6 of 6 - Why Does it Matter with Andy Whitehurst - SIN-posium

Pioneer Health and Missions presented a series of six videos on the subject of sin and salvation to help inform and encourage others to study this very import topic.

This is part 6 of 6 with Andy Whitehurst entitled, “Why Does it Matter?”

Notes:

(note)  You are going to want to watch this series in order.  You don’t jump right into Daniel chapter 7 without understanding Daniel chapter 2 FIRST.  The foundation needs to be laid and understood FIRST.  So please watch these videos in order to better understand the following videos. 

This series is not for the purpose of creating a creed or a dogma, the purpose of this series is simply to let people know where Pioneer Health and Missions stands on this topic. 

(note)  If you walk away with NOTHING ELSE, I pray that you will walk away with these two things. 

1)  Definition, DEFINITION, DEFINITION! 

(note)  The WHOLE purpose of words is to convey THOUGHTS.  If I define “Holy Spirit” as “God the Spirit” then I am going to insert a DIFFERENT thought into the Bible every time I read anything about the Holy Spirit, therefore, I will come to WRONG conclusions about what is being said.  If you understand sin to have MORE THAN ONE definition, one of which is “a state of being” then you are going to CHANGE the thought that is being portrayed in inspiration.   

2)  Systematic Theology! 

(note)  What I am going to do here is show the systematic theology of all of this.  Systematic theology, simply stated, is the logical conclusion of your theology.  Let me give you a couple of examples of systematic theology.  

(note)  1)  When you look at the churches that started out with a right understanding of the Holy Spirit, you will see that they have/had a right understanding of the state of the dead and hell fire.  Why?  Because if God’s Spirit is a separate entity then ours is also (we are made in the image of God) and when we die then it must go somewhere so it must go to a hell fire or heaven immediately.  

#2 is:

“FOR INSTANCE, THE CATECHISM (403) FOLLOWS THE LEAD OF ST. PAUL IN TEACHING what the Church has always taught, namely, that the overwhelming misery which oppresses men and women and their inclination toward evil and death, cannot be understood apart from their connection with Adam’s sin and the fact that he has transmitted to us a sin with which we are all born afflicted.  THIS IS WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BAPTIZES EVEN TINY INFANTS WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED PERSONAL SIN”  Catholic Replies pg 37

(note)  There are two churches that have CORRECT systematic theology.  1)  Catholicism and 2)  the church during the time of our pioneers.  ALL other churches are CONFUSED in their systematic theology.  They are known as apostate protestants.  Those closer to Catholicism have more error and less truth and those closer to the church of our pioneers have more truth and less error but NONE of them have CORRECT systematic theology.

OVERVIEW

(note)  We are going to look first at the truth about God systematic theology and then we are going to compare that to a triune god systematic theology.  We will then look at sin is the transgression systematic theology and compare that to the sin is a state systematic theology.  When we are done with that, we will see which theology about God goes hand in hand with which sin theology.  You will see that to mix and match the systematic theologies about God with the systematic theologies about sin DOES NOT WORK!  You will see which ones NATURALLY mesh and harmonize together and which ones do NOT!

“Daniel stood in his lot to bear his testimony which was sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel’s message should be proclaimed to our world. These matters are of infinite importance in these last days; but while “many shall be purified, and made white, and tried,” “the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.” How true this is! Sin is the transgression of the law of God; and those who will not accept the light in regard to the law of God will not understand the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel’s messages. The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John, and carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth’s history.” {TM 115.3}

(note)  why will they not understand the angels’ messages?  UNDERSTANDING SIN IS FOUNDATIONAL!!!  If your foundation is NOT right then your systematic theology (logical conclusions) will lead you down the WRONG PATH!  You will end up destroying the VERY message for today!

(note)  the central pillar of our faith is the sanctuary doctrine.  When you boil it down, you are going to see TWO main things.  1)  The truth about God and His only begotten Son and 2)  what sin is and how God deals with it!  These two theologies are foundational and go hand in hand!

TRUTH ABOUT GOD SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

1 John 4:9  “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”

Jesus born with sinful flesh

Hebrews 2:14 & 15  “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”

(note)  what kind of flesh do you and I have?  SINFUL flesh!!  What kind of flesh did Jesus take on?  THE SAME!  If He didn’t then He wouldn’t be able to “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” and He wouldn’t be able to “deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”!!

Hebrews 2:16  “For verily

he took not on him the nature of angels;

but he took on him the seed of Abraham”

(note)  this is a parallel contrast.  It is a parallel statement that makes a contrast.  “He did NOT do this but He did THIS”.  In other words, He did NOT take the nature of Angels but took the seed/NATURE of Abraham!  In other words, Jesus didn’t take a nature that is not possible for YOUR child to have (I am using the word “nature” in the context of the scripture)!

Tempted like us

Hebrews 2:18a  “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted”

Overcame like we are to overcome

Hebrews 5:7  “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered”

(note)  which means He calls us to be sanctified

Sanctification

Romans 15:16b  “being sanctified by the Holy Ghost”

(note)  we can’t do this on our own and because Jesus overcame, He is able to:

Gives us His overcoming life

Hebrews 2:18b  “he is able to succor [help, aid, assist] them that are tempted”

Merciful and faithful High Priest

Hebrews 2:17  “Wherefore in all things it behoved [was necessary for] him to be made like unto his brethren [all of humanity], that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people”

(note) who are His “brethren”?  (kinsman redeemer type)

TRIUNE GOD SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

“There is one God:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit”  Fundamental beliefs #2

“That Jesus Christ is very God”  QOD pg 22

Jesus not born with our flesh

“Although born in the flesh, He was nevertheless God, and was exempt from the inherited passions and pollutions that corrupt the natural descendants of Adam.”  QOD pg 383

Not tempted like us

James 1:13  “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:for God [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man”

Did not overcome like we are to overcome

Justification only

“That the vicarious, atoning death of Jesus Christ, once for all, is all-sufficient for the redemption of a lost race.”  QOD 22

(note)  what he is saying is that everything is done and complete at the cross!  This is JUSTIFICATION ONLY!

His overcoming life falls short of sanctifying us

(note)  since He did not overcome like us, He can’t give us His overcoming life so He has to send God the Holy Spirit

Not a merciful and faithful High Priest

SIN THE TRANSGRESSION SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

Born with sinful fallen flesh

Tempted from within and without

James 1:14  “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed”

Called to overcome

Leviticus 20:7  “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy:for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them:I am the Lord which sanctify you”

Sanctification

“Erroneous theories of sanctification, also, springing from neglect or rejection of the divine law, have a prominent place in the religious movements of the day. These theories are both false in doctrine and dangerous in practical results; and the fact that they are so generally finding favor, renders it doubly essential that all have a clear understanding of what the Scriptures teach upon this point.” {GC 469.1}

“. . . By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law. And since the law of God is “holy, and just, and good,” a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed by obedience to that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of such a character. He says: “I have kept My Father’s commandments.” “I do always those things that please Him.” John 15:10; 8:29. The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the grace of God to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. This is Bible sanctification.” {GC 469.2}

Need the Holy Spirit

Romans 15:16b  “being sanctified by the Holy Ghost”

Ephesians 4:30  “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption”

Need an advocate

1 John 2:1  “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”

SIN IS A STATE SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

Born in a state of sin/separated from God

“That man was created sinless, but by his subsequent fall entered a state of alienation and depravity”  QOD pg 22

By yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. And that is why original sin is called “sin” only in an analogical sense: it is a sin “contracted” and not “committed” – a state and not an act.  (emphasis in original)  Catechism of the Catholic Church Second Edition 404

Forced to sin

“It is not in the power of Satan to force anyone to sin.  Sin is the sinner’s individual act.  Before sin exists in the heart, the consent of the will must be given, and as soon as it is given, sin is triumphant, and hell rejoices”  ST December 18, 1893 par 10

Cannot overcome

(note)  Last Generation Theology Debate

Justification only

“When, therefore, one hears an Adventist say, or reads in Adventist literature – even in the writings of Ellen G. White – that Christ is making atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making application of the benefits of the sacrificial atonement He made on the cross; that He is making it efficacious for us individually, according to our needs and requests.”  (emphasis in original) QOD pg 354-355

Must be possessed by a Being

In a letter from A. G. Daniels to Elder W. C. White (Ellen’s son), he convayed a conversation he had with Kellogg.  “He [Kellogg] then stated that his former views regarding the trinity [non-trinitarian] had stood in his way of making a clear and absolutely correct statement; but that within a short time he had come to believe in the trinity, and could now see pretty clearly where all the difficulty was, and believed that he could clear the matter up satisfactorily.  He told me that he now believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and his view was that it was God the Holy Ghost, and not God the Father, that filled all space, and every living thing.”  (October 29, 1903)

It will be said that Living Temple has been revised. But the Lord has shown me that the writer has not changed, and that there can be no unity between him and the ministers of the gospel while he continues to cherish his present sentiments. I am bidden to lift my voice in warning to our people, saying, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked”  1SM 199.3

No need of a High Priest

GC88 568.4  “It is Satan’s constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin, and the real issue at stake in the great controversy. . .”

ST, October 1, 1894 par 2  “Sinners must know what is sin before they can have a desire to be rid of sin.  It is a matter of eternal interest that we do not misconceive this vital question”

ST, June 20, 1895 par 5  “Here we have the true definition of sin; it is ‘the transgression of the law’. . . Man’s conscience has become hardened by sin, and his understanding darkened by transgression, and his judgment has become confused as to what is sin.”

(note)  if there is a TRUE definition then there must be a FALSE definition.  Why have people “become confused as to what is sin”?  Because his “conscience has become hardened by sin, and his understanding darkened by transgression”.  We CANNOT live with conviction and not do anything about it.  In order to keep our sanity, we MUST deal with the conviction

3 basic options 

1)  overcome sin 

(note)  that is pretty simple (not the same as easy)

2)  shun the Holy Spirit

(note)   This leads to being “hardened by sin” and “darkened by transgression”

3)  REDEFINE SIN! 

(note)  this is REALLY the same as #2 (it isn’t my fault, I was forced to do it because of Adam, Adam made me do it)

Appeal

If your heart’s desire is to overcome sin, will you make a public declaration and stand with me?

(note)  The Biblical systematic theologies of the “Truth About God” AND “Sin is the Transgression of the Law” lead us to the understanding that Jesus is calling us to overcome sin.  Can you hear Jesus speaking softly to you saying, “If you love me, keep my commandments”?  Can you feel Him knocking on the door of your heart?  Can you see Him with outstretched hand, pleading with you to take His hand?  Please do not shun the leading of His Spirit.  Today is the day of salvation. 

If your heart’s desire is to overcome sin, will you make a public declaration and stand with me?  While you are standing, I want to ask the Pioneer Health and Missions team to join me on the podium.  While they are coming up here, I want to read some promises that were written, from Jesus to YOU

Revelation 2:7 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God”

Revelation 2:17  “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it”

Revelation 2:26-29  “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers:even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”

Revelation 3:21-22  “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”

Prayer:  Father, I pray that you will send forth the Spirit of your Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father.  We want to overcome and eat of the tree of life in the midst of paradise, and eat of the hidden manna and have a new name.  We want to keep Jesus’ works unto the end and have power over the nations and sit with You and Your Son on the throne.  Father, we believe, help our unbelief.  We want the faith of Jesus, we NEED the faith of Jesus that we may overcome as He did.

Father, there are people here that have made a public stand with me to overcome sin and the devil doesn’t like it.  He is going to try to destroy their resolve.  I pray that you will send angels that excel in strength to watch over and protect them in this time of need. 

I pray that you fill us with your Spirit, so fully that people no longer see us but see Jesus IN us.  This we ask in the name of Your Son Jesus.  Amen

Notes: https://phm.org/why-does-it-matter-andy-whitehurst/