Maranathamedia.com

http://www.scribd.com/doc/36768275/Grace-on-Trial-Robert-J-Wieland

 

 

 

 

 

Comment (0)

What is the Message of 1888?

http://www.swordofelijah.org/1888_message.html

 

The 1888 Story

http://www.swordofelijah.org/story_of_1888.html

 

 

 

Comment (0)

 

 

                Vrăjitoarea și ucenicul ei

 

                                            Adrian Ebens

 

Analizând iubirea originală care a existat în Grădina Edenului, am găsit în persoana lui Adam și a Evei un motor de iubire perpetuă care a fost conceput să curgă către promisa populație a pământului. Revărsarea binecuvântărilor de la Adam către Eva și întoarcerea aprecierilor de la Eva către Adam ar fi păstrat o rezervă constantă de combustibil pentru cei doi membri, pe măsură ce ei ar fi rămas ancoraţi în originile lor de autoritate și supunere, și în constanta lor amintire că tot ce posedă le-a fost dat prin dragostea Agape a Dumnezeului nostru.

Nu ni se spune cât de mult a funcţionat această mişcare a iubirii  în frumoasa grădină, dar evenimente triste au avut loc şi au făcut ca acest motor să se oprească. Dorim să examinăm aceste evenimente cu atenție și să vedem modul în care dragostea originală pusă între cei doi a fost distrusă și înlocuită cu dragostea căzută pe care noi o cunoaştem ca Eros.

Indiferent de motiv, Eva se găseşte la pomul interzis cântărind înţelesul interdicției lui Dumnezeu, acela de a nu mânca din fructele sale. O voce inteligentă venind de la un șarpe i-a stârnit curiozitatea și ȋn același timp îngrijorarea, ținȃnd-o nemișcată.

„Și el a zis femeii: „Oare a zis Dumnezeu să nu mâncați din toți pomii din grădină?”” Geneza 3:1

Eva era foarte conștientă că Dumnezeu dăduse totul soțului ei și că ea poseda toate aceste lucruri venind de la Dumnezeu prin el. Întrebarea cu privire la o cerinţă directă a lui Dumnezeu a fost o încercare de a plasa îndoială în mintea femeii asupra a ceea ce era adevărat. Gândul să pună sub semnul ȋntrebării ceea ce a spus Dumnezeu  era nou pentru Eva și în fiecare moment în care a continuat  dialogul cu șarpele, ea a fost îndepărtată tot mai mult din poziția ei în creația lui Dumnezeu.

Ademenirea de a-L apăra pe Dumnezeu a fost o invitație de a ieși din canalul binecuvântărilor, întrebarea era o invitație ca ea însăşi să găsească rezolvarea problemei și de-a o face să uite că ea nu ar trebui să vorbească cu un necunoscut care pune întrebări, fără să aibă acoperirea și protecția soțului ei. Ar fi fost îndeajuns pentru ea să plece pur și simplu și să nu spună nici un cuvânt.

Avem un indiciu că Eva nu a fost complet relaxată în răspunsul ei. Așa cum se întâmplă adeseori, atunci când experimentăm frică sau suntem sub presiune, se poate să exagerăm uneori o situaţie și să gȃndim că o ȋntărire suplimentară va ȋmpiedeca pătrunderea sugestiei ȋn minţile noastre.

Geneza 3:2-3: „Și femeia a zis șarpelui: Putem să mâncăm din rodul tuturor pomilor din grădină, (3) Dar din rodul pomului care este în mijlocul grădinii, Dumnezeu a zis: Să nu mâncați din el, nici să nu vă atingeți de el, ca să nu muriți."

Dar ce a spus de fapt Dumnezeu soțului ei, care mai apoi a instruit-o?

Geneza 2:17: „Dar din pomul cunoștinței binelui și răului să nu mănânci din el: în ziua în care vei mânca din el vei muri negreșit.”

Dumnezeu a spus că dacă vei mânca, vei muri iar Eva, în frica ei, a adăugat: "dacă te vei atinge de el, vei muri". Aceasta a fost ocazia perfectă pentru Satana ca să lovească. Plasând fructul în mâinile ei, ea a fost confruntată acum cu aparenta dovadă că, ținându-l în mână, ea nu era de fapt moartă. Din gura ei veniseră probele de care avea nevoie Satan ca să demostreze, aparent, că Dumnezeu minţise.

Încrederea ei că ea ar putea rezolva această situație, fără a avea nevoie de protectorul ei desemnat, a condus-o într-o poziţie în care i se părea clar că Dumnezeu nu a spus adevărul. Dorinţa ei de-l apăra pe Dumnezeu a deschis calea pentru Satana de a o provoca pe Eva să se îndoiască de Dumnezeu. Un dușman atȃt de viclean!  Argumentele lui erau atat de seducătoare!

Eva nu știa că ea comunica cu un spirit rău. Nu orice fel de spirit rău, ci chiar cu tatăl tuturor spiritelor rele! Am putea argumenta că femeia nu a avut nici o idee despre ce se întâmpla cu ea, dar ea cunoștea destul, știa că nu ar trebui să acționeze încrezȃndu-se în sine, ci mai degrabă ar trebui să alerge în brațele bărbatului de la care a primit toate lucrurile și care i-a fost dat de către Dumnezeu pentru a-i fi protector spiritual și scut.

Văzând că femeia se confruntă acum cu dovezi aparent incontestabile că Dumnezeu nu este de încredere, Satana acum dă lovitura împotriva iubirii Agape, în războiul său de a stabili iubirea Eros ca fiind supremă.

Geneza 3:4-5: „Și șarpele a zis femeii: „Hotărît, că nu veţi muri: (5) dar Dumnezeu ştie că, în ziua cînd veţi mînca din el, vi se vor deschide ochii, şi veţi fi ca Dumnezeu, cunoscînd binele şi răul”.

Declarația "nu veți muri cu siguranță", conține sămânța ereziei, otrava mortală, ideea că viața din noi nu depinde de Dumnezeu, ci este ceva ce  posedăm în mod natural. Adăugați la această noțiune faptul că pot achiziționa lucruri din lumea naturală pentru a îmbunătăți viața mea, puterea mea și pe mine însumi. Această minciună, dacă e primită, va ucide simţământul natural de apreciere pe care femeia îl simte față de bărbat, pentru că ea a ieșit din el și a primit viața de la el. În al doilea rând, ea nu ar mai avea nevoie să simtă apreciere pentru lumea naturală din jurul ei ca pentru ceva ce i s-a dat, deoarece prin "curajul și efortul ei", ea însăși a găsit un lucru esenţial care ar putea-o ridica la adevărata ei identitate de zeiță. Nu s-ar mai supune simţămȃntului "dominației și controlului masculin", deoarece ea a găsit o altă cale către Dumnezeu și această cale este prin ea însăși; drumul era o simplă recunoaștere a divinității ei inerente revelată ei de înțelepciunea "binefăcătoare" a șarpelui.

Cuvintele șarpelui au avut efect, deoarece brusc, ea a văzut ceva în fruct.

Geneza 3:6 „Femeia a văzut că pomul era bun de mîncat şi plăcut de privit, şi că pomul era de dorit ca să deschidă cuiva mintea. A luat deci din rodul lui, şi a mîncat”

Sămȃnţa șarpelui a făcut-o să vadă pomul ca pe ceva inerent bun, ca ceva plăcut pentru ochi. Ea a fost atrasă de calitățile inerente ale acestui pom și prin mâncatul fructului a pecetluit decizia ei de a accepta o nouă percepție a realității, care era opusă faţă de ceea ce a spus Dumnezeu.

În cazul în care nu pricepem întocmai ce a avut loc aici, hai să privim cu atenţie. Eva vorbea cu un spirit rău. Când a mâncat fructul și a decis în favoarea spiritului care îi vorbea, ea l-a invitat să preia controlul asupra minții ei. Prin urmare, atunci când ea s-a apropiat de Adam era posedată de demon. Mai rău încă, a venit purtând mesajul spiritului cel rău, care a promis puteri magice pentru a deveni asemenea lui Dumnezeu și, prin definiție, aceasta face din prima noastră mamă o vrăjitoare .

Aşa că, atunci când femeia se întoarce de la pom, ea este sub controlul lui Satana și vine la soțul ei nu ca soţia sa supusă, ci ca profesor al noii religii. În modul în care Adam stă înaintea Evei, vedem prefigurarea tuturor bărbaţilor de-a lungul timpului, care au stat în fața oracolelor feminine, cum ar fi Delphi și altele, și care au promis cunoașterea destinului lor viitor. In timp ce Adam o privește pe soția lui, care era os din oasele lui, el vine în contact cu un spirit care nu-l mai recunoaște pe el ca stăpânul și binefăcătorul ei. Ea a gasit un alt suflet pereche, un alt profesor care i-a promis tot ce doreşte inima ei, fără a mai fi nevoie să se supună cuiva. Ea a venit nu pentru a fi învăţată, ci ca să învețe, nu pentru a se supune, ci pentru a cere supunere. Acest spirit feminin, acum condus de către forțele întunericului, este acum mediumul lui seducător pentru a-l convinge  pe Adam să devenină ucenicul ei.

Spiritul care adie înspre mintea lui Adam venind de la Eva nu este un spirit de reunoștință, ci un alt spirit, un spirit neliniştit şi agitat, un spirit erotic și amețitor, un spirit seducător şi înşelător. În timp ce el o priveşte, ea îi trimite semnale vizuale și feromoni că-l place și ea îşi folosește trupul ca pe o armă pentru a-l duce pe Adam în sclavia noii „forme divine” inerente. Adam aude strigătul șarpelui/sirenei prin gura acestei vrăjitoare, care se prezintă ca soția lui iubitoare, neștiind că ea este cu adevărat un vampir care caută să se hrănească cu cadavrul lui și să-l transforme în phoenix Nimrod (vezi nota).

 Ar fi fost bine pentru Adam să-și amintească:

Pro 6:23-26: „Căci porunca este o candelă, legea este o lumină, iar îndemnul şi mustrarea sînt calea vieţii. (24) Ele te vor feri de femeia stricată, de limba ademenitoare a celei străine.(25) N-o pofti în inima ta pentru frumuseţa ei, şi nu te lăsa ademenit de pleoapele ei. (26) Căci pentru o femeie curvă, omul ajunge de nu mai rămîne decît cu o bucată de pîine, şi femeia măritată întinde o cursă unui suflet scump.”

Adam se luptă cu șarpele, prin intermediul vrăjitoarei. Prin intermediul ei, şarpele aplică puterile sale magice căutȃnd să-l atragă la noua religie. În mâna ei, ea promite viață, dar în inima lui, Adam știe că este moarte.

Pro 2:16-18: „ca să te scape şi de nevasta altuia, de străina, care întrebuinţează vorbe ademenitoare, (17) care părăseşte pe bărbatul tinereţei ei, şi uită legămîntul Dumnezeului ei. (18) Căci casa ei pogoară la moarte, şi drumul ei duce la cei morţi.”

Adam nu-și dă seama că soția lui e deja moartă, pentru că femeia dulce, supusă şi ascultătoare, a cărui inimă era plină de recunoștință față de Dumnezeu prin soțul ei, a murit la pomul cunoașterii. Ca un fiu al acestei femei, eu o jelesc, draga mea dulce mamă ucisă la pomul cunoașterii și înlocuită cu un spirit la fel de rău ca iadul în sine. Mai mult decât atât, spiritul dulce de supunere, care a locuit în inima Evei a fost, într-adevăr Duhul lui Hristos și prin mâncatul fructului, ea a bătut în cuie pe Hristos pe cruce și, prin urmare, El a devenit mielul junghiat de la întemeierea lumii.

A sperat Adam că prin mâncatul fructului putea intra în ţara întunecată și să-şi salveze săraca lui soție? Se simţea el în siguranță să-l înfrunte pe diavol și să-l înfrîngă? Cȃnd mă gȃndesc la tatăl nostru Adam și la trauma cu care era confruntat, inima mea îi înţelege tristeţea, vreau să strig la el "te rog tată! te rog să nu păcătuieşti împotriva dragostei Agape a Tatălui nostru!” Dar, din păcate eu nu pot ajunge la urechea lui și el ia fructul.

Noua Ordine Mondială a fost stabilită; Adam va deveni sclavul femeii. Ea va fi profesorul și el va fi studentul sau ucenicul. De acum înainte, va fi o parte din bărbat care se va uita la femeie pentru viaţă şi de asemenea, deoarece și el a mâncat din fruct, el va avea și sentimente de autodeterminare, de a nu lăsa să fie niciodată condus de ea sau de oricine altcineva. De acum înainte amândoi vor fi închişi în bătălia dintre sexe pentru dreptul de a se bucura și de a controla. Dacă noi credem că celălalt are o putere intrinsecă, viața devine o luptă de a poseda și de a controla pe cei de care suntem atraşi.

Puritatea și inocenţa motorului iubirii originale care dădea binecuvântare de la cel cu autoritate și recunoștință de la cel supus autorității, este înlocuit de un joc de atracție și repulsie reciprocă. Aceasta era lumea nouă, în care așa numitele contrarii se atrag. Noua religie învață că fiecare suflet are nemurirea naturală și că putem spori puterea noastră inerentă, prin fuziunea cu o altă ființă nemuritoare. Secretul acestei noi forme erotice a dragostei este să atragi un partener care să-ți dea putere, dar niciodată să nu-i permiţi să te domine. Noua experiență a intimităţii masculine și feminine este una de seducţie amestecată cu manipulare atentă, un proces de a-ţi descoperi trupul și a-ţi ascunde spiritul. Experiența frumoasă de dragoste care a furnizat mișcarea circulară perpetuă în legăturile de apreciere și respect este înlocuită cu noua realitate crudă a unui du-te-vino, atracție reciprocă și repulsie; plăcerea de moment care face loc la sentimente de goliciune și chiar dezgust. Întotdeauna căutând şi totuși niciodată satisfăcut. Noile mişcări ale bărbaților și femeilor n-au fost un cerc al dragostei care ar fi dispersat Duhul lui Hristos întregii lumi, ci mai degrabă o aspirație magnetică care consumă totul în calea sa ca o sinistră gaură neagră. Geniul motorului Agape este că ambele elemente ale motorului știu că tot ce au li s-a dat și pentru că Dumnezeu este Agape, El ne va da tot ce avem nevoie. În schimb, motorul Eros trebuie să caute și să posede pentru sine și, prin urmare, nu este niciodată mulțumit sau satisfăcut.

 

 

 

 

 

Într-un fel, este șocant să te gândeşti la Eva ca fiind o vrăjitoare posedată de demon. La fel ca și Adam cînd s-a uitat la Eva și a simțit într-un fel că cineva la fel de frumos și delicat ca ea nu  putea fi atȃt de rea, cum părea. Oamenii de azi tind să creadă că ceea ce a făcut Eva este ceva minor. Nu există nici o îndoială că a fost înșelată și că nu a înțeles ce i s-a întâmplat, dar acest lucru a făcut ca folosirea ei de către Satan să fie mult mai mortală în cauzarea căderii lui Adam. Înseamnă aceasta că bărbații ar trebui să dea vina pe femei pentru cădere? Desigur că nu, destinul rasei umane a fost în primul rând în mâinile lui și el a luat decizia fatală în calitate de cap al familiei umane. Conducător fiind, înseamnă că Adam a fost responsabil pentru căderea rasei, dar pentru a înțelege pe deplin problemele dintre bărbați și femei, avem nevoie să înțelegem cât mai bine ce s-a ȋntȃmplat la început, cum am căzut de la acea iubire originală.

Biblia spune: "un om cu gândire dublă este instabil în toate căile sale." Bărbatul are o gândire dublă, pentru că se simte atat stăpân, cât și sclav al femeii. El se uită la ea atȃt după comoara prețioasă, și se așteaptă ca ea să ofere ceea ce el are nevoie şi în acelasi timp, el dorește să o domine și să o controleze. Această minte dublă n-are nimic de-a face cu planul lui Dumnezeu de a-l trage pe om înapoi la Agape, care i-ar da dorința de a binecuvânta pe soția sa și de a aştepta din partea ei respectul şi onorarea lui ca și cap de familie. Ca preoteasă a noii religii, femeia ar dori  ca  bărbatul să i se supună ca un soldat infanterist și, în același timp, să se simtă mândră dar și ȋnspăimȃntată de puterea și predispoziţia lui războinică.

Nu poate fi declarat exagerat faptul că două ființe care caută în același timp să tragă folos din celălalt în timp ce, de asemenea, încearcă să se domine reciproc, pot doar să se autodistrugă. Principiile consumerismului și dominației nu au capacitatea de a atinge eternitatea, pentru că ele sunt în mod inerent distructive. Fără introducerea unei semințe noi,  experiența umană, motorul Eros de atracție și respingere reciprocă, s-ar fi încheiat chiar în grădină. Deși Duhul lui Hristos a fost respins la căderea din grădină, promisiunea morţii Sale ca sămânță a femeii a deschis o uşă pentru o rămășiță a lui Adam care urmează să fie recuperată pentru împărăția Agape.

 

Nota: (Phoenix este un simbol păgân pentru înviere, o contestare a morții, o revenire la viață. Nimrod a fost cel mai mare rebel împotriva Domnului, cel care a pus bazele Babilonului fizic si spiritual. Deci Phoenix Nimrod înseamnă revenirea la viață a principiilor lui Nimrod într-o formă nouă – nota traducatorului)

 

 

Comment (0)

The Bible says"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament" (Revelation 11:19).

 

"Jesus opened them, and I saw the ten commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one table were four, and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious--a halo of glory was all around it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross. If it was, the other nine commandments were; and we are at liberty to break them all, as well as to break the fourth. I saw that God had not changed the Sabbath, for He never changes. But the pope had changed it from the seventh to the first day of the week; for he was to change times and laws.  {EW 32

 

The Spirit of Prophecy says: "John's testimony is, "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament" (Revelation 11:19). Beneath the mercy seat, within the ark, were the two tables of stone, containing the law of Jehovah. God's faithful ones saw the light that shone forth to them from the law, to be given to the world. And now Satan's intense activity is to close that door of light; but Jesus says that no man can shut it. Men will turn from the light, denounce it, and despise it, but it still shines forth in clear, distinct rays to cheer and bless all who will see it.  God's children will have a fierce conflict with the adversary of souls, and it will become more exceedingly bitter as we approach the close of the conflict. But the Lord will help those who stand in defense of His truth.  (FW 46)

 

In the Revelation, John says, "The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Revelation 11:19. John saw in vision the Lord's people looking for His coming and searching for truth. As the temple of God was opened unto His people, the light of the law of God, which was in the ark, shone forth. Those who receive this light are brought to view in the proclamation of the third angel's message.  4BC 1152

 

John, in looking down through time, saw a remnant that would be gathered from the world, who would be in harmony with the precepts of Jehovah; and he exclaims: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." Revelation 11:19. What was it that the ark contained? It was the law of God that points out our duty. John saw the people's attention called to those ten precepts, and as the light is seen we shall be held responsible if we reject it.  3MR 77

 

Comment (0)

                              The third person of the Godhead

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1: 1

We all agree that the Word in this verse is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God before coming on this planet.

About this Word we read in John 1, 14:

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

So the Son of God or the Word came on this planet in a human body, He lived here for 33 years and He elevated to heavens in a human body before the Father where He minister in our favor.

A little time before going to heavens and leaving the apostles, He said a prayer that we have written in John 17. In this prayer, among others, He said the following:

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" John 17: 5

So, in this prayer Jesus asked His Father for something He called “glory”, which He had already had from the Father, before the world had been made.

       We have two questions:

1.                  What is this glory for which Jesus prayed?

2.                  Why did He ask this glory from His Father?

We have the answer to these two questions in the following quote by Sister White:

"Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of his sanctifying spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from himself to his people. He would have them understand that henceforth they cannot serve two masters. Their lives cannot be divided. Christ is to live in his human agents, and work through their faculties, and act through their capabilities. Their will must be submitted to his will, they must act with his spirit, that it may be no more they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the thought that in giving his Holy Spirit he is giving to them the glory which the Father has given him, that he and his people may be one in God." (ST, October 3, 1892)

So:

1.                  The glory Jesus had asked for was the Holy Spirit

2.                  The reason why He asked for it was that He could live in His human followers.

From here it is clear that Jesus prayed to His Father that His omnipresence, which He temporarily left in the moment when the Word was made flesh and had been begotten as a human being in Bethlehem, would be given back to Him . For 33 years the Word was limited to the human body without being able to be present in multiple places at the same time. But now, knowing that soon He would have to go to the heavens in His body, He is worried for His Church. The Church shouldn’t remain without Him and that is the reason why He asks His Father to give Him back His omnipresence or His Holy Spirit through which He would be able to live in His followers while He, in flesh, serves in the sanctuary. 

The next question is: when did Jesus receive back His omnipresence and what was its result?

Again, we have the answer in the Spirit of Prophesy:

"Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing.  For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.  {AA 38}

So, the Pentecost was the day the Lord Jesus was glorified or in other words He received the glory He shared with His Father from the beginning. He received back His omnipresence through which He could now live in His followers. What happened when He was glorified? The Holy Spirit was poured on His Church.

Now, all the events in Jesus’ life were foreshadowed by different ceremonies in the Old Testament. The day of the Pentecost was the day when Jesus had been enthroned as a High Priest of God’s people. In the Old Testament, when the high priest was set on his ministry there was a special ceremony of which we read in Exodus 29, 5-7

"And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him"

So, on the enthronement day the high priest was anointed with oil on his head. The oil in the Scripture represents the Holy Spirit. Now, this oil, which was poured on the head of the high priest didn’t stay on his head, but flowed on his entire body, which means that the anointment wasn’t made with a few drops, but with a greater quantity of oil. We read about this in Psalms 133, 2

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments" Psalm 133: 2

That wasn’t but an illustration of the great event of the enthronement and anointment of our High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary on the day of the Pentecost. When the Lord Jesus was anointed with the real oil, the Holy Spirit, it came down from Him, He being the Head, on His body which is His Church. The result was the early rain.

This moment of Jesus’ anointment as a High Priest is described in 1Corinthians 15,45 with the following words:

"...the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."

The last Adam of which Paul speaks in this verse is the Word from John 1, 1, who, like we read in John 1, 14, was made flesh, but now, on the Pentecost day, the same word was made a quickening or life giving spirit. Be careful, it is the same person, the One we know as the Word.

            Therefore,

-                      The word in Bethlehem was made flesh (John 1, 14)

-                      The Word on the day of Pentecost was made a life giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15: 45)

 

Put in another way, the Word on the day of the Pentecost was made the third person of the Godhead or the third manner through which the Father discovered Himself to the mankind. The third person of the Godhead is the Word of God made life giving spirit which brings life to all those who believe in the Lord Jesus as a personal Savior.

That this conclusion is correct let us read in “The Desire of Ages”, the famous quote where the Holy Spirit is called “the third person of the Godhead.”

 "Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power." (DA 671)

Frequently this quote is used as an argument that the Holy Spirit is another person separate from the Lord Jesus, but if we read the whole context we will see that it isn’t the case. Only a few rows after this quote sister White says:

"Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church."  {DA 671}

So, it’s about the Spirit of Christ and not another person separate from Him. Now, if we read carefully the Spirit of Prophesy we will see that these references to the Holy Spirit being “the third person” are all in the context of sin and the victory against it. In other words, there is a single power which can defeat the sin in us. Let’s see which this power is. In “Steps to Christ” we read:

"There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness." (SC 18)

"Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts." (SC 26)

Notice who this single power which can defeat the sin in our heart is. It’s Jesus Christ. Only He can implant in our heart enmity against sin. Only He can give us a new life which He Himself has prepared for us during His life in a human body and which He gives us after He was made the third person of the Godhead or a life giving spirit through which He can live in His followers.

Let’s read other quotes which will confirm this truth:

"All professions of Christianity are but lifeless expressions of faith until Jesus imbues the believer with his spiritual life, which is the Holy Ghost. The evangelist is not prepared to teach the truth, and to be the representative of Christ, till he has received this heavenly gift." (3SP 242)

"Not until the life of Christ becomes a vitalizing power in our lives can we resist the temptations that assail us from within and from without." (MH 130)

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:57, 63). Christ is not here referring to His doctrine, but to His person, the divinity of His character." (1SM 249)

Finally, here is a quote where sister White counts the three personalities of the Godhead or the Heavenly trio. Notice who the third person according to her understanding is. It’s the Spirit of Christ.

"They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity into their ranks." (9T 189)

Comment (2)

'Christ the Firstfruits' by E. J. Waggoner

"In your article, 'Moses and Elijah,' in PRESENT TRUTH of October 16, I read that the saints who will be raised from the dead at Christ's coming were recognised by Moses, who had died, but who, raised from the dead, appeared in glory. If that be so, how can Christ be 'the firstfruits of those that slept'? 1 Cor. xv. 20. Again, 'Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.' Verse 26. See also Rev. i. 5. Where we read that Jesus Christ is 'the first begotten of the dead.' I should like more light upon this matter, and I feel sure that all readers of your valuable paper will be interested in it. It does seem a mystery. May God grant you the light on this subject."

Amen. It is indeed a mystery; for it is the very essence of the Gospel, which is the mystery of God. But we may be sure that God will give us the light; for since the mystery is "the glorious Gospel of Christ" it carries the light in itself.

You are not the first one who has been troubled over this matter. But why is it that you have never thought of the mystery until the resurrection of Moses is mentioned? Why should it seem more strange, or more in opposition to the texts you have quoted, that Moses should be raised from the dead before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, than that others are raised? Elijah raised the widow's son to life (1 Kings xvii. 17-38), and Elishah brought the Shunammite's dead child back to life. 2 Kings iv. 18-37. Besides these, the Gospels record many instances of the dead being brought to life by Jesus, before His own resurrection. Recall, for instance, the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Nain, and Lazarus. These cases do not, of course, lessen the mystery, but they show that the fact that Christ is "the firstfruits of them that slept," is not incompatible with the resurrection of Moses.

I know that you will at once feel inclined to say that Moses appeared in glory, whereas the others, as far as we have any record, appeared only on this earth; but you must remember that the essential thing is the fact of the resurrection, and not where they appeared. A person who is brought to life from the dead, and who remains on this earth, is just as effectually raised to life as if he were taken to heaven. Moreover, we have the cases of Enoch and Elijah, who were both taken to heaven alive, one of whom appeared with Moses in glory. Now the power of death was broken in these two cases, just as surely as if they had died and had been raised from the dead. "Death passed upon all men." Rom. v. 12. Exactly the same power is shown in the translation of the living as in the raising of the dead. The changing of the living from mortality to immortality, from corruption to incorruption, is precisely the same act as the raising of the dead to immortality.

These things only increase the mystery, yet they help to give us light in knowledge, as might be expected from a mystery which is itself glory. They suggest to us what is involved in the thought that Christ is the firstfruits and the first begotten of the dead. Rom. i. 4 will help us still further. Christ was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." The resurrection did not add anything to Christ's power, but only showed the power that He had before. It did not establish any new relation between Him and God,-did not make Him the Son of God,-but made that relation manifest. The power by which Christ was raised from the dead was the same power by which He was brought into the world. It was the same power by which He performed all His miracles, and, indeed, it was the power by which He lived His blameless life; for it was "according to the Spirit of holiness."

The very same mystery that attends the raising of the dead before the resurrection of Christ, the firstfruits, is equally great in another connection, namely, that of holy living. Jesus Christ is the Author and Pefecter of faith (Heb. vii. 2); "the fruits of righteousness," with which we are to be filled, "are by Jesus Christ unto the glory in praise of God" (Phil. i. 11); yet those were men of faith,-men who were righteous,-before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. There you have the mystery; can you explain it?

To come directly to the root of the matter, we have only to recall the statement that Christ is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. xiii. 8. "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who by Him do believe in God." 1 Peter i. 20, 21. Now since He was slain from the foundation of the world, it follows that He was also raised from that time, which is easy for us to believe when we grasp the fact that He is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; for by Him [literally, in Him] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible; . . . and He is before all things, and by Him [in Him] all things consist." Col. i. 15-17.

A comparison of two or three texts will make it very plain that the resurrection of Jesus was a present reality in the days of Moses and David. First read Eph. iv. 8-10, where there cannot be the slightest doubt that the resurrection of Christ is spoken of: "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive [a multitude of captives], and gave gifts unto men. Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things." This is a direct quotation from Ps. lxviii. 18, showing that the power of Christ as the great Emancipator from the grave was the joy of the psalmist.

Now compare Deut. xxx. 11-14 with Rom. x. 5-9. We see that the latter is merely a repetition of the former. Moses, in Deuteronomy, was describing the righteousness which is by faith, and said, as quoted by Paul, "Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above); or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the Word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Here we see it plainly set forth that the keeping of the commandments, the life of righteousness, was possible in the days of Moses, as in all other days, only by the presence of the resurrection life of Jesus in the heart. "The reproach of Christ," which Moses chose, is the cross; and he, as well as Paul, could say: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. ii. 20.

Do you now see light in the mystery? Do you not see that since "if any man be in Christ He is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. v. 17); the power of the cross and the resurrection is the power of creation? You now see that "that which was from the beginning" was "the Word of life," and that this life has been the light of every man that has come into the world? Do you not see that from Abel till our time the resurrection power is the only power by which men can be righteous? and does not this make you glad, in that you have the resurrection power to work righteousness in you?

God "quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were" (Rom. iv. 17); because His Word is that which makes the things exist. Abraham saw and rejoiced in Christ's day (John viii. 56), and the power of the resurrection of the Messiah, who was to come through Isaac, was so really present in Abraham's time that it brought Isaac into being in order that He might be born of his line. Can you conceive of any greater mystery than that? And is it not a glorious mystery? Since "Jesus and the resurrection" had such power in the days of old, before He was born in Bethlehem of Judea, what may it not accomplish in us and for us now?

Comment (2)

Statisticile vorbesc de la sine atunci cand vine vorba de relații interumane. Mai mult de 50% din căsătorii sfârşesc prin divorț în multe țări, oferind indicii clare că acești oameni nu au găsit ceea ce au căutat în relație. Pentru mulți dintre cei care rămân în cadrul căsătoriei, experiența lor este adesea un fel de pustiu, dar aceştia rămân căsătoriţi pentru că  nu văd o opţiune mai bună sau le este prea frică să facă o schimbare. Valurile de dezamăgire, confuzie, frustrare, furie și părere de rău care rezultă din aceste experimente toxice în intimitatea umană, pot fi rezumate la o întrebare dintr-o melodie care ȋmi atrăgea atenția de adolescent prin anii optzeci,

                                                         Ce este dragostea, oricum?
                                                    Iubește cineva pe oricine, oricum?

În articolul meu anterior am abordat această chestiune "ce este dragostea?" prin examinarea a ceea ce s-a întâmplat atunci când Adam a văzut-o prima dată pe Eva. Ne amintim că atunci când Adam a spus: "Aceasta este os din oasele mele si carne din carnea mea", el a iubit-o nu datorită a ceea ce ea poseda în sine, ci pentru că ea a ieșit din el şi avea capacitatea de a-l cunoşte pe el, visele lui, bucuriile lui, aspirațiile lui și pentru că avea un tovarăș cu care putea împărtăși călătoria lui. Puritatea, inocenţa si libertatea aceastei iubiri este rezumată în aceste cuvinte:

Geneza 2:25 „Și ei erau amândoi goi, omul și nevasta lui, și nu le era rușine”.

Cuvântul rușinat în ebraică poartă următoarea semnificație:
• a fi dezamăgit
• să fi amânat în sensul de a avea o așteptare neîmplinită
• a fi ȋncurcat sau confuz
• a deveni uscat și implicit pustiu

Ceea ce Adam şi Eva au experimentat a fost tot ceea ce ne dorim, dar aproape întotdeauna nu reușim să obținem ceva în mod constant, uneori chiar deloc. Calea de la  bucurie, libertate,  împlinire,  inocenţă și intimitate către dezamăgire, confuzie și pustiire este schiţată în tranzacția luării și mȃncării fructului ce nu era dat lor ca sa-l ia; această tranzacție a cauzat căderea noastră din dragostea agape în cea eros.

Avem nevoie să analizăm această poveste a Bibliei, ca un arheolog care caută comori antice, cu atenție să dăm la o parte nisipurile timpului pentru a descoperi faptele istoriei, care apoi spun sensul în existența noastră. Această iubire pe care Adam și Eva au împărtăşit-o, a fost construită și dezvoltată cu grijă de către Dumnezeu pentru a asigura fericirea și intimitatea lor veșnică. Chiar originea primilor noștri părinţi conţine secretul acestei iubiri fără rușine, care nu  ascundea nici o dezamăgire. Observați cu atenție următoarele:

• Dumnezeu a creat pe Adam și l-a pus în grădină. Gen 2:7
• Dumnezeu l-a făcut pe Adam îngrijitorul și stăpȃnitorul acestui paradis. Gen 2:8,15
• Dumnezeu a poruncit lui Adam despre pomul vieții și pomul cunoașterii. Geneza 2:16
• Dumnezeu a aranjat circumstanțele ca Adam să simtă nevoia unui tovarăș. Geneza 2:20
• Dumnezeu îl adoarme pe Adam (la figurat cuvântul ebraic poate însemna moarte) Gen 2:21
• Dumnezeu ia coasta lui Adam și face femeia din coasta cea vie. Geneza 2:22
• Dumnezeu aduce femeia la bărbatul înviat. Geneza 2:22

Această secvență este vitală ca să prindem secretul iubirii originale, fără  rușine a părinților noștri.  Nu era nimic din ceea  ce avea Eva pe care să nu fi primit de la Dumnezeu prin Adam. Stăpȃnirea singulară şi conducerea pe care Adam o poseda a fost culcată în odihnă și el a fost înviat la o viață nouă, cu un tovarăş luat din trupul lui. Când Adam a mers să doarmă, a fost umplut cu o dorinţă să-și deschidă inima, revărsȃnd dragoste către cineva care l-ar putea ȋnţelege. Când s-a trezit, a văzut pe cineva căruia îi putea da tot ceea ce el a primit și a avut de la Dumnezeu. Adam, știind toate acestea, conferă femeii tot ceea ce are. Ea are coasta lui, ADN-ul lui, inima lui, casa lui, grădina lui, totul. Ea chiar este conștientă de faptul că Adam a adormit și a dat o parte din el însuși pentru ea.* Drept răspuns, femeia vede tot ceea ce i-a fost dat și atunci când ea se uită în ochii soțului ei, inima ei este plină de recunoștință, bucurie și fericire. Femeia trăiește fiecare clipă știind că tot ceea ce ea posedă i-a fost dat prin soțul ei.

Această tranzacție între bărbat și femeie ar putea fi susținută printr-o mișcare eternă a iubirii, care ar curge ca o fântână și căreia nu i-ar fi rușine niciodată. Secretul, cheia, miezul, axul, inima acestei mişcări minunate a dragostei, constă în simplul fapt de a cunoaște și a ne aminti  originea noastră și modul în care am ajuns să existăm. Atâta timp cât Adam îşi amintea că el a fost creat și pus în grădină ca lider și stăpȃn, ca să o îngrijească, să o protejeze și să fie ispravnic credincios peste tot ceea ce i s-a dat,  el va putea turna din toate binecuvântarile acordate lui, peste ceea ce a fost făcut stăpȃn. Pe măsură ce  femeia primește plinătatea binecuvântării prin soțul ei, și priveşte la el cu respect iubitor, ȋntr-o ascultare veselă și supunere plină de încredere, pe măsură ce ea arată încrederea ei în conducerea lui și pe măsură ce ea onorează poziţia lui de lider,ca femeia care stătea la fȃntȃnă, ea își atrage din inima lui binecuvântări mult mai mari decât i-au fost acordate anterior.

Am putea ilustra această mişcare a dragostei prin acțiunea unui motor cu două pistoane. Primul piston Adam, în bucuria lui de a găsi un tovarăş adecvat, se aprinde și elibereaza un val de binecuvântare, care trimite un val de combustibil în cavitatea celui de-al doilea piston și, în același timp, ridică pistonului al doilea spre tavan care aprinde atunci un răspuns iubitor ce înalță primul piston și umple acea cavitate cu ascultare plină de bucurie, cinste și respect. Această mişcare a iubirii alimentează fântâna ce umple cele patru râuri ce curg din inima grădinii și apele întregului pământ. Geneza 2:10-14. Ce minunată lucrare! Ce ilustrare minunată a modului în care funcționează universul, pentru că  noi am fost făcuţi după imaginea lui Dumnezeu. Gen 1:27.

Din nou subliniem că această mişcare de iubire veșnică  depindea ca fiecare  persoană să cunoască originea ei,adevărata ei identitate și locul ei în cadrul creației lui Dumnezeu. Atâta timp cât Adam şi-ar fi amintit că el era capul grădinii și că totul era în grija lui și că totul i-a fost dat de Dumnezeu și că totul Îi aparținea lui Dumnezeu, el ar fi tins să păstreze ceea ce i-a fost dat lui; el ar fi continuat să-și reverse binecuvântarea lui peste toți cei aflaţi ȋn ȋngrijirea lui. Atâta timp cât Eva şi-ar fi amintit că viața ei a venit de la Adam și că tot ceea ce ea a văzut și peste care ea era acum co-stăpȃnitor ȋmpreună cu Adam, i-au fost dat ei de către soțul ei prin voia lui Dumnezeu, ea ar fi completat circuitul binecuvȃntărilor și niciunul din ei n-ar fi ajuns să fie rușinaţi.

* Aceste ecouri ale somnului lui Adam, coboară de-a lungul istoriei în somnul lui Avraam, care a dat naștere națiunii israelite și în somnul lui Isus, în mormânt, care a dat naștere bisericii Sale, de asemenea, arată înapoi către ce L-a costat pe Tatăl în nașterea universului.

Comment (0)

The practical application of a theoretical truth

The last years have brought great debates in the middle of God’s Church on the Godhead subject. The people are torn apart and the crisis seems to grow in intensity. In the middle of these debates one may ask a logical question: how does knowing this subject help me in my personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? What is the use of believing the right thing about God and what is the loss of being wrong on this subject? Personally, I have been asked these kinds of questions and, indeed they require a clear answer. Is this such an important matter?

In this article we will look at a single aspect of this subject from which we will see what the practical application of knowing the matter of the godhead in a right way is.

We will start with the last two verses from the second chapter of Hebrews. In the verses 17 and 18 of this chapter we read:

"(17) Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." Hebrew 2, 17.18

In the 17^th verse, Paul tells us that the Lord Jesus had to be made like his brethren (that would be us) in every aspect so that He could be a trustful Great Priest in the presence of God the Father. That refers to the ministry the Lord Jesus Christ fulfills in the heavenly sanctuary in front of God’s throne.   

In the 18^th verse, Paul tells us that the Lord Jesus was tempted in every manner, just like us (also see Hebrews 4, 15), and from these temptations He learned how He could help those tempted (that is us). Now, those who are tempted can be found all over the face of the Earth. The 17^th verse, like I said, refers to the ministry of the Lord Jesus, in His human nature, in heaven, in the presence of God in the heavenly sanctuary. The 18^th verse, on the other hand, makes a reference to another ministry of the Lord Jesus, which is fulfilled in those tempted, that is His children on Earth.

This means that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfills two distinct ministries at the same time, one in Heaven and the other on Earth. Now, we know that He rose to heaven in His human nature and in this nature He fulfills His High Priest work, but what is the form in which He fulfills His work on Earth? Obviously this can’t be the human nature because this can’t be present in multiple places at the same time.

Now, the popular doctrine of the Trinity sustains that the one who serves on Earth, after our Lord’s elevation, is someone else than the Lord Jesus Christ. According to this doctrine, the Holy Spirit is a separate being from the Lord Jesus, who was sent to replace Him and to continue His work on Earth.

However, Paul in the 18^th verse of Hebrews 2 says that the only one who can help those who are tempted is someone who has been tempted himself, because only someone who has been tempted can understand the experience of being tempted. Here is the problem of the doctrine of the Trinity! The Holy Spirit, a distinct being from Jesus Christ according to this doctrine, has never been on Earth as a human and never was he tempted in every aspect like us, so he hasn’t learned from experience how he can help those in need. The question is: how can a being who doesn’t know anything regarding the temptations we have to deal with every day help? Besides that, Paul seems to be very clear, so he can’t be misunderstood. He says that the Lord Jesus was tempted so that He could help those in need! He comes to help and no one else, says Paul.

Let us read now what the Lord’s servant says in “The Desire of Ages”, page 166:

"While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church." (DA 166)

Read carefully the first sentence. Sister White says that, while the Lord Jesus serves in the heavenly sanctuary, He is at the same time and no one else, through His Holy Spirit, serving in His Church on Earth. Through that He fulfills His promise to His apostles in Mathew 28, 20: "I am with you alway (it’s Him, not somebody else!) even unto the end of the world".The last sentence tells that His Church has His strengthening presence and not the presence of someone else. Sister White actually says the same thing as Paul in the verses 17 and 18 from Hebrews 2. He is a servant in His Church, not somebody else.

The next passage makes this thing even clearer:

"Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent." (14MR, 23,24)

Read carefully brethren: Sister White tells us here that the Holy Spirit is the Lord Himself! It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, not somebody else. But notice, in His work on Earth, He is by His Spirit divested of human personality. That means that, while in the heavenly sanctuary, the Lord Jesus serves as a person in human nature, at the same time He serves in His Church on Earth as a spiritual person through His Holy Spirit. There is a single Being or a single individual, but two distinct personalities, a physical one and a spiritual one.

Now, can we find more evidence in the Scripture and in the Spirit of Prophesy that the Lord Jesus really is the One who comes through the Holy Spirit? Let’s read what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, 45:

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a life giving (quickening) spirit." (1 Corintians 15: 45)

The apostle affirms here that the second Adam, who, of course, is Jesus Christ, was made a life giving spirit. What does that mean? When was He made a life giving spirit? And another question: why was He made a life giving spirit?

In order to answer these questions we will have to turn back to the moment of the incarnation. Two thousand years ago, the divine Son of God became a man taking the human nature, which He would keep forever. We know this thing from the Spirit of Prophesy:

"To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature." (DA 25)

At the time of His incarnation, the Son of God gave up His omnipresence so He couldn’t be in but one place at the same time. Now, John 7: 38.39:

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7: 38.39

Here, the apostle John tells us that when Jesus said those words the Holy Spirit had not been given and the reason was because Jesus had not been glorified yet. Notice the idea! The Holy Spirit sending was in connection with Jesus’ glorifying. In other words, if Jesus hadn’t been glorified, the Holy Spirit couldn’t have been given. Why? What is the connection between the glorifying of Jesus and the giving of the Holy Spirit?   

In order to give an answer to this question we must understand what it means that Jesus should be glorified and when He was glorified. To this glorification He refers in His prayer in John 17 verse 5:

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." John 17: 5

So, in this verse, the Lord Jesus asks His Father to glorify Him with the glory which He had had before the world was made. So, the glory we are talking about here with which Jesus had to be glorified, it is something that the Lord Jesus had before, but for a certain amount of time He left aside and now, at the end of His mission on Earth, He asks for this glory back from His Father. Is this thing clear?

The Spirit of Prophesy makes a clear statement through which is revealed which is this glory asked by the Lord Jesus, but also is reveal to us the reason for which He asked to be glorified. Let’s read:

"Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of his sanctifying spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from himself to his people. He would have them understand that henceforth they cannot serve two masters. Their lives cannot be divided. Christ is to live in His human agents, and work through their faculties, and act through their capabilities. Their will must be submitted to his will, they must act with his spirit, that it may be no more they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the thought that in giving his Holy Spirit he is giving to them the glory which the Father has given him, that he and his people may be one in God."  {ST, October 3, 1892)

I think that this quote is clear enough without adding any commentary. The Lord’s servant says that the glory that the Lord Jesus prayed for asking it from His Father is actually the Holy Spirit and the reason why He asked for it was that He could "live in His human agents". In other words, that means His omnipresence. In a human body He was limited to a single place and it was impossible for Him to live in His followers. That’s why He asked His Father to give Him back the omnipresence He had before the incarnation but which was left aside so that He could experience temptations and struggles of human beings. And the reason why He asked for it was so He could "live in His human agents" and could come “to succour them that are tempted”.

Now, when He has received this glory what was the result of it? Ellen White says:

"Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing.  For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people." (AA 38)

The day of Pentecost! This is the day of Jesus’ glorifying and of His enthronement as a High Priest. It is the day when the Lord Jesus received His omnipresence from His Father, which is the Holy Spirit. Now, this day in the Old Testament is symbolized by the anointing of the priests and of the high priest of which we read in the next verses:

"And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him." Exodus 29: 5-7

When the high priest was due to start his ministry he was anointed with oil on his head. What was happening with this oil afterwards? We read about this in Psalms 133: 2,

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments". Psalm 133: 2

So the oil poured on the priest’s head flowed on his beard and on his garments, that is on his body. This is only an illustration of the great event of the coronation of our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. The oil used for the anointment of the high priest represents the Holy Spirit or the glory with which the Father had anointed the Son on the day of the Pentecost. What happened when the Lord Jesus was anointed? As in the illustration the oil flowed down from the high priest’s head on his body, the Holy Spirit poured on the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, came down on His body, the Church. The Lord Jesus Christ lives from this moment in His human agents not limited by His human body in which he serves in the presence of God in the heavenly sanctuary. That’s why, in Bethlehem the Son of God became flesh (John 1: 14), but at Pentecost the Son of God was made a life giving spirit (1 Corintians 15: 45), one person but two distinct personalities. This truth is clearly presented in Mark 16: 19.20:

"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16: 19.20

Verse 19 refers to the moment of the Lord Jesus’ elevation. We are told that after He talked to His disciples, the Lord Jesus was elevated and the disciples left and spread the word everywhere. Now, pay attention, the last part says: the Lord worked with them and strengthened the word through signs and miracles. The Lord Himself worked through them, not anyone else!

About this same truth spoke Jesus in His parable in John 15:

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15: 5

In this parable the Lord Jesus and His disciples are compared to the vine and its braches. The branches receive life from the vine and if they are split from the vine they dry and can’t bring fruits. Likewise, says Jesus, His disciples must remain in Him and receive life from Him so that they could live and bring more fruits. Now, let’s read the next quote from the Spirit of Prophesy in which we can see in a clear manner which life it is that unites the true Vine (the Lord Jesus) with its branches (His disciples):

"There are today many as ignorant of the Holy Spirit's work upon the heart as were those believers in Ephesus; yet no truth is more clearly taught in the word of God. Prophets and apostles have dwelt upon this theme. Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds." (AA 284)              

Notice the emphasized part. The Holy Spirit is the true sap of the Vine, which comes from the Vine (the Lord Jesus) and pervades the soul of His followers and brings even their thoughts into obedience to the will of God. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a part of Him, not a separate being. Let’s read another quote:

"The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only begotten Son of God, binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of Christ. This union is represented by the union of the vine and the branches. Finite man is united to the manhood of Christ. Through faith human nature is assimilated with Christ's nature. We are made one with God in Christ." (RH, April 5, 1906)

Let’s continue with Romans 8: 26:

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

This verse tells us that we are so weak that we can’t even pray the right way. That is why the Holy Spirit comes in our aid and it “intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”. For many people this verse is a proof that the Holy Spirit is a separate being from the Lord Jesus, but again it may be asked the same question as above. How can a being that has never experienced the temptation we go through help us in our prayers? However, the Scripture is clear regarding the one who intercedes for us because in 1 Timothy 2: 5 it tells us that there is only one mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit can’t be a separate being from Jesus because in this case we would have two mediators and that is contradicting the Word of God.

However, not to be doubtful, here is what the servant of God says regarding Romans 8,26:

"We have only one channel of approach to God. Our prayers can come to him through one name only,--that of the Lord Jesus our advocate. His Spirit must inspire our petitions. No strange fire was to be used in the censers that were waved before God in the sanctuary. So the Lord himself must kindle in our hearts the burning desire, if our prayers are acceptable to him. The Holy Spirit within must make intercessions for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered." (RH, February 9, 1897)

Notice how in this quote sister White talks about the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit interchangeably. There is only one channel through which we can approach to God and that is the Lord Jesus. He Himself must kindle in us the burning desire that our prayers be accepted by God. And He makes this through His Holy Spirit or by His omnipresence. In this context let’s read the next quote also:

"Let those who bear responsibilities remember that it is the Holy Spirit who is to do the fashioning. It is the Lord who controls. We are not to try to mold, according to our own ideas, those for whom we work, but to let Christ do the molding. He follows no human pattern. He works according to His own mind and Spirit." (9T, 135)

Who is the one who is fashioning? It is clear, the Lord Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit. Not anybody else separate from Him.

In the end, let’s look at the problem of the Comforter. If all these things we have revealed until now are true, then it is expected that the Lord Jesus Christ is also the Comforter whom He promised Himself in John 14. The servant of God makes this thing very clear. Let’s read a couple of affirmations:

“Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost… This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” (14MR 179)

"Christ comes as a Comforter to all who believe. He invites your confidence." (8MR 57)

"As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter.” (19MR 297)

"O how precious are these words to every bereaved soul! Christ is our Guide and Comforter, who comforts us in all our tribulations.” (6BC 1076)

"Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of Christ. He is the Comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full." (RH, January 27, 1903)

"There is no comforter like Christ, so tender and so true. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. His Spirit speaks to the heart." (RH, October 26, 1897)

I think it is clear enough.

Now, how does this truth affect us in a personal manner. To answer this question we will read a quote from the book „Early Writings”, pages 55, 56:

"I saw the Father rise from the throne and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him... Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, "My Father, give us Thy Spirit." Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.

I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, "Father, give us Thy Spirit." Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children." (EW 55, 56)

In this prophetic vision we have two groups of people praying to God. Both groups use the same words and ask for the same thing, but receive a different answer. The first group is answered by the Lord Jesus and He sends His Holy Spirit, while the second group is answered by Satan and he sends them an unholy influence. Now, they use the same words and ask for the same thing, that is the Holy Spirit. But why do they receive a different answer? Where is the difference? The answer is clear, the difference is in their mind and their understanding regarding what they would receive. Those who believe in the Trinity and pray for the Holy Spirit, who are they going to receive? Not the Lord Jesus for sure because they don’t believe that He is the Holy Spirit. They expect to receive someone else who took His place after His elevation. That is why, they receive someone else, but this one, whom they receive, like we have proved, doesn’t know the temptations suffered by people and that is why he is not able to come and help when we are tempted. That is the work of the devil who wants to weaken the Church of God hiding the true Comforter, the only one who can help. The servant of God warned us regarding this work:

"The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it."." (RH, August 26, 1890)

My prayer is that everyone who reads to understand the importance of this subject and through faith to accept the Lord Jesus, the One who has been tempted in every aspect, just like us and the only One who can help us when we are besieged by temptations. Amen!

                                                                    *****

Christian unity consists in the branches being in the same parent stock, the vitalizing power of the center supporting the grafts that have united to the Vine. In thoughts and desires, in words and actions, there must be an identity with Christ, a constant partaking of his spiritual life." (RH Nov. 9, 1897)

All professions of Christianity are but lifeless expressions of faith until Jesus imbues the believer with his spiritual life, which is the Holy Ghost. The evangelist is not prepared to teach the truth, and to be the representative of Christ, till he has received this heavenly gift.  (3SP 242)

"The Holy Spirit is the breath of life in the soul. The breathing of Christ upon his disciples was the breath of true spiritual life... The impartation of the Spirit was the impartation of the very life of Christ, which was to qualify the disciples for their mission... But the Holy Spirit was not yet fully manifested, because Christ had not yet been glorified."  (RH, June 13, 1899)

Comment (6)

Romanian Translation of Original Love

În timpul predicii Sale de pe munte, Isus a atins mai multe puncte-cheie care sunt o luptă pentru om. Unul din punctele pe care  le-a menţionat a fost acesta:

 Matei 5:27-28: „Ați auzit că s-a zis celor de demult: „Să nu comiți adulter”. Dar Eu vă spun vouă că oricine se uită la o femeie ca s-o poftească, a comis  deja adulter cu ea  în inima lui.”

 Pentru orice barbat creștin, aceste cuvinte par să dea o lovitură zdrobitoare oricărei idei de  neprihănire pe care s-ar putea să simtă că o are. În aceste cuvinte Isus atinge miezul sclaviei omului față de păcat. Pe orice om care caută să fie cu inima curată, această declarație îl aduce pe genunchi, în părere de rău și un adȃnc sentiment al nevoii  de Mântuitorul viu în inima lui. A cunoaşte pe Isus înseamnă a ști că El niciodata nu S-a uitat la o femeie ca S-o pofteasca. Odată cu cunoaşterea aceastei realităţi, avem speranţa că noi, ca oameni căzuți, putem fi trasportati ȋn inimile noastre ȋnapoi la dragostea originala.

 Când ne gândim la momentul când Adam a văzut-o prima oară pe Eva, majoritatea bărbaților îşi imaginează că Adam a exclamat: „Oooh! Omule!” Totuși, aceasta adaugă Scripturii ȋnclinaţiile inimii pervertite. Multi bărbaţi nici nu pot contempla imaginile grădinii de teama că natura lor corupta va prelua controlul. Ca să înțelegem iubirea care a fost în inima lui Adam când a văzut-o pe Eva, avem nevoie doar să citim Biblia.

 Geneza 2:22-23: „Și din coasta, pe care Domnul Dumnezeu o luase din om, a făcut o femeie și a adus-o la om. Și Adam a spus: Aceasta este acum os din oasele mele, și carne din carnea mea! Ea se va numi femeie, pentrucă a fost luată din om".

 Observaţi cu atenție cuvintele lui Adam când ochii lor s-au ȋntȃlnit: „Aceasta este os din oasele mele, și carne din carnea mea! Ea se va numi femeie, pentrucă a fost luată din om”. Baza acestei iubiri originale nu a fost faptul că Adam a văzut ceva frumos ce a dorit să aibă. El a văzut pe cineva care și-a primit viața de la el, a văzut o persoană care a venit de lȃngă inima lui și de aceea a prețuit-o ca pe al doilea Său eu. După cum Pavel exprimă clar:

 „Deci, oamenii trebuie să-și iubească soțiile ca pe trupurile lor. Cel ce îşi iubește soția se iubește pe sine. Pentru că nici un om nu îşi urăşte vreodată trupul lui, ci îl hrănește, îl îngrijește cu drag, la fel și Hristos cu Biserica. Pentru că noi suntem mădulare ale trupului Lui, din carnea lui și os din oasele Lui.” Efeseni 5:28-30.

 Deci, vedem că, așa cum Adam i-a spus Evei: „ești din carnea mea și oasele mele”, în același mod Cel de-al doilea Adam spune bisericii: „ești din carnea Mea și oasele Mele”. El ne iubește, nu pentru că avem ceva să-I oferim, ci pentru că am venit din El. Asemenea dragoste!

Dincolo de aceasta, dacă citiţi cu atenţie povestea în Geneza 2 , veţi vedea că Adam a fost pus în gradină peste toată creația, înainte ca femeia să fi fost creată din coasta Lui. Când ea a ieșit din el,  i-a dat ei tot ce avea, ca să fie ȋmpreună ispravnic cu el. Încă o dată, a făcut el acest lucru pentru că a văzut ceva ce a dorit să aibă și să controleze? A incercat el să o cumpere cu moștenirea lui? Nu, nu o astfel de iubire a fost în inima lui Adam pentru Eva. Dragostea care era în inima lui era iubirea care vine de la Dumnezeu, pentru că Dumnezeu este dragoste. Dar ce dragoste e asta? Cuvântul grecesc pentru aceasta este Agape, care înseamnă dragoste binevoitoare, o dragoste care nu depinde de nici o calitate deținută de cea care o primește. Cuvântul grecesc cel mai des folosit azi pentru iubire e Eros, care nu este niciodată aprobat în Biblie. Eros este o iubire a ceea ce este frumos, nobil și încântător. Eros este dorința de a poseda și a ne bucura de lucrurile care încântă ochii nostri, poftele și trupul. Vezi Judecătorii 14:2-3 și 2 Sam 11:2 ca exemple.

 Când Eva a venit la Adam cu fructul interzis, ea poseda un lucru pe care Dumnezeu nu i l-a dat lui Adam ca să i-l dea ei. Cu acest fruct, Eva avea acum ceva ce el n-a avut. Ea a venit de la pom, cu mintea ei plină de un alt mod de a gȃndi:

 „Dar șarpele a continuat, cu o voce muzicală, cu subtile laude ale neȋntrecutei ei drăgălășenii; și vorbele lui nu i-au displăcut.” Patriarhi și Profeți pagina 53.

 Satana a vorbit cu Eva, ca și cu una care poseda frumuseţe în sine. Nu i s-a adresat ca uneia care primise moștenirea sa de la Adam. El a numit-o simplu frumoasa și aceasta a flatat-o şi a făcut-o să uite sursa frumuseții ei. Mintea care priveşte la o femeie şi care gândeşte la frumusețea ei, cu scopul de a obține ceva de la ea, este o minte inspirată de Satana.

 Era ceva ciudat și totuși captivant cu Eva când ea a venit la soțul ei, afundată în rebeliunea ei. Cu noul ei sentiment că cine era, precocitatea ei, încrederea în sine, ambiția ei au avut un fel de atracție asupra lui Adam. A fost ciudat și totuși intrigant. Prin luarea fructului, Adam, nu numai că a sfidat legea lui Dumnezeu, ci a și stabilit o lege care ȋi va face pe toți fiii săi să se uite la o femeie ca să le dea ceva. În inimile oamenilor va fi întipărită ideea că femeia a fost dătătorul de viață, că ea posedă calea către viață. Și astfel, cultul sacru feminin a început și simbolul noii sclavii a omului a fost imaginea din mintea lui, forma feminină goală. Aceasta este imaginea care, pentru majoritatea barbaţilor devine mărturia acelei tranzacții din grădină, bărbatul va privi la femeie ca să-i dea ea viață, mai degrabă ca femeia privind la bărbat ca dȃndu-i  ei viaţă. În această tranzacție iubirea omului a fost schimbată de la Agape la Eros. Desigur, aceasta nouă iubire a plasat femeia într-o altă formă de sclavie. Cu scopul de a face ochi dulci bărbatului, în scopul de a atrage bărbatul, ea trebuie să posede ceva ca să-i poată da. Se naște o ȋntreagă industrie de modă şi de accesorii corporale. Femeia trebuie acum să scoată dintr-o fântână care nu poate da apă și, prin urmare, experiența este nulă atât pentru bărbat cât și pentru femeie. Observați cu atenție că iubirea originală pe care a simțit-o Adam pentru Eva nu s-a bazat pe ceea ce ea poseda în sine, ci pe faptul că ea provine din el. El i-a dăruit tot ce i-a dat pentru că ea a provenit din el. Aceasta este Agape, iubirea originală. De asemenea, rețineți că singura modalitate de a fi siguri că Agape este pură, este de a ști cu certitudine, că receptorul nu are nimic în mod inerent ca să provoace dragostea ce urmează să fie trezită. Dacă femeia posedă ceva inerent, care nu a venit de la bărbat, atunci Erosul va fi trezit și femeia trebuie apoi să continue să producă ceea ce l-a atras prima oară pe bărbat, şi acest lucru duce la moarte. Amintiți-vă, Adam a dat motivul pentru care el a iubit femeia - ea este os din oasele mele şi carne din carnea mea - aceasta este baza iubirii originale.

 Și la fel cum moștenirea Evei de la Adam a fost garanția dragostei lui Agape pentru ea, la fel moștenirea lui Hristos de la Tatăl Său este garanția dragostei Sale Agape pentru Fiul Său, pentru că am fost făcuţi după imaginea Lor. [1] Tatăl declară:

 Matei 3:17 „Și din ceruri s-a auzit un glas, care zicea: „Acesta este iubitul meu [Agapetos] Fiu, în care Îmi găsesc plăcerea.”

 Singurul mod posibil pentru Dumnezeu ca să aibă cu adevărat Agape pentru Fiul Său, este că Fiul să primească tot ce are de la Tatăl Său. Aceasta este singura modalitate de a asigura iubirea binevoitoare. Dacă Tatăl se uită în ochii Fiului Său și-L iubește pentru că El este atotputernic, sau pentru că El este omniscient, atunci acest lucru nu este Agape, mai degrabă aceasta este o formă de Eros.

 Dacă ne închinăm unui Dumnezeu care ne iubește datorită propriilor noastre calități, atunci noi vom face același lucru. Noi devenim ceea ce vedem. Dar dacă ne închinăm unui Fiu Căruia i-au fost dat toate lucrurile și se odihnește în asigurarea dragostei dulci şi binevoitoare Agape a Tatălui Său, atunci putem fi transformaţi în imaginea aceastei iubiri și vom iubi așa cum iubește Dumnezeu pe Fiul Său.

 Cei care pretind că 1 Ioan 4:8 este o expresie a trei persoane co-egale care „se iubesc” reciproc, alterează sensul adevărat al cuvȃntului pe care l-a spus  Ioan că Dumnezeu a fost și este Agape. Agape nu caută ceea ce-i este egal, Agape face obiectul iubirii egal prin bunăvoinţă, printr-un cadou, ea caută doar să dea.

Cei care sunt pentru a hirotoni femeile apelează la calităţile inerente ale femeilor ce le fac egale cu bărbații. Eros în mod natural duce la astfel de lucruri. Hirotonirea femeii este o respingere a adevărului conform căruia femeia a ieşit din bărbat și privește la el pentru conducere spirituală și provizii. Hirotonirea femeilor este de fapt femeia care vine din pomul cunoștinței cu fructul care promite viață, dar care aduce moarte.

Dumnezeul nostru este Agape și în El nu este Eros deloc.

                                                                             ****

 [1] Și acum Dumnezeu spune Fiul Său: "Să facem om după chipul și asemănarea noastră." 1 SP 24.25

 

 

 

 

Comment (1)

 

 

               "The Relation of the World to God"

                        The Signs of the Times

                                      November 17, 1887

                                         E. J. Waggoner

The relation which men sustain to God is the thing that above all others should be understood, and which is understood the least. Not only does the world in general fail to understand the matter, and feel perfectly indifferent over it, but many professed Christians, and even teachers of religion, have very crude ideas upon the subject. This thought was brought to mind very forcibly by a sentence in a sermon by Rev. Phillips Brooks, D.D., which was published in the Christian Union. It was this: "The world is not under law, but under grace." The context showed that this statement was meant to be taken literally, and not to convey the idea that the grace of God is held out to the world. It is a parallel to the teaching which is so common, about "the Fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of man." We propose, therefore, as briefly as possible, to show just how the world does stand related to God.

In the first place, we will say that God is not the Father of all people who are in the world. God is the Creator of all, the Judge of all, and if sin had not entered into the world, he would be the Father of all; but now the mass of mankind have a far baser parentage. Adam was the son of God. Luke 3:38. While he was sinless, God was at once his Father and his King. But when he listened to the voice of the tempter, and deliberately (for he was not deceived, 1 Tim. 2:14) did the bidding of Satan, he yielded to Satan the principality-the earth-which had been intrusted to him, and forsook his allegiance to God.

It is sin that separates from God. Isa. 59:12. In John 8:44 Jesus said to the wicked Jews who claimed God for their Father, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." Again in the explanation of the parable of the wheat and tares, Jesus said, "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one." Matt. 13:38. In these two texts sinners are directly charged with being the children of the devil. In Eph. 2:1-3 the apostle Paul makes the same point, and says that he himself was once a member of the same family. He says: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

"By nature the children of wrath." This fact answers the cavil that people often make against the destruction of the wicked, saying that God will not destroy his own children. No, he will not. The wrath of God comes only on the "children of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6), and all are by nature the children of disobedience, and consequently of wrath, since it is in the nature of man to sin,-to obey Satan rather than God. Said Christ: "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." Mark 7:21, 22. And Paul says: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him." 1 Cor. 2:14.

Then since this is the nature of, not one man or a few men, but of all mankind; since "the whole world lieth in wickedness," and the children of disobedience are the children of wrath, how can any escape the wrath of God, which brings destruction? Simply by becoming the children of God, since God will never destroy his children; for "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Ps. 103:13. In the family of God there is no wrath, for only the peace-makers shall be called the children of God. Matt. 5:9.

But that which proves most conclusively that men are not by nature the children of God, is the fact that they become such by adoption. Says Paul: "God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Gal. 4:4-7.

Read the same thing in Rom. 8:14-17: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Natural children are heirs without adoption; therefore we say that the fact that all who are the children of God become so only by adoption, shows that there are no natural children of God. And how do men become the children of God? By receiving the Spirit of God, which is also the Spirit of Christ, which makes them like Christ, and consequently heirs with him. This Spirit is given through the mercy of God, to those who exercise faith, as Paul says: "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7.

But what has this to do with deciding whether the world is or is not under the law? It has everything to do with it, settling the question completely, and showing that all men are by nature under the law, and that only the sons of God are under grace. Notice carefully: The Spirit of God is the pledge of our adoption as sons of God (Rom. 8:16); it is "the Spirit of adoption;" "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Verse 14. With this read Gal. 5:18: "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." The obvious conclusion from this text and the context is that those who are not led by the Spirit are under the law; and since only those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God, it follows that all who are not children of God are under the law. And since the children of God are few in comparison with the children of the wicked one, it follows that the greater part of the world are under the law.

Now what is meant by "under the law"? Does it mean, as most commonly supposed, subject to the law? in a state of obligation to keep the law? Our investigation concerning the sons of God furnishes the answer. Remember that only those who are not led by the Spirit, who are not children of God, are under the law. Then the children of the wicked one are under the law. Remember also that those who are not led by the Spirit, who are not children of God, are under the law. Then the children of the wicked one are under the law. Remember also that it is only sinners that are the children of Satan; as Paul expresses it, they are "children of disobedience." It is because they are disobedient that they are strangers from God, children of the wicked one, under the law. And this is corroborated by the words of the apostle. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

All men are under obligation to keep the commandments of God. "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13. But all men are not under the law; those who are led by the Spirit are not under the law; therefore we conclude that it is simply the disobedient,-those who do not do their duty, in keeping the commandments,-who are under the law. All others are under grace, since it is only by the grace of God that anybody can keep the commandments.

Read also Rom. 6:12-16: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" In this passage we have the fact emphasized that those who are not under the law are the ones over whom sin has no dominion, and that those who are under the law are the servants of sin.

But sin brings condemnation; those only are free from condemnation, who walk according to the Spirit,-are led by the Spirit,-and who consequently are the sons of God. And the condemnation under which the sinner rests is a condemnation to death; "for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. Remember also the idea in verses 14-16, that those who are under the law, servants of sin, are servants "of sin unto death."

Man's relation to God, then, is simply this: By nature all men are sinners,-servants of sin,-children of Satan,-under the law,-condemned to death. By the righteousness of Christ, through faith in the blood, men may be made righteous,-servants of obedience unto righteousness,-children of God,-delivered from the condemnation of the law. Only those who are in Christ attain to this high honor; but this does not free them from obligation to keep the law. This can be seen from the very fact that it is sin that brings condemnation. Now it those who have been freed from condemnation,-have been taken out from under the law,-should transgress the law, they would thereby show their lack of appreciation of the grace of God, and would bring themselves into condemnation,-would bring themselves under the law.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Titus 2:11. To all men "the Spirit and the bride say, Come." With every man that enters into the world, the Spirit strives to cause him to renounce the service of Satan, and to become a child of God. But, alas! with the exception of a few who esteem the reproach of Christ, "the whole world lieth in wickedness." Reader will you place yourself on the Lord's side? If so, you must come to Christ, who is the way (Ps. 119:1), the truth (Ps. 119:142), and the life,-the one in whose heart is the law of God,-that you may become changed into the same image, having, like him, the law of God completely formed in your own heart. W.

 

Comment (2)