Participants: Kameron DeVasher
Series Code: 16SCM
Program Code: 16SCM000006A
00:51 Welcome to 3ABN's Spring Camp Meeting:
00:57 Live from the 3ABN Worship Center. 01:01 Hello and welcome once again to Spring Camp Meeting: 01:06 Christ, Calvary, and the Sanctuary. 01:08 This has been already - would you agree? 01:12 something that has been truly spiritually moving 01:15 and we're really learning a lot. 01:17 We want to welcome all of those who are watching 01:20 by television or Internet or perhaps listening on the radio 01:23 as well as all of our live audience. 01:26 And we've had some wonderful sermons thus far, 01:29 but we're getting ready to have another one. 01:31 Our speaker for this hour is Pastor Kameron DeVasher. 01:35 And Kameron has been pastoring for over 15 years. 01:39 He's a graduate of Southern University. 01:42 But he has recently moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. 01:47 He was in Fremont, and now the people there 01:52 are so upset because they've lost their pastor. 01:56 But he has taken a new assignment in Kalamazoo, 02:00 Michigan. And Kameron has a beautiful wife and 3 lovely 02:04 children. And what I have found about him 02:08 is he is so balanced. 02:10 I really like it when you're around someone who is balanced. 02:13 And he is a preacher of the truth with great spiritual 02:17 insight. So he's going to be presenting... 02:21 As we think about God's way being in the sanctuary 02:24 first piece of furniture we see is what? 02:27 The altar of burnt offering. What's next? 02:30 The shining laver. 02:32 So that will be Kameron's presentation. 02:35 But first we have our very own C.A. Murray, 02:38 pastor... you name it and he is. 02:43 But C.A. is going to be singing for us 02:46 a song titled Is It Any Wonder. 03:07 When I think how Jesus loved me, 03:13 how He waited patiently 03:17 even when I turned my back and walked away. 03:23 When He knew I wanted everything 03:29 this world could offer me 03:33 well I guess He knew the price I'd have to pay. 03:39 So He watched me stumble downward, 03:43 saw each compromise I made, 03:47 heard each lie I whispered just to get my way. 03:54 Still He waited there to hear me 03:58 when I cried to Him and prayed 04:03 then He saved my soul 04:06 and that is why I say: 04:10 "Tell me, is it any wonder 04:16 that I love Him 04:21 when you consider all He's done 04:25 for me? 04:28 And is it any wonder 04:32 that I long to do His will 04:36 and let His light shine out 04:39 for all to see? 04:43 And is it any wonder 04:48 that I praise Him 04:53 each time I think of how 04:56 He's made me free? 05:00 And is it any wonder 05:05 that I've given Him my heart 05:08 when Jesus freely gave His life 05:12 for me? " 05:27 When I think how Jesus loved me, 05:32 how He watches patiently. 05:37 How His arms are stretched to meet me when I run. 05:43 When I'm feeling down and lonely 05:48 how He's there to comfort me. 05:52 In the darkness He becomes my morning sun. 05:59 When I think of how He's healed me, 06:03 how He's touched me in my pain 06:06 how His gentle hands have wiped my tears away. 06:13 How He's taken every heartache 06:18 and drawn happiness again 06:22 oh I want the world to hear me 06:25 when I say: 06:28 "Tell me, is it any wonder 06:34 that I love Him 06:39 when you consider all He's done 06:42 for me? 06:46 And is it any wonder 06:50 that I long to do His will 06:54 and let His light shine out 06:57 for all to see? 07:00 And is it any wonder 07:05 that I praise Him 07:10 each time I think of how 07:13 He's made me free? 07:17 And is it any wonder 07:21 that I've given Him my heart 07:25 when Jesus 07:28 freely 07:30 gave His life 07:34 for me? " 07:50 Amen! Praise God! 07:54 I'm not sure I quite heard you. All the people said? 07:56 Amen! Amen! 07:58 Happy... Thursday, everyone. 08:05 As a preacher you walk out in front of a congregation 08:08 this time of the day... It's muscle memory that wants to 08:10 say "Happy Sabbath" but you know as you read the account 08:14 of the early believers in Acts chapter 2... 08:17 I almost said: "If you have your Bibles with you. " 08:19 Since you have your Bibles with you, 08:22 it says here of the new believers in Acts chapter 2 08:25 verse 46: "So continuing daily 08:28 with one another in the temple 08:31 and breaking bread from house to house, they ate bread... 08:33 they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart 08:36 praising God and having favor with all the people. 08:39 And the Lord added to the church daily 08:42 those who were being saved. " 08:43 So friends, it's good to be together in fellowship 08:46 praising, worshiping, and studying together 08:49 as the early believers did. 08:51 And I am firmly convinced that we need to learn 08:54 lessons from the Word of God and from those early believers 08:58 because God is looking for a generation of last-day believers 09:02 who will hasten the coming of Jesus and see Him soon 09:05 and very soon. So I am so appreciative of 3ABN 09:08 and the theme that has been chosen for Camp Meeting 09:11 this year. I love the sanctuary, 09:13 the services that go along with it, 09:15 and of course the significance of all of those pieces of 09:19 furniture... all of the symbolism and the richness 09:21 and fullness it can bring to our lives today. 09:25 The task I have been burdened with today is to discuss 09:28 and make application of the significance of the shining 09:32 laver. And I'll be honest... Well, I'm trying to take 09:36 that phrase out of my vocabulary. 09:38 To say "I'll be honest with you" implies I haven't been honest 09:41 up to that point, but... It was a bit of a challenge. 09:45 But as I began to study and dig deeper 09:48 I found triune blessing that I hope you will see 09:51 from the Word of God, from the Spirit of Prophecy, 09:53 as we seek to be God's people 09:55 in these last days of earth's history. 09:58 But before we do any study of God's Word 10:00 we of course need to begin with a word of prayer. 10:02 So if you would, please bow your heads. 10:04 Dear heavenly Father, I want to thank you so much 10:07 for this sunshiny, beautiful Thursday that we get to come 10:11 together in fellowship. And now, Lord, as we turn our 10:14 attention to the study of Your Word we would ask 10:17 that You would fulfill in our midst the promise that You gave 10:21 to send the Holy Spirit to be our teacher. 10:24 Lord, we don't want to just see these words written on paper. 10:26 We want these words written on our person... 10:29 in our very hearts. Teach us lessons today 10:32 so that we may be the people who see Jesus come 10:35 in our lifetime. For we pray it in Jesus' name, Amen. 10:41 Now the laver... the shining laver. 10:44 It's one of the least-mentioned articles in the sanctuary 10:49 and its services BUT it's actually of tremendous 10:54 significance and import to Christians - especially 10:57 those living in the very last days of earth's history. 11:00 We're going to study this out a little bit more. 11:02 But of the 20 or so times it is explicitly mentioned 11:05 in the Bible nearly all of the passages kind of 11:10 mention the laver in passing in a list of other items. 11:12 There's the altar, there's the curtains, there's the laver. 11:15 They kind of mention it. Others mention it... 11:18 how its construction was to be made, out of what material. 11:22 The dimensions of it. But only a couple of passages 11:26 speak specifically to the function of the laver 11:29 in the sanctuary service. So I want to begin with 11:31 studying out what it was there for. Let's go to the book of 11:34 Exodus and let's go to chapter 30. 11:37 Exodus chapter 30... just a few chapters after 11:44 the recording of God's instruc- tion to even have a sanctuary. 11:50 He outlines the pieces of furniture and specifically 11:52 the laver. We can find it in Exodus chapter 30 and we're 11:55 going to go to verse 17. 11:57 "Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying: 'You shall also make 12:00 a laver of bronze with its base also of bronze 12:05 for... ' What? 'washing. 12:08 You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting 12:11 and the altar and you shall put water in it. 12:13 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet 12:17 in water from it when they go into the tabernacle of meeting 12:21 or when they come near the altar to minister 12:23 to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord 12:25 they shall wash with water... ' Now look at the next 3 words: 12:28 'lest they... ' What? 'die. ' " 12:32 That's a pretty significant detail. 12:35 "So... " verse 21 says... "they shall wash their hands 12:38 and feet lest they die. " Again it's repeated. 12:42 "And it shall be a statute forever to them 12:44 to him and his descendants throughout their generations. " 12:47 That's the central passage on the function and import 12:51 of the laver. Once again, we go to Exodus chapter 40- 12:56 turn over to the right just a little bit more - 12:57 and we see basically the same thing repeated. 13:00 This time when the actual tabernacle - sanctuary - 13:03 furniture pieces were established and built 13:07 we see again the same instruction. 13:09 Exodus chapter 40. We're going to be looking at verses 30-32. 13:14 When Moses put together all these pieces 13:17 to build the Lord's tent. Said: "He put the laver 13:21 between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar 13:23 and put water there for washing. 13:25 And Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands 13:29 and their feet with water from it. 13:31 Whenever they went into the tabernacle of meeting 13:34 and when they came near the altar 13:36 they washed as the Lord had commanded them. " 13:40 Now it's interesting... I just found this interesting to me 13:43 as an English-only speaker 13:46 I had to think about what's a laver for? And oh, 13:49 it's for washing. Well I found out that in many languages... 13:52 you think of French and Spanish and Portuguese, 13:54 Italian... basically the word for wash is laver. 13:58 OK? So basically it's just a basin for the purpose of washing 14:03 with water. Such a simple tool... 14:06 such a simple function. Yet neglecting this step 14:10 in the sanctuary services would result in what? Death! 14:13 So clearly it's simple but it's significant, yes? 14:18 OK. Now... let's go even further. 14:21 There were two washings that the priests - you know, Aaron 14:25 and his sons - would undergo in their role as representatives 14:30 of God's people and priests to the Lord. 14:32 It says here... Let's go to Leviticus chapter 8. 14:35 You see the book of Exodus is primarily dealing with the 14:38 physical building of the sanctuary 14:40 and all of its furnishings. 14:42 The book of Leviticus outlines the services in the sanctuary 14:46 and the offerings and the ministerial rites that go 14:48 along with it. And in Leviticus chapter 8... 14:51 Leviticus chapter 8... 14:57 we find the setting apart of Aaron and his sons 15:00 for the work of ministry with a ceremonial washing. 15:05 Chapter 8, the scripture reads: "And the Lord spoke to Moses 15:10 saying: 'Take Aaron and his sons with him and their garments, 15:13 the anointing oil, a bull as a sin offering, 15:17 two rams and a basket of unleavened bread 15:19 and gather all the congregation together at the door of the 15:22 tabernacle of meeting. " The service itself: Moses was to 15:25 take Aaron and his sons and all the accoutrements of their 15:29 ministry and bring them to the door of the tabernacle 15:33 of meeting. " And it says: "And gather all the congregation 15:37 together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 15:39 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him 15:44 and the congregation was gathered together at the door 15:47 of the tabernacle of meeting. And Moses said to the 15:50 congregation: 'This is what the Lord commanded to be done. ' " 15:56 Sorry, that was verse 6 not 16 15:57 if you're trying to clarify that. So it goes on: 16:02 "Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them 16:05 with water. " Several points I want to notice about this 16:07 initial washing. First of all, there is no mention of this 16:12 washing being limited to only the hands and the feet. 16:17 The implication here is this is a full-person washing 16:21 at their setting apart or consecration service 16:24 for their work in the earthly sanctuary. 16:28 Also note that this washing was explicitly to be done 16:33 publicly... in front of all the congregation 16:36 of the people. And finally, in this dedication service 16:41 for the priest and his work in the sanctuary 16:43 he had to be washed by someone else. 16:48 He was not to dedicate himself or consecrate himself 16:52 or appoint himself to this office. 16:53 Moses was to wash them. 16:57 In his tremendous book M. L. Andreasen wrote: 17:01 The sanctuary service... it's page 62 17:04 about this particular washing. Makes this note: 17:07 "God was teaching them that the purity 17:10 which He required was not something they themselves 17:14 could provide. Someone else must provide it for them. " OK? 17:20 So the washing is not something of self-regeneration 17:24 or self-purification. It's a reflection of the washing 17:27 that can only come from One who is Himself pure... 17:30 which is God. This was to be done publicly - 17:34 and fully - one time to set apart these priests 17:40 for their work. Now, only after that initial washing 17:45 of consecration to the sacred office 17:48 could a priest then administer the services of the sanctuary 17:52 which required the washing of his hands and feet. 17:56 This was done not as a singular ceremony then... 17:59 but frequently as part of his daily duties. 18:03 So you have the one-time full body washing 18:05 to consecrate and set them apart for service 18:07 then you have the ongoing washings 18:09 in the daily rounds of the rituals and ceremonies 18:13 where you wash your hands and your feet. 18:16 Now, Ellen White notes that 18:22 this ongoing washing of the hands and the feet 18:26 was not merely for personal purification. 18:29 You'll find this in Testimonies for the Church volume 2 18:33 page 613. 18:37 "The laver was placed between the altar and the congregation 18:43 that before they came into the presence of God 18:45 in the sight of the congregation they might wash their hands 18:48 and their feet. " She then asks rhetorically: 18:53 "What impression was this to make upon the people? 18:58 It was to show them - that is, the people - 19:02 that every particle of dust must be put away 19:06 before they could go into the presence of God... 19:09 for He was so high and holy 19:12 that unless they did comply with these conditions 19:16 death would follow. " 19:20 Now... I trust I'm not getting above the congregation here 19:25 when I assume that we all recognize 19:28 That Jesus Christ is now serving as our High Priest 19:32 in the heavenly sanctuary - Amen? 19:35 and thus the earthly priesthood that foreshadowed Christ's 19:39 ministry has long since ceased. Right? 19:44 We are told unambiguously... Let's go to the book of Hebrews 19:47 chapter 8. I'm guessing over this weekend you'll be exposed 19:50 to this passage more than once. 19:52 But I want to make sure that we see it right there in the Bible. 19:57 When we talk about a heavenly sanctuary 19:59 this is not just a Seventh- day Adventist construction. 20:01 This is a Biblical concept directly from the Word of God. 20:05 And as believers we're told to be able to give a reason 20:09 for the hope that is in us any time, right? 20:11 So we should be able to open up our Bibles and to have a 20:14 "Thus saith the Lord" about the truth of the heavenly sanctuary. 20:17 Hebrews chapter 8. Notice what the apostle Paul here says 20:20 in verse 1: "Now THIS is the main point of the things 20:24 we are saying... " So all the things about Christ's priesthood 20:27 he was leading up to through the first 7 chapters 20:29 he comes to chapter 8 and says: "Now this is the point. " 20:32 "We have... " present tense... 20:36 "a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne 20:40 of the majesty in the... " What? "the heavens. 20:43 A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle 20:48 which the Lord erected and not man. " 20:51 So when it says "a true tabernacle" 20:53 that's not to say that the others that we read about in the 20:55 Old Testament were false. It's not a construction of true 20:59 versus false. It's original versus shadow, 21:02 right? He goes on to explain. 21:04 Notice: "For every high priest is appointed to offer both 21:07 gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is necessary 21:10 that this One... " speaking of Jesus... 21:12 "also have something to offer. " 21:15 But friends, did He go into heaven with the blood of bulls 21:17 and goats? No! He went into heaven with 21:19 the blood of His own personal sacrifice. 21:23 "For... " it says in verse 4... 21:24 "if He were on earth... " If He were just another man 21:28 living here on earth... "He would not be a priest since 21:31 there are priests who offer the gifts according to law. " 21:34 But notice what it says about their service. Verse 5: 21:37 "who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly thing. " 21:41 So all of the rites, services, and furnishings 21:45 were shadows and copies of the original 21:48 that Christ is now our ministering Priest. 21:51 Goes on. "Who served the copy and shadow of the 21:55 heavenly things as Moses was divinely instructed 21:57 when he was about to make the tabernacle. 21:59 He said: 'See that you make all things according to the pattern 22:02 shown you on the mountain. ' But now... " 22:05 Notice the construction, verse 9: "Now He has obtained 22:08 a more excellent ministry 22:10 inasmuch as He is also mediator of a better covenant 22:14 which is established on better promises. " 22:17 Continuing in verse 7: "For if that first covenant had been 22:20 faultless then no place would have been sought for a second. " 22:24 Skip down to verse 13: 22:26 "In that He says a new covenant 22:29 He has made the first... " What's the next one? 22:31 "obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old 22:36 is ready to vanish away. " So the apostle Paul makes it 22:40 unambiguously clear that all the services, 22:42 all the sanctuary items and rites and rituals, 22:47 were fulfilled in Jesus Christ and are being fulfilled 22:51 even now today. So what we're talking about is type 22:54 versus anti-type, and Jesus Christ is the great original... 22:58 the real thing in heaven. 23:00 So... I want to be clear about this. 23:03 Paul here notes that the ceremonial services 23:05 of the sanctuary were fulfilled in Christ. 23:07 That does not, however, mean that the spiritual significance 23:13 of those former rites have no relevance 23:16 to New Testament Christians. 23:19 For instance, notice his sanctuary service language 23:24 and the accouterments of the sanctuary he employs when he 23:28 gave counsel to the church in Corinth. 23:31 Go to I Corinthians chapter 5. 23:34 I Corinthians chapter 5 23:38 speaking to the brethren there starting with verse 6 23:46 he gives them practical counsel and listen to the language 23:49 he employs, the symbolism he uses to teach spiritual lessons. 23:54 He says: "Your glorying is not good. 23:57 Do you not know? " 24:00 And by the way, Paul uses that phrase: "Do you not know? " 24:05 oftentimes. "Do you not know that the saints will judge 24:08 the world? " "Do you not know? " he would say in other places. 24:10 Basically saying: "This is a fundamental 24:13 basic Christianity 101 teaching that I'm going through with you 24:17 here. " And he says: "Do you not know 24:19 that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 24:24 Therefore purge out the old leaven 24:27 that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. " 24:31 So he's talking about unleavened bread, but he's not saying 24:34 the actual physical bread of the ceremonial. 24:37 He's talking about the appli- cation in the spiritual life 24:39 of the believer, right? 24:41 Goes on to say: "For indeed Christ our Passover... " 24:45 Notice he's talking about the fulfillment of those services 24:48 in Jesus Christ... "Christ our Passover was sacrificed 24:51 for us. Therefore let us keep the feast 24:55 not with old leaven nor with the leaven of malice 25:00 and wickedness but with the unleavened bread 25:02 of sincerity and truth. " 25:05 Right? So he takes the imagery of the sanctuary 25:08 and its services and its accoutrements 25:10 and he applies the spiritual significance to our lives today. 25:14 So while the type has met anti-type, the significance 25:18 is still applicable. Does that make sense? OK. 25:24 Similarly... Let's go back to our laver now... 25:27 What would be the modern-day, New Testament 25:30 significance of the washings 25:34 mentioned with the shining laver? 25:37 Similarly it is of more than passing interest to note that 25:41 in His establishment of the church that would bear His name 25:45 going forward Jesus Christ seems to have purposefully 25:50 integrated into the New Testament faith 25:53 the two washing ceremonies of the ancient sanctuary 25:57 and its laver. Once restricted to the representative 26:02 of the people and the priest himself 26:04 now they're extended to all believers. 26:08 Let's study it out a little bit more. 26:11 First, that initial washing. 26:17 Christ - both by explicit command and personal example - 26:23 established a full-body washing 26:26 of baptism as the signature demonstration 26:31 of faith in Him and connection with His body 26:34 on earth: the church. 26:35 Go to Matthew chapter 3. You're well familiar, but this 26:38 is the beginning of Christ's public ministry. 26:40 And He didn't just go and start preaching and start healing... 26:43 He first went and got baptized. 26:46 Matthew chapter 3 starting with verse 13: 26:50 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan 26:53 to be baptized by him. 26:55 And John tried to prevent Him saying: 'I need to be baptized 26:59 by You and are You coming to me? ' " 27:01 Now you've got to understand: John was a preacher of 27:04 righteousness. He was trying to call people to repentance for 27:06 their sins, and here comes the Sinless One looking for baptism. 27:11 But Jesus wasn't getting baptized for remission of 27:13 His own sins but to set an example for the church 27:16 going forward. Notice what he says: 27:18 "But Jesus answered and said to him: 27:20 'permit it to be so now for thus it is fitting for us 27:24 to fulfill all righteousness. ' Then he allowed Him. " 27:29 He said: "It's not for Me, but it's still something we need 27:32 to do. " "When He had been baptized 27:36 Jesus came up immediately from the water and behold 27:38 the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God 27:40 descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 27:42 And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying: 27:45 'This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. ' " 27:49 This was the anointing of Jesus, the setting Him apart 27:52 for His public work of ministry as our sacrificial Lamb 27:57 who would become our Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. 28:00 The initial washing. Now, go over to the gospel of John - 28:04 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then John - 28:07 chapter 3 28:11 and Jesus speaks of this washing 28:14 of baptism 28:19 of particular significance to the Christian walk. 28:24 Here in John chapter 3 is the record of Jesus' midnight 28:27 interview with Nicodemus. 28:29 And we'll just skip down to verse 3 to get to our salient 28:32 point: "Jesus answered and said to him: 'Most assuredly 28:35 I say to you: unless one is born again 28:39 he cannot see the kingdom of God. ' " 28:43 Now you remember in the Old Testament services 28:45 to not be washed would be death. 28:48 Now Jesus employs it: "I say to you: unless he is born 28:52 again he cannot see the kingdom of God. ' 28:53 Nicodemus said to Him: 'How can a man be born when he is old? 28:56 Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb 28:59 and be born? ' " And Jesus explains what He means 29:02 by the new birth. "Jesus answered: 'Most assuredly 29:05 I say to you: unless one is born of water and the Spirit 29:10 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ' " 29:14 Cannot enter the kingdom of God. 29:16 Let's look at another example of this. 29:18 Mark chapter 16 on the other end of Jesus' ministry 29:23 when it was time for Him to return to heaven 29:24 and He was giving His final instructions to the believers 29:26 here on earth - those who would build the church in His name - 29:30 He gives instruction about baptism. 29:33 Mark chapter 16 after He says in verse 15 29:38 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel 29:40 to every creature" He then adds in verse 16 29:43 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved 29:49 but he who does not believe will be... " What? 29:52 "condemned. " So there's salvation or condemnation 29:56 And Jesus says: "He who believes and is baptized" 29:59 will receive the salvation. 30:01 Now... I want to be clear at this point. 30:05 Neither in the Old Testament's washing at the laver 30:09 or the New Testament washing of baptism 30:11 was it understood that the water itself 30:15 or the mere act of being washed had any inherent 30:19 value or magical properties. Right? 30:24 It was regular water in a regu- lar basin made by human hands, 30:28 right? Participation in the ceremony 30:32 was merely evidence of an inward experience. 30:37 That critical distinction 30:39 is exemplified by the experience of the thief on the cross. 30:41 Because we've had people... I could preach an evangelistic 30:43 campaign and people will come up and say: 30:45 "Do I have to be baptized? " 30:47 Somehow this rumor has festered in the Christian church 30:51 that the water itself, if you've been touched by 30:53 what they call holy water, sprinkled on or had this 30:56 process, as long as you go through the form 30:58 you're in. That the form itself is "salvific, " right? 31:05 But think about the thief on the cross, friends. 31:09 Luke chapter 23 records the experience. 31:13 "But he said to Jesus: "Lord, remember me 31:16 when You come into Your kingdom. ' 31:18 And Jesus said to him: 'I would if you had been baptized. ' " 31:23 Friends, if you have a Bible that says that, what you have 31:26 is not a Bible, all right? OK? 31:29 "He said: 'Assuredly - 31:30 with assurance - 'I say to you today 31:33 you will be with Me in paradise. ' " 31:35 Now the thief on the cross died before had an opportunity 31:39 to be baptized. Therefore we can clearly deduce 31:43 from the lips of Jesus Himself that baptism itself - 31:46 the water and the washing form - 31:48 does not save. Salvation is through faith 31:52 in Jesus Christ alone. 31:55 Let's go back to Mark 16. You notice that's actually 31:57 in there. Sometimes we breeze past that. 31:59 But go to Mark 16 again... verse 16. 32:03 After He said: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel 32:05 to every creature, " notice the distinction in verse 16. 32:08 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved. " 32:13 But then notice: "But he who does not... " What? "believe. " 32:18 It does not say: "He who does not believe 32:20 and is not baptized. " 32:22 What is clearly the active agent in the salvation 32:25 exchange here? It's the belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. 32:29 Baptism is simply evidence of that belief 32:32 that you do because of an inward experience. 32:35 Is that making sense? OK. 32:37 Jesus would say it this way in John chapter 3 and verse 36: 32:42 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. 32:46 And he who does not believe the Son shall not see life 32:49 but the wrath of God abides on him. " 32:52 Friends, the life and death issue in salvation is belief in 32:55 Jesus Christ. Putting yourself by faith 32:59 in the hands of the Savior. 33:01 Now, other people take that and say: "Oh good, that means 33:03 I don't have to be baptized. " Slow down. 33:11 Though we've established that the active agent in the 33:14 baptism is not the water but the faith - OK - 33:18 having said that we all clearly understand that true 33:20 faith is always manifest in obedience. 33:24 Jesus would say very simply - John chapter 14 verse 15- 33:28 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. " 33:32 We should never go into anything that Christ has said and try to 33:36 look for a 50% discount. 33:39 We should not look for a way around it. 33:47 I John chapter 5 would say this, verses 2 and 3: 33:50 "For by this we know we love the children of God 33:54 when we love God and keep His commandments. 33:56 For this is the love of God: 33:59 that we keep His commandments. " 34:00 And then he adds: "And His commandments are not 34:03 burdensome. " 34:07 God's not asking you to climb a mountain or cut yourself 34:09 or do any kind of other thing. 34:12 He's asking something simple but deeply significant. 34:18 So baptism was established not to be merely a hollow form 34:21 but a ceremony denoting genuine conversion 34:25 to a new life in Jesus Christ. 34:27 When the preaching and baptizing ministry of John the Baptist 34:30 became popular, many began to request baptism merely as a fad 34:36 devoid of the experience of genuine change, 34:40 genuine repentance, genuine conversion. 34:42 Look at Luke chapter 3. Look how the Baptist - John the Baptist - 34:48 dealt with these individuals. 34:52 Verse 7. I've never seen an evangelist in my life do this. 34:56 "Then he said to the multitudes that came out to get baptized 34:59 of him: 'Brood of vipers! ' " Wouldn't it be a great problem 35:04 to have that so many people want to be baptized 35:06 you have to sort them out the genuine vs. the false here? 35:09 But that's what John the Baptist experienced. 35:11 It became so faddish, became so popular 35:13 may were coming to him. Multitudes the Bible says. 35:15 And he had to call them out 35:16 on their superficial understanding. 35:20 "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from 35:22 the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruit 35:25 worthy of repentance and do not begin to say to yourselves 35:29 'We have Abraham as our father. ' 35:30 For I say to you that God is able to raise up children 35:33 to Abraham from these stones. 35:34 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. 35:37 Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit 35:40 is cut down and thrown into the fire. " 35:42 Friends, the fruit of baptism: 35:46 it stems in the root of conversion, right? 35:49 Looking for the root issue. 35:52 Romans chapter 6 speaking of baptism 35:55 and the Christian life. 35:57 The apostle Paul would teach it this way, 36:02 starting with verse 1: "What shall we say then? 36:05 Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 36:07 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin 36:12 live any longer in it? 36:13 Or... " And here's this phrase again: 36:15 "do you not know? " This is common-sense Christianity. 36:20 "do you not know that as many of us as were baptized 36:24 into Christ Jesus were baptized into His... " What? 36:28 "death. Therefore we were buried with Him through the 36:31 baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from 36:34 the dead by the glory of the Father 36:36 even so we also should walk in newness of life. " 36:43 Goes on to say: "For if we have been united 36:45 together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also 36:48 shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. 36:49 Knowing this: that our old man was crucified with Him 36:53 that the body of sin might be done away with 36:55 that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 36:58 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 37:01 Now if we died with Christ, 37:03 we believe that we shall also live with Him. 37:06 Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, 37:08 dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 37:12 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all. 37:17 But the life that He lives He lives to God. 37:20 Likewise you also reckon yourselves to be dead 37:24 indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. " 37:29 It's an entire transformation. 37:33 It's not merely a hollow transaction... 37:36 it's a full-life transformation that's intended. 37:42 This is why, by the way, 37:45 infant baptism is not a Biblical concept. 37:48 People must understand their need of a Savior 37:53 and by their own personal faith commit to a new life in Him. 37:59 But let's dig even deeper into baptism. 38:01 I want to show you something that's often overlooked 38:04 in the study of baptism. 38:08 Beyond the symbol of personal conversion, baptism 38:13 like the dedication of the priests in the Hebrew sanctuary, 38:16 is also a setting apart for service. 38:21 Look in the same passage... continuing in the same passage 38:23 the apostle Paul makes it clear what he means when he says 38:26 an individual is now "alive to God. " 38:29 What does he mean by that? Look at verse 13. 38:31 I'm sorry... he goes on to say... 38:36 "Do not present... " I'm sorry. Romans chapter 6... yes. 38:38 Verse 13. "And do not present your members as instruments of 38:43 unrighteousness and sin but present yourselves to God 38:47 as being alive from the dead and your members 38:51 as instruments of righteousness to God. " 38:55 You are now a baptized member of the body of Christ 39:00 to be used by God in His service. 39:06 As Christians we must always stay cognizant of the fact 39:10 that Jesus Christ is not merely our Savior but He is also 39:12 our Lord. He is our boss - Amen - 39:17 and He fully expects us to work for Him. 39:21 I've heard it said this way: "We've not been saved to sit 39:26 but saved to serve. " 39:29 Notice what happened in Acts chapter 2 when those 3,000 39:32 were baptized on the Day of Pentecost. 39:33 Watch what happens here. Acts chapter 2 and verse 38. 39:38 We'll start with verse 37 to get a little more context. 39:40 Ah... go to verse 36. Let's just read the whole thing. 39:44 By the way, the apostle Peter was teaching about Jesus' work 39:47 in the heavenly sanctuary. He's ascended into heaven 39:50 at the right hand of the Father and He's poured out what you now 39:52 see and hear. Verse 36: 39:55 "Therefore... " What's the practical application of Christ 39:58 now in this heavenly sanctuary? Peter says: 40:01 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly 40:03 that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified... " 40:06 You've got to think of the context. This is only 50 days 40:09 after the crucifixion. These are the same people 40:11 that just less than 2 months earlier were chanting 40:13 "crucify Him. " And now the conviction that they killed 40:16 their own Messiah lands squarely on their shoulders. 40:21 He says: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly 40:24 that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified 40:26 both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this 40:28 they were... " What? "cut to the heart 40:31 and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: 'Men and 40:33 brothers: what shall we do? ' 40:34 Then Peter said to them: 'Repent, and let every one of 40:39 you be... ' What? 'baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 40:42 for the remission of sin. ' Notice: for the remission of sin 40:45 'AND you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ' " 40:50 So it's not just your personal remission of sin 40:53 there's a gift of the Holy Spirit that God expects to be 40:56 used by His people. 41:00 I Corinthians chapter 12. 41:02 The apostle talks about these gifts of the Spirit. 41:06 And notice the language he uses 41:11 starting with verse 4. 41:15 He says, verse 4- and look for the parallelism here - 41:20 "There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit. " 41:24 "There are differences of... " What? "ministries 41:29 but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities 41:34 but it's the same God who works all in all. " 41:37 Notice that there's a parallel, an equivalent, between the gift 41:42 of the Spirit and ministries and activities 41:45 to be done for God. 41:49 It's little wonder then that in I Peter chapter 2 verse 9 41:53 the apostle would say to the baptized believers 41:56 "But you are a chosen generation, 42:00 a royal priesthood, 42:02 a holy nation, His own special people 42:04 that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you 42:09 out of darkness into His marvelous light. " 42:11 We've been set apart not just for our own personal redemption 42:17 but also to work for the redemption of others. 42:21 Ministry of Healing page 102: 42:23 "Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God 42:27 as a missionary. No sooner does he come to know the Savior 42:31 than he desires to make others acquainted with Him. 42:34 The saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up 42:36 in his heart. He who drinks of the living water 42:39 becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. 42:43 The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert 42:47 welling up to refresh all and making those who are ready 42:49 to perish eager to drink of the water of life. 42:52 In doing this work a greater blessing is received 42:55 than if we work merely to benefit ourselves. 43:00 It is in working to spread the good news of salvation 43:03 that we are brought near to the Savior. " 43:06 Friends, every single converted and baptized member of the 43:09 body of Christ is called not only to an ongoing personal 43:13 walk with Jesus but a public work FOR Jesus. 43:17 There is an entire series worth of sermons I could preach 43:20 right now, and I'm very tempted not to because we have the 43:22 tyranny of the clock. BUT... 43:26 let me just say this: in the Seventh-day Adventist church, 43:29 God's last-day remnant people commissioned to give the 43:33 three angels' messages to the world 43:35 the word member should mean missionary. 43:40 We have too many watchers and not enough workers. 43:44 Brothers and sisters, the great- est need in our church today 43:47 is not more pastors, not more institutions, 43:52 not more administrators, 43:54 and not even more money. 43:58 Yes... I said it! Amen... Amen! 44:04 What is most needed 44:07 is a personal investment in the Great Commission 44:10 by each and every member. 44:13 If we have any hope of finishing the work, 44:16 we'd better start getting to work even now. Amen! 44:21 Told you we could preach... 44:23 but we have to keep going. So baptism - the New Testament 44:28 full washing at the beginning of our walk with Christ - 44:31 is our dedication and our epiphant experience 44:34 and our dedication to service just like the priests 44:36 in the ancient times. Are we good with that? 44:38 Now... as you recall there were two washings 44:43 of the priests that the laver was designed to facilitate. 44:47 The first was that full-body washing done only once 44:50 when consecrated to the office of priest. 44:52 The other was done regularly in the daily services 44:56 of the priesthood. Now in the New Testament church 45:01 everyone who commits his or her life to Jesus Christ 45:04 and His work is washed once: 45:06 buried by immersion in the waters of baptism. 45:09 In addition, however, to the washing of baptism 45:14 Christ also established for us - just like He had with the 45:17 priests in the earthly sanctuary - 45:19 a smaller repeated washing ceremony. 45:22 The foot washing service or the ordinance of humility 45:27 as it is often called is an oft repeated 45:32 recommitment to God shared between fellow believers. 45:36 And just like baptism Jesus established this service 45:40 by His own personal example. 45:43 In John chapter 13 you read the story. 45:49 You probably know it well. 45:51 Everyone was waiting for someone else to serve 45:53 while they argued about who would be the greatest. 45:56 And Jesus Christ used this opportunity to teach them 46:00 the significance of the washing. 46:03 He takes off His outer garments and puts on the garb 46:06 of a servant. Takes a basin with water 46:10 and begins to wash their feet. 46:14 Interestingly, in the story there in John chapter 13 46:19 scripture records that He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said 46:22 to Him: "Lord... are You washing my feet? " 46:25 "Jesus answered and said to him: 'What I am doing 46:29 you do not understand now but you will know after this. ' 46:33 Peter said to Him: 'You shall NEVER wash my feet. ' 46:40 And Jesus answered him: 'If I do not wash you, 46:46 you have no part with Me. ' " 46:49 "Lest they die... " 46:54 "Simon Peter said to Him: 'Lord, not my feet only 46:58 but my hands and my head. ' " 47:00 Give me the full wash, right? 47:04 You've gotta love Peter. He's a man of extremes, is he not? 47:07 "No washing. " "ALL washing. " And Christ says: "Calm down. " 47:11 "Jesus said to him: 'He who is bathed need only to wash 47:17 his feet but is completely clean. 47:21 And you are clean but not all of you... ' 47:24 for He knew who would betray Him. 47:25 Therefore He said: 'You are not all clean. ' " 47:27 So in that room there was a mixture. Most were sincere 47:31 but sometimes misguided and tempted and falling individuals. 47:36 But there was one man who had set his heart on open rebellion. 47:40 He said: "Look you're all clean. Well, almost all of you. " 47:44 He was talking about the cleansing of their hearts... 47:47 that re-dedication. 47:49 These disciples of Jesus had all been converted, 47:52 baptized, and enrolled in the training school of Christ 47:55 to become fishers of men. All of them, with the notable 47:58 exception of course of Judas, had good intentions 48:02 and were not in open rebellion to God. 48:04 Yet each of them still had fallen natures 48:08 and from time to time gave in to pride and anger 48:12 and other such temptations. 48:15 They were not spiritually filthy head to toe, 48:18 but in their walk with Christ their feet had gotten dirty. 48:23 Thus Christ explained he who is bathed needs only to wash 48:26 his feet. You notice that here, as with the Old Testament, 48:32 there's an emphasis on cleanliness. 48:36 You've heard the statement "Cleanliness is next to... 48:38 godliness. " 48:40 So I'm guessing we all probably heard it when our... 48:42 when we were a child and our room was messy 48:44 and our parents used that as a teachable moment. 48:48 But in the service of the ancient sanctuary, 48:50 the ministering priests were not only to be washed once 48:53 for their consecration to office 48:54 but were also to wash their hands and feet each time 48:56 they approached the Holy Place or administered the sacred 48:58 duties. These priests had already undergone 49:03 an initial full-body washing 49:05 and they were set apart for service. 49:07 Surely they physically cared for their own hygiene 49:10 before they went to the office, if you will, that day 49:13 to serve in the tabernacle. 49:15 And furthermore, just as Moses and Joshua had been commanded 49:18 to take off their shoes when they were standing before God, 49:20 the priests in the temple ministered with bare feet. 49:24 So the question needs to be asked: if they were ceremonially 49:26 washed at first, physically washed before their daily duties 49:30 and even removed their shoes before going into the sanctuary, 49:35 why did they need to wash their hands and feet again? 49:41 Well, I'm going to come back and say it was not 49:43 primarily a washing for physical cleanliness 49:46 but rather a demonstration of the spiritual cleanliness 49:48 and attention to detail that God expects from His people. 49:53 Testimonies for the Church Volume 12 page 612 again 49:58 Mrs. White further explains: "There was to be nothing 50:00 slack or untidy about those who appeared before Him 50:03 when they came into His holy presence. 50:05 And why was this? What was the object of all this carefulness? 50:10 Was it merely to recommend the people to God? 50:14 Was it to merely gain His approbation? 50:18 The reason that was given me was this: 50:22 that a right impression may be made upon the people. " 50:28 Think about this: the cleansing, the ritual ceremony 50:30 of cleansing of the priest at the basin, at the laver 50:34 was not so much for them but for those who would be 50:38 watching them. "If those who ministered in sacred office 50:43 should fail to manifest care and reverence for God 50:47 in their apparel and their deportment, 50:49 the people would lose their awe and their reverence for God 50:52 and His sacred service. 50:53 If a priest showed great reverence for God by being 50:57 very careful and very particular as they came into His presence, 51:00 it gave the people an exalted idea of God 51:04 and His requirements. It showed them that God was holy, 51:08 that His work was sacred, and that everything in connection 51:11 with His work must be holy. That it must be free from 51:14 everything like impurity and uncleanness 51:17 and that all defilement must be put away 51:19 from those who approach nigh to God. " 51:22 Later in the same passage the servant of the Lord 51:24 draws practical application of the daily washing 51:27 of the priests at the laver to the lives of ministers 51:29 and church members alike 51:31 when she continues saying: "The Lord requires His ministers 51:34 to be pure and holy, to rightly represent the principles 51:37 of truth in their own lives and by their example 51:40 to bring others up on a high level. " 51:42 Now you're going to say: "Yes! That's what the pastors need. " 51:46 It's true... but it's not limited to those here. 51:53 Both the ministry and the membership God wants to see 51:57 clean. Amen! 51:59 She continues: "God requires all who profess to be His chosen 52:02 people, though they are not teachers of the truth, 52:04 to be careful to preserve personal cleanliness 52:07 and purity. Also cleanliness and order in their houses 52:10 and upon their premises. 52:12 We are examples to the world, 52:15 living epistles known and read of all men. 52:19 God requires all who profess godliness, 52:22 and especially those who teach His truth to others, 52:24 to abstain from all appearance of evil. 52:31 Friends, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament 52:33 the Bible makes it very plain 52:36 that God's people are a spectacle to the world... 52:39 both to men and to angels. 52:43 Giving instruction to the children in the Old Testament 52:45 Deuteronomy chapter 4 verses 5 and 6 says: 52:49 "Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments 52:51 just as the Lord my God commanded me that you should 52:54 act according to them in the land which you go to possess. 52:57 Therefore be careful to observe them 53:00 for this is your wisdom 53:04 in the sight of all the people who hear all these statutes 53:10 and say: 'Surely this great nation is a wise 53:12 and understanding people. ' " 53:14 Why were they supposed to be so careful and so exact 53:17 in their keeping of the statutes of God? 53:20 It wasn't necessarily for their own connection with God. 53:23 It's supposed to be for their witness for God to other people. 53:26 Imagine if you will... You've been studying the sanctuary 53:30 and they've got the Most Holy Place and then the Holy Place 53:32 and the courtyard and around that there's a space 53:34 and then the whole camp. Which by the way, the whole camp 53:37 was laid out... I don't want to give away anything 53:38 but the whole thing was supposed to be a reflection 53:40 of heaven on earth. 53:43 The organization of Israel was a beautiful reflection of 53:46 God's order and organization... His government. 53:51 And the people were supposed to be living representatives 53:55 of that law of God 53:57 so that if someone wandered over the hill 54:00 the very first thing they would see is structure and order. 54:02 You have nearly two million people all living in just 54:07 a well organized system of community... 54:13 and that would get their attention. 54:14 Then they would wander into the camp and they would meet 54:16 the people. And the people would be living demonstrations 54:22 of the God who put them in that order. 54:25 Think about a community of people 54:29 where everyone kept the law of God. 54:33 No crime... no divorce. 54:37 Everyone keeps the Sabbath. 54:41 You know, you imagine coming into... You wanted to 54:44 work for a Hebrew at that time or one of the children of Israel 54:46 and they said: "Now look, you have to take every seventh day 54:49 off. " "Fine by me. " 54:52 "And in addition, we want you to take, in fact you have to 54:56 take, every seventh year off. " 54:59 "Where do I sign up? " 55:01 "I don't know much about your God, but your people 55:05 are pretty impressive. " 55:08 These laws... this is your wisdom in the sight... 55:10 And friends, Jesus said to the believers in the New Testament 55:13 "You are the light of the world. " 55:17 And He says: "Let your light so shine before men that they 55:19 may see your good works and glorify your Father 55:22 who is in heaven. " 55:25 In fact, in Ephesians chapter 3 the apostle Paul says: 55:28 "To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God 55:32 may be made known by the church to the principalities 55:35 and powers in the heavenly places. " 55:37 Friends, we are to be in our carefulness and cleanliness 55:43 both physically and of course spiritually 55:46 a representative of the God that we serve. 55:49 God's Amazing Grace page 56 as we bring this to a close. 55:53 "The people of God are His representatives on the earth, 55:55 and He intends that they shall be lights in the moral darkness 55:58 of this world. Scattered all over the country 56:00 in the towns, cities, and villages they are God's 56:03 witnesses, the channel through which He will communicate 56:05 to an unbelieving world the knowledge of His will 56:07 and the wonders of His grace. 56:09 It is His plan that all who are partakers of the great salvation 56:12 shall be missionaries for Him. 56:14 The piety of the Christian constitutes the standard by 56:17 which worldlings will judge the gospel. " 56:19 I'm going to say that one again 'cause I know you didn't 56:21 catch it. "The piety of the Christian 56:25 constitutes the standard by which worldlings 56:29 will judge the gospel. " Amen! 56:33 "Trials patiently borne... " 56:35 They're watching you. You know that? 56:39 No road rage among Christians. Amen! 56:42 Right? Amen. 56:45 And it's not just because you're trying to stay right with God 56:48 but you're trying to do a work FOR God. 56:51 "The piety of the Christian constitutes the standard 56:53 by which worldlings will judge the gospel. 56:55 Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, 56:58 meekness, kindness, mercy, and love 57:01 habitually exhibited are the lights that shine forth 57:04 in the character before the world. " 57:08 Friends, I pray... First of all let me ask this question: 57:10 has the presentation today been clear? Amen! 57:14 Friends, each of us needs to have that individual 57:16 washing of baptism. And I want to appeal to you and 57:19 if you're watching on television let me appeal to you right now. 57:21 If you have never committed your life to Jesus Christ, 57:23 don't wait another day. Amen! Come to the water 57:26 and be baptized. Amen! 57:28 Now friends, if you have experienced that washing, 57:30 don't sit back and say: "Once done... I'm done. " 57:32 Keep washing. Every day come to the laver. 57:36 Let Jesus take care of even the little things. 57:40 Every day... the daily matters. 57:42 No so you can earn your way to heaven but through your witness 57:46 others can see Jesus. Amen! 57:49 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 57:50 Heavenly Father, I want to thank you 57:52 for the truth of the shining laver. 57:55 Lord, each one of us needs to be washed 57:59 in the blood of the Lamb. 58:00 Each one of us needs that regeneration 58:03 that comes only through repentance and conversion 58:06 in Jesus Christ. 58:08 So Lord, I pray if there's anyone listening today that 58:11 has not made that commitment 58:14 that the Holy Spirit would not leave them alone 58:16 until they have been converted 58:19 and given their lives to Jesus Christ in baptism. 58:22 But beyond that, Lord, for those of us who have 58:25 may the washing continue even now. 58:29 Let even in our daily lives, the minor matters, 58:33 help us to be a living demonstration of the principles 58:36 of God and the law that He wrote. 58:40 So Lord, make us Your people. 58:43 I pray today that You would, yes, keep us faithful 58:46 but more than that, Lord, make us useful for You 58:49 until we see Jesus come. And WHEN He comes 58:53 let not one be missing. 58:56 For we pray it in Jesus' name, Amen. |
Revised 2019-12-03