Month: October 2021

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 7

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 19)

The One-of-a-kind Excelling Priesthood of Christ, God in the flesh, That Exceeds All that We Can Ask or Think. Ponder upon the following:

“In stooping to take upon Himself humanity [at His incarnation], Christ revealed a character opposite the character of Satan. But He stepped STILL LOWER in the path of humiliation. ‘Being found in the fashion [likeness] as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’ Phil. 2:8.

AS THE [typical , earthly] HIGH PRIEST LAID ASIDE HIS GORGEOUS PONTIFICAL ROBES, AND OFFICIATED IN WHITE LINEN DRESS OF THE COMMON PRIEST, SO CHRIST TOOK THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and offered sacrifice, HIMSELF THE PRIEST, HIMSELF THE VICTIM. ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.’ Isa. 53:5.

“Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for OUR sins, in which He had NO share, that we might be justified by HIS righteousness, in which WE had no share. He suffered the DEATH which was ours, that might receive the LIFE which was His. ‘With His stripes we are healed.’

“By His life and His death, Christ has achieved EVEN MORE than recovery from the ruin wrought through SIN. It was Satan’s purpose to being about an ETERNAL SEPARATION between God and man: but in Christ we become
MORE CLOSELY UNITED TO GOD than if we had never fallen.

In taking OUR NATURE, the Savior has BOUND HIMSELF TO HUMANITY BY A TIE THAT IS NEVER TO BE BROKEN. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. [John 3:16 quoted]. He gave Him not only to bear our sins. and to DIE as our sacrifice; HE GAVE HIMSELF TO THE FALLEN RACE.

To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become ONE WITH THE HUMAN FAMILY, FOREVER TO RETAIN HIS HUMAN NATURE.” -E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 25, Pacific Press Publishing Asso, 1950.

Yes, there is infinitely more comprehended in the description, “Christ is our one and only “merciful High Priest,” thus, only Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate with the Father in the heavenly sanctuary!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 6

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 18)

The Typical Earthly Priests Offered Gifts and Sacrifice FOR Sin: Christ the Antitypical High Priest Offered Himself, the Antitypical ‘Lamb of God’ in order to ‘PUT AWAY SIN.’

The following verses of Scriptures declare these truths (emphasis and words in brackets mine]:

“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for me in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices.” Heb. 5: 1. KJV.

“Nor yet that He [Christ] should offer Himself OFTEN, as the [earthly] high priest entered into the holy place EVERY YEAR with the blood of others [i.e., the animal sacrifices]. For then must He OFTEN suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world (‘age’ or dispensation] hath He appeared to PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF. And as it is appointed unto men ONCE TO DIE, but after this [death] the JUDGMENT: so Christ was ONCE OFFERED to bear the sins of MANY; and unto them that LOOK FOR HIM shall He appear THE SECOND TIME without sin unto salvation [i.e., no longer as The Sacrifice Himself again for the sins of His people but as the King of kings bringing the reward of eternal life for all His faithful dead and living commandment-keeping saints].” Heb. 9: 25-28.

Christ the Lamb of God, the antitypical “one offering” and “one sacrifice” offered Himself, according to the plan of salvation of the gospel, ONLY “once and for all” at Calvary, the antitypical altar of sacrifice located at the entrance of the outer court of typical earthly sanctuary. See Heb. 9: 26, 28; 10: 10, 12, 14.

But each time Mass is offered in the Roman Catholic Churches, according to its catechism and doctrines, her priests become the “creators of the Creator,” literally bringing Christ down repeatedly, unnumbered times, by allegedly having the power to change the wafer Into the literal body of Christ! at the “moment of consecration of the host, called transubstantiation!

They then say, “the body of Christ,” as they place the host with their finger on the open mouths of the eager participating congregants who believe they actually “ate” the flesh of the body of Jesus Christ!

Pray that the Holy Spirit, Christ’s appointed Vicegerent, not the Pope, whose work on earth will soon end, forever closing mankind’s probation, will open eyes, convict hearts, and enlighten the minds of all who yet to “come out of darkness into the marvelous light” of gospel “truth as it is in Jesus.”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 5

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 17)

Christ’s Priesthood in Type and Antitype: Earthly Priests taken from among the People:

“For the law [concerning the priesthood] maketh men high priests which have infirmity [frailties of mortals], but the word of OATH, which was since the law, maketh the Son [Jesus] who is consecrated for evermore.” Heb. 7: 28, KJV.

“For every high priest taken from AMONG MEN is ordained for men in THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD, that he might offer both gifts and sacrifices FOR SINS.” Heb. 5: 1.

Our High Priest, Christ Jesus, Taken from Humanity: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest , that is PASSED INTO THE HEAVENS, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [faith]. . . . Let us therefore come boldly INTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE to help IN TIME OF NEED.” Heb. 4: 14, 16.

When did Christ, the Lamb of God, transition into our High Priest? “When the loud cry, ‘It is finished,’ came from the lips of Christ [at Calvary], the [earthly] priests were officiating in the [Jerusalem] Temple. It was the hour of the evening sacrifice [our 3 PM].

The lamb REPRESENTING Christ had been brought in to be slain. Clothed in his significant and beautiful dress, the priest stood with lifted knife, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his [only] son [Isaac]. With intense interest the PEOPLE were looking on.

But the EARTH TREMBLES AND QUAKES; for the Lord Himself [the Father] draws near. With a rending noise the INNER VEIL of the temple is TORN from top to bottom by an UNSEEN HAND, THROWING OPEN to the gaze of the multitude a place ONCE FILLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

In this [most holy] place the SHEKINAH had dwelt. Here God had manifested HIS GLORY ABOVE THE MERCY SEAT. No one but the [earthly] HIGH PRIEST ever lifted the veil separating this apartment from the rest of the temple. He entered in ONCE A YEAR TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT [on the Day of Atonement, on the 10th day of the 7th month of the Jewish religious calendar] for the sins of the people.

But lo, THIS [second] VEIL IS RENT IN TWAIN. THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY IS NO LONGER SACRED [or holy]!

“All is terror and confusion. The priest is about to slay the victim; but the KNIFE DROPS from his nerveless hand, AND THE LAMB ESCAPES.” Why?

TYPE HAS MET ANTITYPE IN THE DEATH OF GOD’S SON. The great sacrifice has been made. THE WAY INTO THE HOLIEST [in the heavenly sanctuary] IS LAID OPEN. A ‘New and living way’ is prepared for all.

“No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the HIGH PRIEST [out of the earthly temple after the day of atonement service]. HENCEFORTH THE SAVIOR WAS TO OFFiCIATE AS PRIEST AND ADVOCATE IN THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS.

It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshippers: THERE IS NOW AN END TO ALL SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN. [it is the ceremonial LAW governing the types that was ‘nailed to the cross,’ for type had met Antitype in Christ!]. The Son of God is come according to His word, ‘Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,), to do Thy will, O God,’ ‘By His own blood,’ He entereth in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us [The blood obtained by His death is the purchase price for our redemption from Satan].” Heb. 10:7; 9:12.” – E.G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 756, 757.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 4

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 16)

The Priesthood in Type (Earthly) and Antitype (Christ as, in the Heavenly)

Let’s prayerfully contemplate on these awesome verses before proceeding!

“Honor and majesty are before Him: STRENGTH AND BEAUTY ARE IN HIS SANCTUARY. . . . O worship the Lord in the BEAUTY OF HOLINESS: fear before Him, ALL THE EARTH. . . for HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH: He shall judge the earth with RIGHTEOUSNESS; and the people with HIS TRUTH.” .” Ps. 96: 6, 9, 13, KJV.

“O God, Thou art my God; early [in the morning] will I seek Thee: my soul thirsterh for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is: TO SEE THY POWER AND THY GLORY, SO AS I HAVE SEEN THEE IN THE SANCTUARY.

Because Thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee WHILE I LIVE: I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee UPON MY BED, AND MEDITATE ON THEE IN THE NIGHT WATCHES. Because Thou hast been my HELP, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Ps. 63: 1-7, KJV.

Like David, let us mediate on our bed during the night hours when we cannot fall asleep, upon the power, beauty, and glory of Christ Jesus our ONE AND ONLY merciful High Priest, Mediator, Intercessor and Advocate who is about to finish His last work for our salvation in the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 1

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 15)

The Law of God Called The ‘Testimony’ and the Heavenly Ark, Called the ‘Ark of His Testimony’

“And He [God] gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, TWO TABLES OF TESTIMONY, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Exo. 31: 18, KJV. “And thou shalt put unto the ark THE TESTIMONY which I shall give thee.” Exo. 25: 16.

John wrote, as shown to him in vision in the Isle of Patmos: “And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven. and there was seen in His Temple THE ARK Of HIS TESTAMENT [‘testimony’], and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Rev. 11: 19.

The law of God, the foundation of His throne, kingdom, and government in heaven and on earth, and the transcript of His character, His “image,” is clearly and explicitly defined in the Ten Commandments, the only thing He ever wrote with His own finger, twice. He calls it His Covenant. Deut. 4: 13.

And because He “changeth not,” is the “same yesterday, today, and forever,”’ and is “from everlasting to everlasting”
(Ps. 41: 13) ——means “sola scriptura,” “according to the Holy Scriptures, the Bible,” “If it is written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” as determined by a Holy-Spirited guided “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little there a little” (Isa. 28:9-13) preponderance of evidence from both the Old and New Testament.

Beginning with the proclamation of the third angel’s message of Rev. 14 it includes “the testimony of Jesus Christ” which is “the Spirit of prophecy” in the commandment-keeping remnant of her seed” church of prophecy. Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 19:10.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.