Month: June 2025

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION INVOLVES ALL HEAVEN IN ITS INFINITE SACRIFICE FOR MAN’S SALVATION

Heaven here means the three Persons of the Godhead and the innumerable angels, created before earth and man were, as His “ministering spirits,” not flesh and blood, sexless. Man alone was made in the image and likeness of God. 

But by that mysterious first experiment with disobedience to God by Adam and Eve in their Eden home, “sin entered into the world, and death,” “the wages of sin,” “passed into all men.” Since then “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Thus all were condemned to die eternal death. But God’s  love, mercy, wisdom, power, and righteousness had devised a plan “before the foundations of the earth were laid,” which alone could save fallen man without doing away with His immutable law; in fact, even “magnifying it and making it honorable the universe.

    “The plan by which ALONE man’s salvation could be secured, INVOLVED ALL HEAVEN in its INFINITE SACRIFICE. The angels [whose home is heaven while earth was created for man, and from which he was made and originated from]  not rejoice as Christ opened before them the PLAN OF REDEMPTION; for they saw that [fallen, sinful] man’s salvation must COST their loved Commander UNUTTERABLE WOE. In grief and wonder they listened to His words as He told them HOW HE MUST DESCEND  FROM HEAVEN.” 

Infinitely more than mainstream Christianity’s narrow focus and fixation on Christ’s crucifixion at Calvary and thus, myopic and stinted understandjng of what His sacrifice comprehends, which stretches from eternity past “as a Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth”, to eternity future, where “the plan of redemption will the science and song of the eternally-redeemer.” 

Here’s  a more detailed  “cost analysis”—to which no measurements and values can ever be attached—of the Creator’s condescending descent of His infinite sacrifice and from what: 

   1. “He must descend from heaven’s a) purity and peace b) its joy c) its glory d) its immortal life and 

    2. “Come in contact with: a) the degradations of [sin-cursed] earth 

    3. “To endure a) its sorrow b) its shame c) its death

    4. “He was to stand between the sinner and the penalty of sin; yet FEW would receive Him as the Son of God [starting with His chosen people, the Jewish nation]. 

    5. “He would leave His high position as the Majesty of Heaven, appear upon [fallen, sin-cursed] earth and humble Himself AS A MAN, and by His own experience ‘become acquainted with the SORROWS AND TEMPTATIONS which [fallen] man would have to ENDURE. 

     “All this would be necessary in order that He might be able to SUCCOR them that should be tempted (Heb. 2:18).” – Quoted parts from E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp.64-5. (All others, including emphases, provided).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 18, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

ORIGIN OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION BEGINS THE REVEAL OF THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION

Knowing first the fundamental truths of creation and The Creator and the reason and nature of the fall of man are foundational pillars upon which the great controversy and the plan of redemption/salvation of the genuine gospel can only be truly understood and treasured by fallen mankind. 

But stretching further beyond into “eternity past”—precisely how long ago before the creation-origin (never evolution) of planet Earth and of man, the only creature in the universe originally made, in fact, personally hand-crafted “in the image and likeness of God,” is not revealed. 

And yet, to so totally-undeserving, fallen, sinful, finite mortals such as I, subjects of the saving grace emanating from and manifested in Christ the Word’s  image-character of divine love, enduring mercy, spotless purify and holiness, perfect righteousness and justice as defined in His immutable law and foundation of His everlasting kingdom, is the veil pulled slightly aside by the great I AM. 

It reveals even much more to earnest seekers “of the truth as it is in Jesus” alone, the unparalleled self-sacrificing, self-denying love and humility packed together with His omniscience and omnipotence. 

And what is it? As magnified by “the lesser light that points and leads to the greater light” of the Bible, I quote (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied): 

    “The plan of salvation had been laid BEFORE the creation of the earth; for Christ is ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’ (Rev. 13:8): yet it was a STRUGGLE, even with the King of the universe, to yield up His Son to DIE FOR THE GUILTY RACE, that ‘whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). 

     “Oh, the MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION! The LOVE of God for a world that did not love Him! Who can know the DEPTHS of that love which ‘passeth knowledge’ [see Eph. 3: 17-19]. We Through endless ages, immortal minds [of the eternally-redeemed] seeking to comprehend the MYSTERY of that incomprehensible love, will [simply] WONDER AND ADORE.

    “God was to be MANIFEST in Christ [cf. 1 Tim. 3:16; John 1: 1-3, 14, etc.], ‘reconciling the world to Himself’ (2 Cor. 5:19). Man had become so DEGRADED BY SIN [‘the transgression of the law’] that it was IMPOSSIBLE for him, IN HIMSELF, to come into HARMONY with Him whose NATURE is purity and goodness. 

     “But Christ, AFTER having REDEEMED man FROM the condemnation of the law., would IMPART [divine] lPOWER, TO UNITE WITH HUMAN EFFORT. Thus by ‘REPENTANCE towards God and faith in Christ,’ the fallen children of Adam MIGHT ONCE MORE become ‘sons of God.’ (1 John 3:2, KJV).” Quoted from Ellen G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, Pacific Press Publishing Asso, 1913 ed., pp. 63-4. 

To be continued, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 12, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION/SALVATION 

     “Even He shall build the temple of the Lord: and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne; and the COUNSEL OF PEACE shall be between THEM both” Zechariah 6:13, KJV. 

    “The counsel of peace.” At first blush, this seemingly “undramatic” phrase written by one of the so-called Minor Prophets of the OT is, when better comprehended, is staggeringly profound in its import—way before our planet earth and man, “made in the image and likeness of God,” were created. And thus, before the fall of man! 

It reveals the great imponderables—the incontrovertible “mysteries”

of God’s love, mercy, patience, long suffering, and kindness, as well as His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence, from eternity past to eternity future. 

Such is the true nature of Bible prophecies (and all the other truths of God’s Word). They hold in preserve and reveal “the deep things of God” at their precise appointed time, roles, and ways in perfect accord with God’s master plan. He is in full and perfect control. 

However, as revealed only by the Spirit of God to the “holy men of God” from the beginning, “spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned.” The “carnal mind” is not only passively incapable of comprehending and seeing “the beauty of holiness” in them but is actively “at enmity” with God’s law and pure Bible truth “for darkness hateth the light.” This helps explain why Jesus, “the brightness of the Father’s glory and the EXPRESS image of His person” (Heb. 1: 1-3, A.V.), was hated, not loved and welcomed by a sin-darkened, sin-loving world. 

Briefly, “in simplicity, accuracy, and purity,” in humility yet bold confidence in the truth, we declare that the purpose of the plan of salvation/redemption is the only divine antidote, answer, and solution to the great controversy started and waged by Satan and his demonic and human agencies against God, His law and authority and mankind, that guarantees complete and perfect victory of repentant sinners over all temptation, “the love of the world and the things of the world, the lust of the eye and the lust of the flesh”, “over the world, the flesh, and the devil,” and the eternal triumph of truth and the full restoration of all that was deranged and lost to and through sin and Satan! 

As introduction, I will here

quote portions of The Plan of Redemption, chapter 4 of the volume, Patriarchs & Prophets by E. G. White, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. Mt. View, CA, 1913, p. 63. 

 I  urge all to get your own book wherever most convenient, study the five complete volumes of the Conflict of the Ages series by the same author, this volume being one of these. Note:

     “The fall of man filled ALL HEAVEN with sorrow. The world that God had made was blighted with the CURSE of sin, and inhabited by beings DOOMED to misery and death. There appeared NO ESCAPE for those who had transgressed the law [both first created human beings!]. 

     “ANGELS ceased their songs of praise Throughout the heavenly courts there was MOURNING [a mourning that preceded any and all mourning following a death on earth] for the RUIN that sin had wrought.

     “The Son of God, heaven’s glorious Commander [title as Michael the Archangel, Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly host of angels], was touched with PITY for the fallen race. His heart was moved with INFINITE COMPASSION as the WOES of the lost world rosé up before Him. 

     “But divine love had conceived A PLAN WHERBY MAN MIGHT BE REDEEMED. The BROKEN LAW [by disobedience] demanded the LIFE of the sinner [‘the wages of sin is death;’ and ‘sin is the transgression of the law.’]. In all the universe there was BUT ONE who could, in behalf of man, satisfy its claims. 

     “Since the divine law is AS SACRED as God Himself, only one EQUAL WITH GOD could make ATONEMENT for its transgression None but Christ could REDEEM fallen man FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, and bring him again into HARMONY WITH HEAVEN [note this!].

     “Christ would take upon Himself the GUILT AND SHAME  OF SIN, —-SIN SO OFFENSIVE to a holy God that IT MUST SEPARATE THE FATHER AND HIS SON. Christ would reach the depths of misery to RESCUE the ruined race.” (End quote).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 4, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE GOSPEL AND ITS PURPOSE – Part 3

First, here’s one of the most succinct, precise, simple, accurate, and pure summation of what the “gospel” means, what it was divinely designed to accomplish once and for all, for the sin and sinner problem.

   (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):

     “The gospel is a system of practical truths destined to work  great changes in human CHARACTER. If it does not work the TRANSFORMATION in life, in habits, and practice, it is NO TRUTH to them who claim to believe it. Man [with fallen, sinful nature] must be SANCTIFIED through the truth. And said Jesus, ‘Thy [God the Father’s] word is truth.’ (John 17:17). UNLESS the truth of God shall lift up man OUT OF his depravity, his intemperate and profligate habits, and make his reflect the IMAGE OF GOD [as revealed in Christ’s character], he is LOST.” – Ellen G. White, Letter 14, March 13, 1885. 

When carefully compared with the scriptures cited previously, and what Paul declared below, without any preconceived ideas, it is pure, saving truth indeed!: 

     “But If our gospel be hid, if is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the IMAGE of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Cor. 4: 3-5, K.J.V. (Read verses 1-3). 

Here is more enlightenment: 

    “By sin the IMAGE OF GOD in man has been marred and well-nigh obliterated; it is the work of the gospel to RESTORE that which has been lost.” E. G. White, Vol. 5, Testimonies, p. 743. 

     “When Christ reigns in the soul, there is purity, FREEDOM from sin. The GLORY, the fulness, the completeness of the GOSPEL PLAN IS FULFILLED in the life.” – Ibid, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 420. 

To be continued, God willing. Bless all, NMF.