Day: May 19, 2018

Mark Howard correct on human and divine nature of Christ

Mark Howard is a SDA pastor who is head of the Emmanuel Institute of Evangelism. Today I listened to his 2 sermons on the Human Nature of Christ, and can wholeheartedly recommend them.

I’ve written on the human/divine nature of Christ several times on this blog, and have often lamented the fact that very few of us SDAs understand this issue properly. I admit I was spoiled as a child by being taken to Robert Brinsmead meetings when he was still straight in his theology, and as an elementary school kid grasped the fact that Jesus was 100% divine, and 100% human, that he wasn’t born with propensities to sin like we are, and this his temptations were much stronger than anything we will ever be called on to face.

But very few fellow SDAs believe that way. Most of the Liberals don’t believe that overcoming sin is possible in this life, so whatever position they hold on anything is basically pointless. Sadly, fellow Conservatives in the church run the gamut from saying we are all born sinless (because Jesus was), to saying that Jesus was born a sinner (because we are). Neither of those positions is true – because – Jesus was not exactly like all of us born humans in everything! Jesus was born in the moral position of Adam, not needing a Saviour. He was born that “sinless” thing.

Many people quote Hebrews 2:17 ” Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren… “. Of course. Notice however, it doesn’t say that he was made in all things like fallen brethren. That’s why there is no contradiction with 1Corinthians 15:45-47 ” And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. ”

Jesus was the second Adam (see Testimony for the Church no.14 p.37), whose physical body was degenerated by 4,000 years of sin. But while all of us humans who have ever been born (except Jesus), have been born in sin, needing a Saviour to cleanse us from our sins. Jesus did not need that.

Some say this is a tempest in a teapot, but as Mark Howard rightly quotes from the SOP, Christ’s humanity is everything to us. Wrong theology here can lead to people like David Gates saying it is theoretically possible to earn your way to heaven (!!), and Kevin Paulson saying it is possible to go to heaven without ever needing the cleansing blood of Christ (if we never choose to sin). These positions are basically blasphemy.

Many fellow Conservatives accuse me of saying that if Jesus was born different from us, then it is impossible for us to overcome sin. I really don’t know how they come to that odd conclusion, except that they consider Jesus must have had an advantage over us if he was born sinless. I tell them, as Mark Howard does here too, that it was much more difficult to keep his humanity (in other words – to not use his divinity), as it is for us to rise above our sinful natures and grasp hold of divinity. By way of example, I tell people how it was difficult for me to stay in the crazy, nasty places I’ve been too (especially India), when I know at any moment I can instantly get out of there. Fortunately Jesus chose to fulfill his mission, and be the perfect example for us in everything.

So I’m extremely happy and delighted to see a SDA pastor, even a director of an institute for evangelism, preach the truth on this important subject. I wholeheartedly recommend his 2-part audio sermons:
Mark Howard – Human Nature of Christ part1
Mark Howard – Human Nature of Christ part2

Stephen Bohr conflates God’s statutes with “ceremonies”

The following is a response to Stephen Bohr’s video titled: “Hebrew Religious Calendar 20/24 Must we keep the Feasts?”: https://youtu.be/VVI-QoLsY-w

8:10 Pastor Bohr, perhaps you weren’t aware that God definitely DID tell Eve not to touch the fruit? From Ellen White: Spiritual Gifts. Volume 3 pg: 35 In the midst of the garden, near the tree of life, stood the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Of this tree the Lord commanded our first parents not to eat, neither to touch it, lest they die. He told them that they might freely eat of all the trees in the garden except one; but if they ate of that tree they should surely die.

You keep talking about “ceremonial law”, but that is not a biblical term.

Abraham keep the commandments, statutes, and judgments (Genesis 26:5), so there were people keeping the feasts of the Lord before Sinai.

23:00 Trying to make the Statutes of the Lord be something “contrary to us” is unfortunate, as God says they are perfect.

39:23 You talk about “physiology”, meaning that the statutes regarding unclean foods haven’t been done away with, but reject the statutes saying WHEN to have holy convocation days to the Lord?

47:50 “insult to Jehovah” to do the sacrifices and oblations – which were prophesied of in Daniel 9:27 to be done away with. To say it would be an “insult to Jehovah” to keep the feasts after the cross, means that Jehovah insulted himself by pouring out his Holy Spirit exactly on the day of Pentecost!

49:25 You quote where the rites and ceremonies had been going on for 4,000 years, which contradicts what you said earlier that they were started at Sinai…..

Your biggest error seems to be that you have conflated “holy convocations of the Lord” with “rites and ceremonies”, which is unfortunate, as you are calling on people to be lawbreakers.

May you repent, and resolve to keep all of God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments.