The Great Controversy in 45 minutes

Sabbath Rest?

I am bemused by a common argument used against the observance of Sabbath; that is that ” Jesus is now my Sabbath rest” because this or that one has ceased from his own works. The insinuation is that those who do observe the Sabbath as a day of rest according to the commandment, have not ceased from their own works.
My question is this, though it seems obvious to me: how can anyone observe the day as a Sabbath, without ceasing from his/her own works?

Characteristic 8 of the Little Horn

“He shall think to change…laws”.

We are not to believe that this power seeks to change human laws. To change human laws is certainly no big deal, for every new government whether voted for or coming to power through revolution changes the laws to suit its own agenda, so no human laws are  intended to be meant by this prophecy. It is God’s laws that the little horn power believes it has the power or authority to change. One may immediately enquire, and with some justification, how can any power on earth possibly believe that it has the authority to change the laws of God? The answer of course, is no power on earth does have that authority. But we must be clear as to what the prophecy is actually saying.  Note that the prophecy does not say that the little horn does actually change the law, nor does it say that he can actually change the law, but that he thinks to change the laws.

The Ten Commandments: too tough?

Inherent in the Ten Commandments is the gospel. The first commandment has been edited by most but if we read the entire passage of scripture, we can readily see that God is not commanding us to do the impossible. The Ten Commandments begin:
Exodus 20:2 ” I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.You shall have no other gods before Me.”

In this small portion of the scripture is found the key to understanding our relationship to God’s laws, and how to find the power to obey them. Here is the gospel.
You may be thinking, “Hey, that first part isn’t a part of the law, because it doesn’t tell us something we must do or not do! Instead, it tells us of something God has done!!!”
Yes, exactly! And that’s the point. The entire Ten Commandments start with something God has done, and not with something we must do.

Liberty

“Liberty” and “freedom” have been the rallying cries of millions throughout history.From teenagers rebelling from parental authority, to ethnic tribes rebelling against unjust government, liberty has been the ultimate dream of mankind since Eden. Any insurrection against existing authority can be seen, depending on your perspective, as a bid for freedom. Even Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven can be understood as a bid for freedom from whatever rules and laws that he considered unjust or unfair. So not all rebellions are justified, even though ‘freedom’ may be the rallying cry for supporters. Therefore, not all freedom is necessarily good; I would question if total freedom is even desirable, even possible?

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

What is this liberty wherewith Christ has set us free? And what is it that we are set free from?

Gen 2:15 -17 And Jehovah God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Adam and Eve were created free to choose any of the trees of the garden to eat from, except one. An entire orchard of good trees straight from the creative genius of God Himself, uncorrupted by any disease, pest, or imperfection, every fruit, nut, and berry was perfect in flavor, looks, and nutritional value. Adam and Eve were free to choose, but independence was not an option. Freedom, or liberty, to many means complete independence. It means loosed from what they see as the shackles of society, freed from what they believe to be the bondage of laws and restrictions that govern human behavior. Libertarians believe man is better off devising his own moral and ethical boundaries, finding his own limitations, without having to be obliged to obey ethical restraints placed upon them by society.
What they do not realize however, is that there is no such thing as complete freedom. It simply does not exist, and cannot.

Three Spiritual Laws that Govern Life

3 Spiritual laws that govern life.

“For I delight in

Law One: ……….The law of God.

after the inward man”…..(Romans 7:22)

Paul has nothing but love and respect for God’s law. He considers it ‘holy, just and good’. It is Paul’s earnest and deepest desire to honour that law, and to keep all the commandments,

” but I see another law in my members, warring against the law (of God) of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to….” (v23cont.)

Law Two:………..“The law of sin…

“…which is in my members.

Paul delights in obedience, but finds that in the carnal nature resides a law which makes it impossible, the law of sin. Paul confesses his wretchedness and guilt. “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” he cries.

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.” (vs 25)

But if Paul is bound by the law of sin, despite his best intentions to obey the law of God, how then can he overcome? The answer is just 2 verses later. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For…

Law Three:……….the law of the Spirit of life…

in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1,2.

Three laws. The law of God which is holy, just, and good.
The law of sin which binds the carnal man making it impossible to obey the law of God.
The law of the Spirit of life which through the grace and power of God makes it possible for the reborn child of God to obey the law of God, if he relies on and walks after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

The law of sin has no power over them who are completely surrendered to Christ. That is why elsewhere Paul can assert that to those who walk in the Spirit they are transformed by the renewing of their minds, and are recreated into the image of the character of Christ. A character that is obedient and a mind (like Christ’s) which delights in the law of God and rejoices that by faith in the power and grace of God he may be obedient to all the commandments.

Galatianism or Judaising

The Galatians who were being deceived into accepting the ‘Judaizers’ rather than the simplicity of the gospel, certainly had a problem. The problem was not that they were keeping the sabbaths and feasts of the old sanctuary services, (as Paul himself still observed them) , but rather that they were trusting in that observation as a means to being justified. Similar in fact to those who in Jeremiah’s time were saying “The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are these”; trusting in historical links to Abraham and Moses rather than in God Himself.

Would anyone dare suggest that it was not wrong to steal? If I as a Christian teach that stealing is morally indefensible which of you would accuse me of legalism? If however I taught that by being honest, I would then be justified before God, then your accusations of ‘Judaising’ and legalism etc would be justifiable.

There have been claims that there are certain denominations and individuals are guilty of legalism and ‘Judaizing’ when promoting the Sabbath or in defending it. How do you know that they are trusting in their works for their justification? Maybe they are simply obeying what they sincerely believe to be the commandments of God and are obeying them because they love Him?

While there may be some in my denomination that think they are justified by their obedience, not only would the church officially disagree with them, but so would I.

Grace, law, faith, obedience.

Grace, Obedience, Law, Faith.

Of all the problems in doctrine that plague the modern church, the relationship between the above four principles is the most hotly debated, and yet the most essential to be understood.

And being so hotly debated reveals the paucity of perception, and the lack of understanding among Christians today. So allow me if I may to shed what I hope is a little light on the subject, with the prayer that we may come to some understanding and avoid the many pitfalls and dangers that can arise from taking to unnecessary and possibly dangerous extremes on the issue.

So let me start at the beginning.

2 Co 5:17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When we consider the above text, we may not perfectly understand how such a thing can happen, yet in faith we accept the testimony of God’s word to be true, and despite the mystery of the process, the result of being a new creature (being ‘born again John 3:3) can be clearly seen in its effects upon the human heart. A change will be seen, in some cases seemingly overnight, in others maybe a more gradual process, but a change nevertheless. This change will be seen in the character. The contrast will be clear and distinct. From darkness to light, ignorance to knowledge, unbelief to understanding, indifference and even hostility to faith and love. The change will be seen in the habits, not in the occasional misdeeds or good deeds, but rather in the growing habitual tendencies of words and practice.

Anyone is capable of a generous donation to charity, an act of unselfish kindness, even those who are, in their innermost being, quite selfish. Self-esteem may produce the appearance of a well ordered and well mannered life. Athletes with a passion for success can be extremely disciplined and focused. A love for reputation and a desire for honor may inspire one to separate oneself from the very appearance of evil. So how are we to know whose side we are on? How are we to know to whom we belong? With whom are our thoughts? Who do we love to talk about? Who has our deepest affections and is the recipient of our warmest praises?