When Christ's character shall be perfectly reproduced in his people...

[Guest]

The more the merrier...

[Musicman1228]

Originally Posted By: John317

Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling.

Legalism!!!

I find it instructive to note that Jesus did not teach against 'legalism', but He did teach against 'Lawlessness'. Which is worse?

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Matt. 24:11-12.

[John317]

I find it instructive to note that Jesus did not teach against 'legalism', but He did teach against 'Lawlessness'. Which is worse?

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Matt. 24:11-12.

I can't agree that Jesus didn't teach against legalism-- actually he taught a great deal against it-- but I do think you make a good point here about Jesus' teaching against lawlessness. That was certainly his emphasis when it comes to his descriptions of the last days.

[phkrause]

I can't agree that Jesus didn't teach against legalism-- actually he taught a great deal against it-- but I do think you make a good point here about Jesus' teaching against lawlessness. That was certainly his emphasis when it comes to his descriptions of the last days.

I agree he makes a great point. I believe we throw the word legalism around to much. I think its a very fine line there, and only God knows why someone is following and keeping his Commandments.

[Guest]

[Gibs]

This will add to Gail's thought of Christ's character perfectly produced in His people.

Also to many it will show as John317 states the church is still in rebellion of the messsage of 1888, I've assembled this read from EGW as most are SDA's here and this is her council and well substantiated by His Word.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33. {OFC 28.1}

Satan made stronger attacks upon Christ than he will ever make upon us. There was much at stake with him, whether Christ or himself should be conqueror. If Christ resisted his most powerful temptations, and Satan did not succeed in leading Him to sin, he knew that he must lose his power, and finally be punished with everlasting destruction. Therefore Satan worked with mighty power to lead Christ to do a wrong action, for then he would gain advantage over Him. . . . You can never be tempted in so determined and cruel manner as was our Saviour. Satan was upon His path every moment. {OFC 28.2}

Will man take hold of divine power, and with determination and perseverance resist Satan, as Christ has given him example in His conflict with the foe in the wilderness of temptation? God cannot save man against his will from the power of Satan’s artifices. Man must work with his human power, aided by the divine power of Christ, to resist and to conquer at any cost to himself. In short, man must overcome as Christ overcame. And then, through the victory that it is his privilege to gain by the all-powerful name of Jesus, he may become an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. This could not be the case if Christ alone did all the overcoming. Man must do his part; he must be victor on his own account, through the strength and grace that Christ gives him. Man must be a co-worker with Christ in the labor of overcoming, and then he will be partaker with Christ in His glory. {OFC 28.3}

The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the Word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. {OFC 28.4}

Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their being. They must agonize on their knees before God for divine power. Christ came to be our example, and to make known to us that we may be partakers of the divine nature. How?--By having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust. Satan did not gain the victory over Christ. He did not put his foot upon the soul of the Redeemer. He did not touch the head though he bruised the heel. Christ, by His own example, made it evident that man may stand in integrity. Men may have a power to resist evil--a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them (RH Feb. 18, 1890). {5BC 1082.3}

Christ was a perfect overcomer; and we must be perfect and entire, wanting nothing, without spot or blemish. The redemption which Christ achieved for man was at infinite cost to Himself. The victory we gain over our own evil hearts and over the temptations of Satan will cost us strong effort, constant watchfulness, and persevering prayer; and we shall then not only reap the reward, which is the gift of eternal life, but shall increase our happiness on earth by a consciousness of duty performed, and by the greater respect and love of those about us. {4T 39.1}

Does any SDA have an issue with those statements? I don't think any should but to each his own as He leaves us free and then we will be judged for our way we have chosen, by a righteous judge that all will confess and bow the knee it is a right judgement.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[12tribes]

Mark 4:29

(29) But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Galatians 5:22-23

(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Matthew 13:39

(39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Colossians 1:27

(27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Revelation 10:7

(7) But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

[Guest arnie]

According to what Jesus said in in Mathew 24 when talking to his desciples as they were walking away from the temple, doesn't seem to indicate that His re-appearing is dependent on wether or not the remnant are ready or are perfect before He comes. He does indicate that He will gather the elect from all over the world, so there will be an elect. In fact, I think that there has always been an elect. What He does say, "And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and THEN THE END WILL COME." So His coming is dependent on all to hear the good news of salvation, which is the gospel.

[Felix Florimon]

He does say, "And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and THEN THE END WILL COME." So His coming is dependent on all to hear the good news of salvation, which is the gospel.

When Jesus said “this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world,” a first hand impression is that Jesus meant that the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to every living person on this earth and that after every living person makes a decision, one way or the other (about whether to accept the gospel or not), then the end will come.

However, Satan has been putting a great deal of effort in making sure that the opposite of what Jesus said happens regarding the gospel being preached in the whole world to every living person. When the gospel was initiated about two thousand years ago, Satan used lack of religious freedom as a tool to guide enemies of the gospel to kill anyone believing what Jesus taught and God’s enemy is using the same tool today in places where nations use the state as a means keep a non Christian religion as a national religion. In places where people believing that God has nothing or very little to do with the creation of the human race become a dominant political force, while there a great deal of lip service to tolerance toward how others think or believe, there is also a widespread discrimination against even mentioning why a six days creation by an Omnipotent God is a possibility worth to be considered in any school teaching about the beginning of this earth. Teachings institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford were established to promote teachings found in the gospel; however, today they promote evolution or a Godless creation and future of this world. The real problem is that many Christians unconsciously become “disconnected” from the Spirit and then fall into having their secular perspective of how things are to mold their spiritual views of how things should be and no the other way around.

Only when people committed to become real followers of Jesus Christ learn to truly love other humans as Jesus did, learn to keep the Bible in their minds and learn to put everything in their personal and collective experience in prayer as Jesus did is when Satan’s ability to put roadblocks against the preaching of the gospel will begin to crumble. This will be the time when Jesus’ coming instead of being “near” will so close and so “around the corner” that no one on earth will be able to ignore it.

FF

[karmymina]

John3:17: Thanks for sharing those good references which remind me again that I need to spend more time in the SOP. Happy Sabbath to all.

[BobRyan]

Thanks, John317!

So...

What's left to do?

The Latter Rain comes to mind.

in Christ,

Bob

[Guest]

Let it Rain.

[Gibs]

Read,

Zec 10:1 ¶ Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

" Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving his light and knowledge, must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement, and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and he will finish his work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. {RH, March 2, 1897 par. 4}

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[debbym]

Amen!!

[Robert]

If I must be perfect because Jesus has ceased to represent me perfect in Himself then all of us are in trouble.

Now, having said that, I do believe that the last generation of Christians will perfectly reflect Christ - but it's not to get into heaven. If it is that's legalism. It will happen because they are depending on the righteousness of Christ for their ticket to heaven.

Go to Romans 7:6

"But now (i.e., after accepting Christ) we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."

You see Christ took our humanity, in it's fallen state, and when He died we died. So as far as the law is concerned we are dead. The law can't condemn a dead person.

So the believer is no longer under the law. Why not? Because to sin under law means death. And Paul is clear all have sinned and are failing to fully live Christ's perfect life.

Now, let's look at that 2nd part to Romans 7:6:

"so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."

You see "the letter of law" demands two things:

1] Obey & live

2] disobey & die

The problem is you can't obey with a correct motive if depending on your law-works to save you. Your motive will always be based on fear and/or a reward. Both are egocentric and therefore sinful.

But now that we have the assurance of salvation and are resting in Christ's work of redemption we can serve God, not our of fear or reward, but because of His great agape love for us.

"To engage in His service merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment would avail nothing. Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than hypocrisy and mere formal worship."

[Guest]

I do believe that the last generation of Christians will perfectly reflect Christ - but it's not to get into heaven. If it is that's legalism. It will happen because they are depending on the righteousness of Christ

Now if you stop right there, and don't say another word, we are in total agreement.

[Robert]

Laodicea Must Overcome

BTW, I've never read this before....

[Guest]

I was getting ready to ask, "well why did you post it then??" but then I saw who wrote it, and remembered that you take anything he says, hook line, and sinker, without question. It's gotta be right if Jack S. said it. No need to read it first. That's fine for you, but I don't want to read that stuff.

[Robert]

That's fine for you, but I don't want to read that stuff.

That's a bit closed minded.

[Guest]

No it's not. I already know what the man teaches!

It would be closed minded only if I didn't already know, and refused to look into it.

[Robert]

No it's not. I already know what the man teaches!

How? you never read his work! Maybe others, who oppose him, twist his words and then you read their interpretation of Jack's theology? Why not go to source?

[Robert]

Here's Jack commenting on Rev 7:14:

Revelation 7:14 "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

They are a people “who have washed their robes and made them white” and this white robe is the righteousness of Christ imparted, folks.

So here are a people who will be cleansed, who will fully reflect the character of Christ. How will this happen? By promotional programs? No. By incentives? No. But by the preaching of the Three Angels’ Message, and by our response to it. And the Three Angels’ Message is, in verity, Christ our righteousness.

Can you see that God has a great plan for us, for the last generation of Christians? That plan will be realized by the Three Angels’ Message. That message will produce a people who will be able to stand in the great tribulation, and the second coming of Christ. Do you know that Christ, in His divinity, is a consuming fire? And do you know, that anything that is not covered by His righteousness, will be consumed at the second coming? Do you know that the believers will be able to stand that glory, not because they are good in themselves, but because they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. And they will cry: “This is our God and our Saviour that we have been waiting for!”

[Robert]

Some years ago Ellen White wrote: "Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel's message, and I have answered, 'It is the third angel's message in verity.' " —Review and Herald, April 1, 1890. Apparently, justification by faith is not a preamble to the third angel's message; it is not introductory or preparatory; it is the very heart and core of the message.

So when the church preaches the gospel, in it's purity, those who accept it are ready to stand through the time of trouble. They will then experience, fully, the self-emptying love of God. They will reflect Him perfectly - not to be saved, but because they are saved by "justification by faith alone"!

[Guest]

How? you never read his work!

I've read enough to know that it's wrong. And I can see first hand what his work does to people, from reading the...stuff that you post. No offense.

You've been posting that stuff here for years.

[Robert]

I've read enough to know that it's wrong.

Really? Why don't you start another post and explain where he is wrong (not that he is infallible). Okay?