The Sanctuary Study Pt. 20
More on the Sanctuary Service - this time on the Final Atonement
2000 May XXXIII 5(00) -- The Final Atonement - Part 1 -- Editor's Preface (William Grotheer)-- This issue of WWN is different than any previous issue. It will be a true "thought paper," as others have been.
A "thought paper is written to stimulate thinking.
It is not perceived as an infallible or dogmatic pronouncement on the subject discussed, but rather a discussion of the subject from a viewpoint not previously investigated.
In this issue, we intend not only to stimulate thinking but also to explore as far as possible all texts which relate to the subject of the Final Atonement.
It is admitted from the start that in so doing, there is the possibility that cherished traditional concepts will come under close scrutiny. It is also possible that some of these traditions will be found to be at variance with the Biblical data. This has been the record of religious contention in all time. This was a key factor of conflict between Christ and the Pharisees of His day. (Matt. 15:2-3).
Is not the counsel given in connection with the 1888 experience still apropos today? It read: "If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of Pharisaism cherished among us" (TM. p. 107).
Standing as we are at the end of time with the coming of the Great High Priest as King of kings and Lord of lords, should we not carefully explore every aspect of the Final Atonement?
Since the book of Revelation (15:8) indicates a brief period of time between the close of the High Priestly ministry of Christ and His return as King of kings during which the saints must live in the sight of a holy God without an Intercessor, should we not be sure that our position is truly Biblically sustainable?
This issue will not complete our intended study on the subject of the Final Atonement: others will follow.
"Review, and then Review again, and Review all that you've Reviewed"
The Final Atonement - Part 1--
The typical services of the Wilderness Sanctuary evidenced a dual atonement. The convicted sinner who brought the prescribed offering in confession of his guilt was, through the ministry of the officiating priest, forgiven.
The text reads - "The priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him" (Lev. 4:26).
The second atonement was typified in an annual yearly service. The tenth day of the seventh month was called the "Day of Atonements" (Plural in the Hebrew, Leviticus 23:27-28). On that day the High Priest alone ministered an atonement which resulted in cleansing. The text reads - "For on that day shall (the high priest) make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord" (Lev.16:30).
It was around these typical services and their anti-typical significance that the present theological crisis in Adventism evolved. Following the Great Disappointment, a small group seeking to find an answer as to why Jesus did not return according to expectation on October 22, 1844 turned their attention once again to the services of the wilderness Sanctuary. The message as had been given by William Miller was focused in the summer of 1844 on Daniel 8:14 - "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" - and was related to the annual date for the Day of Atonement - "the tenth day of the seventh month."
One who had embraced this message, 0. R. L. Crosier, after the disappointment, produced a lengthy and detailed study on "The Sanctuary." In this study, he designated the two atonements of the typical services as "the individual atonement" and "the National Atonement."
In meeting objections to his emphasis of the National Atonement as the answer to the Disappointment, he rejected the position taken by the mainline churches' theologians, that the atonement had been completed at the cross. In doing so, he denied that there was an atonement made at the cross, holding that the cross was merely the sacrifice by which the atonement was made in the sanctuary in heaven by Christ as the great High Priest.
The early pioneers of Adventism adopted Crosier's position publishing his study in 1850, along with other articles, in a 48 page pamphlet called the Advent Review.
In 1853 into all unsold copies, James White "tipped" a leaf which contained this comment regarding the Crosier study - "The subject of the sanctuary should be carefully examined, as it lies at the foundation of our faith and hope." The 1872 Statement of Beliefs, the first to be drawn up after the organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863, echoed Crosier's position. It read concerning Jesus Christ - He "ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where with His own blood He makes atonement for our sins; which atonement so far as being made on the cross, was but the offering of the sacrifice, is the very last portion of His work as priest" (Article II).
During the 1955-1956 Conferences with the Evangelicals, the Adventist conferees not only adopted the position that the atonement was completed on Calvary, but denied the final atonement, thus reversing the original position.
In the published answer to questions asked by the Evangelicals, Questions on Doctrine, the new position taken is stated with emphasis: Adventists do not hold any theory of a dual atonement. "Christ hath redeemed us" (Gal. 3:13) once for all" (Heb.10:10). (p.390)
This denial of faith ruptured Adventism.
If the Adventist conferees really were convicted that the positions of the Evangelicals had merit, then the only honest approach would have been to say, "It appears we have some 'home work' to do, so that our positions harmonize with the Word of God." Then there should have followed a prayerful and diligent study of the Word to bring our doctrinal concepts into harmony with the revealed truths of the types and their fulfilment in the reality of Jesus' sacrifice and high priestly ministry. There should have been no abandonment of the original position, nor a denial of the faith, until such was done. It is true that research was permitted, as in the case of Dr. Desmond Ford, but it was to defend a position assumed, not to discover truth. In this there is a distinct difference.
It is our objective in this "review" of the final atonement to:
1) Consider the Scriptural facts and data given regarding the typical Day of Atonement; and
2) Note other texts which contribute to the questions raised which reflect on traditional perceptions. After examining carefully the questions and problems which surface from the data thus obtained, we will detail the actual services performed on that day by the high priest.
Leviticus 23 -- The 23rd chapter of Leviticus lists with instructions "the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations" which were to be observed during the ceremonial year beginning with the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month (vs 4-5).
The anti-typical fulfilment of this "feast of the Lord" is noted in the New Testament.
Paul writing to the Corinthian church declared, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (I Cor. 5:7).
Thus this ceremonial year of ancient Israel as outlined in the services of the wilderness Sanctuary could serve as an overlay of the Christian era beginning with the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and finding Its climax in the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ during the anti-typical Day of. Atonement.
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We agree that it's important to understand what the Bible is revealing to us through the Holy Spirit. We are given the Word of God and we are told to study. To me the Sanctuary study is obviously important as I've looked up everything I could on what William Grotheer, a biblical scholar as written on it and I'm trying to incorporate it into my own study so I can comprehend better. The Bible is our first standard and to the Bible all this has to go. I want to understand what Christ is doing in Heaven for us right now as our High Priest. I want to comprehend all I can because I believe our time here on earth is fast running out and it's very important we know what's going to happen to the best of our abilities.
People grab up the prophecies and formulate all sorts of theories on things and that's not a bad thing it's a good thing if it has people studying their Bibles for truths. Prophecies are very important to study and so is anything that has to do with our futures.
Understanding where Christ is now and what He is doing prior to His soon return is important.
The Sanctuary service was given to God's people for a reason to point to the way of their Salvation. Man had fallen away from God, from their intended purpose of existence. God wanted man to have a way to return to their intended purpose. Our lives now are all about returning to God and our intended purpose in Him.
God gave us the Sanctuary service pointing the way to restoration. Restoration is found in Jesus as typified. We know that our salvation is found in Jesus and we are told so much about living in Him. Understanding the Final Atonement so we can understand our typified own ending leading to our final restoration with God is very important.
This study is going to continue for awhile because *I* need to study and understand.
More tomorrow by the grace of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
1/2/10
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
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1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
What is a man's work? Is it what he does as a job? Or is it the whole of his life's actions?
The word 'work' -
ergon
er'-gon
From ?????? ergo? (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work.
'by implication an act- deed, doing, labour.'
Our lives are judged, our actions are judged and that includes our jobs- our occupational work. Without any respect to who it is, God will judge all by the same criteria. All of us will be judged by our actions. The most important action being what? Believing in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and loving Him with all our hearts and minds. From there all the rest of our actions in life are judged. Do we live in accordance to God's will? Is it important to us to put God first? To worship God? People stomp their feet and cry out Jesus did away with all that stuff, we are only to love! But do we love? Even Jesus commended the rich young ruler when he said that he followed the law of God. Wouldn't have Jesus taken that prime opportunity to tell the young man that he no longer had to follow the laws if that's what He intended of us? Loving God and loving our fellowman this our duty.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
In those commandments our love is manifested, God's love is manifested.
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Being judged by our actions is necessary because it is an action- a work- to believe, to have faith, to worship God first and foremost.
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
We do sojourn here on earth don't we? This isn't our final home and it wasn't intended to be, not this sin-filled, corrupted world. Jesus said in His Father's house are many mansions. Jesus also spoke of coming again to bring us to Him incorruptible, immortal. There was talk of a new heaven and a new earth. This isn't our final home and truly we only sojourn here for however long our lives may be it is only temporary that we dwell on this earth this way. So being told 'pass the time of your sojourning here in fear' it is a wise saying isn't it? We need to have a healthy fear of losing our eternal life because we holdfast to things that are corruptible, because we worship things and each other more than God.
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
We're not redeemed from this life, from earth by things that are corruptible themselves. Money won't save us, traditions won't save us, only the precious blood of Christ- a pure, unblemished sacrifical lamb- saves us. Our lives, our works, our actions are to believe in the saving grace of Christ and the blood He shed for us and to love Him with all our hearts.
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Purified your souls in OBEYING THE TRUTH THROUGH THE SPIRIT UNTO UNFEIGNED LOVE...
BORN AGAIN....BY THE WORD OF GOD
We have to believe and out of our beliefs we live, our actions are committed. We have to purify our souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit and in that we will have the unfeigned love for God and others that we need. We have to be born again through God, by the Word of God.
Living in a world that is so fully corrupted that everywhere we turn the corruption is widespread, it isn't easy to hold fast to the love of God, the truth of God. When so many things cry out to be worshipped by us over any worship of God, it's hard to truly believe the truth. Solomon talked of 'all' being vanity and he wasn't far off was He? We focus on ourselves first so much. Even in giving of ourselves we focus on the fact we give as if that is a gold star in our favor- vanity. By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit may we find the truth in the Word of God and live in truth, in love now and forever.
Amen.
1/2/11
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Our Savior healed- bodies, minds, spirits. Our Savior never ignored a need but met it wherever He could. Our Savior did not see a single person in need of healing and pass him or her by. The message of the kingdom of heaven is found in Jesus and His great example to us. No, we do not have the power He had through his connection to the Father, our sins have separated us from God. Jesus was sinless and kept His connection to the Father perfectly. The Father, and the Holy Spirit could work through our Savior because there was NOTHING separating them from Jesus, nothing.
Our Savior could perform miracles because of His perfection. The apostles were given the ability to perform miracles through their connection to Jesus, through the fact He forgave them their sins and they were cleansed by Him. He gave them their power just as God gave power to Jesus and Jesus used NO power of His own. The power the apostles used was Jesus', not theirs, they did NOT manufacture it, they were receptacles for that power and when they received the power they used it as Jesus wanted them to.
Remember this--
Act 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Act 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Act 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Act 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Act 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
These men USED Jesus' name but they were NOT connected to Jesus, they did not love Jesus, they did not have any power from Jesus and no authority to act on His behalf. These men had NO faith in our Savior, none. They thought they could simply say the name of Jesus and the power was in merely uttering His name, but they were very wrong. Is there power in Jesus' name? Yes, but there is no power in Jesus' name without a pure love for Him- it's impossible.
Those men who dared to use Jesus' name without any love for Him met with a catastrophe. The evil spirit spoke to them and said- Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you? Paul had the power of Jesus in Him through the love he had for the Savior and the evil spirit knew this. The evil spirit understood the power of God in Jesus, and the evil spirit knew that these men had NO power whatsoever to harm it.
We need to have a faith that has works-- natural works as a result of the faith we possess. We cannot say we have faith and believe in our Savior and then totally ignore all the things Jesus took to heart. We have to live as He lived, love like He loved, care like He cared. We might not have the power that He had, our faith might not be as pure as that of the apostles, but we have to believe and use whatever means we do possess to do the works of faith in Jesus.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
By the grace of God may we show our faith by our works! All through the love of Jesus, all through the love of our Savior, all through His power!
In Him Always!!!!!!!
Amen!
1/2/11