The Two Temples
(A Christian Workbook)
Section 1: Chapter 2 – Fitting In: What is Man?
ow that we
have seen who Yahweh is, and know that we may search the Scriptures to discern
His will for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16, 17), we next need to examine where we
fit into this picture of our Father’s character. The Psalmist wrote, “When I
consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which
thou hast ordained... what is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of
man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3) When viewing the vast heavens and the
magnificence of the created worlds, it is easy to be humbled by the scale and
power of our Creator; but in spite of all that, we find that He has compassion
on the very least of us here on earth. Well might we ask, “What is man, that
thou art mindful of him?” That is the question we will be answering in this
chapter.
We read
of the origin of mankind in this verse: “And Yahweh Almighty formed man of the
dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) We see here that man became a soul
(literally a “living being”) at the integration of two elements: a body formed
of the dust of the ground, and the spirit or breath of life. Just as the Two
Temples reflect the aspects of body and spirit, so does a living man.
It is
further written of the decision to make man, “And Elohim said, ‘Let us make man
in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the
earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’” (Genesis
1:26) Like Yah, man was intended to have dominion, control over the physical
world. Humans were to be His representatives on this planet, ruling nature on
His behalf. But this is not the only aspect of Elohim incorporated into His
image.
Unlike
any other being of the earthly mold, man was created with moral responsibility.
Unto no other creatures were spoken “instructions” given to govern their
obedience. The plants and animals over which man was to have dominion were
created with their instincts set in place… biological programs were implemented
to govern their patterns of behavior. But this was not the case with man.
Humans were created with bodily needs and drives like the animals and plants,
but the “image” of the Creator imposed over this basic model granted Adam the
ability to reason and to choose. For this cause only was he instructed, “Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16, 17)
Man was
created with the ability to either obey or disobey. This was the crowning act
of creation. An intelligent, personal Deity formed beings that were just
like Him… able to create, able to be self-motivated, able to reason, and
able to choose. We saw in the last chapter that Yah is love; it is His defining
characteristic, and there can be no love without the decision to love. There
may be human affection that springs forth from familiarity, or human desire
that springs forth from the biological nature of man, but Agape, that
special kind of love unique to spiritual beings, comes from a knowledge of the
Father and Son, and is the result of choosing to enter into an eternal union
with our Creator and Savior.
Freedom
brings with it responsibility, however, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of
him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48) Even the human family is an example
of this teaching. The child of the home has the least responsibility in terms
of that family’s well being. The “job” of the child is to be obedient to the
instruction of the parents, and to learn the values of that home. The adults of
the family have great responsibility in comparison to this. Theirs is the task
of educating the little ones, providing resources for the family members, and
defending the home from loss. With maturity comes greater freedom, and thus
greater responsibility.
The
freedom given to man, and the responsibility that this entailed, inherently
involved the potential for disobedience. This concept has given some Bible
students difficulty. “How it is that Yah could ‘allow’ disobedient behavior, if
He is a sovereign God?” they ask. Some have attempted to resolve this by
claiming that Yah is ultimately and directly responsible for evil, and
that the entrance of sin, while a mystery to us, is part of the intended and
active will of God. There are verses which, taken without regard to the
revealed character of Yah, and due in part to a lack of understanding of
Biblical phraseology, seem to support this view.
“Who
are we to question Yah’s will?” is the argument often made. And while it is
true that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts more lofty than
our own, (Isaiah 55:9) this particular argument was made in the book of Job by
Zophar the Naamathite (Job 11:7-10) as an “explanation” for the sufferings
inflicted upon an innocent man. Zophar was answered by Yah Himself, who
declared to him and his associates, “My wrath is kindled against thee, and
against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right,
as my servant Job [the innocent man] hath.”
We may
not be at liberty to question the authority by which Yah’s decisions are
made. Nevertheless, we are completely free to question the methods and reasons
behind what He does – with an attitude of reverence. Man is granted this
freedom, and in fact the Scriptures invite this kind of examination. To a
rebellious nation the Almighty said, “O my people, what have I done unto thee?
And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me.” (Micah 6:3) To His
faithful disciples the Son said, “Henceforth [from this point onward] I call
you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have
called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made
known unto you.” (John 15:15)
There
are some who go to the other extreme, believing that Yah created all things and
then simply left the system to run itself. There is a great curse on those who
believe that He is not active in the events of the universe, “that say in their
heart, ‘Yahweh will not do good, neither will He do evil.’” (Zephaniah 1:12)
They are not cursed because Yah curses them, but because such as accept this
mindset will be unable to understand His ways, ways which ultimately lead to
eternal life. Even the Bible, according to this way of thinking, is ultimately
the invention of humanity to compensate for what cannot be known, and therefore
we must simply “do our best,” and walk on in blindness. Atheism and
Agnosticism, alternate approaches, have similar lines of reasoning, though they
do not acknowledge Yah at all.
The
truth about the matter, as with so many other things of a spiritual nature,
lies somewhere in the middle. Yah created man, and even in His Sovereignty
granted him true freedom. Though He is not actively responsible for sin, He
allows it as a consequence of that freedom, and in some passages of Scripture
takes responsibility for its presence. (e.g. Isaiah 45:7) There is no need for
confusion on this topic, however. When we come to grasp what “love” truly means
to our Father, and that He can only receive that obedience which is offered in
freely given love, we begin to realize that the presence of sin is a price, a
great price, that He has paid for our dignity. It is a dignity that exists only
by virtue of the gift He has given us, the impress of His image on our souls.
Because Yahweh allows us this freedom – and only because He allows us this
freedom – we are able to truly and actively love both Yah and our fellow
humans.
That is
who Man is.
The
story of man, given briefly, is this: Sin entered human history due to a human’s
choice. Redemption entered human history due to the choice and Sacrifice of
Yah. We may be individually saved by our personal decision to accept the
Sacrifice made on our behalf.
Life is
all about choices. The will of man, when it is sanctified by intimacy with the
Divine, becomes the most powerful influence on earth, and the channel by which
Yah may lead His people home. It is written, therefore, “If thou canst believe,
all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23) Unto man was given
the great commission, to spread the Good News of Salvation. (Mark 16:15) Unto
man was given the responsibility for the welfare of the poor, both financially
and spiritually speaking. (Leviticus 25:35, Ezekiel 3:18)
The
gift of grace is the ability granted to mankind so that, even though wholly
depraved and sinful of himself, he may seek Yah. No natural man may, of
himself, approach the father, because the legacy of Adam forbids it. “As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after Yah.” (Romans 3:10, 11) Yet it
is also written, “And now, for a little space, grace hath been shewed
from Yahweh our Almighty One, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a
nail in his holy place, that our Elohim may lighten our eyes, and give us a
little reviving in our bondage.” (Ezra 9:8) We must understand both these
things together, and then the harmony will appear.
We
are told of this great gift: “the grace of Yah that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:11) Through the Sacrifice of the Son we are
given grace to repent. Even many who came before this event have obtained grace
by faith in the Cross which was (for them) yet to come. Because of what we have
seen in the Christian age, we understand how this came to be: “Yah having
provided some better thing for us, that they [who lived before Yahshua] without
us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:40) “And I,” says the Messiah, “if
I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
Thus it
must rightly be said: “Yahweh is good unto them that wait for Him, to the
soul that seeketh Him.” (Lamentations 3:5) Far from being a contradictory
statement to Romans 3:10 and 11, (which state that none seek Yah) Jeremiah, the
author of Lamentations, simply points out the difference that the gift of grace
makes in the experience of man. By grace we may seek Yah. There is a “little
space” during which mankind may repent of its sins; this life is granted to us
that we may believe in the Son of Yah and be saved. This is the hope of Man.
“Sirs,”
said the penitent prison guard to Paul and Silas, “what must I do to be saved?”
(Acts 16:30) The reply came, a blessed ray of light in a dark and godless life,
“Believe on the Lord, Yahshua the Messiah, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house.” (verse 31)
The
question has been asked, and must be asked, “What does it mean to believe on
the Lord?” This also is provided for our instruction. “That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Yahshua, and shalt believe in thine heart that
Yah hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) This is
the basis of Christianity, that through Adam sin entered the world, and all
became subject to the resulting sinful nature of humanity. In His infinite
pity, our Creator sent His Son, the Word made flesh, to pay the debt we thus
owed to a holy Judge. We, by believing that Yahshua conquered both life and
death and was therefore “raised… from the dead,” enter into the hope of a like
resurrection to eternal life. “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into
death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4) This is
the intended destiny of Man.
Now,
what is salvation? And what does it mean to be saved? Some believe that simply
accepting Christ with our words “seals the deal,” and therefore our conduct
following is unimportant. In Romans 10:9, they appear to have some
justification for this, however verse 10 gives us some qualification to that
idea. The passage thus reads, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
(Romans 10:9, 10)
With
the heart, men believe unto righteousness. If we truly believe, our actions will
invariably be righteous. If any will dispute this claim, John writes, “Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous,
even as [Yah] is righteous.” (1 John 3:7) Here is the balance between faith and
works spelled out. Salvation is by faith, and that salvation comes by faith
only. Yet that faith which is true will lead men to do righteous acts. Those
who are truly converted to the way can practice no other mode of life.
“Whosoever is born of Yah doth not commit sin [or unrighteous acts]; for His
Seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Yah.” (1 John
3:9)
There
are those who, having never truly experienced for themselves an abiding in
Christ with unbroken victory, seek Scriptures that appear to lessen the impact
of the Gospel. The most common of these arguments are discussed in Appendix
A, yet it should be abundantly clear from the witness of the Scriptures
itself, and the record of the apostles themselves, that “all things are
possible” indeed, for those who believe. “Because of our old, sinful nature,”
some say, “we can never be completely free of sin.” Those who say this are
correct, because those who would say this still have their old, sinful
nature. Yet for every Bible believing Christian, the promise is given, and
claimed: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) In
these latter days, it is indeed a narrow road to life, “and few there be that find
it.” (Matthew 7:14)
Again
Paul tells us, “sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the
law, but under grace? Yah forbid! Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto
death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But Yah be thanked, that ye were
the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants
of righteousness.” (Romans 6:14-18) Paul re-states the idea from Romans 10
here. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness”, and then he will have
“obeyed from the heart.”
This
echoes the words of Yahshua Himself: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34) But immediately are we given
the remedy: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed.” (verse 36) This is the invitation to Man.
Salvation
is not just a “spiritual experience.” It is an experience that changes the
whole person: mind, spirit and, in some cases, body. We certainly become
healthier human beings, even physically, if we abide in the will of Yah. “Be not
wise in thine own eyes: fear Yah, and depart from evil. It shall be health to
thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:7, 8) “Beloved, I wish above
all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)
Our
actions change. The way we look at the world and our fellow human beings
changes when we have been converted to the way of Yahshua. It becomes as
natural for us to do righteousness as it was for us to sin in our previous
lives. What were occasional flashes of “goodness” before, granted as tokens of
love from Heaven, become the consistent pattern of our lives, and it is as far
from us to willfully sin as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) Because
of grace, once sinful man may exercise the gift of faith and grab hold of the
life being offered to us through the Son of Yah.
The
law, the works, the actions… these do not save us. The law exists only to tell
us what sin is, and our works only reflect the reality of our unity or disunity
with that law. (Romans 3:20, 7:7) This continues to be true even after
conversion is experienced. (Matthew 5:17–19) It is grace that gave us a chance
at life; it is faith that keeps us from transgression; is love that binds us
forever to the heart of Yah. We were once of darkness, every one of us, (Romans
3:23), “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Yahshua the Messiah, His Son, cleanseth us
from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
This is
the redemption of Man.
Quotations:
Man is a free, morally responsible creature:
“The experience of Adam is a constant warning and reproof to us. We are not to
turn aside from the word of God under any circumstances; but the Lord compels obedience
from no one. He gives the human agent all the help that he requires to be an
overcomer, but leaves him free to place himself, with his inherited and
cultivated tendencies, under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, or to
follow his own imaginations which are only evil, and that continually. He
leaves him free to choose his associates from the pure and the righteous, or
from among others. He compels no one to obey Him.” [Manuscript Releases
Volume Four, page 198]
“The
whole family of God are included in the responsibility of using their Lord’s
goods. Every individual, from the lowest and most obscure to the greatest and
most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with abilities for which he is
accountable to God.” [Christian Service, page 13]
“When
Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of
love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself.
Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie--to
choose to separate ourselves from Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to
strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we
are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He
will preserve us.” [Steps to Christ, page 72]
The
actions of a man are significant influences in the lives of others:
“God has enjoined the duty upon His human agents to communicate the character
of God, testifying to His grace, His wisdom, and His benevolence, by
manifesting His refined, tender, merciful love.” [God’s Amazing Grace,
page 229, paragraph 5]
“God
desires us to give--cheerfully, willingly, gladly. None can keep His law
without ministering to others. Happiness is the gift of God to him who, in the
spirit of Christ, toils for the good of others.” [The Signs of the Times,
January 22, 1902, paragraph 10]
“Both
parents transmit their own characteristics, mental and physical, their
dispositions and appetites, to their children. [Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 561]
“What
the cause most needs is consecrated young men and women, who feel a personal
responsibility for the advance of the work, and who will cooperate with divine
agencies to shed light into the moral darkness of the world.” [Testimonies
on Sabbath-School Work, page 57]
Human
beings may choose their own path in life:
“The tempted one needs to understand the true force of the will. This is the
governing power in the nature of man – the power of decision, of choice.
Everything depends on the right action of the will.” [Ministry of Healing,
page 176]
“The
path which I have set before you, He said, is narrow; the gate is difficult of
entrance; for the golden rule excludes all pride and self-seeking. There is,
indeed, a wider road; but its end is destruction. If you would climb the path
of spiritual life, you must constantly ascend; for it is an upward way. You
must go with the few; for the multitude will choose the downward path.” [Thoughts
From the Mount of Blessing, page 138]
“True,
we have no power to free ourselves from Satan’s control; but when we desire to
be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and
above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of
the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will
of God.” [Desire of Ages, page 466]
True
freedom and eternal life lie in submission to Yah’s will:
“Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature,’ and His life declares
that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.” [Ministry of
Healing, page 180]
“If men
strictly and conscientiously kept the law of God, there would be no drunkards,
no tobacco inebriates, no distress, penury, and crime. Liquor saloons would be
closed for want of patronage, and nine tenths of all misery existing in the
world would come to an end. Young men would walk forth with erect and noble
forms, free and elastic step, clear eye, and healthy complexions.” [Temperance,
page 164]
“The
only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming
one with Christ. ‘The truth shall make you free;’ and Christ is the truth. Sin
can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the
soul. Subjection to God is restoration of one’s self, – to the true glory and
dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is
‘the law of liberty.’ James 2:12” [Desire of Ages, page 466]
“Do not
dishonor God by one expression of inefficiency and inability to overcome fully,
entirely, and gloriously through Jesus Christ, who has died to redeem you, and
make you a free man. Conquer, yes, conquer. Put your will every moment on the
side of God’s will. Think hopefully and courageously. In faith cry out against
Satan, and looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith,
say, ‘Jesus, my Redeemer, I am weak. I cannot do anything without Thy special
help. I hang my helpless soul on Thee.’” [Our High Calling, page 41]
Questions:
1) Do I understand that I am entirely without merit of my own in the sight of
Yahweh?
2) Do I
understand that I am as precious to Yah as the life of His only begotten Son?
3) How
do I judge success as a human being?
4) Do I
realize that the purpose of afflictions is to purify my faith, and to get me to
trust wholly in the providence of Heaven?
5) How
do I react when things do not turn out as I expect?
6) Do I
examine my actions and my circumstances to see why things do not always turn
out as I expect?
7) Do I
consider how my decisions will affect both my own life and the lives of others?
8) How responsible
do I feel for the way my life is turning out?
9) How
responsible do I feel others are for the way my life is turning out?
10) Do
I ever say, “I cannot,” or “I always try to,” or “I’m working on it,” when
discussing some aspect of my walk in Christ?
11) Do
I actively seek to know Yah’s will, and to perform it, or do I try to see how
much I can “get away with” unnoticed?
12) Am
I conscious of the fact that an individual always acts out his or her true,
core beliefs?
Exercise:
After contemplating and, if possible, discussing with others the above
questions, find a verse or passage of the Bible that gives a promise or an
answer for each.
