In Search of the One True Gospel

Download or read book In Search of the One True Gospel written by Vernon Sparks and published by Digital Inspiration. This book was released on 2017-12-29 with total page 75 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are important Biblical truths overlooked by much of Christianity. The Devil would have it so, and, unfortunately, our naturally sinful hearts find it attractively so. We prefer to be saved in our sins rather than from our sins. The term Gospel is in reference to the salvation of fallen mankind in Christ’s future, eternal kingdom of peace. Tragically, great differences in understanding of the Gospel is a major reason for the multitude of differing Christian faiths. The Bible speaks of “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5). Jesus Christ made the claim: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). Thus, the Scriptures teach that there is only One True Way to the heavenly Father, only One True Gospel—the Man Christ Jesus. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden—embedding the trait of selfishness in humanity’s heart—Christ promised them that He would come to earth to take their punishment, and to crush their deceiver Satan’s head. As a perpetual reminder, Christ gave them the sacrificial system. They were to confess their sins over the head of an innocent lamb and then to slay it; symbolizing Christ’s future death on the cross for the sins of man. When the children of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt, Christ gave them a much more complete explanation of the various steps in the salvation process. In the earthly sanctuary and its services—a pattern of the true sanctuary in heaven—He gave a much clearer explanation of the salvation process as to how, when, and where the various steps occur in reality. For some 1500 years Christ worked with the children of Israel in an attempt to lead them, in their tabernacle/temple services to depict to the world the gospel of salvation through the coming Messiah. Unfortunately, Satan succeeded in blinding their eyes to the truths of their own religious services, to the degree, that they rejected and nailed to a Roman cross the long-looked-for perfect Lamb of God. Unfortunately still today, many of Christ’s followers are failing to appreciate the important truths of the gospel as depicted for so many centuries in the priestly services of the earthly tabernacle and temples of Israel. We are tending to ignore the New Testament teachings regarding Christ’s High Priestly ministry in the true tabernacle of heaven (see Hebrews chapters 3-10). We tend to not appreciate the important prophecy of Daniel 8:14: “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14). The dominant Christian faith of the Dark Ages has side-tracked our attention to a still earthly priesthood with the claim to forgive sin. For these and other reasons, Satan is again succeeding to a great degree in blinding Christ’s followers to the great truths of the sanctuary services, now going on in heaven. Through failure to understand as to the how, when, and where Christ is working to save repentant men and women from sin, rather than in sin, many will fail to be benefitted by His death on the cross so many years ago. It is the purpose of this publication to search for clarity as to what is the One True Gospel. It has found that a comprehension of Christ’s role as Surety, as the Lamb of God, and as the Mediator-High Priest of the human race goes far in achieving that goal. “We need . . . much more knowledge in regard to the plan of salvation. There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare. When light begins to shine forth to make clear the plan of redemption to the people, the enemy works with all diligence that the light may be shut away from the hearts of men. If we come to the Word of God with a teachable, humble spirit, the rubbish of error will be swept away, and gems of truth, long hidden from our eyes, will be discovered.” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, 359, 360.