FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 10
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 1)
“Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies.” Ps. 27: 12. This “way” is identified in the following verses of the same chapter (emphasis mine): “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD all the days of my life, to behold the BEAUTY of the Lord, and to inquire in His TEMPLE. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me on His pavilion: in the secret of His TABERNACLE shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.” Verses 4, 5.
Where is/are God’s dwelling place/s? First, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY WAYS higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55: 8, 9.
“For thus saith the high and holy One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I DWELL IN THE HIGH AND HOLY PLACE [and] with him also that is of a CONTRITE AND HUMBLE SPIRIT [attitude/deportment/character].” Isa. 57: 15. John in vision saw the “great white throne” in the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary on which He sat.” Rev. 20: 11.
How about here on fallen earth; where does He “dwell”? “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. . . . Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may DWELL among them. According to all that I show unto thee, AFTER THE PATTERN OF THE TABERNACLE, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exo. 25: 1, 8, 9.
Since “God” the Father is a Spirit” (not flesh and blood though He has a ‘form and likeness’] and His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, in His incarnated human nature, our merciful High Priest, is currently still interceding, mediating, and advocating for His penitent people on earth, HOW and through WHOM do the Father and Son dwell in?
Paul answers: “Know ye not that ye are the TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the SPIRIT OF GOD [the Holy Spirit] DWELLETH in you? If any man DEFILE the temple of God, him shall God DESTROY; for the temple of God is HOLY, which temple YE are.” 1 Cor. 16, 17.
“What? Know ye not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT which [Who] is IN you, which yo have of God, and YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? [Why?] “For ye are BOUGHT with a price: [the life and blood of Jesus!]: therefore, glorify God in your BODY and in your SPIRIT, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF