“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:3) I pray that God’s grace and peace are resting upon you more today than they ever have. The Lord is coming very soon, not to perform a secret rapture, not to set up a 1,000 years of peace on this earth, nor to give everyone a second chance, but to rescue His people from this wicked world, at which time the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. I pray and expect that you will be found among the faithful at that day.

I am writing while I am on the road visiting brethren across the United States. The Lord has been so good by working things out every step of the way, so that He could minister to His people. I want to thank each of you for your prayers. The Lord willing, I will give a detailed report of the trip next month. Please read our itinerary on page 11, and come to one of the meetings. We hope to see you soon.

Love, the Missing Key

by Lynnford Beachy

(This study is taken from a sermon preached in Colorado.    Editor)

Unconditional, selfless love is a key characteristic that is missing in many Christians today, yet it is the most important duty of mankind. When Jesus was asked, “Which is the first commandment of all?” He answered, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31) The first and primary responsibility for each one of us is to love God with all our hearts. And, as Jesus pointed out, before we can love God we need to know who He is. He started out His discourse by saying, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.” He says we first must know who God is, before we can love Him with all our hearts.

Suppose I ask you, “Do you love John Doe?” Before you would answer you would first want to know who John Doe is. We really don’t love people, in a close way, whom we do not know. The same is true with God. We need to know who He is, and know what He is like, before we can love Him.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” (1 John 4:7) We can be sure that anyone who truly loves, knows God. You cannot truly love unless you know God. The next verse says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (v. 8) We can also be sure that all those who do not love, do not know God. Because, if they did, they would love Him. Once you get to know God, you can’t help but to love Him.

Paul wrote, “The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.… For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:19, 22) All creation is longing to see somebody who acts and talks like Christ. Some people have said that they will start being a Christian when they see a real one first. They are waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.

How are the sons of God manifested? Jesus told us, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) This is how people are going to recognize the sons of God, by the love they have one for another. And that is what the world is earnestly waiting for and expecting to see.

Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) This is the love that the whole world is looking for a love that is willing to give everything for others. That’s what love is.

Let’s read a description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. [Love] suffereth long...” (1 Corinthians 13:1-4)

Some people become irritated very quickly, they don’t put up with much. Is that what love does? No! Love is long suffering and kind at the same time.

Love “envieth not; [love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” (1 Corinthians 13:4) Love is not proud, instead, it is humble. It puts others first. Paul wrote, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

Love, “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” (1 Corinthians 13:5) Love does not say, “What can I do to help myself today, to make me happy.” That is not the way love thinks or acts. Instead, love seeks the good of others. It says, “How can I help my friend, how can I help my neighbor today.”

Love “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:6, 7) This love will go through anything. Jesus prayed for His murderers while they were killing Him. This is what the Bible says the world is looking for. If you were to meet somebody like that you would respect him.

“[Love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

This love is the greatest thing any of us can have. That is what the world is waiting for.

What love does not do

We have seen a little bit of what love does let’s look at something that love does not do. Let’s read Psalms 50:16-20. These are some hard words for us but they are the words of God. If the shoe fits, wear it. Here it says, “Unto the wicked God saith,…” Automatically you are probably going to think, “God is talking about somebody else, we can skip over this part.” But let’s read on,

“Unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?” (Psalm 50:16) Now we see that it might be talking to you or me. It’s talking about people who profess to be God’s people. But look what it says about them: “Thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.” (v. 17) God is saying, you claim to be a follower of the Lord but you are ignoring what I have to tell you.

“When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.” (Psalms 50:18-20) Have you ever heard somebody talk behind someone’s back? Have you ever done it yourself? Do you think professed Christians ever do that? Here we are called wicked if we do that. Slandering could be when someone comes up to you and says, “Do you know what John did? He has been sneaking around with Joe’s wife.” Now, the next time you see John you are going to look at him in a different way. Everything you see him do will be weighed, and likely misconstrued, to lend evidence to what you heard about him, even though it has nothing to do with it. You may conclude that John is no good. That is what happens when you slander your brother. God says this is going on among those who profess to be His followers. Is this love? Not at all! Love doesn’t act that way.

God said, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people.” (Leviticus 19:18 ) I saw a cartoon with two children playing together, with a caption under it, “These two had an argument ten minutes ago.” Next to this was a picture of two men standing back to back with frowns on their faces. The caption below read, “These two had an argument ten years ago.” These children didn’t bear a grudge, but the two men did and they were both suffering for it.

“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.” (Zechariah 8:16, 17)

One way of imagining evil against your brother is imagining that there is evil in his heart that isn’t there. It may be saying, “Jack didn’t say hi to me when I came in, he must not like me anymore.” What you may not realize is that Jack may have something really heavy weighing on his mind, or a multitude of other things could have been going on. It’s very difficult to know what’s going on in someone’s mind, especially if you don’t talk to them about it. We are not to imagine evil of our brothers. When somebody does something to me that appears to be wrong I try to assume that he had the best of intentions and no ill feelings toward me. Innocent until proven guilty, that is a good motto to have. Because of what I have found is that most problems between two individuals are based on misunderstandings. Too often a grudge lingers because those involved are not willing to talk about it and find out what is really going on. Most people who assume things about someone else do it in a negative way. It is better not to assume anything. Don’t take things for granted, make sure you know the facts.

Our first love

Jesus says, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” (Revelation 2:2-4) Even though these people had labored and not fainted, yet the Lord had somewhat against them, they had left their first love. This is the very thing the world is looking for, and Jesus said it is missing in some of His people.

Can you look back to a time in the past when you loved God or your neighbor more than you do today? If so, then you have a problem. You have left your first love. Notice what it says next, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5) If you have this problem, then you are asked to remember what it was like before you lost this love. Then He says, “do the first works.” Think about what you were doing back then, what works were you doing differently than you do today? Were you studying the Bible more? Were you singing songs in your heart to the Lord? Were you witnessing to others, sharing the love of God? Do whatever you were doing back then and repent for drifting away.

John explained, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect,…” (1 John 4:16, 17) John gives a three step process. 1) Know God’s love, 2) Believe God’s love, 3) Dwell in God’s love. When John tells us to know God’s love he is specifically referring to the love manifested in the gift of His Son. A moment earlier John wrote, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (v. 4:9) We need to know that God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. We must believe it, place all of our confidence and faith in it, and stake our lives upon it. We must be able to say, “God, I know you are going to take care of me today; may your will be done in me, no matter what the consequences.”

The three young Hebrew captives in Babylon had this experience. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were threatened to be thrown into a fiery furnace if they did not bow down to worship the kings idol.

(Daniel 3:14, 15) They said, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:17, 18) The three Hebrews were thrown alive into the fiery furnace, but God sent His Son to walk in the fire with them and they didn’t even get their hair singed. That’s what God will do for us if we put our faith and confidence in Him. I am sure God is delighted to have opportunities like this to show Himself strong in behalf of His children.

Speaking of dwelling in God’s love, Isaiah wrote, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) Those three young Hebrews had this perfect peace. The anger of the king didn’t stir them a bit. They knew that God is more powerful than anyone else, and that He is looking out for His children. They had their minds stayed on the Lord, and that’s what we need to do. Have you ever been preoccupied with something, and you can’t get it out of your mind? Whether you’re cutting the grass, or raking leaves, or whatever you’re doing it’s in your mind, you’re continually thinking about it. That is what God’s love is to do to us. Paul said the love of Christ preoccupies us, constrains us. (2 Corinthians 5:14 with Strong’s definition)

Now apply these principles to what we just read in Revelation 2:4, 5, “Thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” If you can think of a time when you loved God more than you do today, I guarantee that you understood God’s love more, that you had faith in His love more, and that you dwelled in His love more than you do today. So that is primarily what that first works are, is knowing, believing and dwelling in the love of God as manifested in Him giving His Son.

The Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) That word keep means to guard. In prisons there are guards who watch to make sure nothing gets out or nothing gets in. That is what we are to do with our minds. Paul explained, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) Whatever we behold, our characters become changed into that image. It is a natural law. If we are continually beholding immorality, we will become immoral. However, if we are continually beholding the love of God, we will begin to love in the same way.

Bart Simpson is a very popular cartoon character whose actions teach disrespect for authority, for parents, for brothers and sisters or for anyone. this cartoon presents a bad attitude. When you keep beholding stuff like that, then you start doing the same things, speaking the same way, thinking the same way, acting the same way. That is why God says to guard your heart with all diligence. Do everything you can to protect what goes into your mind. If dirt goes in, dirt will come out. That is why God says guard it, watch out what you put in your mind.

God says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) This is what we are to think about—anything that is good, anything that is honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praise. Most of the things in the world do not fit in any of these categories, do they? If we think about pure, holy and just things, we are going to be pure, holy and just people. That is what God wants.

Behold Christ

We have been studying about what the world wants to see, God’s children manifested by their love—love for God and love for our fellow man. Think about those those three young Hebrews do you think the other people who were bowing down respected them? I believe so. Even if they did not agree with what these three were doing the idol worshipers had to respect them because they stood up for what they believed no matter what.

When I was in high school, there was a boy who was different. He had a Bible in his hand everywhere he went. Every time at lunch in the cafeteria he was alone; whenever he was walking around during breaks, he was alone, usually reading his Bible. I had long hair and dressed like a rebellious teenager, but I remember thinking what an upright person this was. I had a great deal of respect for this young man. Even though I was rebellious and into the world, I saw something in that person that was appealing. Because I saw that this person stood up for what he believed in. He didn’t care that nobody was going to eat with him at lunch, that nobody is going to talk to him. He was just going to do what was right no matter what. That’s why I say, even though those people bowed down and worshiped that image, I’m sure they had a great deal of respect for those Hebrews, especially after they came out of the fire without the smell of smoke on them, then they would have to say, “There is really something here.” It even caused the king to take a second look too. He said, “Your God must be real; He has done something amazing for you.”

How do we get that something more that the three Hebrews had? Does it just come naturally without any effort? No! They spent time with their God. They knew God very well, and that is why they were able to go through any hardship. It didn’t matter what came against them.

God wants us to know Him even better than these three Hebrews. Let us look at what God has done for us. Speaking about Jesus when He went into the garden of Gethsemane just before His death, Mark wrote, “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” (Mark 14:32-36) Three times Jesus pleaded with His Father to take this bitter experience away from Him.

Something was going on within Christ that was so severe that He pleaded with His Father to take it away and we know what was happening. The sins of the world, my sins and your sins, were being put upon the Son of God. He had to bear the sins of the whole world and then die for them. When that sin was put upon Him He separated from His Father. At last He cried out to His Father, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) He felt forsaken by His Father, and He pleaded with God to take away this awful experience.

Luke’s account says, “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:43, 44) People under extreme stress will actually sweat drops of blood. Christ was under extreme stress when He went into the Garden of Gethsemane. Was He afraid of being nailed to the cross or feeling the pain of the nails going through His hands? That’s not what He was afraid of. In fact, when He was before the rulers He didn’t seem to be troubled nearly as much as He was right here. This was a new experience. By the time He was before Pilate, He had already taken it. But what we see here, where He sweats great drops of blood, that is before a Roman soldier laid a hand on Him.

When one of His disciples pulled out a sword to fight for Him, Jesus said, “Put up again thy sword into his place:… Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:52, 53) Christ could have prayed this prayer at any time. He could have said, “God, this is enough! I am willing to go this far, but I’m not will to go any further.” If He had done this, God would have sent angels to deliver Him and He would have been delivered from any more pain and suffering, but what would have happened to us? We would have all died in our sins. Christ wasn’t willing for that to happen to any one of us.

What He was saying by this was, “I would rather die for eternity than to live without you.” He was willing to give up His eternal life for us, so that we could live. That’s a wonderful gift that He has given. I just want us to think about that.

The Bible says whatsoever things are pure, true, honest, holy, and just, we should think on these things. This is what will strengthen our love. When we see His love we love Him in return and we become like Him. It is the same with any earthly relationship here. The more we see somebody love us, the more we love them in return. The more that a man sees his wife love him, the more he loves her, and it ends up escalating and escalating because the love just continues to grow.

That is the way it is with our relationship with God. The more we see His love for us the more we are going to love Him in return and then the world will not have to wait anymore for the manifestation for the sons of God. They will have that love for their brothers and sisters and it will be seen. So let’s keep God’s love in our minds so that our love will grow for our brothers and sisters and for God.

The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection (Part 8)

by Alonzo T. Jones

(We are continuing a series of studies on God’s plan of salvation as revealed in the sanctuary. We pray they will be a blessing to you.    Editor)

Chapter 12—Perfection

The great thought and purpose of the true sanctuary, its priesthood, and ministry, is that God shall dwell in the hearts of the people. What now is the great thought and purpose of His dwelling in the hearts of the people? The answer is, Perfection. The moral and spiritual perfection of the worshiper.

Let us consider this: At the close of the fifth chapter of Hebrews, immediately following the statement that Christ, “being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 5:9, 10), it is written: “Therefore,” that is, because of this, for this reason, “leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” (Hebrews 6:1)

Next it is shown that perfection is attained only through the Melchisedec priesthood. And it is shown that this was always so and that the Levitical priesthood was only temporary and typical of the Melchisedec priesthood. Following this, in discussing the Levitical priesthood, it is written: “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,… what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11) And again, in the same connection, “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did [or “but it was the bringing in of a better hope,” margin]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” (v. 19)

By these scriptures it is perfectly plain that the perfection of the worshiper is that which is offered and which is attained in the priesthood and ministry of Christ.

Nor yet are these all the words on this thought. For, as already quoted in the description of the sanctuary and its service, it is said that it “was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.” (Hebrews 9:9) That none of this could make him that did the service perfect is its great lack. Therefore that the priesthood and ministry of Christ in the true sanctuary can and does make perfect him who enters by faith into the service is the great thought and the goal of all.

That earthly service “could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.” “But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:11, 12) This sanctuary, priesthood, sacrifice, and ministry of Christ’s does make perfect in eternal redemption every one who by faith enters into the service and so receives that which that service is established to give.

Further, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13, 14) The blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean in the Levitical service and the worldly sanctuary did sanctify to the purifying of the flesh: for so the word concerning it continually declares. And that being so, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,” sanctify to the purifying of the spirit and “purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

What are dead works? Death itself is the consequence of sin. Dead works therefore are works that have sin in them. Then the purging of the conscience from dead works is the so entirely cleansing of the soul from sin, by the blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit, that in the life and works of the believer in Jesus sin shall have no place; the works shall be only works of faith, and the life shall be only the life of faith, and so be only the true and pure “service of the living God.”

Again it is written: “The law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-4)

This again shows that though perfection was the aim in all the ministry that was performed under the law, yet perfection was not attained by any of those performances. They were all simply figures for the time then present of the ministry and priesthood by which perfection is attained; that is the ministry and priesthood of Christ. Those sacrifices could not make the comers thereunto perfect. The true sacrifice and the true ministry in “the sanctuary and the true tabernacle” do make the comers thereunto perfect, and this perfection consists in the worshipers having “no more conscience of sins.”

But since it is “not possible” for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, it was not possible, though those sacrifices were offered year by year continually, so to purge the worshipers that they should have no more conscience of sins. The blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean could and did sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, but of the flesh only. And even this was “but a figure for the time then present” of “the blood of Christ,” which so much more purges the worshipers that they have no more conscience of sins.

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:5-9)

Here are mentioned two things: “the first,” and “the second.” What are these two things? Which is “the first,” and which “the second”? The two things mentioned are sacrifice, offering, burnt offerings, and offering for sin—all as one—and the will of God. Sacrifice, offering, burnt offerings, and offering for sin—all as one—are “the first,” and “the will of God” is “the second.” “He taketh away the first that He may establish the second.” That is, He “taketh away sacrifice, offering, burnt offerings, and offering for sin,” that He may establish the will of God. And the will of God is “even your sanctification” and your perfection. (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 4:8, 12, 13; Hebrews 13:20, 21) But this could never be accomplished by those sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and offering for sin which were offered by the Levitical priesthood—they could not make the comers thereunto perfect. They could not so purge the worshipers that they should have no more conscience of sin. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sin.

Therefore, since the will of God is the sanctification and the perfection of the worshipers; since the will of God is that His worshipers shall be so cleansed that they shall have no more conscience of sin; and since the service and the offerings in that earthly sanctuary could not do this, He took it all away that He may establish the will of God. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)

The will of God is “even your sanctification.” Sanctification is the true keeping of all the commandments of God. In other words, this is to say that the will of God concerning man is that His will shall be perfectly fulfilled in man. His will is expressed in His law of Ten Commandments, which is “the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) This law is perfect, and perfection of character is the perfect expression of this law in the life of the worshiper of God. By this law is the knowledge of sin. And all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God—have come short of this perfection of character.

The sacrifices and the service in the earthly sanctuary could not take away the sins of men and so could not bring them to this perfection. But the sacrifice and the ministry of the true High Priest in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle do accomplish this. This does take away utterly every sin. And the worshiper is so truly purged that he has no more conscience of sins. By the sacrifice, the offering, and the service of Himself, Christ took away the sacrifices and the offerings and the service which could never take away sins, and by His perfect doing of the perfect will of God He established the will of God. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)

In that former earthly sanctuary and service, “every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” But in the service in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, “this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11-14)

Thus perfection in every respect is attained through the priesthood, the sacrifice, and the service of this our great High Priest at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens in His ministry in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:15-18)

And this is the “new and living way” which Christ, through the flesh, “hath consecrated for us”—for all mankind—and by which every soul may enter into the holiest of all—the holiest of all places, the holiest of all experiences, the holiest of all relationships the holiest of all living. This new and living way He “hath consecrated for us through the flesh;” that is, He, coming in the flesh, identifying Himself with mankind in the flesh, has, for us who are in this flesh, consecrated a way from where we are to where He now is, at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens in the holiest of all.

In His coming in the flesh—having been made in all things like unto us and having been tempted in all points like as we are—He has identified Himself with every human soul just where that soul is. And from the place where every human soul is, He has consecrated for that soul a new and living way through all the vicissitudes and experiences of a whole lifetime, and even through death and the tomb, into the holiest of all at the right hand of God for evermore.

O that consecrated way! Consecrated by His temptations and sufferings, by His prayers and tears, by His holy living and sacrificial dying, by His triumphant resurrection and glorious ascension, and by His triumphal entry into the holiest of all, at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens!

And this “way” He has consecrated for us. He, having become one of us, has made this way our way; it belongs to us. He has endowed every soul with divine right to walk in this consecrated way, and by His having done it Himself in the flesh—in our flesh—He has made it possible, yea, He has given actual assurance, that every human soul can walk in that way, in all that that way is and by it enter fully and freely into the holiest of all.

He, as one of us, in our human nature, weak as we, laden with the sins of the world, in our sinful flesh, in this world, a whole lifetime, lived a life “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” and “was made” and ascended “higher than the heavens.” And by this He has made and consecrated a way by which, in Him, every believer can in this world and for a whole lifetime, live a life holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and as a consequence be made with Him higher than the heavens.

Perfection, perfection of character, is the Christian goal— perfection attained in human flesh in this world. Christ attained it in human flesh in this world and thus made and consecrated a way by which, in Him, every believer can attain it. He, having attained it, has become our great High Priest, by His priestly ministry in the true sanctuary to enable us to attain.

Perfection is the Christian’s goal, and the High Priesthood and ministry of Christ in the true sanctuary is the only way by which any soul can attain this true goal in this world. “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.” (Psalm 77:13)

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:19-23)

“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:… But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:” (Hebrews 12:18-25)

(To be continued)

(This article was taken from pages 76-85 of the book, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, by Alonzo T. Jones. Some editing has been done for this publication.    Editor)

Something for the Young at Heart

This month we are beginning a series of crossword Bible studies that are based on a Bible Lesson printed by Richard Stratton of Philadelphia Press Ministries, PO Box 218, Florence, Colorado 81226. In order to maintain the flow of the study, this crossword puzzle is not split into Across and Down sections—Across or Down is indicated at the end of each line.

The Lawgiver

• In these last days, God has spoken unto us by His Son, by whom he ____ the worlds. Hebrews 1:1,2— 20 Across

• All things in heaven and earth, that are visible or invisible were made ____ him and for him. Colossians 1:16—13 Across

• He came down on Mount Sinai and spoke ____ them, giving judgments, laws and commandments. Nehemiah 9:13,14—17 Across

• By one man’s ____ many were made sinners. Romans 5:19—25 Across

Note:    For Adam to have “sinned” the law must have already existed, for “sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

• Whoever commits sin transgresses the ____. 1 John 3:4—11 Across

• When God gave the Ten Commandments, the Israelites heard His ____. Deuteronomy 4:12—12 Down

• God gave to Moses two tables of ____, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18—3 Down

• There was under his feet, as it were a paved work of ____ stone. Exodus 24:10—2 Across

Note:    Jewish history tells us that the two tables of stone given to Moses were of sapphire.

• The children of Israel were commanded to wear a fringe of ____ on their garments. Numbers 15:38— 18 Across

• The fringe of blue was to remind them of the ____, that they would do them. Numbers 15:39—10 Down

• When Moses came down from the mount, he put the tables in the ____. Deuteronomy 10:5—22 Down

• By the law is the ____ of sin. Romans 3:20—6 Across

Note:    The law is an expression of God’s character. Look up the following verses to find the divine character traits that we learn from the law and from Christ.

• ____ Read Psalm 119:97 (first part) and Romans 8:35 (first part).— 19 Down

• ____ Read Psalm 119:142 and John 14:6 (first part).—15 Across

• ____ Read Psalm 119:77 (last part) and Isaiah 42:1 (first part).— 5 Across

• ____ Read Psalm 19:7 (first part) and Hebrews 5:9.—24 Across

• ____ Read Psalm 111:7 (last part) and Hebrews 7:22.—14 Down

• ____ Read Psalm 119:172 (last part) and 1 John 2:1 (last part).—7 Across

• ____ Read Psalm 119:89 and 1 John 5:11.—23 Across

• ____ Read Romans 7:14 (first part) and 1 Corinthians 15:46, 47.— 8 Down

• ____ Read Psalm 119:165 (first part) and Ephesians 2:14 (first part).— 9 Across

• ____ Read Romans 7:12 and Acts 4:27.—16 Down

• ____ Read Psalm 89:34 and Hebrews 13:8.—4 Down

Hint:    Both Christ and God’s Word are ____.

Note:    Since the Ten Commandments are based on the nature of God, they are, of necessity, perfect and eternal. God never changes and, therefore, His law can never change.

• ____ Read James 2:12 and 2 Corinthians 3:17—1 Down

• He that has seen Christ has seen the ____. John 14:9—21 Across

Note:    If God the Father had come to this world and lived among us instead of Christ, the history that we have of the life of Christ would not be any different. Jesus said, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10)

Answers

California Camp Meeting Invitation

by Don and Dee Hager

It is with a great deal of joy for us, that Pastor Lynnford Beachy and family, along with Pastor David Sims, have accepted our invitation to come to the Southern California area for a camp meeting to share The Good News About God’s Love and His Rightousness.

When:
December 7th (7pm.), 8th (full day), 9th (full day), 10th (AM only)

Where:
Vail Lake Resort/campgrounds
38000 Highway 79 South
Temecula, CA  92591
(951) 303-0173 or 1-866-VAILLAK (824-5525)
www.vaillakeresort.com

Vail Lake is 9.2 miles east of I-15 on Hwy 79 South (Indio) at the south end of Temecula. Come for the day or stay the whole time, Thursday 1 p.m.-Sunday noon. (Let them know at the gate that you are with the camp meeting.)

The campgrounds have electric, water, restrooms, hot showers and laundry facilities.

Costs: RVs $40-45 night, tents $30-$35 night per site. (You can put 1-2 tents on each campsite, up to 6 people per site, or an RV+1 tent to share and save money.)

Note: If you need to pick up groceries, ice, supplies, etc., you will pass several stores and restaurants on 79 South. Also, there are several health food stores in town—Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Henry’s—ask where. We plan to have a potluck lunch on Sabbath, December 9th. We will prepare a simple haystack menu. The rest of the meals you will individually prepare, unless otherwise told. To all interested in attending, please let us know as soon as possible so we can move forward to complete the needed plans and reservations. We are praying that God’s Spirit will move in a mighty way and all will receive a wonderful blessing. Traveling mercies to all.

Don and Dee Hager
29635 Yorkton Rd.
Murrieta, CA  92563
(951) 677-0726
dhagerfam@msn.com

Upcoming Meetings in Your Area

Here is the currently-planned 2006 itinerary for Lynnford Beachy:

Nov. 3, 4    Crawford, Colorado, contact Chuck Clifford, 970-921-5519.

Nov. 10, 11    Moab, Utah, contact Doug Carroll, 435-259-6380.

Nov. 17, 18    Lookout, California, contact David Sims, 530-294-1115.

Nov. 24, 25    Grass Valley, California, contact Emil Maghiar, 530-268-2661.

Dec. 7-10    Southern California Camp Meeting, contact Don and Dee Hager, 951-677-0726 or Steve McClaren 513-288-8746.

Dec. 15, 16    Yuma, Arizona, contact John Brown, 501-766-2386.

Dec. 22, 23    Yuma, Arizona, contact John Brown, 501-766-2386.

Dec. 29, 30    Tucson, Arizona, contact Lynnford Beachy, 304-633-5411.

Feb. 23, 24, 2007    Pensacola, Florida, contact Chaplain Jack VanOrd, 850-458-55491.

Feb. 28-Mar. 4, 2007    Florida Camp Meeting near Orlando, contact Jim or Jerri Raymond, 407-291-9565.

Between these meetings we will be available to visit people in their homes and to have additional meetings. Check upcoming issues of Present Truth (available on our website) to keep informed about these meetings and others in your area. Please contact us (see contact info on page 12) if you would like to host meetings in your area.

Fundamental Principles of Health

by Curtis Kline

Inflammation and Cellular Damage

What is the primary cause of disease in the body? Inflammation can be related to almost every human disease. So just what is inflammation and why is it so damaging to the body. Inflammation is a neurotransmitter response at the cellular level. The reason for inflammation is because cells and tissue have been damaged by free radicals. “Well,” one may ask, “how do cells get damaged?” There are several answers. A healthy cell is designed to function properly, absorb nutrition, eliminate toxins and duplicate itself. There are two major factors that can cause a healthy cell to become an unhealthy cell. The first factor is toxic buildup. When toxins build up in the body the first response of the body is to try to eliminate the toxins through five eliminatory channels (The bowels, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin). Once the overload becomes too great, the next step is for the liver to try to store the toxins. Once the liver is overloaded, the poor body has no choice but to store the toxins in the tissue. Once enough toxins are stored in the tissue, the tissue becomes saturated with toxins. These toxins inside the cells can cause big problems. The problems can range from DNA and RNA damage to mitochondria damage. When the cells become overloaded with toxins, they can send out neurotrans- missions calling for help. If the inflammation is ignored or masked through drugs, then the inflammation worsens and opens the door for chronic illness.

The nature of the illness only depends on where the inflammation sets in first in the body. If it is in the veins and arteries, then you have arteriosclerosis. If it starts shutting down the higher functions of the cells, then you have cancer. If it gets in the colon, then you have IBS, or leaky gut syndrome, or Crohn’s disease, etc.

From the above information, there are several obvious preventative factors that can keep us from disease and also slow down the aging processes.

1 Keep all five eliminatory channels clean through good diet, colon cleanses, liver support, kidney support, lung and skin purity.

2 Support your immune system. This can be done through good diet and herbs and power foods.

3 Get plenty of vitamins and antioxidants from pure whole food sources. All the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals work very proportionately and synergistically in the body. Due to poor nutrition through modern-day food, there are certain power foods that can seriously bolster the body on the nutritional level.

4 Follow the eight laws of health.

Remember, inflammation is a sign of toxicity and lack of nutrition in the body. Inflammation is caused by free radical damage at the cellular level and powerful antioxidant support is needed to stop the process.

Until next month, blessings from Curtis.

Check us out at www.biblehealthsolutions.com.

(The above article was provided by Curtis Kline, Director of Bible Health Solutions. For more in-depth information he can be contacted at (814) 676-3141 or curkli@yahoo.com. While we believe the principles in this article can be helpful, we are not responsible for any negative effects resulting from the use of remedies or recommendations herein. Use them at your own risk.    Editor)

What Must I do to be Saved

by Ellet J. Waggoner

There is but one answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

It is not you, then, that do the saving. If you could save yourself, that very fact would show that you were not lost. “It is God that worketh.” (Philippians 2:13) Your part is to receive Him by faith.

“But I don’t feel as I ought to; I can not feel that I am saved.” If you have never been saved, how do you know how you ought to feel? You don't know how a saved  man feels. If you depend on feeling, you will never know whether you are saved or not, for you will never be sure that you have the right feeling. You may think you are saved all right, and then have your feeling give way and leave you more uncertain than ever. Our feelings are always changing.

How can you feel a thing that you don’t take hold of? Feeling is touching. If you want to feel that you are saved, the most sensible thing to do is to lay hold on salvation, and that is done only by faith. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) The Word of God gives life to the dead; and life is salvation. But a dead man cannot feel anything. The Word awakens him to life. You therefore receive the living Word of God, and you will find life. Then, no matter what your feeling may be, you will know that you are saved.

Jesus saves!  That is what His name means. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Thank God for salvation that depends not on our fitful feeling, but on His eternal, almighty power. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Do it, then, do it.

(This article was taken from tract entitled, “Salvation in Jesus Christ.” Some editing has been done for this publication.    Editor)

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