In this issue:
Born of The spirit
The Spirit of Man
In trying to safeguard against the concept of the immortal soul,
Adventism has gone too far in the other direction. Generally speaking,
today, in Adventism, man is regarded as being only a breathing, thinking
piece of clay. As the average Seventh day Adventist would explain it,
the formula seems very simple: God made man from the dust of the earth,
then He breathed breath into him (air) and so man became a living soul.
Take away the breath of life (air) and man becomes a dead soul,
therefore, all man is made up of is dirt, made alive when the process of
breathing begins. There is no such thing as an immaterial component
called the spirit. This is just another way of describing the breath
which is in man’s nostrils. However, that concept presents many
problems.
I would have hesitated to say that this is the generally held view of
Adventism, but for the fact that this is what I was taught in the church
and because I have had several discussions with Adventists including
ministers who have insisted on this as the biblical description of the
nature of man.
If in the resurrection I will have a new body, made of different
particles of matter then how will I be the same person? The word of God
teaches very clearly that the new body received will not be the same as
the original bodies we received when we were originally born into the
world.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it
is raised in incorruption: (43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in
glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: (44) It is sown a
natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body,
and there is a spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:42-44)
Ellen White agrees with the Bible that the bodies we receive in the
resurrection will not be made up of the same material substance as the
original body.
“Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the
same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave.
The wondrous works of God are a mystery to man. The spirit, the
character of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved. In the
resurrection every man will have his own character. God in His own time
will call forth the dead, giving again the breath of life, and bidding
the dry bones live. The same form will come forth, but it will be free
from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same
individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There
is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same
identical particles of matter which composed the body before death. God
shall give the righteous dead a body that will please Him.” (Mar 301)
So the question is, since I will receive a completely different body,
what is it about me that will make me the same exact person, the same
individual as the person who lived my life on earth before I died?
“Well,” someone may say, “God is able to give you the same thoughts and
memories.” That is true, but then that still leaves the question, will
that be me, or simply someone recreated in my exact image? You will
understand why I was relieved when I discovered that there is a
component in man called the spirit which is more than just a description
of his thoughts and memories. The following Bible references reveal
this very clearly. Job 32:8; Zech. 12:1; Luke 8:55; Luke 23:46; Acts
7:59; Rom. 1:9; Rom. 8:16; 1 Cor. 2:11; 1 Cor. 5:3-5; 1 Cor. 6:20. As
Ellen White said in the passage quoted above, “The spirit, the character
of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved. In the resurrection
every man will have his own character.” (Mar. 301)
This is a vitally important point. The proper understanding of some of
the most critical Bible truths is dependent upon an appreciation of
this point. Let me ask, are human beings born with spirits which are
morally neutral, which are neither good nor evil? Is it true that the
ultimate condition of the mind will depend upon the experiences of that
person as he begins to grow up? Do the things which he sees, hears,
learns etc. determine the kind of mind which he will have, whether good
or bad? Is it true that at birth his fleshly body is weak, degenerate
and sinful, but his spirit is morally neutral, neither good nor evil? We
cannot answer this question properly unless we understand the truth as
to what the spirit of man really is. When a baby is newly born and
incapable of rational thought, incapable of moral awareness, does he
have a spirit? Does evil reside in his mind, or is it only in his
fleshly, genetic makeup that there is a tendency to do wrong?
One question will settle this issue and if we can answer this question
honestly we will know the answer to these other questions. The question
is, when a person is born is he naturally selfish or unselfish? Does he
instinctively think of others or of himself? The answer is obvious.
Self is the natural focus of all who are born on this planet and this
has been true of all men in all ages from the time of the fall of Adam,
with only one exception. Selfishness is the root of sin, the foundation
of it and so where selfishness exists, evil is automatically present.
But where does selfishness come from? Where does it reside? Is it
something which is passed on in the genes? Is it built into the muscles,
the blood, the bones? Of course not! Selfishness is entirely a thing of
the mind and its universal presence in all men at birth demonstrates
the fact that man is born with not only a sinful body, but a sinful mind
or spirit as well, and that this sinful spirit exists even before man
is capable of rational thought. Therefore the word of God tells us in
unmistakable language,
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John
3:3)
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Rom 8:7)
The carnal mind is simply the mind that is not renewed by the spirit
of God in the new birth. This mind is at enmity with God, it matters not
whether this mind is one day old or one hundred years old. As long as
the person is not born again it is naturally at enmity with God.
God Alone is Good
As we have emphasized over and over, God alone is good (Matt. 19:17;
Rev. 15:4). There is no place or person in the universe where goodness
may be found unless God is dwelling there. Divinity alone is good and as
we recognize this, we will realize that the only way in which any
creature may be good is if he is united to divinity. No creature is good
in himself and therefore wherever there exists a creature who is not
united to God, the only possible state of that creature is an evil
state. By nature he is evil. There is no other option open to him.
This is what Lucifer, Adam and Eve and millions of angels did not
realize when they chose to act independently of God, when they chose a
path which separated them from God. In passing we should note that this
happened while they all were in sinless flesh. It had nothing to do with
their physical nature but had to do exclusively with a condition which
developed in their minds. Immediately they became evil although this
evil took time to manifest all its facets. Yet the consequences of
Adam’s actions were devastating for himself and his descendants. As a
result of his choice, every one of his descendants was doomed to be born
separated from God – a member of the kingdom of Satan, in a condition
where Satan’s principle of self, ruled, and where God’s spirit was
missing.
When we understand this, then we can see why every human being must be
born again of the holy spirit. In the condition of our first birth we
are not united to God. We are therefore totally evil, sinful in body and
sinful in mind. All we are capable of is sin and sin and more sin. Our
very best endeavours are laced with selfishness and are therefore
intrinsically evil.
The New Birth
But when a person is born again, what happens? A great change takes
place, but what is the nature of this change? Is it the person’s body
which changes? Is it the flesh and blood, the genetic make-up which is
altered? The Bible, as well as science, reason and history, tells us
that the physical make-up of a converted person does not change.
Conversion does not make him stronger, taller, younger than when he
lived in sin. A test of his genetic structure would reveal that he has
not changed physically and this is still the condition in which he lives
and dies.
Well then, is it his thoughts which change? Does the new birth consist
of a re-education so that the thought-patterns change and therefore
produce good actions? There is no doubt that education has a part to
play in the life of the Christian, but certainly it is not the critical
factor which is involved in the new birth. Re-education will not make a
man into a new creature. A new way of thinking will not cause a person
to experience the new birth. Notice what Jesus said:
…. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
Before Christian education takes place, even before we are guided into
truth, first of all there needs to be the coming of the spirit of
truth. It is the place of the spirit to educate us after we are born
again. Before there is the ability to think good thoughts leading to
good actions, there must first of all be a work done by the holy spirit
in the most fundamental area of human nature.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All
these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:21-23)
It is the state of the heart which is the real issue, not the physical
make-up or even the thoughts. See what proceeds from out of the heart
of men: adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness,
wickedness etc. Sins most vile and abhorrent. But notice also that there
is pride as well and (most significantly) evil thoughts! Thoughts
produce actions, yes, but there is something which produces these
thoughts. We have to go deeper than the thoughts to solve the real
problem. The real difficulty is the heart (often referred to as the mind
or the spirit). The fundamental spiritual nature of the man who is not
born again is evil. He has an evil heart, or mind and that is the
problem which really needs to be dealt with. Therefore it must be said
again, and again, and again: Overcoming sin cannot be achieved by
reforming the actions. Overcoming sin cannot be achieved by re-educating
the mind. Overcoming sin is only possible when our spirits become
united with the spirit of God in the union of the new birth.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (35) A good man
out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an
evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Mat
12:34-35)
Birth is a process by which a new person comes into the world. The new
birth is a process by which a new person enters the kingdom of God.
What makes an old sinner become a new saint? What fundamental change
takes place in a person which transforms him from a sinner to a saint?
In the innermost part of his being, in that part of him from which
springs all the thoughts and actions, that part called the heart, the
mind or the spirit, an influence from God unites itself with the spirit
of the person. I refer to it as an influence from God, but that word
does not give us a complete picture of what we receive. This
“influence,” brings with it, or in it, God’s own nature of love and
purity, it brings peace, comfort and God’s personal presence. It is the
spirit of God and rather than being a mere influence, it is actually an
extension of the very life of God Himself so that the Christian may
truly say, “God Himself lives in me!” God sits on a throne in heaven,
but by means of His holy spirit, His inner self, He extends Himself and
is united to every being in the universe who chooses to yield to him, so
that by an unseen, but very real chain of life, God and each Christian
is united and become one spirit. (1 Cor. 6:17)
It is a wonderful thing to contemplate. It is a truth almost too
awesome to believe. It is the wonder which sets true Christianity above
all false religions. The blessed truth that God, in His Son, has brought
the sons of Adam to the place where they are partakers of the very life
of the almighty God of the universe! Oh what a blessing! How thrilling
to understand the love, the condescension, the mercy of a God who has
granted us such a privilege, who has exalted us to the place where we
are truly and literally His own sons and daughters because His very life
is in us!
Yes, angels have been sent to minister to us. They also guide, protect
and in other ways minister to us as God’s messengers. But what a
blessing to know that in addition to that we have personal contact!!
“Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels He ministers to the children of men.” (MH 417).
Our God is not like the great men of earth who will send a
representative while He Himself remains aloof. No! Through His Son, He
comes close to us by His holy spirit and binds us to His heart by an
invincible union.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Eph 2:18)
Now we understand why Christ is our righteousness. Not that He gives
us righteousness, but that He Himself is our righteousness. As, through
the holy spirit Christ comes to live in our hearts, what do we receive?
Nothing else but the pure, holy life of Christ Himself. His spirit
unites with my spirit so that we are one spirit. His nature is now my
nature so that I love righteousness and hate iniquity. The curse of my
first birth is removed by the blessing of my new birth. With Christ as
my life (Col. 3:2) I have died to sin (Rom. 6:7), to the flesh (Rom.
8:7), to the old man (Rom. 6:6), to the body of sin (Rom. 6:6; 8:10). It
is not I, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20).
Relative Perfection
This is not to say that when Christ’s spirit is united to our spirit
then we immediately are absolutely perfect in every respect. Absolute
perfection suggests that all my actions are perfect and that everything
which I do perfectly demonstrates God’s character in every way. While we
rejoice in the gift of life and righteousness we must understand that
even though we partake of the very life of Christ, yet obedience to God
depends upon how well we understand His will. God does not work
independently of our will and our understanding. He does not reveal all
truth to us immediately and it is His purpose to continue to lead us
step by step through His word to an ever-increasing understanding of His
will and His ways. One day there will be a people who have a complete
understanding of God’s will as far as man’s life in this world is
concerned and these people will represent Christ more perfectly than any
other people have ever done. These will be the 144,000 and these will
be perfect in an absolute sense as far as human perfection in this life
is possible.
However, this does not contradict the reality that here and now, every
single Christian may be and ought to be perfect. What does God require
of me? All He requires is that I surrender to Him absolutely, without
reservation. What else can I do? Everything else is the work of God. He
must teach me His will, He must guide me into all truth step by step.
Today as I surrender perfectly to Him, He will accomplish His will for
today in me. Does God require or expect more of me than this? Absolutely
not. Perfect surrender is all that God requires of us and so, when a
person has fully surrendered to God, then that person is perfect in the
eyes of God. Even when the 144,000 are absolutely perfect it will simply
be that each day they surrender to God one hundred percent. Their
surrender is no greater than the surrender of the true Christian today.
The fact that God gives them more light is not an indication that they
were more surrendered than others, but simply that God’s purpose for the
final generation involves a greater revelation of His will and
character.
This is why the thief on the cross can be saved. His surrender was
perfect and this will be the same for all who will be saved. God will
have had full control of the person’s will and therefore will have been
able to give them His own life.
Questions ???
Recently I received a letter from a
reader who agrees with our perspective on Righteousness by faith but
feels that it is incompatible with several doctrines taught by the
Seventh-day Adventist faith, especially those which involve the law and
observance of the Sabbath. I attempted to answer the objections of this
person and as I believe that the answers given to these questions may be
helpful to others I have published the questions as well as the answers
given.
I am not always in harmony with how most Adventists EXPLAIN their
doctrines. When I go to the pioneers I find that in many cases their
understanding and explanations make far more sense, but even then I
cannot say that I always agree with them 100% in everything.
Nevertheless I have found consistency and good Scriptural sense in the
teachings of Adventism when properly understood and explained. I cannot
think for others or see things from their perspective, but that is the
truth where I am concerned.
The questions and answers follow.
Q. If resting in Christ is such a simple matter once we grasp the
concept, why is it that Adventist and other groups insist that they are
the remnant because they are the only ones who understand doctrine? And
they are the only ones who are keeping the correct day of worship? They
are the only ones who are keeping the commandments? And the only
ones following a “true” prophet? etc…
A. I am in agreement with you on
this point to some extent. I do believe that the remnant will have
certain characteristics which are not true of any group of people on the
earth at this moment. I believe that the perception held by the SDA
church and other groups that they are the remnant is based on a
misconception of what is really involved in salvation and a
misunderstanding of what is the true definition of God’s church.
However, I do believe that there is a certain standard by which genuine
Christian experience may be measured and that this involves the keeping
of God’s commandments. Therefore as the Bible says so clearly in
Revelation, those who are the remnant (when they are finally revealed)
will keep the commandments of God (Rev. 12:17; Rev. 14:12) not as the
ground of salvation, but as the fruit of a life which is truly lived in
Christ.
There are many who claim to have faith who have no faith at all. Those
who have true faith know that they have faith, but the only way a third
party may be able to see that faith is by the works which appear in the
life. These works, according to the Bible include the keeping of the
commandments of God. One sure sign of a false profession is that there
is no fruit borne in the life including the fact that such a person does
not walk in harmony with the commandments of God.
Of course, it is possible for a sincere Christian to genuinely think
that he is pleasing God while he ignorantly breaks the commandments of
God. But obedience to revealed light is certainly the fruit of a
converted life and is a yardstick by which the genuineness of a person’s
faith may be assessed.
Q. As Adventists we are taught that in the end times the Sabbath will
be an issue. It will be such a huge issue that those who reject it will
receive the mark of the beast and be lost.
Forgive my mental block here but isn’t that salvation by keeping a
day? What does resting in Jesus who is our Sabbath rest have to do with
that kind of thinking?
A. The question as to whether or not the Sabbath will be the issue in
the mark of the beast crisis is, admittedly not plainly stated in the
Bible. It is difficult to prove it conclusively and simply from the
Bible alone. If it were unmistakably identified would there be confusion
and controversy about it? However, the idea that God would use a single
issue involving a certain action to demonstrate the spiritual condition
of people is not difficult for me to accept because it is consistent
with the way He has acted in the past, as well as with Scriptural
principles.
Many profess to have faith, and agree that faith and faith alone is
the basis on which we are saved. However, they use that concept as the
ground for condoning sin and for choosing to disregard the expressly
revealed will of God and in this way, demonstrate that they have no true
faith at all. It seems reasonable to me that God would choose one
single commandment expressing His will for mankind, focus the attention
of the world on that commandment and then allow men to demonstrate their
relationship to Him on the basis of how they respond to His revealed
will. This would bring the world to the place where there is a public
and clear separation between those who have true faith (faith which
works) and those who only profess to have faith (dead faith which does
not work). So while faith and faith alone is the basis of our salvation,
yet that faith is revealed and demonstrated by the works which we do.
It is not salvation by commandment keeping, but salvation which results
in, and is demonstrated by, commandment keeping.
Q. The Sabbath was given 430 years after Abraham to teach the plan of
salvation and how that in Jesus we would have total and complete rest
that Adam and Eve enjoyed at creation before sin. It was not a 24 hour
rest that God had with Adam and Eve on one day of the week. It was from
the 7th day of creation onward, the first day of Adam and Eve’s
existence and everyday thence, until sin entered the picture.
And this is why Paul said in Col 2:16-17 that we are not to act as
judge regarding food or a Sabbath day which were all shadows of Christ.
Paul clearly says in Hebrews 4:6-10 that there remains a Sabbatismos —
a sabbath-like rest. That Sabbath rest is Christ and that sabbath-like
rest is Everyday, “Today”. Why would it say “there remains” if the
Apostles did not understand that the Old Covenant laws were shadows of
spiritual things fulfilled and no longer observed by Christians as
salvational once they understood the meanings. Why would he remind them
not to forget the assembling of themselves together if Sabbath was still
required. Even the clean and unclean meats had spiritual meaning and
fulfilled in Christ’s day. All the pitifully nit picking laws of the OT
had meaning of a spiritual matter and fulfilled in Christ.
A. I believe your concept of the Sabbath is wrong and is not supported by Scripture. Consider the following facts.
God blessed the Sabbath (placed a special benefit on it. What else
could the word blessed imply?). God sanctified the Sabbath (set it apart
for a holy purpose). All this was done from the seventh day of
creation. (Genesis 2:2,3).
This day was set apart for a holy purpose from the first week of this
earth’s existence. This was God’s purpose in including it in the week.
Apart from this purpose there would have been no seventh day. The week
would have had only six days.
Notice also that God blessed this day only BECAUSE He had rested on
it. Read Genesis 2:2,3 carefully. He established the day as a set apart
day because of the experience which He had enjoyed (with Adam and Eve?)
on that day. The idea that it was the start of a rest which has
continued up until now (or until the introduction of sin) is
contradicted by Scripture. It was a single day’s rest as the following
verse proves.
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in
six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he
rested, and was refreshed. (Exo 31:17)
Notice what it says. God rested (finished action) and was refreshed
(also a finished action). Some say the word rested signifies that He
began to rest and that there is no evidence that He ever went back to
work. But notice the second part of the phrase, and was refreshed. It
does not say He is being refreshed, but that He WAS refreshed by His
experience of rest. Both the rest and the refreshing were concluded
experiences. Of course there is a great truth embedded in this passage
because we know that God cannot be tired, yet He was refreshed. But the
point is, the verse shows that the rest of God was a finished action
which took place on a single 24 hour day.
In fact, Exodus 20:8-11 also shows clearly that God’s rest was a single 24 hour day. It says,
“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is
the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work,
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in
them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the
sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exo 20:9-11)
Here we see that the seventh day is GOD’S Sabbath. Therefore man is
commanded to keep it holy. Why is it God’s Sabbath? Because God rested
on that day. It is God’s rest. Which day must man keep holy? The same
day on which God rested. God blessed it and hallowed it (made it holy).
When did God do this? Back there during the first week of Creation. It
was the same day on which God had rested and which he had blessed which
God commanded man to keep holy.
Notice also that this means that from the time of the first seventh
day, every subsequent seventh day was also blessed and hallowed. It
matters not whether or not anybody had ever kept it holy before the
Israelites. It was blessed and hallowed from creation week and all the
world should have treated it as a hallowed and blessed day. God gave it
to the Israelites when they became His people, but it had already been
blessed and hallowed long before, from the time when God had rested on
it and been refreshed. Therefore God tells the Israelites to keep it
holy BECAUSE it had been blessed 2000 years before.
The truth is, we cannot of ourselves determine what is morally right
or wrong. We must modify our understanding on the basis of what God’s
word reveals. This will lead us to a true and balanced understanding of
salvation and of the will of God. If my understanding of righteousness
by faith leads me to contradict something which is clearly taught in the
word of God, then I know that my concept must be faulty, because it
cannot be that it is the word of God which is wrong.
It is true that the Sabbath was later given a typical meaning. It
became a type of the rest which we enter in Christ and a type of the
millennial rest. However, this does not mean that it has no intrinsic
value in itself. The types and shadows were only instituted AFTER sin
came into the world. Before that they would have had no value or
meaning. However, the Sabbath was blessed and set apart before sin came
into the world and this demonstrates that it is a part of God’s perfect
plan for mankind and which has value above and beyond the typical
meaning.
Q. Paul said in Romans 14:5-6 that we are not to judge our brother if
he regards a day above another or regards all days alike. If a day was a
matter of salvation for end times, he certainly missed his mark here
and did not make mention of the importance of keeping Sabbath.
A. The Sabbath was included in the ten commandments. These were
deliberately separated by God Himself from all the other laws. This
Sabbath commandment was included with others which, reason can only
define as being moral laws. These laws are limited expressions of
greater truths, but they are eternal expressions nevertheless. It is
true that the law of God is deeper and more comprehensive than those ten
rules describe, but the fact is, that the greater understanding of the
law does not overthrow the requirement of the limited understanding. It
includes and goes beyond the limitations of what was written on stone.
For example, the command, “thou shalt not kill,” means far more than
that we should not remove the life of another person. Jesus said if we
even hate our brother we are guilty. Does this mean that we are free to
take his life as long as we do not hate him? Of course not. The command
includes what it states in the ten laws, but it goes deeper than that.
Likewise, the fact that true Sabbath keeping embraces more than just
abstinence from work on the Seventh day, does not mean that it does not
include the observance of that day as a day set apart for the purpose of
worship.
God gave the law, according to Paul, so that sin by the commandment
could become exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13). It was so that the
offence might abound (Romans 6:20). It was to be our schoolmaster to
lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The law was not made for a righteous
person but for those who commit sin (1 Tim. 1:9). The question is, did
God present an artificial standard of righteousness to convict man of
his sinfulness? Did He create and hold up before man a standard which
did not describe genuine righteousness? Did He deceive us into thinking
that this was what was required when it was not really so? Does this
make sense? If the law is made for sinners, but not for the righteous,
then is the standard of righteousness something to be desired when we
are sinners, but to be cast aside when we become Christians? Does God
have two different concepts of right and wrong, one for the sinner and
one for the saint? Can you see my point?
The sinner’s concept of the law is necessarily limited. He is
incapable of understanding the deeper implications of the law. However,
God gives him enough to see that he is utterly at fault and helpless to
help himself. His desire to keep that law is not a desire to attain to a
false standard. It is a desire to attain to a standard presented by God
Himself. When he becomes a Christian, he sees more fully what is
implied by that law, but he does not now set out to live contrary to any
part of that law.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31)
To do this would be to become a stumbling block to sinners who still have only that law as their concept of right and wrong.
Here is the critical question: Now that we are in Christ, our instinct
is to do good. Our natures have changed. We do good without even trying
to do so. But, do we still need education as to what is the will of God
in terms of what is morally right and wrong? Do we immediately come to a
perfect understanding of what is morally right or does God still need
to teach us by His word? Does the indwelling presence of the holy spirit
mean that we automatically know what God requires or does that spirit
still need to teach us God’s will through the word of God? I think the
word of God makes it plain that the born again Christian still needs to
be guided by the word of God.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” (John
16:13)
This is why even Paul gives so many commands in his letters. People
are transformed and led by the spirit, but they still need to be guided
into an understanding of God’s will through the word.
There is no consistent way to preach righteousness by faith unless we
understand the eternal relevance of the law of God in all its facets,
even though it is no longer our governor.
Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
Was it to satisfy God? Was it to
satisfy justice? Who demanded that in order for us to live, one had to
die instead? Why could God not just have forgiven us without a sacrifice
being offered? What are the deeper principles involved which made it
necessary for Christ to die as our substitute?
An understanding of Righteousness by Faith presents us with some
answers, startling and at the same time thrilling. If you would like to
learn more then call or write and request this sermon from the 2006
Jamaican Campmeeting. Available on audiotape, audio CD, mp3 CD or DVD.
Jamaican Camp meeting Report
Campmeeting this year was
eagerly anticipated by many. The subject of Righteousness by Faith has
been so much in the limelight that we looked forward to a campmeeting in
which it would totally absorb our attention. We hoped that God would be
pleased to give us new insights and understanding into this most
beautiful message. Accordingly, the theme of our campmeeting was,
“Complete in Christ.”
One of the great features of campmeeting is the opportunity it
provides to see and to spend time with brethren and sisters whom we do
not have the opportunity of fellowshipping with very often.
There were some notable absences from the campmeeting. Brother Moni
Smith from St. James, the Mohallands from Trelawny and the brethren from
the Kingston/Spanish Town area were all missing. However, it seemed
that campmeeting was as jam-packed as ever as others came for the first
time. The groups from Clarendon and St. Elizabeth were there in full
strength and in addition, there was the Corklin Family from Pennsylvania
in the USA, as well as sisters Sharon and Daniela Lloyd from the Miami
group. On the Sabbath, Angella Barned, also from the Miami group, also
came along with her husband Andrew and the rest of the family. The
congregation spilled out onto the corridor for many of the meetings as
the room was unable to accommodate the crowd that turned up, especially
for the Sabbath meetings.
Almost all the messages centered on the subject of Righteousness by
faith, the only exceptions being a presentation on health (Diabetes) by
brother Marlon Cole, and an open discussion on Saturday night in which
the subject discussed was the Sanctuary message.
Our guest speaker this year was brother Ken Corklin from Pennsylvania,
USA, and the messages which he presented as well as those by the other
speakers all focused in varying degrees on this “most precious message.”
Not only were the central points of the message brought back to our
minds with fresh power, but new aspects of the message were opened to
our understanding. Of special note was the insight shared by brother Ken
Corklin which revealed that sacrifice was never for the purpose of
satisfying God, but was always for the purpose of meeting man’s need. A
great deal of interest was also generated in the message presented by
brother David Clayton entitled, “Why Did Jesus Have to Die.” (Please see
the notice on page 5)
Also of special interest were the youth forum, a panel discussion
involving the young people which took place on Sabbath afternoon and
another presentation, which took place on Sunday night which also
focused mainly on the young people. In the Sabbath afternoon discussion
the young panelists discussed questions on the subject of righteousness
by faith and revealed that they had a very good grasp of the issues
involved. Many of the older folks found the ideas presented by these
young people challenging to their thinking and this presentation
generated a lot of discussion. On Sunday night, the presentation focused
on presenting the message of Christ in songs and through the eyes of
those who were present at the time of some of the critical moments in
the life of Christ. These were of especial interest to the young people.
Rain threatened for the entire duration of the campmeeting and almost
every afternoon we had a little shower. However, we prayed that the Lord
would hold up the rain and He graciously answered. At this time of the
year, when it rains it sometimes pours and we knew that at any moment
there might have been one of those downpours that last for days, so we
prayed to Him who ruleth in the heavens and He heard. The little rain
which He permitted did no more than keep us in the meeting room and make
the nights a little cooler.
There were a few who came unprepared for the weather in Manchester and
suffered for a couple of nights until the others of us found out that
they were cold and came to the rescue. Jamaica is quite warm in most
places all year round with temperatures ranging from the 90s during the
days to the 70s at night. However, in a few places such as Manchester
where the campmeeting was held, it does get somewhat cooler at certain
times of the year. In Fact, Manchester has elevations of more than 2000
feet above sea level and is known as the “cool parish,” and here, during
the winter and early spring it sometimes gets down into the low 60s at
night.
In spite of the few setbacks, those who attended campmeeting this year
were greatly blessed and are looking forward eagerly to next year.
(Photographs from the campmeeting have been excluded from this
Microsoft Word version of the newsletter to cut down on the size of the
file for emailing.)
The Law of Heredity
“The Word was made flesh.”
“When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman.” Gal. 4:4.
“And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6.
We have seen that in His being made of a woman, Christ reached sin at
the very fountain head of its entrance into this world and that He must
be made of a woman to do this. Also there was laid upon Him the
iniquity, in the actual sins, of us all.
Thus all the sin of this world, from its origin in the world to the
end of it in the world, was laid upon Him—both sin as it is in itself
and sin as it is when committed by us; sin in its tendency and sin in
the act: sin as it is hereditary in us, uncommitted by us; and sin as it
is committed by us.
Only thus could it be that there should be laid upon Him the iniquity
of us all. Only by His subjecting Himself to the law of heredity could
He reach sin in full and true measure as sin truly is. Without this
there could be laid upon Him our sins which have been actually
committed, with the guilt and condemnation that belong to them. But
beyond this there is in each person, in many ways, the liability to sin
inherited from generations back which has not yet culminated in the act
of sinning but which is ever ready, when occasion offers, to blaze forth
in the actual committing of sins. David’s great sin is an illustration
of this. Ps. 51:5; 2 Sam. 11:2.
In delivering us from sin, it is not enough that we shall be saved
from the sins that we have actually committed; we must be saved from
committing other sins. And that this may be so, there must be met and
subdued this hereditary liability to sin; we must become possessed of
power to keep us from sinning—a power to conquer this liability, this
hereditary tendency that is in us to sin.
All our sins which we have actually committed were laid upon Him, were
imputed to Him, so that His righteousness may be laid upon us, may be
imputed to us. Also our liability to sin was laid upon Him, in His being
made flesh, in His being born of a woman, of the same flesh and blood
as we are, so that His righteousness might be actually manifested in us
as our daily life.
Thus He met sin in the flesh which He took and triumphed over it, as
it is written: “God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” And again: “He is our peace, .
. . having abolished in His flesh the enmity.”
And thus, just as our sins actually committed were imputed to Him that
His righteousness might be imputed to us, so His meeting and conquering
in the flesh the liability to sin and in that same flesh manifesting
righteousness, enables us in Him, and Him in us, to meet and conquer in
the flesh this same liability to sin and to manifest righteousness in
the same flesh.
And thus it is that for the sins which we have actually committed, for
the sins that are past, His righteousness is imputed to us, as our sins
were imputed to Him. And to keep us from sinning His righteousness is
imparted to us in our flesh as our flesh, with its liability to sin, was
imparted to Him. Thus He is the complete Saviour. He saves from all the
sins that we have actually committed and saves equally from all the
sins that we might commit dwelling apart from Him.
If He took not the same flesh and blood that the children of men have
with its liability to sin, then where could there be any philosophy or
reason of any kind whatever in His genealogy as given in the
Scriptures? He was descended from David; He was descended from Abraham;
He was descended from Adam and, by being made of a woman, He reached
even back of Adam to the beginning of sin in the world.
In that genealogy there are Jehoiakim, who for his wickedness was
“buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates
of Jerusalem” (Jer. 22:19); Manasseh, who caused Judah to do “worse
than the heathen;” Ahaz, who “made Judah naked, and transgressed sore
against the Lord;” Rehoboam, who was born of Solomon after Solomon
turned from the Lord; Solomon himself, who was born of David and
Bathsheba; there are also Ruth the Moabitess and Rahab; as well as
Abraham, Isaac, Jesse, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah: the worst
equally with the best. And the evil deeds of even the best are recorded
equally with the good. And in this whole genealogy there is hardly one
whose life is written upon at all of whom there is not some wrong act
recorded.
Now it was at the end of such a genealogy as that that “the Word was
made flesh, and dwelt among us.” It was at the end of such a genealogy
as that that He was made of a woman.” It was in such a line of descent
as that that God sent “His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” And
such a descent, such a genealogy, meant something to Him, as it does to
every other man, under the great law that the iniquities of the fathers
are visited upon the children to the third and fourth generations. It
meant everything to Him in the terrible temptations in the wilderness of
temptation, as well as all the way through His life in the flesh.
Thus, both by heredity and by imputation, He was “laden with the sins
of the world.” And, thus laden, at this immense disadvantage He passed
triumphantly over the ground where at no shadow of any disadvantage
whatever, the first pair failed.
By His death He paid the penalty of all sins actually committed, and
thus can justly bestow His righteousness upon all who choose to receive
it. And by condemning sin in the flesh, by abolishing in His flesh the
enmity, He delivers from the power of the law of heredity and so can, in
righteousness, impart His divine nature and power to lift above that
law, and hold above it, every soul that receives Him.
And so it is written: “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.” Gal.
4:4. And “God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for [on account of] 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.” Rom. 8:3,4. And “He is our peace, . . .
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, . . . for to make in Himself
of twain [God and man] one new man, so making peace.” Eph. 2:14, 15.
Thus, “in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His
brethren. . . . For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He
is able to succor them that are tempted.”
Whether temptation be from within or from without, He is the perfect
shield against it all; and so saves to the uttermost all who come unto
God by Him.
God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, Christ taking
our nature as our nature is in its sinfulness and degeneracy, and God
dwelling constantly with Him and in Him in that nature—in this God has
demonstrated to all people forever that there is no soul in this world
so laden with sins or so lost that God will not gladly dwell with him
and in him to save him from it all and to lead him in the way of the
righteousness of God.
And so certainly is his name Emmanuel, which is, “God with us.”
(The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection. – Chapter 7)
Will Babies Be Lost or Saved?
Will new-born babies who die
before they are able to choose Christ be lost? Many people seem to have
the idea that it depends on the parents. If the parents are saved, then
the child will be saved. If the parents are lost, then the child will be
lost. However, in light of the gospel, this does not make sense.
Humanity is lost or saved on the basis what Adam and Christ has done.
The word of God teaches us that all men became sinful and lost because
of Adam’s sin. However, the same word teaches us that salvation is
available to all because of what Christ did. Of course, for a person to
receive the gift of salvation in Christ, he must make a choice. He must
choose to believe in the gift of God.
But what about a child who is too young to choose, whose mind is so
undeveloped that he is incapable of making conscious and rational
choices, and yet, who dies in such a state? What will the just God do in
the case of such children? For those who believe it depends on our
works it presents a problem. The best answer they can come up with is to
say that it depends on whether or not the parents themselves are saved.
Therefore, the parents become the saviours of the children instead of
Christ. On some issues it is unwise to be dogmatic. However, when we
examine the question in the light of the gospel, one option seems
reasonable. Adam’s sin killed all men. Jesus’ righteousness has made
salvation available to all men. Jesus’ life overturned the consequences
of Adam’s life and this becomes a reality for all who will believe. In
fact, the Bible states it thus:
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life. (Rom 5:18)
If Adam killed all of us, including babies, but Jesus died for all of
us, including babies, then on which side would we put a baby who is
incapable of making a choice for himself? What is the just thing to do?
Remember that the baby did not choose Christ (because he cannot) but
neither did he choose to be born into this world. In both cases, he has
no choice. But Christ died for him. Is the sin of Adam stronger than the
righteousness of Christ? Is Adam’s condemnation greater than the grace
of God?
…. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Rom 5:20)
I believe that when we understand the gospel properly, it is
reasonable to believe that babies who cannot choose will be saved on the
basis of what Christ has done for all men.
Of course, the question remains, what about the carnal nature? Will
not those babies still have a carnal nature? Christ has made it legally
possible for them to have life, but what about the fact that these
babies have a carnal nature? Just as God gives a new life, a new nature
to the person who believes, He is able to do the same for a baby. But
does He have the right to do this? His sacrifice for all men certainly
gives Him that right.
Reflections on Florida 2006
If there is one thing for which
the Florida campmeeting will be remembered, it is its focus on the
subject of Righteousness by Faith. There was a pre-campmeeting Bible
Conference (labeled as an Elders’ Meeting) which convened two days
before the campmeeting. At this Bible Conference the subject considered
was Righteousness by Faith.
The newsletters and tapes which have gone out from Restoration
Ministries over the past eight months have caused concern in some
circles and some of our brethren have felt that we have misrepresented
the truth in some of our articles in the way we have expressed things,
while there are probably others who have held to the belief that we are
in outright apostasy. The Bible conference provided a forum in which the
subject could be discussed, questions asked and issues clarified. The
doctrines identified as being areas of concern were as follows:
1. (a) What is sin? (b) Did we sin in Adam?
2. Is man born good, evil or neutral?
3. (a) What does it mean to be born again? (b) What is sanctification?
4. What is repentance?
5. (a) Is righteousness a bestowed quality or a developed quality? (b) Can man be made righteous instantly?
6. (a) Was Jesus exactly like us in all respects? (b) What is sinful flesh?
7. Is the Christian’s goal to imitate Christ or to allow Him to live instead of us?
8. What is the proper place of human effort?
9. What did Christ do which affects every person?
These questions were examined as the meetings progressed and a
significant majority of those present came to the conclusion that most
of our perceived differences had to do with semantics and differences in
the way we defined certain words. When we avoided these words and
instead discussed concepts, it seemed that for the most part, we agreed
with each other.
I personally found these meetings helpful as I was able to see where
the way I had said things had in some cases resulted in misunderstanding
and even where I had used a word or words which did not really say what
I had intended to say. I was thankful that most brethren were willing
to give the benefit of the doubt to the other and to recognize that the
inadvertent use of an inappropriate word did not mean that a brother was
in apostasy, but simply that he was human.
By the time we came to the end of the Bible Conference, my perceptions
are that the great majority of those who were present were persuaded
that there was much light in what we had been presenting on the subject
of Righteousness by faith. A spirit of humility and brotherhood was
evident and several brethren found it appropriate to apologize to one
another for previous misconceptions and pre-conceived ideas. A list was
drafted up of the things on which we could all agree without
reservation. This list was limited and did not address several of the
issues but it was an indicator that we had made some progress from where
we had started. The list is as follows:
1. Righteousness is by faith alone.
2. Without Christ there is nothing good in man.
3. We are saved by grace, through faith, plus nothing.
4. We are born with sinful flesh, a carnal mind and a tendency to do wrong as a result of Adam’s sin.
5. The wages of sin is death.
6. After conversion we still continue to grow in knowledge of God, of His will and in faith.
7. The real problem is a corrupt heart, a carnal mind. Until this changes all efforts to reform will be in vain.
8. All die in Adam. The first death is not the penalty of our own sins.
9. Those who suffer the second death do so as a result/penalty of their own sins, not Adam’s.
When the campmeeting itself began, there was opportunity for everyone
to get uninterrupted perspectives on the message, as several of the
sermons focused on the subject of righteousness by faith. Here, there
was a further erosion of misunderstanding and prejudice and I believe
that at the end of the campmeeting most of us were persuaded that the
meetings had been a great blessing and that God was leading us in this
focus on this “most precious message.” For myself, I can say that I was
stirred by the spirit of God in the presentations which I did at this
campmeeting as I have rarely been stirred before in presenting the word
of God.
Regretfully, I cannot say that we closed the campmeeting in one
hundred percent agreement. Maybe five percent of those who attended were
still not satisfied at the end, and perhaps some still maintained the
conviction that what we are teaching is harmful heresy.
However, I believe that our Father worked at the campmeeting and I am
much encouraged at the overall end result of these meetings. I am
persuaded that He is not finished with us and I look forward to how He
will lead those who are willing to be led as we participate in the final
events of this world’s history.
Florida Sermons
All the messages presented at the Florida campmeeting are available on DVD and may be obtained by writing to, or calling,
David E. Fahnestock
917 Alton Avenue
Orlando, Fl. 32804
ph. (407) 629-0968
email: kd4ko@earthlink.net
The sermons presented by David Clayton at this campmeeting are
available also from Restoration Ministries in mp3 format as well as on
DVD.
Open Face is published bi-monthly and is sent free to all who desire to receive it.
David Clayton: Editor and Publisher
P. O. Box 23 Knockpatrick
Manchester, Jamaica W.I.
Phone: (876) 904-7392
email: david@restorationministry.com
