Special Insights No. 8
First Quarter 2006
Adult Sabbath School Lessons
“Families in the Family of God”
(Produced by the Editorial Board of the 1888 Message Study Committee)
Keys to Family Unity
The authors of this Sabbath School Quarterly seem to have a good grasp
of some of the foundational principles that form the basis for the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this week’s lesson two of those principles
shine forth with clarity. The twin principles of corporate solidarity
and agape, supremely revealed at the cross, form the basis for all family
unity.
The key to all family unity, whether it be in the home front, or the local
church resides in the truth that the Son of God became
part of the human race and took our human nature upon His divine nature.
The incarnation is the basis for the biblical principle of corporate
solidarity. The Son of God in coming in flesh, our flesh, became the
new head of the human race, the second Adam. This fundamental principle
in many ways underscored the messages of A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner
in the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference and its aftermath which received
the enthusiastic endorsement of Ellen White.
“In assuming humanity, Christ took the part of every human being. He
was the Head of humanity. A Being divine and human, with His long human
arm He could encircle humanity, while with His divine arm He could lay
hold of the throne of the Infinite. What a sight was this for Heaven
to look upon! Christ, who knew not the least taint of sin or defilement,
took our nature in its deteriorated condition. This was humiliation
greater than finite man can comprehend. God was manifest in the flesh.
He humbled Himself. What a subject for thought, for deep, earnest contemplation!”
(Selected Messages, book 1, p. 252).
The authors state that “through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross
all humanity has been reconciled to God and to one another (Eph. 2:11-16,
Col. 1:21-23).” In a similar manner on the same basis of corporate solidarity
we can say that “through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross all humanity
has been justified and acquitted” (Rom. 3:24; 4:5, 25; 5:10; 5:18).
It is upon this principle of corporate solidarity we say that God chose,
predestined, elected, and adopted all mankind in Christ.
The Son of God became us by coming “in the likeness of sinful flesh”
and when He died on the cross, from a corporate point of view, the whole
race of men died in Him. So even though Jews and Gentiles are still
fighting like cats and dogs in Palestine and Israel, God sees both Jews
and Gentiles united together as one in Christ Jesus “having created
in Himself one new man from two thus making peace.”
Apart from being united with Christ all this good news will avail naught
to bring about family unity whether in the home, or in the church.
Even an intellectual grasp of the incarnation and corporate solidarity
and the reality that through the blood of the cross that Christ has
reconciled all things in heaven and earth to God thus making peace—this
reality will fail to bring unity apart from the abiding presence of
the Spirit of Christ in the heart.
So not only Jews and Gentiles are squabbling and literally killing
one another in Palestine, so Christians in the Seventh-day Adventist
Church are squabbling and killing each other by character assassination
over theological and philosophical issues because both groups, Jews
and Gentiles on the one hand and Christians on the other, refuse to
be crucified with Christ. Self will always insist on reigning supreme
irrespective of the cost to the Son of God.
Only when we catch a glimpse of that agape of Christ in condescending
to step down from the royalty of heaven and to become one of us and
die our second death at Calvary—only when that indescribable love penetrates
our very soul, our mind, and heart will unity in the family begin to
prevail whether it be in the home, or the church.
When the love of Christ begins to constrain us, we will acknowledge,
even in situations where we believe we were not necessarily at fault,
that “I was wrong, I take responsibility for difficulties that have
arisen here.” The goodness of God will lead us to both personal and
corporate repentance. The love of Christ will cause us to esteem the
other person better than our self. The love of Christ will compel us
not to criticize the other party and justify our self. The love of Christ
dwelling within the heart will constrain us not to bring a reviling
accusation upon our brother.
When this evidence begins to appear in our lives we will know the meaning
of justification by faith because we will have peace with God having
been justified by faith. Then the following saying will be brought to
pass:
“What is justification by faith?—It is the work of God in laying the
glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in
his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they
are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. When they
begin to praise and exalt God all the day long, then by beholding they
are becoming changed into the same image. What is regeneration?—It is
revealing to man what is his own real nature, that in himself he is
worthless”(Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 9, p. 62; Nov.
22, 1896).
—John W. Peters
Read Special Insights #9 |