Author |
Message |
Cindy
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 7:14 pm: |    |
Max, You are right...God does work in mysterious ways! His Perfect Timing and Sovereignity are things I can now say that I've seen (although very dimly at times) in my life the past two years. Though circumstances have been very difficult and I have wanted to give it all up many times...I've still kept "clinging heaven by the hems"... (I love that poem!) :-)) Grace always, Cindy |
Maryann
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 8:30 pm: |    |
Hi Jag, That is a cool, fast name! Well, welcome and hope to see more of you here;-) Maryann |
Valm
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 9:31 pm: |    |
Jag, What is your current belief on the Sabbath being the SEAL of GOD? Valerie |
Max
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 4:25 pm: |    |
Cindy, I don't know how to say this any other way, so I'll say it this way: You are so PRECIOUS I just have a hard time believing you're real! But by faith I believe in you. --MC |
Max
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 6:31 pm: |    |
Dear Jag, Know that youíre not alone in feeling alone. One of my problems is learning from our uncontrolable Sovereign to allow the Holy Spirit to be my most intimate companion -- and this involves MORE than just an intense prayer life. And believe me, He IS teaching me, whether I want to learn or not! Therefore, bless you, Jag. Congratulations on reading Ratzlaffís books. Especially SABBATH IN CRISIS. Sometimes his reasoning becomes rather ìclose,î as you must know from having read him. Like you, Iíve had great difficulty accepting the Sabbath as a SHADOW. My breakthrough came after having read Hebrews 3&4 and Colossians 2 many times. Then suddenly one day God hit my mind with this parable: Imagine youíre walking on a moonless dark night far from any human lights on a trackless flat desert. Itís darker than the insides of a Bactrian camel. Then suddenly the sky begins to lighten as the sun begins to rise against the far eastern horizon. As the darkness fades, a long thin SHADOW appears. You have no idea whatís casting it. But you decide to follow it. The desert is so flat and the horizon is so far away that the SHADOW -- you discover by following it in the direction of the sunrise -- is over a mile long. Eventually you arrive at the REALITY that is casting the SHADOW -- the tallest palm tree youíve ever seen standing lonely and proud in the desert. (And as you know, palm trees in the desert almost invaribly indicate oasis water not far below the parched surface.) And you are so impressed by the REALITY that cast the SHADOW, that you are suddenly inspired to whip out your NIV Study Bible out of your backpack and read some ìSHADOW texts.î SHADOW TEXT NO. 1. Hebrews 8:4-5. ìIf he [Christ] were on earth, he would NOT be a priest, for there are ALREADY men who offer the gifts [such as the temporary forgiveness of sins] prescribed by the law [not just the Ten Commandments, but all 613 Old Testament laws]. They [Levitical priests] serve at a sanctuary that is a COPY AND SHADOW of what [the sanctuary in heaven that IS Christ] in heaven.î Your desert sunrise experience has taught you the difference between a SHADOW and the REALITY that casts it. And the above text shows you how this parable applies to the relationship between Christ (the REALITY) and the law (the SHADOW). Now you read another ìSHADOW text.î SHADOW TEXT NO. 2. Hebrews 10:1. ìThe LAW is only a SHADOW of the good things that are coming -- NOT the REALITIES themselves. For this reason it [the law] can NEVER, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, MAKE PERFECT [righteous = just = sinless = ready for translation] those who draw near to worship.î And so you realize that the entire old covenant (Old Testament) law -- including laws against murder, adultery, etc., AND the Fourth Commandmentís seventh-day Sabbath -- is only a SHADOW of the REALITY (Christ). You can think of it this way: The entire Old Testament is only a SHADOW of the entire New Testament. And the old covenant (= OT) is ìdone awayî only in the sense that it has been fulfilled by something better, something superior, something perfect (which the old covenant isnít), something that existed before the old covenant: This is nothing less than the EVERLASTING COVENANT. And it is a PERSON -- NOT something written on stone even if ìwith the finger of God.î For, ìThe SON is the radiance of Godís glory and the EXACT REPRESENTATION OF HIS BEING [TRANSCRIPT OF GOD'S CHARACTER], sustaining ALL things by his powerful word.î Hebrews 1:3. SHADOW TEXT NO. 3. Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the WRITTEN CODE [Law of Moses in its entirity], with its REGULATIONS [all 613 commandments], that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a [YEARLY] religious festival, a [MONTHLY] New Moon celebration or a [WEEKLY] Sabbath day. 17 These are a SHADOW of the things [such as sinless readiness for the Second Coming] that were to come; the REALITY, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person [such as Ellen G. White] goes into great detail about what [she] has seen, and [her] unspiritual mind puffs [her] up with idle notions. 19 [She] has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of His Word, who is a PERSON, JESUS CHRIST, testified to by both the Old and the New Testaments, Max of the Cross Ps. More next post |
Max
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 6:51 pm: |    |
Jag again, ^^I read in Romans and Galatians I can't say for sure when it's talking about the ceremonial days or the actual 7th day.^^ Try reading Romans and Galatians again, keeping this in mind: 1. Romans and Galatians are primarily THEOLOGICAL books (with SOME practical applications at the end). This is in contrast to Acts, for example, which is primarily a HISTORICAL record (with SOME theology included as the situation requries, such as Paul before King Agrippa). 2. Whenever the New Testament refers to the Sabbath in a theological sense, it is ALWAYS talking about ceremonial days. The New Testament DOES NOT DISTINGUISH between the yearly, monthly and weekly Sabbaths as far as ceremony is concerned. The cobwebby ghosts of our SDA past still haunt us sometimes, don't they? Max of the Cross |
Max
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 7:32 pm: |    |
Fellow former OFTA Jag again, ^^Matt. 5:17 is the sole scripture that I can't link in with the other scriptures Paul says about the law being abolished. I reason that if I know that being in adultery, or a murderer would reflect that I am not in Christ and the other 9 commandments would indeed not be ignored, then how does the 4th fit in with that. Jesus said that not one letter would be changed until earth and heaven pass away. The fact that he fulfilled the law's requirements does not mean then the law is void.^^ Letís read Matthew 5:17-20 NIV: ìDo not think that I [Christ Jesus] have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to FULFILL them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is ACCOMPLISHED. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter in the kingdom of heaven.î Notice that the text does not say Jesus will NEVER abolish the Law or the Prophets. Jesus is right here saying just the opposite. He is saying that the Law and the Prophets WILL BE ABOLISHED when ìeverything is ACCOMPLISHEDî which culminated on the cross when He says, ìIT IS FINISHED!î Our friends the Adventists (OFTAs) cannot handle this ìhard sayingî of Christ. Many -- most, in my opinion -- OFTAs interpret this saying as ìI am finished.î Meaning that Jesus was saying he was almost dead. This is so shallow that it hardly deserves mention except for the fact that so many OFTAs are so ìbewitchedî (Galatians 3) that they canít see any other meaning for this POWERFUL outcry by Christ on the cross. Note (1): The Law includes the first five books of the Jewish Scripture: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. (NIV text note.) Note (2): The Prophets include the following (NIV text note): A: The three Latter or Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. B. The twelve Minor Prophets which the Jews of Jesusí time called ìthe Book of the Twelve.î C. The Former Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. Say the NIV scholars: ìTaken together, ìthe Lawî and ìthe Prophetsî designated the ENTIRE Old Testament, INCLUDING the Writings [Psalms, Proverbs, etc.], the third section of the Hebrew Bible. See [Matthew] 13:35, where Matthew introduces a quotation from the Writings (Ps 78:2) with ëwhat was spoken through the prophet.íî NIV text note to the word ìfulfill.î ìJesus FULFILLED the Law in the sense that he gave it its full meaning. He emphasized its deep, underlying principles and total commitment to it rather than mere external acknowledgment and obedience.î More next post, Max of the Cross |
Max
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 9:17 pm: |    |
Brother Jag again, ^^If I know that being in ADULTERY, or a MURDERER would reflect that I am not in Christ and the other 9 commandments would indeed not be ignored, then how does the 4th fit in with that. Jesus said that not one letter would be changed until earth and heaven pass away. The fact that he fulfilled the law's requirements does not mean then the law is void.^^ Letís look at the contextual passage immediately following Matthew 5:17-20 -- Matthew 5:21-30 NIV, capitalizing those parts that deal with the two subjects you mention: ADULTERY and MURDER. NIV Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `DO NOT MURDER, and ANYONE WHO MURDERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO JUDGMENT.' 22 But I tell you that ANYONE WHO IS ANGRY WITH HIS BROTHER WILL BE SUBJECT TO JUDGMENT. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 "You have heard that it was said, `DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.' 28 But I tell you that ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT A WOMAN LUSTFULLY HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER IN HIS HEART. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Sixth Commandment (Exodus 20:13): OFTAs tell us that Christís command not to be angry (with hatred) was a refinement of this Commandment. But they CANNOT be correct in this. For the Old Testament (OT) says it is all right to hate -- as long as the person you are hating is your enemy. Proof: * Matthew 5:43 NIV, Jesus speaking: ìYou have heard that it was said, ëLove your neighbor and HATE your enemy.íî Deuteronomy 23:6; Psalm 139:21-22. * Matthew 5:44 NIV, Jesus continuing: ìBut I tell you: LOVE your enemies.î Therefore OFTAs CANNOT be correct in saying that Jesus is only REFINING the OT commandments. He is REPLACING these inferior laws with superior ones. He us ABOLISHING these temporary laws (the law came 450 years AFTER the promise of the Messiah to Abraham) and reinstating the permanent and everlasting ones. The point: The Law of Christ -- love -- like Christ Himself, PRE-EXISTED the Law of Moses. How, then, can OFTAs be correct in saying that Christ only detailed-out what was already in the Sixth Commandment against killing with hate (murdering)? (Scripture nowhere rules out executions nor classifies judicial killing by the state with murder.) The same is true of ADULTERY. According to the old covenant Seventh Commandment, LOOKING AT A WOMAN WITH LUST IS NOT COMMANDMENT BREAKING!!!!! Therefore OFTAs CANNOT be correct in saying that Christ commandment against lust was already contained in the Seventh Commandment. In his Sermon on Mt. Blessings here, Christ was NOT speaking out against the misapplications and misunderstandings of the Law of Moses by the Jews. HE WAS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE VERY COMMANDMENTS HE HIMSELF HAD WRITTEN WITH HIS OWN FINGER ON THE STONE TABLETS ON MT. SINAI!! And THIS is the reason Paul could write in Colossians 2:13-14, ìWhen you [Colossian Gentile Christians of AD 60] were dead in your sins ... God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having CANCELED THE WRITTEN CODE, with its REGULATIONS, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; HE TOOK IT AWAY, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS.î We formers need to get the cobwebs out of our attics and accept the Law of Christ as WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS and not on stone anymore. Will deal with your Sabbath-keeping longings next post. Only blessings, Jag, Max of the Cross |
Max
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 10:12 pm: |    |
Friend Jag, ^^I don't keep the sabbath in anyway anymore but I miss it so much and I'm beginning to understand what it possibly could mean. It is not salvation but perhaps a blessing is lost by not enjoying it. I know that Sunday is not holy and I go to church now on Sunday but it just isn't the same. If anyone has been struggling through this, I'd appreciate another viewpoint to help me out.^^ I kept the Sabbath for ten years after first leaving the SDA church in 1984. Often I would go to Mountain View SDA on Sabbath and Menlo Park or Sunnyvale Presbyterian on Sunday. So, again, donít feel like the Lone Ranger. I take solace in Romans 14 where Paul writes: Romans 14:1 ìAccept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on DISPUTABLE matters.î One of the examples Paul gives is keeping one day (1st/Lordís day or 7th/Sabbath day) more sacred than another. Romans 14:4 ìWho are you to judge someone elseís servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.î For formers this SHOULD come as a stern warning NOT TO ATTACK or MAKE FUN OF or otherwise hassle Seventh-day Adventists for keeping the Sabbath holy. For the issue in Paul here is: LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE regarding which day they choose to keep holy! Romans 14:5-6 ìOne man considers one dayî -- say Saturday -- ìmore sacred than another; another man considers every day [Sunday through Saturday] alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one dayî -- say Friday -- ìas special, DOES SO TO THE LORDî! Romans 14:7-8 ìFor none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, WE BELONG TO THE LORD.î Romans 14:9 ìFor this reason [that we could live-and-die, die-and-live to the Lord], Christ died and returned to life so that he may might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before Godís judgment seat.î Romans 14:13 ìTherefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not ot put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brotherís way.î Romans 14:17-19 ìThe kingdom of God [itís here now, within us, among us! Luke 17:20-21] is ... a matter of ... righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way [letting OFTAs continue to keep Sabbath in peace] is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.î Romans 14:22 ìWhatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.î Caveat: Notice that Romans 14 doesnít say not to expose the errors of making the Sabbath a requirement or a test or the seal of God or making Sunday worship the mark of the beast. That is an entirely different matter, having to do with salvation. Hope Iíve been some help, Jag. Only blessings upon your head, Max of the Cross |
Cindy
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 6:13 am: |    |
Max, A beautiful northwest "starbucks" morning to you... :-)) I still haven't gotten into that grind-your-own coffee beans thing... yet! Thanks for your kind words above... In light of our numerous "discussions" of how the "theory" of the Gospel of GRACE is explained... along with LIVING "IN" that GRACE goes, I thought you might enjoy a "quote-for-the-day". :-)) I think it was G.K. Chesterton who wrote: "LET YOUR RELIGION BE LESS OF A THEORY, AND MORE OF A LOVE AFFAIR!" Do you like that? I still hold to the objective Gospel message of "Christ crucified for me!" as absolutely the message of FIRST IMPORTANCE; the BEGINNING, MIDDLE, and END of our faith!! And yet, I realize even this wonderful message can get so theorized, and disected, and explained in "scholarly" terms, that we miss the "love affair" the Holy Spirit wants to invite us into... Preaching "Christ Crucified" must always be shown to be the greatest "love story" ever told!! Grace always, Cindy |
Jtree
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 4:58 pm: |    |
Max, and just think, OUR FRIENDS call this an "ANTI-ADVENTIST site". HA! It's a PRO-GRACE PLACE, 1000000% God's Riches At Christ Expense --------- GRACE |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 5:27 pm: |    |
Hey, I like that, Joshua of the Rock! God's Riches At Christ Expense --------- GRACE Thanks so much! Max of the Cross |
Jtree
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 5:56 pm: |    |
Max, your so welcome. Samuel Bacchiocchi, so I'm told, has a new book out. called "The Sabbath Under Crossfire". Anyone know of this? Joshua of the Rock! |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 6:36 pm: |    |
I could hardly care less. No offense intended. But Bacchiocchi has absolutely no credibility left with me. Niether as a scholar. Nor as an apologist for OFTAs. Nor for required Sabbath- keeping. Nor anything else. Sorry. He had his chance. After scrutinizing his book FROM SABBATH TO SUNDAY, based on his Ph.D. dissertation, I reached my limit. Through the years I have cultivated my baloney siffer: Once I see that a person is posing to be something he isn't -- openminded, scholarly, etc. -- I don't bother reading further. Believe me, the "bewitchment" (Galatians 3) extends well into the realm of academia! There is too much TRUE biblical scholarship to read. Des Ford, on the other hand, is at least a scholar. It's true, he's mired down in trying to prove required Sabbath-keeping, but at least his scholarship is honest. When it comes to scholarship, here's the truth as I've discovered it: Ford is wrong, but at least he's a scholar. Bacchiocchi is wrong. And if you want a second opinion, here it is: He's no scholar either! But thanks for giving me this opportunity to warn everybody: When it comes to Samuele Bacchiocchi, PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. -mc |
Jtree
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 7:09 pm: |    |
Max, For me, when I connected Arthur Maxwell's books to OFTA "MESSAGE", I was cautious for the context was not SQUARING with Scripture... That was way back when...when I'd visit my Dentist office, or Doctor's office, when I was a pre-teen or as a teen. Though the pictures were interresting to look at. :-0 When pre-OFTA's pick up books by Samuel Bacchiocchi like "Sabbath to Sunday". What makes pre-OFTA's say "I felt that it was very compelling"? |
Denisegilmore
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 7:18 pm: |    |
Max, I have that book "From Sabbath to Sunday" and I must say, it sure confused me. But then I'm not a scholar either. Speaking of Ford, today was a day for an unexpected Bible study with two SDAs. Ford was put down by the leader of this study. And this leader absolutely believes in the Sabbath as a Salvation issue, you know "the Seal of God." It wasn't me that even mentioned Fords name, they were naming him as a primary source to the flock falling away from the truth. The study gave me a great headache as I just sat there listening to how they are not interested in anything besides the "Truth" that they already have. I was also informed that if I had any information that was not SDA doctrine, that really it's not something they would be interested in hearing or knowing about. This statement came after I had asked if we could compare notes in examining Scripture and the original languages. :::sigh::: Think I'll not have more studies because there should at least be some honest searching done by ALL people involved. But the truth of the matter is, that I went in openminded and they were in no ways interested in being openminded and comparing truths according to Scripture. Sad. I have a headache and came on here to read people of like mindedness. Looking forward to tomorrow night as I NEED the fellowship. God Bless all, DtB What could I say? I accepted the paperwork given me of 7 pages regarding the day-year/year-day principles of the SDAs. All leading, of course, to the IJ. |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 7:40 pm: |    |
Yo JOTR! Cool :-0 How about with a handlebar moustache? |:-{ Or glasses? 8-() Or hightop hat? =|;-) Or crowned with a brick? []:-o Nuff dorkin' round. What makes pre-OFTA's say "I felt that it was very compelling"? I'll answer with more questions: What made 30s Germans feel that Hitler was very compelling? What makes Trinity Brodcasting Nutwork addicts think Paul Crouch 'n' gang is compelling? Or RAW suckers think fake wrestling is compelling? I think OFTA converts are as much self-selected as hooked in by the likes of Doug Batchelor. Makes you wonder: If there were no OFTAs, would it be necessary to breed some? Yey, we shoulda put this conversation in the HUMOR thread. Cheers! |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 7:47 pm: |    |
Thanks, Denise, Maybe you've spent nuff time for a spell with "people of like maddedness." Wish I could be with y'all at FAF meeting tomorrow nite. But I've got other plans. Please carry my regrets and regards to the group, will ya? Love ya, MC |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 8:03 pm: |    |
};={) Faust's Mephistopheles? (One could get carried away.) |
Denisegilmore
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 10:27 pm: |    |
Hello Max, You are absolutely right with this statement and I love the phrase in quotes. You said: >>Maybe you've spent nuff time for a spell with "people of like maddedness."<< I'm learnin..:) Your message to the group tomorrow night will be relayed...that is a big 10-4 there good buddy. God Bless you my brother, DtB, your sister in our Lord Jesus |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 10:44 pm: |    |
|:?? Elephant? |
Max
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 10:45 pm: |    |
Oops, sorry. The Option+5 key doesn't translate. |
Denisegilmore
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 11:23 pm: |    |
What a sorry looking elephant at that! :)) Blessings always, DtB |
Violet
| Posted on Friday, February 09, 2001 - 10:13 am: |    |
If the law is required to be followed to obtain salvation. Grace plus works, perfecting of the character, stop sinning before Jesus can come into your heart, ect ect. How can OFTA justify Queen Ester? I don't think she was just in a beauty contest to become the queen. And what about David, he was pretty underhanded too. I would hate for him to be my husband's friend. If he lived now adays he could of been a major carrier of AIDS. Only through the concept of grace could of these two ever of been saved. |
Max
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 9:46 am: |    |
Dear Violet, I see you've put your finger on the OFTA pulse. Since Christ liberated me from its toils, I've come to see that they don't accept him as Sovereign. To them David is an unsolvable puzzle. They cannot understand how Christ could save him. He doesn't deserve heaven. For OFTAs, therefore, God must be unjust. MC |
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