FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 23
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 52)
Thanksgiving for the Victory in Christ the Lamb of God, Redeemer, High Priest, Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate
If should already be self evident by this juncture of our series on the sanctuary doctrine, that the plan of salvation, the gospel,’ is indeed the “good news” for fallen and condemned mankind.
Why? Because it is the one and only answer, antidote, and divine solution to the universal problem of SIN, or “transgression of the law of God.”
Yet even while fortifying our minds with the fearfully overlooked and even intentionally misinterpreted and thus misunderstood details of the sanctifying truths of the sanctuary doctrine, we all need to periodically remind one another, lest the enemy of all truth somehow distracts or charms us (as he did with Eve in Eden) with any of his unnumbered schemes prolifically propagated by the popular versions of the counterfeit gospel (called “another gospel” by apostle Paul) throughout modern Christendom in these last days.
And what is this? The simple, direct-to-the point, plain truth meaning of the gospel from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White, who wrote (emphasis mine):
“The gospel is a SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL TRUTHS destined to work great changes in HUMAN CHARACTER [there is no ‘gospel’ plan for angels or our favorite pet animals!]. If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits, and practice, it is NO TRUTH to those who claim to believe it.
[Why?] Man must be SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE TRUTH. And said Jesus, ‘Thy word is truth.’( John 17:17), Unless the truth of God shall LIFT UP man out of his DEPRAVITY, his INTEMPERANCE, and profligate habits, and make him REFLECT the image of God, he is LOST.”- Letter 14, Mar. 13, 1885.
As apostle Paul wrote, “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation.” (Rom. 1: 15, KJV). True believers “receive GRACE and apostleship do the FAITH, among all nations, for His [God in Christ’s] NAME.” Rom. 1:5.
Salvation is being saved FROM the power of sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and being restored in the image of God that Adam and Eve had before the fall! This is “the victory in Christ” that we should seek, obtain, and be THANKFUL for as “co-laborers with God”
this Thanksgiving!
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.