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Commentary on "Cities of Refuge"

MARK MARTIN

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, December 19, 2009

 

This lesson’s memory text:

“so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us” (Hebrews 6:18-20a, NLT). [v.20a added]

This “hope” spoken of in the memory text; what is this hope? This ‘hope that is set before us’ in this context was to the early Christians that Christ defeated death after taking the punishment for the sins of those who trust Him allowing them to also defeat death and spend eternity in the presence of God.

It is indeed true that God is faithful in all He does. He can be expected to keep His promises.God promised to Abraham that his descendants would multiply and inherit the promised land. God’s promise to Abraham was not based upon Abraham’s works, but on his faith. (Genesis 15:6), then the Lord established an eternal covenant with him. Normally, when a covenant was made both partners took oaths and swore, on penalty of death that they would keep the covenant promise they had made. In this case, however, the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon Abraham so he was not allowed to participate in establishing the covenant. This covenant was initiated by the Lord and not by Abraham in the first place and the Lord would not allow Abraham to participate in its establishment. While Abraham slept, the Lord swore to honor this covenant, apart from Abraham’s works or participation.

This is very important because it shows that like the Eternal Covenant the New Covenant is completely based upon the Lord’s initiative and His word and work. God has kept His promise to Abraham to this very day (Jer. 31:35-37; Ezek. 37-39; Rom. 11:1-2; 6, 11, 25). As a result, we can be assured that He will fulfill His promise to save us and keep us saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us” (Hebrews 6:18-20a, NLT). [v.20a added]

A simple, unbiased reading of this Scripture plainly contradicts the unique Seventh-day Adventist teaching of the Investigative Judgment that declares that Jesus only entered the Most Holy Place after October 22, 1844. The passage, written over 1,800 years previously, clearly states that Jesus was already within the veil. This is the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. (Heb. 9:3, 11-12). In order to establish the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment one must ignore or explain away this text and others that clearly contradict this hallmark of Adventist fundamental belief.

One must be reminded what the Investigative Judgment doctrine teaches, since this doctrine has been the subject of confusion and reinterpretation. Ellen White taught in her book, The Great Controversy, that beginning on October 22, 1844, Jesus began a work of judging a believer’s works; a judgment which will determine their salvation. This, of course, completely conflicts with the New Testament’s clear teaching of salvation by grace through faith; --a teaching that Adventists also desire to incorporate. We must choose to believe one method of salvation or the other because the two are logical inconsistencies.

The Scripture teaches that at His ascension Jesus entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 9:11-12); this was an integral part of the message presented by the Apostles.

Acts 2:33: "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” NASU

Acts 5:31-32: "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." NASU

Acts 7:56: “…and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." NASU

Colossians 3:1: “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” NASU

Hebrews 1:2-3: “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” NASU

Hebrews 1:13: “But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND , UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?” NASU

Hebrews 8:1: “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,” NASU

Hebrews 10:11-12: “…but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,” NASU

Hebrews 12:1-2: “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” NASU

1 Peter 3:21b-22: “…Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” NASU

Bear in mind that Adventists teach that the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment is one of the Three Angel’s Messages, the proclamation of which distinguishes them as God’s only remnant Church on earth, yet this doctrine conflicts with the teaching of the apostles. Kindly, we point out, that this teaching has never been taught in the history of the church and would never have been had it not been for the extra-biblical revelations of one whom Adventists claim to be a latter-day prophet.

The Bible says that those who believe in Jesus will never enter into a judgment of their works which would determine their salvation:

John 5:24: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

John 5:24 NLT: "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

Romans 8:1:“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” NASU

Romans 8:1 NLT: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” NASU

Romans 5:1-2 NLT: “Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.”

Another question comes straight from the lesson: “The only question for us is, Will we be there, or will we be like the first generation, who despite all that was done for them, refused to enter into the promises given them?”

A natural question to ask is what are the promises given to us in this new covenant delivered to us by God the Son and how do we enter into them?

“Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. “ (Galatians 3:21-25, NLT)

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” (Romans 3:19-28, NLT)

Through faith in Jesus Christ we may enter into a New Covenant relationship with God, one based upon the same promises that God made with Abraham before God gave the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 Corinthians 3:4-4:1: “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Notice how the apostle describes the Old Covenant of the Ten Commandments, if it were not the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of God one could hardly believe it!

“6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

Why do many people refuse to believe Paul’s clear words about the Old and New Covenants?

“12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13 and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” NASU

“But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor. 3:14-16, NLT)

 

Summary

  1. God’s promises to us are based upon His keeping His covenant with Abraham and Israel.
  2. Jesus ascended to the right hand of God in the Holy of Holies when He ascended to heaven, not in 1844.
  3. One of the distinguishing doctrines of Adventism, the Investigative Judgment, contradicts the Bible and the desire of manyAdventists to proclaim salvation by grace through faith.
  4. Ellen White’s teaching contradicts the Scriptures. Do I give allegiance to the Scriptures or Ellen White?
  5. Our hope is in Christ—His sacrifice for our sins, resurrection from the dead, and His promise to be with us.
  6. Do you trust in the promise of Jesus Christ or are you like that first generation?
  7. Do you trust in the finished work of Christ or in your own works?

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised December 18, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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