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Monthly Studies

Study for the Month of March 2010: Temperance

Study for the Month of March 2010

Temperance

(The Physical and Natural Laws, Part II)

By Nathaniel Fajardo
Email:[email protected]

Temperance is the last but far from being the least important in the list drawn up by Apostle Paul of the eight “fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5: 22, 23. If these fruits actually being manifested in the life of the person, it is the unmistakable proof the Holy Spirit is being allowed to do its appointed work in the plan of salvation.

The popular idea of temperance is “a little of everything won’t hurt” or the abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, and now, drugs. Webster has long defined temperance as “habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetite or passions; moderation, specifically moderation in, or narrowly, abstinence from, the use of intoxicants.” Temperate is “moderate; not excessive; as a moderate in the indulgence of appetite or passions; abstemiousness in the use of intoxicating liquors.”-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 1942 (emphasis mine).

Two words stand out in these definitions, namely, moderation and intoxicating liquors.” Moderate, according to the same source means “kept within due bounds; observing reasonable limits; not excessive; restrained; sparing; temperate; abstemiousness; reasonable; calm; tempered.” As to what and who determines what “due bounds” and “reasonable limits” means are as varied in degrees and range as there as many sets of values in all dimensions of the human society but always tending towards permissiveness, a few on the fanatical but narrow interpretation.

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Monthly Studies

Study for the Month of February 2010:
THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL LAWS (Page 3)

“As in the study of physiology they see that they are indeed ‘fearfully and wonderfully made,’ they will be inspired with reverence. Instead of marring God’s handiwork, they will have an ambition to make all that is possible of themselves, in order to fulfill the Creator’s glorious plan. Thus they will come to regard obedience to the laws of health, not as a matter of sacrifice or self-denial, but as it really is, an inestimable privilege and blessing.” – Education, p. 201.      

This should help disabuse the minds of those who think that when they strive to live in conformity to the eight laws of health that they are performing a “very great sacrifice of self-denial.” When thus narrowly viewed, making others aware of their efforts makes them somehow feel and act superior to those who are not into it, yet. But true health reform is not self-sacrifice per se even if it does require self-denial as much as it is a wonderful privilege, honor, and blessing of cooperating with God in His work and plan of restoration! A change of mind and heart is the very first things that must take place before one starts changing his habits and lifestyle else he does it merely to impress others with his “great body.” Such is self-centeredness and is foreign to the work of genuine sanctification, which is “the will of God.” 1 Thess. 4:3, 4.  What we must be deeply impressed with, is this:

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Monthly Studies

Study for the Month of February 2010:
THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL LAWS (Page 2)

The Ceremonial Law and the Physical Laws

The physical laws must be differentiated from the ceremonial law for though the former were included in the practice of the typical services, “cleanliness” and all that it comprehends physically and spiritually, is “next to godliness” and is based on the truth that the human body was created to be the temple of the living God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Thus the physical and natural laws are as old as creation itself, which was but six thousand years ago, according to the divine reckoning and inspired pen.

For instance, many teach that God’s specifications on what foods are clean or unclean belong to the ceremonial law that was “done away with at the cross.” Nothing is farther from the truth for even nature testifies that the beasts, fowls, sea animals, and insects that are classified as unclean are the carnivores, scavengers, or bottom-feeders, etc. But even if one can advance all the reasons such as they are now “farm-raised and fed nothing but healthy and organic feed,” etc., none of these excuses nullify God’s Word and wisdom that defines such as unclean. For one to continue doing so after being enlightened, is rebellion “and stubbornness which is as idolatry.” Thus the physical and Biblical health laws are but part of the natural law which are part of the principles of God’s moral law which govern the whole person—mind, soul, and body.

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Monthly Studies

Study for the Month of February 2010:
THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL LAWS

Study for the Month of February, 2010

THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL LAWS

By Nathaniel Fajardo
Email: [email protected]

Introduction
The Moral Law and the Ceremonial Laws. — Although the author of both the moral and ceremonial laws is God Creator himself for “there is only one lawgiver” (James 4:12), the main differences between the two, which the majority of mainstream Christianity strangely fail to consider, much less emphasize, is that the former existed forever. The latter, which included circumcision of the prepuce of the male organ, were instituted by God “were added because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19). By these the gospel was taught in types and symbols on how sins could be forgiven and overcome, which included the system of sacrifices, feasts and festivals, and the earthly priesthood that ministered to the earthy tabernacle. All were abolished when type met antitype at the cross.

Satan has continued his rebellion against God’s authority and law begun in heaven. Long after causing Adam and Eve to transgress God’s law in Eden, it is he, who, in our modern times of boasted intellectual advancement introduced the theory of evolution. Satan knows only too well that the moral law was already in existence before the earth and man were created. It was this law that he, together with a third of the angels whom he deceived, transgressed in heaven resulting in his rebellion, defeat, and being cast out of their “first abode.” God rehearsed this law to Adam and Eve, speaking to them face to face for sin had not yet created that great gulf between creature and Creator.

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Monthly Studies

STUDY FOR THE MONTH JANUARY 2010
SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM NUMBER TWO PART III(PAGE 12)

The Two and Three Witnesses of Christ’s Transfiguration:

Upon the mount was represented the future kingdom of glory.

The witness of the three disciples: Peter, James, and John at Christ’s  transfiguration. See Matt. 17: 1-8; Mark 9: 2-8; Luke 9: 28-36. :

     “Not all, even of the twelve, can receive the revelation He desired to give. Only the three who are to witness His anguish in Gethsemane have been chosen to be with Him on the mount. Now the burden of His prayer is that they may be given a manifestation of the glory that He had with the Father before the world was, that His kingdom may be revealed to human eyes, and that His disciples might be strengthened to behold it. He pleads that they may witness a manifestation of His divinity that will comfort them in the hour of His supreme agony with a knowledge that He is of a surety the Son of God and that His shameful death is a part of the plan of redemption.” – Desire of Ages, pp. 420-1.

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Monthly Studies

STUDY FOR THE MONTH JANUARY 2010
SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM NUMBER TWO PART III(PAGE 11)

overflowing.” An Historical Sketch of the Protestant Church of France, pp. 530-32 by J.G. Lorimer, 1841, from Bible Source, p. 614.

              “And after three days and a half  the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”

      A well-respected historian wrote: “On the 17th of June, Camille Jordan, in the Council of Five Hundred, brought up the memorable report on the Revision of the laws relative to the freedom of religious worship. . . . The Bible had been slain in France from November 1793 till June 1797. . . . and the Bible so long sternly repressed before, was placed in honor, and was openly the book of Protestantism.” – The Apocalypse of St. John, pp. 181-183 by George Croly, 1828, quoted in Source Book, pp. 615-6.

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STUDY FOR THE MONTH JANUARY 2010
SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM NUMBER TWO PART III(PAGE 10)

culminated in the ‘reign of terror’ of 1793, when France discarded the Bible and denied the existence of Deity.

     A modern historian thus describes this great religious change:            

           “Certain members of the Convention, too, had been the first to attempt to replace Christian worship in the provinces by civic ceremonial, in the autumn of 1793.  At Abbeville, Dumont, having informed the populace that the priests were ‘harlequins’ and clowns in black garments, who showed off marionettes,’ had set up the Worship of Reason, and, with not an uncommon inconsistency, organized a ‘marionette show’ of his own of a most imposing description, with dances in the cathedral of every decadi, and civic festivals of the ‘observance’ of which he greatly insisted. Fouchi was the next who abolished Christian worship; speaking from the pulpit of the Cathedral of Nevers he formally erased all spiritualism from the republican programme, promulgated the famous order which declared ‘death an eternal slumber,’  and thus turned the key on heaven and hell alike. . . . In his congratulatory address to the ex-bishop, the president declared that as the Supreme Being ‘desire no worship other than the worship of Reason, that should in future be the national religion.’ Lous Madellin, The French Revolution, pp. 387, 388.

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Monthly Studies

STUDY FOR THE MONTH JANUARY 2010
SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM NUMBER TWO PART III(PAGE 9)

              Verse 5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

    “To hurt the word of God is to oppose, corrupt, or pervert its testimony, and turn people away from it. Against those who do this work, fire proceedeth out of their mouth to devour them, that is, judgment of fire is pronounced in that word against such. It declares that they will have their punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. (Malachi 4: 1; Rev. 20: 15; 22: 18, 19).

             Verse 6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.