FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 29
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 35)
Here’s more of the profound truths unfolded at the antitypical altar of sacrifice, where and when Christ, the suffering, the Creator incarnate, the only-begotten Son and Lamb of God was crucified, that have been mysteriously ignored or studiously avoided, both fatal errors!
Magnifying on the Biblical accounts regarding these events, the inspired pen continues (all emphasis mine):
“RELIGIOUS LEADERS [of the nation] united with Satan and his angels. They were doing his bidding. Jesus, suffering and dying, heard every word as the PRIESTS declared, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ BUT IT IS BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF THAT THE [humble, repentant] SINNER HAS HOPE OF PARDON [forgiveness or justification] AND FAVOR WITH GOD.
“In their mockery of the Savior, THE MEN WHO PROFESSED TO BE EXPOUNDERS OF PROPHECY were repeating the very words which Inspiration had foretold [not foreordained or predestined] they would utter upon this occasion! Yet in their [spiritual] BLINDNESS they did not see that THEY were fulfilling the prophecy. Those who in DERISION uttered the words, ‘He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God’, little thought that their testimony would SOUND down the ages.
“But although spoken in mockery, THESE WORDS led men to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as they had never done before! WISE MEN HEARD, SEARCHED, PONDERED, AND PRAYED. There were those who never rested until by COMPARING SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE [see Isa. 28:9-13], they saw the meaning of Christ’s mission.
“NEVER BEFORE WAS THERE SUCH A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS AS WHEN HE HUNG UPON THE CROSS. Into the hearts of many who beheld the CRUCIFIXION SCENE, and who heard Christ’s words, the LIGHT OF TRUTH was shining.” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 749.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.