Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
*THOMAS *
JEFFERSON
GOD'S
FOUR
REEDOMS
Freedom of Speech:
"Their rulers, and elders, and scribes
ift-J.1“1141?t . . commanded them not to speak at all
nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter
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and John answered and said unto them,
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Whether it be right in the sight of God to
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:V1.01, hearken unto you more than unto God,
tit I P.:,:01"“)FP,..NORPIt judge ye. For we cannot but speak the
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things which we have seen and heard."
Read Acts 4:1-20.
Freedom of Worship:
Oct "Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which are Caesar's; and unto God the
things that are God's."
Read Matthew 22:15-22.
Freedom. From Want:
"If thou shalt hearken diligently unto
the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe
and to do all His commandments, . . . all
these blessings shall come on thee. . . .
The Lord shall open unto thee His good
treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto
thy land in his season, and to bless all the
work of thine hand."
Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
Freedom From Fear: -
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be
not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea,
I will uphold thee with the right hand of
My righteousness."
Read Isaiah 41:10-13; 43:1, 2.
INTERNATIONAL -4
HAS MAN AN IMMORTAL SOUL? Vol. 71, No. 15 April 11, 1944
See Page 2
HAS MAN AN mmortal Soul ?
Is Eternal Life Inherited—
or-Received as a Gift?
W. E. STRICKLAND
"Signs of the Times," April 11, 1944. Vol. 71, No. 15. $1.50 a year in the United States. Printed and published weekly (50 issues a year) by the Pacific Press
Publishing Association at Mountain View, California, U. S. A. Entered as second-class matter September 15, 1904, at the post office at Mountain View, California,
under Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, and authorized September 18, 1918.
Page Two SIGNS of the TIMES
CHRISTIAN Baptism
Is It Necessary?
"there was much water," if baptism were to
be done by sprinkling.
What Does It Symbolize? The term "baptize" is derived from the
Greek baptizo; and in lexicons is invariably
defined: "to dip," "to immerse," "to
plunge." There are eight words in the
Greek of the New Testament used to de-
by scribe the application of liquids. It is sig-
nificant that with this wide choice of words,
FRANCIS A. SOPER meaning "sprinkle," "pour," and "im-
merse," only the one meaning "immerse"
is used in describing water baptism.
In New Testament times this was a fa-
miliar word, readily understood by all and
r 1HE preaching of John the Baptist to this earth and identified Himself with in common usage. The apostles of Christ
had stirred the whole Jewish nation. sinful humanity to show us the path that understood it. Their practice in the early
- Thousands flocked into the wilder= we are to walk, and to give "us an example" church was in accordance with the Master's
ness to hear him proclaim: "The kingdom that we "should follow His steps." I Peter command: "Go ye therefore, and teach all
of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2. As a 2:21. nations, baptizing them in the name of the
result, many were brought to repentance If the Master set us an example in this Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
and "were baptized of him in-Jordan, con- matter, it behooves us to follow it. There Ghost." Matthew 28:19.
fessing their sins." can be no doubt as to the value and neces- At the Day of Pentecost, as the public
News of John's message reached the sity of the ordinance of baptism when Jesus ministry of the apostles was beginning,
small Galilean town of Nazareth, where Himself led the way. But how was He they began to carry out the parting com-
Jesus—realizing that the time for the be- baptized? What mode was used in this mand of the Lord and preached the word
ginning of His public ministry had come— "example" that He set for us? with power. Many who heard "were
joined the large bands of His countrymen There are several types of baptism in pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
who were journeying to the Jordan. vogue today. Some churches practice im- and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
As Jesus came requesting baptism, John mersion while others use sprinkling or brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter
recognized in Him something different pouring. But Jesus was baptized "in" Jor- said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
from all the others—priests, rabbis, soldiers, dan. The very word "in" indicates that the every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
publicans—who were being baptized. He ceremony took place in the water, not on for the remission of sins, and ye shall re-
saw a purity of character that he had never the bank or somewhere near by. Also, the ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts
before seen, and he shrank from granting record states that the Spirit came upon Jesus 2:37, 38.
the request of Jesus, exclaiming: "I have as He was "coming up out of the water." As the result of this meeting three thou-
need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Obviously, then, He had first to go down sand persons were baptized, and Jerusalem
Thou to me?" He realized his own un- into the water. must have been greatly stirred as its pools
worthiness to baptize one whom he felt to In John 3:23 we read: "John also was were crowded with waiting candidates.
be the world's Messiah. baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because As the early church grew, the believers
However, Jesus gently but firmly replied: there was much water there: and they came, "went everywhere preaching the word." It
"Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becom- and were baptized." This makes it plain is recorded that Philip the evangelist went
eth us to fulfill all righteousness." So John that Bible baptism was performed where to Samaria "preaching the things concern-
finally acceded and led Jesus into the Jor- there was no scarcity of water. It would ing the -kingdom of God." Upon hearing
dan and buried Him beneath the water. surely be strange to select a place where the gospel, many were convicted of sin, and
The record continues: "And "when they believed, . . . they
straightway coming up out of were baptized, both men and
the water, He saw the heavens women." Acts 8:4, 12. No dis-
opened, and • the Spirit like a crimination was made; all who
dove descending upon Him." believed, "both men and
Mark t:to. women," received the rite of
It was not as a confession of baptism.
guilt, or on His own behalf, that After a short time, Philip was
Jesus was baptized. He was the led by the Holy Spirit into the
Sinless One and did not for desert region between Jerusalem
Himself need to receive that and Gaza. Here, by divine guid-
rite which symbolized the re- ance, he met the Ethiopian
moval of sin. Rulers and com- eunuch who was returning to
mon people alike confessed their his own country after Worship-
guilt• and were baptized, thus ing in Jerusalem. As Philip ex-
signifying that they desired to pounded to the distinguished
have a part in the kingdom of officer the prophecies in the Old
the coming Messiah by having Testament concerning the Mes-
their heart and life purified and siah and their fulfillment in
cleansed. But Jesus was baptized A modern baptismal scene in the River Jordan Jesus Christ, the Ethiopian was
for a different purpose. He came near where John baptized Jesus. (Continued on page 5)
VOICE OF PROPHECY.
In spite of this so-called modern attitude said: "Behold the Lamb of God, which tak-
toward the shed blood of Christ, it is still eth away the sin of the world." John 1:29.
Bible truth that no man ever lived who had If we look back to the beginning of time,
his sins remitted without the shedding of we see Abel. bringing a lamb to the angel-
blood. We read in Hebrews 9:22: "With- guarded gates of Paradise. Continue to
out shedding of blood is no remission." look, and you see the harmless creature
"All have sinned." Romans 3:23. All slain. Its blood is shed, and soon you see their lambs for sacrifice were taught to look
are lost. Therefore, all need salvation. All the smoke of a sacrifice ascending. not to the lamb they offered, but to Christ
can find salvation. It is provided for all, Later, when God required congrega- the true Lamb and His death for man.
because Christ died for all. 2 Corinthians tional worship, all the lambs for sacrifice We have a description of that beautiful
5:14, 15; Romans 5:6. But all who are lost were brought to the sanctuary or temple. tabernacle or sanctuary in Hebrews 9:1-3,
must come to God by way of the spilled Exodus 25:8, 9, 40; 29:38, 49. Here the 6-1o. The two apartments of the tabernacle
blood of Christ. There is no other way to priest from the tribe of Levi shed the blood were known as the holy place and the most
climb to heaven, no other avenue to re- of the lambs twice each day. holy place, and were separated by a curtain,
demption, no other door, no other gate. This sanctuary and its entire service was or veil, interwoven with gold and silver.
"No man cometh unto the Father, but by ordered by the Lord and was a shadow, or In the holy place was the altar of incense,
Me." John 14:6. lesson, of heavenly things. the golden table of shewbread, and the
No human being can be cleansed with- "Now of the things which we have seven-branched candlestick. In the most
out the shedding of blood. spoken this is the sum: We have such an holy place the only object was the ark of
"If we walk in the light, as He is in the high priest, who is set on the right hand of the covenant, containing the tables of the
light, we have fellowship one with another the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Ten Commandments. 'Over the top of the
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son minister of the sanctuary, and of the true ark of the covenant was the mercy seat,
cleanseth us from all sin." r John 1:7. tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and where God came to meet with the children
As soon as a man becomes conscious that not man. of Israel.
he needs a Saviour, he turns his eyes to "For every high priest is ordained to offer Every day the priests went into the holy
Christ. Then Christ covers his sins with gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of neces- place and ministered the blood for sinners.
His own precious blood. When God looks sity that this man have somewhat also to Once every year the high priest alone went
upon that sinner, He sees Christ's righteous offer. . . . Who serve unto the example into the most holy place to cleanse it from
life. Christ takes our place. The broken and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses the record of the sins of the whole year.
law cannot , condemn that man because' was admonished of God when he was about Thus, these sacrifices were typical of only
Christ stepped in and offered His life in to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith' He, one thing—the salvation which Jesus was
place of the man's life. that thou make all things according to the to bring. Not only was Jesus revealed as
The wages, or penalty, of sin is death. pattern showed to thee in the mount." the Lamb of God, dying for sins, but as the
Romans 6:23. Christ paid the penalty. So, Hebrews 8:1-5. High Priest in God's tabernacle of heaven
as soon as the lost sinner with the death Everything, even the dress of the priests, working out a plan of eternal redemption
penalty written up against him recognizes was significant. The people who brought for us on the basis of His spilled blood:
Page Four SIGNS of the TIMES
Paul tells us in Roman 3:25 that Jesus and advocate in the heaven of heavens. It
was the propitiation for our sins, and the was as if a living voice had spoken to the
word "propitiation" comes from the Greek worshipers There is now an end to all
word meaning "mercy seat." Jesus is our sacrifices and offerings for sin. The Son of
mercy seat. God is come according to His word, To, I
The Passover was another service which come (in the volume of the Book it is writ-
was an acted prophe.cy of Christ. We read ten of Me,) to do Thy will, 0 God: By His
in 1 Corinthians 5:7: "For even Christ our own blood' He entereth 'in once into the
•Passover is sacrificed for us." holy place, having obtained eternal redemp-
Christ was crucified at the time of the tion for us,' Hebrews 1o:7; 9: I2."—The
Passover feast and fulfilled this acted Desire of Ages, pages 756, 757.
prophecy made nearly fifteen hundred years All these ancient services pointed for-
before. ward to Jesus Christ as the Lamb slain. The
The lamb for the Passover was trouble with our world today is that it is
separated from the flock several days getting away from the blood of Christ.
before it was offered. In John I : In Exodus 12:46 we are told that not a
47-54 you will find that Jesus was bone of the lamb was to be broken. As
marked for death as the Lamb of God Jesus hung upon the cross, crucified be-
several days before His crucifixion, tween two thieves, the soldiers came to
and that after He was marked for break their legs; but when they came to
death by the high priest He walked Jesus and found that He was dead already,
no more openly among the Jews. they did not break His legs. John 19:33. So
According to Mark 15:25, we find the Scripture's prophecy was fulfilled—that
that Jesus was nailed to the cross not a bone was to be broken. Psalm 34:2o.
about 9 o'clock in the morning. The Then they pierced His precious side with
Jews had two evenings—one began a spear, and there came forth blood and
at noon, and the other at 6 o'clock. water, showing that He died of mental
Some people still say "Good evening" anguish—of a broken heart! John 19:34-37.
in the afternoon. It was the same in In every way the Passover lambs pointed
the time of Jesus. The lamb was slain to Christ, but men's eyes were closed lest
"between the two evenings" (Exo- they should see, and their ears were stopped
dus 12:6, margin), or halfway be- lest they should hear.
tween 12 and 6 o'clock, which would Every day the lambs were dying, and the
be 3 o'clock. At that time—the ninth priests were offering the blood upon the
hour—Jesus cried with a loud voice, altar and before the veil of the temple. By
"It is finished." John 19:3o; Mat- this service God was trying to teach the
thew 27:5o. Israelites that there was no salvation out-
"When the loud cry, 'It is finished,' side the Lord Jesus Christ.
came from the lips of Christ, the If I had been the only sinner, Jesus would
priests were officiating in have come to the cross of Calvary and shed
the temple. It was the hour His blood for me! If you had been the only
of the evening sacrifice. The lost soul, Christ would have come to Cal-
lamb representing Christ vary and died as the Lamb—for you!
had been brought to be Yes, the Saviour was willing to shed His
The Lamb of God shed slain. Clothed in his , sig- blood for us! And when, by faith, we see
His blood for all mankind, nificant and beautiful dress, Him on the cross, from the depths of our
and by His infinite sacri-
fice we are redeeined. the priest stood with lifted hearts comes the response:
knife, as did Abraham when
he was about to slay his son. I lay my sins on Jesus,
The blood of the lambs With intense interest the The spotless Lamb of God;
did not save men in those He bears them all, and frees us
people were looking on. But From the accursed load;
days, but the faith of the the earth trembles and I bring my guilt to Jesus,
people was thus pointed to the great Lamb quakes; for the Lord Himself draws near. To wash my crimson stains
of God, Jesus Christ. When a man brought With a rending noise the inner veil of the White in His blood most precious,
a lamb for a sacrifice, he first laid his hand temple is torn from top to bottom by an Till not a stain remains.
upon its head and confessed his sins—show- unseen hand, throwing open to the gaze of —Horatius Bonar.
ing his faith that God's lamb must bear the multitude a place once filled with the
his sins. Then he shed its blood! Imagine presence of God. In this place the Shekinah
how deeply his mind was impressed with had dwelt. Here God had manifested His Christian Baptism
his need of a divine Saviour from heaven! glory above the mercy seat. No one but the (Continued from page 3)
His faith was not in the blood of animals, high priest ever lifted the veil separating deeply impressed and requested baptism.
but in the blood of Christ. this apartment from the rest of the temple. "And as they went on their way, they came
The bread upon the golden table repre- He entered in once a year to make an atone- unto a certain water: and the eunuch said,
sented Jesus as the Bread of Life. John 6:35. ment for the sins of the people. But lo, this See, here is water; what doth hinder me to
When the mercy seat was placed over God's veil is rent in twain. The most holy place be baptized ?"
Ten Commandments in the sanctuary, it of the earthly sanctuary is no longer sacred. The record continues: "Philip said, If
pointed to Jesus. God's law, the Ten Com- "All is terror and confusion. The priest thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mandments, when violated, demands death. is about to slay the victim; but the knife mayest. And he answered and said, I be-
"The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. drops from his nerveless hand, and the lamb lieve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
But between man and the death penalty is escapes. Type has met antitype in the death And he commanded the chariot to stand
the mercy seat where God, in Christ, ex- of God's Son. The great sacrifice has been still: and they went down both into the
tends mercy to the sinner. And in that made. The way into the holiest is laid open. water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he
solemn service of the Day of Atonement, A new and living way is prepared for all. baptized him. And when they were come
the blood of the lamb was sprinkled on the No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity up 'out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
mercy seat over the broken law. Thank await the coming of the high priest. Hence- caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw
God for Jesus as the mercy seat for us! forth the Saviour was to officiate as priest (Continued on page 7)
for APRIL 11, 1944 Page Five
On the Trail of
Tradition4
RISE OF THE
PAPACY
by
HERMAN 0. OLSON GALLOWAY
Modern Rome with the Tiber River in the foreground, Hadrian's tomb on the right,
and the dome of St. Peter's Church in the distance.
ITHIN the clergy there early de- ality in the former capital. The patriarch and is our wish, and honoring your blessed-
L N R AT 0 N IE ID IIC 11-11 IF S
by
sI walked along a street in my we may pray as much as we like, and as