Author Archives: Posted by the Sermon Typist

Steven Caruana

This week in the news I read of the mounting tension between Israel and Iran. On one side you have Israel positioned to strike Iran because of the perceived threat of a nuclear bomb that could literally obliterate the nation. I read further of the pleading EU nations telling Israel not to attack. On the other side I read of Iran sending two war ships to Syria in support of the current regime and as a show of power to those that would threaten their hold on the Middle East. I read of Russia and China warning America and the EU to not get involved in the situation and not arm the rebels. It is strikingly clear that winds of strife are only just being held back that God’s people will be sealed.

As I pondered the seriousness of the hour the question came to me, am I ready? Are we ready? Probation is at it’s very end and do we have any assurance that we will be saved? Let us ponder on a scripture that we know from memory, one that we often fail to turn our Bibles to when asked because we know it from memory. None the less let us ponder this blessed assurance.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Does an eternity with God sound appealing to you? Is it something you really desire and look forward to it? For us to have that desire fulfilled we must first know God. I would like us to examine an attribute of God that is also a name of God. Understanding this attribute enables us to understand our Christian faith and it may even change the way you read the Word of God.

And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this [is] my name for ever, and this [is] my memorial unto all generations. Exodus 3:13-15

I Am means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike to God. He sees the most remote events of past history, and the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things that are transpiring daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute to our eternal welfare. God gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and trust in the great I AM – {1BC 1099.5}

Our God is an ever present God, an eternal God. He is without the bounds of time and past, present and future are alike to Him. At all times He is in the present tense. What implication does this have for our faith?

The trouble with people is that they regard eternity as only future, whereas eternity is past, present, and future. It has been, is, and is to be. Especially is it now, for God inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57.15), and His name is I AM. Eternity with Him is always present. Likewise He desires us to live the life eternal, but always in the present. He, who truly believes in Christ, passes from death unto life, from the temporal to the eternal, from the unreal to the real. And thus it is in a sense true that the Gospel has to do with the next world, rather than with this. Christ gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Galatians 1.4. But He delivers us from this present world only by saving us from the evil of it now. He gives us rest in His righteousness. – {Ellet J. Waggoner,The Present Truth : November 18, 1897}

God desires that our faith be a reflection of His own character. As He is eternal, our claim to eternal life is bound up in the present and not merely in some future aspiration.

…the Christian religion is a religion of the present tense. In the Christian life, nothing counts for anything except that which is present. Whatever has been in the past is valuable only for its present influence and effect; and the same is true of that which is to come… Christianity in the present tense takes a person just where it finds him; and therefore none need wait or be discouraged. The Lord purposes to save men, —all men in the world who will let Him do it—and He cannot do this except by taking them just where there are, and just where they are at each succeeding moment of their lives. And therefore His purpose is to take you just where you are, not only now, but at each moment which will become now as soon as you reach it. If He cannot save men in this way, He cannot save them at all. But He has assured us that He is able to save all, to the very uttermost, that will look unto Him. And therefore the only thing to do is simply to look to Him now and believe now, without reference to the past failures or future hopes. The only starting point in the Christian life is now; the only point attainable is now. To live now is not to wish or resolve or anticipate now, but to believe and take. It is looking to Christ now. It is when we forget to live in the present moment by looking at that moment to Jesus Christ for grace and strength, —by taking Him at the present moment as God’s gift to us—that we fail. – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : February 1, 1894}

Shall we trust that we have done some good work in the past to bring us to Christ or hope that our faith will produce fruit at some future point? No, the only point attainable is now and what have we to do with this present moment? Trust and rest implicitly in the merits of Christ, in the saving power of our present redeemer.

The followers of Christ are not to trust to past experience, and fail to go on to perfection. In so doing, the church will meet with defeat and ruin. Upon what shall she depend? Wholly and entirely upon God – {UL 275.5}

But am I just preaching once saved always saved to say that in this present moment is eternity? Isn’t the work of sanctification the work of a lifetime?

But while we are to seek earnestly for perfection of character, we must remember that sanctification is not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime. Said Paul, I die daily. Day by day the work of overcoming must go forward. Every day we are to resist temptation, and gain the victory over selfishness in all its forms. Day by day we should cherish love and humility, and cultivate in ourselves all those excellencies of character which will please God and fit us for the blessed society of heaven. To all who are seeking to accomplish this work, the promise is very precious, He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. – {HS 181.2}

Indeed it is the work of a lifetime, so how can I presume that in the present moment I have eternal life?

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

Let us be mindful again that a lifetime and a moment are but the same with the I AM. So indeed while we are changed over a lifetime we can claim His promises now and only now. That is no presumption that is present Truth. “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“
Believe when? Now, our only problem is when we stop believing in the promises of the Word.

What is the Gospel? It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Romans 1.16. It is present power applied to the salvation of the one who has present faith. From what does the power of God save men? Jesus is the power of God, and of Him it was said, Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins. Matthew 1.21. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1.15. The Gospel is the power of God to save men from sin. But it is present power, for sin is ever present. Its power is applied only while one is believing. The just shall live by faith. Romans 1.17. The moment a man ceases to believe, then he is a sinner, just the same as though he had never believed. Yesterday’s faith will not answer for today, any more than the breathing of the man yesterday will keep him alive today. – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : May 18, 1893}

Let the Word simplify our understanding.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 1:7

Do you believe this happened? Is it something that happened afar off or is it a present reality? Are we not evidence that His Word is to be understood in the present tense?

He is caring for us every moment; He keeps the living machinery in action. If we were left to run it for one moment, we should die. We are absolutely dependent upon God. – {20MR 115.3}

As much as the present reality of the Word sustains our existence in the physical sense so too does a present acknowledgement of it and of Him who it reveals sustain our spiritual existence.

So it is that every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. 1 John 4.2, 3. Note again the present tense. It is not enough to confess that Jesus Christ did come in the flesh; that will bring no salvation to anybody. We must confess from positive knowledge that Jesus is just now come in the flesh, and then we are of God. Christ came in the flesh eighteen hundred years ago, just for the purpose of demonstrating the possibility. That which He did once, He is able to do again. He who denies the possibility of His coming in the flesh of men now, thereby denies the possibility of His having ever come in the flesh. So our part is with humbleness of mind to confess that we are sinners; that in us is no good thing. If we do not, then the truth is not in us; but if we do, then Christ, who came into the world for the express purpose of saving sinners, will come and take up His abode with us, and then the truth will indeed be in us. Then there will be perfection manifested in the midst of imperfection. There will be completeness in the midst of weakness. For we are complete in Him. Colossians 2.10. He has created all things by the word of His power, and therefore can take men who are but nothing, and can make them to the praise of the glory of His grace. Ephesians 1.6. For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things; to whom be the glory for every and ever. Amen. Romans 11.36 – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : May 18, 1893}

Can you see now how valuable this present moment is? This very moment! Are you clinging to the risen Saviour? Are you abiding there?

…every moment is golden, and should be employed in working with all diligence in the garden of the Lord. The work of Christ in the sanctuary above, presenting His own blood each moment before the mercy-seat, as He makes intercession for us, should have its full impression upon the heart, that we may realize the worth of each moment. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us; but one moment carelessly spent can never be recovered .– {TSS 86.1}

In the Christian life, nothing counts for anything except that which is present. Whatever has been in the past is valuable only for its present influence and effect; and the same is true of that which is to come.

It is now that self is to be crucified—when there is work to do; when there is some use to be made of every entrusted capability. It is now that we are to empty and thoroughly cleanse the vessel of its impurity. It is now that we are to be made holy unto God. This is our work, this very moment. You are not to wait for any special period for a wonderful work to be done; it is today. I give myself to God today.. – {UL 283.5}

We have before us a most wonderful example of this present tense faith as seen in the penitent thief on the cross.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:39-43

…While the leading Jews deny him, and even the disciples doubt his divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, at the close of his probation, calls Jesus his Lord! Many were ready to call him Lord when he wrought miracles, and also after he had risen from the grave; but none called him Lord as he hung dying upon the cross, save the penitent thief, who was saved at the eleventh hour… Never in his entire ministry were words more grateful to his ears than the utterance of faith from the lips of the dying thief, amid the blasphemy and taunts of the mob. But let no one neglect present opportunities and delay repentance, presuming on the eleventh-hour conversion of the thief, and trusting to a death-bed repentance. Every ray of light neglected leaves the sinner in greater darkness than before, till some fearful deception may take possession of his mind, and his case may become hopeless. Yet there are instances, like that of the poor thief, where enlightenment comes at the last moment, and is accepted with an intelligent faith. Such penitents find favor with Christ. – {3SP 158.2- 159.1}

Why was salvation his in that very moment? Because Jesus saw in that very moment what would have been a lifelong faith had he had been allowed to live. Let us not neglect the now, hoping to change or looking back at the past. But this very moment cling to Christ for the blessing. Eternity is yours so long as you cling to Jesus now and continue to do so in every moment that will become now. He will never fail to be at your side so long as you desire Him.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. John 20:11-16

Mary cried out after her Saviour and at that very moment He was by her side though she recognized Him not. Often we do not recognise Jesus at our side but He is the I AM. When by faith we cry out where are you Lord, the answer ever is, “I AM with you, even unto the end.” He is an ever present help in time of need and the moment we believe, He is there. Hold fast to Him and victory now is yours.

The results of each day’s work are influenced by the days that have preceded it. Defeat today prepares the way for still greater defeat tomorrow; victory today insures an easier victory tomorrow. – {RH January 13, 1891 Par. 2}

Your grasp should be fastened upon the eternal, and you realize that you have the strength that is mighty to cling to, which will be to you a stronghold and fortress in the day of trouble, affliction, and peril. But will that better time and that more favorable opportunity ever come to those who would say to the Spirit of God, as did Felix, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee? Is the opportunity ever to come when we can leave sin any more easily than at the present moment? Is the time coming when we can take hold of the truth any more easily than now? Satan has come down with great power, and is working with great activity to weave his net around unguarded souls and thereby take them captive in his snares, that they may not be partakers of the glories that are to be revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ. – {RH April 12, 1870 Par. 7}

It is my prayer that our faith is a present faith that takes hold of present promises in a present Redeemer. Now and today, are the words which the gospel most employs. It is quite true that we are promised much for the future, but the only assurance of future salvation is present salvation. He, who is saved today, has no fear for tomorrow.

Amen.