Obedience to moral laws (the ten commandments) will make sense to most of us. Lying, stealing, murder are not God's way and we recognize such things as evil and undesirable. Habits we have formed may interfere wih our obedience to these laws, but we may recognize, with God's help, they can be overcome.
Yet, there is another set of laws God would have us obey too. These are natural laws, or health laws. These govern how well our body and mind function. Though sin and evil have done much damage to the bodies and minds of humans, how we treat our bodies is a responsibility given to us by God. We are accountable for the choices we make in life, if we are aware of these choices, or if we choose to be ignorant of better choices.
Why is it important God's children obey health laws? Will disregard of these natural laws effect our relationship with God? Yes. There are several texts in the Bible that indicate this. 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:19,20; and 10:31 are good examples of this. Whatever we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are to do to the glory of God. How does our body health enter into this directly? Our bodies are described as the temple for the presence of the Holy Spirit. If we want God to direct our lives, we need Him to have full access to our minds. Through careful Bible study, we will class gluttony and addictions right along with lying, stealing and murder. God wants to forgive us for our past sins, but He also wants us to repent, turn around, and forsake our sinning. This takes time, but our physical habits can help or hinder our progress.
Physical habits have a direct influence on mental stability and moral fiber. The mind and body are intimately tied up with each other. There is a slow suicide involved with the willing neglect of obedience to health laws.
What are these natural laws? They are found in everything God has so graciously supplied on this earth for our benefit--air, sunshine, water, food, exercise, moderation or temperance, rest, and trust in divine power. Proper use of these gifts from God will supply us with the best mental and physical health we can obtain in this present world. The best spirutal health can only be realized if one is endeavoring to attain and maintain their physical and mental health.
Thus, we have two sets of laws that our Creator has given to us for our good. And, we have a Saviour who will give us divine power (2 Peter 1:3,4) to keep both of these. Any struggles we have in our efforts to keep God's laws are caused by our fallen human nature. But God has promised us victory through the shed blood of His Son.
The physical and moral laws of God have depth. The moral law reaches down to our thoughts and motives. We cannot be Christians by a surface work. The fruits that appear in the life must be nutritious. Produce must be well fertilized. The soil it grows in must have all the minerals and elements needed to grow food that will nourish to the utmost degree. Thus, with spiritual fruit--what we receive through roots of the plant will determine the quality of fruit and even the quantity. The quality of works depends on our connection with divine power. We cannot grow into mature Christians without a vital connection with our Source of spiritual nutrition.
HEALTH LAW NO. 1 -- The natural laws of health also have their depth. The quality of water we drink and the applications for cleansing and for hydrotherapy purposes in sickness are not always thought of or used properly.
HEALTH LAW NO. 2 -- The food and drink we partake of may nourish or poison us, depending on what it consists of, when and how it is eaten. Books like "Old MacDonald's Factory Farm," "Food For A Small Planet," and organic gardening books have made us increasingly aware of what we eat. Many of us have become vegetarians. This, after all, was the diet God gave to Adam and Eve in the beginning and doubtless will be our food in eternity.
HEALTH LAW NO. 3 -- Physical fitness has become an issue in the last few decades. Many of us recognize regular aerobic exercise is essential for the best of health.
HEALTH LAW NO. 4 -- The problems of ozone and smog have made us more aware of the quality of air we breathe. Exercise and deep breathing of the freshest air we can be in, will make a difference. And, we know how detrimental smoking is to our delicate air passages, as well as to the rest of the body.
HEALTH LAW NO. 5 -- Proper rest can make a difference in the way we feel. This would include relaxation and the kind of recreation that is really re-creation--a change of pace or a different setting, a wholesome hobby. These all would enter into proper rest. The preoccupation with fiction, unnatural and exciting games does more harm than good for the nerves and brain. And, of course, what we behold we are influenced by. Real re-creation would be more like family picnics, hikes, gardening, family worship, reading to one another, arts and craft projects.
HEALTH LAW NO. 6 -- The good, old sunshine comes along with the fresh air and exercise. One can take in the sun without overdoing it. If you plan to spend much time in direct sunlight, wear clothing to protect the skin, and large brimmed hats.
HEALTH LAW NO. 7 -- Temperance in use of sunlight and in all the rest of the laws of health is vital. In fact, it is considered to be one of these laws. This would include total abstainence of that which is harmful and moderation in all things that are basically good for us.
How do we accomplish all this? Some of us have a time with getting enough of the right kind of exercise. Or, we have eating habits that lay the foundation for serious illness--overeating, too many sweets, greasy food, etc. Perhaps we smoke or drink alcoholic beverages. There are many poisons in this world, and we aren't aware of everything that may be harmful to our bodies and minds. Yet, we want to be rid of as many of these as possible. We want to obey our Creator and Redeemer. We want to find the true happiness and future life He promises to us.
HEALTH LAW NO. 8 -- This is where the eighth natural law comes in. This goes right along with the Moral Law God has promised to write in our hearts and minds. This health law is "trust in divine power." It is really the center of the rest of God's laws. Our trust in His power is based on our trust in the fact He loves us with an "everlasting love."
We should come to the place where we no longer doubt, even for a moment, that our Creator and Redeemer want what is for our ultimate, everlasting happiness. and, we will come to this place if we seek for His divine power to help us keep both His moral and health laws. Just as God's moral laws will be written in our hearts and minds, His physical law will be written on every fiber and cell of our bodies. Though,until Jesus returns, we won't have perfect bodies, we can gain perfect characters. We can be filled with His Spirit and walk in His steps.
Paul speaking of the athletes of his time said, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Our goal is much higher than these athletes. Thus, our efforts to obey all of God's laws should be much greater than theirs. We have God's promises to back us up and we have His "divine power" (2 Peter 1:3,4 NKJV) to aid our efforts.
So, our main work is to "choose" the best He has for us. We have the power of choice every day of our lives. Plus, we have the promise of His forgiveness if we do falter or fall. Then we must get up again, take firmer hold of our Saviour's hand, and march on to victory.
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
What Can the Ancient Sanctuary
Service Teach Christians?
Type and Antitype -- A Great Deal About the Plan of Salvation
The Old Testament in the Bible discusses the sanctuary and its furnishings in much detail. The services involved are also quite precise. Why did God go to all this trouble for a temporary system of rites and ceremonies that would be done away with when the Messiah came? Christians understand Jesus was the "Lamb of God" who saves us from our sins (John 1:29). He was the great sacrifice that all these other sacrifices typified. Yet, God had other reasons for being so particular with these ancient services.
Jesus used vivid images of truth by illustrating them in parables, He also gave us illustrations through these ancient services. Though we may not practice the ceremonies and rites, as did the Israelites in those early days, God teaches us lessons about the plan of redemption in these types.
We will hope to go into more detail about what God has told us in His word concerning the earthly, heavenly, and our body sanctuaries. The words tabernacle, sanctuary and temple are interchangeable.They are all used in the Bible.
The text found in Psalm 77:13 says: "Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God?" (all texts from NKJV). Why did the Psalmist and Bible writers consider the Sanctuary so important? Why did their life revolve around it? Why did God give them the sanctuary with its rites and ceremonies? Looking back, as Christians, we know at least part of the reason was to give them some type of picture of the coming Messiah.
The sanctuary was designed as an illustration of our Saviour and His purpose for each of our lives. Even the walls and curtains had lessons to teach. The specific furniture and rites that God visualized for Moses gave a revelation to Israel about the coming Messiah. But when He came, few recognized Him as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies or as the antitype for the sanctuary and its services. Yet, the evidence was all there, if only they'd been willing to understand.
Those who did study could see in Jesus this fulfillment. the Lord gave Paul insight into much of this. He not only understood the Old Testament prophecies pointing to Christ, as the other apostles did, he also began to understand and preach about Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary and the importance of our body temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Temple, tabernacle, and sanctuary were usually referring to the same place. In ancient Israel, the first sanctuary was a tentlike structure (a tabernacle) with walls of special skins and cloth. It was made according to the pattern given to Moses on Mt. Sinai by God. No detail was omitted in the planning and execution of this place. When the temple or sanctuary was built in Solomon's time, God's pattern was followed carefully, and God approved it by His presence. The last earthly sanctuary was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, after Jesus had risen from the dead and gone to heaven to be our High Priest. The services were totally unnecessary after the curtain to the most holy place was torn from top to bottom by an unseen hand at the time of Jesus death.
John saw a temple in heaven. He saw the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat and the Altar of Incense where Jesus offers our prayers before the Mercy Seat. In the Ark of the Covenant are the Ten Commandments and on top of this is the Mercy Seat. The marvel of our body temples is the Holy Spirit can be present in our hearts and minds. In the tenth chapter of Hebrews God also promises to write His law in our hearts and minds. The plan of redemption God works in our lives is also seen in His sanctuary.
So we see three sanctuaries here: the earthly, the heavenly, and our bodies. As the Holy Spirit dwells in our minds, we gain control over appetites and passions. Much is to be learned from the first two in understanding God's purpose and His plans for us as individuals. Let us continue to learn from the beautiful illustrations given to man through the Sanctuary of God.
"Behold the Lamb of God who takes aways the sin of the world!" -- John 1:29.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -- 1 John1:9.
"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." -- Romans 6:3,4.
"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" -- John 8:12.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105.
"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." -- Revelation 8:3, 4.
"And Jesus said unto them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'" -- John 6:35.
"And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy." -- Exodus 26:33, 34.
"This shall be a statute forever for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." Leviticus 16:29, 30.
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." -- Exodus 25:8, 9.
"Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at 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 erected, and not man." -- Hebrews 8:1, 2.
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." -- 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.
"This is covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds I will write them." -- Hebrews 10:16.
WHY?
Why did God go to so much trouble to give Moses detailed instructions for the building the first sanctuary in the wilderness? Why were the craftsman who did the actual work in the sanctuary carefully chosen for their special skills? Why did God see fit to give the exact measurements of every piece of furniture, every curtain, every wall, every post? Why did He tell them the exact materials to use?
Why were the priests and high priest given so many instructions as to their work, clothing, hygienic practices, and conduct? Why was God so particular about the types of sacrifices, the feasts and other ceremonies centering around the sanctuary?
Why is this still important to us today? The sanctuary and all its services were symbolic of the great plan of redemption. God had laid this plan out before He laid out the foundation of the world. The sanctuary typifies Christ, the living Word. It reveals, in detail, symbols for everything involved in God's work to save mankind. His plan makes it possible for us to find our way back to the purpose we were initially created for-- to reveal God's loving character and to expand and learn and grow all through eternity.
The sanctuary reveals our Saviour as the "Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world." It shows us the need of cleansing, dying to self, and of being buried and raised again to walk in newness of life. It reveals the *Bread of Life,* the Light which lightens our path. The incense, from the Altar of Incense, rises as the righteous merits of Christ, to blend with our prayers to heaven. It reveals the Mercy Seat which covers the moral law of God, placed in the *Ark of the Covenant.* This law which governs the whole universe is being written in our hearts and minds, for our bodies are also God's sanctuaries (or temples), the places where His Spirit must dwell.
The sanctuary tells of a daily service of confession of sin and a yearly service of a deeper repentance and removal and blotting out of sin. It helps to make clear the works of grace on each of our hearts, the need of preparing for the fullness of the Spirit in our lives. Not so we will be filled with ecstasy or intense emotions, but we will be so filled with the love of God there will be no room for self-serving traits of character that hinder us now from giving the last message of mercy to a dying world-- a message that is revealed by our lives. Then Christ will come and those who are ready and waiting will go home with Him.
What is the *Lamb of God* doing now? He is offering up His blood as our heavenly High Priest in the sanctuary the earthly one was patterned after. The earthly service ended on the day He died, with the tearing of the curtain by angels from heaven.
Only the high priest was allowed in the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary where God's law and the mercyseat resided, and *that* only once a year, in the typical service. But, on that glorious day, when our Saviour died for us, the dividing curtain, which hid it from view, was torn in two, so all could see within. It was no longer sacred. Christ, the Messiah, our heavenly High Priest, offers His blood for all those who repent and turn from sin.
Some day soon, He will set aside priestly robes and return as *King of Kings and Lord of Lords* to take home all who have waited for Him.
You and I may examine every part of the ancient sanctuary and its service and find the gospel embedded, ready to be spread out like a map and examined closely and prayerfully. The Bible used as our guide, will make plain the significance of each part to the plan of redemption for the human race. If we will do this, we will come out richly blessed and more fully convinced we serve a wise and loving Creator and Redeemer.
Copyright 1997, Kathryn Terrell Search
"I am the Almighty God, walk before Me, and be thou perfect." Genesis 17:1. Some people would like to do away with the word perfect in the Bible--possibly along with pure, righteous, blameless, and holy. They consider themselves too weak to even try to reach this goal.
Does God ask us to reach an impossible standard of righteousness? He knows we are weak and sinful. Even people with tremendous will-power can't reach such a high standard of perfection on their own. So, does God really expect it? Let's see what the Bible says.
"For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves and ye shall be holy; for I am holy." Leviticus 11:44. Can we take this literally? First of all, how can we be as holy as God is?
“ It is not a conclusive evidence that a man is a Christian because he manifests spiritual ecstasy under extraordinary circumstances. Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love.” Acts of the Apostles Page 51.
We read in the Psalms these interesting words: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." Psalm 19:7-9.
God's law is perfect, righteous, pure, enlightening, converting--giving wisdom and joy to those who allow God to write His law in their minds (Hebrews 10). Why is the law able to convert a man? The law is a mirror which reveals to us our sins, for "sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. It also reflects to us the goodness of God's character--goodness that leads us to repentance. As we search our hearts and meditate on God's commandments, we find the need of a Saviour. The Holy Spirit brings us to repentance in the process. This work is continued day by day as we study His word and pray for humble hearts.
"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 fuller's 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 3:2, 3. Is God's promise only for a few priests or ministers? No. It's for all of us. God promises to purify and cleanse any one who will cooperate with Him by giving himself to the Lord daily.
“Study your Bibles. Eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. Receive into your hearts the words of life, that they may refine and purify and ennoble the whole being. Do not stop with half-way measures. It is too late in the day for this. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Review and Herald, 8-20-1903.
To be thoroughly pure is to be perfect. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48. How can this be? Certainly not in our own power or strength. Christ relied on His Father throughout His sinless life on earth. Faith in the Father's power to keep Him from sinning, made our Saviour victorious at every step of the way. Faith in Christ's divine power will give us victory over sins in our lives. But God does nothing against our wills. We must make decisions every day, to walk in His steps and thus, gain these victories every day.
“And how this is accomplished, Christ has shown us. By what means did He overcome in the conflict with Satan? By the word of God. Only by the word could He resist temptation. ‘It is written,’ He said. And unto us are given ‘exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.’ 2 Peter 1:4. Every promise in God's word is ours. ‘By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ are we to live. When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the word. All its strength is yours. ‘Thy word,’ says the psalmist, ‘have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.’ ‘By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.’ Ps. 119:11; 17:4.” Desire of Ages Page 123.
In order to be victorious we need to keep our priorities where they belong. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added on to you." Matthew 6:33. All what things? Everything we really need to go through this life. Yet, this life is granted to us to prepare for eternity.
Jesus' prayer for us in John 17 ought to spur us on to live for His glory. "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth..And for their sakes I sanctify Myself; that they also might be sanctified through the truth." John 17:17-19. How was Jesus sanctified? Through willing obedience to His Father's commandments. And how was He enabled to obey? Through the Holy Spirit working in His heart and mind. And how are we sanctified? The same way--through faith in His power, through filling our minds with God's word, as Christ did, and communing with God, as Christ did.
It is by faith our hearts are purified (Acts 15:9). "for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17 (see Habakkuk 2:4). A living faith is an active faith. We can only retain justification (pardon for past sins) if we live day by day, trusting in Christ's power to save us from our sins. In other words, as our faith grows, our repentance deepens, and our hatred of sin increases. Thus, we will long to be rid of every particle of it in our lives.
“At every advance step in Christian experience our repentance will deepen. It is to those whom the Lord has forgiven, to those whom He acknowledges as His people, that He says, ‘Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight.’ Eze. 36:31. Again He says, ‘I will establish My covenant with thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.’ Eze. 16:62, 63. Then our lips will not be opened in self-glorification. We shall know that our sufficiency is in Christ alone. We shall make the apostle's confession our own. ‘I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.’ Rom. 7:18. ‘God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.’ Gal. 6:14.” Christ’s Object Lessons Page 160.
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." Romans 6:22. We are justified and we are sanctified each day. We need to search our hearts daily, make right choices daily, repent daily, turn away from pet sins daily. God can and will give us victories daily. victory is given to the humble and contrite soul. We can bear "fruit unto holiness"--fruit which will lead to holiness of character.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your ind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1, 2.
When our body temple is under the control of the Spirit of God, the higher powers of the mind are enabled to control the lower powers of fleshly desires. When we daily, and hourly, surrender to God, He can change us. Our characters will grow more like Christ's--our thoughts and feelings will be in harmony with Him.
“You should keep off from Satan's enchanted ground and not allow your minds to be swayed from allegiance to God. Through Christ you may and should be happy and should acquire habits of self-control. Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character. When you decide that as Christians you are not required to restrain your thoughts and feelings you are brought under the influence of evil angels and invite their presence and their control. If you yield to your impressions and allow your thoughts to run in a channel of suspicion, doubt, and repining you will be among the most unhappy of mortals, and your lives will prove a failure.” Testimonies Vol. 5, Page 310.
"So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall also confirm unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:7, 8.
We are made to be blameless in the sight of God when we trust in His righteous merits. We can do nothing ourselves which would give us credit for righteousness, but if we are not allowing Him to work in us to change us, we won't be accounted blameless in the end. We must give God the credit for the good fruits we bear in the sanctifying process as well as the credit He deserves for justifying us when we fall into sin (and repent). The work will be finished in us by the undeserved grace He gives us.
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not." 1 Corinthians 15:34. With the aid of the Spirit, we can see ourselves as we really are and see how willing God is to restore His image in us.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1. As we're made humble and contrite by the view of our utter sinfulness, it's hard for us to understand God's plan for our full restoration. Can it be true He will actually be able to perfect holiness in such a wretched soul as I?
“The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God. By trusting in God's promises, He received power to obey God's commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, ‘It is written.’ So God has given us His word wherewith to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by these we ‘might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust’ 2 Peter 1:4.” Ministry of Healing Page 181.
He needs our cooperation. "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. We were created righteous in the beginning of time, and God has the power to re-create us to the righteousness Adam possessed before the fall.
Christ plans to present to Himself a church "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27. We are to be "filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Phillipians 1:11.
“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.” Testimonies Vol. 5, Page 214.
This righteousness is not merely the righteousness we receive when we are justified, which is accounted to our credit because of His merits. But as our faith is exercised we bear "the fruits of righteousness." It's tangible and real. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure, that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among who ye shine as lights in the world." Phillipians 2:13, 15.
We've been sinning a long time, and it takes time for the Spirit of God to do the work of cleansing and purifying our hearts. Nor can we claim to be righteous or perfect. As we gain victories we will always remember how weak we really are, and how much we need His power to keep us from falling into sin. Also, we'll often see more defects to be corrected, as we search our hearts honestly. Paul speaks of His own life: "not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after..but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:12-14.
“We believe without a doubt that Christ is soon coming . . . . . . When He comes He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time. When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give them holy characters. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refining process and remove their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us.” Testimonies Vol. 2, Page 355.
We who are living in the last days of earth's history need to be aware of our special "high calling." God will have a "peculiar people" who will reflect His image perfectly. They will be the "first fruits" of the rest of the saved. What makes them unique? Only a few individuals have gone to heaven without seeing death. But God plans for a whole group to have his experience when He comes in the clouds to take us home.
This group will be living during a time when Christ has left His position as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. He no longer offers His blood for man's sins. God tells us in Revelation, those who are not ready will be unready still and those who are holy will be holy still. Man's probation will be closed.
“ Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.’ John 14:30. Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father's commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use Great Controversy Page 623.
Christ presents those who are ready as "holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight; if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel . . .” Colossians 1:21-23. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble. Now is the time to become settled forever in our faith. We need a faith that will move mountains. And we can have such a faith if we let Him take complete control of our lives.
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
(We will want to when we understand how much God loves us.)
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." Romans 6:12. No one wants to admit they have specific lusts (any sinful desire). We don't freely talk about such things. Our own bad habits embarrass us, and if reproved, we're often upset and sometimes very angry. This kind of reaction is due to the sinful nature.
Preachers and teachers of the Scriptures find it hard to speak of specific sins in the pulpit, and when they do, it's the human tendency to apply any references to sin to our neighbor instead of ourselves. This is probably why some people are so free at criticizing others, instead of searching their own hearts and admitting their own shortcomings, and making efforts to overcome.
The Bible deals with temptation and sin without holding back for fear of offending. The Lord wants us to search the Scriptures and our own hearts, to know how and why we're tempted and what to do about it. We are given a goal, and ways to reach that goal.
“We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” Great Controversy Page 489.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. . .That the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1, 4.
To walk after the flesh is to let our fleshly desires control us. God gave us reasoning powers in the front part of our brains. This is where the Holy Spirit works. The higher powers of our minds must rule over us. The fleshly lusts (appetites and passions) are perverted because of the sinful nature we inherited from Adam. Yet, it's not our sinful natures which make us guilty. Nor are we guilty because we are tempted, but condemnation comes when we cherish the temptations Satan tries to implant in our minds.
“Judas had the same precious opportunities as had John to study and imitate the Pattern. He listened to the lessons of Christ, and his character might have been transformed by divine grace. But while John was earnestly warring against his own faults, and seeking to assimilate to Christ, Judas was violating his conscience, yielding to temptation, and fastening upon himself habits of dishonesty that would transform him into the image of Satan.” Review and Herald, 2-15-1881.
The Spirit of God helps in the battle we must daily fight over selfish desires. "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkeness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Romans 13:13, 14. How do we make "provision for the flesh"? By going where temptation is, by cherishing evil thoughts, by insisting on our own way.
Temptation is a powerful enemy. It can sneak up on us like a thief. It can strike us down before we know what hit us. How can we deal with it successfully? The Bible tells us, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as in common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.
“Christ will never abandon the soul for who He has died. The soul may leave Him, and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life. Could our spiritual vision be quickened, we should see souls bowed under oppression and burdened with grief, pressed as a cart beneath sheaves, and ready to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to these tempted ones, who are standing as on the brink of a precipice. The angels from heaven force back the hosts of evil that encompass these souls, and guide them to plant their feet on the sure foundation. The battles waging between the two armies are as real as those fought by the armies of the world, and on the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend. Live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold you firmly by a hand that will never let go. Know and believe the love that God has for us, and you are secure; that gives us a fortress impregnable to all the delusions and assaults of Satan. ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.’” Signs of the Times, 11-4-1903.
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1. The spirit this text speaks of is the spirit of our own minds--our motives, attitudes, and emotions are involved. God, in other places, promises to give us a new spirit, to free us of perverted or selfish thoughts and motives. Our Lord will be thorough in His work of cleansing. "This say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16. This is the Holy Spirit working with our spirits.
"They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:24, 25. Paul says, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live." Galatians 2:20. We live because Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. Thus, the fruit of the Spirit will appear in our lives.
Will we still be tempted? Yes. Satan isn't ready to give us up until Christ's second coming. We're in a war, but we must always use the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) to fight that war. Our faith in God will shield us from Satan's darts (see Ephesians 6:10-18).
We struggle with selfishness every day, and we need to surrender to God and die to self each day (and even each hour). It's vital "that ye put off concerning the former conversation (and conduct) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust; 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.
To be renewed by the Spirit is a process that takes time. We will face temptations daily, but we may also be renewed daily and gain victories daily, as we submit to God. He wants to restore us into His holy image, and He will, as we cooperate.
“He who would build up a strong symmetrical character, must give all and do all for Christ. The Redeemer will not accept divided service. Daily he must learn the meaning of self-surrender. He must study the Word of God, getting its meaning and obeying its precepts. Thus he may reach the highest standard of Christian excellence. There is no limit to the spiritual advancement that he may make if he is a partaker of the divine nature. Day by day God works in him, perfecting the character that is to stand in the day of final test. Each day of his life he ministers to others. The light that is in him shines forth, and stills the strife of tongues. Day by day he is working out before men and angels a vast, sublime experiment, showing what the gospel can do for fallen human beings.” Review and Herald, 7-7-1904.
Temptation must be squarely faced. To dally with it is to play with fire. We need to deal with it whether we want to or not, yet God assures us, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:12-15.
When we learn to hate sin, and realize how much it drags us down into the depths of misery and death, temptation will lose its power over us. Satan may cause us a certain amount of pain and suffering, but he can't destroy our connection with our Saviour against our wills.
“There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "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. And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance.” Steps to Christ Page 64.
"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (and conduct); because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16. It's possible to backslide into our former sins, but as we determine to fill our minds with His word and our lives with His way, we shall conquer.
In the matter of obedience, God gives us the easy part. We only need to choose His way. We make it hard for ourselves when we lean on our own meager strength and fail to acknowledge our total dependence on Him for life itself. We mortals are so foolish. How can we suppose we know more than our Creator what will give us lasting happiness? Temptations are so powerful because they offer us instant gratification. Our senses rule over us. The Bible speaks of sin being a love for idols. We love to indulge appetite, passions, pride, and all manner of selfish desires. Our carnal natures enslave us when we let them.
But when we belong to Christ, we'll consider ourselves strangers in this world, and anything it may offer us which tends to pull us away from our Saviour. The reason Satan can so easily deceive us is because we too often want to be deceived. It's easier to sin that way. "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11.
We who must deal with our sinful natures, are offered the divine nature to give us all the help we need. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.
Those who fail to make it often blame the Lord. "We can't help it," they say, "we're too weak." Yes, we are terribly weak in our human flesh, but the problem lies in our failure to trust in the Lord's divine power to save us from our sins. We should be thankful for His forgiving love, but His love does more than forgive us. It restores or remakes us. We need to trust God's love more than we do, then we can be victorious over every temptation. Doesn't the God who created our complex bodies and minds have enough power and wisdom to re-create us into His image?
“In his efforts to reach God's ideal for him, the Christian is to despair of nothing. Moral and spiritual perfection, through the grace and power of Christ, is promised to all. Jesus is the source of power, the fountain of life. He brings us to His word, and from the tree of life presents to us leaves for the healing of sin-sick souls. He leads us to the throne of God, and puts into our mouth a prayer through which we are brought into close contact with Himself. In our behalf He sets in operation the all-powerful agencies of heaven. At every step we touch His living power.” Acts of the Apostles Page 478.
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." --2 Timothy 3:16,(NKJV).
Many Christians conclude the wicked burn in an everlasting hellfire somewhere in the universe. They have been taught this by their spiritual leaders for years, and most believe it is a Biblically proven doctrine. This is not a study of the doctrine. My purpose is to use it as an illustration of our need to study for ourselves.
To prove a doctrine is based soundly on the written word of God, we need to study it from all angles. One or two proof texts are often never enough, when it comes to complex issues. Where the wicked and the righteous spend eternity is an important matter.
My next question may be disturbing, but let it set you to thinking and searching the Scripture for yourself. Is it comforting to believe a loved one, who you have evidence died without Jesus as their Saviour, is burning in a place called hell? This thought has turned some people away from Christianity. They refuse to believe in a God who would let men suffer for eternity because of a short life of wrong-doing here on earth.
Are they justified in feeling this way? Or, could the problem be too many of us who profess Christianity have been deceived into believing an incorrect doctrine? Can this happen to a born-again Christian? Is it possible to know and understand some Biblical doctrines and misunderstand others? Yes, it is possible.
We are taught to believe many Bible doctrines by others, sometimes from childhood. The people we learn from may not be considered wicked, yet their beliefs are often based on what others have passed to them, not on thorough Bible study.
Actually, the best Bible studies are the thorough ones we do ourselves, with only the use of a good concordance and a prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Though we may be thankful for texts given to us by others, we need to do what the Bereans did in the time of the apostles--check the Scriptures for ourselves on every spiritual matter.
If someone loads you down with Scriptures to prove a doctrine, take time to pray and read them over by yourself. See what additional texts you can find on the matter and what surrounds the text given. In most cases, check both the old and new testaments. The old sheds light on the new and the new unfolds truth in the old. For example, Isaiah 53 is a beautiful prophecy of our Saviour, written many years before He was born on earth. It's worth your time. Spending time in prayer will enhance your efforts and give you the aid of God's Spirit to heighten your understanding.
For example, there are passages that speak of sleep as death and texts that give clues to the thoughts of the dead (if any). Malachi has a text which speaks of the wicked being ashes under the feet of the saints, which tells me there is an utter end of the wicked at some point. YOU study it out yourself, with a heart open to God's will, and come to your own conclusions. I will say, I have read texts that indicate the wicked, Satan, and all his angels will be completely destroyed. It is up to you to make your own decisions on what is truth, after you study for yourself.
Now, it is true, if someone else can give you texts on any subject to look up, this can give you a head start. In fact, if someone has studied this or any other subject out thoroughly (at least they claim this) read the texts they provide. But, don't take it for granted their interpretation is absolutely right. Make sure you have all the Bible evidence needed for a sound conclusion.
What about pre-conceived opinions? What do you do with the ideas you have already formed? If someone says you are in error on something you believe to be true, what should you do? Perhaps, you can start by asking them to quote Scriptures to prove you are in error. Then write down where to find these. Study them, and get your concordance out and look for others on the subject. Pray for guidance, look for similar words, etc. You may find a clearer understanding of this and many other Bible doctrines and prophecies, which will help you to grow in grace and make you better equipped to help others.
I know of a man who considered the Bible as the word of God. One day a friend told him he was in error on a certain doctrine. Of course, he couldn't believe this could be true. So he started studying the subject, with the intentions of proving his friend wrong.
He studied it thoroughly, from every angle he could think of. When he was through, he had the proof he needed. He convinced himself "he" was the one who was wrong, not his friend. This can happen to any of us. May the Lord help us as we "search the Scriptures" for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (Read 2 Timothy 3:16 again.).
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
When Jesus spoke to the rich, young ruler He emphasized the last six commandments, which were summed up by Moses long before: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Leviticus 19:18. This man's conduct toward his neighbors was an outward sign of his lack of love for God. His selfish nature kept him from sharing his wealth with those less fortunate. He didn't seem to realize it is the Lord who prospers a man. God gives some the ability to acquire riches. In reality, everything we possess belongs to our Maker, and He expects us to use it to glorify Him. The rich young ruler refused to do this.
"And thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deuteronomy 6:5. The principles set forth by Jesus in the gospels were in the old testament writings of Moses. Why are they considered changed under the new covenant in the gospel of Christ?
Jesus came to show the Jews a way which seemed new and strange to them, because they had wandered so far from God's original plan for their salvation. Through the Messiah to come they were to be saved from sin. The sacrificial system was designed to point them forward to the spotless Lamb of God. His plan for their restoration was the same as it is for us--faith in God's power to save and keep us from sin.
“. . . Man needs a power outside of and beyond himself, to restore him to the likeness of God, and enable him to do the work of God; but this does not make the human agency unessential. Humanity lays hold upon divine power, Christ dwells in the heart by faith; and through co-operation with the divine, the power of man becomes efficient for good.” Desire of Ages Page 296.
The words of Deuteronomy 10:12 speak to all of us: "What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, and to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
When Jesus summed up the law in the two great commandments--love for God and love for man (Matthew 22:37-40), He didn't belittle the ten precepts written by God on tables of stone. They were placed in the ark in the Most Holy Place of the earthly sanctuary, and now reside in the heavenly sanctuary, according to the book of Revelation. God also writes them in our body temples--our hearts and minds (see Hebrews 10).
The fruit of love is revealed in the way we treat others. "Love worketh no evil to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:9, 10. Love is not shown by a little charity now and then. Motives for kind deeds can be selfish. But when a heart is overflowing with love for God, it will reveal a humble, meek spirit and result in warm, heartfelt love toward others. Yet, it is possible to show TLC without genuine love, to gain our own selfish goals, perhaps without fully understanding our true motives.
"Love (KJV--charity) suffereth long, and is kind, love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all thing, hopeth all things, endureth all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Love is not based on emotions. Love is a principle that will be shown in the life of a genuine Christian no matter how he feels. It is practical in its application. It isn't turned off when someone treats us badly, for the love which God wants to put in our hearts will lead us to love even our enemies.
The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23 begins with love, which is tied in with all the other fruit. Love is progressive--we grow in love. Our capacity becomes greater and our understanding richer. Our goal is to reflect Christ's image fully, and when we do, we will have the compassion for men He always possessed. The light of heaven will shine out from us.
“Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance.” Christ’s Object Lessons Page 384.
Self must die before Jesus is able to show His love through us. Then the law of love will control us. A humble, contrite spirit will compel us to glorify God and not ourselves. We will give to Him the credit for everything good we might accomplish. We'll not take a particle for ourselves.
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19.
The fullness of God's love in our lives and hearts is something worth yearning for. It's worth any sacrifice we need to make to obtain it. In fact, the only thing God requires of us to give up is our carnal or sinful natures and those pet sins, which are harmful to us anyway. His love will fill us with peace, joy, and satisfaction. What else could we need to be happy?
Our Saviour loves us so much He is willing to do the hard part in helping us to gain salvation. The risk He took by coming to earth, living a sinless life by faith in His Father, and dying for us, reveals His willingness to do everything necessary to save us from our sin. Christ loved the church, "and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27.
When Christ dwells within us there is a "work of faith and a labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3) flowing out from our hearts to others. We cannot force such love, but the nearer we draw to Christ, through study of His word and prayer, the more natural this love will become. We need the "divine nature" of Christ mentioned in 2 Peter 1:4. When we truly have His nature in us, He guides every impulse to love others in an unselfish way. This life completes Christian character.
“‘The prince of this world cometh,’ said Jesus, ‘and hath nothing in Me.’ John 14:30. There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan's sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So it may be with us. Christ's humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature. So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character.” Desire of Ages Page 123.
"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you. To the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13.
Peter's ladder shows us the height of God's law of love as written in our hearts. "and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity (love). For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8.
John tells us, "But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him." 1 John 2:5. Perfect love cannot exist where the carnal nature rules. If self is alive to any degree, we cannot be perfect in love. Love fulfills, the law, because pure love shows self has died.
This does not mean we won't take care of our own needs and we won't care what happens to us. Since we are to "love our neighbor as ourselves," we will love ourselves. But not in a harmful way. A compassionate love for others is not self-destructive. It's just the opposite. We take care of ourselves with the motive of glorifying God and blessing others. In the process we are blessed. We will be blessed, healed, made happy by reaching out to others. God's Spirit controls the higher powers of the mind. Thus, we have control over our carnal natures, which destroy us when we allow them to control us.
Satan has too many people believing they know what's best for themselves. Only God who made us understands what is for our best good. He wants us to know and possess His love for others, and we gain this by loving Him with our whole being.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 John 2:15-17.
Love of self cherishes the temptation the world offers. Our desires for food, drink, sex, possessions, recognition, and knowledge are often perverted and sinful. Satan knows how to use our personal weaknesses to drag us down to death. But Christ gives us the victory.
"But this we know, we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:2, 3. God wants to write His law in our hearts. And He will if we surrender to Him day by day, filling our minds with His word, communing with Him, listening to the prompting of His Spirit.
God's commandments can be kept, no matter what men may say, if we let Him write His law of love in us. Then will His love be revealed through us. The last message of mercy to a dying world is a revelation of God's love, revealed through the compassion of His remnant people. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus." Revelation 12:17. This testimony will bear witness to God's boundless love.
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
What is God saying to us in the Ten Commandments? Many who are familiar with this passage think of these as the "thou shalt nots" Many, rather vaguely, seem to include these in with the ceremonial laws, which were done away with when Jesus died on the cross. The world, in general, treats them as Ten Suggestions, to be obeyed only if you feel like it.
When questioned about it, they may reply that Jesus took care of the commandments in Matthew 22:37-40, when He spoke of loving God and loving your neighbor. They seem to believe this is the new way of serving God and obeying Him--just love Him and your fellow man.. Is it as simple as that? Are we capable of this without any further instruction or insight into what love consists of? Yes, we have the beatitudes, we have the fruit of the Spirit and we have the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13. Are the ten commandments needed now?
Did you know the ancient Israelites had these same two commandments to guide them in understanding the meaning of the Ten Commandments? Yes, most of them failed to understand. Yet, the two were there. In Deuteronomy 6:5 we read "You shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." And, in Leviticus 19:18 we are told "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
So ancient Israel had access to the true meaning of the Ten Commandments. Then, why did God spell them out in detail to them, and are they to be considered in detail by Christians? Think of this: When Jesus was still on the mount where He gave the beatitudes, He gave more detail on the keeping of the commandments. He emphasized the need of reaching down into our motives and thoughts, not just our words and actions. While He was there He let them know He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill.
If we go to 1 John 5:3, we find this disciple, who has written so much on love, says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." To many they seem burdensome, or grievous (as the KJV puts it).
Here is another way of looking at the commandments. This way, I believe, is the gospel way of looking at them. And, gospel means "good news." How are the commandments the good news of salvation for mankind? Please let me paraphrase the text of the first part of Exodus 20, where we read the Ten Commandments, and perhaps you will see what I mean about the good news being enfolded there: And God spoke all these words saying: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of slavery to sin, and out of the house of sinful bondage. I did this by dying on the cross for your sins and rising again, so you could also crucify the flesh and rise to walk in the newness of life through the Spirit of God dwelling in you. Because of this I promise you divine power, and the following promises will be fulfilled in your heart and life:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God. am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the father upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes HIs name in vain.
You shall remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For it is the seal of My Kingship, My creation and My re-creation of mankind. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. You shall honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. (This the end of my paraphrasing)
Can we picture these as promises? God promises to give us His divine power to do all these things. This wouldn't mean much if it only referred to surface words and actions. When God tells us He looks on the heart of a man can it mean He doesn't pay attention to the actions and words of the outward man? He is interested in everything we do, for He also says we are known by our fruits.
Suppose you pick an apple off a tree and when you bite into it you find it is rotten inside. Not all fruit is good fruit, even when it appears to be on the outside. The law of God reaches into our very inner being. This is where He promises to write His law (Hebrews 10), in our hearts and minds.
The gospel of salvation, the plan of redemption is the good news God not only will forgive our sins, but He will give us power to overcome them. The grace of Christ, His righteous merits, do more than pardon us, they have cleansing power. We are freed from the house of bondage, the slavery to sin.
Yes, sin enslaves us. We are helpless and cannot free ourselves from this slavery, but God through His Son, can and will do it, if we choose to let Him. Paul describes sin as the transgression of the law. What law? The only law given to mortals that could apply are the Ten Commandments. Perhaps from now on we should call them the Ten Promises. When we think of them this way they are indeed a happy part of the Good News of Salvation. Christ is our Creator and Redeemer . Through Him we may receive the full power of the Gospel. For as the law enfolds the plan of salvation, when we see it clearly, the plan of salvation can unfold the true meaning of God's law of love. For this is what the entire ten commandments are in reality.
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
We may attempt to restore an antique piece of furniture, or renew a car by putting another engine in it. As we grow older, we'd like to replace parts of our body with younger parts. but in most cases, we'll have to wait until we are glorified at Christ's coming.
God has promised to restore this old earth completely, to re-create the original Edenic beauty. He promises to restore us to the original image in which we were created--the image of God. Yet, even now, restoration, renewal, or re-creation can take place in our hearts and minds. In fact it must, if we are to attain everlasting life.
“Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.” Desire of Ages Page 37.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. David understood what must take place in his life before he could be restored into God's favor. True repentance and confession are absolutely necessary for pardon and renewal. If we allow a wall of sin to separate us from our Creator and Redeemer, He can't re-create our hearts. Repentance and faith are gifts from God. We must yield to the Holy Spirit's convictions and confess our sins. When we trust in our Creator's power to re-make our minds, and cooperate with Him in every possible way, we are exercising faith.
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. With a promise like this we should be encouraged to be diligent. There's a need for patient waiting, or for marching forward into our own Red Sea, or making an all-out effort to run the race set before us.
"I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you, and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:19. A complete renewal of thoughts, feelings and attitudes--this is what we long for when we begin to understand God's precious promises. We want and need the compassion of Jesus to be the controlling factor of our lives.
“The leaven hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process; so the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul. The natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted. A new standard of character is set up--the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the faculties are roused to action in new lines. Man is not endowed with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified. The conscience is awakened. We are endowed with traits of character that enable us to do service for God.” Christ’s Object Lessons Page 98.
In order for this to be a reality we will acknowledge our sins, our pet idols--all of them. We must search our hearts for hidden faults. Shall we be afraid of the results of letting the Spirit of God control us? We may suffer under the grinding wheel, but it's worth it all. In the end we'll declare, "Heaven is cheap enough."
"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4. Christ's life is our pattern, and His grace is our strength. Hope and faith will encourage us to rely on our Lord for everything needful to finish the work He has begun in us.
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation (and conduct) 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. We are born anew when we first accept Christ as a personal Saviour. As we walk the Christian pathway, a thoroughly new person begins to emerge, and the old corrupt nature loses its power over us. Yet, self won't die without a struggle. We may think it's dead until an overpowering temptation sneaks up on us. Does God plan for us to continue to live a life of constant sinning and repenting? Satan doesn't bother to harass people who aren't struggling against their carnal natures. But victory can be ours as we learn to focus our thoughts on Christ and His life more and more each day.
“The education to be secured by searching the Scriptures is an experimental knowledge of the plan of salvation. Such an education will restore the image of God in the soul. It will strengthen and fortify the mind against temptation, and fit the learner to become a co-worker with Christ in His mission of mercy to the world. It will make him a member of the heavenly family; and prepare him to share the inheritance of the saints in light.” Christ’s Object Lessons Page 42.
The more we understand the wisdom and love of our Creator and Redeemer, the easier it will be for Him to change us back into the image He created man in the beginning. "And have put on the new man; which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him." Colossians 3:10. What more can we ask than to be given the character of Him who knows how we are made and for what purpose we were created? How else could we find true happiness and satisfaction?
Speaking of the future life, we quote the following: “There, immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.” Great Controversy Page 677. Thus, restoration and development in this life are just the beginning of what God has in store for us.
Copyright 2000, Kathryn D. Search
Many people do not recognize the kind of love which God tells us about in the Holy Bible. The human race has gone so far away from the original plan of our Creator for mankind they don't truly understand it. Once an individual gets a glimpse of this type of love, they may be drawn toward their Creator. When they appreciate what it is about they learn to love God with all their heart. This article explains to us a little about this love. We hope you will be blessed and lead to our Creator and Redeemer, for He is the only source for a love which will truly and forever make us contented, happy, and at peace with ourselves and others.
1 John 4:8--"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
1 John 5:3-5--"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 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?"
Deut. 6:5--"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Lev. 19:18--".....thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD."
We read these same two commandments, which sum up the ten, in Matthew 22:37-40. We also understand from reading some of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, keeping of the commandments goes beyond just our words and actions. It also includes our thoughts and motives. Love for God and mankind is broad and deep.
The kind of love which exists among the three members of the Godhead is "other-centered." This is the kind of love God has for us and all of the creatures He has made. The Creator made us in His image in the beginning. Since the fall of man He longs for us to understand this kind of love and to be completely restored into this other-centered love, instead of the self-centered love of the carnal nature. This is what sin is all about. It is all centered in selfishness. Our Creator and Redeemer knows we will never be happy with this kind of love. Anyone who would enter the perfect heavenly abode must have this other-centered love or he would be miserable because of his selfish nature. So, God is striving to win us back to Himself and this kind of love.
This is why Jesus came to die for us. His life and death were a revelation of this other-centered love which our God has for us and all of His creation.
Just as there have been people who walked with God over the ages (Enoch is a prime example), God will have a group of people who will walk so close to Him again, they will be translated without seeing death. They will be alive when Jesus comes again, and will arise from the earth, along with the resurrected saints, and go back with Jesus to heaven. These people will have gone through a time where they have learned to trust God supremely and have learned, to the greatest extent a person can learn on earth, how to be "other-centered," which is what agape love is all about. This is a love we will ever be learning more about as the years of eternity go by.
"The law of love is the foundation of God's government, and the service of love the only service acceptable to Heaven. God has granted freedom of will to all, endowed men with capacity to appreciate His character, and therefore with ability to love Him and to choose His service. So long as created beings worshiped God they were in harmony throughout the universe. While love to God was supreme, love to others abounded. As there was no transgression of the law, which is the transcript of God's character, no note of discord jarred the celestial harmonies." {TMK 366.2}
"If we dealt kindly and tenderly and compassionately with one another, loving others as Christ has loved us, what a change would take place in our world! What a transformation would be brought about in the home life! In this church there are whole families who need to be educated and trained for the future, immortal life. All the power that can be obtained from above is needed to lead their feet in safe paths." {2SAT 177.3}
" . . . . Deeds of kindness, charity, and love to others will make you one with Christ and take your mind from yourself." {DG 166.3}
The life Christ lived while on earth is an example for us. We are to follow His example, and thus we will learn to be other-centered.
"The life of Christ was a life charged with a divine message of the love of God, and He longed intensely to impart this love to others in rich measure. Compassion beamed from His countenance, and His conduct was characterized by grace, humility, truth, and love. Every member of His church militant must manifest the same qualities, if He would join the church triumphant. The love of Christ is so broad, so full of glory, that in comparison to it, everything that men esteem as great, dwindles into insignificance. When we obtain a view of it, we exclaim, O the depth of the riches of the love that God bestowed upon men in the gift of His only-begotten Son!" {FE 179.3}
"We are to learn a lesson from the goodness and mercy and self-sacrificing life of the Father. We are to study how to give our sympathy and love to others. As we have received this priceless gift, so we are to impart it. We are to learn how to rule by love and kindness, rather than by severity and censure. When an erring person becomes conscious of his wrong, do not deal with him in a manner that will take away all his self-respect. Do not seek to tear to pieces, but to bind up and heal. You may see the errors of a brother. Yet he may not be able to discern his wrong; and it may be difficult to know how to act. But never pursue a course that will give him the impression that you regard yourself as his superior. You may think that your feelings, your pursuits, your organization, are superior to his, but do not seek to make this apparent; for such a course is altogether out of harmony with true refinement, true nobility of character. We are not to bruise the souls of the erring, but to go to them armed with humility and prayer. When the gospel minister, with his heart subdued by the love and grace of Christ, comes in touch with human minds, he can reveal his superior qualifications, not by destroying hope and courage, but by inspiring faith in the faithless, by lifting up the hands that hang down, and confirming the feeble knees.--RH Nov. 21, 1899." {PaM 212.3}
We should ever remember we cannot live a life of self-denial and loving service to others without the divine power of Christ in our daily lives. We cannot truly love others without His love dwelling in us. It is by beholding Him in the word of God, and communing with Him through prayer that we gain this kind of love and compassion.
"Many think that it is impossible to love our neighbor as ourselves; but it is the only genuine fruit of Christianity. Love to others is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ; it is walking and working with the invisible world in view. We are thus to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." {RC 103.2}
"The life of Christ was a life charged with a divine message of the love of God, and He longed intensely to impart this love to others in rich measure. Compassion beamed from His countenance, and His conduct was characterized by grace, humility, truth, and love. Every member of His church militant must manifest the same qualities, if he would join the church triumphant." --FE 179 (1891) {LDE 62.2}
"Oh, if all who professed to be followers of Christ were indeed living channels of light to the world, imbued by the Spirit of God, with hearts full to overflowing with the gospel message, with the very countenance beaming with devotion to God and love to others, what a work might be accomplished in a short time! The messengers of the truth would not speak with hesitation, with uncertainty, but with fearlessness and confidence. Their words and the very tones of the voice would strike conviction to the hearts of the hearers." —Review and Herald, Aug. 23, 1892. {BLJ 284.5}
"We can love our neighbor as ourselves only as we love God supremely. The love of God will bear fruit in love to our neighbors. Many think that it is impossible to love our neighbor as ourselves, but it is the only genuine fruit of Christianity. Love to others is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ; it is walking and working with the invisible world in view. We are thus to keep looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith." --Review and Herald, June 26, 1894. {WM 49.2}
"We are to empty the heart of everything that defiles the soul temple, that Christ may dwell within. Our Redeemer has told us how we may reveal Him to the world. If we cherish His Spirit, if we manifest His love to others, if we guard one another's interest, if we are kind, patient, forbearing, the world will have an evidence by the fruits we bear that we are the children of God. It is the unity in the church that enables it to exert a conscious influence upon unbelievers and worldlings." --Review and Herald, June 5, 1888. {YRP 76.4}
"Herein is the love of God manifested, inexpressible, immeasurable, and passing knowledge. The human mind cannot grasp it in its fulness; but we should put forth the most earnest efforts of which we are capable, that we may communicate redeeming love to others. Eternity, all eternity, will unfold that love, and then we shall know what here we cannot comprehend." {BEcho, November 25, 1895 par. 7}
"Children should be instructed by both precept and example. Their parents should manifest kindness and courtesy and loving attention to each other. They should manifest self-forgetful love to others. Children will copy the lessons that they see practiced in the family circle. Holy angels will be round about a family where love and joy and peace abound." {RH, June 24, 1890 par. 4}
Being Self-Centered
"The more clearly our eyes behold the attractions of the future world, the deeper will be our solicitude for the inhabitants of this world. We cannot be self-centered. We are living in the time of special conflict between the powers of light and those of darkness. Go forth; let your light shine; diffuse its rays to all the world. Christ and the heavenly messengers co-operating with human agencies, will bring the unfinished parts of the work to a perfect whole. Not to fill our place because we love our ease, because we would avoid care and weariness, is not to shine; and how terrible the guilt, how fearful the consequences!" {CH 35.3}
"You have an experience before you to gain. You cannot be self-centered and be prepared for whatever work or responsibility, however difficult or dangerous, which is in Christ's line. Your eye must be single to the glory of God, and then your profiting [growth] will appear unto all. You need to employ every means of grace [so] that your love to God, and to all with whom you associate, may be pure and Christlike. Then you will approve the things that are excellent and be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Your Christian life must take on a different mold, else you will never see the kingdom of heaven." {DG 137.1}
"Jesus, seeing that to antagonize was but to harden, refrained from direct conflict. The narrowing selfishness of Judas' life, Christ sought to heal through contact with His own self-sacrificing love. In His teaching He unfolded principles that struck at the root of the disciple's self-centered ambitions. Lesson after lesson was thus given, and many a time Judas realized that his character had been portrayed, and his sin pointed out; but he would not yield." {Ed 92.1}
"Warning, admonition, promise, all are for us, upon whom the ends of the world are come. "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6). . . . Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts, watch the plans, lest they become self-centered. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good." {AG 332.5}
"Naturally we are self-centered and opinionated. But when we learn the lessons that Christ desires to teach us, we become partakers of His nature; henceforth we live His life. The wonderful example of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of all who follow Him in sincerity. By kindly words and acts they will try to make the path easy for weary feet.-- "Ministry of Healing," pages 157, 158.
"The soul finds rest only in cherishing meekness and lowliness of heart. The peace of Christ is never found where selfishness reigns. The soul cannot grow in grace when it is self-centered and proud. Jesus assumed the position that man must take in order that the peace of Christ may abide in the heart. Those who have offered themselves to Christ to become His disciples must deny self daily, must lift up the cross and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. They must go where His example leads the way." --Lt 28, 1888. {1MCP 45.2}
Being Other-Centered
"Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them." {COL 415.5}
"Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance." {COL 384.2}
