Month: October 2025

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

October 29, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATOR’S INCARNATION IN THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS (Part 1)

The Incarnation: We start this most solemn, enlightening, and humbling truth from which emanates and branches out the grandest themes as well as the details and depths of the nature of gospel’s plan of salvation for fallen mankind. 

Its prophesied and fulfilled manifestation is a revelation to man, angels both holy and demons, as well as to the unnumbered unfallen worlds of God’s eternal universe of “the mystery of godliness.”  By comparison and contrast, it clearly exposes and delineates the exceeding sinfulness of sin of “the mystery of iniquity.”

If and when earnestly and humbly sought, with “an eye single to the glory of God,”the revelation of this “mystery of godliness,” will unfold into the revelation of another profound mystery, as follows: 

     “The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest unto His saints: to whom God would make known what is the RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom: that we may present every man PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS.” Col. 1:25-28. 

We continue by simply citing certain “It is written” and “Thus saith the Lord” texts that, on its own, declare these truths, both directly as well by comparing scripture with scripture as in “line upon line, precept upon precept, line upon line.”(Isa. 28: 8-13. Unless stated otherwise, as always, all verses are from the King James or Authorized Version (all emphasis provided):

God said to the serpent, Satan: 

     “I will put enmity between thee and the woman [starting with Eve], and between thy seed and her SEED; it [the Seed] shall bruise thy HEAD, and thou shalt bruise his HEEL”

Gen. 3:15. (see verses 1-24).

     “But when the fulness of the time was come, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, MADE OF A WOMAN, made under the law, to redeem them that were under [the condemnation and curse of] the law, that we might receive the adoption of sins.” Gal. 4:4, 5. 

      “And without controversy GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3: 16. 

     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. . . . He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. . . .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.” John 1: 1-3, 10, 14. 

    “God, who at sundry (various) times and diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers [godly patriarchs] by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His SON, whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the WORLDS, who being the BRIGHTNESS OF HIS [the Father’s] GLORY, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON, and upholding all things by the word of His power. . .But unto the SON, He [the Father] saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness  is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS, and HATED INIQUITY (sin; transgression). . . And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish; but THOU REMAINEST; and they shall all wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art THE SAME, and Thy years shall not fail.” Heb. 1: 1-3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. (Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Heb. 13:8. “For I am the Lord, I change not. . .”Mal. 3:6). 

     “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, AND FOR SIN, CONDEMNED [not condoned] SIN IN THE FLESH: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the (Holy) Spirit.” Rom. 8: 3, 4. 

     “And she [Mary] shall bring forth a SON, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for HE shall SAVE His people FROM their sins. . . . Behold, a VIRGIN shall be with child, and shall bring forth a SON, and they shall call His name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.” Matt. 1:21, 23. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

October 22, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST’S MISSION ON EARTH 

     “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith. . . But a body hast Thou prepared Me. . . . Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of the book of is of Me, to do Thy will, O God.” Heb. 10: 5, 7, KJV. 

Jesus said: “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, EVEN AS I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15:10. 

     “Christ came to this world and lived the law of God, that man might have perfect mastery over the natural inclinations which corrupt the soul [the whole, living person]. The Physician of soul and body, He gives victory over warring lusts He has provided every facility, that men may possess completeness of character. 

    “When one surrenders to Christ, the mind is brought under the control of the law [Ten Commandments]; but it is the royal law [James 1:25] which proclaims liberty to every captive [of ‘the world, the flesh, and the devil]. By becoming one with Christ, man is made free. Subjection to the will of Christ means restoration to perfect manhood [while yet in the fallen, sinful, mortal nature].   

     “Obedience to God is liberty from the thralldom of sin, deliverance from human passion and impulse. Man may stand conqueror of himself, conqueror of his own inclinations, conqueror of principalities and powers, and of ‘the rulers of the darkness of this world,’ and of ‘spiritual wickedness in high places.’ (Eph. 6:12, KJV).” E. G. White, Ministry of Healing, pp 130, 131. 

    “Our Lord Jesus came to this world as the unwearied Servant of man’s necessity. He ‘took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses,’ that He might minister to every need of humanity. (Matt. 8:17). The burden of disease and wretchedness and sin He came to remove. It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and PERFECTION OF CHARACTER.” Ibid, p. 17. 

    “Christ came to this world to show that by receiving power from on high [imparted by the Holy Spirit], man can live an unsullied life [unblemished; spotless; holy; uncorrupted; morally and spiritually upright; sanctified]” – Ibid, p. 25. 

    “Christ came [to earth] that He might re-create the image of God in man; and WHOEVER turns men away from Christ is turning them away from the source of true development; he is defrauding them of the hope and PURPOSE and glory of life. He is a thief and a robber.”- Ibid, The Desire of Ages, p. 478. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

October 15, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION

    “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us [4 things] wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and REDEMPTION.” 1 Cor. 1:30, KJV. 

Definitions of “redemption.”

The untranslated Greek word is ‘apulustrosis’, meaning “The act  of ransom in full; figuratively, riddance, or specifically, Christian salvation; deliverance.”  See Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1: 7, 14; 4:30; Heb. 9: 15. 

Webster’s: Collegiate Dictionary Fifth Edition, 1942, has this definition of REDEEM:       

     “To regain possession of by repurchase, or especially, payment of amount due as on a pledge or mortgage. To rescue or deliver, as from bondage, by paying a ransom… To make amends for; atone for. To fulfill, as a promise. Theologically, To rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated [transgressed] law. Synonym: Ransom.” (end quote). 

With these helpful, incisive insights, consider the following (all emphases provided):

    “To restore IN man the IMAGE of his Maker, to BRING HIM BACK TO THE PERFECTION IN WHICH HE WAS CREATED. . . . This was to be the WORK of redemption.” E. G. White, Education, pp. 15, 16.

     “The PLAN of redemption contemplates our COMPLETE RECOVERY FROM THE POWER OF SATAN. Christ always SEPARATES the contrite [humble, penitent; repentant] soul FROM SIN. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He had made PROVISION that the Holy Spirit be IMPARTED to every repentant soul to KEEP HIM FROM SINNING. . . .

There is NO EXCUSE FOR SINNING. A holy temper, a Christian life, is ACCESSIBLE to every repenting, believing child of God. THE IDEAL OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IS CHRISTLIKENESS. As the Son of man [incarnated human nature as ‘the second Adam’] was PERFECT in His life, so HIS FOLLOWERS are to be perfect in their life. . . . HIS CHARACTER IS TO BE OURS.” Ibid, The Desire of Ages, p. 311. 

Dear friend, do you claim to be a follower of Christ, a child of God, a born-again, Bible-and-Bible only believer?   

If so, is your faith “the faith of Jesus,” such that it not only grasps this gloriously “simple, accurate, and pure truth”, but  cherishes it by “pressing towards this definitive life-goal as the very “mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

October 8, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION

     “Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh unto you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4: 7-11, KJV. 

Let’s keep it simple, accurate and pure in “the truth as it is in Jesus.” Note the following quotes from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):

    “There are many who get above the simplicity of Jesus Christ, supposing that they must do some great thing in order to do the works of God [that He requires and empowers us to do]. . . . [But] our first and highest duty is to know that we are abiding in Christ [see John 15:7]. We must do the work. We are to seek to know ‘What saith the Lord, yielding our lives to His guidance…..

     “SALVATION means to us COMPLETE SURRENDER of soul, body, and spirit [mind, character, attitude, personality]. Because of the unruly elements of our [fallen, sinful] nature our passions often gain the mastery. THE ONLY HOPE OF THE SINNER IS TO CEASE FROM SIN. Thus his will, will be in harmony with Christ. His soul will be brought into fellowship with God.” -E. G. White, Manuscript 73, May 11, 1899.

I can never overstate this fundamental truth of the Gospel’s purpose:

    “It was to RESTORE this [the image-character of the Creator in the man] that the PLAN OF SALVATION was devised. . . .TO BRING HIM BACK TO THE PERFECTION in which he was first created is the GREAT OBJECT OF LIFE,—the object [aim, purpose, goal] that underlies every other.” -Ibid, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 595. 

     “He [God in Christ] would give all heaven to WORK OF SALVATION, OF RESTORING THE MORAL IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN.” Ibid, Sons and Daughters (devotional), p. 229. 

When any sinner, no matter how deep he has fallen into sin, and has not yet committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit, and in humble repentance, unconditionally, willingly, and voluntarily yields his will and submits to God in Christ, God will restore in him His own image of moral perfection by the character-perfecting work of sanctification—the impartation of Christ’s perfect righteousness, which is “the fitness for heaven.” 

This is accomplished, perfected, and sealed in the redeemed, overcoming sinner while yet on sin-cursed earth in his mortal nature and corruptible flesh subject to death and decomposition. It is not the former but the latter is what is “changed in the blink of an eye at the last trumpet” from “corruptible to incorruptible” glorified flesh nature at Christ’s second advent! This is part of the “many-splendored” parts of the perfect and perfecting plan of salvation! Praise God! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

October 1, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

To better comprehend and advance even more in grateful appreciation the unfathomable depths of God’s love for fallen man, revealed in His stated purposes in the different yet unifying aspects of the plan of redemption, hereunder is a comprehensive and definitive meaning of the word ‘Purpose’ according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Fifth Edition, Merriam-Webster, 1942: 

     “Purpose: To propose as an aim to oneself; to intend; resolve.

N. 1.a. That which one sets before himself as an object to be attained; intention. 1.b. Resolution. 2. The object or result aimed at. 3. The immediate subject or action;—in, to the purpose, with relevancy. —Syn. End, aim, plan.” Furthermore, it recommends looking up the word, Intention. So here it is: 

    “Intention: A determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain thing. The Object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim, specifically, Purpose as to marriage; End for which prayers are offered; intent or import. Logic. A concept or notion, esp. a concept considered as a product of attention directed to the object conceived.” 

Bearing in mind this comprehensive and definitive meaning of ‘Purpose,’ we now return to quotes from the inspired pen: 

THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL AND ITS PLAN

First, we repeat a succinct, simple, accurate, and scripturally pure definition of what the gospel is, and what it was divinely-designed to do and achieve for mankind lost in sin: 

     “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 those who claim to believe it. Man must be sanctified through the truth. And said Jesus, ‘Thy 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 him reflect the image of God, he is lost.” E. G. White, Letter 14, Mar. 13, 1885. 

Now these:

    “By sin [the transgression of the law] the [original] 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.” -ibid, Vol. 5 Testimonies for the Church, p. 743. 

    “When Christ reigns in the soul, there is purity, freedom from sin. The glory, fhe fulness, the completeness of the Gospel Plan is fulfilled in the life.” -ibid, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 420. 

As Paul wrote: 

    “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. . .”Rom. 16.

The Mystery of the Riches of the Glory of the Gospel Revealed:     

    “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY among the Gentiles, which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. Whom we preach, warning every man in all wisdom; that we may present EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS.” Col. 1: 25-28, A.V. 

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