10.02.2017 Views

Then Shall the Sanctuary Be Cleansed - Donald K. Short

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

His plan was to talk face to face with His children.<br />

This relation could not continue because man<br />

desired to "be as God" and take His place. So man<br />

was embarrassed. This means that <strong>the</strong> problem<br />

facing God is to get man to see <strong>the</strong> enmity that<br />

absorbs him. This predestines a repentance and<br />

confession of <strong>the</strong> alienation that exists. In seeing<br />

himself as he really is, man will know that his own<br />

"righteousness" leaves him "naked," and in need of<br />

<strong>the</strong> clothing from <strong>the</strong> Source which provides<br />

"white raiment," <strong>the</strong> righteousness of Christ.<br />

Adventists are not accustomed to consider all<br />

this when <strong>the</strong>y think of being church members. Too<br />

often <strong>the</strong> chief concern is getting to heaven. To a<br />

large degree <strong>the</strong> sin problem is ignored. The hope<br />

is to be "good enough" to appease an angry God,<br />

but this is <strong>the</strong> same thinking that motivates pagan<br />

religions. The principle that man can save himself<br />

by his own works is <strong>the</strong> basis of every hea<strong>the</strong>n<br />

religion and provides no barrier against sin. But it<br />

has an ancient history among God's people and in<br />

our modern times it has only become more refined.<br />

The church will not sing <strong>the</strong> song of Moses and<br />

117

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!