New Moon Meeting: January 2009, 3:05 EST
True Freedom

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Truth and Discernment
3. The Nature of Yah’s Gifts
4. Freedom and Responsibility
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Zahakiel: Let us begin, then. Bro Abe, will you offer the opening prayer?

Abraham: Dear Father in heaven, it is in Yahshua’s holy name that we bow here before you. Happy and expectant to hear what you will share by your servant. Thank you that we may meet in this manner in holy fellowship. And we pray for your blessing upon each one.

 We expect that you will bless us and we will grow in the knowledge and faith of our Savior Yahshua, in whose name we pray. Amen

Zahakiel: Amen.
Qinael: Amen.
Galiel: Amen.
Naraiel: Amen.
Happy Rock: Amen.

Zahakiel: Today’s topic explores the concept of True Freedom.  There is a freedom of the world, and there is a freedom of Heaven, and they do not always look the same.  There is a parallel there to the Biblical concept of “Peace,” as we read: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)  A couple chapters later there is a clarification of what that means: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

We see here that Yahshua gives us peace.  Yet, it is not always a kind of peace that non-spiritual minds will recognize as such.  As Paul writes, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (2Cor 4:8-10)  Typically, although Paul is quick to qualify his statements, the world will only see the first half of each of those particulars.  But we, as the followers of Christ, need to have clear vision on all aspects of what these things mean.

Truth and Discernment

Zahakiel: There is a different between actual truth, and observed “truth,” and I put the second one in quotes, because that is just an appearance, and doesn’t always match the reality.  For many people, as they look around the world, they have difficulty seeing the hand of the Creator in nature, and certainly in what is today called “human nature.”  If God exists, they ask, how could He allow the things that they are observing to happen?  And just as unfortunate as the question is the answer from Christians likely to be.  Vague replies like, “It is God’s will,” and “He works in mysterious ways” do not help people who are grieving.  The Bible provides us with answers, but there are not enough people who are seeking Yahweh in their studies in order to share those answers with others.

We are told that the earth is cursed in the Book of Genesis.  We are told that mankind is the subject of Satan’s wrath in the Book of Job.  We are told that Yahweh is allowing Satan to work out his anger on the earth as an everlasting warning to every creature that has ever existed in the universe, describing the great Plan of Salvation, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (2Pet 1:10-12)

When loved ones die, Paul describes the resurrection, telling believers of the return of Christ, and the restoration of the bodies to life, and then their translation to glorified form, concluding with, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Th 4:18)  But how often are “these words” read at funerals, even Christian funerals?  Those words are only a comfort to those who truly desire the return of Yahshua.  Most want to hear of a “better place” that people enter when they die, because this appeals to the modern, paganized culture with little patience for, and even less knowledge of, the Word of Yahweh.

There is truth as the world knows it, and there is the truth as it is in Christ.  There is the wisdom from the world, and then there is “the wisdom that is from above.” (James 3:17)  These two are not the same, as that verse goes on to explain.  Heavenly wisdom “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”  In other words, it is distinguishable from earthly wisdom in both its application and its results.

There is also, since we are on the subject, a sorrow that is of the world, and a godly sorrow, and we had a study about that not too long ago too.  We read, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2Cor 7:9, 10)  We see that, like wisdom, we can distinguish godly sorrow from worldly sorrow by its effects; so we see that cause-and-effect is one of the keys, if not the main key, to the concept of “discernment,” which is a topic that could probably use a study of its own.

Does anyone have any questions so far? I’m just laying a foundation at the moment.

Guerline: No.
Qinael: None here.
Galiel: No sir.
Naraiel: No.
Barb: No.

Zahakiel: There is a need for discernment.  There is a need to recognize truth.  There is a need for training in the art of how to identify righteousness.  This is by no means a new problem. “For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” (Isa 5:7)  “And I said, ‘Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. Then shall they cry unto Yahweh, but He will not hear them.  He will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.” (Mic 3:1-4)

That should sound very familiar, particularly the last part, for we read from inspired and applicable writings, “These men cast aside the counsel God has given, and do the very things He has bidden them not to do. They show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and in heaven their names are registered as one with unbelievers. Christ is crucified afresh, and put to open shame. Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers. They insult His holy name, and He will leave them to the buffetings of Satan until they shall see their folly and seek the Lord by confession of their sin.” [Selected Messages Book 3, page 299]

Those who are in a position of spiritual authority now, as we have said before, are doing precisely the thing that Yahweh has instructed them not to do, has always rebuked those who claim to be following Him for doing.  How is it that men who have been reading God’s word for so long, and studying the writings of our Adventist forerunners so carefully, producing books and studies, and administering crusades… how can they miss this?

It is because of this: while they have the information of Heaven, they have the wisdom of the world.  They have the words, the facts, and the knowledge. But they have no guidance from the Spirit to direct their use of these mighty gifts.

But that also poses a question… why would men in responsible positions not ask for wisdom so that they would have it?  The Scripture tells us plainly, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

The answer follows in the very next three verses: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6-8)

Now so far, as I mentioned, the study has been fairly basic.  But what I would like to do today is to go even deeper than this.  The verse we have used above are those we have used before, generally in this same setting.  We know that those who do not ask in faith, even though they ask, will not receive anything from Yahweh. We know that motives are important for receiving the benefits of prayer.  We know that we can know whether or not a thing is good or evil through a balance of discernment and observing the results.

But even keeping all these ideas close to our hearts, we need to guard against one other thing.  We read, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)

Those about whom we are speaking are, many of them, quite sincere in their activities.  They somehow truly did miss all the warnings from Yahweh through His prophets (old and modern).  They somehow fail to see that these words apply even today, even to them.  The people who, in the name of a faulty religion, blow themselves up along with their enemies are just as sincere, just as sure they are doing the right thing… and just as wrong from eternity’s perspective.

How do we know when our sincerity is to be trusted so that we do not deceive ourselves? The answer has to do with the nature of Yah’s gifts, and the use and abuse of our freedom.

The Nature of Yah’s Gifts

Zahakiel: Why did Yahweh give us laws about food? And why do we keep Sabbaths and New Moons?  And why does He ask us to keep the name “Creation Seventh Day Adventist,” even though this name, the name of the Bride of Christ, has now been ruled “illegal” in the civil courts of the land?

We read, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Josh 1:8)  This, verse, along with my often-repeated Deuteronomy 5:29, reveals the mind of Yah toward His people very clearly.  He has given us instructions, Laws, that, if followed result in success, health, and most importantly the kind of pure, receptive character that mirrors Yahshua’s and will survive the destruction of all sin in the universal Judgment to come.

This is truly the key to sanctification: understanding what it is for.  We are not following instructions on earth just because they are there. And when we follow them and see success, it is neither accidental, nor by some undiscoverable process. It is simply nature. Now, we do not always understand everything about nature; some of it is currently beyond us, yet the more we learn, the more we come to understand how Yah’s plan works, not only why.

But Yahweh’s gifts are always given for a purpose.  From the most ordinary gift of having a talent for organization to the calling of an apostle or a prophet, we read that they are all “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:12)  The fact that we benefit from keeping Yah’s law while here on earth is simply fulfilling the original intention of those laws, the principles of which predated even sin.  The principles of the laws of Yah describe the perfect society that was to exist had Lucifer never fallen, and had Adam never accepted the temptation in the Garden.  But now the Scripture says that the Law itself was “added because of transgressions,” (Gal 3:19) but does everyone see how those two ideas fit together?  It is not a contradiction.

Happy Rock: Yes.
Qinael: <nods.>
Naraiel: Yes.
Ye: Yes.
Guerline: Yes.
Barb: Yes.
Galiel: Yes.

Zahakiel: The principles of the law are eternal. The Law itself is something added that expresses these principles to a sinful race no longer able to understand the law “naturally.”  We read that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor 2:14)  Therefore, since the things of God are “foolishness” to the natural man, Yahweh established a Law, a written code representing those principles that reflect His desire for the Creation, and His very character.  By following the Law, we prosper even here on the earth, but by following the principles, we prepare our souls to enter that perfect society when it is recreated.

This is a very important point, because there will be times – Satan will see to it – that the letter and the principles behind them conflict.  The discerning saint must know when those times are, or else we will not be able to save a life if doing so would involve “working” on the Sabbath.  Yahshua demonstrated by His own example that the principles of the Law, while not doing away with the letter, are the most important aspect of what Yah wants for us, and it is only those who fail to see this that adopt policies instead of principles, like the Pharisees did, or who eventually reject the perfect law of Yah and begin to rely on the laws of men, as the General Conference of SDAs has now done.

The nature of Yahweh’s gifts to us are to edify the Church, and to perfect the character of the saints, to bring us into harmony with the principles of the Commandments through obedience to them, and through an intelligent understanding of them.  Because this has not been done historically in Christianity, we in this last generation find a world that despises the Church – even the idea of a church for many people – because it has, in the past, performed violence in the name of righteousness, and placed arbitrary rules on the people in its care, leading to rebellion and the need for reformations.

But what all that means is something very simple.  We can KNOW when we are following the principles of the Law of Yahweh by asking ourselves this question: “Are my words, and my actions, seeking to edify the Church, and to perfect my character?”

An honest answer to that question will reveal very clearly almost all of Satan’s deceptions, even when we are convinced that our works are righteous.  If we are doing something “good” but it is causing others to be mislead, or even worse, actively restricting their religious liberty, we can be assured that we have erred in judgment.  Paul tells us, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (1Cor 8:9)  He mentions this idea several times, saying also, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Gal 5:13)  And Peter agrees, saying, “with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (1Pet 2:15b, 16)

We should see from these two verses that the ability to discern the truth from Heaven, which we began the study by talking about, and to recognize true conviction as opposed to self deception as we were talking about just now, has something to do with freedom.  It has to do with liberty.

Freedom and Responsibility

Zahakiel: The problem of sin in the universe began when Satan fell from grace.  One of the things underlying that fall was the misuse of freedom. He saw that angels were free, and that there was no “law.”  Yet because there was no transgression, all creatures understood the principles that the law now reveals, as I mentioned before.  And because Yahweh does not create angels and men to be mere servants, but intelligent companions, there is freedom, including the freedom to turn away from the things that He has made for our good.

What those who survive this occasion of sin in the universe must do is recognize that freedom, and see that we are free also to disobey.  But then, unlike Lucifer, we must come to the decision that the principles underlying the law truly are the best way to live, even if there were no rewards, and even if there were no punishment.  The laws that Yahweh created are the laws that He Himself would live by, were He a creature; and He demonstrated this by sending His Son to earth, “made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal 4:4, 5)  Yahshua perfectly kept the law, and the reason He did so is usually explained as two things, first to show that it can be done, and second to show how it is done perfectly.  But there is a third reason as well, and it is not as often mentioned.  The reason is this: Even a perfect Being, one complete in understanding, and perfectly free in all ways… even such a Being is content, and even obligated, to keep the Law of Yahweh.

Now that is a very powerful thing.  Does everyone understand that?

Peterson: Yes.
Happy Rock: Yes
Qinael: <nods.>
Barb: Yes.
Naraiel: Yes.
Ye: Yes.
Galiel: Yes.
Crystle: Yes.
Guerline: Yes.

Zahakiel: Yahshua’s perfect, law-abiding life shows what true freedom looks like. And it is freedom not only from death, and not only from suffering, but it is freedom also from the part of fallen human nature that makes it impossible to seek Yahweh, to keep the law, and to be truly happy in Eternity.  Yahshua is true freedom, and it is through Him that all the issues I raised in this study so far come together and unite.

The Laws of Yahweh are given to reveal the principles of Eternity, and these principles were lived out in the life of Christ Yahshua, and they are lived out in all who truly follow Him, dying with Him on the cross, and living thereafter as renewed creatures, as new creations.  The truth of Yahweh is perfectly revealed in the life of the Son.  We remember that the Great Controversy is about Satan’s accusation that Yahweh’s law is self-serving and arbitrary.  And yet Christ, while triumphing over Satan in every way, showed the beauty of a life lived in harmony with that law, and revealed that in His Freedom, He chose to be obedient, even unto death.

In seeing true freedom, and making the choice to be obedient anyway, to submit to a voluntary bondage to righteousness, then we see the truth, and then we can recognize righteousness, because we will know who the others are that have made that same choice.  And when we examine our words and actions, and thoughts, in light of that decision, to freely keep the Law, then we can be sure we are not self deceived.

When we speak with people of other faiths who reject the victory, we sometimes find those who teach a message very close to ours – a close counterfeit.  But this, what I am talking about today, reveals the flaws in any Gospel that is less than 100% perfect.  The question we ask is: how do we use our freedom?

Do we say we are free from sin, or free from the law?  Most churches in the world have taken this position… but if we say we are free from the law, we do not understand freedom, and our Gospel is false.

In another sense, do we say we are free from sin, or free to seek forgiveness when we (inevitably) do sin?  Most churches have taken this position also, but if we say we will always, or inevitably, or sometimes, sin, even if it is bad for us… are we truly free?  Clearly, this is not the “free indeed” that Christ says we will be. And by the way, I mentioned this in the Signet article I sent to Luke recently, but I think it bears mentioning here also… some churches say that when we become born again, we are free, and pure, and redeemed, in our spirits, but our flesh is still sinful, therefore our deeds may still be wrong.  But Christ says exactly the opposite: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

He did not say you would be “free in spirit,” but “free in DEED.”  Now, in case you think this is just taking an English expression and reading too much meaning into it, looking at a concordance we see that the word from which “indeed” was translated is ontos, which means, “truly, in reality, that which truly is, as opposed to what is pretended.” And I would emphasize that last part; the Gnostics and most modern Christianity both teach a kind of victory over sin that is fictitious; it is a claim with no fruit, like a bare fig tree.  It is a claim that although we accept the Sacrifice of Christ now, the true victory over sin and self is not past (as the Bible teaches) but future.

Continuing with the idea that the concept of Freedom is the revealing principle between truth and error, do we say we are free to choose righteousness despite our sinful pasts, or do we say we are free to choose righteousness sometimes and transgression occasionally?  Those who say the latter do not truly understand what it is they are freely choosing.  If we are walking along a road and see a fork; one way leading to a safe path and the other into danger, it does not matter that we are physically and mentally “free” to choose the darker path, the fact of the matter is that IF we choose the dangerous path, we may not be free to turn around and choose the safe one ever again.  Does everyone understand what I mean by that?

Qinael: <nods.>
Barb: Yes.
Peterson: Yes.
Happy Rock: Yes.
Galiel: Yes.
Crystle: Yes
Ye: Yes.
Daphna: Yes.

Zahakiel: Freely choosing to sin is, in reality, freely choosing to give up your freedom to choose.  Sin takes away our freedom, our choices. It is something both deadening and deadly.  Consider that you can choose to commit a crime, but after being caught and convicted, you are no longer free.  You have abused your freedom, and therefore it is removed from you.  Those who wish to remain free cannot practically choose to sin; it sounds like a paradox – if you want to be free, you have no choice but to choose righteousness.  Yet it is not truly a contradiction.  The power of freedom lies in our ability to understand there is an alternative, but never to choose it if we know it will bring forth evil and sorrow.  This is the kind of freedom Yahweh wants us to have, and when we have it, then the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.” (Nahum 1:9)

Conclusion

Zahakiel: So as we close, I would like to emphasize that freedom is the central theme of the Gospel, and the central theme of Yah’s Word from beginning to end.  With that Freedom comes power, and with that power comes the obligation to not choose evil when we see it.  If we are unable to do this then we have not understood how to preserve and profit from that freedom.

By understanding what it means to be free from sin, and free to obey, we can recognize the errors in false Gospels that, one way or another, seek to bring us into bondage… if not bondage to artificial rules and the papal judgments of a human authority, it is bondage to sin due to a false gospel, and if not to sin then at least to the “natural man” that would lead us to sin anyway.

I will conclude with this passage, in which Paul begins by speaking of Abraham’s two sons, but demonstrates through that parable a general and vital principle:

“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal 4:28-31, 5:1)

Are there any comments or questions before we close?

Qinael: None here.
Barb: None here.
Galiel: No sir.
Ye: No.
Peterson: No.
Naraiel: No.
Crystle: Not right now.
Daphna: No.
Happy Rock: No.
Guerline: No.