| Author | Message | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6505 Registered: 12-2003  |
I "camped" this morning on an amazing text: 1 Timothy 3:16. It is, apparently, based on a very early credal statement among the first Christians. Here it is: By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. There's a lot I could comment on in that verse, but the first point is: This six-point creed is the definition of the mystery of godliness—and this definition is Jesus. Here's where I saw such a profound response to the Adventist argument that we vindicate God by choosing to serve Him—and that God vindicates Himself to the universe by revealing the secrets of our choices and of His "fairness" to us. First, Jesus was "revealed in the flesh". That is the mystery of the incarnation. He HAD to come as a human. Second, He was vindicated in the Spirit—not by the Spirit. That's a profound difference. This fact links Jesus directly to His divinity—"God is Spirit" (John 4:24)—and in Jesus' miracles, in his resurrection, in his defeating the demonic authorities on the cross, Jesus was vindicated in the Spirit. He was/is GOD. He is not separated from the Spirit, causing the Spirit to have to vindicate him from a distance, so to speak. He was vindicated IN the Spirit. For Adventists to say that God vindicates Himself to us, to angels, to anything through the medium of a pre-advent judgment is a heresy of the most profound kind. God has vindicated Himself IN Jesus In the Spirit. In fact, 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." In other words, Jesus Himself Is the singular mediator—a man and God—between us and Him. He Is the ransom, and He IS the "testimony" given at the right time. The testimony Jesus "is"—is the revelation of God's eternal intention and involvement in defeating sin and saving us. So, back to the Adventist claim: saying that we vindicate God by our obedience or that God vinidcates Himself to us by revealing the reasons behind His actions with us is just plain foolishness besides insulting to God. There is only one reason for God's actions with us: Jesus Himself who became a curse, became our sin, ransomed us, testified of God's eternal justice and grace, and changed reality for us all. This Jesus who was revealed in the flesh was also vindicated IN the Spirit. He is God—and no creature has ever leveled a charge against Him that has been a serious concern. Anything the Adventists (or anyone else) may say Satan has done against God is merely distracting "noise". There is no place in the universe—not even among the demons—where the truth about God is not revealed. God vindicated Himself at the cross—and the vindication was not an answer to charges of being "unfair". His vindication was the revelation of why He didn't simply destroy humanity when we sinned (see Romans 3:25-26). Jesus Himself is our common confession, the definition of the mystery of godliness. He is all we need! Colleen | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 549 Registered: 11-2005 |
Very well stated! That is really insightful. The concepts proposed by Great Controversy is blasphemy. Gilbert Jorgensen | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 993 Registered: 8-2004  |
Awesome Colleen! Jesus IS. And because He is, everything else is worth it. . . . after all, He is working in everything for our good and His glory (not the other way around). Blessings, Mary | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1259 Registered: 9-2006  |
If you look at the story of the Ark you can see a picture of this, its been awhile since I have read the story but didn't God seal it shut? Sealed in by the holy Spirit in Jesus our Ark of safety. Our Sabbath of rest. River | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 997 Registered: 8-2004 |
O my goodness River (well, in God's goodness that He is showering me with)! . . . The ark of safety in Adventism (or at least several parts of Adventism I grew up connected with) has mostly to do with 'The Three Angels Messages', mixed together with don't live in the city, the health message, and washing our robes white so we can stand without a mediator after probations closes. Like so many other doctrines, how clearly the Ark represents Jesus once the whitewash washes away! Incidentally (since dreams are a topic here lately) I had a dream as a kid that I was one of Noah's daughters. I helped build the ark, but wasn't there when the door was sealed. In the dream the waters had started to rise and I was racing around in a speed boat trying to figure out if there was a way to jump into the ark, and very sad because I knew the Bible said only eight people survived the flood. Even though I had a boat of some sort I 'knew' in the dream that I was outside and wasn't going to make it. It was NOT a fun dream even to wake up from. Mary | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1260 Registered: 9-2006 |
My goodness Mary, that wasn't a dream, that was a nightmare. It probably stemmed from the IJ. River | ||
| Mommyk Registered user Username: Mommyk Post Number: 22 Registered: 4-2007  |
Thank you all for the insights presented in this thread. "Sealed in by the holy Spirit in Jesus our Ark of safety. Our Sabbath of rest." I LOVE that, River! Kristen |
