Focus on Jesus VINDICATING GOD
"And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations will know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes." Eze. 36:23, R.S.V.
God is wanting to vindicate Himself through us before the world. We will never vindicate God, but the evidence is that God will vindicate Himself through us. How is this going to happen? There's only one way. In the sanctuary, where Jesus ministers today, we find the method. There is the altar of burnt offering, reminding us of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that makes it possible for us even to enter the sanctuary. Inside, there is the table of shewbread, which represents Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Word of God. There's the altar of incense, which has to do with the righteousness of Christ and the prayers of the saints. On the other side are the golden candlesticks, with oil and light: the Holy Spirit and Christian witness. The methodology of relationship with Christ--Bible study, prayer, Christian witness, and righteousness of Christ and the Holy Spirit--is found in the sanctuary. And in the Most Holy Place are found the Ten Commandments, which through the presence and power of Jesus can still be kept.
"Perfectionism" is not a safe topic. But perfection is a Bible teaching. We cannot reach a goal that we are not aware of. Perhaps that's one reason why we are told about it. We don't have to spend a lot of time dwelling on what we must be, but we can spend some useful, thankful hours dwelling on what we can be. There's a big difference between saying, "You have to reach this goal by the time probation closes," and saying, "God is going to lead His people to victory." There's a big difference between saying, "I must," and saying, "He can."
When we do away with basing assurance on our level of perfection, let's not do away with perfection itself. At the very end, obedience or disobedience is the primary question to be decided (The Desire of Ages, p. 763). Our assurance is based on our continuing acceptance of what Jesus did at the cross, and when that is settled, we can accept perfection and obedience and victory with joy. Jesus is our High Priest, and He brings not only forgiveness from sin but power as well, for those who are tempted.
"And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations will know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes." Eze. 36:23, R.S.V.
God is wanting to vindicate Himself through us before the world. We will never vindicate God, but the evidence is that God will vindicate Himself through us. How is this going to happen? There's only one way. In the sanctuary, where Jesus ministers today, we find the method. There is the altar of burnt offering, reminding us of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that makes it possible for us even to enter the sanctuary. Inside, there is the table of shewbread, which represents Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Word of God. There's the altar of incense, which has to do with the righteousness of Christ and the prayers of the saints. On the other side are the golden candlesticks, with oil and light: the Holy Spirit and Christian witness. The methodology of relationship with Christ--Bible study, prayer, Christian witness, and righteousness of Christ and the Holy Spirit--is found in the sanctuary. And in the Most Holy Place are found the Ten Commandments, which through the presence and power of Jesus can still be kept.
"Perfectionism" is not a safe topic. But perfection is a Bible teaching. We cannot reach a goal that we are not aware of. Perhaps that's one reason why we are told about it. We don't have to spend a lot of time dwelling on what we must be, but we can spend some useful, thankful hours dwelling on what we can be. There's a big difference between saying, "You have to reach this goal by the time probation closes," and saying, "God is going to lead His people to victory." There's a big difference between saying, "I must," and saying, "He can."
When we do away with basing assurance on our level of perfection, let's not do away with perfection itself. At the very end, obedience or disobedience is the primary question to be decided (The Desire of Ages, p. 763). Our assurance is based on our continuing acceptance of what Jesus did at the cross, and when that is settled, we can accept perfection and obedience and victory with joy. Jesus is our High Priest, and He brings not only forgiveness from sin but power as well, for those who are tempted.
RSS Feed
