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THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 54)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 25

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 54)

The Dying Lamb of God Weeps for the Daughters of Jerusalem

“Not a few women are in the crowd that followed the Uncondemned to His cruel death. Their attention is fixed upon Jesus. Some of them had seen Him before. Some have carried to Him their sick and suffering ones. Some themselves have been healed.

The story of the scenes that had taken place is related. They WONDER at the hatred of the CROWD toward Him for whom their own hearts are melting and ready to break. [This what ‘crowd mentality’ and ‘mob rule’ does with erstwhile rational people].

“And notwithstanding the action of the maddened throng, and the angry words of the PRIESTS and RULERS, these women GIVE EXPRESSIONS TO THEIR SYMPATHY. As Jesus falls fainting beneath the cross, they break forth in MOURNFUL WAILING.

“This was the ONLY THING that attracted the Savior’s attention. Although full of suffering, while bearing the sins of the world, He was NOT INDIFFERENT to the expressions of grief. He looked upon THESE WOMEN with tender compassion. They were NOT BELIEVERS in Him; He knew that they were NOT LAMENTING HIM as One sent from God, but were MOVED by feelings of HUMAN sympathy.

He did NOT DESPISE their human sympathy, but it awakened in His heart a DEEPER sympathy for them. ‘Daughters of Jerusalem,’ He said, ‘Weep not for Me, but weep FOR YOURSELVES, and for YOUR CHILDREN.’ [Luke 23:38]. [Why?].

From that scene before Him Christ looked FORWARD TO THE TIME OF JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION [in A.D. 70 by the Roman army led by Titus, forty years after Christ’s prophecy]. In that terrible scene, MANY of those [women] who were now weeping for Him [at Calvary] were to PERISH WITH THEIR CHIlLDREN.

“From the FALL OF JERUSALEM the thoughts of Jesus passed to a WIDER JUDGMENT. In the destruction of the impenitent city [‘Jerusalem is fallen, is fallen’] He saw a SYMBOL of the FINAL DESTRUCTION TO COME UPON THE WORLD. He said, ‘Then shall they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us! For if they do these things to a GREEN TREE, what shall be done to the DRY [tree]? [Luke 23: 28-31].

“By the green tree Jesus represented HIMSELF, the Innocent Redeemer. God suffered His wrath against transgression [sin, the breaking of His law] to fall on His beloved Son. Jesus was to be crucified for the sins of men. WHAT SUFFERINGS then shall the sinner [the dry tree] who CONTINUED IN SIN?

All the impenitent and unbelieving would KNOW A SORROW AND MISERY THAT LANGUAGE WOULD FAIL TO EXPRESS!”- E.G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 742, 743.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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Daily Manna

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 53)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 24

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 53)

A Stranger Helps Bear Christ’s Literal Cross

The New Testament identifies him simply as “Simon of Cyrene.” (Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23: 26). He was one of the eight other better-known “Simons” in the Bible, none of whom and neither did any of the Twelve disciples, bear that singular distinction throughout eternity that this “Simon” perform for Jesus in His very last bloody steps to the cross!

“The crowd that followed the Savior saw His weak and staggering steps, but they MANIFESTED NO COMPASSION [ a crowd made up of the “chosen people”]. They taunted and reviled Him because HE COULD NOT CARRY THE HEAVY CROSS.

Again the burden was laid upon Him, and again He fell fainting to the ground. His PERSECUTORS saw that it was IMPOSSIBLE for Him to carry His burden further. They were PUZZLED to find no one who would bear the humiliating load.

The JEWS themselves could not do this [why?] because the DEFILEMENT would prevent them from keeping the Passover [what gross spiritual blindness of worshipping the form and rejecting its substance!]. None even of the mob that followed Him would STOOP TO BEAR THE CROSS [of and with Jesus, the Creator and Savior of the world!].

“At this time a STRANGER, Simon a Cyrenean, coming in from the country, meets the throng. He hears the taunts and ribaldry of the crowd; he hears the words CONTEMPTUOUSLY repeated, ‘Make way for the KING Of THE JEWS!’ He stops in astonishment at the scene; and as HE EXPRESSES HIS COMPASSION, they [the crowd] seize him and place the cross upon his shoulders.

“Simon had HEARD about Jesus. His sons were BELIEVERS in the Savior, but he himself was NOT a disciple.” [What became of Simon after this unforeseen, sudden, and mob-enforced cross-bearing]?
The bearing of the cross was BLESSING to Simon, and he WAS EVER AFTER GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROVIDENCE.

[Here’s why!] It led him [thereafter] to ‘take upon himself the cross of Christ FROM CHOICE and ever CHEERFULLY stand beneath its BURDEN.” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 742.

Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF and TAKE UP HIS CROSS and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The heavy burden that all must take up and bear who voluntarily and willingly “follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth” is the crucifixion of the flesh and self; self-denial and self-sacrifice; it is resisting temptation, and “overcoming even as Christ overcame” “the love and things of the world,” the “lusts of the eye and of the flesh” and the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony” (Rev. 3:21; 12:11).

The carnal “old man” must die and the “new man” or “new creature in Christ’s” be born again “of water and the Spirit” to “walk thereafter “in the newness of life in the Spirit.”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 52)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 23

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 52)

Thanksgiving for the Victory in Christ the Lamb of God, Redeemer, High Priest, Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate

If should already be self evident by this juncture of our series on the sanctuary doctrine, that the plan of salvation, the gospel,’ is indeed the “good news” for fallen and condemned mankind.

Why? Because it is the one and only answer, antidote, and divine solution to the universal problem of SIN, or “transgression of the law of God.”

Yet even while fortifying our minds with the fearfully overlooked and even intentionally misinterpreted and thus misunderstood details of the sanctifying truths of the sanctuary doctrine, we all need to periodically remind one another, lest the enemy of all truth somehow distracts or charms us (as he did with Eve in Eden) with any of his unnumbered schemes prolifically propagated by the popular versions of the counterfeit gospel (called “another gospel” by apostle Paul) throughout modern Christendom in these last days.

And what is this? The simple, direct-to-the point, plain truth meaning of the gospel from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White, who wrote (emphasis mine):

“The gospel is a SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL TRUTHS destined to work great changes in HUMAN CHARACTER [there is no ‘gospel’ plan for angels or our favorite pet animals!]. If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits, and practice, it is NO TRUTH to those who claim to believe it.

[Why?] 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 INTEMPERANCE, and profligate habits, and make him REFLECT the image of God, he is LOST.”- Letter 14, Mar. 13, 1885.

As apostle Paul wrote, “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation.” (Rom. 1: 15, KJV). True believers “receive GRACE and apostleship do the FAITH, among all nations, for His [God in Christ’s] NAME.” Rom. 1:5.

Salvation is being saved FROM the power of sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and being restored in the image of God that Adam and Eve had before the fall! This is “the victory in Christ” that we should seek, obtain, and be THANKFUL for as “co-laborers with God”
this Thanksgiving!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 51)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 22

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 51)

“It is Finished!”

“Never before had the earth witnessed such as a scene. The multitude stood paralyzed, and with bated breath GAZED UPON THE SAVIOR. Again darkness settled upon the earth, and a hoarse rumbling, like heavy thunder was heard. There was a violent earthquake the people were shaken together in heaps.

THE WILDEST CONFUSION AND CONSTERNATION ENSUED. In the surrounding mountains, rocks were resent asunder and went crashing down into the plains. SEPULCHERS WERE BROKEN OPEN, AND THE DEAD WERE CAST OUT THEIR TOMBS. CREATiON SEEMED TO BE SHIVERING TO HER ATOMS.
“Priests, rulers, soldiers, executioners, and people mute with terror, lay prostrate upon the ground.

“When the loud cry, ‘IT IS FINISHED,’ came from the lips of Christ, the PRIESTS were officiating at the temple. IT WAS THE HOUR OF THE EVENING SACRIFICE [the ‘ninth hour.’ our mid-afternoon, 3 PM). The lamb REPRESENTING CHRIST [the typical paschal lamb of the Passover service] had been brought to be slain. Clothed in his beautiful and significant dress, the PRIEST STOOD WITH LIFTED KNIFE, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his son Isaac. With intense interest the people [The Jewish nation] the people were looking on. But the earth trembles and quakes; for the LORD [God the Father] HIMSELF draws near.

“With a rending noise the INNER VEIL of the temple is TORN from top to bottom by an unseen hand, THR0WING OPEN to the gaze of the multitude a place ONCE FILLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IN THIS PLACE THE SHEKINAH HAD DWELT. HERE GOD HAD MANIFESTED HIS GLORY ABOVE THE MERCY SEAT [of the ark of the testament/testimony].

No one but the HIGH PRIEST [beginning with Aaron] EVER LIFTED the veil SEPARATING this apartment from the rest of the PEOPLE. He [only the High Priest] entered in ONCE A YEAR [ On the day of atonement, Lev. 16:1-34] to make atonement for the SINS of the people. BUT LO! THIS VEIL IS RENT IN TWAIN [half].

Meaning?
THE MOST HOLY PLACE IN THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY IS NO LONGER SACRED!” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 756, 757.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 19

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF FHE GOSPEL (Part 50)

“It is Finished!” What was finished?

“In silence the beholders watched FOR THE END to the fearful scene. The sun shone forth, but the cross was still enveloped in darkness. PRIESTS AND RULERS LOOKED TOWARD JERUSALEM; AND LO THE DENSE CLOUD HAD SETTLED UPON THE CITY AND THE PLAINS OF JUDEA.

The Sun of Righteousness [Malachi 4:2], the Light of the world [John 9:5] WAS WITHDRAWING HIS BEAMS FROM THE ONCE-FAVORED CITY OF JERUSALEM! The fierce lightnings of GOD’S WRATH were directed against the FATED CITY.

“Suddenly the gloom lifted from the cross, and in clear trumpet-like tones, that seemed to RESOUND THROUGHOUT CREATION, Jesus cried, ‘It is finished.’ ‘Father, into Thine hands I commend My Spirit.’ A light encircled the cross, and the FACE Of THE SAVIOR SHONE WITH A GLORY LIKE THE SUN. He then bowed His HEAD upon His BREAST, and DIED.

“Amid the awful darkness, APPARENTLY forsaken of God, Christ had drained the LAST dregs in the CUP OF HUMAN WOE. In those dreadful hours He had RELIED UPON THE EVIDENCE of His Father’s acceptance HERETOFORE given Him.

He was acquainted with the Father’s CHARACTER; He understood His JUSTICE, His MERCY, and His GREAT LOVE. By FAITH He rested in Him it ever had been His JOY to obey. And in submission HE COMMITTED HIMSELF to God, the sense of the LOSS OF HIS FATHER’S FAVOR was withdrawn. BY FAITH, CHRIST WAS VICTOR!” – E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 756.

Thus it was, is, and will be. All who are persecuted and martyred for Christ and “righteousness’ sake, from Abel to the last saint before probation closes in the very near future, will also “appear” forsaken of God and defeated by the enemies of truth, but they die in Christ, and like Christ, they have “the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12), and, like Christ, by faith they die as victors! To such Rev. 14:13 especially applies! Read it!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 49)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 18

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 49)

“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34) is a an antitypical expression of Christ as it were, having already said those mournful words through David, who wrote in a Psalm: “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? why art Thou so far from HELPING me, and from the WORDS of my roaring?” Ps. 22:1, KJV. (A Psalm of David).

No wonder David is also called “a man after God’s own heart” Here’s David’s spiritual significance: He was a prophet (Acts 2:30); an inspired man (Matt. 22: 43); a TYPE OF CHRIST (Jer. 23: 5, 6); NAME DESIGNATES CHRIST (Eze. 34: 23, 24); Christ was called ‘the so of David” in His genealogy (Matt. 1:1).

“The spotless Son of God hung upon the cross, His BODY lacerated with stripes, those HANDS so often reached out in blessing, nailed to the wooden bars; those FEET so tireless in ministries of love, spiked to the tree; that ROYAL HEAD pierced by a crown of thorns; those QUIVERING LIPS shaped to the cry of woe. And all that He endured—the BLOOD DROPS that flowed from His head, His hands, His feet, the agony that racked His frame, and the unutterable ANGUISH that filled HIS soul with the HIDING OF HIS FATHER’S FACE—speaks for EACH CHILD OF HUMANITY, declaring, IT IS FOR THEE THAT THE SON OF GOD CONSENTS to bear the burden of guilt; for Thee Hs spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise.
He who stilled the angry waves and walked the foam-capped billows, who made devils tremble, and disease flee, who opened blind eyes and called forth the dead to life, OFFERS HIMSELF UPON THE CROSS AS A SACRIFICE AND THIS FROM LOVE TO THEE. He the Sin Bearer, endures the wrath of divine justice, and FOR THY SAKE BECOMES SIN ITSELF!” – E.G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 755, 756.

(To be continued) Bless all, NMF.

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THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 48)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 17

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 48)

“When the darkness lifted from the oppressed spirit of Christ, He revived to a SENSE OF PHYSICAL SUFFERING, and said, ‘I THIRST.’

One of the ROMAN SOLDIERS [not any of His disciples, brothers, or any of the Jewish religious leaders!], TOUCHED WITH PITY as he looked upon the parched lips, made a sponge on a stalk of hyssop, and dipping it in a vessel of VINEGAR, offered it to Jesus.

BUT THE PRIESTS MOCKED AT HIS AGONY. When darkness covered the earth, they had been filled with FEAR, as the terror abated, the TERROR returned that Jesus would yet ESCAPE them. His words, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ they had MISINTERPRETED.

With bitter contempt and scorn they said, ‘This Man calleth for Elias.’ THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO RELIEVE HIS SUFFERINGS THEY REFUSED. ‘Let be,’ they said, ‘Let us see whether Elias will come to save Him.’” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 755.

Isn’t it imagination-defying that one of the cruel Roman soldiers (representing Rome, the hated national enemies of the Jewish nation then), carrying out the crucifixion of Jesus (as condemned by the Jewish leadership) would have a heart of sympathy for Christ in His horrifying dying agony at the “ninth hour” at the cross!

The Scriptures that says, “He came to His own and HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT” (John 1: 11, KJV) comprehends exceedingly far more than a mere refusal to acknowledge Him as the promised Messiah. They considered and treated Him as the worst of criminals of their day!

Moreover, mysterious divine forbearance was still extended to the Jewish RELIGIOUS LEADERS to the very last dying moments of Christ, an opportunity to show some form of any pity or empathy remaining in their hearts for Christ, whom Pilate himself publicly and emphatically declared to be innocent of all their false accusations and formal charges.

Instead, they mocked at his agony. By legitimate comparison and contrast, who do you think would have a better standing in their judgment—-that Roman soldier or any of the venerated priests?

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 47)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 16

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 47)

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Mark 15: 34, KJV.

From Daniel’s time; “he knelt on his knees and prayed three times a day” (Dan. 6:10) to Christ, the Jews practiced daily three “hours of prayer” as follows: the first at the “third hour” (our 9 AM), Acts 2:15; the second at the “sixth hour” (our 12 noon), Acts 10:9; and the third at the “NINTH HOUR” (our 3 PM), Acts 3:1.

Remember the “ninth hour” of Friday, preparation day, 31 A.D. at Calvary!

“The silence of the grave seemed to have fallen upon Calvary. A nameless terror held the throng that was gathered about cross. The cursing and reviling ceased in the midst of half-uttered sentences. Men, women, and CHILDREN fell prostrate upon the earth. Vivid lightnings occasionally flashed from the CLOUD, and REVEALED the cross and the crucified Redeemer. PRIESTS, RULERS, SCRIBES, EXECUTIONERS, and the MOB [of people, not the ‘Mafia.’], all thought that their time of vengeance had come. After a while some whispered that Jesus would now COME DOWN from the cross. Some attempted to grope their way back to the city [of Jerusalem] beating their breasts and wailing in fear.

“At the NINTH HOUR the darkness lifted from the people, but still enveloped the Savior. It [the darkness] was a SYMBOL of the agony and horror that weighed upon His heart. No eye could pierce the GLOOM that surrounded the cross, and none could penetrate the DEEPER GLOOM that enshrouded the suffering soul of Christ. The angry lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as Hs hung upon the cross.

“Then Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’? ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ And the outer gloom settled upon the Savior, many voices exclaimed: THE VENGEANCE Of HEAVEN IS UPON HIM.

The bolts of God’s wrath are hurled against Him, BECAUSE HE CLAIMED To BE THE SON Of GOD. Many who believed on Him heard His despairing CRY. HOPE LEFT THEM. [They erroneously thought]: If God had forsaken Jesus, in what could His followers trust? “- E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 754.

(To be.continued). Bless all, NMF.