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Battle Creek Tabernacle SDA Church

Chris Holland

These Things We Know

These Things We Know: God is Faithful

These Things We Know: God is Sovereign

These Things We Know: God is Good

These Things We Know: God Is the Relentless Redeemer

God Still Speaks Part 1

God Still Speaks Part 2

These Things We Know: God is the Deliverer

These Things We Know: God is the Great Teacher

These Things We Know: God is a Friend

These Things We Know: God Knows the End From the Beginning

These Things We Know: God is the Author

These Things We Know: God is the Finisher

These Things We Know: God is the Promise Keeper Part 1

These Things We Know: God is the Promise Keeper Part 2

These Things We Know: God Fights For Us Part 1

These Things We Know: God Fights For Us Part 2

These Things We Know: God Stands for Us


As this week news came out that the 73 year old pastor of Trinity Bible Church, a leading evangelical church in Dallas, Texas, Steve Lawson, who is also the president of 1 Passion Ministries, was removed from his church for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman other than his wife. We find ourselves at the end of this week with many being devastated, wondering what is going on, and for many their faith being shaken. The question is how do we react to all of this? What do we do and what can we do? Today as we come to this table to celebrate the Lord's Supper, symbols of the body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.

What answers are there for us? Today as we continue our study of the book of Daniel, it is my prayer that each of us may find hope in Jesus Christ, the only true answer to all of the trials that we face. Let's pray together. Father in heaven, as we open up your word, We are not interested, and I know, Lord, I am not interested in the opinions of man, but we are interested in your truth, dear Lord. And so I pray that as your servant today, I would speak your truth and there would not be a taint of opinion.

Transform us Lord today, I pray in Jesus' name, amen. If you have your Bibles, I would invite you to open them to Daniel the seventh chapter. Daniel chapter 7. There in Daniel 7 we will study more in depth the entirety of this chapter. But Daniel has a vision.

And just so we are clear, while Daniel 7 comes after Daniel chapter 6, chronologically this is prior to the events of Daniel chapter 6. Daniel has a dream and in that dream he has shown the same history for us to Daniel it would have been the future as that of Daniel chapter 2. But in Hebrew thinking, Eastern thinking, Daniel 7 represents something called recapitulation, which in simple terms is repeating and enlarging. Daniel chapter 2 gives us the broad scope of that history being written before it occurred. Daniel chapter 7 takes a closeup picture.

It is the zoom factor if we were talking about photography. And Daniel chapter 7 zooms in on the great details of the events of Daniel 2, but in particular, what my mind was drawn to is Daniel chapter 7, verses 21 and 22. Daniel describing what he saw. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them. And so Daniel is reflecting on this dream, a dream of 4 beasts, unusual beasts that you would never find in the zoo.

A lion with wings, a bear humped up on 1 side, a leopard with 4 heads, and then a beast that Daniel in his best description says was indescribable. And then out of that beast came a little horn that was doing things that horns don't do. It was speaking. And in reflecting upon that little horn, here in verse 21, he speaks about that horn, waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the ancient of days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the highest 1 and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. And in these 2 short verses I believe we find something that helps us to understand in more detail and in greater appreciation of the Lord's Supper, the communion table.

As we look at these 2 short verses, we have emerged this little horn power, which we will study in more detail later. We have the judgment hour, which we will study in more detail later. But then there is this word that occurs over and over again, the saints. And what is so powerful about these verses is the Bible speaks about judgment And often the word judgment brings about fear. I don't know if you've ever had to go to court before, but there is fear often in the judgment.

But these verses help us to understand that the judgment is nothing to fear because judgment is made in favor of the saints. And not only is judgment made in favor of the saints, but the Bible says, the Bible says that the saints will take possession of the kingdom of God. The word saint In the Aramaic, which it is written in here, is the word kadasi, which is closely related to the Hebrew word kadosh. The word kadosh is the word holy. It is the word used to describe the sanctuary.

In the Greek translation of the Old Testament it is the word hagios, which also is the word for holy. And interestingly enough, the new revised standard version translate the translates the word saints as the holy ones. And all of that doesn't really matter if we're not a saint. And what becomes of primary importance as we reflect upon this passage is a fundamental problem that each of us face. Because Romans 3.23 says, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The Bible says that judgment is made in favor of the saints. And we have a problem because the Bible also describes us as sinners. And so as I pondered this passage, The fundamental question that arose for me is, what does it take to be a saint? First, we need to establish that in order to become a saint, it does not require the vote of the church into canonical law. What does it take to be a saint?

The word saint occurs hundreds of times in the Bible, but there is a passage that continued to ring in my mind over and over again that I believe helps us today understand what it means to be a saint. Revelation, the 14th chapter, in verse 12 says this, Here is the perseverance of the saints. If you're reading from the New King James or the King James, here is the patience of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Again, the King James and the faith of Jesus. This passage seems to outline that there are saints who persevere in the end time, and those saints who persevere in the end of time are defined by 2 primary characteristics.

They keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus or faith in Jesus. 1 of the more modern English translations says it this way, the New English Bible says this, This is where the fortitude of God's people has its place, in keeping God's commandments and remaining loyal to Jesus. How is it that I can become a saint? How is it that God moves me from sinner to saint. We are moved from sinner to saint as we patiently endure in the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

In fact, this passage is outlining very clearly and when we combine it with Daniel chapter 7, we see very clearly in order to be saved and have the judgment made in favor of me, God calls upon me to move from sinner to saint. And we'll talk about that in just a minute, because it is not by my power, not by my own strength, but by the strength of God, but to move from sinner to saint, that then the judgment is made in my favor, and I will be able to patiently endure the times which are now and will be coming upon the earth. Patient endurance is the essential quality of any follower of Jesus. And as we look at that phrase, and that is where I will focus the remainder of my time, is on that faith of Jesus. It is very interesting because as you look at these words in the original language, the faith of God's people can be either subjective or objective.

What does that mean? It can refer to our faith and trust in God, but it also can describe the faithfulness of God toward us. What do I mean? Well, the faith of Jesus and the keeping of commandments represent these 2 important aspects of Christian living. And while the commandments of God are a transcript of God's character, the faith of Jesus is somewhat more subjective.

In fact, in the original language, it can be translated faith of Jesus or faith in Jesus. And some will want to argue and split hairs over this, And instead of arguing over that, I simply come to the conclusion that John under inspiration wrote this in the original language that today in the 21st century we could understand it not 1 or the other, but in fact in both ways. It is the depth of that ancient language. And I say this in all due respect to all English speakers, of which I am 1, But the English language is quite shallow. For example, the word love.

I love my wife. I love my car. I love pizza. And I don't have a dog. But if I had a dog, I love my dog.

The quality of those loves better be different, gentlemen, or we'll be in trouble with our wives. See in the Greek for example the word love there are multiple words, 4 different words that describe love. Here as this word is used the faith of Jesus or faith in Jesus, it is to help us understand the very depth, the very depth of what it means to have the faith of Jesus Christ or faith in Jesus Christ. On 1 hand, it describes the faith that Jesus himself recognized. His faithfulness, the holy life he lived, the perfect character he developed, and that which is freely given to all who receive him and ask to receive that character.

The faith of Jesus, that faith that led Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane when the sins of the world were being poured upon him, when he was being separated from his Father in heaven, a completely foreign concept to Jesus. Part of the Godhead to be separated from the Father is unfathomable. Which is why Jesus, when he prayed 3 different times, he prayed if there is any other way, but then ended those prayers with the simple words, not my will, but thy will be done. The faith of Jesus, and I had the opportunity to teach the youth and young adults this morning, the faith of Jesus is the ultimate expression of understanding that God has a plan, but not necessarily understanding God's plan, yet by faith walking forward in that plan. That is the faith of Jesus.

And it is the requirement of God's people in these last days where everything is turned upside down. Where what is right and wrong has been flipped. It is the ultimate expression of saying to God, I don't understand. And maybe even at times saying, I don't like it. But not my will, Thy will be done.

But then the faith in Jesus is the avenue through which we come into possession of that kind of faith. See, too often in the Christian world, we have this very passive understanding of things. That is the faith of Jesus and I will automatically receive it. No, we must reach out and we must grasp it. Because if we do not reach out and grasp it, it would be as if I had a hundred dollar bill here and I said I want to give you a hundred dollar bill.

In order to receive it you must reach out your hand and grasp it. Jesus has made the provision. He lived the perfect life. He gave his life. He rose from the dead and he ascended to heaven.

But let me be very, very clear because this is now where these arguments about faith and righteousness by faith get very confusing. Righteousness is not received as a reward for our faith in Christ, but rather faith is the means by which Jesus appropriates righteousness. What do I mean? When we love and when we're thankful and we reach out to Jesus, Jesus commits to us, without reservation, His mercy and God's will. He applies to us the righteousness of justification.

And we are made righteous. And people will say to me, how does that happen? I don't know, but that's what the Bible says. When I reach out to Jesus, he takes me from being a sinner, and he imputes his righteousness in me, and in his eyes I become a saint. And while my actions have not been very saintly, he takes the sinner and makes us a saint.

And makes us a saint. Today, symbolically, we will partake of the symbols of the body and the blood of Christ. We will symbolically go and be cleansed in the ordinance of humility as we wash 1 another's feet and it is in a way where we are symbolically preparing our heart to be cleansed of self and filled with him. We receive that righteousness and he transformed transforms us from that righteousness and he transforms us from being sinner to now being a saint. And as we daily continue to rely, because remember in the original Greek language sometimes people will say, well I believe, but I'm not sure I have faith.

There is no distinction in the New Testament. Belief and faith are the identical word in the original language. And as daily we believe that Jesus has died for us, that Jesus paid the price for us, that Jesus is doing all he can to save us, As we daily experience that trust, as we daily surrender our own desires, as we daily fellowship with Him, our faith and belief increases. And we are able to receive more and more of what the Bible would refer to as the imparted righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is the sanctifying process where God takes us in our corrupted, sinful state.

And when we reach out in faith and say, I don't want to follow my way any longer. And he takes that sinful, corrupted heart, and he reshapes it. And daily as I reach out in trust to him, believing what the word of God says, that he can take any sinner and make them a saint. Which the first 4 chapters of Daniel which we have studied, he can even take 1 of the most wicked, heathen kings in the history of earth, and change him. Which means he can change you as well.

And praise God, he can change me. God, He can change me. The faith of Jesus, faith in Jesus, is the hand of me as a sinner, stretching to receive the free gift of God's mercy. That gift that God is waiting and willing to bestow upon us, not as a reward for anything we do, but simply because of His love and our willingness to reach out to Him. It is ours to receive, and it is received through faith.

We will pass through troubles. But when we have the faith of Jesus and faith in Jesus, We know these troubles are temporary. We know that these, these things that we're going through will not be forever. Because as the testimony of the entirety of the Bible, but in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 testifies, there is a day coming where all of this craziness is going to come to an end. Where all of the wrongs in the world will be made right.

Where I won't have to sit at my grandfather's side and say goodbye, wondering every time I say goodbye, is that the last goodbye? In heaven we will never have to say goodbye. In heaven we will be able to say rightfully so, see you later. Because we will exist forever and ever. Because as we are sinners, that God has transformed into saints, the judgment is being made in our favor right now today, and we as saints will inherit the kingdom which He, according to John 14 is preparing for us today.

God is calling for each of us to reach out with that hand of faith and be transformed from a sinner into the Saint of God. I will conclude by reading a quotation from the 12th volume of the manuscript releases on page 193 and 194. What constitutes the faith of Jesus that belongs to the third angel's message? And here is the answer. Jesus becoming our sin bearer that he might become our sin pardoning Savior.

He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins, that we might take his righteousness. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus. The only safety for the Israelites was the blood upon the doorposts. God said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

All other devices for safety would be without avail. Nothing but the blood on the doorposts would bar the way that the angel of death should not enter. There is salvation for the sinner in the blood of Jesus Christ alone, which cleanseth us from all sin. The man with a cultivated intellect may have vast stores of knowledge. He may engage in theological speculations.

He may be great and honored of men and be considered the repository of knowledge, But unless he has a saving knowledge of Christ crucified for him, and by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, he is lost. Christ was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed. Saved by the blood of Jesus Christ will be our only hope for time and our song throughout eternity.

Today as we come to this table, Jesus wants to transform you from a sinner to be a saint. He desires to make judgment in favor of you. He desires for you to inherit His kingdom. And all He asks is for us to reach out the hand of faith and receive the gift that he has offered. And when we do that, all of the things we face will fade into the background Because we will know that we have a friend in Jesus, the 1 who is the friend of sinners.

And He is a friend of sinners to change them into saints. And the question today is, will I freely receive of His mercy that I, chief of sinners, am made a saint of the Most High. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we are the chief of sinners in desperate need of your Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior. And so, Lord, today we reach out the hand of faith to receive the gift that you freely bestow.

As we celebrate the Lord's Supper, O Father in heaven, please, help us to see the magnitude of the sacrifice that your Son Jesus made. May we turn our eyes upon Jesus. May we fix our eyes upon him, the author and finisher of our faith. And may we freely receive the gift of his righteousness. And may we live in accordance with his faithfulness toward us.

We need your strength. And so Lord, help us. Give us the strength to reach out the hand of faith and be transformed. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. That night some 2, 000 years ago, There was an anxiousness to the evening that the disciples had not seen in their master.

Jesus says he was anxious to participate in that last supper, that Passover meal with his disciples. He knew he was in his final hours. He knew what the great sacrifice meant. It was at that Last Supper where he took the Passover supper and transformed it into the communion table. Not only a celebration of God passing over, but now a celebration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our receiving of that blood, not through painting it on a lintel in a doorpost, but reaching out with that hand of faith and asking Jesus into our heart and living by faith of the righteousness that he imputes and imparts to each and every 1 of us.

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These Things We Know

These Things We Know: God is a Friend

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Other Teachings in Series

These Things We Know: God is Faithful

These Things We Know: God is Sovereign

These Things We Know: God is Good

These Things We Know: God Is the Relentless Redeemer

God Still Speaks Part 1

God Still Speaks Part 2

These Things We Know: God is the Deliverer

These Things We Know: God is the Great Teacher

These Things We Know: God is a Friend

These Things We Know: God Knows the End From the Beginning

These Things We Know: God is the Author

These Things We Know: God is the Finisher

These Things We Know: God is the Promise Keeper Part 1

These Things We Know: God is the Promise Keeper Part 2

These Things We Know: God Fights For Us Part 1

These Things We Know: God Fights For Us Part 2

These Things We Know: God Stands for Us

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