by the Spirit.

“The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

Opposing Forces

The flesh and the Spirit are in opposition. These are always contrary the one to the other. The Spirit never yields to the flesh, and the flesh never gets converted. The flesh will be of the nature of sin until our bodies are changed at the coming of the Lord. The Spirit strives with the sinful man, but the man yields to the flesh and so is the servant of sin.

Such a man is not led by the Spirit, although the Spirit has by no means forsaken him. The flesh is just the same in a converted man as it is in a sinner; but the difference is that now it has no power since the man yields to the Spirit, which controls the flesh. Although the man’s flesh is precisely the same as it was before he was converted, he is said to be not “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit,” since he, through the Spirit, mortifies the deeds of the body.”

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10. Here we have the two individuals of which the apostle speaks in II Corinthians 4:7–16. “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” Though our body should fail and be worn out, yet the inward man, Christ Jesus, is ever new. And He is our real life. “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3.

This is why we are not to fear those who can kill only the body and after that have no more that they can do. Wicked men can not touch the eternal life which we have in Christ, Who can not be destroyed.

Surety of the Resurrection

“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11. Jesus said of the water that He gave, which was the Holy Spirit, that it should be in us a well of water springing up unto eternal life. (See John 4:14; compare John 7:37–39.) That is, the spiritual life which we not live in the flesh by the Spirit is the surety of the spiritual body to be bestowed at the resurrection when we will have the life of Christ manifested in immortal bodies.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” Romans 8:12. All the work that the flesh can do avails nothing, for its works are sin and therefore death. But we are debtors to the Lord Jesus Christ, “Who gave Himself for us.” Consequently, everything must be yielded to His life. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Verse 13.

Those who yield to the strivings of the Spirit, and continue so to yield, are led by the Spirit; and they are the sons of God. They are taken into the same relation to the Father that the only-begotten Son occupies. (See I John 3:1.)

We Are Sons Now

There is a notion held by some people that no man is born of God until the resurrection. But this is settled by the fact that we are now sons of God. “But,” says one, “We are not yet manifested as sons.” True, and neither was Christ when He was on earth. There were but very few who knew Him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. And they knew it only by revelation from God. The world knows us not because it knew Him not. To say that believers are not sons of God now because there is nothing in their appearance to indicate it is to bring the same charge against Jesus Christ. But Jesus was just as truly the Son of God when He lay in the manger in Bethlehem as He is now when sitting at the right hand of God.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16. We know that we are children of God because the Spirit assures us of that fact in the Bible. The witness of the Spirit is not a certain, ecstatic feeling but a tangible statement. We are not children of God because we feel that we are, neither do we know that we are sons because of any feeling, but because the Lord tells us so. He who believes has the Word abiding in Him, and that is how “he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” I John 5:10.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7. “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:16–18.

Christ gave Himself to deliver those who through fear of death were all their lives subject to bondage. (See Hebrews 2:15.) He who knows and loves the Lord can not be afraid of Him; and he who is not afraid of the Lord has no need to be afraid of any other person or thing. One of the greatest blessings of the gospel is the deliverance from fear, whether real or imaginary. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4.

Joint-heirs with Christ

If we are sons of God, we stand on the same footing that Jesus Christ does. He Himself said that the Father loves us even as He loves Him. (See John 17:23.) This is proved by the fact that His life was given for ours. Therefore the Father has nothing for His only-begotten Son that He has not for us. Not only so, but since we are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, it follows that He can not enter upon His inheritance before we do. To be sure, He is sitting at the right hand of God. But God in His great love for us “hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places.” Ephesians 2:5, 6. The glory which Christ has He shares with us. (See John 17:22.) It means something to be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ! No wonder the apostle exclaims, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I John 3:1.

Suffering with Him

“If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:17. “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18. Suffering with Christ means, therefore, enduring temptation with Christ means, therefore, enduring temptation with Him. The suffering is that which comes in the struggle against sin. Self-inflicted suffering amounts to nothing. It is not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. (See Colossians 2:23.) Christ did not torture Himself in order to gain the approval of the Father. But when we suffer with Christ, then we are made perfect in Him. The strength by which He resisted the temptations of the enemy is the strength by which we are to overcome. His life in us gains the victory.

Married to the Wrong Man

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By Christ’s obedience we are made righteous. This is because His life is now given to us, and He lives in us. This union with Christ we get by being crucified with Him. In that death, the body of sin is destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin, or, in other words, that we should no more transgress the Law. So closely are we identified with sin, it being our very life, that it can not be destroyed without our dying. But in Christ there is no sin, so that while we have a resurrection with Him, sin remains dead. So, being raised with Him, we live with Him, a thing that was formerly impossible on account of sin; sin can not dwell with Him.

“Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to them that know the Law), how that the Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then, if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the Law; for I had not known lust, except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:1–7.

The illustration is a very simple one, and one which everyone can understand. The Law of God says of man and woman, “They two shall be one flesh.” It is adultery for either one to be married to another while the other is living. The Law will not sanction such a union.

For reasons that will appear later, the illustration cites only the case of a woman leaving her husband. The Law unites them. That Law holds the woman to the man as long as he lives. If while her husband lives she shall be united to another man, she will find herself under the condemnation of the Law. But if her husband dies, she may be united to another and be perfectly free from any condemnation.

The woman is then “free from the Law,” although the Law has not changed in one particular. Least of all has it been abolished; for the same Law that bound her to the first husband and which condemned her for uniting with another in his lifetime, now unites her to another and binds her to him as closely as it did to the first. If we hold to this simple illustration, we shall have no difficulty with what follows.

In the application, as in the illustration, there are four subjects—the Law, the woman, the first husband, and the second husband.

We are represented as the woman. This is clear from the statement that we are “married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead,” which is Christ. He, therefore, is the second husband. The first husband is indicated in verse 5: “When we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Death is the fruit of sin. The first husband, therefore, was the flesh, or “the body of sin.”

Dead to the Law

This is the expression that troubles so many. There is nothing troublesome in it, if we but keep in mind the illustration and the nature of the parties to this transaction. Why are we dead to the Law? In order that we might be married to another. But how is it that we become dead in order to be married to another? In the illustration, it is the first husband that dies before the woman may be married to another. Even so, it is here, as we shall see.

The Law of marriage is that the two parties to it “shall be one flesh.” How is it in this case? The first husband is the flesh, the body of sin. Well, we were truly one flesh with that. We were by nature perfectly united to sin. It was our life. It controlled us. Whatever sin devised, that we did. We might have done it unwillingly at times, but we did it nevertheless. Sin reigned in our mortal bodies so that we obeyed it in the lusts thereof. Whatever sin wished was law to us. We were one flesh.

There comes a time in our experience when we wish to be free from sin. It is when we see something of the beauty of holiness. With some people, the desire is only occasional; with others, it is more constant. Whether we recognize the fact or not, it is Christ appealing to us to forsake sin and to be joined to Him, to live with Him. And so we endeavor to effect a separation. But sin will not consent. In spite of all that we can do, it still clings to us. We are “one flesh,” and it is a union for life since it is a union of our life to sin. There is no divorce in that marriage.

Freedom in Death

There is no hope of effecting a separation from sin by any ordinary means. No matter how much we may desire to be united to Christ, it can not be done while we are joined to sin; for the Law will not sanction such a union, and Christ will not enter into any union that is not lawful.

If we could only get sin to die, we should be free; but it will not die. There is only one way for us to be freed from the hateful union, and that is for us to die. If we wish freedom so much that we are willing [for self] to be crucified, then it may be done. In death, the separation is effected; for it is by the body of Christ that “we” become dead. We are crucified with Him. The body of sin is also crucified. But while the body of sin is destroyed, we have a resurrection in Christ. The same thing that frees us from the first husband unites us to the second.

A New Creature

Now we see how it is that we are dead to the Law. We died in Christ and were raised in Him. But “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God.” II Corinthians 5:17, 18. Now we may be united to Christ, and the Law will witness to the union and sanction it. For not only is the first husband dead, but we also died, so that, although alive, we are not the same creature that we were before. “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Galatians 2:20. We are one. The same Law that formerly declared us to be sinners now binds us to Christ.

Now that the union with Christ has been affected, we serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. In marriage, the woman is to be subject to the husband. So when we were united to sin, we were in all things subject to sin. For a time it was willing service; but when we saw the Lord and were drawn to Him, the service became irksome. We tried to keep God’s Law but were bound and could not. But now we are set free. Sin no longer restrains us, and our service is freedom. We gladly render to Christ all the service that the Law requires of us. We render this service because of the perfect union between us. His life is our, since we were raised only by the power of His life. Therefore, our obedience is simply His loyalty and faithfulness in us.

The apostle says that when we were in the flesh, “the motions of sins, which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it. The Law is righteousness. But it is only by the law that sin is known. “Sin is not imputed when there is no Law.” Romans 5:13. “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law.” I Corinthians 15:56. “Sin is the transgression of the Law.” I John 3:4. So there can be no sin but by the Law. But the Law is not sin; for if it were, it would not reprove sin. To convince of sin is the work of the Spirit of God and not of Satan. He would make us believe that sin is right.

Thou Shalt Not Covet

It once seemed very strange that the apostle should have quoted only this one commandment as the one that convicted him of sin. But the reason is plain. It was because this one includes every other. We learn (see Colossians 3:5) that covetousness is idolatry. Thus the Law ends just where it begins. It is a complete circle, including every duty of every person in the universe. “I had not known lust,” or unlawful desire, “except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Not lust is the beginning of every sin, for “when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.” James 1:15. And sin is the transgression of the Law.

The tenth commandment is that one which forbids lust or unlawful desire. Therefore, if it is perfectly kept, all the others must be. It is not kept, no part of the Law is kept. So we see that in quoting the tenth commandment as that which convinced him of sin, the apostle really included the whole Law.

Before leaving this portion, we must call attention to the force of the eighth verse of Romans 6: “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” We can see how apt this is when we know that it is our death with Christ that frees us from the union with the monster sin and unites us in marriage to Christ. People marry in order to live together. So we become united to Christ in order that we may live with Him here and in the world to come. If we would live with Him in the world to come, we must live with Him in this world.

In the first seven verses of the seventh chapter of Romans, we have had the relation which we, by nature, sustain to sin and which, by grace, we afterwards sustain to Christ, represented under the figure of marriage to a first and second husband. The union with the second husband can not take place while the first husband is living; and in this case, the marriage is so perfect, the two parties being literally one flesh and blood, that one can not die without the other; therefore, we must needs die with sin before we can be separated from it.

But we die in Christ; and as He lives, although He was dead, we also live with Him. In His life there is no sin, so the body of sin is destroyed, while we are raised. Thus in death we are separated from the first husband, sin, and united to the second husband, Christ.

In the verses which follow, the apostle has pictured the struggle with the sin that has become distasteful. It is really and enlargement of that which has been presented in the first verses.

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the Law sin was dead. For I was alive without the Law once; but when the commandments came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandments, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandments, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and just and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandments might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man; but I see another Law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members. O wretched men that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the Law of sin.” Romans 7:8–25.

Sin Personified

It will be noticed that in this entire chapter, sin is represented as a person. It is the first husband to which we are united. But the union has become distasteful because, having seen Christ and having been drawn to Him by His love; we have seen that we were joined to a monster. The marriage bond has become a galling yoke, and our whole thought is how to get away from the monster to which we are united and which is dragging us down to a certain death. The picture presented in this chapter is one of the most vivid in the whole Bible.

The Strength of Sin

“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law.” I Corinthians 15:56. “Without the Law sin was dead.” “Sin is not imputed when there is no Law.” “Where no Law is, there is no transgression.” So it is that “sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.” Sin is simply the Law transgressed, “for sin is the transgression of the Law.” I John 3:4. Sin has no strength, therefore, except that which it gets from the Law. The Law is not sin, and yet it binds us to sin; that is, the Law witnesses to the sin and will not grant us any escape, simply because it can not bear false witness.

The Law of Life and the Law of Death

“The commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” The Law of God is the life of God. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. His life is the rule for all His creatures. Those in whom the life of God is made perfectly manifest keep His Law. It is very evident, therefore, that the design of the Law is life, since it is life itself. But the opposite of life is death. Therefore, when the Law is transgressed, it is death to the transgressor.

“For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” It is not the Law that is the enemy, but the enemy is sin. Sin does the killing, for “the sting of death is sin.” Sin has the poison of death in it. Sin deceived us so that for a time we thought that it was our friend and we embraced it and delighted in the union. But when the Law enlightened us, we found that sin’s embrace was the embrace of death.

The Law pointed out the fact that sin was killing us. “Therefore the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” We have no more reason to rail at the Law than we have to hate the man who tells us that the substance which we are eating, thinking it to be food, is poison. He is our friend. He would not be our friend if he did not show us our danger. The fact that he is not able to heal the illness that the poison already eaten has caused does not make him any the less our friend. He has warned us of our danger, and we can now get help from the physician. And so, after all, the Law itself was not death to us, but its office was “that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”

The Law is Spiritual

“For we know that the Law is spiritual.” If this fact were more generally recognized, there would be much less religious legislation among so-called Christian nations. People would not try to enforce the commandments of God. Since the Law is spiritual, it can be obeyed only by the power of the Spirit of God. “God is a Spirit.” (John 4:24); therefore, the Law is the nature of God. Spiritual is opposed to carnal, or fleshly. Thus it is that the man who is in the flesh can not please God.

A Slave

“But I am carnal, sold under sin.” One who is sold is a slave, and the evidence of the slavery in this instance is very plain. Free men do that which they wish to do. Only slaves do that which they do not wish to do and are continually prevented from doing what they wish to do. “For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” A more disagreeable position can not be imagined. Life in such a state can be only a burden.

Convicted, but Not Converted

“If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that it is good.” The fact that we do not wish to do the sins that we are committing shows that we acknowledge the righteousness of the Law which forbids them. But conviction is not conversion, although a very necessary step to that condition. It is not enough to wish to do right. The blessing is pronounced upon those who do His commandments and not upon those who wish to do them, or who even try to do them. Indeed, if there were no higher position for a professed follower of the Lord than that described in these verses, he would be in a far worse condition than the careless sinner. Both are slaves, only the latter is so hardened that he finds pleasure in his slavery.

Now if one must all of his life be a slave, it is better for him to be unconscious of his bondage than to be continually fretting over it. But there is something better; therefore, it is a blessing that we are convicted of sin and that our slavery is thereby made as disagreeable as possible.

Two Laws

“I find then a Law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Compare this with verse 5.

Remember also that all of this is written to them that know the Law. It is not addressed to the heathen who have not the Law but to those who profess to know God. While knowing the Law, we are united in marriage to sin. This sin is in our flesh, since they who are married are one flesh. It is the Law that witnesses to the fact that we are sinners and that will not grant us any escape from it. But we are slaves. Whosoever commits sin is the slave of sin. (See John 8:34.) Therefore it is the Law that will not let us be anything but what we are that is really holding us in bondage. While we are in that condition, it is not to us a Law of liberty.

We are joined in marriage to sin. But sin has in it death, for “the sting of death is sin.” Sin is that with which death kills us. Therefore, the body of sin, to which we are joined when in the flesh, is but a body of death. What a terrible condition! Joined in such close union that we are one flesh with that which is in itself death. A living death!

And “the strength of sin is the Law.” It witnesses to our union and thus holds us in that bondage of death. If there were no hope of escape, we might curse the Law for not allowing us to die in ignorance. But although the Law seems to be pitiless, it is nevertheless our best friend. It holds us to a sense of the dreadfulness of our bondage until in anguish we cry out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” We must be delivered, or we perish.

There is a Deliverer

The pagan proverb has it that God helps those who help themselves. The truth is that God helps those who can not help themselves: “I was brought low, and He helped me.” Psalm 116:6. No one ever cries in vain for help. When the cry goes up for help, the Deliverer is at hand; and so, although sin is working death in us by all the power of the Law, we may exclaim, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57. “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Romans 11:26. “Unto you first, God having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Acts 3:26. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” II Corinthians 9:15.

A Divided Man

“So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” That is, of course, while in the condition described in the preceding verses. In purpose he serves the Law of God, but in actual practice he serves the law of sin. As described in another place, “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye can not do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. It is not a state of actual service to God, because we read in our next chapter that “they that are in the flesh can not please God.” Romans 8:8. It is a state from which one may well pray to be delivered so that he can serve the Lord, not merely with the mind but with his whole being. “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:23, 24.

Worse Sinner Than I Am

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The apostle Paul describes the whole purpose for Jesus Christ to come to this world. It is found in I Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” He came to save sinners.

The Bible says, in Romans 3:23, that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” It is a fact that we are all sinners and it was for sinners that Jesus came to this world to save. Sinners need a Saviour, but one of the anomalies about the human race is that even though we recognize that we need to be saved, sometimes we have trouble recognizing that others, whom we consider much worse sinners than we are, also need saving grace. I am thankful that God does not take exception. He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:4. This includes the people that I think are worse sinners than I am. God is no respecter of persons.

Luke 15:1, 2 says, “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained [they found fault], saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ ” In the Jewish society, people were catalogued—which people were the worst sinners? Tax collectors were considered the worst for they hired out to the Romans to collect taxes from fellow Jews. A woman who became a harlot or prostitute was considered as low as a woman could go. Shocked that Jesus would associate with what they considered the dredge of society they said, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” This was a smear tactic against Jesus’ character, implying that He condoned sin.

Let’s think this through. The only way a sinner can be saved is if somebody comes in contact with that person and shows them the way of salvation. This was the sole purpose of Jesus. “He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life.” The Desire of Ages, 23.

We cannot help sinners to be saved if we are not willing to come in contact with them. There are many Christians today that say they want the sinners to be saved, but if you are to bring one of these sinners to church, their attitude changes.

Several years ago, a relative of mine was working with a missionary outreach project in the San Francisco, California, area. It was the time of the hippy movement, and San Francisco was the hub where young people from all over the United States rejected the middle class of their parents and went to San Francisco and lived on the street in a communal type lifestyle. It was actually a very demoralizing development that happened in America during that time. My relative came in contact with many of these people, praying with them and giving them books like Steps to Christ. She found that some of the hippies were becoming disenchanted with the lifestyle and wanted something different, so she decided to invite them to church. Dressed in their blue jeans and so different than the rest of the congregation in their suits and ties, they were invited to sit in the back row. Recognizing that they were not accepted there, they soon became discouraged and left. People tend to segregate into groups and tend not to accept people of other social groups that are so different than their own. Jesus got into trouble with the Pharisees because He was different; He accepted people from the “wrong” social group.

He was not exclusive and accepted people from all races, all social groups, all backgrounds. It did not matter to Jesus what their sin problem was. The only question He asked was, “Do you want to be saved; would you like to be clean?” That attitude was so foreign to the leaders that they could not accept it. They found fault saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus received them and ate with the people that were considered so sinful that they could not be saved, but Jesus saved them.

Unfortunately, not very many of the religious leaders were saved. Ironically, a study of the Bible shows that the people who human beings believed would be saved, end up not being saved, and those that we think it impossible to be saved are the ones that end up being saved. It was that way in Jesus’ day. Jesus said, “ ‘Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said to Him, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.’ ” Matthew 21:31.

Jesus received sinners and ate with them. John the Baptist did. Are you willing to do the same and offer them the gift of salvation?

After He was criticized because He received sinners and ate with them, Jesus told them three of the most familiar stories in the gospels. We are going to look at the third one that begins in Luke 15:11, 12. “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.”

Notice, the younger of his two sons said to his father, “Father, I don’t want to wait until you die to get my inheritance. I want it now.” The first thing we see in this story is the impatience of sin. “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together.” Verse 13. The father divided to his sons his livelihood and the younger son gathered his things together, anxious to get ready to go on a trip. In the selfishness of his sin he gathered it all together, not so he could help somebody but because he wanted to have a good time.

If your life consists in serving yourself, the devil is satisfied knowing that you belong to his kingdom and not to Jesus Christ. Nobody that serves himself belongs to Jesus Christ. “He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” II Corinthians 5:15.

A born again Christian lives for the One that died for him or her, but this young man set out to do all that pleased himself without regard to his father or his family. We see in the story the selfishness of sin.

Luke 15:13 continues, He “journeyed to a far country.” He separated from his father’s house. Separation is the result of sin. First there is the impatience of sin, the selfishness of sin that results in the separation of sin. But not only did the son journey to a far country, but he “wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” This is sometimes translated as riotous living, or a very literal translation of the Greek word would be wasteful living. Now we see the wastefulness of sin. This young man was worth a lot of money, but because of riotous living he wasted his substance.

God understands when a young man or young woman goes into sin. They waste their manhood or womanhood. This young man wasted his money. He wasted his time and also he wasted his opportunities. Have you been wasting your life?

We usually think of waste in terms of money. He was wasting his money, but not just that, he was wasting his manhood, his self-respect, his time and his life. Notice what it says in Isaiah 52:3: “For thus says the Lord: ‘You have sold yourselves for nothing. And you shall be redeemed without money.’ ” You just wasted it all. Nothing is much more frustrating to a person who is a good manager, whether it be of time or money, than to have to deal with somebody else who is a waster. Much of the trouble in this world today is because of waste in some area.

“But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land and he began to be in want.” Luke 15:14. I call this the dissatisfaction of sin. The young man was now in want. No longer was he satisfied, and the thrilling life he lived had ended. This is what always happens to a person that is living in sin. There will always come a time when what they thought was exciting and pleasurable, what they thought was having a good time no longer satisfies.

The pleasures of sin are always temporary. Fortunately for some, they get this figured out ahead of time before they make bad choices. In Hebrews 11:25, talking about Moses, it says, He chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” for a season or, in other words, to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin. Though he could have enjoyed the luxuries of the Egyptian palace, Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Verse 26.

Well, the time had come that the younger son was no longer satisfied with his life, and he needed a solution to his problem. “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.” Luke 15:15. He now experienced the degradation of sin. In the Jewish culture there was no lower place you could go than to feed swine. It was the worst job imaginable.

It was not sinful, but it was just considered the worst, most degrading job you could have. This illustrates the degradation of sin. “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.” Verse 16. I call this the destitution of sin. A young man with such a future leaves the comfort of his father’s home and now is destitute; he is as low as he can go, and nobody gives him anything.

A destitute person has nothing. He has no food, no clothing, no shelter, no transportation—he has nothing! That person is destitute.

On that first step, when he first started experiencing the selfishness of sin, he thought that his life would be wonderful. He longed for the freedom he would have once he could separate from his father’s house with its perceived restrictions. With his inheritance of a considerable amount of money, he thought he was having a good time experiencing the wastefulness of sin. But then, when the money ran out and his partying friends left, he experienced the degradation of sin, and now the destitution that follows.

He reached the bottom of the pit and there was no place lower to go. This is a pathetic place to end up, but sadly it is not uncommon to find a person in this experience. Often God has to allow them go really low before He can get their attention. Some have landed in prison or in the hospital. Others went bankrupt before God was able to get their attention.

Finally, unlike some other people’s experiences, the story of the prodigal son has a happy ending. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ ” Verses 17–19. He finally decided it was time to go home, back to his father’s house. Before he might have thought that the father’s house was full of hypocrites, something that I hear all the time. “I’m not going to go to church; the church is full of hypocrites!”

Just like hospitals are made for the sick people that want to be well, the church was made for the sinners that want to have salvation. The church is not a club just for the people that are already holy. The church is a hospital for sinners that need to be saved.

So this broken young man decided that it was time that he would go back home. The church is home. Don’t let anybody tell you that it is not important whether you belong to the church or not. When Jesus comes back to this world, He’s coming to get His church. Revelation 19 is very clear on that point. Jesus is coming to get His church; He is not coming for anybody else.

The delinquent son decided to go home. In order to arise and go to his father, he had to leave his harlots and his whiskey in the far country. Don’t get mixed up about that. He could not bring his harlots and his whiskey home with him. Friend, if you want to go home, you have to be willing to leave your sinful life in the far country. The Father is waiting for you to come home, but He’s not going to accept you with the harlots and the whiskey; it must be left behind. If you want to live in sin, you will have to stay outside the father’s house.

But this boy decided that he would leave all that in the far country, and he came home with the confession of his sins. “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Verse 20. Do you realize that there is Somebody that wants you to come home? Your Father in heaven is watching, just like that father was watching the road every day. We know he was anxiously watching the road, because the Bible says he saw his son when he was a long ways away.

I once had a physiology teacher in graduate school who told us that if you love somebody, you can recognize the person you love from a greater distance than you can recognize anybody else. The father loved that prodigal son, so when he saw him a long way off, he recognized him, even though he was in rags and looked nothing at all like when he left. The father’s love recognized him, “That’s my boy!”

He did not wait for him to get home and get himself cleaned up, but he ran to meet him on the road. Friend, there’s Somebody that wants you back home. The father ran to him and embraced him. He let him know how glad he was to have his son back home. By the way, this is how sinners should be treated when they come into an Adventist church; they should recognize immediately from our conduct toward them that we are glad they are home.

And so, he poured out his confession: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ” Verse 21. He recognized and confessed that he had sinned. Those who want to be accepted at home need to have this spirit of confession, because “He who covers his sins [or attempts to cover them] will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.

He confessed, “I have sinned, I am no more worthy to be called your son.” This is a wonderful story because it says in verse 22 of Luke 15, “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.’ ” The rings worn in those days were the things they used to sign documents. By this act the father was giving to his son permission once more to have access to the family checking account.

Verses 23 and 24 continue, “ ‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” O, friend, if you are in the far country and have not come home yet, it says your condition is lost. If you are living in sin, you are lost. If you are living a prodigal life, you are lost. If you don’t belong to God’s children, you are lost. But do not despair; you do not need to stay lost, you can come home. And when you come home, the Father is going to put His arm around you and welcome you and give you full fellowship with the family.

But there is a sadder part to this story. It says in verses 25–27, “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ ”

The older brother in this story represents the first-born. This is very interesting. When you study sociology, you learn that the first-born child is always the more conservative. The first-born is the one that tends to emulate and imitate his parents and is often the one that becomes more successful in this society and in this world. What happened in this family follows the exact same pattern that happens still today. You can read it for yourself in The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman, (Revell, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2009). There is decided difference between the first-born, and the second-born, and youngest.

The first-born had never left the father’s house. This man was lost in church. The far country is not the only place you could be lost. You could be lost in church. However, nobody knows you are lost, because you do all the right things. He was so confident. Look at the conversation he and his father had together: “He was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.’ ” Verses 28, 29.

I have never done anything wrong. I always pay my tithe. I always do what’s right. I never steal. And yet you don’t treat me as nice as you treat my younger brother who went out and wasted your living. Notice what it says in verse 30: “But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.”

I am sorry to tell you, friends, the spirit of the older brother is rife in the church today when somebody in the church wants to help one of the prodigal sons that is coming home. One of the reasons there are so many prodigal sons that never get back home is because there are too many older brothers in the church. The prodigal does not feel comfortable; they are not accepted, and everybody is thinking about their past whereas the father was going to give this younger boy a chance for the future.

This is really a loaded story. Where do I fit in? Where do you fit in? Are you unhappy if persons in the church decide to really put themselves out to help somebody that is living in sin to win them back? Are you unhappy if somebody that has made some terrible mistakes in his/her life receives something that you don’t receive? Do you get unhappy because the prodigal son is treated too well? I am talking here about a common problem in the church today. We need to ask the Lord to help us to be converted, so that the Father can bring His prodigal children back home.

There are many prodigal sons that God cannot bring home into our churches because they would get discouraged and go right back out because of the coldness of the older brothers in the church. Look at verses 31 and 32: “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Here we see, at the end of the story, one brother is saved and there is still one brother that is lost. But for the brother that is lost, for the Pharisee in the church, the Father wants to save him too. The Father wants to save the Pharisees as well as the prodigals.

But friend, can I be saved if I’m not happy when somebody else is saved? Can I be saved if I’m not happy when somebody else gets something that I don’t think they deserve, when everything I have is something that I don’t deserve? The last verses give heaven’s most touching appeal to the Pharisees of all ages. Phariseeism is human nature applied to religion. It is common throughout the religious world today. It is common in the Adventist church.

There are prodigal sons that need to be saved. And if they are going to be saved, we need to pray that we will be converted and that we will have the attitude of the father toward them so the Lord can bring them to His home. Ask the Lord that we be converted. As you read this story, think it through and ask the Lord to help you understand where you fit in.

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

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