FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK: October 21
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 29)
Christ’s Shed Blood was for the Remission of Sins:
“And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them [the Twelve], drink ye all of it; for this is MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.” Matt. 26, 27, 28, KJV.
[Read 1 John 3: 1, 2; 1: 9]. The conditions for obtaining MERCY from God are simple and reasonable. The Lord does NOT require us to do some GRIEVOUS THING in order to obtain forgiveness (pardon of justification) [as Church of Rome and other world religions do].
We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of the HEAVEN or to expiate our transgression. For he that ‘confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy.’ (Prov. 27:13).
“In the courts above, CHRIST is pleading for His church—pleading for those for whom HE HAS PAID THE REDEMPTION PRICE OF HIS BLOOD. Centuries, ages, can NEVER LESSEN the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice [made on earth at Calvary]. ‘Neither life nor death, height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus;’ not because WE hold Him SO FIRMLY, but because HE holds us SO FAST.
“If our salvation depended on OUR EFFORTS, we could not be saved; but it depends on the One who is behind all the promises. Our grasp on Him may be FEEBLE, but His LOVE is that of an older brother; so long as we maintain our UNION with Him, no one can pluck us out of His hand.” -E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, pp. 552, 553.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.