MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 13, 2024
The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No 2
THE WAYS OF ESCAPE PROVIDED FROM THE FALL
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man [beginning with the first Adam to Christ, ‘the second Adam’] but God is faithful, who will not suffer [permit] you to be tempted above that which are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it [not yield, cave into, ensnared].” 1 Cor. 10: 13, KJV (all words in brackets mine).
In divine love and wisdom, omniscient God Creator provided “ways to escape” sin, the transgression of His law and its “wages” which is eternal death, while preserving the everlasting nature and immutability of His law which is the transcript of His character, the foundation of His eternal throne, the rule of His kingdom. The “Way of ways” of course is Jesus Christ the Creator, “the Word from the beginning” who was “made flesh and dwelt among us” in the “great mystery godliness” manifested to men and angels in His incarnation (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:16). Indeed, “He is THE WAY, the truth, and the life.”
Thus, it is only in and through Christ that all the other “ways of escape” for the sinner are found, namely: the remedial plan of salvation/redemption in type and antitype: the former as 1) the gospel in symbols in force during the Old Covenant, Mosaic, Jewish dispensation and its ceremonial systems of the Old Testament period. All surrounded and centered upon the earthly sanctuary and its services
2) the antitypical Christian dispensation of the New Testament period. All center now upon the heavenly sanctuary made up of the holy and most holy places under the New Covenant, where Christ as merciful High Priest has been interceding since His ascension and is currently Judging His professed people on earth by the records of the books of heaven.
Nevertheless, whether during the Mosaic Old Testament dispensation beginning with the fall in Eden or the present Christian Era, the “way of escape” of the Gospel plan, being “everlasting,” is the same, stated as follows:
“The gospel is a system of practical truths destined to work great changes in the human character. If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits, and practice, IT IS NO TRUTH to those who claim to believe it. Man must be sanctified through the truth. Said Jesus, ‘Thy word is truth’ (John 17:17). Unless the truth of God shall lift up man out of his depravity, his intemperate and profligate habits, and make him REFLECT THE IMAGE OF GOD, he is lost!” -E.G. White, Letter 14, Mar 13. 1885.
“The central power of the earth is a demon [Satan himself]. His throne is in the MIDST of the world, where should have been seen the throne of God. He [Satan] has been patronized by the church, for the church has been conformed to the world, and is living IN TRANSGRESSION OF THE HOLY LAW OF GOD.
“Christ gave Himself to RANSOM man from the POWER of the destroyer. By becoming the sin-Bearer HE BROKE the power of Satan. He says, ‘I will become the Center of the redeemed world. ‘All holy agencies,’ saith God, ‘will I set in operation to oppose the armies of the INVISIBLE foe, to destroy his power. The eternal agency of the Holy Spirit shall RESCUE man from the EFFECTS of sin, and RESTORE in him the image of God.’ . . . The Lord will not let His human treasure with Christ, its Head, go into the enemy’s ranks without EVERY EFFORT made in their behalf. [But] THEIR ONLY HOPE IS TO DO DO THE COMMANDMENTS. This is THE GOSPEL which has been sounding down along the lines TO OUR TIME.” Ibid, Letter 78, Jan. 20, 1900.
Next MWM we will consider the very first “way of escape” given to Adam and Eve, God willing. Bless all, NMF,