Introduction
These quotes from the Awakening message of the 1960's to the 1970's I have found very beneficial and highly significant for the Advent believers today. Robert D. Brinsmead is a very controversial name in many circles but I ask the reader to consider the message before making a decision. Does it harmonise with the scriptures? then you are on safe ground if not, feel free to reject it. But i guarantee that you will find these messages very beneficial for God's people today.
The Old and New Covenant Experience
Gems of truth Volume 6 pg 1
"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises . For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second . For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah : not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt ; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded
them not, saith the Lord .
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people : and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord : for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest . For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 8 :6-12) .
In this scripture two covenants are brought to view . Both covenants are established on promises . The apostle Paul says that the second covenant, or new covenant, is established on better promises . This presupposes that the first covenant was established upon some promise . The first, or old covenant promise is recorded by Moses : "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people : for all the earth is mine . . . And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do . And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord" (Exodus 19 :5,8) .
"And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me ; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee : they have well said all that they have spoken" (Deuteronomy 5 :28) .
It will be noticed that there was nothing wrong with the people's responding to God's invitation by saying that they would keep His law . God even said that it was a good response . There was one problem, however : "0 that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5 :29) .
The people had no heart in them to do that which they had promised to do . The old covenant is based upon a promise -- man's promise to obey God . Now what is wrong with man's promise? Man does not realize the inability of the human heart to obey the commandments of God . Joshua reminded Israel of this experience, when he said, "Ye cannot serve the Lord : for he is an holy God" (Joshua 24 :19) .
Remember the experience of Peter . The Lord warned His disciples that all would forsake Him . Peter answered the Lord : "Though they all forsake thee, yet not I ." He proclaimed that he was ready to follow the Lord even unto death . This was a typical old covenant promise . Peter was sincere in his declaration . He proved it a few hours later when the mob came to take Christ captive . As the Master was being bound, Peter took out his sword and manifested his willingness to back up his words . He cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest . Nevertheless, a few hours later, Peter was denying his Lord with cursing and swearing . Peter did not know his weakness, the sinfulness of his own heart . He had little knowledge of the depth of wickedness that was buried there .
them not, saith the Lord .
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people : and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord : for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest . For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 8 :6-12) .
In this scripture two covenants are brought to view . Both covenants are established on promises . The apostle Paul says that the second covenant, or new covenant, is established on better promises . This presupposes that the first covenant was established upon some promise . The first, or old covenant promise is recorded by Moses : "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people : for all the earth is mine . . . And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do . And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord" (Exodus 19 :5,8) .
"And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me ; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee : they have well said all that they have spoken" (Deuteronomy 5 :28) .
It will be noticed that there was nothing wrong with the people's responding to God's invitation by saying that they would keep His law . God even said that it was a good response . There was one problem, however : "0 that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5 :29) .
The people had no heart in them to do that which they had promised to do . The old covenant is based upon a promise -- man's promise to obey God . Now what is wrong with man's promise? Man does not realize the inability of the human heart to obey the commandments of God . Joshua reminded Israel of this experience, when he said, "Ye cannot serve the Lord : for he is an holy God" (Joshua 24 :19) .
Remember the experience of Peter . The Lord warned His disciples that all would forsake Him . Peter answered the Lord : "Though they all forsake thee, yet not I ." He proclaimed that he was ready to follow the Lord even unto death . This was a typical old covenant promise . Peter was sincere in his declaration . He proved it a few hours later when the mob came to take Christ captive . As the Master was being bound, Peter took out his sword and manifested his willingness to back up his words . He cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest . Nevertheless, a few hours later, Peter was denying his Lord with cursing and swearing . Peter did not know his weakness, the sinfulness of his own heart . He had little knowledge of the depth of wickedness that was buried there .
Atonement in the book of Hebrews
In chapter one Paul tells us that in times past God spoke unto the fathers by the prophets but in these last days He has spoken unto us by His son (verses 1, 2) . In the second chapter he shows us that Jesus took the nature of man with all Its Liabilities . "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. " (v . 14) . In chapter three we are told that Christ is more worthy than Moses and is greater than he. In chapter five Christ is called an High Priest after the order of Melchizedec. Chapter seven tells us that He is greater than Abraham, "an high priest for ever, " "able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him . 11 . 8:' "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum : We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens ; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man . " (verses 1, 2). Chapter 9 compares the earthly sanctuary with the heavenly. Now we come to chapter 10 which we might regard as the climax to the Book of Hebrews ; for Paul now sweeps into the consideration of the most of Hebrews ; for Paul now sweeps into the consideration of the most important part of the sanctuary service-- the day of atonement.
Yearly Type Could Not Perfect
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. " Heb. 10:1.
The typical service of the day of atonement could not perfect the worshipper. It was merely a shadow . But in verse 14 we are told, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,, " Here is the contrast between the earthly and the heavenly service. The earthly day of atonement could not perfect forever .
Verse 2: "For then would truey not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience for sins. " The evidence that the Apostle supplies to: show that the earthly day of atonement did not perfect is that it did not purge the conscience of the worshippers from the remembrance
of sin.
As soon as a man sins, a record is made. That record is not only made in the books that are in the most holy place of the sanctuary, but the record is made in the inner sanctuary of the soul as well. "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart,
and upon the horns of your altars . " Jer . 17 :1 .
Not only does man bear a record or an imprint of the sin which he commits, but he bears the guilt of sin on the altar of his heart. The sanctuary service reveals God's way of restoration of the sanctuary of the soul which has been polluted with sin .
There are two ministries in the sanctuary: the daily and the yearly; the ministry in the first apartment, the ministry in the most holy place. The ministry of the daily was to remove the guilt of sin from the soul but it did not remove the record. To cleanse from the guilt is one thing ; to cleanse from the record is another.
Let me illustrate by reading two passages from the Spirit of Prophecy: "Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions of the Holy Spirit . It dims the spiritual vision, so that men cannot behold God. The Lord may and does forgive the repenting sinner; but though forgiven, the soul is marred. " DA 302
"Now it may be you can repent. But even if pardon is written against your names, you will sustain terrible loss; for the scars you have made upon your souls will remain . " TM 447 (see also FCE 195 ; COL 55, 261, 288; Child Guidance 199, 201) .
That is the real record of sin . We must understand this record if we are going to understand the day of atonement . I read from a manuscript entitled, "The Omega of Apostasy, " by Dr . Milton Crane, who expresses it quite well:
"From a study of the sanctuary service as given in the Bible, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Great Controversy, we know that every thought, word, and action are carefully recorded in heaven. From the expressions used it seems quite clear that an exact facsimile of all our thoughts and emotions are there in the books of record . . . . "
Yearly Type Could Not Perfect
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. " Heb. 10:1.
The typical service of the day of atonement could not perfect the worshipper. It was merely a shadow . But in verse 14 we are told, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,, " Here is the contrast between the earthly and the heavenly service. The earthly day of atonement could not perfect forever .
Verse 2: "For then would truey not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience for sins. " The evidence that the Apostle supplies to: show that the earthly day of atonement did not perfect is that it did not purge the conscience of the worshippers from the remembrance
of sin.
As soon as a man sins, a record is made. That record is not only made in the books that are in the most holy place of the sanctuary, but the record is made in the inner sanctuary of the soul as well. "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart,
and upon the horns of your altars . " Jer . 17 :1 .
Not only does man bear a record or an imprint of the sin which he commits, but he bears the guilt of sin on the altar of his heart. The sanctuary service reveals God's way of restoration of the sanctuary of the soul which has been polluted with sin .
There are two ministries in the sanctuary: the daily and the yearly; the ministry in the first apartment, the ministry in the most holy place. The ministry of the daily was to remove the guilt of sin from the soul but it did not remove the record. To cleanse from the guilt is one thing ; to cleanse from the record is another.
Let me illustrate by reading two passages from the Spirit of Prophecy: "Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions of the Holy Spirit . It dims the spiritual vision, so that men cannot behold God. The Lord may and does forgive the repenting sinner; but though forgiven, the soul is marred. " DA 302
"Now it may be you can repent. But even if pardon is written against your names, you will sustain terrible loss; for the scars you have made upon your souls will remain . " TM 447 (see also FCE 195 ; COL 55, 261, 288; Child Guidance 199, 201) .
That is the real record of sin . We must understand this record if we are going to understand the day of atonement . I read from a manuscript entitled, "The Omega of Apostasy, " by Dr . Milton Crane, who expresses it quite well:
"From a study of the sanctuary service as given in the Bible, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Great Controversy, we know that every thought, word, and action are carefully recorded in heaven. From the expressions used it seems quite clear that an exact facsimile of all our thoughts and emotions are there in the books of record . . . . "