FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 7
CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’ – NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 19)
“Those who had been bitten by the serpent might have delayed to look [up to the serpent made of brass made by Moses by God’s order]. They might have QUESTIONED how could there be efficacy in that brazen symbol. They might have demanded a SCIENTIFIC explanation. But no explanation was given. They must ACCEPT THE WORD OF GOD TO THEM THROUGH MOSES. To refuse to look was to perish!
“Not through controversy and discussion is the soul enlightened.[remember this!]. WE MUST [by faith] LOOK AND LIVE. Nicodemus received the lesson, and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a NEW WAY, not for a discussion of a theory, but in order to RECEIVE LIFE IN THE SOUL. He began to SEE the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN as he SUBMITTED himself to the leading the Holy Spirit.
“There are thousands today [more like millions] who need to learn the SAME TRUTH that was taught to Nicodemus by the UPLIFTED SERPENT. They depend on their obedience to the law of God to commend them to His favor. When they are hidden to look to JESUS, and believe that He saves them SOLELY THROUGH HIS GRACE, they exclaim [like Nicodemus], ‘How can these things be?’
“Like Nicodemus we must be willing to enter into life into the SAME WAY as the chief of sinners. Than Christ, ‘there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4: 12.
“Through FAITH not by feeling, imagination, or seeing physically] we receive the GRACE of God; BUT FAITH IS NOT OUR SAVIOR. It earns nothing. It [faith] is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and APPROPRIATES HIS MERITS, THE REMEDY FOR SIN.
“And we cannot even REPENT without the aid of the Spirit of God. The Scriptures says of Christ, ‘Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for HE GIVETH REPENTANCE to Israel, and FORGIVENESS of sins.” Acts 5:31.
“Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon.” – E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 175, PPA, 1950.
Pardon is synonymous with forgiveness of sin, the transgression of God’s law. Justification means “pardon, full and complete” that God grants to the repentant sinner upon thorough confession of that sin.
On that point and instance, the merits of Christ’s perfect atoning sacrifice is IMPUTED to him; he did not earn it in any way. He complied by faith and receives forgiveness by faith.
The sinner is NOT automatically forgiven. He must, in true contrition and humility, plead for it by faith, not works! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”’1 John 1:9
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.