sin

The New Theology, part 3

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The basic difference between the two gospels being taught in our church can be traced to the differing definitions of sin, as found in the Word of God and in the theories developed by men. The popular worldly gospel has crept into our church by, what theologians call, the “original sin” dogma. This false gospel teaches that sin is a part of our nature so therefore we are guilty of sin because we were born into this world. Under this false gospel, no one has the freedom to choose to sin or not to sin. This power of “sin guilt” is so great that when one tries to resist sin, in the power of God, it is impossible.

This devilish philosophy teaches that Jesus could not have had our nature, because He would have been guilty of sin at His birth. Furthermore, it teaches that no one can ever overcome sin until Jesus comes the second time and changes their human nature. It is impossible to become perfect, because it is impossible to follow God’s instructions since people were born with the corruption of sin within them.

If you accept this false gospel, the great sanctuary truth, the investigative judgment and the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14, all become insignificant. This New Theology teaches that everything was completed for man’s salvation at the cross, and that all that God now requires of us to be saved is that we receive justification and a covering of our sins. Sanctification, they say, is a slow growth process in one who has no power to overcome sin.

In the light of the truths of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, if you accept this false gospel you will be eternally lost. God is willing to share His divine power with all that ask for it, making it possible for you to overcome sin and enter heaven where there will be no sin.

 

Sin—An Action or Part of the Nature?

 

To get a clear understanding of the differences between these two gospels, we need to see how the Bible defines sin. 1 John 3:4 says, “Sin is the transgression of the law.” Therefore, sin is the breaking of God’s law, which is an action. Since sin is the result of an action, rather than a part of our nature, as taught in the false gospel, we begin to understand the harmony that is expressed by all Bible authors regarding sin.

James says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17. This Scripture states that sin comes by knowledge that brings individuals to the realization of their need to make a decision and use the power of free choice that God has given them.

What brings the knowledge of sin? Paul wrote: “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. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Romans 7:7–9.

Guilt does not come until there is knowledge of the law, but willful ignorance is no excuse. Jesus taught this in John 15: “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father.” John 15:22, 24.

“If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before light comes, there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 116.

“None will be condemned for not heeding light and knowledge that they never had.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1145.

For over one hundred years, the Seventh-day Adventist Church consistently taught that sin was the result of the action of choice; that before we become guilty of sin, our mind must consent to the temptation. This teaching does not disregard the fact that we all have a sinful nature, but that this sinful nature can successfully resist temptation when we come to Jesus and experience a rebirth through the re-creating power of Christ working in and through us.

With a clear understanding of this, we can better understand how Jesus was born with the same flesh and blood that you and I possess, yet He never once sinned. He always made the right choice, through the power of the Holy Spirit, by fully surrendering to this divine agent.

Jesus came to this world as Adam was after his fall. He was born with our sinful flesh, but not our sinning flesh. Because of this, He is our great example and if we follow His pattern of success, we, too, may overcome through the divine power which He freely gives to the fully surrendered soul. To substantiate this, I present to you the following quotations:

“Jesus also told them [the angels] that . . . He should take man’s fallen nature, and His strength would not be even equal with theirs.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, 25.

“It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon Himself the form and nature of fallen man, that He might be made perfect through suffering, and endure Himself the strength of Satan’s temptations, that He might the better know how to succor those who should be tempted.” Ibid., vol. 4, 115.

“This was the reception the Saviour met as He came to a fallen world . . . And took upon Himself man’s nature that He might save the fallen race. Instead of men glorifying God for the honor He had conferred upon them in thus sending His son in the likeness of sinful flesh, by giving Him a place in their affections, there seemed to be no rest nor safety for the infant Saviour. Jehovah could not trust to the inhabitants of the world His Son, who came into the world that through His divine power He might redeem fallen man.” The Review and Herald, December 24, 1872.

“Through His humiliation and poverty Christ would identify with the weaknesses of the fallen race . . . The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeemer taking the place of fallen Adam . . . The King of glory proposed to humble Himself to fallen humanity. He would take man’s fallen nature.” The Review and Herald, February 24, 1874.

“Christ stooped to take upon Himself human nature, that He might reach the fallen race and lift them up . . . [He] partook of our human nature, that He might reach humanity.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 746–747.

“But many say that Jesus was not like us, that He was not as we are in the world, that He was divine, and we cannot overcome as He overcame. But Paul writes, ‘Verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.” The Review and Herald, March 1, 1892.

We see from these quotations that over many years the servant of the Lord was consistent, in her writings, that Christ took upon Himself the nature of Adam after his fall.

 

New Theology and the Antichrist

 

In an article written by J. B. Conley, he shows how the teaching that insists that Christ came in the nature of Adam before his fall is connected to the antichrist. He wrote: “The Scriptures have placed the identity of antichrist beyond either guesswork or confusion. The Bible has clearly named the guilty one. John says that he denies that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. 2 John 7. Let this be the first mark of antichrist by which his identity will be placed beyond dispute.

“Far from denying the existence of Christ, the text suggests that antichrist teaches that Christ has come but teaches a doctrine about His coming which denies that He has come in the flesh. If the Catholic Church is guilty as the Protestant Reformers claimed her to be, then her teaching concerning the nature of Jesus in His incarnation into this world as a babe will reveal it.

“Let us examine that teaching in the light of the text before us. The Bible teaches that Jesus was born into the world through Mary who was a direct descendent of Adam. By inheritance she partook of Adam’s nature. Adam’s nature was mortal and subject to death as a result of the transgression of God’s will in Eden. His flesh was by nature that of the children of wrath. Mary partook of this nature in all of its aspects. She was a representative of the whole human race and in no way different from others descendent from Adam’s line.

“She was favored among women only because she was the one chosen of God through whom the mystery of godliness was to be made manifest and through whom Jesus was to be brought from heaven where He had been one with the Father in the Godhead to be born into the human family, there to partake of all the temptations to which Adam’s race is subject. This was possible only as He would partake of the nature of Adam’s race. Of this Paul says, ‘For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same;. . . Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.’ Hebrews 2:14–17.

“If further evidence were needed, this same writer supplied it. In 1 Timothy 3:16, he records, ‘Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.’ Here he says is the mystery of godliness. The ability of Jesus to come from heaven, suffer Himself to be manifest in human flesh and yet to live sinlessly. This latter fact antichrist was to deny. He was to deny that Jesus came in a divine manifestation which brought Him in all phases of His nature to partake of the weaknesses of Adam’s race. He would deny that Jesus came in the flesh, the same flesh as that of mortal men.

“On this first count, the denial that Jesus is come in the flesh, the Catholic Church stands convicted of guilt and thus is identified by the marks of antichrist. Through the teaching of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, that she was preserved from all original sin, they in theory provide a different flesh from that of the rest of Adam’s race to be the avenue through which Jesus was incarnated into the plan of salvation.

“To state their teaching with authority it will be best to quote our evidence from Catholic authors. Our first proof will be from the pen of Cardinal Gibbons in his book, Faith of our Fathers, 203, 204. He says, ‘We define that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first moment of her conception was preserved free from the taint of original sin. Unlike the rest of the children of Adam, the soul of Mary was never subject to sin.’

“Cardinal Gibbons has here clearly stated the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church concerning the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary. It is a teaching not taught in the Bible, but which has been introduced by Catholic teachers who claim to have authority even above that of the Scriptures in matters of doctrine. Here I would ask my readers, both Protestant and Catholic, to ponder carefully what this teaching does to the gospel plan. It means that if Mary were born without sin and was preserved from sin for the express purpose of bringing Jesus into the world, then Jesus was born of holy flesh which was different from that of the rest of Adam’s race.

“This means that He did not identify Himself with humanity. It means, too, that Paul was all wrong when he wrote the book of Hebrews in which he declares that Jesus also Himself likewise took part of the same flesh as the rest of Adam’s race and that in all things he was made like unto His brethren. Hebrews 2:14, 17. But above all this, if the Catholic teaching is true, then Jesus—not having come within reach of humanity by partaking of man’s nature—cannot be the one mediator between God and man.

“Nor can we ‘come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4: 16. All this plays conveniently into the hands of the Catholic plan of salvation. It opens wide the door for the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the respective saints who form part of the Papal mediatorial system. And moreover, it places in the hands of the priesthood the power to usurp authority which God in the Scriptures has never delegated to them—that of being controllers of the approaches to the throne of mercy.

“In the Papal claim that Jesus was born of one who had been preserved from every taint of original sin and who, unlike the rest of the children of Adam, was never subject to sin, we find the first antichrist indelibly implanted. The papacy certainly teaches that Jesus did not come in the flesh.” Australian Signs of the Times, May 24, 1948, 46, by J. B. Conley.

This is a most alarming accusation with profound implications for the New Theology that is being preached in Adventism. This is a doctrine of the antichrist that Christ did not come in the flesh. “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 7.

Is it any wonder then that the servant of the Lord speaks of the Omega apostasy as being startling in its consequences? The New Theology links all of its believers with the antichrist. Dr. Ralph Larson wrote the following: “Since it is common knowledge that Augustine’s doctrine of original sin is now being recommended for addition to the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church it would appear that a careful examination of that doctrine should be undertaken by all who share a concern for the purity of the Adventist faith. Major changes in our theology would be required by the addition of the doctrine of original sin because of the nature of God, the nature of the incarnate Christ, the nature of man and the nature of salvation itself are all involved in the Augustinian doctrine.

“Significant changes would be required in the cherished doctrine of righteousness by faith. The student may easily verify the close relationship between the concepts of original sin and the doctrine of righteousness by faith by asking advocates of the so-called ‘New Theology’ two questions:

  1. Why do you believe that it is impossible for Christians to stop sinning, even through the power of Christ?
  2. Why do you believe the incarnate Christ had to take the nature of the unfallen Adam rather than a nature like ours?

“The same answer will be given to both questions: Because of original sin. Since the corruption of original sin remains in all believers until they die, it is impossible for them to ever stop sinning, even through the power of Christ. And since the inherited guilt of original sin would have disqualified Christ from becoming the Saviour of the world, He had to be protected from original sin by assuming the nature of the unfallen Adam.” The Word Was Made Flesh, 330, by Dr. Ralph Larson.

We know that God’s true gospel has nothing to do with the antichrist. It assures us that absolute victory over sin is possible through divine power. “Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 394.

Ellen White explains how this can be done. “Christ is willing to take possession of the soul temple, if we will only let Him. He is represented as knocking at the door of our hearts for admission, but Jesus never forces Himself upon us; He will come in only as an invited guest . . . In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning. The only definition for sin that we have in the Bible is that it is the transgression of the law. The law is far reaching in its claims, and we must bring our hearts into harmony with it.’” Signs of the Times, vol. 2, 363.

Likewise Peter tells us to follow the example of Christ. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21, 22.

“Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So it may be with us.” The Desire of Ages, 123.

“Humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.” Ministry of Healing, 180.

We can be perfect in Christ. Christ commanded, ” ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ Matthew 5:48. This command is a promise.” The Desire of Ages, 311.

“None need fail of attaining, in his sphere, to perfection of Christian character. By the sacrifice of Christ, provision has been made for the believer to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. God calls upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us the example of Christ’s character. In His humanity, perfected by a life of constant resistance of evil, the Saviour showed that through co-operation with divinity, human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character. This is God’s assurance to us that we, too, may obtain complete victory.” The Acts of the Apostles, 531.

And here is another precious thought. “The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into cooperation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted . . . The will must be placed on the side of God’s will. You are not able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will of God; but if you are ‘willing to be made willing,’ God will accomplish the work for you.” The Mount of Blessing, 142.

In view of such godly counsel, do not listen to any church leaders who would guide you into a path that leads to the antichrist. Keep your eyes and ears open and be on guard. Do not be surprised to find that this false theology is being promoted by men whom you once honored for their faithfulness to God’s last day message. The day is already here when we must stand alone in faithfulness to the pure gospel or follow the crowds to perdition. The true gospel teaches that:

  1. Men have the power of free choice. God took a risk, with His entire universe, to perfect a freedom of choice. This is why sin was permitted to exist. Forced obedience is worthless, and the gospel of Christ is built upon the foundation of free choice.
  2. Man is not born with the guilt of sin within him. We believe the gospel of Christ that states that sin is the transgression of the law. Not until we have joined our will in active opposition to God’s will, does sin exist in us. It is willful disobedience. The true gospel teaches that sin is our willful choice to exercise our fallen nature in opposition to God’s will.
  3. Christ took the nature of fallen Adam. Since sin is a choice we make, therefore Christ could inherit our fallen nature without becoming a sinner. He could remain sinless because Christ’s choice was always to obey God. Never did He allow His fallen nature to control His choice. At the time of Christ’s birth, man’s condition was not that of sinless Adam, for man had descended to the depths of sin after four thousand years. Christ could become man’s Saviour only by assuming his fallen condition so He could bridge the gap between God and fallen man. Thus He can mediate for us before the Father since He has identified Himself with us in our fallen nature.
  4. God loves to forgive and restore the sinner. The nature of God’s justification, given to the sinner, because of the mediation of Christ, makes it possible for us to stand righteous in the merits of Christ and to be restored to God’s image. But such justification can only take place when the sinner repents. There can be no repentance without conviction of sin, a sorrow for it and a turning away from it.
  5. An individual can be comfortable about Christian perfection, when he is willing to let God work within his heart to overcome sin. This is possible when we trust God’s power to overcome. The gospel of Christ makes it possible for sin to become repulsive so that we will have no desire to disobey God’s will. Perfection does not do away with our sinful nature, but perfection is possible by the subjection of our nature to Christ as He surrendered to His Father. Thus it is possible to have a sinless character with a sinful nature. Such an experience requires agonizing prayer and unquestioning faith in God’s promises.

I have chosen some thoughts to share with you, written by Dennis Preiebe. In this passage, he describes the New Theology, which seems to be an easy path to follow: “It is an escape route from the daily battle with Satan. You can sit back and relax to enjoy your newfound ease because there is no more hassle, no more struggle. All you have to do is just believe, for Jesus did it all for you on the cross. He kept the law for you; there are no more dos or don’ts. Feel the excitement of this glorious freedom, for you do not even have to think about your sins. You can sin until Jesus comes because He has already forgiven you in advance. Come, celebrate! Express your freedom with rock music. Let the drums beat in celebration of your new discovery. Do not even think of obedience as necessary anymore. Forget that you ever heard of a sanctuary in heaven where Jesus is conducting an investigative judgment. Do not pay any attention to that little old lady called Ellen White who pleads for you to be sanctified as a fitness for heaven. Ignore all those passages of Scripture that warn you of a narrow road to heaven and few there be that find it. Keep thinking every moment that you are saved in spite of your unconfessed sins.”

My friend, this is the road to eternal loss. If you follow it, you find in the end only misery and the loss of what you value most—eternal life with Jesus. I must point you to the Saviour of the real gospel of Christ. Look to Jesus as He struggled with human nature just like you and I do every day. Watch Him pray by the hour for the mighty power of God. See Him struggle until His sweat turns to great drops of blood. Hear Him overcome evil with the words, “It is written.” Stand in awe as you see Him die on the cross rather than commit one sin. Follow Him into the heavenly sanctuary as He stands before His Father, and tells how He died for you and your sins and justifies you as though you had never sinned. Watch as He sends the mighty Holy Spirit that you have asked for that you may be sanctified for heaven. Claim the victory that Jesus now offers as you read in Jude 24, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

Choose you this day whom you will serve, as Joshua said in Joshua 24:15. Choose the gospel of the New Theology developed by Satan, which will end in death or choose the everlasting gospel of Christ that provides you with Christ’s victory over Satan now and for eternity.

 

Ask the Pastor – Understand Hyperbole

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Question:

What did Jesus mean, in Mark 9:43, 45, 47, when He said that if the hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, to cut off the hand or foot or pluck out the eye? I have heard sermons where it was said that Jesus did not mean that literally. I could accept this, if it were not for the fact that He goes on to say that it would be better to enter life with one hand, foot, or eye than to have them both and be cast into hell.

Answer:

The language used by Christ in this context employs a figure of speech that is common to all languages. It is called hyperbole. The term is derived from two Greek components, hyper (over, above) and bole (from ballein, to throw), hence “to throw above.” It is a specially designed exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. My mother, with somewhat of a twinkle in her eye, used to say, “Son, if you do that again, I’m gonna skin you alive.” I knew she was speaking figuratively; nonetheless, I got the point!

Thus, Christ, in this context, was emphasizing the supreme value of pursuing the kingdom of God above all else. To stress this principle, He chose, for illustration purposes, items that are very precious to us—such as the eye, hand, or foot. The obvious meaning is this: Recognize the value of eternal things; do not be derailed by temporal and physical distractions.

Moreover, the language in the latter portion of the passage in no way negates the symbolism employed in the warning.

That this is the fair meaning of the passage is obvious from the fact that a mere amputation of a hand or a foot or the removal of an eye does not alter the condition of the heart. Therefore, such actions, drastic though they are, would not provide sufficient motive for a transformed heart.

It was the heart that Jesus was trying to reach, as is seen in the passages of Mark 7:1, 18–23. The surgery that Jesus talked about, in Mark 9, is spiritual, not physical. The point is this: The value of being eternally with the Creator makes all of earth’s circumstances seem trivial.

A comprehension of at least some of the basic figures of speech utilized by the Bible writers is absolutely essential for a correct interpretation of Scripture in many cases. A lack of such understanding has resulted in a variety of errors—some of which were painfully experienced.

Origen, a theologian of the early third century a.d., misinterpreted Jesus’ admonition about becoming a eunuch for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. (See Matthew 19:12.) As a consequence of his misguided exegesis, he emasculated himself. Eusebius, a fourth century historian, noted that Origen’s method of interpretation was “too literal and puerile in a sense.” (Ecclesiastical History, vi.viii.) The historian paid a rather high price for failing to understand a significant biblical figure of speech.

The Saviour’s teaching in the context cited in Mark, therefore, is to be viewed figuratively—not literally.

This is why we are told, in 11 Timothy 2:15, to study the Scripture: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Study brings with it a putting together in such a way that truth is made known from a heavenly perspective. I hope that this helps with your study of this matter.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Lessons from the Children of Israel, Part V

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The word chode is an Old English word, the past participle of the word chide. If we were to give it a modern application, we would probably say that it means to oppose noisily with the exhibiting of bodily violence. When the people chode with Moses (Numbers 20:3), loudly making their requests for water, their faces probably turned red, and the veins on their necks protruded. They were most likely gesturing with their hands, and they perhaps threw dust up in the air, as they demanded, “Why have you brought us out here?”

Have you ever heard anyone say, “I just wish I could die”? The children of Israel expressed this desire: “Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!” Numbers 20:3. They were referring to the incident when the earth swallowed up Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their supporters. (See Numbers 16.) They whined, “Those people all died; we wish to God that we had died too.” They were not concerned about anything but themselves. When this is the case, watch out!

When all of this complaining and all of this bitterness began boiling up and manifesting itself, what happened? Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle, where they knew there would be protection, and they fell on their faces. They probably covered their heads with their hands and said, “Lord, the fire is going to fall. We do not want to be a part of this.”

Lessons to Learn

One lesson we can learn from this experience concerning the children of Israel is that a discontented heart makes for a very reckless tongue. Forty years of divine chastisement had taught them absolutely nothing. They could not see the hand of God in their leading. They could only see Moses and Aaron; they could not see God.

Do we have those kinds of things happening today? I think so. When things are not going the way they should—or the way that we think they should—we begin to complain about that which is visible to us. That which we can see is that which we blame. Should we not be asking ourselves, “Does God have a hand in all of this?” Is He not the One to whom we should be appealing for help?

There is another lesson in all of this for us, and that is to answer the question, Is God leading, or is He not leading? I would like to suggest to you that perhaps, in the not too distant future in the historic movement, because the number of leaders are dwindling and the focus of attention is more and more upon those who remain, there may come about circumstances in which the water will stop. What are we going to do then? Are we going to focus on the leaders and cry, “You have led us on a merry chase; would to God we had stayed with the denomination; you got us out here in the wilderness to kill us”? I would like to suggest to you that something similar could happen in the very near future. We need to ask ourselves, Where am I going to be found in all of this? On whose side am I really going to be? Am I going to focus on the leadership and chide them, or am I going to carry my problem to God who will be merciful and will supply my needs? It is something to ponder.

Selective Hearing

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together . . . .” This is the rod that Moses had used to perform miracles before Pharaoh. “. . . thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.” Numbers 20:7, 8.

You see, sometimes we have to make sure that we are rightly dividing the word of truth. Moses, perhaps, only heard part of what God told him. The part he heard was, “And thou shalt bring forth to them water.” Moses should have known that the source of the water was God and not himself.

There is a tendency for us to hear only certain kinds of things in our distress. We have to make sure that we do not allow a discontented heart to bring forth a reckless tongue, because Moses, in this regard, was just as guilty as were the children of Israel. The people had been pressing on him for so long and he had been through so much with them, that this became, as we say, “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” But, even so, there was no excuse.

Here is where Moses failed. He did not follow the counsel that God gave to him. God told him to speak to the rock, and it would bring forth water. Moses received a test here, which shows us that we never reach a point in our Christian experience where we are beyond the point of testing. We never reach a level or an age where we are not presented with decisions and tests. Many times we like to believe that God passes us by without a test, but He does not. How are we going to relate to such testing?

“Take the rod, Moses, and go over to that rock with the rod in your hand and speak to that rock.” Moses was naturally an impatient person, and he had 80 years previously failed that same test. He killed the Egyptian, because he was impatient and angry at what was taking place. (See Exodus 2:11–14.) God was going to work out every last bit of this part of his nature, so He said, “I want you to go and speak to this rock.” But Moses “lost his temper.” The people had raised his blood pressure. They had rebelled against God once again, and Moses was angry. Moses went out to the rock after hearing God speak, probably fully intending to do what God had told him to do. But when he was actually confronted with the situation, he failed the test.

Moses’ Sin

If Moses had a problem, he should have gone into his closet alone and complained to God. God would have listened to every complaint Moses had, if he would have gone to God alone. When you go into your closet, you can tell God anything you want to tell Him. You can pour out your heart, even if it is filled with bitterness. He is able to deal with it in a way that is altogether different than if you pour out your bitterness in front of people.

This was Moses’ sin. God was not sanctified before the people by what Moses did. He knew what God told him. He did not have any question about it, but perhaps, because of his anger, he heard only a part of it, and then he moved ahead. The Bible says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

It was a sin of greater magnitude than if the congregation had done the same thing, but Ellen White wrote that Moses and Aaron “were not chargeable with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 419. As soon as Moses struck the rock—twice—instead of speaking to it, the conviction of the Holy Spirit was there, and Moses said, “Oh, Lord, please forgive me.” Mrs. White said that their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. “The Lord accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their sin might do among the people, He could not remit its punishment.” Ibid.

No Respecter of Persons

“The transgression was known to the whole congregation; and had it been passed by lightly, the impression would have been given that unbelief and impatience under great provocation might be excused in those in responsible positions.” Ibid., 420. Consider that for just a moment.

Suppose that was the case. Suppose that somehow there was “Exemption 102” that said it was all right for a leader who was under great provocation and stress to lose his or her self-control—but only under great stress and provocation. Can you imagine the effects that such behavior would have on the congregation of God’s people? (We think we have turbulent spirits now!) “But when it was declared that because of that one sin Moses and Aaron were not to enter Canaan, the people knew that God is no respecter of persons, and that He will surely punish the transgressor.” Ibid.

No one is going to escape. It does not matter how your past faithfulness has been. Ezekiel 18 says that all the righteousness that you have done will never be mentioned, and all the sin that you have sinned is going to come back upon you, if repentance does not take place. (Verses 24–26.)

The moral of the story is given in the words of the Spirit of Prophecy: “But few realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Men flatter themselves that God is too good to punish the transgressor. But in the light of Bible history it is evident that God’s goodness and His love engage Him to deal with sin as an evil fatal to the peace and happiness of the universe. . . .

“Past faithfulness will not atone for one wrong act. The greater the light and privileges granted to man, the greater is his responsibility, the more aggravated his failure, and the heavier his punishment.” Ibid.

Our Responsibility

In 1 Corinthians 10:11, we are told: “All these things happened unto them for ensamples . . . upon whom the ends of the world are come.” So we may ask, “What is our responsibility in all of this?” Well, the responsibility we have is in the acknowledgement that there is a Saviour who is able to save to the uttermost. In the process of salvation, not only is there justification for the past, but there is also sanctification for the present. By going through that process of sanctification for the present, we begin to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ that would, or should, bring us to the point where we are not repeating these historical failures. This applies especially to those in positions of leadership.

We need to begin to train our thinking so that we will be able to relate to this in the right way—not flattering nor exalting those in positions of leadership, but realizing that those who are called into positions of leadership are going to have far greater accountability than those who are within the congregation. Therefore, everyone in the congregation is responsible for contributing to the peace, prosperity, and safety of those who are in positions of leadership. The members of the congregation should not endeavor to throw stumbling blocks in the way of leadership.

Some people say, “You are just trying to pad your own place.” No, I am not padding my own place. I am just trying to make it into the kingdom of heaven with the calling that God has given to me. I know that Pastor John Grosboll is in that same category. He is trying to make it into the kingdom of heaven with the calling that God has given to him, as well. We are not going to be able to do it without your help. There must be a supportive aspect of the congregation saying, “We are behind you. If you step off the path, we are going to have a visit with you concerning it, so we all stay on the path together.”

This is why Ellen White tells us that the work will never be finished until the laity and the ministers work together. “The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 117.

I see the passage of Scripture, Numbers 20, as outlining these very things and showing us how to again get back on track. We see the failures that took place with the children of Israel. We do not want to repeat their history, but we are destined to repeat it unless we learn the lessons that are there.

Consequences

“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” Verse 12.

I would like to say, “Poor Aaron,” but I cannot do that. Aaron had his own set of problems. It was not because of what took place with the golden calf that Aaron was closed out of the kingdom. It was because he had an association with Moses when they went to the rock. He was Moses’ mouthpiece. It was here that he should have nudged Moses and said, “Let me do the talking for you.” Aaron had an opportunity, but he was silent. He had known his brother for 120 years. He could probably tell when Moses’ temperature gauge was rising, and he should have said, “Shh, let me do the speaking for you. Rock, bring forth water.” Perhaps both Moses and Aaron could have gone into the Promised Land. But Aaron, as the helper of Moses, did not speak when he should have spoken. Was it because he was afraid of Moses? No, I think that Aaron just did not respond when he should have.

Wisdom to Counsel

This leads us to yet another lesson. When we have been placed in the position of counselor to someone, we need to give counsel in God’s wisdom so that our associates do not experience failure. With the Lord’s help, we need to be on a level of communication that we can share things without becoming worked up or upset about them. Doing this may prevent us from a greater failure down the road.

As it was, Aaron climbed the mount Hor, and his clothes—the priestly robes—were removed and placed on Eleazar, and Aaron died. Verses 25– 28. Moses, though he pleaded with the Lord, was not going to enter the Promised Land either.

There are some tremendous object lessons in the story of the children of Israel for us. The thing that we need to ask ourselves is, “Are we up to learning the lessons?” I pray that we are.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life. He may be contacted by e-mail at: mikebaugher@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – Counsel from the True Witness, continued

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In last month’s editorial, we saw the condescension of God in attempting to save the chief of sinners. However, we can only be saved if whatever problem we have with sin is completely dealt with on this earth. Therefore, God deals directly with sin. We continue the letter Ellen White wrote to a brother who was in deep trouble. God wanted to save him, as He wants to save you. There is no partiality of persons with Him.

This letter shows us several common problems that we human beings have: (1) the difficulty of making confession; (2) trying to cover up the evil; (3) trying to get sympathy for oneself and against whoever has reproved the evil; and (4) the great difficulty God has getting sinners to acknowledge their problem, confess it, and forsake it.

“When I tried to show you the aggravated character of sin in the sight of God of a watchman upon the walls of Zion, you did not seem to feel or to sense the sin, but you seemed as unimpressionable as a stone. I know you are seeking to cover your ways from the Lord. I did not then open them to you, as I have done now, with my pen. And I do not wish to have this opened to others, for I do hope that you will see and sense the evil and confess your sin to God and to your brethren and make clean work, that you may have this foul blot removed from you by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. You have not confessed your wrongs. You have done great wickedness; you have committed adultery, broken the seventh commandment.

“I have carried this heavy load upon my soul all this time. When we had the meetings in you knew just what you ought to confess. You knew the warnings were sent of God; you knew the communications I sent to you from Europe were truth. And when I carried the burdens until my soul seemed crushed, you obtained [the] sympathy of your friends by leaving the impression upon their minds that I was not just, but partial, and very severe; that you were suffering under accusations which were very difficult to bear; that the testimonies I had given were my own judgment, my own words; that I had wronged you; and that false reports had been brought to me. But my brother, nothing could be more deceptive than this.

“You stated at the camp meeting and since then, that you had not been guilty of any moral wrong, and that was the reason why you persisted in your course, notwithstanding counsel and warnings had been given you. You will remember I met your remarks promptly.

“I showed you that your position as a minister of the gospel would make any such course as you had pursued a reproach to the cause of God, a matter of scandal, and your actions a savor of death rather than of life. . . .

“What can be more dreadful than a minister of Jesus Christ a commandment breaker? I see only one way for your escape—break with the temptations of Satan at once, and rush for the light! Even ministers who claim to believe the truth are only blind guides if the truth is not enthroned in the heart, and a thorough transition from darkness to light has [not] taken place. . . .” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 160, 161.

Boundless Grace

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Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7. The measure of the gift of Christ is “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” [Colossians 2:9.] This is true whether viewed as the measure of the gift which God made in giving Christ, or as the measure of the gift which Christ himself gave. For the gift that God gave is his only begotten Son, and in “him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” [Colossians 2:9.] Therefore, from this standpoint, the measure of the gift of Christ being only the measure of the fullness of the Godhead bodily and this being only the measure of the grace that is given to every one of us, it follows that unto every one of us is given without measure, simply boundless grace.

Viewed from the measure of the gift in which Christ himself gives to us, it is the same; because “he gave himself for us;” (Titus 2:14) he gave himself for our sins, and in this he gave himself to us. And as in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and as he gave himself, then the measure of the gift of Christ on his own part is also only the measure of the fullness of the Godhead bodily. It therefore follows that from this standpoint also, the measure of grace that is given to every one of us is only the measure of the fullness of the Godhead, that is, simply immeasurable.

Thus in whatever way it is viewed, the plain word of the Lord is that unto every one of us he has given grace to the measure of the fullness of the Godhead bodily; that is, boundless, immeasurable grace—all the grace he has. This is good. But it is just the Lord, it is just like the Lord to do that; for he is good.

And this boundless grace is all given, given freely, to “every one of us.” [Ephesians 4:7.] To us it is. To you and me, just as we are. And that is good. We need just that much grace to make us what the Lord wants us to be. And he is just so kind as to give it all to us freely, that we may be indeed just what he wants us to be.

The Lord wants every one of us to be saved, and that with the very fullness of salvation. And therefore he has given to every one of us the very fullness of grace, because it is grace that brings salvation. For it is written, “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11. Thus the Lord wants all to be saved, and therefore he gave all his grace, bringing salvation to all. The marginal reading of this text tells it that way, and it is just as true as the reading in the verse itself. Here it is: “The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared.” All the grace of God is given freely to everyone, bringing salvation to all. Whether all or any one will receive it, that is another question. What we are studying now is the truth and the fact that God has given it. Having given it all, he is clear, even though men may reject it.

The Lord wants us to be perfect: and so it is written: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” [Matthew 5:48.] Desiring that we shall be perfect, he has given us, every one, all the grace that he has, bringing the fullness of his salvation, that every man may be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. The very purpose of this gift of his boundless grace is that we may be made like Jesus, who is the image of God. Even so it is written: “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ … for the perfecting of the saints … till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” [Ephesians 4:7, 12, 13.]

Do you want to be like Jesus? Then receive the grace that he has so fully and so freely given. Receive it in the measure in which he has given it, not in the measure in which you think you deserve it. Yield yourself to it, that it may work in you and for you the wondrous purpose for which it is given, and it will do it. It will make you like Jesus. It will accomplish the purpose and the wish of him who has given it. “Yield yourself unto God.” [Romans 6:13.] “I beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” [II Corinthians 6:1.]

It can never be repeated too often, that under the reign of grace it is just as easy to do right, as under the reign of sin it is easy to do wrong. This must be so; for if there is not more power in grace than there is in sin, then there can be no salvation from sin. But there is salvation from sin; this no one who believes Christianity can deny.

Yet salvation from sin certainly depends upon there being more power in grace than there is in sin. Then, there being more power in grace than there is in sin, it cannot possibly be otherwise than that wherever the power of grace can have control, it will be just as easy to do right as without this it is easy to do wrong.

No man ever yet naturally found it difficult to do wrong. His great difficulty has always been to do right. But this is because man naturally is enslaved to a power—the power of sin that is absolute in its reign. And so long as that power has sway, it is not only difficult but impossible to do the good that he knows and that he would. But let a mightier power than that have sway, then is it not plain enough that it will be just as easy to serve the will of the mightier power, when it reigns, as it was to serve the will of the other power when it reigned?

But grace is not simply more powerful than is sin. If this were indeed all, even then there would be fullness of hope and good cheer to every sinner in the world. But this, good as it would be, is not all; it is not nearly all. There is much more power in grace than there is in sin. For “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” [Romans 5:20.] And just as much more power in grace than there is in sin, just so much more hope and good cheer there are for every sinner in the world.

How much more power, then, is there in grace than there is in sin? … Whence comes grace?—From God, to be sure. “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Philemon 3.] Whence comes sin?—From the devil, of course. Sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. Well, then, how much more power is there in grace than there is in sin? It is as plain as A B C that there is just as much more power in grace than there is in sin, as there is more power in God than there is in the devil. It is therefore also perfectly plain that the reign of grace is the reign of God; and that the reign of sin is the reign of Satan. And is it not therefore perfectly plain also, that it is just as easy to serve God by the power of God as it is to serve Satan with the power of Satan?

Where the difficulty comes in, in all this, is that so many people try to serve God with the power of Satan. But that can never be done. “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt.” [Matthew 12:33.] Men cannot gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles. The tree must be made good, root and branch. It must be made new. “Ye must be born again.” [John 3:7.] “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” [Galatians 6:15.] Let no one ever attempt to serve God with anything but the present, living power of God, that makes him a new creature; with nothing but the much more abundant grace that condemns sin in the flesh, and reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Then the service of God will indeed be in “newness of life;” [Romans 6:4] then it will be found that his yoke is indeed “easy” and his burden “light;” [Matthew 11:30] then his service will be found indeed to be with “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” [I Peter 1:8.]

Did Jesus ever find it difficult to do right? Every one will instantly say, No. But why? He was just as human as we are. He took flesh and blood the same as ours. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” [John 1:14.] And the kind of flesh that he was made in this world, was precisely such as was in this world. “In all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren.” [Hebrews 2:17.] “In all things”! It does not say, in all things but one. There is no exception. He was made in all things like as we are. He was of himself as weak as we are; for he said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” [John 5:30.]

Why, then, being in all things like as we are, did he find it always easy to do right?—Because he never trusted to himself, but his trust was always in God alone. All his dependence was upon the grace of God. He always sought to serve God, only with the power of God. And therefore the Father dwelt in him, and did the works of righteousness. Therefore it was always easy for him to do right. But as he is, so are we in this world. He has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,” [Philippians 2:13] as well as in him. All the power in heaven and in earth is given unto him; and he desires that you may be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power. “In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”; [Colossians 2:9.] and he strengthens you with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith, that you may be “filled with all the fullness of God.” [Ephesians 3:19.]

True, Christ partook of the divine nature, and so do you if you are a child of promise, and not of the flesh; for by the promises ye are partakers of the divine nature. There was nothing given to him in this world, and he had nothing in this world, that is not freely given to you, or that you may not have.

All this is in order that you may walk in newness of life; that henceforth you may not serve sin; that you may be the servant of righteousness only; that you may be freed from sin; that sin may not have dominion over you; that you may glorify God on the earth; and that you may be like Jesus. And therefore “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. … Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” And I “beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” [Ephesians 4:7, 13.]

Can every believer have grace enough to keep him free from sinning?—Yes. Indeed, everybody in the world can have enough to keep him from sinning. Enough is given; and it is given for this purpose. If any one does not have it, it is not because enough has not been given; but because he does not take that which has been given. For “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7. The measure of the gift of Christ is himself wholly, and that is the measure of “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” To the fullness of the Godhead there is, indeed, no measure; it is boundless, is it simply the infinity of God. Yet that is the only measure of the grace that is given to every one of us. The boundless measure of the fullness of the Godhead is the only thing that can express the proportion of grace that is given to every one who is in this world. For “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” This grace is given in order that “as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through the righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord,” [Romans 5:20, 21] and in order that sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are under grace.

It is given also “for the perfecting of the saints.” The object of it is to bring each one to perfection in Christ Jesus to the perfection too, that is fully up to God’s standard; for it is given for the building up of the body of Christ, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” It is given to “every one of us,” “till we all come” to perfection, even by the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Again, this grace is given to every one where sin abounds; and it brings salvation to everyone to whom it is given. Bringing salvation in itself, the measure of the salvation which it brings to every one is only the measure of its own fullness, which is nothing less than the measure of the fullness of the Godhead.

As boundless grace is given to every one bringing salvation to the extent of its own full measure, then if any one does not have boundless salvation, why is it?—Plainly it can be only because he will not take that which is given.

As boundless grace is given to every one, in order that it shall reign in him against all the power of sin, as certainly as every sin reigned; and in order that sin shall not have dominion, then if sin still reigns in any one, if sin yet has dominion over any one, where lies the fault?—Clearly it lies only in this, that he will not allow the grace to do for him and in him that which it is given to do. By unbelief he frustrates the grace of God. So far as he is concerned, the grace has be given in vain.

But every believer, by his very profession, says that he has received the grace of God. Then if in the believer grace does not reign instead of sin; if grace does not have dominion instead of sin, it is plain enough that he is receiving the grace of God in vain. If grace is not bringing the believer onward toward a perfect man in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, then he is receiving the grace of God in vain. Therefore the exhortation of the Scripture is, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” II Corinthians 6:1.

The grace of God is fully able to accomplish that for which it is given, if only it is allowed to work. We have seen that grace being altogether from God, the power of grace is nothing but the power of God. It is plain enough therefore that the power of God is abundantly able to accomplish all for which it is given,—the salvation of the soul, deliverance from sin and from the power of it, the reign of righteousness in the life, and the perfecting of the believer unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,—if only it can have place in the heart and in the life to work according to the will of God. But the power of God is “unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Unbelief frustrates the grace of God. Many believe and receive the grace of God for the salvation from sins that are past, but are content with that, and do not give it the same place in the soul, to reign against the power of sin, that they did to save from sins of the past. This, too, is but another phase of unbelief. So as to the one great final object of grace—the perfection of the life in the likeness of Christ—they do practically receive the grace of God in vain.

“We then, as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed.” [II Corinthians 6:1–3.] Nor does this word “ministry” refer simply to the ordained ministry of the pulpit; it includes every one who receives the grace of God, or that has named the name of Christ. For “as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” [I Peter 4:10.] Therefore he does not want any one to receive the grace of God in vain, lest that grace and its blessed working be misrepresented to the world, and so men be further hindered from yielding to it. He does not want his grace to be received in vain, because when it is, offense is given in many things, and the ministry of grace itself is blamed. Yet when the grace of God is not received in vain, but is given the place that belongs to it, “no offense” will be given “in anything,” and the ministry will not only be not blamed but will be blest.

And now to show how complete and all-pervading the reign of grace will be in the life where it is not received in vain, the Lord has set down the following list, embracing “all things,” and in which we shall approve ourselves unto God. …

“In all things approving ourselves” unto God, “In much patience, In afflictions, In necessities, In distresses, In stripes, In imprisonments, In tumults, In labors, In watchings, In fasting, By pureness, By knowledge, By longsuffering, By kindness, By the Holy Ghost, By love unfeigned, By the word of truth, By the power of God, By the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honor and dishonor, By evil report and good report: As deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; As dying, and behold, we live; As chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; As poor, yet making many rich: As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” [II Corinthians 6:4–10.]

This list covers all the experiences that can ever enter into the life of any believer in this world. It shows that where the grace of God is not received in vain, that grace will so take possession and control of the life, that every experience that enters into the life will be taken by grace, and turned to making us approved unto God, and building us up in perfection unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech ye also that you receive not the grace of God in vain.” [II Corinthians 6:2.]

From the book, Lessons on Faith, 79-89.

©1995 by TEACH Services, Inc., used with permission. www.teachservices.com

In 1888, the Lord brought a message of righteousness to the church through Elders E.J. Waggoner and A.T. Jones. This message was identified as the beginning of the loud cry of the third angel whose glory was to fill the whole earth in preparation for the second coming of Jesus.

Romans 7

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Two completely opposite interpretations occur within Seventh-day Adventism, today, concerning the seventh chapter of Romans. The difference is a question about what Paul meant when he said: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” Romans 7:15.

Was that Paul’s actual spiritual experience at the time, when he, as a converted Christian, wrote to the Romans? Or was he illustrating a lesson using an earlier experience in his life, when he had realized the Law’s demands, but was not yet converted and therefore had not received insight into God’s plan of salvation from sin?

Without hesitation we recognize much from the illustration in our own struggle in the Christian life, but is it exactly the same for everyone? Also, what did Paul mean when, later on, he said that we should not feel any obligation or indebtedness to the flesh?

“We are debtors, not to the flesh,” but that we, with the Spirit’s power, shall “mortify the deeds of the body.” Romans 8:12, 13. Naturally, we can fall and then Jesus raises us up again, but that is not what Paul is dealing with here. The question is not so much concerned with Paul’s conversion as it is with whether we believe that God is powerful enough to be able to give us “power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12), and strength to subdue our sinful nature. Did God ask too much of Cain when He said to him that he should “rule over” (Genesis 4:7) his nature? Was it impossible for the woman taken in adultery to, in God’s strength, “go, and sin no more”? (John 8:11.) Also, was Peter able to do the humanly impossible —to walk on the water?

The question is fundamental and serious. If Paul, that giant of God’s servants, were converted in Romans 7:15–25, and yet could not do other than sin, none—not even God—can demand that we stop sinning. It would indirectly be an excuse for us to continue to live in sin, because then it would be impossible to overcome sin and keep the law of God. But that statement is, in fact, Satan’s basic lie since the rebellion in heaven. (See The Desire of Ages, 309.)

This interpretation shall, with the help of parallel texts, attempt to clarify whether Paul described himself as being converted or not, in Romans 7:14–23.

 

Different Methods of Interpretation

 

When God teaches us about important truths, which He does not want us to misunderstand, He repeats the message using different illustrations. The book of Ezekiel, chapters 4, 5, 12, 15, 17, 23 and 24, are striking examples of how He does this. In these chapters, God speaks to the Jews through the prophet, and warns them that because of their backsliding from the faith, and the spread of corruption among both the rulers and people, they will be carried away into captivity to Babylon. At that time, as during all of the history of the Israelites, there were only a few among the people, and even fewer among the leaders, who took any notice of God’s warnings through His prophets.

When it has to do with Righteousness by Faith, and victory over the temptation to transgress the law of God after being born again, God uses the same method of repetition as we find in Paul’s letter to the Romans. However, in spite of the fact that He uses four parables which are unambiguous, some interpret His statements differently, and, as a result, they limit their interpretation to a few texts in the fourth repetition.

To interpret a subject with a limited number of texts, however, is to invite an incorrect interpretation. When others interpret God’s Word in that way, we criticize them. Nevertheless, Romans 7:7–25 is often interpreted with this same “limited-number-of-texts” interpretation procedure within Seventh-day Adventism today. The moral declension in the world and the ecumenical spirit among professed Christians, influence Adventists to an ever-increasing degree, through the introduction of Romish lines of thought into our theology. Aurelius Augustine’s (354–430 A.D.) doctrine of inherited sin has greatly influenced how many Adventists believe, and it is a deciding factor in understanding Romans, chapter 7.

Peter counsels us about how some will use Paul’s writings, in 2 Peter 3:15, 16: “Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.” Therefore, each of us should be careful not to draw hasty conclusions about what Paul means. In addition to this, some texts are poorly translated, or even incorrectly translated, depending upon whether the translator had a Romish, or Biblically based viewpoint. However, we must also understand Paul’s letter correctly; and it is true that those who really want to understand will understand, if they will ignore their own and others’ prejudices and interpretations and listen directly to the Holy Spirit’s instruction in the Bible. (James1:5.) God’s Word is given through the Holy Spirit and it never contradicts itself.

 

Paul’s Conversion

 

What was the consequence of Paul’s conversion? Those who claim that he was converted in Romans 7:14–23, believe, in practice, that Paul, who through God’s grace should “[be obedient] to the faith among all nations” (Romans 1:5), could not avoid sinning himself—or, in other words, that nothing had actually happened in his life after he, in Romans 7:25, exclaimed that he had obtained the solution to his sin problem through Jesus Christ.

Is the Holy Spirit’s power which accompanied the preaching of the gospel (1 Thessalonians 5) only a promise for the future, and not in reality something which leads us to liberty and victory over sin in our everyday life here and now? Many today say that it applies to the future when they expect that the “latter rain,” by a miracle, shall so change them that they stop sinning. They also say that now (before the latter rain), no one can escape the transgression of God’s law, and they often refer to Paul’s experience, in the seventh chapter of his letter to the Romans, to support their view.

 

Different Definitions

 

It is obvious that differences of understanding are caused by differences in definitions of what conversion involves. Is one already converted when only one’s will and aim is to do good, or is one first converted when one has received the power to effect a complete change, and go in the opposite direction?

Roman Catholic theology teaches that it is enough to will to do good. This means that God has instituted a law that one cannot live up to. It is acceptable for Catholics to sin. Their ideals, in the first place, are guiding principles that are neither necessary nor possible to live up to. There is only a continual pardon but no victory over sin. But is that the Gospel of the Bible? Is the aim and the will enough? Doesn’t it need something more than that?

 

Examples of Conversions

 

Perhaps the experience of Pentecost, in Acts 2:36–38, can shed some light on the question of conversion. Peter had just preached the Pentecost message of the new covenant and that the Jews had slain their own King, the only true Mediator between God and them. He stressed the fact that God’s sacrificial Lamb was given and that the service of reconciliation in the holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary had begun.

When the Jews, who had gathered, heard that, “they were pricked in their heart.” They felt that they needed more than their symbolic service in the earthly temple, and they had a will to alter the state of things. But were they converted by the will alone to change? No. Instead, they asked: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter saw that they were now ready and answered: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.

In the same way, Paul was “pricked in [his] heart” when he realized the demands of the law. (See Acts 26:14, 22:10, The Acts of the Apostles, 112–122.) He says: “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” Romans 7:9. Paul understood that it required more than outer religious formalism. He wanted to follow the demands of the law, but he was powerless to do so. He was “sold as a slave to sin” and was “[captive] to the law of sin.” Romans 7:23. Paul had no alternative! Does that really describe, as some declare, a person’s life after having been changed and set free (Luke 4:18; 33–36) by the grace of God? Is it not so, instead, as Paul describes it here in Romans 7:14–23, an account of how he deals with the demands of the law—without grace?

Paul had the desire, but, realizing the hopeless situation with his carnal nature, exclaimed in despair: “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The Swedish Bible (1917 edition) has it thus: “Who shall save me from this body of sin?” At this point, he was also ready to receive the power of conversion, finding the answer as did the Jews on the day of Pentecost: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 7:25.

That joyous message was the solution to his problem, “for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth . . .” Romans 1:16. The Gospel is not only about forgiveness; it also concerns the Holy Spirit’s power in us to win the victory over the world, Satan and ourselves. By ourselves, we have no power to oppose our nature and our intelligent fiend, Satan. However, God grants us the power through: “Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24.

That power is not a miracle that belongs to the future. It is the same power which Jesus requested of His Father to overcome evil. It is the same power which Enoch (who walked with God) and Elijah (who was taken up to heaven) both received. When Paul found the solution to his problem, he received an alternative to his earlier life. He could choose one or the other. He summarized the two alternatives at the end of the seventh and beginning the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans.

“So then with the mind [spirit] I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death . . . That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 7:25, 8:1, 2, 4.

 

Four Parallel Confirmations

 

Does the information, up to this point, support what Paul wrote earlier in his letter? A deciding factor is to know why he wrote the letter and to whom he wrote it. It can be established that he wrote partly to highly educated Christians of heathen origin as well as to Jewish Christians who were on intimate terms with “the law” but without grace, and who therefore tried to earn their salvation through “works” alone. Paul wrote: “thou art called a Jew, and restest [v.i. to be left, to remain; to stay; to continue—Webster’s dictionary] in the law . . . Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” Romans 2:17, 21. (Read verses 17–29.)

The Swedish Bible (1917 edition) renders it thus: “You call yourselves Jews and trust in the law . . . You who want to teach others don’t learn yourselves!” These Jews kept the outward letter of the law, but their hearts did not keep the spirit of the law. Their Christianity was motivated by a fear of punishment, or of desire for an expected reward. The driving force behind their type of Christianity was not love to God for His sacrifice or for that which was right.

The structure of the letter shows that Paul wrote to people who were familiar with the way that the Old Testament conveyed a particular truth; namely that of repetition. Since Paul wrote to people with a knowledge of the Old Testament’s method of description, he has repeated what he says in Romans 7:7; 8:4, about serving either the “flesh” or the “spirit,” not less than three times earlier, from Romans chapter five. The first description he gives is that of the theology of baptism. In the second, he illustrates the principle through the story of the slave who was freed to serve another master. The third is a picture of a woman who, through the law, is bound to her husband until he dies, but after his death she is free to give herself to another man.

 

  1. The Symbol of Baptism

 

Paul begins with the theology of baptism, since baptism is the symbol for the death of Jesus, His burial and resurrection—the fundamental principles of everything else in God’s plan of salvation. As an introduction to his teaching, he talks about Adam who, through his transgression, brought sin and death into the world, but explains that, in Romans 5:18, “the second Adam,” Jesus Christ, had come and solved the problem of sin and death by His righteous life and His substitutionary death. By that means, none were automatically judged to die for eternity. The “second Adam” now offers redemption and power to overcome. Therefore, “as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:21.

The Swedish Bible (1917 edition) renders it thus: “As sin had exercised its domination in and through death, so should now also grace through righteousness exercise its domination to everlasting life and that through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

After this, Paul poses a question to the Romans: “Shall we continue in sin? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1–3. Paul explains here for the Romans that those who have been baptized have died, been buried and have been resurrected and therefore “should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4.

The old man of flesh is buried “that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:6, 7.

The grammatical form, used in the above quotations, is continuous. That means that something begins at a point of time and continues to go on now. By way of explanation, one could say: It began to rain yesterday and has continued to rain ever since. (Another text with the continuous form is John 3:16 where it says: “that whosoever believeth [and continues to believe] shall be saved.”)

In the same way, shall the old man be dead, and remain dead. The new, spiritual man shall live and continue to live. Paul exhorts them: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:12–14.

Accordingly, Paul says that a new power has been established which shall have Lordly dominion and press down the former.

 

  1. The Obliging Servant

 

Yet again Paul asks: “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?” Romans 6:15.

This time, Paul illustrates his salvation from sin by using the example of a servant who becomes released from his servitude, and who, of his own free will and with all his heart, chooses, instead, to obey his deliverer. The servant’s relationship to his master was well known in Roman society which was full of servants or slaves taken from the people of those lands which the Romans had conquered. But Israel also had a slave system of its own with a system of regulations governing it. If an Israelite found himself in a debt situation where he could not manage to repay, he could be forced to sell himself as a servant to another Israelite so that he did not need to starve. However, he became free and was released from his debt in the seventh, or “free,” year. A real slave, however, was bound to his master and remained his slave for life, unless a rich or powerful person released him.

The servant, who had been released, Paul spiritually applied to the Christian whom Jesus had redeemed. He exclaimed: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you . . . for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Romans 6:17–19.

Paul says that the Christian is free to serve the good instead of, as earlier, his own fallen nature, when he had no other alternative than to be a slave to the world and Satan.

Next month we will study out the last two illustrations that Paul uses.*

*Charles Axelson passed away in July of 1998.

Charles Axelson has been a faithful Seventh-day Adventist in Sweden for many years. Over 20 years ago Charles was involved in an automobile accident that left him a quadraplegic. Using a stick in his cheek, he was active as a writer and an artist. He had the respect and love of his associates and he is missed by each one. He was looking forward to this article being published in Land Marks magazine. We look forward to seeing Charles again—seeing him jump for joy that he can walk again. Then we will all spend eternity together forever.

 

Bible Study Guides-Justification by Faith – The Sin Problem

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October 7 – 13, 2018

Key Text

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Study Help:  Patriarchs and Prophets, 48–62.

Introduction

“The human family have all transgressed the law of God, and as transgressors of the law, man is hopelessly ruined; for he is the enemy of God, without strength to do any good thing.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 321.

Sunday

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HUMANITY

  • In whose image were Adam and Eve created, and for what purpose? Genesis 1:26, 27, 31; Isaiah 43:7.

Note: “When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. ‘God created man in His own image’ (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image—the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase.” Education, 15.

  • Though our first parents wore no artificial garments, what enshrouded them as a symbol of their purity? Psalm 104:1, 2. Compare Exodus 34:29.

Note: “The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 45.

“The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310, 311.

Monday

A TEST OF LOVE

  • In what sense were our first parents free to fulfill their divine purpose? Deuteronomy 30:19.

Note: “Our first parents, though created innocent and holy, were not placed beyond the possibility of wrongdoing. God made them free moral agents, capable of appreciating the wisdom and benevolence of His character and the justice of His requirements, and with full liberty to yield or to withhold obedience. …

“God might have created man without the power to transgress His law; He might have withheld the hand of Adam from touching the forbidden fruit; but in that case man would have been, not a free moral agent, but a mere automaton. Without freedom of choice, his obedience would not have been voluntary, but forced. There could have been no development of character.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 48, 49.

  • What test of loyalty was given to our first parents? Genesis 2:16, 17.

Note: “When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden they had everything for their happiness which they could desire. But God chose, in His all-wise arrangements, to test their loyalty before they could be rendered eternally secure. They were to have His favor, and He was to converse with them and they with Him. Yet He did not place evil out of their reach. Satan was permitted to tempt them. If they endured the trial they were to be in perpetual favor with God and the heavenly angels.” The Story of Redemption, 24.

  • Describe how our first parents became disloyal to God. 2 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 3:1–6.

Note: “Satan represented to the holy pair that they would be gainers by breaking the law of God. Do we not today hear similar reasoning? Many talk of the narrowness of those who obey God’s commandments, while they themselves claim to have broader ideas and to enjoy greater liberty. What is this but an echo of the voice from Eden, ‘In the day ye eat thereof’—transgress the divine requirement—‘ye shall be as gods’ (Genesis 3:5)?” Patriarchs and Prophets, 55.

Tuesday

SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

  • How is sin defined in the Bible? 1 John 3:4.

Note: “Our only definition of sin is that given in the word of God; it is ‘the transgression of the law;’ it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government.” The Great Controversy, 493.

  • What tragic consequence came upon humanity because of their sin? Genesis 3:19, 23; Romans 5:12.

Note: “It was not the will of God that the sinless pair should know aught of evil. He had freely given them the good, and had withheld the evil. But, contrary to His command, they had eaten of the forbidden tree, and now they would continue to eat of it—they would have the knowledge of evil—all the days of their life. From that time the race would be afflicted by Satan’s temptations. Instead of the happy labor heretofore appointed them, anxiety and toil were to be their lot. They would be subject to disappointment, grief, and pain, and finally to death.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 59.

  • What additional consequence did the Fall have on the nature of every human being? Romans 3:12; 7:14, 18; 8:7.

Note: “After their sin Adam and Eve … were told that their nature had become depraved by sin; they had lessened their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access to them. In their innocence they had yielded to temptation; and now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to maintain their integrity.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 61.

“The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience. There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist.” Education, 29.

“Of himself he is incapable of sensing sin, incapable of appreciating and appropriating the divine nature. Were it brought within his reach there is nothing in it that his natural heart would desire it.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 340.

Wednesday

4          FIG-LEAF GARMENTS

  • After realizing their loss of innocence, and the light given to symbolize it, what did Adam and Eve do to try and cover their nakedness? Was their covering acceptable? Genesis 3:7, 8 (compare Revelation 3:17).

Note: “When sin entered, they [our first parents] severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311.

  • In what spiritual sense have sinners been making fig-leaf garments for themselves ever since the Fall? Romans 10:3.

Note: “This is what the transgressors of God’s law have done ever since the day of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311.

  • What deception leads us to think that we can make ourselves acceptable to God? Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:6.

Note: “Many are deceived concerning the condition of their hearts. They do not realize that the natural heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. They wrap themselves about with their own righteousness, and are satisfied in reaching their own human standard of character; but how fatally they fail when they do not reach the divine standard, and of themselves they cannot meet the requirements of God. …

“The human family have all transgressed the law of God, and as transgressors of the law, man is hopelessly ruined; for he is the enemy of God, without strength to do any good thing. ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be’ (Romans 8:7).” Selected Messages, Book 1, 320, 321.

Thursday

THE WHOLE WORLD GUILTY BEFORE GOD

  • How has all humanity failed to fulfill God’s original purpose? Romans 3:23.
  • As the standard of righteousness, what purpose does the law of God serve? Romans 3:19, 20; Galatians 3:24.

Note: “The law stands firm, and justice sternly points the sinner to its holy precepts. It is not the province of the law to save the sinner, but to condemn, not to pardon, but to convict. It can not be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. Then how is God’s justice to be satisfied and His favor obtained? Not by works; ‘for by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.’ In his own strength the sinner can not meet the demands of God.” The Signs of the Times, July 31, 1901.

  • What question has been asked by sinners ever since the Fall, and what is the only answer? Job 9:2; 25:4–6; John 1:29.

Note: “In every congregation there are souls who are unsatisfied. Every Sabbath they should hear something that will help them in the way of salvation and teach them how to become better Christians. The important thing for them to know is, How can a sinner be justified before God? Let the way of salvation be presented before them in simplicity. Lift up Jesus as the sinner’s only hope.” The Review and Herald, October 7, 1909.

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1     For what purpose did God create human beings?

2    Why was it important to allow humanity freedom of choice to serve God?

3    What sinful condition are we all subject to apart from God?

4    How can I be guilty of making fig-leaf garments for myself?

5    In whom only can I find hope for my sinful condition?

No Time to Celebrate, part 2

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In this article, we will review the first five points concerning central features of the Three Angels’ Messages that we looked at last month, and further develop number six:

  1. The Three Angels’ Messages are special messages to the last generation. When Jesus comes, the people who are lost are the ones who rejected the Third Angel’s Message, received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.
  2. The Three Angels’ Messages lead men to keep God’s law. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. Those are the distinguishing marks of God’s people in the last days. To help you understand who and what Babylon is, God gives twenty-five identifying marks so you will not miss it. But with God’s people it is straightforward: they keep the commandments and have the faith of Jesus.
  3. The whole world, in the last days, will reject the Three Angels’ Messages. That is clear in Revelation 13:14–16; 16:12–14; 18:23, 24; 19:18, 21. Since the Third Angel’s Message is the most awful threatening and warning in the Bible, the question is why would the whole world reject a threatening and warning so plain, clear and strong?
  4. They will reject this strong, plain warning because of the great deceptions that the unclean spirits will bring upon the world. “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13, 14. The reason the world rejects the message is because they are deceived. As we said in part one, if your faith is based on miracles, the chances are one hundred percent that you will be deceived.
  5. The result of rejecting the Three Angels’ Messages is that you will receive this mark, and drink of the wine of the wrath of God. What has the wrath of God seen in it? The seven last plagues, according to Revelation 15. If you reject the Three Angels’ Messages, you will receive the plagues. That is Revelation 15 and 16. Revelation 17 is about the great worldwide confederation that will oppose God. Revelation 18 is about the destruction of the people that oppose the Three Angels’ Messages. And Revelation 19 is about their final destruction when Jesus comes before the millenium.
  6. The devil will work miracles, specializing in a certain kind of miracle. This miracle is the impersonation of our dead loved ones, famous people of the past, the Virgin Mary or the apostles. Before it is over according to Great Controversy, 624, the devil is even going to personate Jesus Christ.

Ellen White says that some of the same gracious words that Jesus spoke, the devil will speak. He will appear more glorious than anyone mortal eyes have ever beheld. The people of this world will fall down and worship him as Christ. He is the great antichrist.

Ellen White says that the devil can impersonate your dead loved ones perfectly. The form, the shape, the voice, the accent, information that no one but you and that person knew, he can duplicate perfectly. The devil will deceive people through ministers, even through Seventh-day Adventist ministers. Selected Messages, vol. 2, 380 says, “Many of the ministers are half paralyzed by their own defects of character. They need the converting power of God.” If a minister is half paralyzed by his defects of character, can he preach to you about overcoming your defects of character, gaining perfection and overcoming sin? Not unless he wants to be a hypocrite; and if he does, he will shake in his boots the whole time. How can you talk to someone else about something that you yourself are not experiencing? You cannot preach about overcoming smoking if you are smoking.

I used to wonder why no one was preaching about perfection of character, sanctification, overcoming and forsaking sin? I read about these topics all the time in Ellen White’s writings, but rarely heard them preached from the pulpit. Now I understand why so few ministers preach it. It is because they themselves have never experienced these things. You cannot preach about overcoming sin if you are not in your own closet going through an experience with the Lord and overcoming. That is one of the ways the devil deceives people. They never hear about the necessity of forsaking and overcoming sin. The preachers do not preach about it because they cannot.

We talk about how the devil uses religion to deceive people. Ellen White says that he will come to the last generation in the “livery [that is the cloak] of heaven.” (See Testimonies, vol. 3, 456.)What is that talking about? He will come in a religious guise, seeking to gain control of the world.The devil will come to Adventists in church.

The devil will cause heresy to be preached. “Every conceivable message is coming to counterfeit the work of God, and always bearing the inscription of truth upon its banner. And those who are prepared for anything new and sensational, will handle these things in such a manner that our enemies will charge all that is inconsistent and overdone upon Mrs. E. G. White, the prophetess . ..There will be counterfeit messages coming from persons in all directions. One after another will rise up, appearing to be inspired, when they have not the inspiration of heaven, but are under the deception of the enemy. All who receive their messages will be led astray.” Selected Messages, vol. 3, 404.

“Delusions and deceptions will come in among us and will multiply as we near the end.” 1888 Materials, 1243. We are living in the time when these delusions and deceptions are multiplying.

Here is another way the devil deceives people. “Those who feel at liberty to question the Word of God, to doubt everything where there is any chance to be unbelieving, will find that it will require a tremendous struggle to have faith when trouble comes. It will be almost impossible to overcome the influence that binds the mind which has been educated in the line of unbelief, for by this course the soul is bound in Satan’s snare and becomes powerless to break the dreadful net that has been woven closer and closer about the soul.” Last Day Events, 68, 69.

If you sow unbelief, questioning and doubting, that is what you will reap. The time will come when you will be so steeped in unbelief that there will be no way to reach you. There are a lot of people in that condition all around us today, even in the church. There is one more deception we have not looked at: “The warfare against God’s law commenced in heaven. Satan was determined to bring God to his ideas, his way, to force Him to change the law of His government. This was the cause of the war in heaven. Satan worked upon the sympathies of the angelic host by his deceptive attitude.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 37.

Can you have sympathy without any feeling? Sympathy has to do with the way you feel toward another person. The devil was successful in getting a third of the angels on his side by working on their sympathy. He still knows how to do that. The devil uses this technique to get control, not only of individuals or families, but of whole churches and conferences in the Adventist Church.

 

The Way of the Transgressor is Hard

 

God created human beings to be happy. But He says there are certain conditions under which you cannot have happiness. The Bible says that “in Your [God’s] presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.” Psalm 16:11. “Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.” Proverbs 13:15. For those who follow the Lord there is peace and joy, but not for the wicked. ” ‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.’ ” Isaiah 48:22. Paul clearly describes what it is like for the wicked:

“As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands. There is none that seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:10–19.

Paul says for sinful men, “Destruction and misery are in their ways, the way of peace they have not known.” There is no chance for them to have joy and happiness. They will experience destruction and misery. That is what the Bible teaches from the beginning to the end.

The Bible says that if you sin and try to cover it up, you will not prosper. “He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. But for six thousand years the devil has been trying to convince people that you can sin and still have joy and happiness. The Bible says, “No, you cannot!”

During the time of the children of Israel, the Lord gave them a special service once a year called The Day of Atonement. On this Day they were to afflict their souls. “For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day he shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.” Leviticus 23:29, 30.

“This shall be a statute for ever for you; in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins.” Leviticus 16:29–31. God’s plan is to get rid of your sins. If your sins are forgiven and forsaken, then you will be happy. That is one of the central points of the whole ceremonial service.

“It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.” Verse 31. The old covenant Day of Atonement came once a year. The new covenant Day of Atonement began in 1844. We are living in the anti-typical Day of Atonement. Right now, the Lord is reviewing the records of every individual.

 

Search for Hidden Sins

 

“In this great day of atonement our work is that of heart-searching, of self-abasement, and confession of sin, each humbling his own soul before God, and seeking pardon for himself individually . . . If each will search and see what sins are lurking in his own heart to shut out Jesus, he will find such a work to do that he will be ready to esteem others better than himself.” Historical Sketches, 213.

We have to go to the Lord and say, “Lord, is there anything in my life that is wrong and needs to come out.” If you ask the Lord that question, you will be surprised how fast He might answer your prayer! The Holy Spirit will put His finger right on something and say, “How about this?”

“Every man is required to afflict his soul before God. Every heart is required to be in harmony with the divine will.” Review and Herald, August 12, 1884. “Investigate the motives of every action and know that the eye of God reads all, searches out every hidden thing.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 124. I am to ask myself, “What are my motives?” That is afflicting my soul.

“An effort was made to arouse them by presenting our true position in the anti-typical day of atonement, when every man should afflict his soul before God, when sins should be confessed and go beforehand to judgment that when the times of refreshing shall come, they may be blotted out.” Review and Herald, October 21, 1884. “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment . . . and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” 1Timothy 5:24, 25.

There was another special occasion on the Jewish calendar, which was very different from the Day of Atonement. “The Feast of Tabernacles was the great holiday of the nation.” Review and Herald, July 7, 1896. The Feast of Tabernacles represented the great celebration that the saints will enjoy when the Lord takes them to heaven. We believe in celebrating! We are getting ready for the biggest celebration of all time, but it will take place in heaven after the Day of Atonement that we are still in now.

The Day of Atonement prepares you for the great celebration. The devil’s trick is to get people celebrating when they are not ready to go to heaven. They are not ready to have their sins blotted out. He knows that they are headed straight for hellfire if they do not get sin out of their lives.

Do you want to celebrate a few years down here and then go to hellfire? Or do you want to celebrate up there forever. “The Feast of Tabernacles was the great holiday of the nation. This feast was preceded by a Day of Atonement, which occurred on the tenth day of the seventh month, when everyone was to afflict his soul by confessing his sins, both to the Lord and to his brethren. This humiliation was to prepare the way for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.” Ibid.

The Lord says, “If you desire to have joy, peace and happiness, sin has to come out of your life.” And the devil says, “No, it does not. You can have a celebration right now!” That is deceptive. But the Christian world is falling for it. A large part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is falling for it. The Adventist Review took a random survey of 1738 Adventists (printed in the October 30, 1997 edition); twenty-nine percent of those polled said they attend celebration churches right now.

I want to show you from the Bible how serious this is. It is impossible for me to state it too strongly. If you are going to a celebration church, you had better repent and get out of there or you will commit the unpardonable sin and go straight to hellfire. I will read it to you right now in the Bible. “You are full of noise, a tumultuous city, a joyous city. Your slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle . . .Therefore I said, ‘Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me because of the plundering of the daughter of my people. For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in the valley of vision—breaking down the walls and of crying to the mountain . . .He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the house of the forest . . .You also saw the damage to the city of David that it was great. You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you broke down to fortify the wall . . .And in that day the Lord God of Hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girding with sackcloth.” Isaiah 22:2, 4, 5, 8–10, 12.

There is a time when it is not appropriate to sing, dance, wave our hands and have a good time. Do you laugh at a funeral? A funeral, the Bible says, is for mourning. The Lord tells us in verse twelve that it is time to weep and mourn. Why? Because a large percentage of Seventh-day Adventists today are going straight to destruction.

A man came along in the seventies by the name of Desmond Ford, saying you cannot find the investigative judgment in the Bible. That is not true. But people did not and still do not want to hear about the judgment. They want to feel good and to say, “Our sins are forgiven and it is all right.” The Lord says the opposite: “Search your heart, examine your life, look at your motives and ask Me to help you get sin out.”

It is time to pray, to weep between the porch and the altar and plead for God’s people. It is not time to cover up sin and to have a good time. That kind of a good time will not last. When God called for weeping and mourning, the people did not do it. “But instead, joy and gladness, slain oxen and killing sheep, and eating meat and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Verse 13.

They said, “we will not weep and mourn. We will celebrate and have a good time. We will tell the people, Be joyful and happy!” If you are joyful and happy when you are living in sin, you insult the deity and God will respond to that insult.

The Lord said, “It is time to afflict your soul. It is time to search your heart.” They said, “Oh, no, we will have a good time.” The God of heaven is a loving God. He loves us all very much, but He is not to be trifled with. Soon it will be impossible to save the rebellious. Jesus is coming in the clouds of heaven. He will tell us that there is no more sacrifice for sin. If there is sin on your record at that time, you will be lost forever. There will be plenty of gnashing of teeth when the Lord comes. Jesus said that when He comes there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, no celebrating then, because the people have not overcome their sins.

While there is still time, the Lord says, “You need to afflict your soul. You need to search your heart.” Neither the preacher, the elder nor the Sabbathschool teacher can do it for you. You have to do it for yourself. You have to go to your closet and pray saying, “Lord, is there anything in me that needs to come out so I can be ready to meet Jesus in peace?”

The people said, “We will have a good time.” The Lord said, “Yes, you will have a good time, but look what will happen to you.” “Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of Hosts, ‘surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, even to your death,’ says the Lord of hosts,” Verse 14. This means you have committed the unpardonable sin. People say, “Oh, it does not matter. You can worship any way you choose!” But according to Isaiah 22, when God says, “It is time to weep and mourn,” the decision you make to obey or disobey, has eternal consequences.

I am to go to my closet and say, “Lord, are my motives right? I may be doing good things, but are my motives right? Is there secret sin in my life, Lord? If so, I want it to come out now while there is time and not after probation when it is too late.” If I do that now, the time is coming when I will go to a great celebration! It is likened to the marriage supper of the Lamb. It will be the happiest time in my life and it will never end.

Ellen White said, “The command is ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that [celebrate?] sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.’ [Ezekiel 9:4.] These sighing, crying ones have been holding forth the works of life; they had reproved, counseled, and entreated. Some who had been dishonoring God repented and humbled their hearts before Him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking. In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honor and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 210.

The sin that is all around is going to send these people to destruction. The day of salvation is almost over. She talks about two classes: The people who are not grieved over their sins and the people who are sighing, crying, mourning, weeping, lamenting, reproving and counseling others to get sin out of their lives.

The people who receive the seal of God are those who look at their lives and ask, “Lord, is there anything in me that needs to be changed so that I will be ready for heaven?” If all Adventism decides to stomp their feet and clap their hands, wave, have drums and music, sing, dance, play and be joyful, I will not do it!

We are now in the preparation time. The only people who attend God’s great celebration are the ones whose robes of character have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. All the wrinkles are removed, and they are ready. When Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven, the saints will ask only one question, “Is my garment spotless? Are all the wrinkles out?”

I have visualized in my mind over and over again what it will be like to see the cloud coming and know that I am either saved or lost. There will be no changing then. The time to make your calling and election sure is now.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout . . . and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. What a celebration!

 

Angled Waves

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“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28. “These things,” are not pleasant. No one would rejoice because of the “things” that are described in this chapter. They include earthquakes, tidal waves, pestilences and famines. Then why should we rejoice? Because “these things” tell us where we are. They tell us we are nearing home.

The tropical islands scattered across the great South Pacific Ocean are beautiful beyond compare. The sky is a very bright blue. The ocean seems to reflect that color making it a deep blue around the islands.

The islands have beautiful sandy beaches and coconut palms waving in the breeze. The tropical flowers flourish there—the birds of paradise, the hibiscus, the orchids, the coleus and the plumeria. You can imagine how beautiful an island is against that backdrop of God’s own making.

There is also a lovely lagoon between the island and the reef. The reef, which is usually one hundred yards or more off shore, forms a barrier to big waves and either stops them or breaks them up so they come in gently. The lagoon is a very peaceful spot—a little harbor inside the reef. It is a lovely place to swim. There is little worry about sharks in the lagoon because they do not like to cross the reef.

The reef has its own beauty as it throws the big ocean waves into breakers with white foam spraying all around. Although it is very beautiful, it is dangerous to cross. But anyone who wants to come to the island has to cross that dangerous reef.

Because of the swelling of the waves, the water varies from deep to shallow. The currents buffet one way then another —they hit the reef, then they turn any direction. It is a real feat of seamanship to cross that reef barrier. It was especially so for those ancient mariners, the people of the South Sea Islands, who navigated in their outrigger canoes. These were just small boats with outriggers on them and a small sail, propelled by men with paddles.

We look at those islands in all their beauty, and at the great expanse of deep blue sea all around them. And we notice there are people on the islands. We cannot help but wonder how those people got there. An island can be several hundred miles away from any other island, but somehow they found it.

These islanders had some feats of seamanship that are hardly understood now, but they were very skilled at using them. They looked at the stars, like all seafaring men do, and they could tell certain things by that. But you could not tell where an island was by looking at the stars if you had never seen the island before.

They had developed great skill at reading the waves. You may have stood in the back of a ship or a boat and watched the water as it splits behind the boat—the waves going out at an angle on each side. That same thing happens when ocean currents go past an island. The island forces the waves to split. As a result, the waves past the island are at an angle. From the air that effect can be seen hundreds of miles away from the island.

Although the ancient islanders did not look down from airplanes, they understood that principle. By studying the waves—seeing the angle in the waves—they could tell when there was an island ahead. They would make their way into the trough and so find their way to the island.

 

Roughest Water Just Outside The Harbor

 

The seamen had to watch for the reef as they drew near to the island. The greatest danger, the roughest water, was just outside the harbor. They could see the island—perhaps a lovely new island to them. They wanted very much to get to it, but the reef was between them and the island.

To get across the reef they studied the waves very carefully. They watched the swells and the currents moving one way and another. Then they carefully chose the very best spot to approach, chose the very best time, and tried their best to ride a big high wave over the reef so they would not be dropped on the coral. Once in the peaceful lagoon, how happy they were!

This is much like our own journey.

Instead of looking at water, we have been watching the waves of human experience and history. Just as angled waves spreading across the sea would tell those ancient islanders: “There is an island ahead,” so the “waves” we are watching are telling us: “Home is near. It is just ahead.”

We are getting closer and closer. We will soon be inside the reef. We can almost see our homeland, but between us is the rough water. We have been told in advance that the roughest water will be just outside the harbor—just before we reach the shore. It is a wonderful privilege to be nearing home. Many people from ages past would like to be with us at this time.

What are the hazards that we have to watch out for at this particular time, the rough water that we speak of? In Revelation 12:12 we are told that the devil has great wrath because he knows that his time is short. That was written almost two thousand years ago. Surely he can now tell that his time is down to minutes, as it were. Since he could look at a span of two thousand years and say, “That is an awfully short time,” what is he thinking now?

Satan, has great mental ability, second only to the mental ability of Jesus Christ Himself. He has a higher intelligence than any angel in heaven. In Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 277, we read that the devil’s deceptive power is now ten times greater than it was in apostolic times. She also speaks about how Satan ensnares educated people, in Fundamentals of Education, 258. He leads learned men astray. (See Testimonies, vol. 9, 67, 68.) “Many a mind of superior intellectual attainments is now being led captive by his power.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 915. A high IQ is not good enough. How would you measure your IQ against the devil’s? Do you think you could challenge him?

It is my painful duty to give you an example of his deceptions. I am often reminded of Ezekiel 33 which is a twofold warning to the sinner and to the watchman on the walls. “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word of My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 33:7, 8. There is a job of warning to do. We dare not refrain from doing it.

 

Call Sin By Its Right Name

 

There is a remarkable passage in the book Education. “The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest,men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” Education, 57. The phrase I particularly notice is: “Men who do not fear to call sin by its right name.” That used to puzzle me. Why would there be anything dangerous about calling sin by its right name? Why would anybody be afraid to do that? I know better now. Calling sin by its right name among people who want to sin, and do not want you to call it by its right name, can be dangerous.

 

Learned Men

 

In The Great Controversy, in the chapter entitled, “The Scriptures Our Safeguard,” you will find about twenty warnings against the dangers to our faith from learned men. She uses the words “teachers,” “preachers,” “ministers,” “bishops,” “leaders” and “theologians” when describing these men. The point is that the Scriptures will not be a safeguard to us if they come filtered through the minds of these learned men.

Betty and I recently finished reading a book, Receiving the Word, newly off the press, written by Samuel Koranteng Pipim, a brilliant scholar from Ghana. He is currently at Andrews University getting an advanced Theology degree. He has done something quite unusual. He took a look at the skepticism toward the Scriptures that is being nursed on our college campuses. He wrote a blistering expose, which is carefully documented. He gives names, telling you much about what is happening in Seventh-day Adventist schools today. (We will not look at this book in this article, but you can read it for yourself.) Ellen White foresaw all this. She said that learned men would distort the Scripture, which is our only safeguard.

We will look now at another book that fits the description of learned men distorting the scriptures. It also fits the description in Selected Messages about books of a new order. It is an example of the deceitful handling of the Word of God of which the apostle Paul wrote. “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2. Paul says, “We are not handling the Word of God deceitfully,” but obviously, somebody is.

The name of this book is The Nature of Christ, and the author is an Associate Editor of The Review, Dr. Roy Adams. We will look at a sample of what he has done. He writes about the prayer of David recorded in Psalm 32. Notice how he has dealt with this particular passage.

 

Chata Ah

 

Dr. Adams bases his commentary on Psalm 32:1: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” He calls our attention to the word “sin” and tells us that the Hebrew word, understood correctly, means something that is not really important. Let me explain. The Hebrew word is “chata-ah.” It means sin. There are three or four words in the Old Testament translated “sin.” This is one of them.

Dr. Adams believes he has an important message to give to us in regard to this word “chata-ah,” which means sin. These are his words. “In regard to chata-ah. . . God bears with completely surrendered Christians, until the end He bears with them. These aspects of sin do not intrinsically impinge on character and thus do not determine our fitness or unfitness for heaven. And while the life of surrendered Christians will demonstrate growth, we will never come to the place in this life where we are beyond the reach of these infirmities.” The Nature of Christ, by Roy Adams, 97.

Adams is saying, “We cannot stop doing them. God understands that we cannot stop doing them. He does not hold us accountable for them. He does not impute them to us. He just says, ‘I will fix that up by and by.’ ”

That statement is likely to be read to you from the pulpit if you are going to conference churches around the country. If you are down in Australia, it is almost certain to be read to you from the pulpit. I am told that the Conference Offices in Australia bought copies of the book and gave it to every pastor in the land, so they can all be preaching this from the pulpits.

Was Dr. Adams correct when he stated that these “chata-ahs,” do not impinge on your character, and do not have anything to do with your fitness or unfitness for heaven? Is that really true? Let us take a look at the Bible and examine a few “chata-ahs.”

We will start at the story of Cain and Abel. “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin [chata-ah] lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Genesis 4:3–8.

Cain’s bitter hatred toward Abel and his final murder of Abel was a “chataah.” Dr. Adams says that is the kind of sin we do not worry about. “God does not hold that against you. God does not count them against you.” Hatred and murder!?

 

More Chata-Ahs

 

In Genesis 18 we find one of the most horrible things in the whole Bible, the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. The chapter begins by telling us how the Lord visited Abraham on the plains of Mamre where he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day, and how the Lord and His two companions were entertained by Abraham. “And the men [that is the Lord and His companions] rose up from thence and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way . . . And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin [chata-ah] is grievous.” Genesis 18:16–20.

How grievous was it? Genesis 19 says that Lot saw two strangers approach the gate of Sodom. He greets them and invites them into his home. They say, “No, we are going to sleep in the streets.” Lot says, “No, no, you cannot do that in Sodom. You must come inside the walls of a safe house in Sodom.”

They went into his house, and before long the men of the city were gathered around clamoring and shouting: “Bring these men out that we may know them.” They were talking about sex, perversion, the vilest of all things. And this is “chataah”!! “Their sin [chata-ah] is very grievous.” Genesis 19:20.

Are you encouraged now to believe that these are “safe sins” that you can indulge in? Are these sins that the Lord does not count?

Another example is found in Genesis 39. This is the story of Joseph in the house of Potiphar. “And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored. And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is no one greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin [chata-ah] against God?” Genesis 39:6–9. This also is one of those little sins, according to Dr. Adams, that do not count.

Next we see Joseph’s brothers standing before him in Egypt. It has been a long time since they sold him into slavery. Joseph has become the Prime Minister of Egypt. His brothers are there trying to get food. When they are standing before him he tells them that he suspects that they have come to spy out the land and he is about to throw them into prison. They openly talk to each other, not knowing that Joseph understood the Hebrew language, because they thought he was an Egyptian: “And they said one to another, we are very guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, do not sin [chata-ah] against the child; and you would not hear? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required of us.” Genesis 42:21, 22. They sold their brother into slavery and that was a “chata-ah” that Dr. Adams would say is one of those little sins that does not count!

It does not get any better as we go along. Look at Exodus 32. Here Moses and Joshua are coming down the mountain and they find the people dancing around a golden calf without any clothing on. You have idol worship and immorality, which always was associated with idol worship. This is “chata-ah.” “And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou has brought so great a sin [chata-ah] upon them?” Exodus 32:21.

In Leviticus 24:11 we have the example of a man cursing God. This man was of mixed blood. His father was an Egyptian and his mother was an Israelite and it says that he cursed God. “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin [chata-ah].” Leviticus 24:15.

Then we have Eli who was the priest of the sanctuary. “Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; They knew not the Lord.” I Samuel 2:12. It goes on to describe how they mistreated the people who came to the sanctuary. “Wherefore the sin [chata-ah] of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 2:17. Does God not count “little” things, like defiling His worship? Of course He does!

We have a summary statement in Jeremiah 32:30–35 which tells how the Israelites became so wicked that they even imitated the pagan human sacrifices, burning their little babies in fire as an offering to the pagan god. That is called a “chata-ah.”

We have now seen many “chata-ahs.” These sins, according to Dr. Adams, are perfectly safe to commit. He claims that they do not impinge on your character, they have nothing to do with your fitness or your unfitness for heaven. And even though we will grow in the Lord, we will never overcome “little” sins like hate, murder, sodomy, adultery, rape, selling a brother into slavery, kidnapping, defying God, dancing around a golden calf without any clothing on, cursing God, defiling the worship ceremonies, and sacrificing your child to a heathen god.

“Men cannot depart from the counsels of God and still retain that calmness and wisdom which will enable them to act with justice and discretion. There is no insanity so dreadful, so hopeless, as that of following human wisdom, unguided by the wisdom of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 658. [All emphasis supplied.]

In 2 Thessalonians 2:10, Paul writes about people who receive not the love of the truth and God gives them up to believe a lie. I call that a “Manner of Madness.” I have no question that it is real. It is a serious mental condition, an awful condition that comes to people who do not love the truth. In contrast to this, notice what God’s messenger says.

 

Overcome or Be Overcome

 

“We must conquer in the name of Jesus or be conquered.” Signs of the Times, vol. 4, 293. If we do not get the victory over the “chata-ahs,” they will conquer us. “The wages of sin is death. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be persisted in only at the cost of eternal life. What is not overcome will overcome us and work out our destruction.” Review and Herald, vol. 2, 197. “We must be sanctified through the truth; every defect of character must be overcome, or it will overcome us. Review and Herald, vol. 1, 431.

“Every indulgence in sin prepares the way for renewed and excessive indulgence, until at last the tempter has full control of the mind.” Signs of the Times, vol. 1, 437. “We shall find ourselves beset with countless temptations; and we must find strength in Christ to overcome them, or be overcome by them and lose our souls.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 453.

“Every defect in the character, unless it is overcome by the help of God’s Spirit, will become a sure means of destruction.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 573. “The natural faults of character, if not determinedly overcome for Christ’s sake, will completely master the human soul.” Signs of the Times, vol. 3, 494.

“We either conquer through the grace given us by God or we are conquered.” Review and Herald, vol. 6, 435. “We can overcome fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us that by prevailing prayer, by His grace we might overcome every temptation, every subtle snare of the adversary and at last sit down with Him in His kingdom. “Signs of the Times, vol. 2, 74.

“All who enter heaven’s gates will enter as conquerors.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 384. “No one shall go into that city unless he is pure in heart. Everything that is polluting, everything that defiles is outside the city. All who enter there pass in as conquerors. They hold the palm branch of victory in their hands, they wave it before the throne singing praises to the Lamb of God.” Review and Herald, vol. 1, 540.

In the book, Tell of His Power, I compiled hundreds of statements about overcoming. In it is included one hundred and seventeen quotations where Ellen White said that Christ will send us all the strength we need. She writes seventy-eight times that He makes ample provision. “Ample provision has been made that the people of God may obtain perfection of character.”Review and Herald, vol. 3, 522.

“Christ has made every provision for us to be strong.” Review and Herald, vol. 5, 456. “Abundant provision has been made that all who desire to live a godly life may have grace and strength through Jesus, our Divine Redeemer.” Review and Herald, vol. 2, 485. He gives us strength. He enables us. He sends us help.

“The help of the three great powers is placed at your disposal. When in the name of Christ you ask for grace to overcome, it will be given you.” Review and Herald, vol. 5, 143. Why do some get so confused? We have an answer here: “One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s Word is, they close their eyes to truths they do not wish to practice.” The Great Controversy, 599. “Disguise it as they may, the real cause of doubt and skepticism, in most cases, is the love of sin.” Steps to Christ, 111. The love of sin does not have to be the love of vulgarity, the love of immorality, impurity or anything like that. It can be the love of recognition, the love of honor, the love of acceptance.

 

Just Before the Calm

 

My friend, what does all this rough water—these angled waves tell us? It tells us we are very close to home, we are nearing the shore. We are coming to the place where we can see that peaceful lagoon inside the reef. We can see that beautiful homeland. We can see the trees and flowers, all in our mind’s eye. But between here and there lies the rough water of the reef and the coral and the rocks.

We must choose our pathway very carefully. We must have that lifting power of the Holy Spirit to carry us over the reef into the lagoon.

Not everybody is going to be deceived. Some will say, “I do not care what anybody says, whether an ordinary man or a great theologian, I have the Bible and that is good enough for me.” Let us determine that we are going to be among that group of people. Let us determine that we are not going to be discouraged because of what we see all around us. No matter how many people turn against the Lord, the Lord is still true and strong. It has not been easy for the Christians in any generation, and it certainly will not be easy for the Christians in the last generation. But by the promises of God, whereby He transmits His power to us, we can conquer anything that comes. Let us determine that we are going to do that. We are not going to be disheartened, we are not going to be discouraged. We may sigh and cry for the abominations, but we are never going to lose courage, never lose heart. Let us steadfastly move on, trusting in the Lord.

 

Editorial – The Law of Moses, Part II

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The writings of Paul explain the ceremonial law as contrasted with the moral law, which is the law that defines right from wrong. Paul says, “I would not have known sin [what sin is] except through the law.” (Romans 7:7.) Later in the verse he quotes from the tenth commandment, indicating that except for the law that says you shall not covet, he would not have known that coveting was wrong.

In Galatians 3:19, he asks, “Why was the law given then?” which could be translated, “What purpose then is there for the law [the ceremonial law]?” He immediately answers this question: “It [the ceremonial law] was added because of transgression.” Paul says in Romans 4:15 that where there is no law, there is no transgression. In order for transgression to have occurred, a law had to exist first. What law was transgressed? It was the Ten Commandment law, the moral law which is eternal and unchangeable. What was determined right and wrong in the Garden of Eden is still the same today in harmony with the Ten Commandments, the principles of which have existed from eternity in the past, and will exist through all future eternity. Ellen White corroborates this in the first three sentences of the book, Patriarchs and Prophets, 21, “ ‘God is love.’ I John 4:16. His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be.”

When the moral law was transgressed, another law was added because of the transgression. This law can properly be called the ceremonial law, and included all laws that were added because of transgression. Sin is the transgression of law that is in force. Once the ceremonial law was added, it became sinful to transgress this law. For example, under the ceremonial law it was a sin for Moses not to have his male children circumcised, and he could not take the children of Israel out of Egypt before this was accomplished. (See Exodus 4:24–26.)

In Galatians 3:19 Paul shows the reason for the ceremonial law and when it came into being after transgression. He also shows the time limit of this law, clearly demonstrating its temporary nature, which only lasted until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. (Genesis 3:15.) He had already explained that the seed was Christ (Galatians 3:16).

From Galatians 3:19 we understand (1) the purpose of the ceremonial law, (2) when it came into existence, (3) the intelligences that ordained it which are different than the moral law, and (4) the fact that it was a law that would only exist for a temporary time—until Christ should come.