FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 25
CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’- NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 10)
Have you been born again by experiencing the Biblical spiritual rebirth through the “fraternal” twin baptisms? Yes they are fraternal not identical for one is by water and the other is of the Holy Spirit but they are inseparable.
One without the other is insufficient as it is incomplete for, “what God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” What do they comprehend in the light of the divine plan to completely redeem mankind, fallen because of sin, “the transgression of God’s law”?
“Surprised out of his self-possession, Nicodemus answered Jesus, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ LIKE MANY OTHERS WHEN CUTTING TRUTH IS BROUGHT HOME TO THE CONSCIENCE, he revealed the fact that ‘the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.’ for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them.’
There is in him NOTHING that responds to spiritual things; ‘for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.’. [.1 Cor. 2: 14, see vs 9-16].
“But the Savior DID NOT MEET ARGUMENT WITH ARGUMENT. Raising His hand with silent, quiet dignity, He PRESSED THE TRUTH HOME with greater assurance, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of WATER and of the SPIRIT, he CANNOT ENTER the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus knew that Christ here referred to WATER BAPTISM [by immersion, never ‘sprinkling’] and the RENEWING OF THE HEART by the Spirit of God. He was CONVINCED that he was in the presence of the One whom John the Baptist had foretold.”
“Jesus continued: ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ [John 3: 6]. By nature the heart is evil, and ‘who can bring a clean thing of an unclean? not one.’ Job 14: 4.
“No HUMAN INVENTION [including any and all devisings by churches, grand Church councils and their decretals, denominations and their alliances and confederacies, or self-proclaimed “holy men” or “holy women,” mortals all with corruptible flesh] can find a REMEDY for a SINNING SOUL.”
NOTE: the soul is the living, rational whole person made up of ‘body, heart, spirit, strength,” thus, the living soul. The Bible never ever speaks of a “dead soul.” ]. For ‘the carnal mind is ENMITY against God; for it is NOT subject to the LAW of God, neither indeed can be.’ Rom. 8: 7. ‘Out of the HEART proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, fake witness. blasphemies.’ Matt. 15: 19.
THE FOUNTAIN OF THE HEART MUST BE PURIFIED BEFORE THE STREAMS CAN BE MADE PURE. He who is trying to reach heaven by his OWN good works [with an unrenewed, carnal heart] is attempting an IMPOSSIBILITY. There is no safety for one who has merely a LEGAL RELIGION; a FORM OF GODLINESS.
“The Christians’s life is NOT A MODIFICATION OR IMPROVEMENT of the old, but TRANSFORMATION OF NATURE. There is a DEATH to SELF and SIN, and a NEW LIFE altogether. This CHANGE can be brought about ONLY by the effectual working of the HOLY SPiRIT.” (All emphasis and words in brackets mine). From “The Desire of Ages” by E.G. White, pp. 171, 172, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., April, 1950.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.