Friday: Further Thought ~ The Uniqueness of the Bible
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, “The Scriptures a Safeguard”, pages 593-602 in The Great Controversy; “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”, pages 662-680 in The Desire of Ages.
Many have died for upholding and remaining faithful to the Word of God. One such man was Dr. Rowland Taylor, an English Parish minister, who resisted the imposition of the Catholic mass during the reign of Bloody Mary in his Hadley, England parish.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
After being cast out of the church and derided for his adherence to Scripture, he appealed in person to the bishop of Winchester, the Lord Chancellor of England, but he had him cast into prison and eventually sent him to the stake. Just before his death in 1555, he spoke these words:
“Good people! I have taught you nothing but God’s holy Word, and those lessons that I have taken out of God’s blessed book, the holy Bible. I have come here this day to seal it with my blood.” — John Foxe, The New Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, rewritten and updated by Harold J. Chadwick (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1997), p. 193. Dr. Taylor was heard repeating Psalm 51 just before the fire was lit and he gave up his life.
The question we need to ask ourselves now is: Would we remain as faithful to upholding the truths in God’s Word? Sooner or later, in the final conflict, that test will come. The time to prepare for it, of course, is now.
Discussion Questions:
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The authors pose the question about holding faithful to the Bible when faced with the threat of death. Hypotheticals like that bother me because most of us are unlikely to face such a situation. The greater test that most of us face, is: are the truths in the Bible so important to us that we are prepared to live them? Dying is a one off experience, but living the truth is a life long task and involves commitment.
The single most important lesson that we need to understand from our Bible study is that the gathering of knowledge is of no use without application. As one Australian politician put it when he said. "It is all very well to sit on our verandahs, surveying the world and discussing how the great problems of life are solved. But, sooner or later, you have to get up off your backsides, pat the posts to the Verandah goodbye, and get out there among the people and get your hands dirty!" (not an exact quote but how I remember it)
If in our study of the Bible, we have defined and redefined Christian words, expressed ideas slightly differently, argued about points of interpretation in Sabbath School a bit, what have we gained? Unless we are "getting our hands dirty" with practical Christianity, we may as well be sitting on the verandah watching the world go by.
That is not a hypothetical!
In order to get to the point of dying for what you believe you must really have lived by that. In this crisis we are living, it has been so easy to talk to people about Jesus' second coming. With the events that are going on, the opportunity is at hand! I never felt so confident about telling others the biblical truths. Eventhough Jesus does not come on these next days, we must get prepared and learn to tell about Him. I am not a pastor, I do not make my living out of the church, but I can tell my neighbors and the people around that Jesus is coming! And one of the prophecies that bothers me is to know that we are the fourth church of John's Revelation. That's why God must raise an "invisible church", spread all over the world, of people with strong character and firmness of purpose, who live by their beliefs. As you said, Maurice, the expression "get our hands dirty" is used in many cultures! Are we willing to get up and get our hands really busy/dirty? Are we ready to be out of our comfort zone and do something to "help Jesus to comeback sooner"? By the way, if Jesus "delays just because of His mercy", let us help Him in His agony and tell the world about His love! We are all chocked about what is going on. But let us buy true fire from God's Word and be prepared for battle. No christian will succeed without preparation! "Oh, but I did not do that my whole life" - it does not matter, let's start today, now! I do not want to be an alarmist or anything, but it bothers me to see such open truths here and so little discussion! I am not here to judge anyone, I myself must change a lot. But we are facing the best opportunity (as God's people, if we consider ourselves like that) from what I have lived (almost 50, rsrsr)! And although we must gotten paralyzed by this "never thought possible" situation that the world is going through, let us lift up our heads and be happy because the day of our glory is close!
It has been crazy because I am not sure how I am going to pay employees, etc, but all of this do no matter much more. I'll do whatever I can responsibly, but I am learning to detach myself from all my plans for the future, and surrender to God's plan for my life! I want to see Him coming, or dying in this hope! Am I afraid sometimes? Sure! But I am learning to trust more in God, because there is nothing else to get a hold of anymore! I have rich friends that are loosing everything! And others that may become richer with all of this! But the most important thing is, I want to see Jesus!
True, currently most are not in danger of facing death for what they believe but many do face being "cast out of our community and/or being derided for what we believe" like Dr Taylor.
What would you do if the Moderators of this group blocked you from posting because you were contravening the guidelines? Would you stick to your beliefs or maybe re-examine them?
What is the difference between being firm about what you believe and being open to learn new truth? How much are we influenced by what our circle believes? What we believe might not endanger our physical life but it might affect whether we receive eternal life.
Chinese Whispers – The message passed on from first player to the last player when the last player reveals the message it is usually not the message initiated by the messenger. How unique scriptures are from Genesis to Revelation. One message, one theme rings out, I(God) loves you.
Living – His word has the power to meet every need of humanity.
Background – Different people, different culture, different language, yet one theme permeates across above all the salvation of humanity.
Prophecy – Distinguishes all false gods from the true God.
Resurrection – Power of sin is death. Resurrection proves the sin (death) can be overcome. Christ in humanity defeated sin; therefore, I believe I will rise again because of His resurrection.
Faith - Only the bible teaches we are made in the image of God shaped by Him, Now He has offered his Son as a sacrifice for us to live with Him forever. If you turn your back on such a sacrifice there is nothing left for the redemption of humanity except misery and death. Fall in love with Him.
I used to worry about the time of trouble when my faith would be tested. It used to scare me. Believe me it still scares me. Then I read the life of Peter who denied Christ was crucified upside down. He requested this because he said I am not worthy to be crucified straight like my Lord. The transformation in his life took place by the abiding presence of Christ. Walk with him. The persecution of this world will open our eyes to see Christ standing up for His people. In this earth we will experience what God has prepared for us.
I like your comment on background, but its sad that the church is still divided with different typesof conferences, which causes a division in the people, then how can we really aspire to join our savior in heaven. I pray each day for a change where we can really be of one body and not set apart because of race/culture
Reading widely in the Word of the LORD I have found passages that seem to apply directly to my current situation, just what I need to hear today, I believe it is because it is the living Word and the Holy Spirit can use a message given in different times to apply to today to comfort me. Here is one-
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter your home, shut the doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation has past!
Maurice the same mined that will walk in the truth is the same mined that will die for it......Amen.
Being faithful to the Word of God requires a personal knowledge of it. The fact that there are many divisions in the church indicates that all do not understand the will of the Lord. God is not divided, and neither will the church be if each knew the will of God as God has given it. Without the Holy Spirit guiding, this knowledge will escape us, which shows our need to be obedient to all we do know, that the Spirit of God may then guide us each into all truth. The Remnant are depicted as being unified in Christ, so the presence of divisions prove we are not yet there.
Scripture also tells us that divisions will exist up to the end, and that God will purge His people before the last message goes to the world by a united people empowered by the Holy Spirit. This presents a very solemn reality for every one doesn't it?
All this magnifies the need to personally "understand what the will of the Lord is" if we are to think we will remain faithful to it.
Do not rely only on the popularity of any opinions or on who follows them, for these have often been contrary to Truth. Jesus says: "Come unto Me".
Church structures will follow when all the people are of one mind, Eph 4:11-16 the LORD gives gifts to some to preach and teach until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Maybe it will be a group who are united in the knowledge of Jesus, not the whole institution, who spread the message.
"Being faithful to the Word of God requires a personal knowledge of it".
If by "personal" we mean an intimate experience of the reality that we 'know', then the statement is absolutely accurate.
The word/concept 'know' in scripture most fundamentally means to be experiencing - rather than merely having an intellectual awareness of. Have a look at the first 5 uses of the Hebrew word know (yada) in the Bible: Genesis 3:5,7,22 and 4:1. You will see that each usage refers to fully experiencing something such that the thing you are experiencing is an inseparable part of your very being.
This is again reflected in the New Testament with statements such as John 8:31,32 where Jesus says that if you know the Truth, that Truth will set you free. What does this mean?
The Truth that Jesus is referring to is the Truth of how life works and how it doesn't. Jesus, as The Word (Logos) came to reveal to us how life actually works and how it doesn't. This was necessary because since Genesis 3, Satan has been deceptively insinuating that life actually works opposite to what God has revealed. This is why John in John 1:4 succinctly points out that The Word (Jesus), The One who actually embodies True Life is therefore also The True Light (the only accurate revealer of The Truth of reality). This is in contrast with Satan who, while deceptively insinuating that he is showing a more true way than God, is instead spreading the Darkness of lies. Hence, Jesus could accurately claim that He (alone) is/embodies The Truth that (alone) reveals The Way to The (True) Life (John 14:6).
Again, we see that this 'knowledge' of Truth means an intimate experience of that Truth when in John 8:31,32 Jesus states that (only) if we abide/dwell continually within His Word (His revelation of The Truth of how True Life operates) will we experience that reality and therefore be set free from our default state of perishing under our inheritance of the First Adam. Thus knowing and abiding are one-in-the-same thing - actually experiencing the reality (Truth) of.
All God's Truth is meant to be primarily experiential - and secondarily a description of the experience that is being lived. Hence, when we are interpreting scripture, we need to unpack the reality experience behind the words/terms that we are using and studying into - asking ourselves the guiding questions like:
* how does that actually work?
* what does that actually 'look'/feel like in action?
Doing this will help us come closer to True Knowledge - the actual experience of the reality of abundant life for ourselves and others. This is the underpinning goal of Bible study.
Phil, thank you for helping us understand what is really meant by "knowledge of Jesus Christ". It includes understanding His character from the Word and experiencing a personal relationship with Him.
I like the explanation by Jesus in John 14 & 15, which starts with Jesus asking Philip "don't you know me, after we have been together so long?"
He then goes on to set out the various aspects of what it means "to know him" John 14:23 "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
See how often Jesus uses the word "abide"
John 15:4,5 abide in Me and I in you
John 15:7 abide in Me and My words abide in you
John 15:9 as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love
John 15:10 if you keep My commands you will abide in My love just as I have kept My Father's commands and abide in His love
Jesus uses the phrases "dwell with you" "abide in you", which brings to mind the promise of the Everlasting Covenant - I will be your God and you will be My people and I will dwell with you"
"Jesus uses the phrases "dwell with you" "abide in you", which brings to mind the promise of the Everlasting Covenant - "I will be your God and you will be My people and I will dwell with you"." Absolutely agree with you, Shirley.
Extending your point a little further, to dwell or abide in bible times was to 'tabernacle'. Hence the sanctuaries and temples (tabernacles) were manifestations of God's abiding presence corporately with His people during the Old Testament period following the Exodus.
During the commencement of the New Testament, things then transitioned from the 'bricks and mortar' tabernacle to the person of Jesus as the means by which God abode and dwelt with humanity - Immanuel (Matthew 1:23).
After Jesus' ascension, this abiding and dwelling was then in the 'person' of the Holy Spirit manifest personally within the temple/tabernacle of each believer (1 Corinthians 3:16).
In the new earth, it will once again be face-to-face (Revelation 21:22) - just like it originally was in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8a).
God's abiding/dwelling with us is reciprocally inter-connected with our abiding and dwelling in Him (John 17:20,21).
I wonder what the 'heavenly sanctuary/tabernacle' - apparently something relevant to our present time - might actually be in light of the history of God's abiding/dwelling/tabernacling with His people?
The old testament sanctuary(s) was only to illustrate God's true intention for every soul that would choose to be restored by "the power of God unto salvation"(Rom 1:16), and not meant to be the actual means of dwelling with men. It was a visible presence in symbols that would teach the True means of Salvation and the need for acceptance by the sinner.
Jesus' teachings seem to emphasis this when He invited all to "take My yoke upon you", or when urging the point that like the branch connected to the vine, we can only find life while abiding "in" Him. It must be personal, without the need of a building somewhere. Notice how the building was no longer required after the cross? No more lambs/rams/goats/etc. Only the reminder of grape juice and bread, something that only benefits if drank/eaten. No one can eat/drink for another.
The current sanctuary in heaven where Jesus ministers will no longer exist after probation closes according to John in the Revelation, so it exists only to address the saving of sinners, perhaps as the earthly, to illustrate the true nature of this reclaiming process initiated by God in Christ, to be accepted by "whosoever will" receive Him and believe on His name.
Isn't the true dwelling place "secret" according to the Psalmist? A physical building cannot suffice, but only points us in the right direction.
While a group will be saved, all are saved as individuals.
We were designed and created to live in the intimacy of our Creator’s presence. The Great Deceiver destroyed that intimacy through his lying insinuations about the character of our Creator, who is our Father. The Sanctuary Tabernacle (tent) on earth was a metaphorical shadow to teach the children of Israel the essence of God’s plan to bring mankind back into his presence when they were delivered from Egyptian slavery. That shadow points to the essence: God’s presence with his children.
The Sanctuary in the midst of Jerusalem and Judea was a physical means dedicated for teaching all peoples of the Way, the Truth and the Life. Similarly, the Sabbath is the place in time for mankind to know the One who inhabits eternity.
These two fundamentals were the reason zeal for the Sanctuary and the Sabbath consumed Jesus (John 2:17 and the many instances of Jesus’s Sabbath “breaking”). Both of these are encapsulated in his statements, "My house shall be called a House of Prayer for all peoples," and "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath." Both the Father and Son longingly yearn for reconciliation with their children, who were and are being stolen from them through the deception of the Adversary.
In this age, the Redeemed are the "living stones" of God's spiritual Temple (1 Peter 2:5), which is founded on the Cornerstone, and in which the Presence of the Living God dwells. And the Sabbath is God's meeting place with us for healing and hope. Zeal for his Temple and for his Sabbath still consumes our God because of his great love for us.
That zeal will not be quenched until God is in his holy Temple (all of the Redeemed) and we are in Him, and the intimacy of the first Edenic experience is realized and restored again on earth. Will the Temple Sanctuary disappear in the new Heaven and new Earth? No, because as Peter pointed out, the Redeemed are that Temple Sanctuary. It is the Temple made without human hands and human tools.
Just a thought.
Thanks Robert and Richard each for your input.
Robert, I agree with you that the Earthly OT sanctuary was to illustrate the restoration of people to salvation. However, the building and all its artifacts and services could have done that without the Shekinah presence. So, if the tabernacle was not meant to also be the actual means of dwelling with men at that point in history, why the Shekinah?
Also, if the earthly building became redundant with the Immanuel of the Christ, why revert to a building again in heaven that no-one on earth can see? And why need a building in heaven to illustrate the true nature of the reclaiming process? Was not the life unto death, resurrection and ascension with the accompanying gifting of the Holy Spirit to assist each individual to personally be part of the priesthood of believers already sufficient to illustrate the true nature of the reclaiming process?
Richard, I appreciate the metaphorical perspective/s you have outlined with the 'heavenly sanctuary' being alternatively conceptualised as consisting of the redeemed as living stones constituting God's 'temple/tabernacle' (1 Peter 2:5). I find this conceptualisation a better 'fitting' progression in the sequence of God's dwelling and abiding with humanity through the various 'phases' that you and Robert have outlined and a match with John's observation in Revelation 21:22.
Food for thought indeed...
As best as I can explain what I presently/imperfectly understand, while remaining brief:
From Adam to Jacob there was a simple altar for offering the sacrifice. The sanctuary was added through Moses to help the unbelief of Israel, according to Paul, often exhibited after great manifestations of God's power on their behalf. From it we learn in greater detail how God saves sinners. The shekinah seems to have been a type of God's intentions for every sinner, perhaps to be associated with the Law. How could it be to dwell together when only the high priest could enter once a year?
The "heavenly" is the reality of the earthly types. Jesus is in heaven before God to answer the accusations of the Accuser against the brethren(those looking to Jesus). The "sanctuary" in types depicts a relationship of faith, so this sanctuary would be seen in the reality of a relationship that demonstrates faith by confession, repentance, partaking of the Word that brings about transformation by the Holy Spirit, and the resulting witness of a holy life.
While God is in heaven, the church(7 lamps) is on earth, as is the Word of God(table of bread), and where we offer our prayers of faith in Christ(altar of incense). This reality was shown to Jacob as a ladder connecting the sinner to God by faith in Jesus. It is "the secret place of the Most High" where the repentant sinner "abides in the shadow/protection of the Almighty". Not sure that this would be contained by a physical building. It is a reality that goes beyond a mere building. Christ is the veil between the justice of God and the sinner, His righteousness the incense, etc. All of this depicts the saving relation we may have through faith, a true sanctuary for those who enter by faith into this experience. Isn't this the reality of Isa 4?
Thanks Robert
I agree with you that physical representations are there to help us progressively better understand 'intangible' realities and therefore that the physical representations exist in this world of necessity for us in our fallen state - but are unnecessary in heaven itself. Consequently I do not find biblical support for the existence of an actual sanctuary building in heaven.
Consequently, God also in the OT had physical manifestations to assist people to have a visual awareness of His dwelling with them. For example, there was the burning bush for Moses, the thunderings and lightenings on top of Sinai at the giving of the commandments, the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night that accompanied the Israelites from the exodus. I would propose the subsequent Shekinah did give the Israelites a tangible sense of God's presence even though they couldn't directly see it but nevertheless knew it was within the Most Holy Place. Hence the mourning experience when Ichabod was realised.
When we say "no sanctuary building" in heaven, for me it does not deny the existence of the heavenly "Sanctuary", or place of refuge. This process clearly described in the desert tent that Moses set up is taking place in heaven. John was told to "rise and measure the temple, the altar, and the worshipers", so there is something to study closely in order to know what Christ is doing for sinners at this time. There is a cleansing to take place, but I think we are close to agreement that this is about specific realities that will affect every individual on a personal level which will transform sinners into the likeness of Jesus before He returns to gather the redeemed. His work in the presence of God and among His people on earth is described in the earthly type, and this connection with our Lord in heaven above is real, or at least must be. There are real covering cherubs next to God's throne, Jesus offers the True Incense of His righteousness, and today, as in the typical day of atonement, we are to "afflict" our souls, do no "servile work"(serve sin), "fast"(temperance in all things) and focus on the work of our High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle "which the Lord pitched".
This cleansing work had an appointed time to commence according to Daniel, and I recognize this by taking part through a living connection to the Vine, taking Jesus yoke upon me, and following "the Lamb of God withersoever He goeth".
This is what I presently believe is the sanctuary experience for the people of God. Whether there is a physical building or not seems irrelevant if we miss the experience which the types point to."
Yes Phil, personal knowledge means to embrace fully. How does it work? What does that actually look/feel like in action?
I believe the life of Jesus, from His childhood until His death, demonstrates this, and thus becomes our great human Example(we already have a Divine example). Scripture tells us that "Christ is the "end"(telos) of the law", meaning, the true intent, or "point aimed at". So He was living the very principle(notice the singular?) of the law(plural).
Notice this idea in Ps 119:33 "Teach me O Lord the way(singular) of thy statutes(plural), and I will keep it(singular) unto the end". I think we find the description of this singular principle in Rom 13:10 don't we?
So this will look like 1 Cor 13 being perfectly demonstrated in a human life. Perhaps ours? At this point, it has become personal knowledge. I believe we find this defined in passages such as Proverbs 3:5,6, Ps 119:1-3,101,102,105, etc.
Enjoy reading your understanding of Truth!
Robert, I look forward to your contributions on the topics we are studying in the lessons. I find your views are aligned with mine, but are expressed more eloquently in detail with supporting facts. Please continue, I am sure there are more of us who need support for yours and our understanding of the truth in the Word of the LORD.
Church structures will follow when all the people are of one mind, Eph 4:11-16 the LORD gives gifts to some to preach and teach until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Maybe it will be a group who are united in the knowledge of Jesus, not the whole institution, who spread the message.
It was mentioned that most of us will not have to face death due to our faith in scripture & God, and this may be true for people living in countries that allow freedom of belief, like I do. But there are those who as of today, do not have that freedom, and who are willing to die for what they believe. If we are not confident in our beliefs and willing to die for them, then what good are those beliefs? What we believe must be so much a part of our daily lives, so engrained in who we are, that we would rather die than deny all that God has done in our lives. We can’t live something that we’re not willing to die for. Ps. 23:4 says this, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
Do we believe this?
Let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus.
There is a saying- whatsoever we live by, that’s what we die by. E.g live by the guns you die by the guns, live by the scriptures we die for the scriptures. I met some people who believe in certain things, they will die for that thing.
Shirley you made a valid point, what would you do if the Moderator blocks you from posting.....would you stick to what you believed or rethink? I am not easily convinced or swayed. I prayed about things, whether my story or others. I know I stick to mine because I am not telling lies or at that given time that is what knowledge is revealed to me.
In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand. GC 593-602.
Many says they will stand but falls when trials and tribulations assails them. It is a life with Christ dwelling in us and we in him will stand through and trial.
Song says- You talk about faith when you are up on the mountain. Oh but the talk comes easy when life is at its best. It is like someone who never gave birth by natural means telling another about child birth pains. Our every day Christian life is a journey with God-the ups/downs. The struggle, the needs, the trials, the victories. The prayers, the fasting, the tears, etc. Throughout those we develop a relationship with him as our faith grows. He becomes our friend, our companion, our guide, our providers, protector, teacher. Then we see how unworthy we are when we match with him. Then we die for him.
Just another thought. Many decades ago, I had the experience of falling down a glacier. A couple of seconds into the experience, I realized that when I hit the rocky wall at the foot of the glacier, I would be dead. Some people have a long time to think before they die; others no time or just a fraction of second, but every one of us will face death, and barring the return of our Lord Jesus, all of us will go through the death experience.
It was in the midst of my glacier experience that this truth came to me with considerable force; the Truth is not what you know, but Who knows you. Death will be end if the Truth, the Way and the Life does not take each of us through the death experience that each must face and will have.
Realizing this truth put me on a completely different footing with the Son of God and his Father.