General Bible Topics – Page 2 – God's Food For Life

February 26, 2017February 26, 2017

Christ’s Nature

There is quite a lot of discussion on whether Jesus took on a form of human nature like Adam had before he sinned or after he sinned or like humanity at the time He was born, etc. A part of the discussion also involves the issue of sin in human nature. In an effort to help clarify these things, we offer the following:

A selection of quotes from the Pen of Inspiration

The human nature of Christ was like unto ours. And suffering was really more keenly felt by Him, for His spiritual nature was free from every taint of sin. The aversion to suffering was in proportion to its severity. His desire for the removal of suffering was just as strong as human beings experience. . . .

How intense was the desire of the humanity of Christ to escape the displeasure of an offended God; how His soul longed for relief is shown in the words of the Sufferer, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”. . . All the accumulated sin of the world was laid upon the Sinbearer, the One who was innocent of all sin, the One who alone could be the propitiation for sin, because He Himself was obedient. His life was one with God. Not a taint of corruption was upon Him. CTr 268

We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of the human nature of Christ. Our faith must be an intelligent faith, looking unto Jesus in perfect confidence, in full and entire faith in the atoning Sacrifice. This is essential that the soul may not be enshrouded in darkness. This holy Substitute is able to save to the uttermost; for He presented to the wondering universe perfect and complete humility in His human character, and perfect obedience to all the requirements of God. Divine power is placed upon man, that he may become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This is why repenting, believing man can be made the righteousness of God in Christ. 1SM 256

He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.

In taking upon Himself man’s nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed. . . . He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He “knew no sin.” He was the lamb “without blemish and without spot.” Could Satan in the least particular have tempted Christ to sin, he would have bruised the Saviour’s head. As it was, he could only touch His heel. Had the head of Christ been touched, the hope of the human race would have perished. Divine wrath would have come upon Christ as it came upon Adam. Christ and the church would have been without hope.

Not even by a thought could Christ be brought to yield to the power of temptation. . . . Christ declared of Himself, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

Jesus did not allow the enemy to pull Him into the mire of unbelief, or crowd Him into the mire of despondency and despair.

Christ’s humanity was united with divinity, and in this strength He would bear all the temptations that Satan could bring against Him, and yet keep His soul untainted by sin. And this power to overcome He would give to every son and daughter of Adam who would accept by faith the righteous attributes of His character. FLB 49

Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.

Christ wrestled in earnest prayer; He offered up His supplications to the Father with strong crying and tears in behalf of those for whose salvation He had left heaven, and had come to this earth. Then how proper, yea, how essential that men should pray and not faint! Pr 168

He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil. He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and privilege. He required all the stronger divine support and comfort which His Father was ready to impart to Him, to Him who had, for the benefit of man, left the joys of heaven and chosen His home in a cold and thankless world.

His doctrine dropped as the rain; His speech distilled as the dew. In the character of Christ was blended such majesty as God had never before displayed to fallen man, and such meekness as man had never developed. Never before had there walked among men one so noble, so pure, so benevolent, so conscious of His godlike nature; yet so simple, so full of plans and purposes to do good to humanity. While abhorring sin, He wept with compassion over the sinner. He pleased not Himself. The majesty of heaven clothed Himself with the humility of a child. This is the character of Christ. 7ABC 455

The Majesty of heaven, while engaged in His mission, was often in earnest prayer. He did not always visit Olivet, for His disciples had learned His favorite retreat, and often followed Him. He chose the stillness of night, when there would be no interruption. Jesus could heal the sick and raise the dead. He was Himself a source of blessing and strength. He commanded even the tempests, and they obeyed Him. He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet He prayed, and that often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with our needs, our weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity. He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are. Jesus endured agony which required help and support from His Father. 2T 508

He took upon his sinless nature our sinful nature, that He might know how to succor those that are tempted. 7ABC 450

Avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His humanity as combined with divinity. His birth was a miracle of God. . . . Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to, corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called “that holy thing.” It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain, a mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be. 7ABC 448

Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden. 5BC 1128

As the human was upon him, he felt his need of strength from his Father. He had select places of prayer. He loved the solitude of the mountain in which to hold communion with his Father in Heaven. In this exercise he was strengthened for the duties and trials of the day. Our Saviour identifies himself with our needs and weaknesses, in that he became a suppliant, a mightly petitioner, seeking from his Father fresh supplies of strength, to come forth invigorated and refreshed, braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, but not possessing like passions. As the sinless One his nature recoiled from evil. He endured struggles, and torture of soul, in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity, and privilege. He required all the divine support and comfort which his Father was ready to impart to his Son. Christ found comfort and joy in communion with his Father. Here he could unburden his sorrows that were crushing him. He was a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief. PH169 2

Through being partakers of the divine nature we may stand pure and holy and undefiled. The Godhead was not made human, and the human was not deified by the blending together of the two natures. Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering. Manuscript 94, 1893

A Summary

Christ was fully like us.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. . . . Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:10, 14-18

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

He took on himself our human nature in its fallen, sinful condition, being subject the same infirmities and weaknesses we experience. He identified Himself with our needs and failings. He endured struggles, agony, and torture of soul in a world of sin and felt the same aversion to suffering that we feel. He was assailed with all the forms of temptation we are confronted with and He could have sinned and fallen.

He was totally sinless.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18, 19

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

He did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess nor the passions of our human, fallen natures. Not for one moment was there in Him an evil, sinful propensity. His nature recoiled from evil. His soul was free from every taint of sin, being completely innocent of it, abhorring it, a stranger to it. He did not in the least participate in the world’s sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to the power of temptation. Not an inclination nor a taint of corruption was upon Him; He did not in any way yield to it and was unsullied by it. He was one with God and lived in perfect obedience to all the requirements of God. He did not allow the enemy to pull Him into the mire of unbelief, or crowd Him into the mire of despondency and despair.

He became a partaker of our fallen, weak, tempted human nature so that we can be partakers of His pure, holy, undefiled Divine Nature.

January 17, 2017January 22, 2017

The Nazarenes

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23

Jesus was a Nazarene. His followers were later also called Nazarenes. It is interesting to note what is said about Paul in Acts 24:5 and how he responds in the verses following:

For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Acts 24:5

Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:10-14

The name Nazarene was applied to someone who came from Nazareth. Jesus’ followers were called Nazarenes. They possibly took the name in honor of Jesus who was called a Nazarene or they may have been called that name in a derogatory way related to the question “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Another possibility (if they chose that name for themselves) may stem from what the word actually means in Hebrew. “Nazarenes” is translated from natsariym which is a plural form of natsar.

H5341 נצר nâtsar naw-tsar’

A primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.): – besieged, hidden thing, keep (-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve (-r), subtil, watcher (-man).

This word is used frequently in Psalms in a very interesting way.

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep^H5341 his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep^H5341 his commandments: Psalm 78:7

That they might observe his statutes, and keep^H5341 his laws. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 105:45

Blessed are they that keep^H5341 his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. Psalm 119:2

Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept^H5341 thy testimonies. Psalm 119:22

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep^H5341 it unto the end. Psalm 119:33

Give me understanding, and I shall keep^H5341 thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119:34

The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep^H5341 thy precepts with my whole heart. Psalm 119:69

Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep^H5341 the commandments of my God. Psalm 119:115

Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep^H5341 them. Psalm 119:129

I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep^H5341 thy statutes. Psalm 119:145

From these texts we could conclude that “Nazarenes” (natsariym) are keepers of God’s laws, precepts, statutes, etc.

I would like to point out that Nazarenes and Nazarites are not the same. The Hebrew words are very different in meaning even though there may be some similarities in the way they sound.

Nazarite–

H5139

נזר נזיר nâzı̂yr nâzir naw-zeer’, naw-zeer’

From H5144; separate, that is, consecrated (as prince, a Nazirite); hence (figuratively from the latter) an unpruned vine (like an unshorn Nazirite). (The translation, Nazarite, is by a false alliteration with Nazareth.): – Nazarite [by a false alliteration with Nazareth], separate (-d), vine undressed.

H5144

נזר nâzar naw-zar’

A primitive root; to hold aloof, that is, (intransitively) abstain (from food and drink, from impurity, and even from divine worship (that is, apostatize)); specifically to set apart (to sacred purposes), that is, devote: – consecrate, separate (-ing, self).

Nazarene–

H5341 נצר nâtsar naw-tsar’

Was Jesus a Nazarene for more than one reason?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:17, 18

“Nazarenes” are also watchmen.

For there shall be a day, that the watchmen^H5341 upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. Jeremiah 31:6

According to Epiphanius of Salamis, the Nazarenes were a sect of Christianity that sprang from those who fled Jerusalem (in obedience to Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24) just before it was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. They were very conscientiously Torah-observant. In his “Panarion,” written between 374 and 377, he included some interesting things about these people in the chapter called “Against Nazoraeans.” Keep in mind that he was a Roman Catholic “Christian” and categorizes the Nazarenes as “heretics.”

“They use not only the New Testament but the Old Testament as well, as the Jews do. For unlike the previous sectarians, they do not repudiate the legislation, the prophets, and the books Jews call ”Writings.” They have no different ideas, but confess everything exactly as the Law proclaims it and in the Jewish fashion-except for their belief in Christ, if you please! For they acknowledge both the resurrection of the dead and the divine creation of all things, and declare that God is one, and that his Son is Jesus Christ.

“They are trained to a nicety in Hebrew. For among them the entire Law, the prophets, and the so-called Writings-I mean the poetic books, Kings, Chronicles, Esther and all the rest-are read in Hebrew, as they surely are by Jews. They are different from Jews, and different from Christians, only in the following. They disagree with Jews because they have come to faith in Christ; but since they are still fettered by the Law-circumcision, the Sabbath, and the rest -they are not in accord with Christians.”

It is this group that is being described in the following paragraph:

Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given His disciples warning, and all who believed His words watched for the promised sign. “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,” said Jesus, “then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out.” Luke 21:20, 21. After the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack. The besieged, despairing of successful resistance, were on the point of surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his forces without the least apparent reason. But God’s merciful providence was directing events for the good of His own people. The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was offered for all who would, to obey the Saviour’s warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from Jerusalem, pursued after his retiring army; and while both forces were thus fully engaged, the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city. At this time the country also had been cleared of enemies who might have endeavored to intercept them. At the time of the siege, the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested. Without delay they fled to a place of safety–the city of Pella, in the land of Perea, beyond Jordan. (The Great Controversy, p. 30, 31)

An interesting part of Paul’s story is recorded in Acts 21.

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. Acts 21:17-24

Apparently many of the believing Jews misunderstood what Paul was advocating and thought that he was anti-Torah. James and all the elders wanted him to prove that this was not the case, which indicates that they themselves were not anti-Torah.

January 17, 2017January 22, 2017

Why did Jesus do it?

That little question “Why?” may be a small word but it has huge potential. It is a very important tool, one of the most basic components of science and learning. It shows curiosity and can lead to all sorts of discovery and growth in understanding. As we apply it to the spiritual science of Salvation, it can open many windows to Truth. In this study, I would like to apply the question to the issue of why Jesus did what He did. Why was the Plan of Salvation formulated by Heaven the way it was? Why were its various aspects carried out in the way they were?

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

It is a great mystery because it is very deep and complicated, but God did not intend for it to be totally incomprehensible.

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

We can begin to study it now, with our limited abilities during our life on earth, and continue advanced studies when we are in the eternal kingdom.

The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? Steps to Christ, p. 88, 89

In giving us His word, God has put us in possession of every truth essential for our salvation. Thousands have drawn water from these wells of life, yet there is no diminishing of the supply. Thousands have set the Lord before them, and by beholding have been changed into the same image. Their spirit burns within them as they speak of His character, telling what Christ is to them, and what they are to Christ. But these searchers have not exhausted these grand and holy themes. Thousands more may engage in the work of searching out the mysteries of salvation. As the life of Christ and the character of His mission are dwelt upon, rays of light will shine forth more distinctly at every attempt to discover truth. Each fresh search will reveal something more deeply interesting than has yet been unfolded. The subject is inexhaustible. The study of the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice and mediatorial work, will employ the mind of the diligent student as long as time shall last; and looking to heaven with its unnumbered years he will exclaim, “Great is the mystery of godliness.”

In eternity we shall learn that which, had we received the enlightenment that it was possible to obtain here, would have opened our understanding. The themes of redemption will employ the hearts and minds and tongues of the redeemed through the everlasting ages. They will understand the truths which Christ longed to open to His disciples, but which they did not have faith to grasp. Forever and forever new views of the perfection and glory of Christ will appear. Through endless ages the faithful Householder will bring forth from His treasures things new and old. Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 133, 134

This study is not an attempt to be comprehensive or conclusive in explaining God’s reasons for what He does, but merely an introduction, a sample, a cupful of the ocean of truth. To ask the question “Why?” is to delve into several different realms of operation, from the simple physical explanation of the method or event (Jesus washed the disciples’ feet because they were dusty.) to the underlying motive and reason behind it (Jesus washed the disciples’ feet because He wanted them to understand certain aspects of His ministry and their personal responsibility.). It is very likely that there is no conclusive answer to the question, “Why?” The more we learn of God’s ways, the more we see the potential for further understanding.

If it were possible for us to attain to a full understanding of God and His word, there would be for us no further discovery of truth, no greater knowledge, no further development. God would cease to be supreme, and man would cease to advance. Thank God, it is not so. Since God is infinite, and in Him are all the treasures of wisdom, we may to all eternity be ever searching, ever learning, yet never exhaust the riches of His wisdom, His goodness, or His power. Education, p. 172

He who studies most deeply into the mysteries of nature will realize most fully his own ignorance and weakness. He will realize that there are depths and heights which he cannot reach, secrets which he cannot penetrate, vast fields of truth lying before him unentered. He will be ready to say, with Newton, “I seem to myself to have been like a child on the seashore finding pebbles and shells, while the great ocean of truth lay undiscovered before me.” Education, p. 133

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8, 9

So I have asked, “What was the reason for . . . ?” or “What was accomplished by . . . ?” and I share some of the answers here. The verses and quotes gathered here are separated into a few broad categories to help us get an overview of the Plan. Some don’t fit neatly into just one category but you will get the picture as you study and contemplate the specifics. Some thoughts come from the symbolism of the Sanctuary services in the Old Testament; some are stated directly in both the Old and the New Testaments; some are enlarged in the Spirit of Prophecy. The categories I have included are: Christ’s Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, and Heavenly Ministry. Within those broad categories there are some general subcategories of issues of the great controversy between Christ and Satan that needed to be dealt with: legal issues, personal relationship issues between man and God, revelations of truth about God, Satan, sin, etc. I have not attempted to specifically categorize these but as you contemplate all that Jesus did, you will understand how these are all part of the picture.

May the Lord bless and guide you as you ponder what He has done for you.

INCARNATION

The word incarnation means “made flesh.” Jesus, a glorious Heavenly being, the One who came down on Mount Sinai in such awesome majesty that the Israelites thought they would die from the experience, was made visible to humans as an ordinary, physical person.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:1, 2

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Why did Jesus leave His Heavenly glory to come down here and live as an ordinary human?

because the Father loves us and didn’t want us to be lost

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 1 John 4:14

to be “God with us”

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23

to give knowledge of God as our loving Father

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. John 14:6-11

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:1-3

In all the gracious deeds that Jesus did, He sought to impress upon men the parental, benevolent attributes of God. . . . Jesus would have us understand the love of the Father, and He seeks to draw us to Him by presenting His parental grace. . . . It was only by living among men that He could reveal the mercy, compassion, and love of His heavenly Father; for it was only by actions of benevolence that He could set forth the grace of God. . . . The bounties of God’s providence speak to every soul, confirming Christ’s testimony to the supreme goodness of His Father. Sons and Daughters of God, p. 139

to give knowledge of the glory of God

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

to reveal God’s holiness

In the person and work of Christ the holiness of God is revealed; for Christ came to reveal the Father. Satan had cast his shadow athwart the pathway of humanity, and misrepresented the character of God. Signs of the Times, December 11, 1893

to demonstrate the riches of God’s grace

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

to reveal God’s name (character)

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. John 17:6

to demonstrate God’s will

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:9

to glorify the Father

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:4

to express and demonstrate God’s thoughts and character to the entire universe

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God, – God’s thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, “I have declared unto them Thy name,” – “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” – “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God’s wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which “angels desire to look,” and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which “seeketh not her own” has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto. The Desire of Ages, p. 19, 20

In the light of the Saviour’s life, the hearts of all, even from the Creator to the prince of darkness, are revealed. Satan has represented God as selfish and oppressive, as claiming all, and giving nothing, as requiring the service of His creatures for His own glory, and making no sacrifice for their good. But the gift of Christ reveals the Father’s heart. It testifies that the thoughts of God toward us are “thoughts of peace, and not of evil.” Jeremiah 29:11. It declares that while God’s hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. The Desire of Ages, p. 57

to unveil Satan’s deceptions

Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception. As one of us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences. “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.” Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are.” Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial to which we are subject. And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God. He says, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. As He went about doing good, and healing all who were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God’s law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God. The Desire of Ages, p. 24

to reveal God’s true character to Satan himself

Christ exposed Satan’s falsehoods and deceiving character, and in many hearts destroyed his corrupting influence. It was this that stirred Satan with such intense hatred. With his hosts of fallen beings he determined to urge the warfare most vigorously; for there stood in the world One who was a perfect representative of the Father, One whose character and practices refuted Satan’s misrepresentation of God. Satan had charged upon God the attribute he himself possessed. Now in Christ he saw God revealed in His true character–a compassionate, merciful Father, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Him in repentance, and have eternal life. Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 254

to be the Way to God, the Truth about God, the Life from God

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

to “adjust the claims” between heaven and earth (to change our priorities)

Christ’s coming was at a time of intense worldliness. Men were subordinating the eternal to the temporal, the claims of the future to the affairs of the present. They were mistaking phantoms for realities, and realities for phantoms. They did not by faith behold the unseen world. Satan presented before them the things of this life as all-attractive and all-absorbing, and they gave heed to his temptations.

Christ came to change this order of things. He sought to break the spell by which men were infatuated and ensnared. In His teaching He sought to adjust the claims of heaven and earth, to turn men’s thoughts from the present to the future. From their pursuit of the things of time, He called them to make provision for eternity. Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 366

In his teaching, Christ sought to adjust the claims of heaven and earth. In his lessons of instruction, this was an all important subject. He saw that men are in danger of cherishing an inordinate love for the world. The love of God is supplanted by a love for the world. Nothing but the power of the omnipotent God can dislodge this love. The things which are earthly and temporal lead men away from God, although the advantages to be gained are but an atom in comparison with eternal realities. They have eyes, but they see not aright. Instead of keeping the heavenly world in view, the things of this world are ever before their eyes, and are magnified till they eclipse the world of bliss.

Turning away from heavenly attractions, from imperishable wealth, from peace, from nobility of soul, man pours out his affections on unworthy, unsatisfying things; and by constantly beholding this world, he becomes conformed to it. His mind, capable of elevation, and privileged to grasp the eternal blessedness of the saints, turns away from an eternity of greatness, and allows its powers to be chained like a slave to an atom of a world. It is humiliated and dwarfed by allegiance to worldly things.

Jesus came to change this order of things, to correct this wide-spread evil. He lifts up his voice as the voice of God in warnings, reproofs, and entreaties, seeking to break the spell which infatuates, enslaves, and ensnares men. He presents before them the future eternal world, and addressing them in decided language, says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Review and Herald, February 2, 1897

Our Saviour came to the world to adjust the claims between heaven and earth. He knows that man, formed in his image, has been endowed by his Creator in such a way that he may rise to the highest eminence of moral efficiency through cooperation with divine agency provided for his assistance. With what sorrow Jesus looks upon man wasting his energies in pursuit of that which profiteth nothing. In tones of sorrow in which mingle tears, Jesus asks, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? “The arch-deceiver has inspired in man, by his temptations, by his presentation of flattering inducements, an inordinate desire to get the riches of this world, and he leads men to practice every form of sin in order that they may gain every earthly treasure. In the acquirement of this world’s wealth, the precious promises of God are cast aside as worthless. Through the service of mammon the love of God has been expelled from the heart, and the love of the world has rushed in to fill the vacuum, and to firmly enthrone itself in the heart, to rule and reign in the life. The power of God alone can force it from its usurped position. Through love of the world the spiritual vision is blinded, and the pleasures and attractions of the future world are hid from sight. Signs of the Times, June 26, 1893

Our Saviour’s work is to adjust the claims between earthly and heavenly interests, to put the duties and responsibilities of the life that now is in proper relation to those that pertain to eternal life. The fear and love of God are the first things that should claim our attention. We cannot afford to put off that which concerns our soul’s interest till tomorrow. The life which we now live we are to live by faith in the Son of God. We are redeemed from the beggarly elements of the world with a redemption that is full and complete, that cannot be increased by any supplement from human sources. Signs of the Times, July 17, 1893

The commonplace matters of time and earth had engrossed the minds of the people at the time of Christ, just as Satan had designed that they should. Sin had expelled from the heart the love of God, and instead of the love of God there was found in the heart the love of the world, the love of sinful indulgence of evil passions. Christ alone could adjust the claims between heaven and earth. Man’s vision had become blinded, because he did not keep in view the spiritual and eternal world. But the kind of teaching that Christ gave to the world did not harmonize with the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees; for their religion consisted in a round of forms and ceremonies, and the offering of sacrifices, which had been designed by Christ to keep his sacrifice in mind, had lost its significance. Unless the sacrifices were offered in faith, accompanied with contrition and humility, they were valueless in the eyes of God, and even an abomination to him. God repeatedly had declared that the sacrifices acceptable to him were a broken and a contrite heart. He said, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Signs of the Times, December 11, 1893

to confirm the Covenant

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27

to bring grace and truth

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:17, 18

to strengthen seekers, reveal the Father, restore God’s image in man

The Lord Jesus came to strengthen every earnest seeker for truth, he came to reveal the Father. He allowed nothing to divert his mind from the great work of restoring the moral image of God in man. The Youth’s Instructor, October 27, 1898

to counteract evil and restore humanity to original purity

He (God, the Father) would have us comprehend something of his love in giving his Son to die that he might counteract evil, remove the defiling stains of sin from the workmanship of God, and re-instate the lost, elevating and ennobling the soul to its original purity through Christ’s imputed righteousness.

The only way in which the fallen race could be restored was through the gift of his Son, equal with himself, possessing the attributes of God. Though so highly exalted, Christ consented to assume human nature, that he might work in behalf of man and reconcile to God his disloyal subject. When man rebelled, Christ pleaded his merit in his behalf, and became man’s substitute and surety. He undertook to combat the powers of darkness in man’s behalf, and he prevailed, conquering the enemy of our souls, and presenting to man the cup of salvation. Review and Herald, November 8, 1892

to take away (lift and bear) sin

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John 3:5

to give us assurance of deliverance from sin’s power

“God with us” is the surety of our deliverance from sin, the assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven. The Desire of Ages, p. 24

to be our example of a holy life

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. John 13:15

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: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 1 Peter 2:21-23

In His earthly life the Saviour gives us an example of the hallowed lives that may be ours if we will devote our days to doing good to the souls that need our help. Sons and Daughters of God, p. 42

It is your work to impress upon your children in their early years the thought that they are formed in the image of God. Christ came to this world to give them a living example of what they all must be, and parents who claim to believe the truth for this time are to teach their children to love God and to obey His law. Sons and Daughters of God, p. 43

to call sinners to repentance

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32

to condemn sin in the flesh (“There is no excuse for sin. A human can fully obey.”)

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:3, 4

Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, by a pure and holy life to condemn sin in the flesh. He came to our world to represent the character of God, and it is our work to represent the character of Christ. Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, p. 395

Christ pleased not Himself. His whole life was the development of a pure, disinterested benevolence. He assumed human nature to show to the fallen world, to Satan and his synagogue, and to the heavenly universe, that human nature, united with the divine nature, could become entirely obedient to the law of God, that His followers could manifest the glory of God by their love and unity for one another, that they could give evidence that God has sent His Son to save sinners. Pacific Union Recorder, February 16, 1905

to find and save the lost

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

to save from sin

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

to qualify to be humanity’s High Priest

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:16-18

to give life

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; John 5:24-26

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:33

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:47-51

As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. John 6:57, 58

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

to bring freedom

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

to receive authority to judge

And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. John 5:27

to elevate man in the scale of moral worth

While on earth, Christ accomplished the work for which he left the throne of God in heaven. He worked for humanity, that through his work, humanity might be elevated in the scale of moral value with God. He assumed human nature, that he might elevate the human family, make them partakers of the divine nature, and place them on vantage-ground with God. His every action had been in behalf of the fallen world, – to seek the sheep that had strayed from the fold, and bring it back to God. Review and Herald, February 15, 1898

to reveal heavenly things so we can understand them and believe

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 3:11-13

to grant discernment

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. John 9:39

to reveal truth (light) and encourage saving faith

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:16-21

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John 18:37

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9

to transform us from servants to friends

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:14, 15

to grant the privilege of being sons of God

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:12-14

to consummate our adoption as sons of God

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:4-6

to instate us as heirs of God

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7

to establish the Kingdom

And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. Luke 4:43

to instill God’s attributes in us

The law requires righteousness, – a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can “be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26. The Desire of Ages, p. 762

to justify the government of God

Through Christ’s redeeming work the government of God stands justified. The Omnipotent One is made known as the God of love. Satan’s charges are refuted, and his character unveiled. Rebellion can never again arise. Sin can never again enter the universe. Through eternal ages all are secure from apostasy. By love’s self-sacrifice, the inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union. The Desire of Ages, p.D 26

DEATH

Why did Jesus have to die?

This is a question that many Bible students have pondered. It is not merely the question “Why did Jesus die?” but “Why did He HAVE TO die?” Because sin is such a serious problem, much more serious than our human minds can comprehend, God had to use drastic action to solve it. He had to go to the absolute ultimate extreme to completely eradicate it from His universe or He ran the risk of it cropping up again. Jesus accomplished many things through His work on earth, but one of the most basic purposes for His death was to get our attention and change how we think so we would return to God. The sin problem was such a serious threat to us and the rest of the universe, and such a difficult issue to solve because of our rebellious heart condition, that anything less than what He did would not have been adequate. If Christ had not suffered and died, there would have been unresolved issues and unanswered questions that would have posed a risk to the security of the universe. God did everything He possibly could to make sure that sin and all of its manifestations would never come up again.

to be the epitome of supreme, divine love

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9, 10

Christ draws the sinner by the exhibition of his love upon the cross, and this softens the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition and repentance in the soul. Review and Herald, April 1, 1890

to be God’s Lamb

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. . . . And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! John 1:29, 36

to be our Substitute in bearing the results of sin

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Galatians 1:4

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Galatians 3:13.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:4-12

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. “With His stripes we are healed.” The Desire of Ages, p. 25

As the substitute and surety for sinful man, Christ was suffering under divine justice. He saw what justice meant. Hitherto He had been as an intercessor for others; now He longed to have an intercessor for Himself. The Desire of Ages, p. 686

Under the mighty impulse of his love, he took our place in the universe, and invited the ruler of all things to treat him as representative of the human family. He identified himself with our interests, bared his breast for the stroke of death, took man’s guilt and its penalty, and offered in man’s behalf a complete sacrifice to God. Review and Herald, April 18, 1893

He stood in the place where fallen man was to stand under the descending stroke of justice, and, innocent, he suffered for the guilty, in order that those who believe in him as their personal Saviour, should be accounted guiltless. The Home Missionary, December 1, 1894

to be the propitiation for our sins

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Romans 3:25

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10

Just a quick note about propitiation: a propitiation is an effort to win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them. (from the New Oxford American Dictionary) An example in the Bible is what Jacob did for Esau in Genesis 32:13-21. We humans have each offended the Ruler of the Universe, yet He gave us a propitiation in an attempt to win us back. Amazing!

to bring about atonement / reconciliation

Leviticus 4-6, 16

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:11

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:8-10

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19

The humanity of Christ reached to the very depths of human wretchedness, and, identified itself with the weaknesses and necessities of fallen man, while his divine nature grasped the Eternal. His work in bearing the guilt of man’s transgression was not to give him license to continue to violate the law of God, which made man a debtor to the law, which debt Christ was himself paying by his own suffering. The trials and sufferings of Christ were to impress man with a sense of his great sin in breaking the law of God, and to bring him to repentance and obedience to that law, and through obedience to acceptance with God. His righteousness he would impute to man, and thus raise him in moral value with God, so that his efforts to keep the divine law would be acceptable. Christ’s work was to reconcile man to God through his human nature, and God to man through his divine nature. Review and Herald, August 4, 1874

to preserve from destruction and death

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12, 13

to purify from defilement of death

Numbers 19

His blood is for our atonement

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22

to save from the serpent’s deadly bite

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Numbers 21:8, 9

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:14-19

to restore to us the privilege of choosing our master

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. . . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 6:20, 22

You must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man. But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: “Yield yourself up to Me; give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 515

to expose sin

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 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

Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin. Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 116

The offensive character of sin can be estimated only in the light of the cross. When men urge that God is too merciful to punish the transgressors of his law, let them look to Calvary; let them realize that it was because Christ took upon himself the guilt of the disobedient, and suffered in the sinners stead, that the sword of justice was awakened against the Son of God. It was to save us from shame and everlasting contempt that he endured the scorn and mockery which the world heaped upon him. It was our sins that caused the Saviour of the world such intense agony, pouring darkness into his soul, and extorting from his pale lips the anguished cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Signs of the Times, January 6, 1881

to reveal the thoughts of men

By the life and the death of Christ, the thoughts of men also are brought to view. From the manger to the cross, the life of Jesus was a call to self-surrender, and to fellowship in suffering. It unveiled the purposes of men. Jesus came with the truth of heaven, and all who were listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit were drawn to Him. The worshipers of self belonged to Satan’s kingdom. In their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood. And thus everyone passes judgment on himself. The Desire of Ages, p. 57

to expose Satan’s true character

At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face. Here was their crowning manifestation. Christ had lived only to comfort and bless, and in putting Him to death, Satan manifested the malignity of his hatred against God. He made it evident that the real purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God, and to destroy Him through whom the love of God was shown. The Desire of Ages, p. 57

Not until the death of Christ was the character of Satan clearly revealed to the angels or to the unfallen worlds. The archapostate had so clothed himself with deception that even holy beings had not understood his principles. They had not clearly seen the nature of his rebellion. The Desire of Ages, p. 758

Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ’s brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken. The Desire of Ages, p. 761

to show that God perfectly blends justice and mercy, law and love

By His life and His death, Christ proved that God’s justice did not destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan’s charges were refuted. God had given man unmistakable evidence of His love.

Another deception was now to be brought forward. Satan declared that mercy destroyed justice, that the death of Christ abrogated the Father’s law. Had it been possible for the law to be changed or abrogated, then Christ need not have died. But to abrogate the law would be to immortalize transgression, and place the world under Satan’s control. It was because the law was changeless, because man could be saved only through obedience to its precepts, that Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Yet the very means by which Christ established the law Satan represented as destroying it. Here will come the last conflict of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. The Desire of Ages, p. 762, 763

to fulfill the plan made at the very beginning

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8

The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, “Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place. He shall have another chance.” Letter 22, Feb. 13, 1900

to save man while maintaining the dignity and honor of God’s Law

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:25, 26

The transgression of God’s law made the death of Christ essential to save man and yet maintain the dignity and honor of the law. Christ took upon Himself the condemnation of sin. He opened His bosom to the woes of man. He who knew no sin became sin for us.

As man’s substitute and surety, the iniquity of men was laid upon Christ; He was counted a transgressor that He might redeem them from the curse of the law. . . . He, the Sin-Bearer, endures judicial punishment for iniquity and becomes sin itself for man.

Sin, so hateful to His sight, was heaped upon Him till He groaned beneath its weight. The despairing agony of the Son of God was so much greater than His physical pain, that the latter was hardly felt by Him.

God permits His Son to be delivered up for our offenses. He Himself (God) assumes toward the Sin-Bearer (Christ) the character of a judge, divesting Himself of the endearing qualities of a father.

Herein His love commends itself in the most marvelous manner to the rebellious race.

The sin of the whole world was laid upon Jesus, and divinity gave its highest value to the suffering of humanity in Jesus, that the whole world might be pardoned through faith in the Substitute. The most guilty need have no fear that God will not pardon, for because of the efficacy of the divine sacrifice the penalty of the law will be remitted. Through Christ the sinner may return to allegiance to God. The Faith I Live By, p. 104

to glorify the Father

Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. John 13:31, 32

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: John 17:1

to grant repentance, forgiveness, justification

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38, 39

to gather God’s children

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. John 11:49-52

to win the kingdom back from Satan

Christ’s sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete. The condition of the atonement had been fulfilled. The work for which He had come to this world had been accomplished. He had won the kingdom. He had wrested it from Satan and had become heir of all things. He was on His way to the throne of God, to be honored by the heavenly host. Clothed with boundless authority, He gave His disciples their commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end.” Matthew 28:19, 20. Acts of the Apostles, p. 29, 30

to reveal the effect sin has on God

Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ’s agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Every departure from the right, every deed of cruelty, every failure of humanity to reach His ideal, brings grief to Him. When there came upon Israel the calamities that were the sure result of separation from God, – subjugation by their enemies, cruelty, and death, – it is said that “His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” “In all their affliction He was afflicted: . . . and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Judges 10:16; Isaiah 63:9. Education, p. 263

to lead us to hate sin

The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin. The Desire of Ages, p. 300

to destroy sin and Satan and make the universe secure

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

Well, then, might the angels rejoice as they looked upon the Saviour’s cross; for though they did not then understand all, they knew that the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was made eternally secure. Christ Himself fully comprehended the results of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these He looked forward when upon the cross He cried out, “It is finished.” The Desire of Ages, p. 764

RESURRECTION

What was the purpose and result of Jesus’ resurrection?

to demonstrate His power of life and authority over death

He will swallow up death in victory; Isaiah 25:8

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:17, 18

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: John 11:25

to destroy the devil

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14, 15

When Jesus was laid in the grave, Satan triumphed. He dared to hope that the Saviour would not take up His life again. He claimed the Lord’s body, and set his guard about the tomb, seeking to hold Christ a prisoner. He was bitterly angry when his angels fled at the approach of the heavenly messenger. When he saw Christ come forth in triumph, he knew that his kingdom would have an end, and that he must finally die. The Desire of Ages, p. 782

to be Firstfruits, the hope of the harvest

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

The sheaf dedicated to God represented the harvest. So Christ the first fruits represented the great spiritual harvest to be gathered for the kingdom of God. His resurrection is the type and pledge of the resurrection of all the righteous dead. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14. The Desire of Ages, p. 785

to raise some saints as Firstfruits with Himself

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Matthew 27:52, 53

As Christ arose, He brought from the grave a multitude of captives. The earthquake at His death had rent open their graves, and when He arose, they came forth with Him. They were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth. Now they were to be witnesses for Him who had raised them from the dead.

During His ministry, Jesus had raised the dead to life. He had raised the son of the widow of Nain, and the ruler’s daughter and Lazarus. But these were not clothed with immortality. After they were raised, they were still subject to death. But those who came forth from the grave at Christ’s resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave. These, said Christ, are no longer the captives of Satan; I have redeemed them. I have brought them from the grave as the first fruits of My power, to be with Me where I am, nevermore to see death or experience sorrow.

These went into the city, and appeared unto many, declaring, Christ has risen from the dead, and we be risen with Him. Thus was immortalized the sacred truth of the resurrection. The risen saints bore witness to the truth of the words, “Thy dead men shall live, together with My dead body shall they arise.” Their resurrection was an illustration of the fulfillment of the prophecy, “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” Isaiah 26:19. The Desire of Ages, p. 786

to receive the right to give immortality

In our Saviour the life that was lost through sin is restored; for He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will. He is invested with the right to give immortality. The life that He laid down in humanity, He takes up again, and gives to humanity. The Desire of Ages, p. 786, 787

HEAVENLY WORK

What is Jesus doing for us now in Heaven?

providing the gift of the Holy Spirit

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

integrating us into the heavenly family

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

God did not deem the principle of salvation complete while invested only with His own love. By His appointment He has placed at His altar an Advocate clothed with our nature. As our Intercessor, His office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters. Christ intercedes in behalf of those who have received Him. To them He gives power, by virtue of His own merits, to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid our ransom with His blood, by receiving and welcoming Christ’s friends as His friends. He is satisfied with the atonement made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and mediation of His Son. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 363, 364

transforming us from rebels to cooperative subjects

But God is clothed with power; he is able to take those who are dead in trespasses and sins, and by the operation of the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead, transform the human character, bringing back to the soul the lost image of God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are changed from being rebels against the law of God into obedient servants and subjects of his kingdom. They are born again, regenerated, sanctified through the truth. The Youth’s Instructor, February 7, 1895

refining and purifying His people

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:1-3

bringing us to repentance and forgiveness

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31

presenting our requests to the Father

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:13, 14

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23, 24

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:18

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14, 15

our Advocate with the Father

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1

our High Priest in the Heavenly Temple

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24, 25

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. Hebrews 8:1-3

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:11, 12

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:24-26

completing the process of Atonement

Leviticus 16

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:14

preparing a home for His people

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3

receiving the Kingdom

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13, 14

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. Luke 19:12

January 17, 2017January 26, 2020

Protected: The Godhead

January 17, 2017January 22, 2017

Understanding Colossians 2

As a teenager in an Adventist academy, I was studying Colossians 2 in Bible class and was told that Colossians 2:14 states that the Law of Moses is no longer in force but was nailed to the cross. I asked the question, “If the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross, why are we still teaching that it is binding in some areas such as tithing, abstinence from alcoholic drinks, and listings of clean and unclean meats?” This seemed to be an inconsistency, particularly since Colossians 2:16 says, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat . . . ” The answer I got was that the clean and unclean meat laws were given before the Israelite nation existed – at the time of the flood. Well, I couldn’t see that this argument carried much weight since circumcision was also given before the Israelite nation existed – at the time of Abraham. And sacrifices were given from Adam’s time on. We don’t teach that the rite of circumcision, for religious reasons, is still necessary, nor burnt sacrifices. So, what should we do with this inconsistency?

Let’s study Colossians 2 for a different perspective and a possible solution to this dilemma. We will first look at the verses and their possible meaning. Then we will look at some more reasons for a needed change in our understanding, studying the context and the various commentaries.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8

I was directed to this scripture as especially applying to modern spiritualism: Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Thousands, I was shown, have been spoiled through the philosophy of phrenology and animal magnetism, and have been driven into infidelity. If the mind commences to run in this channel, it is almost sure to lose its balance and be controlled by a demon. “Vain deceit” fills the minds of poor mortals. They think there is such power in themselves to accomplish great works that they realize no necessity of a higher power. Their principles and faith are “after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Jesus has not taught them this philosophy. Nothing of the kind can be found in His teachings. He did not direct the minds of poor mortals to themselves, to a power which they possessed. He was ever directing their minds to God, the Creator of the universe, as the source of their strength and wisdom. Special warning is given in verse 18: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 297)

The “rudiments of the world” are here associated with spiritualism, the power from within to be all that you want to be, to be gods.

Pantheistic theories are not sustained by the Word of God. The light of His truth shows that these theories are soul destroying agencies. Darkness is their element, sensuality their sphere. They gratify the natural heart, and give leeway to inclination. Separation from God is the result of accepting them.

A warning against such teaching is found in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. The apostle declares that the hearts of the believers were to be “knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say,” he continues, “lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. . . . As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:2-10. (Ellen G. White, Pacific Union Recorder, December 31, 1903)

This gives us some clues about the context of Paul’s writing. In recent years, many scholars have concluded that an early form of Gnosticism was the culprit in the Colossian church. Colossians 2 is primarily dealing with Gnostic spiritualistic teachings such as pantheism, developing one’s inner powers, man’s power to become as God. These things are being taught frequently today. They have many earmark words such as the power of positive thinking, the emerging church, spiritual formation, Christian yoga, etc.

Let’s look at what the Gnostics believed.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) records the following general characteristics found within most varieties of Gnosticism:

The following may be regarded as the chief points in the Gnostic systems:
(1) a claim on the part of the initiated to a special knowledge of the truth; a tendency to regard knowledge as superior to faith and as the special possession of the more enlightened, for ordinary Christians did not possess this secret and higher doctrine;
(2) the essential separation of matter and spirit, matter being intrinsically evil and the source from which all evil has arisen;
(3) an attempt to solve the problems of creation and the origin of evil by postulating a demiurge, i.e., a creator or artificer of the world distinct from the deity, and emanations extending between God and the visible universe (the demiurge for the Gnostics being the God of the OT, an inferior being infinitely remote from the Supreme Being who can have nothing to do with anything material);
(4) a denial of the true humanity of Christ; a docetic Christology which considered the earthly life of Christ and especially His sufferings on the cross to be unreal;
(5) the denial of the personality of the Supreme God, and also the denial of the free will of mankind;
(6) the teaching, on the one hand, of asceticism as the means of attaining spiritual communion with God, and, on the other hand, of an indifference that led directly to licentiousness;
(7) a syncretistic tendency that combined certain more or less misunderstood Christian doctrines and various elements from oriental, Jewish, Greek, and other sources;
(8) ascription of the OT to the demiurge or inferior creator of the world.

Some of these ideas are more obvious in one and some of them in another of the Gnostic systems. (Bryan T. Huie www.herealittletherealittle.net [quoting from ISBE, Vol. 2, “Gnosticism,” pp. 486-487])

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Colossians 2:9-13

Here Paul is talking about the process of our death to self by laying off the body of the sins of the flesh, being buried with Jesus in baptism (a symbol of the death of our old sinful nature), and putting on the new nature of Jesus in the resurrection analogy. To be quickened is to receive the new spiritual life from God. This is not a life force that we possess but power from outside of us, power which can only come from God. Paul is explaining that Circumcision was replaced with the rite of Baptism, both being symbols of Justification, that first change that takes place when a sinner comes to his Savior in repentance and is given a new heart and a new desire to serve the Father in Heaven.

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14

Through Christ the hidden glory of the holy of holies was to stand revealed. He had suffered death for every man, and by this offering, the sons of men were to become the sons of God. With open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, believers in Christ were to be changed into the same image, from glory to glory. The mercy seat, upon which the glory of God rested in the holiest of all, is opened to all who accept Christ as the propitiation for sin, and through its medium, they are brought into fellowship with God. The veil is rent, the partition walls broken down, the handwriting of ordinances cancelled. By virtue of His blood the enmity is abolished.

With His life Christ has purchased every human being. He died a cruel death to save human beings from eternal death. He gave His sinless life to obtain for the sinner a life that measures with the life of God. Through His death, He provided a way whereby man may break with Satan, return to his allegiance to God, and through faith in the Redeemer obtain pardon. . . . (Ellen G. White, Sons and Daughters of God, p. 228, 230)

Note that “handwriting (cheirographon) of ordinances” and “enmity” are somewhat paralleled as are “canceled” and “abolished.”

“Most commentators interpret the cheirographon either as the “certificate of indebtedness” resulting from our transgressions or a “book containing the record of sin” used for the condemnation of mankind. Both renderings, which are substantially similar, can be supported from rabbinic and apocalyptic literature.” (Samuele Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath to Sunday p. 348, 349)

Let’s look at the word “blotting” in Strong’s Greek Dictionary.

G1813 exaleipho ex-al-i’-fo

From G1537 and G218; to smear out, that is, obliterate (erase tears, figuratively pardon sin): – blot out, wipe away.

The same word is used in a few other texts in the English translation as well as the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament. Looking at these texts may help clarify the typical usage of the word, and especially Paul’s usage.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalm 51:9

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25

These texts tell us what Jesus came to blot out. Careful research of the use of this word in the Septuagint, G1813, which is used in Colossians 2:14, shows that it never refers to the blotting out of a Law or Decree, but repeatedly refers to the blotting out of sin and transgressions, as well as the blotting out or not blotting out of one’s name. Also, the blotting out of wicked nations in Judgment by God. This would indicate that the use of the word “blot” to refer to blotting out Laws would be inconsistent with its typical Biblical Greek Old Testament usage. The other references in the New Testament where G1813 occurs are: Acts 3:19 “that your sins may be blotted out,” and Revelation 7:17 and 21:4 “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” The idea that Colossians 2:14 refers to blotting out the whole Law given through Moses is not consistent with the rest of Scripture, and though this interpretation is hoary with age, there is little evidence for it. There is ample usage of the word in reference to the blotting out of sins or iniquity. But let us not forget what Jesus himself has said:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:17

Have the heavens and earth passed away yet?

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19, 20

Jesus then expounds upon what law he is speaking of:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: Matthew 5:21

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: Matthew 5:27

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: Matthew 5:31

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Matthew 5:33

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Matthew 5:38

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Matthew 5:43

Please note what laws Jesus is referring to: two of them are from the Ten Commandments and the other four are from the “Laws given to Moses.” These shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

What about the phrase “against us?” What was against us? The handwritten ordinance that was against us is our record of sin, our certificate of indebtedness, that brought about our condemnation. In other words, in the case of those who repent and accept the free gift of God, their death sentence was nailed to the Cross. That is what the Ceremonial Law, the sacrificial system, symbolized – the death of Jesus on the Cross. He bore our sins in His body and therefore, our sins and our death certificate were nailed to the Cross.

What is the Biblical definition of the phrase “Ceremonial Law?” There isn’t one; that term does not occur in the Bible. But Daniel tells us what would change at the Cross.

Here Daniel tells us very clearly what ended at the Cross: sacrifice and oblation.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15

Jesus has triumphed over those powers that were worshiped in mysticism and spiritualism and Paul is showing these Gentiles, who had recently come out of heathenism, the value of worshiping the most powerful God of heaven and reasoning with them about how useless it would be to return to those heathen mystic ideas of worship. Let’s read about this in Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.

“And having spoiled – Plundered as a victorious army does a conquered country. The terms used in this verse are all military, and the idea is, that Christ has completely subdued our enemies by his death. A complete victory was achieved by his death, so that every thing is now in subjection to him, and we have nothing to fear.”

“Principalities and powers – The ‘principalities and powers’ here referred to, are the formidable enemies that had held man in subjection, and prevented his serving God. There can be no doubt, I think, that the apostle refers to the ranks of fallen, evil spirits which had usurped a dominion over the world. (see John 12:31 and Ephesians 2:2)”

So we see that Jesus is the power by which Satan, his demon angels, and our fallen human nature are subdued and overcome.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Colossians 2:16

Who was judging the Colossian converts? These were probably mystic Jews, who were promoting a strange mixture of Gnosticism, Spiritualism, Judaism, and Christianity. Here is a quote from Spiros Zodhiates’ comments on Colossians 2:8-23.

“Gnosticism is derived from the Greek word gnosis (1108) meaning ‘knowledge.’ This heresy was repudiated not only by the writers of the NT epistles, but also by the church fathers who lived in the period after the early church. It is from them that there is knowledge of Gnosticism’s general tenets.”
“The Gnostics separated matter from thought. They concluded that matter was evil, and formulated the idea that the possession of knowledge was the only requirement for salvation. . . . The result was a complete denial of sexual and other bodily appetites (i.e., one being asceticism and the other a practice of unrestrained indulgence of the body. [vv. 20-23]).”
“In this passage, Paul countered the teaching that stressed the way to holiness was through asceticism. He emphasized that spirituality is not achieved by self-centered efforts to control the passions, but by putting on Christ, ‘setting one’s affections on Him.’ and in so doing, removing all that is contrary to His will (vv. 20-23; Col. 3:1-17).” (Key Word Study Bible, p. 1480, 1481)

from Robertson’s Word Pictures on Colossians 2:16–

“Let no one judge you. Prohibition present active imperative third singular, forbidding the habit of passing judgment in such matters. For krino see note on Mat_7:1. Paul has here in mind the ascetic regulations and practices of one wing of the Gnostics (possibly Essenic or even Pharisaic influence). He makes a plea for freedom in such matters on a par with that in 1 Corinthians 8-9; Romans 14; 15. The Essenes went far beyond the Mosaic regulations. For the Jewish feasts see note on Gal_4:10. Josephus (Ant. III. 10, 1) expressly explains the ‘seventh day’ as called ‘sabbata’ (plural form as here, an effort to transliterate the Aramaic sabbathah).

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Colossians 2:16-18

Let’s learn more of what Paul is admonishing these Gentile Christians to stay away from. Josephus tells us about the Gnostic Jews as he describes the Essens, (Essenes) one branch of Gnosticism, some of whom had accepted Christianity.

“These Essens reject pleasures as an evil, but esteem continence, and the conquest over our passions, to be virtue. They neglect wedlock, . . . ”
“. . . the cook also brings a single plate of one sort of food, and sets it before every one of them;”
“. . . And as for their piety towards God, it is very extraordinary; for before sun-rising they speak not a word about profane matters, but put up certain prayers which they have received from their forefathers, as if they made a supplication for its rising.”
“. . . he who is thus separated from them does often die after a miserable manner; for as he is bound by the oath he hath taken, and by the customs he hath been engaged in, he is not at liberty to partake of that food that he meets with elsewhere, but is forced to eat grass, and to famish his body with hunger, till he perish; for which reason they receive many of them again when they are at their last gasp, out of compassion to them, as thinking the miseries they have endured till they came to the very brink of death to be a sufficient punishment for the sins they had been guilty of.”

“Moreover, he swears to communicate their doctrines to no one any otherwise than as he received them himself; that he will abstain from robbery, and will equally preserve the books belonging to their sect, and the names of the angels * [or messengers]. These are the oaths by which they secure their proselytes to themselves. [* This mention of the “names of angels,” so particularly preserved by the Essens, (if it means more than those “messengers” which were employed to bring, them the peculiar books of their Sect,) looks like a prelude to that “worshipping of angels,” blamed by St. Paul, as superstitious and unlawful, in some such sort of people as these Essens were, Colossians 2:8; as is the prayer to or towards the sun for his rising every morning, mentioned before, sect. 5, very like those not much later observances made mention of in the preaching of Peter, Authent. Rec. Part II. p. 669, and regarding a kind of worship of angels, of the month, and of the moon, and not celebrating the new moons, or other festivals, unless the moon appeared. Which, indeed, seems to me the earliest mention of any regard to the phases in fixing the Jewish calendar, of which the Talmud and later Rabbins talk so much, and upon so very little ancient foundation.]” p. 674, Para. 5, [2]. THE LIFE OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS VOLUME ONE. p. iii, Para. 1, [1]. CHAPTER 8 ARCHELAUS’S ETHNARCHY Is REDUCED INTO A. THE SEDITION Of JUDAS OF GALILEE. THE THREE SECTS, p. 673-675 (This note [*] was added by the translator, Dr. Hudson.)

Here we see that the Essens practiced mystery religions which are in contrast to true Christianity. The above quotes mention severe restrictions in dietary practices, judgment of how holy days were kept, fasting vs. feasting, worshiping of angels, worship of the rising sun, secret oaths and doctrines, the omission of normal marital relations, rote prayers, mortification of the body, and other heathen practices. Also, we see how Christians might have been judged for not following the Essen’s practices in relation to HOW they kept the Holy Days of Yahweh rather than WHETHER OR NOT they kept them.

This sect was strict in ascetic practices of refusing pleasure and therefore would fast (having only one small portion of one kind of food) rather than feast on God’s Holy Days. God had told His people to rejoice on those days, not fast. They also followed the practices of the “Christians” from Alexandria in their timing of the holidays following the pagan customs of moon and sun worship. The issue here seems clearly to be a matter of HOW the early Gentile Christians kept these feast days rather than WHETHER OR NOT they kept them. Paul is here telling them to rejoice (feast) not mourn (fast) on those days since they are to commemorate eternal rejoicing experienced after the second coming of Jesus.

“If one is carefully considering this matter, this understanding can be seen to fit the context of the entire chapter with clarity and consistency. It speaks much more clearly to the subject of the entire passage then the common interpretation which concludes Paul to be eradicating the keeping of these days. Let us research this further.” (Bryan T. Huie, “Colossian Heresy” www.herealittletherealittle.net)

In verse 16, Paul comes to the primary point he wants to make. He tells the Colossians not to let anyone (including the Gnostics) judge them in eating or drinking, or in the observance of Festivals, New Moons, or Sabbaths.

This passage is widely misunderstood because most scholars begin with the assumption that the Holy Days, New Moons, and Sabbaths mentioned in verse 16 are among the false teachings Paul is combating. They assume that the Gentile Colossians were not keeping these days, but the heretics who were bothering them (usually labeled “Jewish Gnostics”) were trying to force them to observe these days. Two points discredit this theory:

1) Paul calls the Gnostic teachings the “tradition of men” (Colossians 2:8) and the “commandments and doctrines of men” (Colossians 2:22). Regardless of how he felt about the observances he lists in verse 16, being a Pharisee trained in the Law (Acts 22:3; 23:6; 26:5; Philippians 3:4-6), he would not have called them the “tradition of men.” They are clearly defined in the Torah (Exodus 16, 20; Leviticus 23; Deuteronomy 16) as divine commands the Israelites were to obey.

2) It is clear that the heretics’ teaching involved strict ascetic regulations (Colossians 2:21-23). Yet asceticism is the opposite of feasting. You don’t promote asceticism by encouraging the observance of feast days. Instead, you elevate asceticism by criticizing the way someone is keeping a Feast, or by condemning the fact that they are celebrating a Feast at all.

Because of an anti-Jewish bias which can be traced back to the early Roman Catholic church, almost all scholars have misunderstood the meaning of Paul’s statement in these verses. For the Gnostics to be judging the Colossians regarding their manner of observing the Holy Days, New Moons, and Sabbaths, they (the Colossians) must have been keeping them.

The phrase “in meat (food), or in drink” does not accurately convey the meaning of the original text. The Greek reads “en brosei kai en posei” and refers to the acts of eating and drinking. The strict Gnostics were substituting an ascetic philosophy (Colossians 2:8, “tradition of men”) and “doctrines of devils” (see 1 Tim. 4:1-3) for the truth that had previously been taught to the Colossians. They were evidently quick to find fault with anyone who did not follow their teaching of denying oneself food and drink.

The text shows that the Gnostic teachers were also condemning the Colossian Christians for their observance of the Holy Days, New Moons, and Sabbaths. The Gnostics’ reason for judging the Colossians in these matters goes hand in hand with their criticism of “eating and drinking.” Jews in the 1st century (as well as early Christians) treated the Sabbath as a weekly feast day, and fasting was forbidden on the Sabbath. During most of the annual Festivals (with the exception of the Day of Atonement), God commanded his people to rejoice and enjoy food and drink. (Deuteronomy 14:23-26, Nehemiah 8:10, 12) This most certainly would have conflicted with the Gnostics’ ascetic outlook.

“For the Jews the Sabbath was anything but a day of fast or of mourning. Even the strictest Jewish sects objected to fasting on the Sabbath. . . . That the early Christians adopted this Jewish custom is implied, for instance, by Augustine’s rhetorical remark, when referring to the Sabbath, he says: “Did not the tradition of the elders prohibit fasting on the one hand, and command rest on the other?” Further support can be seen in the opposition to the Sabbath fast by Christians in the East and in some important Western areas, such as Milan at the time of Ambrose (d. A.D. 397), and in certain churches and regions of North Africa.” (Samuele Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath To Sunday, pp. 187, 188)

“To gain protection from these cosmic powers and principalities, the Colossian ‘philosophers’ were urging Christians to offer cultic adoration to angelic powers (2:15, 18, 19, 23) and to follow ritualistic and ascetic practices (2:11, 14, 16, 17, 21, 22).” (Ibid., p. 345)

There are some misconceptions and inconsistencies in certain traditional SDA interpretations regarding Colossians 2. Let’s take a look at them.

Misconception: the Biblical Festivals were part of the Ceremonial Law and ceased at the Cross.

What does the Bible and history reveal about this?

Jesus observed the Feasts but not ceremonial law –

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Luke 22:15, 16

Christ passed through all the experiences of his childhood, youth, and manhood without the observance of ceremonial temple worship. He held no office, he assumed no rank. He passed through the experience of infancy, childhood, and manhood without a stain upon his character. He consecrated himself to God that he might benefit and bless others, to show that in every period of life the human agent can do the Master’s will. (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, October 24, 1899)

Among the Jews the twelfth year was the dividing line between childhood and youth. On completing this year a Hebrew boy was called a son of the law, and also a son of God. He was given special opportunities for religious instruction, and was expected to participate in the sacred feasts and observances. It was in accordance with this custom that Jesus in His boyhood made the Passover visit to Jerusalem. Like all devout Israelites, Joseph and Mary went up every year to attend the Passover; and when Jesus had reached the required age, they took Him with them. (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 75)

Jesus said that He was going to keep the Passover with his disciples, yet we are told that He never observed ceremonial temple worship. Those ceremonies were the remedy for sin, and since He never sinned, He didn’t need that remedy. From these quotes we can also understand that the Feasts were not a part of the Ceremonial Law since Jesus did observe them.

Paul observed the Feasts –

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. Acts 18:21

For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16

Paul’s Gentile converts observed the Feasts –

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. Acts 20:6

At Philippi Paul tarried to keep the passover. Only Luke remained with him, the other members of the company passing on to Troas to await him there. The Philippians were the most loving and true-hearted of the apostle’s converts, and he enjoyed a peaceful and happy visit with them during the eight days of the feast. (Ellen G. White, Life of Paul, p. 196)

Since Paul kept the Passover with his converts at Philippi, it seems highly unlikely that he would tell those at Colosse not to keep the biblical Festivals (as some understand Colossians 2:16).

Early Christians continued to observe the Feasts –

Some historical references –

“The fourteenth day, the true Passover of the Lord; the great sacrifice, the Son of God instead of the lamb, who was bound, who bound the strong, and who was judged, though Judge of living and dead, and who was delivered into the hands of sinners to be crucified, who was lifted up on the horns of the unicorn, and who was pierced in His holy side, who poured forth from His side the two purifying elements, water and blood, word and spirit, and who was buried on the day of the passover, the stone being placed upon the tomb.” (Apollinaris. Concerning Passover, c. A.D. 180)

“When Servilius Paulus was proconsul of Asia, at the time that Sagaris suffered martyrdom, there arose a great controversy at Laodicea concerning the time of the celebration of the Passover, which on that occasion had happened to fall at the proper season.” (Melito of Sardis, c. A.D. 180)

The Orthodox Church reports this brief explanation of events in one of its timelines:
193 A.D. – Council of Rome, presided over by Bishop Victor, condemns the celebration of Pascha on Nisan 14, and addresses a letter to Polycrates of Ephesus and the Churches in Asia.
193 A.D. – Council of Ephesus, presided over by Bishop Polycrates, and attended by several bishops throughout Asia, reject the authority of Victor of Rome, and keep the Asian paschal tradition.

Polycrates wrote the following to Bishop Victor c. A.D. 195:

“We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito, the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ‘ We ought to obey God rather than man’ ” (Eusebius. Church History, Book V, Chapter 24. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series Two, Volume 1. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, 1890. Online Edition Copyright© 2004 by K. Knight).

Notice that Polycrates said that he and the other early church leaders (the Apostles Philip and John, and their successors Polycarp, Thraseas, Sagaris, Papirius, Melito) would not deviate from the Gospel, and that they kept the Passover on the correct date, and not on a Easter Sunday. Also notice that they always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. Polycrates also reminded the Roman bishop that true followers of Christ “obey God rather than men.”

“Pentecost is a most auspicious period . . . “(Tertullian, “On Baptism” [c. A.D. 200])

There are many more historical writings that indicate the early church was keeping the biblical Feasts, but these will suffice for this article.

The Roman Catholic Church changed the Feasts –

“The Catholic Church abolished not only the Sabbath, but all the other Jewish festivals.” (T. Enright C.S.S.R., Bishop of St. Alphonsus Church, St. Louis, Missouri, June, 1905)

“Question – What are the days which the church commands to be kept holy?”

“Answer – 1. The Sunday, or our Lord’s day, which we observe by apostolic tradition, instead of the Sabbath. 2. The feasts of our Lord’s Nativity, or Christmas day; his circumcision, or New Year’s day; the Epiphany, or twelfth day; Easterday, or the day of our Lord’s resurrection, with the Monday following; the day of our Lord’s ascension; Whit-Sunday, or the day of the coming of the Holy Ghost, with the Monday following; Trinity Sunday; Corpus Christi, or the feasts of the blessed sacrament. 3. We keep the days of the Annunciation, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 4. We observe the feasts of All-saints; of St. John Baptist; of the holy apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul. 5. In this kingdom we keep the feasts of St. Patrick, our principal patron.” (“The Catholic Christian Instructed” quoted in “Who Changed the Sabbath” by Uriah Smith)

What is the “Ceremonial Law?”

Many Adventists have understood the “handwriting of ordinances” spoken of in Colossians 2:14 to be the Ceremonial Law, and the Holy Days, New Moons, and Sabbaths in Colossians 2:16 to be a brief list of some of the things included in it. We have seen earlier in this article that Colossians 2:14 is referring to our record of sin, our certificate of indebtedness, our death sentence which was nailed to the cross. The Spirit of Prophecy gives us a very succinct definition of the Ceremonial Law.

There are two distinct laws brought to view. One is the law of types and shadows, which reached to the time of Christ, and ceased when type met antitype in his death. The other is the law of Jehovah, and is as abiding and changeless as his eternal throne. After the crucifixion, it was a denial of Christ for the Jews to continue to offer the burnt offerings and sacrifices which were typical of his death. It was saying to the world that they looked for a Redeemer to come, and had no faith in Him who had given his life for the sins of the world. Hence the ceremonial law ceased to be of force at the death of Christ. (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, July 29, 1886)

Burnt offerings and sacrifices = Ceremonial Law.

Misconception: the expression “sabbath days” in Colossians 2:16 is referring to yearly Festival Sabbaths.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath (G4521) days: Colossians 2:16

The Greek word used in this verse is (from Strong’s Greek Dictionary):

G4521 sabbaton sab’-bat-on

Of Hebrew origin [H7676]; the Sabbath (that is, Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension a se’nnight, that is, the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: – sabbath (day), week.

This word (G4521) appears over 60 times in the New Testament. In all of those places we say it is referring to the seventh-day Sabbath; but this one instance is singled out and understood to be speaking of Festival Sabbaths. This seems to be inconsistent theology. Since Festivals have already been mentioned in the verse, it would be needless repetition to refer to them again. The probability that this text is speaking of the seventh-day Sabbath is consistent and logical. This is especially true when one compares the New Testament to the Old. This same triad (Holy Days, New Moons, Sabbaths) is mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament in 1 Chronicles 23:31, 2 Chronicles 2:4, 8:12, 31:3, Nehemiah 10:33, Ezekiel 45:17, Hosea 2:11. In all these references, Seventh day Adventists say that Sabbath is referring to the seventh day.

One author makes his case against Colossians 2:16 speaking of the seventh day by saying that in the Old Testament references there is a fourth dimension, Sacrifices. He therefore assumes that Colossians 2 is not talking about the seventh day and that this triad in Colossians 2 is not the same as the Old Testament triads, in that the Old Testament has the added dimension of the Sacrifices. But it seems more probable that this is the same triad, that Paul is indeed quoting the Old Testament, and that the Sacrifices are not mentioned because they were no longer observed. This especially makes good sense if one considers that Paul is talking about how the Feasts, New Moons and Sabbaths were kept, not whether they were kept.

from Robertson’s Word Pictures commentary on Colossians 2:16–

“Josephus (Ant. III. 10, 1) expressly explains the ‘seventh day’ as called ‘sabbata’ (plural form as here, an effort to transliterate the Aramaic sabbathah). ”

Question: Does “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, . . . ” refer to (1) meat offerings and drink offerings; or to (2) the health principles given in the Old Testament? Many Bible students assume that “Let no man judge you” means these things are no longer applicable because they were part of the Laws of Moses and were done away with at the Cross.

Let’s look at another word study to understand choice (1) above.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, (G1035) or in drink, (G4213) or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Colossians 2:16

from Strong’s Greek Dictionary:

G1035 brosis bro’-sis

From the base of G977; (abstractly) eating (literally or figuratively); by extension (concretely) food (literally or figuratively): – eating, food, meat.

This word is NEVER used in the Septuagint for a meat offering. Instead it uses G2378.

G2378 thusia thoo-see’-ah

From G2380; sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively): – sacrifice.

This word is used in the Septuagint in reference to a general sacrifice or a burnt meat offering.

These two words (G1035 and G2378) are completely separate. They are not interchangeable. The word used in Colossians 2:16 refers to eating food, not a sacrificial meat offering. G1035 (used in Colossians 2:16) occurs 37 times in the Septuagint and not once does it refer to a meat offering. In all cases it refers to eating food.

The word for drink used in Colossians 2:16 is:

G4213 posis pos’-is

From the alternate of G4095; a drinking (the act), that is, (concretely) a draught: – drink.

The word used for drink offering in the Septuagint is:

G4689 spendo spen’-do

Apparently a primary verb; to pour out as a libation, that is, (figuratively) to devote (one’s life or blood, as a sacrifice) (‘spend’): – (be ready to) be offered.

It is quite obvious that Colossians 2:16 is not referring to sacrificial laws regarding meat and drink offerings which were done away with at the cross. Paul is saying, “Let no man judge you in what or how you eat or drink.” But is he saying, as is brought out in part (2) of the question above, that there are no longer any restrictions on what we should eat or drink? If that is the case, we have no biblical basis for our health principles as based on Leviticus 11 (clean and unclean meats), Leviticus 17:12 (no blood), Leviticus 10:9 (no alcohol). There is no other eating and drinking prohibition except for persons taking a Nazarite vow (which Paul himself apparently took in Acts 18) which prohibited eating or drinking any grape products and cutting the hair for a specified length of time. The rule about not eating blood was given to the Christian converts in Acts 15.

To say that this verse is referring to “the Laws of Moses” gets us backed into a theological corner that is very difficult to wiggle out of. But that is not what is being said. Paul is referring to how they ate and drank at Feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths – fasting vs. feasting. Obedience to Mosaic Laws is not the question here. There is NOT ONE reference to the Law (nomos in Greek) in the entire book of Colossians! Paul is not talking about Laws.

“Paul is plainly saying here that the church was to be the Colossians’ only guide on eating and drinking, as these things related to Sabbath, new moon, and festival observances. They were not to let the Gnostics force ascetic practices on them, especially during these holy times (which are a shadow of the good things coming in the future – cf. Heb. 9:11, 10:1).” (Bryan T. Huie, www.herealittletherealittle.net)

We may want to qualify the above statement and say that God is to be our only guide in what we do on these days.

Question: What is the “shadow” referring to?

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:17

Traditionally SDA’s have said there is no shadow in the Sabbath. So how can we reconcile the probability of Colossians 2:16 referring to the seventh-day Sabbath and speaking of it as a shadow? Are the Sabbath or biblical Feasts a shadow? I’d like to suggest a different line of thinking on this: Maybe what Paul is saying is that the way in which Sabbath and Feasts are kept is a shadow – feasting rather than fasting – rejoicing in commemoration of the blessed rest we will enjoy in Heaven when we can rest far removed from all sin and death. In other words, the shadow is not the days themselves but the way those days were kept–as a celebration feast, not a wearisome fast.

Now let’s look briefly at some of the next verses.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Colossians 2:20-23

The leaven of false doctrine will be accepted in preference to the truth. “Beware,” writes Paul, “lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, March 16, 1897)

These rudiments of the world are false doctrines, man-made ordinances. We repeat part of an earlier quote to illustrate this.

“he who is thus separated from them (the Essens) does often die after a miserable manner; for as he is bound by the oath he hath taken, and by the customs he hath been engaged in, he is not at liberty to partake of that food that he meets with elsewhere, but is forced to eat grass, and to famish his body with hunger, till he perish.” THE LIFE OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS VOLUME ONE. p. iii, Para. 1, [1]. CHAPTER 8 ARCHELAUS’S ETHNARCHY Is REDUCED INTO A. THE SEDITION Of JUDAS OF GALILEE. THE THREE SECTS. p. 675, Para. 1.

This gives us an example of the restrictions that were put on one who joined the Essene Gnostics. Food and drink were restricted by their vows. Fasting was promoted on God’s Feast days and Sabbaths contrary to His commands. This practice was carried on later in Roman Catholicism to facilitate substituting God’s appointed days with human, pagan traditions. Let’s read about it.

“That the early Christians adopted this Jewish custom is implied, for instance, by Augustine’s rhetorical remark, when referring to the Sabbath, he says: ‘Did not the tradition of the elders prohibit fasting on the one hand, and command rest on the other?’ [Epistle to Casulanus by Augustine, 36, 6, NPNF 1st, 1 p. 267]. Further support can be seen in the opposition to the Sabbath fast by Christians in the East and in some important Western areas, such as in Milan at the time of Ambrose (d. A.D. 397), and in certain churches and regions of North Africa. The transformation of the Sabbath from a day of feasting and joy to a day of fasting and mourning, as we shall see represents a measure taken by the Church of Rome to degrade the Sabbath in order to enhance Sunday Worship. [F. A. Regan, Dies Dominica, p. 60]” (Samuelle Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath to Sunday, p. 188)

This quote tells us why Paul would have made a strong case in Colossians against fasting on God’s holy days. This was the catalyst used to destroy those days and set in their place man-made holy days. Read on.

“That the weekly Sabbath fast was introduced early in Rome is clearly implied by a statement of Hippolytus (written in Rome between A.D. 202-234) which says: ‘Even today some . . . order fasting on the Sabbath of which Christ has not spoken, dishonoring even the Gospel of Christ.’ [Hippolytus, In Danielem Commentarius 4, 20, 3 GCS I p. 234]” (Ibid., p. 191)

What about Feast days other than Sabbath?

“Augustine similarly associates the fasting of the weekly Sabbath fast with the annual paschal Sabbath fast. He explains, however, that while the weekly Sabbath fast was kept only by ‘the Church of Rome and some churches in the West . . . once a year, namely at Easter, all Christians observed the seventh day of the week by fasting’ (Epistle to Casulanus 36, 31, NPNF 1st, I p. 270).” (Ibid., p. 190)

“The same prohibition to fast on the Sabbath with the exception of the annual Paschal Sabbath fast, is found in the Apostolic Constitutions 5, 15, 20 and in the Apostolic Canons 64.” (Ibid., p. 190)

Here is another quote from Bryan Huie’s article.

“Verse 22 makes it clear that these prohibitions were human institutions. Every indication is that Paul is not referring to the Law in this chapter. Indeed, the word “law” is never used in the Colossian epistle. Evidently these false teachings were human traditions derived from demonic precepts (Col. 2:8; I Tim. 4:1-3).”

“In verse 23, Paul says that these doctrines might seem on the surface to promote wisdom and spiritual growth through the abuse of the physical body. Yet he concludes that they’re really of no value in curtailing fleshly indulgence. Paul shifts gears in the third chapter and begins to exhort the Colossians to seek heavenly things, not the things which pertain to this world (Col. 3:1-2).” Bryan T. Huie www.herealittletherealittle.net

Question: Were all the Feasts fulfilled at the Cross?

This opinion is promoted widely, but if we ask, “How were the fall Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) fulfilled at the Cross?” no one can give an answer. There is no fulfillment of these days at the Cross. And if they were done away with in some way, where is the basis for October 22, 1844? That date was chosen because it was the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh (lunar) month in the year 1844.

The Feasts in the future

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, . . . And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, . . . and (it) shall cleave in the midst thereof . . . And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations . . . shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zechariah 14:1, 4, 16

Conclusion:

The evidence seems quite clear that what Paul is dealing with in Colossians 2 is Gnostic, Spiritualistic, man-made beliefs and not God’s Laws. Therefore, this chapter is not a license to do away with any of God’s Laws! But it certainly does warn us not to take up and do any man-made laws contrary to God’s Laws.

January 17, 2017January 22, 2017

Trouble for the Early Church

Paul wrote some things to the churches he started that have puzzled many since then. Someone was trying to influence his converts in the wrong way and he was trying to protect them from these troublers. Who were these troublers? What were the issues Paul was dealing with? Let’s take a look.

How turn ye again? –

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Galatians 4:8-11

Who are the “no gods” that Paul is concerned about? Some think that the “days, and months, and times, and years” that the Galatians were turning back to were the Festivals spoken of in the Old Testament. From that line of reasoning, we would have to conclude that the “no gods” would be the God of Heaven. I doubt any true Christian would wish to call God in Heaven a “no god.” Maybe more careful study is the remedy for such confusion. We know that Paul kept the Feasts of Scripture, (without the sacrifices of course) as the book of Acts reveals.

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. Acts 18:21

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. Acts 20:6

For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16

Paul would not chastise the Galatians for keeping the Biblical Feasts when he observed them himself. But being concerned about them going back to their old pagan feasts with all their sexual orgies and idolatry makes logical sense. What else could “turn ye again” mean for those who were previously pagans and were in danger of going back to their pagan practices?

Some History

I’d like to look at some historical evidence which might clarify some of the unclear things Paul is writing.

the Gnostics–

In his book, From Sabbath to Sunday, Samuel Bacchiocchi speaks of some who were leading away from the Sabbath and Feasts by instituting other days of worship. Let’s read about this movement.

“Justin reduces the seventh day to a trademark of Jewish infidelity. To prove such a thesis he contends that the Sabbath was not observed before Moses, that God Himself did not keep it and that several persons in the Old Testament, like the priests, legitimately broke it.

“These ‘proofs’ became the standard repertory utilized in the controversy not only by the Fathers but even by Gnostic sects . . .

“The Gnostics, in fact, who, as J. Danielou points out, “were decided enemies of Judaism, were carried away by this theme [ i.e. eighth day ], since it enabled them to do away with the “Jewish Sabbath.” (Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath to Sunday, p. 286, para 1-3)

The Gnostics were promoting eighth-day worship, which is really first-day worship – Sunday worship instead of Sabbath worship, and Easter instead of Passover.

Who were these Gnostics? Let’s study into their history a bit further. Here is some information on the Gnostics from two websites on the internet. Please keep in mind as you read these quotes that the authors are not Christians. I am quoting them merely for their descriptions of Gnosticism.

from www.earlychristianwritings.com

“A one-sentence description of Gnosticism: a religion that differentiates the evil god of this world (who is identified with the god of the Old Testament) from a higher more abstract God revealed by Jesus Christ, a religion that regards this world as the creation of a series of evil archons/powers who wish to keep the human soul trapped in an evil physical body, a religion that preaches a hidden wisdom or knowledge only to a select group as necessary for salvation or escape from this world.

“The term “gnostic” derives from “gnosis,” which means “knowledge” in Greek. The Gnostics believed that they were privy to a secret knowledge about the divine, hence the name. (Huxley coined “agnosticism” on the basis that all knowledge must be based on reason. We cannot rationally claim to have access to knowledge that is beyond the powers of the intellect.)

“There are numerous references to the Gnostics in second century proto-orthodox literature. Most of what we know about them is from the polemic thrown at them by the early Church Fathers. They are alluded to in the Bible in the pastorals (spurious Paulines of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus), for example 1 Tm 1:4 and 1 Tm 6:20, and possibly the entirety of Jude. Ignatius of Antioch writes against them as well as Docetism, a doctrine closely related to Gnosticism that stated that Christ was pure spirit and had only a phantom body. Second Clement is a document aimed at refuting early second century Gnosticism. Marcion was the most famous of the Gnostics, and he established a “canon” of the Pauline epistles (minus the pastorals) and a “mutilated” Luke (presumably considered so because it lacked proof-texts such as Lk 22:43-44). Justin Martyr mentioned him c. 150 CE, and Irenaeus and Tertullian wrote against him extensively in the late second century (in Against Heresy and Against Marcion, respectively).

“Some scholars have theorized that Gnosticism has its roots in pre-Christian religions, instead of being merely an offshoot of Christianity.”

from www.jesusneverexisted.com/gnostic

“The Samaritan “Simon the Magus” was an early Jewish Gnostic who inspired both the mystical “Kabala” (a refinement of Pythagorean “magic” numbers) and later Christian Gnostics – Basilides, Saturninus, Carpocrates among them. Later Catholic writers demonized the poor guy. He may actually be the figure on whom the apostle Paul is based!

“Simon goes unmentioned in the Gospels but in Acts he has “bewitched” all the people of Samaria. “They all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.” Acts 8.10,11″

This second web site is very gnostic and very opposed to Christianity. But it is interesting to see what it says about the origin of Gnosticism.

About the time of Paul’s second arrest, Peter also was apprehended and thrust into prison. He had made himself especially obnoxious to the authorities by his zeal and success in exposing the deceptions and defeating the plots of Simon Magus the sorcerer, who had followed him to Rome to oppose and hinder the work of the gospel. Nero was a believer in magic, and had patronized Simon. He was therefore greatly incensed against the apostle, and was thus prompted to order his arrest. (Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Book 3, p. 436)

What did the Gnostics teach in addition to Sunday worship?

“The Gnostics separated matter from thought. They concluded that matter was evil, and formulated the idea that the possession of knowledge was the only requirement for salvation. This is why they did not want to attribute humanity to Jesus Christ because to them, material things were evil. Docetism resulted, which taught that the body of Christ was something that only appeared material, but in reality it was only spiritual. Such a belief led to an immoral life, for since the spirit was separated from the physical body, they ignored their responsibility for the actions done in the body. This is the reason why Paul stressed that “. . . in him [Jesus Christ, as He appeared on earth], dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (v. 9). Jesus was truly God in the flesh (John 1:14). As a result of the philosophical concept of the evil of the body, the Gnostics ignored or diminished the significance of the historic facts of the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as not being real but simply apparent. To them, all the secrets of God were in the mind, or appearing in an immaterial identity. The result was a complete denial of sexual and other bodily appetites (i.e., one being virtual asceticism and the other a practice of unrestrained indulgence of the body [vv. 20-23]).” (footnote on Colossians 2 in The Complete Word Study New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates, editor)

These strange philosophical ideas about evil matter and spiritual knowledge, and Jesus not having a physical body are what John addresses in 1 John and 2 John where he warns of the dangers of antichrist.

“Many early Christians migrated to Rome in the wake of the Jewish war. Among them was Valentinus, Marcion, a wealthy ship owner from Pontus, and Cerdo, who established a school in which the new theology was taught. The gnostic leaders openly proclaimed that all things Jewish should be discarded. They declared that the God of the Old Testament was an inferior god, the deity of the lower, material world.

“Having jettisoned “Jewish practices”, familiarity with the Greek “mystery religions” led the Gnostics to copy their style. Within an inner circle of adepts a secret “higher Wisdom” was passed orally from Master to Initiate. Their claim to authority rested on earlier holy men, apostles and sages, who, it was said, had entrusted arcane knowledge to their favourite disciples, the founders of the gnostic sects.

“The cults, as competitive clubs, vied with each other for acolytes, with some groups committed to asceticism and the denial of all “pleasures of the flesh” and others to indulgence, in which sex, revelry and all manner of dissolute behaviour were encouraged. Their common goal was to find “the Christ within.” (from www.jesusneverexisted.com/gnostic)

What do these paragraphs tell us that the Gnostics believed? A strange mixture indeed.

1. Jesus was not truly a flesh-and-blood human
2. all things Jewish should be discarded
3. the God of the Old Testament was inferior to the God revealed by Jesus
(see also the first paragraph in the quote from www.earlychristianwritings.com above)
4. true religion was a secret only for the initiated
5. asceticism
6. denial of all pleasure
7. indulgence in sex and revelry

8. finding the christ within

Some comments on the above points:

1. If Jesus was not truly real and human, then everything He “supposedly” did was not real – no real suffering, no real blood shed, no real death, no real resurrection, no real atonement. Everything about Him would be merely an illusion and we would have no salvation in Him.

2. This idea is still echoed today by Christian churches in many ways such as: “The law of God was nailed to the cross.” “The Law of Moses (which is really the Law of God) was nailed to the cross.”

But what did Jesus say?

Then He goes on to say what law will not pass till heaven and earth pass away.

Matthew 5:21 murder (Exodus 20:13)
Matthew 5:27 adultery (Exodus 20:14)
Matthew 5:31 divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1)
Matthew 5:33 oaths (Leviticus 19:12)
Matthew 5:38 eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Leviticus 24:20)

Mathew 5: 43 love your neighbor, hate your enemy (Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 23:6)

Jesus said He did not come to destroy these Laws. Instead He expanded on the spirit of the Law behind the letter. To say that the letter was eliminated but we keep the spirit of the Law would be like saying, “I love my wife, so I will keep the spirit of not committing adultery. But the letter was nailed to the cross, so I can find a prostitute and have sex with her, and as long as I pretend in my mind that it’s my wife, I don’t violate the spirit of the law.” If we violate the letter of the Law, we have already violated the spirit. And if the eye for an eye principle was used in our courts today, how few law suits would come to court! The damages would often be too small to even pay the lawyer’s fees.

In these verses, Jesus refers to two of the Ten Commandments and four items from the “Law of Moses.” So according to our Lord, none of these laws were destroyed by his death, not one jot or tittle. The only thing nailed to the cross was that which was the remedy for the breaking of the Law – the sacrifices, sanctuary, and priestly offices and ministrations. Prior to the cross, these were all done by faith in the Messiah who was to come. If there was no faith, there was no atonement. The Gospel was by faith then as it is now.

So, were all things Jewish discarded? Absolutely not! That is a Gnostic teaching.

3. Is the God of the Old Testament different from and inferior to the God that Jesus revealed? What does scripture say?

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6

God does not change! Jesus and the Father were one. The God of the Old Testament is the same as in the New. But how often we hear these sentiments echoed from Christians today: God is so harsh in the OT; Jesus is so nice in the NT. Actually, the NT speaks of judgment just as much as the OT and the OT describes God’s patience and mercy just as vividly as the NT.

4. Religion of secrets?

Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. John 18:20

5. and 6. Asceticism and denying all pleasure

They refused marriage and would do things to mortify the body. They ate very little food of only the plainest type. This is what Paul refers to in Colossians 2.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, . . . (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Colossians 2:18, 21-23

The Essenes–

Another group, similar to the Gnostics, were the Essenes (or Essens as Josephus refers to them in the following paragraphs).

“These Essens reject pleasures as an evil, but esteem continence, and the conquest over our passions, to be virtue. They neglect wedlock, but choose out other persons children, while they are pliable, and fit for learning, and esteem them to be of their kindred, and form them according to their own manners. They do not absolutely deny the fitness of marriage, and the succession of mankind thereby continued; but they guard against the lascivious behaviour of women, and are persuaded that none of them preserve their fidelity to one man.

“. . . while they go, after a pure manner, into the dining-room, as into a certain holy temple, and quietly set themselves down; upon which the baker lays them loaves in order; the cook also brings a single plate of one sort of food, and sets it before every one of them;

“. . . and that he will neither conceal any thing from those of his own sect, nor discover any of their doctrines to others, no, not though anyone should compel him so to do at the hazard of his life. Moreover, he swears to communicate their doctrines to no one any otherwise than as he received them himself; that he will abstain from robbery, and will equally preserve the books belonging to their sect, and the names of the angels * [or messengers]. These are the oaths by which they secure their proselytes to themselves.

“[* This mention of the “names of angels,” so particularly preserved by the Essens, (if it means more than those “messengers” which were employed to bring, them the peculiar books of their Sect,) looks like a prelude to that “worshipping of angels,” blamed by St. Paul, as superstitious and unlawful, in some such sort of people as these Essens were, Colossians 2:8; as is the prayer to or towards the sun for his rising every morning, mentioned before, sect. 5, very like those not much later observances made mention of in the preaching of Peter, Authent. Rec. Part II. p. 669, and regarding a kind of worship of angels, of the month, and of the moon, and not celebrating the new moons, or other festivals, unless the moon appeared. Which, indeed, seems to me the earliest mention of any regard to the phases in fixing the Jewish calendar, of which the Talmud and later Rabbins talk so much, and upon so very little ancient foundation.] (A footnote added by the publisher of this volume.)

“But for those that are caught in any heinous sins, they cast them out of their society; and he who is thus separated from them does often die after a miserable manner; for as he is bound by the oath he hath taken, and by the customs he hath been engaged in, he is not at liberty to partake of that food that he meets with elsewhere, but is forced to eat grass, and to famish his body with hunger, till he perish; for which reason they receive many of them again when they are at their last gasp, out of compassion to them, as thinking the miseries they have endured till they came to the very brink of death to be a sufficient punishment for the sins they had been guilty of.” (The Life of Flavius Josephus-Antiquities of the Jews, Volume One, p. 673-675)

These excerpts from Josephus serve to illustrate some of the beliefs and teachings of the Essenes – the worship of angels, self-abasement, sun and moon worship, dietary restrictions, refusal to marry, etc. They were not even allowed to eat food that had not been blessed by the Essene leadership, so they would starve outside the group.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16, 17

This is referring to the Gnostic regulations of these Festivals, various aspects of eating, drinking, and timing. They could hardly have a feast on the diet specified by the Essenes. God had not prescribed fasting on His Festivals. They were to be a celebration commemorating joyful events in the history of the Jewish nation and in the progression of His Plan of Salvation – deliverance from sin and death, the gift of the Law and the Spirit, anticipation of the eternal kingdom. But there was an agenda behind the feasting / fasting issue.

“Since Easter-Sunday, . . . differentiate(d) the Christian Passover from that of the Jews, it is possible that the weekly Sabbath fast arose contemporaneously as an extension of the annual paschal Sabbath fast.” (Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath to Sunday, pp. 190, 191)

One can see that fasting was made an issue during Sabbath and Festival times. Dr. Bacchiocchi goes on to show how this fasting was the catalyst used by the Roman Church, which adopted many of these pagan-gnostic rites, to change from God’s worship days to man’s worship days. This is a major emphasis in his book with many pages dedicated to a clearer understanding of this issue.

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Romans 14:5, 6

This is referring back to the man-made days for fasting which the Jews and the Gnostics had in abundance.

Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? Zechariah 7:5

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. Zechariah 8:19

Notice that these fast days were not the Feast days given by God. The Jews commemorated various events in the history of Jerusalem by setting aside fast days in the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th months. The days God had specified were not left to personal discretion, nor had He told them to fast on any of His Feast days except the Day of Atonement. The Jews had multiplied their fast days by the time of Christ. Paul does not condemn these man-made fast days but merely says that fasting on a certain day or feasting on that day really doesn’t matter as long as you keep the Lord foremost in your mind. It should be to God’s glory whichever way you choose to spend the day.

“Even the strictest Jewish sects objected to fasting on the Sabbath.” (Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath to Sunday, p. 187)

7. Sensual pleasures: While there was a cloak of piety, there was hidden corruption of all kinds as can be observed in the lives of the descendents of this sect – the Catholic Priests.

8. Finding the christ within: What we see in the New Age Movement, Spiritual Formation, etc. is nothing new. It’s the same old “man is god” idea that has been around for thousands of years.

From the above evidence and many more historical documents, it seems that the significant problem that Paul was addressing in many places in his letters to the various churches was the infiltration of this dangerous mix of Jewish-Gnostic-Christian beliefs. Paul was accused by the Jews of teaching against their ways but he refuted their claims. (Acts 21:20-28; 23:1-5; 24:5-21; 25:8; 28:17, 18) He was not trying to turn his converts from the eternal things God had given His people but from the things others were attempting to introduce to them (Gnostic, Essene, and Jewish rabbinical rites and regulations) and from returning to their former pagan ways.

January 16, 2017January 22, 2017

The Serpent and the Saviour

The Story: The children of Israel were traveling through the wilderness and they rebelled against God, again.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Numbers 21:6

What did God tell Moses to do?

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. Numbers 21:8

What is the Serpent?

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Revelation 20:2

The Serpent is a symbol of Satan, sin, and all that is connected with it. But why did Moses put the Fiery Serpent on the pole? And why could the people be healed by looking at it?

Let’s read what Jesus said to Nicodemus concerning this.

As the snake was lifted up on the pole in the wilderness, so Jesus was to be lifted up upon the cross. Why?

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

This is strange symbolism indeed! How can Jesus be represented under the symbolism of a serpent?

God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; . . . For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Romans 8:3

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13

Amazing revelation! Jesus was made sin for us! He came in the likeness of sinful flesh and took upon Himself the curse, “being made a curse for us.”

There is more. …

And the LORD said unto him (Moses), What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: Exodus 4:2-4

Who is the “Rod”?

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Jeremiah 11:1-3

If you read the entire chapter of Jeremiah 11 it is clear that the “Rod out of the stem of Jesse” is Jesus, the Messiah.

What happened when Moses threw the rod down on the earth?

And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent . . . Exodus 4:3

What happened to Jesus when He came down to this earth?

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus, the perfect Son of God came to this earth and became sin for us that He might destroy Him that had the power of sin – the devil, “that old serpent.”

What happened when Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh?

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. Exodus 7:10-12

What did Jesus do?

And what happened with the rod of Aaron? It became a serpent when it was cast to the earth, and it ate up and destroyed the other serpents. Then it became a rod again when Aaron took it by the tail.

Jesus, the Rod, came to this earth to become sin, that He might destroy sin (the other serpents). Then He ascended back to Heaven to once again become the “Rod.” He is now seated at the right hand of God.

What a wonderful thought! What an amazing sacrifice! There is nothing in the universe that God hates so much as sin, and yet Jesus consented to take upon Himself that hated sin that He might thereby save those who had come under the power of sin. Now He says,

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18

As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so the Son of God was lifted up on the cross, that sinners from the ends of the earth might look and live. Multitudes are still suffering from the deadly sting of that old serpent, the devil. The effects of sin can be removed only by the provision which God has made. Here, alone, hope and salvation can be found. As the Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the brazen serpent, so sinners can look to Christ and live. Unlike that inert and lifeless symbol, Christ has power and virtue in himself, to heal the suffering, repenting, bleeding sinner. Signs of the Times, 10-28-1880

Nothing less than a practical acceptance and application of divine truth opens the kingdom of God to man. Only a pure and lowly heart, obedient and loving, firm in the faith and service of the Most High, can enter there. Jesus also declares that as “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The serpent in the wilderness was lifted up on a pole before the people, that all who had been stung unto death by the fiery serpent, might look upon this brazen serpent, a symbol of Christ, and be instantly healed. But they must look in faith, or it would be of no avail. Just so must men look upon the Son of man as their Saviour unto eternal life. Man had separated himself from God by sin. Christ brought his divinity to earth, veiled by humanity, in order to rescue man from his lost condition. Human nature is vile, and man’s character must be changed before it can harmonize with the pure and holy in God’s immortal kingdom. This transformation is the new birth. Signs of the Times 11-15-1883

So how does Christ’s sacrifice affect us?

These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4, 5

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Revelation 15:2, 3

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20

January 16, 2017January 23, 2017

Our Great Redeemer

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:25

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Isaiah 43:1

All through the Old Testament there are references to redemption where someone or something was delivered from a bad situation through the intervention of someone else who was willing and able to do for them what they could not do for themselves. These various circumstances when redemption is mentioned can be grouped in basically 3 categories – redemption from involuntary bondage (slavery or war captivity), from voluntary indenture (financial difficulty, debt, etc.), and from trouble or death. Many of the Old Testament writers, especially Isaiah, make references to God as the Redeemer of His people. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the One who redeemed us. These metaphors and what they symbolize are a beautiful picture of what He has done for us.

redeemed from slavery and captivity

When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God promised that He would redeem them.

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: Exodus 6:6

When they were oppressed and finally captured by their aggressive neighbors, He encouraged them with messages of redemption.

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 41:14

For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Jeremiah 31:11

We have all come under Satan’s control because of his aggression and subtlety. Some have gone further by choosing to give themselves more fully to him. We are his captives, his slaves.

I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:14

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:26

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:23

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 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. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: 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. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. Romans 6:16-20

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 2 Peter 2:19

Jesus delivers us from the power of our oppressor – Satan – and his method of oppression – sin and death.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

redeemed from financial difficulty–

If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. Leviticus 25:25

And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family: After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. Leviticus 25:47-49

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: . . . And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. Ruth 4:1-10

Jesus paid the price that delivered us from evil and death.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

redeemed by a kinsman–brother, cousin, uncle

Many of the situations where redemption is referred to speak of a near relative, a kinsman, being the one who intervened. In fact, the meaning of the Hebrew word refers to both the act of redeeming and to being the kinsman who does the redeeming.

After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. Leviticus 25:48, 49

And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. Ruth 3:11-13

Jesus has taken on the responsibility to redeem us and has accepted the relationship of being our near relative – our brother – in order to accomplish this work.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Hebrews 2:11

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:48-50

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

Our Heavenly Brother is worthy of all the honor and praise we can possibly express. He has done such great things for us when we could do nothing for ourselves. He paid an incredibly high price to redeem us.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:9-12

PRAISE THE LORD–OUR WONDERFUL REDEEMER

January 15, 2017

Our Loving Judge

When Moses was giving final directives to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, he repeated God’s Law with the Statutes and Judgments. Among these was an injunction of what to do when they encountered someone who was leading others into idolatry.

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: . . . And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, . . .
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; . . . Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; . . .

If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. Deuteronomy 13

This may sound uncomfortably similar to the Muslim Jihad war cry, “Kill the infidels!” Is this God’s mode of operation? “Worship me or I will kill you.” “Love me or I will kill you.” Do we serve a vengeful God who selfishly wants all the attention? Some have this concept of Him, and they either serve Him out of fear or they totally reject Him as a cruel and unreasonable tyrant.

We also have passages that give seemingly opposite perspectives of Him: jealous but merciful; gracious and forgiving yet strict.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5, 6

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Exodus 34:6, 7

What kind of God is He? Is He so wishy-washy that we don’t know what to expect from Him?

from the SDA Bible Commentary on Exodus 34:7:

“God is gracious to repentant sinners, but He cannot afford to weaken His government by failing to uphold its righteousness and justice (Ps. 85:10; 89:14). God’s justice is an essential part of His nature no less than His mercy; without it God could not be God. Justice is, as has been argued, a necessary consequence of His true love, for “a God all mercy is a God unjust.” Without justice there could be no mercy. Although we read in the Bible that God delights in mercy (Micah 7:18), we never read in the Scriptures that God delights in bringing His judgments upon men. On the contrary, His judgments are said to be a “strange work” (Isa. 28:21). His loving-kindness is abundant (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 5:20). It is God’s mercy that moderates His judgments and makes Him “longsuffering” (Lam. 3:22; Rom. 2:4).”

God has a massive job to accomplish in dealing with the sin problem. He needs to completely eradicate sin and all connected with it, all that leads to it, and all that results from it. But He doesn’t want to lose His children in the process. How does He balance His love and His justice?

In our justice system, we make punishment fit the crime: the worse the crime, the greater the punishment. Pardon is a rare exception. In God’s justice system, the punishment is made to fit the criminal: if the perpetrator can be brought to repentance and reformation, he is no longer a criminal. He is pardoned and the impending punishment is averted. King Manasseh is a classic example from the Old Testament:

So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:9-16

The young Pharisee, Saul, is a good example from the New Testament. In his zeal to crush out Christianity, he was nearly the equivalent of the Gestapo in Nazi Germany or the KGB in Soviet Russia.

And cast him (Stephen) out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. Acts 7:58

And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. . . . As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 8:1, 3

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts 9:1, 2

But God was able to change him from being a blood-thirsty persecutor to being Paul, the great apostle of the kingdom, an ambassador of Heaven’s love, a wonderful instrument of salvation for the world. Later, he described himself as an example of what God’s grace can accomplish.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 1 Timothy 1:12-16

God has to deal severely with sin and incorrigible sinners, but that is His last resort after all reformative efforts have failed. He is primarily very patient, merciful, and gracious, trying first with all His persuasive powers to change the sinner so He can save him.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6, 7

And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.Jeremiah 36:1-3

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Ezekiel 18:23

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. Ezekiel 18:30-32

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?Ezekiel 33:11

And God saw their works (the people of Nineveh), that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. Jonah 3:10

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. Micah 7:18

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.Luke 15:10

God has been working tirelessly for 6000 years to change rebellious criminals into cooperative saints, to turn His enemies into friends, but there is a limit to His efforts. When He has tried everything and there is no more hope of change, He quits trying. His role changes from being a reconciler to being an avenger. Prophecy tells us that soon He will stop trying to bring repentance and offers of pardon and will pronounce that awful verdict,

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:11

The Bible gives us dire warnings of God’s judgment and wrath but this does not come because His love has finally been depleted and He can’t control Himself anymore. His wrath, that final retribution, is not an impulsive explosion of His uncontrolled anger but a very predictable, deliberate act that He does only after all of His attempts at drawing sinners back to Himself have been unsuccessful.

While God’s hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. The Desire of Ages, p. 57

The Lord is . . . longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

What an awesome, loving, caring God we have!

January 13, 2017

What is Sin?!

Although the plan of salvation calls for the deepest study of the philosopher, it is not too deep for the comprehension of a child. In dying for sinners, Christ manifested a love that is in comprehensible; and in beholding this love, the heart is impressed, the conscience is aroused, and the soul is led to inquire, “What is sin, that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of its victim?” The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890

As Christ draws them (sinners) to look upon His cross, to behold Him whom their sins have pierced, the commandment comes home to the conscience. The wickedness of their life, the deep-seated sin of the soul, is revealed to them. They begin to comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ, and exclaim, “What is sin, that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of its victim? Was all this love, all this suffering, all this humiliation, demanded, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life?” Steps to Christ, p. 27

What is Sin?!

There are many different aspects of sin and many different ways to define it. It is not a simple thing like a toy or a tool that can be described in a few sentences or with a single picture. What follows is an attempt to begin understanding what sin is. This study is not meant to be a complete answer to this question, but I hope it can be a starting point for a more thorough personal study.

Sin is:

1) an act of disobedience against what God has said

Gen. 3; 1 John 3:4 . . . sin is the transgression of the law (lawlessness NIV).

2) an attitude of rebellion
a) not doing what you believe you should do
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

b) doing what you believe you shouldn”t do, even if the act is not directly condemned by God Rom. 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 1 Samuel 15:23

It is not the greatness of the act of disobedience that constitutes sin, but the fact of variance from God’s expressed will in the least particular; for this shows that there is yet communion between the soul and sin. The heart is divided in its service. There is a virtual denial of God, a rebellion against the laws of His government.Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 51

Where is sin?

Sin is not merely a legal infraction, a lawless act. It is a problem of personal relationship, of essential nature, of character. If sin consisted only in doing something wrong, then a criminal could be cured by locking him up; that stops his doing. Then Satan would not be sinning during the millennium; he could not be doing anything evil. But we know what would happen as soon as that criminal is released and we know what will happen as soon as Satan is released. The doing starts all over again because the real problem is in the heart and mind. It is an attitude, a mental disposition, a significant character flaw.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:6, 7

Jesus taught that sin exists in the mind even though there may be no outward action, though the action will probably follow the thoughts.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. . . . Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:21, 22, 27, 28

You are responsible to God for your thoughts. If you indulge in vain imaginations, permitting your mind to dwell upon impure subjects, you are, in a degree, as guilty before God as if your thoughts were carried into action. All that prevents the action is the lack of opportunity. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 561

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

Because we live in a sin-infested world, we are born with sin all around us and with a sinful nature in us.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5

Those who seek to turn from the service of the world to the service of God, will need divine help. They will have to set their faces like a flint toward Zion. They will feel the opposition of the world, the flesh, and the Devil, and will have to go contrary to the spirit and influences of the world. Review and Herald, February 7, 1888

We are in a constant battle with sin. It is all around us in the world, the environment, and society; it is in our nature, passed on to us from Adam and Eve and perpetuated by our own choices and actions; and the devil never quits in his attempts to lure us on and keep us trapped.

Those who will look long enough into the Divine Mirror to see and despise their unlikeness to the meek and lowly Saviour, will have strength to overcome. All who truly believe will confess and forsake their sins. They will co-operate with Christ in the work of bringing their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong under the control of the Divine Will, so that sin shall not have dominion over them. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, they will be changed into His likeness. They will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. Signs of the Times, October 2, 1901

Illustrations, Descriptions, and Metaphors for sin:

Each one of the Ten Commandments describes or illustrates a form of sin. Each of the first four is specifically referring to something regarding our relationship to God. Though the last six describe things done against other people, they also illustrate forms of sin against God:

5) dishonoring Him (Mal. 1:6-14; Rom. 2:23, 24)
6) killing Him (humanity killed Jesus)
7) unfaithfulness to Him (Ezek. 16; Hos. 1-3)
8) stealing from Him (Mal. 3:8)
9) telling lies about Him (Jer. 23:31, 32; 2 Pet. 2:1-3)

10) wanting what is exclusively His (Isa. 14:13, 14; Ezek. 28:2; 2 Thess. 2:4)

Any action or condition that, in the Levitical regulations, required a sacrifice and/or a ritual for cleansing and atonement could be thought of as a metaphor for the sin problem – contact with unclean meat (Lev. 11); childbirth and/or conditions or actions related to human reproduction (Lev. 12, 15); leprosy (Lev. 13, 14); bodily discharges and/or disease processes (Lev. 15); contact with human death (Num. 19). Some of these passages refer to personal actions; some of them are describing the sinful nature we have inherited; some are dealing with the sin-polluted environment we live in.

Here are some more metaphors for sin.

Sin is like:

a stain – Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18; Zech. 13:1; Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5
something to be erased – Isa. 43:25; Psalm 51:9; Acts 3:19
a baited hook or trap – James 1:14
a debt – Matt. 6:12-15; Luke 7:41, 42
something that God wants to discard – Isa. 38:17; Micah 7:19
a plague that spreads unless it is quarantined – Lev. 13, 14
a predator crouching in ambush – Gen. 4:7
poison or venom – Num. 21; 1 Cor. 15:56
something that causes hunger and thirst – Mat. 5:6; John 4
being an abandoned infant – Ezek. 16:3-6
an impediment that should be put aside – Heb. 12:1
something that is developed and brought forth – James 1:15
an oppressive slave-driver – John 8:34; Rom. 6
a despotic king – Rom. 5:21; 6:12
a tyrannical husband – Rom. 7:1-11
a prison – Isaiah 58:6; 61:1
a heavy burden – Psalm 38:4; Mat. 11:28, 29; Isaiah 58:6
slavery – Isaiah 61:1; John 8:32-36
poverty – Rev. 3:17
blindness – John 9; Rev. 3:17
nakedness – Gen. 3:7-11; Rev. 3:17; 16:15
darkness – Isa. 9:2; Col. 1:12, 13; 1 Peter 2:9

a barrier between humans and God – Isa. 59:2

Sin is something that:

has dire results beyond the immediate act – Lev. 18:22-27; 20:2, 3; Num. 19:13, 20; 35:31-34
kills – Rom. 5:12; 6:23
may seem to lie dormant, yet it can revive and control the person – Rom. 7:8, 9, 20-24

is charged in differing degrees of seriousness – Lev. 4; Heb. 10:26-28; 1 John 5:16, 17

God deals with sin in two stages –

1) personal confession, sacrifice, removal of guilt (Lev. 4)

2) final disposal and full atonement (Lev. 16)

Sin is a HUGE problem.

Sin is a huge, multi-faceted and life-threatening problem that God is trying to eradicate from the universe. Because it is such a serious issue, much more serious than our human minds can comprehend, God had to use drastic action to solve it. He had to go to the absolute ultimate extreme to completely eliminate it or He ran the risk of it cropping up again. We must remember that He is not merely trying to save ME from sin; He needs to save the WHOLE UNIVERSE from sin.

The Remedy:

The only cure for the problem is to have a change in the inner workings of our mind.

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: Colossians 1:21, 22

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

God is attempting to get us to want and to do what He wants. He is trying to get us to think differently so that we will want to act differently. If we don’t want what He wants, we have a sin problem. It is our default mode, part of the human nature we are born with, to go against Him. It is what we naturally think and want. This results in doing things He doesn’t want us to do – sins. SIN is the thinking; SINS are the doing. SIN is the condition; SINS are the action.

from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible referring to Hebrews 3:8:

“The hardening of our hearts is the spring of all our other sins.”

from Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament on James 1:14, 15:

“Sin is the union of the will with lust.”

For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Hebrews 8:8-11

When Revelation speaks of the Seal of God in the forehead, it means having His Law in our mind and heart. That is the control center of our life. Having it in the hand is not enough.

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Revelation 7:3

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. Revelation 14:1

Satan corrupted humanity with lies about God. Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), to “bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37) in an attempt to change how we think about God. Everything about Christ’s incarnation – His birth, life, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection – was a desperate attempt on the part of Heaven to help us know the truth about God and persuade us to return to Him after rebelling and running away from Him. If He can accomplish that – getting us to believe and love and cooperate – then our actions will change also.

The Plan of Salvation – the incarnation, life, death, and ministry of Christ – is the most thorough and comprehensive solution to the problem that could have ever been devised. Just how Jesus accomplished everything that is necessary is a very deep study and we mortals will not comprehend it until God Himself explains it to us. Even then it will take us a long time to understand it.

The science of redemption is the science of all sciences; the science that is the study of the angels, and of all the intelligences of the unfallen worlds; the science that engages the attention of our Lord and Saviour; the science that enters into the purpose brooded in the mind of the Infinite–“kept in silence through times eternal”; the science that will be the study of God’s redeemed throughout the endless ages. This is the highest study in which it is possible for man to engage. As no other study can, it will quicken the mind, and uplift the soul. . . .
The theme of redemption is one that angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? . . .
The study of the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice and mediatorial work, will employ the mind of the diligent student as long as time shall last; and, looking to heaven with its unnumbered years, he will exclaim, “Great is the mystery of godliness.”
In eternity we shall learn that which, had we received the enlightenment that it was possible to obtain here, would have opened our understanding. The themes of redemption will employ the hearts and minds and tongues of the redeemed through the everlasting ages. They will understand the truths which Christ longed to open to His disciples, but which they did not have faith to grasp. Forever and forever new views of the perfection and glory of Christ will appear. Through endless ages the faithful Householder will bring forth from His treasures things new and old.

If it were possible for us to attain to a full understanding of God and His truth, there would be for us no further discovery of truth, no greater knowledge, no further development. . . . Thank God, it is not so. Since God is infinite, and in Him are all the treasures of wisdom, we may to all eternity be ever searching, ever learning, yet never exhaust the riches of His wisdom, His goodness, or His power. Maranatha, p. 365

Why did Jesus have to die?

Christ accomplished many things through His work on earth, but one of the most basic purposes for His death was to get our attention and change how we think so we would return to God. The sin problem was such a serious threat to us and the rest of the universe, and such a difficult issue to solve because of our heart condition, that anything less than what He did would not have been adequate.

Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin. Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 116

Christ draws the sinner by the exhibition of his love upon the cross, and this softens the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition and repentance in the soul. The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Education, p. 263

If Christ had not suffered and died, there would have been unresolved issues and unanswered questions that would have posed a risk to the security of the universe. God did everything He possibly could to make sure that sin and all of its manifestations would never come up again.