August 9, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
SINS: PURGED AT CALVARY, PURIFICATION CONTINUES
May the Sabbath blessings received yesterday anchor our faith and feet as we hopefully forge forward to complete another week that brings us closer to our desired haven of rest! Let’s pickup where we left off last Friday:
The phrase under consideration (Heb.1:3) ‘purification of sins,’ Wescott says, ‘may express either (1) the cleansing of sins, i.e., the removal of the sins. Compare Matt. 8:3; Job 7:21 (Exo.30:10), or (2) the cleansing of the person FROM sins.’ The Epistle to the Hebrews, p.15.”
“By His atonement Christ accomplished both the cleansing of sins and the cleansing of the person FROM sin. The PURGING of sins was finished at the cross; the PURIFICATION of sinners is still IN PROGRESS and will not be finished till the last soul is [eternally] saved.”
“On the cross Christ finished His work as VICTIM and SACRIFICE [as the Lamb of God]. He shed His blood and thus PROVIDED a ‘fountain opened for sin and uncleanness.’ Zechariah. 3:1.”
“But His work as INTERCESSOR [High Priest, Advocate, Mediator] was not finished on the cross; nor is yet finished He is still our Advocate with the Father, One who is ‘able also to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever live Th to make intercession for them.’ Heb. 7:25.”
“Those who teach that Christ is not now our Advocate, that He FINISHED His work on the cross, have a very limited and imperfect view of the ATONEMENT [what it fully means, comprehends and embraces in the plan of salvation as taught in the sanctuary message].” Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp, 53, 54.
Indeed! “Thy way of Lord, is in the sanctuary!” Acquaint yourselves with the different appointed offices of Christ and its functions in the plan of redemption. Therein lies the power of the gospel to overcome sin and be cleansed from sin such that it will be “blotted out when the times of refreshing [the latter rain] shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19)! Bless all, NMF