Can We Be Held Responsible-6 quotes

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

CAN WE BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS -- INCLUDING CHURCHES?, part 6 (final) quotes

1) Corporate Responsibility...continued

The last message of mercy, or the loud cry of the third angel, is the very last message this world will ever hear. If any person hears this precious message, and yet persists in refusing to follow it, they will be lost for eternity!

"The message presented at this time is the last message of mercy for a fallen world. Those who have the privilege of hearing this message, and who persist in refusing to heed the warning, cast away their last hope of salvation. There will be no second probation." Testimonies, vol 6, p 19.

2) What is this loud cry message all about?

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great [representing every harlot church--Romanism, apostate Protestantism, and Adventism] is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations [all churches or denominations--see SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 979] have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." Revelation 18:1-5.

The Father Himself tells all those who want to be His people to come completely out of the harlot church of Babylon, or they will be partakers of her sins – being held corporately responsible – and they will receive the plagues – being a sharer in the punishment of their harlot church.

This separation and corporate responsibility message joins the third angel's message of the righteousness of Christ, as the second angel's message joined the first angel's (see Early Writings, p 277).

3) Reject either message – either the righteousness of Christ, or separation from all harlot groups of sinners corrupt corporate bodies – and you will not receive the seal of God!

"The angel [of Ezekiel 9] is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young." Testimonies, vol 5, p 505.

Even if you obeyed the message of Christ's righteousness, and overcame all your personal sins, but refused to separate from your harlot church, you would still fail of perfecting righteousness completely and being without spot and stain of sin, and will not receive the seal of God (see Testimonies, vol 5, p 212-216).

4) If you are united with the corrupt, then you are corrupt and no longer pure or clean.

"It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. 'What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?' God and Christ and the heavenly host would have man know that if he unites with the corrupt, he will become corrupt." Review and Herald, January 2, 1900 (vol 4, p 137).

Following or preaching only the message of Christ's righteousness of the third angel, but not following the message of separation of the third angel, will leave people contaminated with corporate sin. Thus they will lose eternal life. Following or preaching only the message of separation, but not pointing the people to Christ and His righteousness, will leave the people contaminated with personal and social sin. Thus they will also lose eternal life. Both messages of the third angel must be obeyed to fulfill all righteousness and be completely free from the spot and stain of sin in Jesus!

5) It is a WHOLE GOSPEL message which the people desperately need today – not half a gospel.

"The truth for this time embraces the whole gospel." Testimonies, vol 6, p 291.

To preach "present truth" is to preach a complete gospel message of the third angel: preaching the message of Christ's righteousness and separation. But if you preach only half a message, then you are not preaching present truth. (For further study on this vitally important subject, please read the booklet The Last Message of Mercy).

6) It is this whole gospel message of present truth that God's people desperately need now!

"There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is 'present truth' that the flock needs now." Early Writings, p 63.

Multitudes are starving and even dying because of the lack of this present truth – this loud cry message being preached to them in its entirety!

"The Lord has shown me that precious souls are starving, and dying for want of the present, sealing truth, the meat in due season; and that the swift messengers should speed on their way, and feed the flock with the present truth. I heard an Angel say, 'Speed the swift messengers, speed the swift messengers; for the case of every soul will soon be decided, either for life, or for death.'" Review and Herald, September 1, 1849 (vol 1, p 11).

If we choose to remain connected with personal or social sin, or we choose to remain connected and members of any corrupt corporate body or harlot church, whether Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, or Adventist, then we will not be sealed with the seal of the living God and will lose everlasting life! (for further study on this subject, please see the booklet, The Controversy Over Revelation 18).

7) Christ clearly states which pathway He leads His people to follow, and the conditions necessary to fulfill in order to walk it.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." John 10:1-5.

"Satan and his angels were busily engaged in seeking to attract the minds of as many as possible from the light [of the angel which "was to lighten the earth with his glory"]. The company who rejected it were left in darkness. I saw the angel of God watching with the deepest interest His professed people, to record the character which they developed as the message of heavenly origin was presented to them. And as very many who professed love for Jesus turned from the heavenly message with scorn, derision, and hatred, an angel with a parchment in his hand made the shameful record. All heaven was filled with indignation that Jesus should be thus slighted by His professed people....

"Satan exulted at the state of the professed followers of Jesus. He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight path, and they were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw the pure and holy mixed up with sinners in Zion and with world-loving hypocrites. They had watched over the true disciples of Jesus; but the corrupt were affecting the holy...

"I saw Jesus...bade angels lead His people out from among the unclean, lest they should be defiled. Those who were obedient to the message stood out free and united." Early Writings, p 245-250.

8) The conditions of eternal life are not hard to understand – separation from all personal, social, and corporate sin in order to be completely free and hid in Jesus. But how foolish is it to believe that you can walk a different pathway than God's specified will, and still be on your way to heaven!

"The conditions upon which salvation is assured are plain and simple, so that the wayfaring man need not err therein. To neglect or reject these conditions is to lose all hope of salvation. God alone is able to say on what terms fallen, rebellious man may be saved. How foolish it is for men to spend their energies in seeking to climb up some other way than that way which is so simple and so easy to be understood that the most illiterate may take advantage of its provisions. Professed theologians seem to take pleasure in making that which is plain, mysterious. They clothe the simple teachings of God's word with their own dark reasonings, and thus confuse the minds of those who listen to their doctrines. Let the Lord explain what He would have the sinner do to inherit eternal life." Signs of the Times, July 2, 1896 (vol 3, p 304) (See also April 1, 1880, July 31, 1884, May 12, 1890; This Day With God, p 155 & 266; Testimonies, vol 1, p 131).

9) After we have completely separated from all our personal, social, and corporate sins and responsibilities, have dropped all our union and membership with all harlot churches, and have been received of God as His children – joining Christ and becoming one with, and united with, Him – then what happens? We become sharers and partakers in Christ, and this glorious union then allows us to become sharers and partakers of:

-- His righteousness (Review and Herald, March 21, 1893, June 23, 1896; Desire of Ages, p 25).

-- His grace (Youth's Instructor, September 28, 1899; Steps to Christ, p 78).

-- His life (Testimonies, vol 4, p 354; Signs of the Times, March 10, 1887).

-- His great ministry and work of redemption and uplifting (Messages to Young People, p 47; Upward Look, p 305).

-- His toiling and self-consuming zeal to relieve the wants and woes of humanity (Mount of Blessings, p 12).

-- His joy (Mount of Blessings, p 12; Christ's Object Lessons, p 210).

-- His humiliation (Review and Herald, March 5, 1889; Signs of the Times, September 27, 1883).

-- His poverty (Review and Herald, July 4, 1912).

-- His self-denial (Review and Herald, December 23, 1884).

-- His cross (Gospel Herald, May 1, 1898).

-- His sufferings (Mount of Blessings, p 12; Review and Herald, September 16, 1890; Selected Messages, book 2, p 248).

-- His eternal glory (Mount of Blessings, p 12; Upward Look, p 305; Review and Herald, March 6, 1888).

-- His glorious power (Manuscript Releases, vol 7, p 130).

-- His riches (Review and Herald, December 26, 1882).

-- And His throne (Review and Herald, December 26, 1882, December 15, 1896).

United with Christ we also become partakers and sharers of:

-- The Divine nature (Review and Herald, January 12, 1886, July 1, 1890; Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896).

-- The glorious liberty of being the sons of God (Reflecting Christ, p 377; Amazing Grace, p 313; Education, p 151).

-- The mercy of God (Review and Herald, September 22, 1896).

-- The love of God (Review and Herald, September 22, 1896).

-- The favor of God (Selected Messages, book 1, p 326).

-- The dignity of His suffering (Manuscript Releases, vol 18, p 80).

-- The joy of holiness (Steps to Christ, p 14; Lift Him Up, p 243).

-- The purity and influences of heaven (Southern Watchman, July 9, 1903).

-- Heavenly peace (Amazing Grace, p 320; In Heavenly Places, p 35).

-- The power of His resurrection (Desire of Ages, p 209).

-- The habitations of the blessed (Review and Herald, August 22, 1912).

-- And eternal life (Desire of Ages, p 25; Counsels on Stewardship, p 25; Review and Herald, March 9, 1905).

All these stupendous blessings and privileges are made possible only because of Christ!

"The sins of the world were laid upon Christ, and for this reason He was numbered with transgressors. He bore the curse and was treated as a transgressor, in order that the repentant sinner might be clothed with His righteousness. He was condemned for sin in which He had no share, in order that we might be justified by righteousness in which we had no part. Christ has manifested His love for us, and has become our representative, in order that our sin need not drown us in perdition." Review and Herald, June 23, 1896 (vol 3, p 369).

"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as he deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed.'" Desire of Ages, p 25 (see also Testimonies, vol 8, p 208-209).

10) May we study for ourselves. May we test every doctrine we hear or read by God’s inspired word, so that we will not just follow or reject it because of someone elses beliefs, but be able to say "I know what I believe and can prove it from God's inspired word."

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

If we do not study for ourselves and know what we believe, and end up losing eternal life, who can we blame but ourselves?

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God." 2 Timothy 2:15.

"God has given us the precious endowment of reason and intellect, and we shall be held accountable for our mistakes if we do not use the mind in earnest study of the word of God. God has endowed us with capabilities whereby we may understand what is acceptable unto Him. Our human ideas, our human wills, are not to take the throne, but the will of God is to be supreme." Signs of the Times, February 26, 1894 (vol 3, p 101).

11) The only pathway set out for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in is the very same pathway Christ Himself chose to walk.

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." Hebrews 13:12-13.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes CAN WE BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS -- INCLUDING CHURCHES?, part 6 (final) quotes 1) Corporate Responsibility...continued The last message of mercy, or the loud cry of the third angel, is the very last message this world will ever hear. If any person hears this precious message, and yet persists in refusing to follow it, they will be lost for eternity! "The message presented at this time is the last message of mercy for a fallen world. Those who have the privilege of hearing this message, and who persist in refusing to heed the warning, cast away their last hope of salvation. There will be no second probation." Testimonies, vol 6, p 19. 2) What is this loud cry message all about? "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great [representing every harlot church--Romanism, apostate Protestantism, and Adventism] is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations [all churches or denominations--see SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 979] have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." Revelation 18:1-5. The Father Himself tells all those who want to be His people to come completely out of the harlot church of Babylon, or they will be partakers of her sins – being held corporately responsible – and they will receive the plagues – being a sharer in the punishment of their harlot church. This separation and corporate responsibility message joins the third angel's message of the righteousness of Christ, as the second angel's message joined the first angel's (see Early Writings, p 277). 3) Reject either message – either the righteousness of Christ, or separation from all harlot groups of sinners corrupt corporate bodies – and you will not receive the seal of God! "The angel [of Ezekiel 9] is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young." Testimonies, vol 5, p 505. Even if you obeyed the message of Christ's righteousness, and overcame all your personal sins, but refused to separate from your harlot church, you would still fail of perfecting righteousness completely and being without spot and stain of sin, and will not receive the seal of God (see Testimonies, vol 5, p 212-216). 4) If you are united with the corrupt, then you are corrupt and no longer pure or clean. "It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. 'What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?' God and Christ and the heavenly host would have man know that if he unites with the corrupt, he will become corrupt." Review and Herald, January 2, 1900 (vol 4, p 137). Following or preaching only the message of Christ's righteousness of the third angel, but not following the message of separation of the third angel, will leave people contaminated with corporate sin. Thus they will lose eternal life. Following or preaching only the message of separation, but not pointing the people to Christ and His righteousness, will leave the people contaminated with personal and social sin. Thus they will also lose eternal life. Both messages of the third angel must be obeyed to fulfill all righteousness and be completely free from the spot and stain of sin in Jesus! 5) It is a WHOLE GOSPEL message which the people desperately need today – not half a gospel. "The truth for this time embraces the whole gospel." Testimonies, vol 6, p 291. To preach "present truth" is to preach a complete gospel message of the third angel: preaching the message of Christ's righteousness and separation. But if you preach only half a message, then you are not preaching present truth. (For further study on this vitally important subject, please read the booklet The Last Message of Mercy). 6) It is this whole gospel message of present truth that God's people desperately need now! "There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is 'present truth' that the flock needs now." Early Writings, p 63. Multitudes are starving and even dying because of the lack of this present truth – this loud cry message being preached to them in its entirety! "The Lord has shown me that precious souls are starving, and dying for want of the present, sealing truth, the meat in due season; and that the swift messengers should speed on their way, and feed the flock with the present truth. I heard an Angel say, 'Speed the swift messengers, speed the swift messengers; for the case of every soul will soon be decided, either for life, or for death.'" Review and Herald, September 1, 1849 (vol 1, p 11). If we choose to remain connected with personal or social sin, or we choose to remain connected and members of any corrupt corporate body or harlot church, whether Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, or Adventist, then we will not be sealed with the seal of the living God and will lose everlasting life! (for further study on this subject, please see the booklet, The Controversy Over Revelation 18). 7) Christ clearly states which pathway He leads His people to follow, and the conditions necessary to fulfill in order to walk it. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." John 10:1-5. "Satan and his angels were busily engaged in seeking to attract the minds of as many as possible from the light [of the angel which "was to lighten the earth with his glory"]. The company who rejected it were left in darkness. I saw the angel of God watching with the deepest interest His professed people, to record the character which they developed as the message of heavenly origin was presented to them. And as very many who professed love for Jesus turned from the heavenly message with scorn, derision, and hatred, an angel with a parchment in his hand made the shameful record. All heaven was filled with indignation that Jesus should be thus slighted by His professed people.... "Satan exulted at the state of the professed followers of Jesus. He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight path, and they were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw the pure and holy mixed up with sinners in Zion and with world-loving hypocrites. They had watched over the true disciples of Jesus; but the corrupt were affecting the holy... "I saw Jesus...bade angels lead His people out from among the unclean, lest they should be defiled. Those who were obedient to the message stood out free and united." Early Writings, p 245-250. 8) The conditions of eternal life are not hard to understand – separation from all personal, social, and corporate sin in order to be completely free and hid in Jesus. But how foolish is it to believe that you can walk a different pathway than God's specified will, and still be on your way to heaven! "The conditions upon which salvation is assured are plain and simple, so that the wayfaring man need not err therein. To neglect or reject these conditions is to lose all hope of salvation. God alone is able to say on what terms fallen, rebellious man may be saved. How foolish it is for men to spend their energies in seeking to climb up some other way than that way which is so simple and so easy to be understood that the most illiterate may take advantage of its provisions. Professed theologians seem to take pleasure in making that which is plain, mysterious. They clothe the simple teachings of God's word with their own dark reasonings, and thus confuse the minds of those who listen to their doctrines. Let the Lord explain what He would have the sinner do to inherit eternal life." Signs of the Times, July 2, 1896 (vol 3, p 304) (See also April 1, 1880, July 31, 1884, May 12, 1890; This Day With God, p 155 & 266; Testimonies, vol 1, p 131). 9) After we have completely separated from all our personal, social, and corporate sins and responsibilities, have dropped all our union and membership with all harlot churches, and have been received of God as His children – joining Christ and becoming one with, and united with, Him – then what happens? We become sharers and partakers in Christ, and this glorious union then allows us to become sharers and partakers of: -- His righteousness (Review and Herald, March 21, 1893, June 23, 1896; Desire of Ages, p 25). -- His grace (Youth's Instructor, September 28, 1899; Steps to Christ, p 78). -- His life (Testimonies, vol 4, p 354; Signs of the Times, March 10, 1887). -- His great ministry and work of redemption and uplifting (Messages to Young People, p 47; Upward Look, p 305). -- His toiling and self-consuming zeal to relieve the wants and woes of humanity (Mount of Blessings, p 12). -- His joy (Mount of Blessings, p 12; Christ's Object Lessons, p 210). -- His humiliation (Review and Herald, March 5, 1889; Signs of the Times, September 27, 1883). -- His poverty (Review and Herald, July 4, 1912). -- His self-denial (Review and Herald, December 23, 1884). -- His cross (Gospel Herald, May 1, 1898). -- His sufferings (Mount of Blessings, p 12; Review and Herald, September 16, 1890; Selected Messages, book 2, p 248). -- His eternal glory (Mount of Blessings, p 12; Upward Look, p 305; Review and Herald, March 6, 1888). -- His glorious power (Manuscript Releases, vol 7, p 130). -- His riches (Review and Herald, December 26, 1882). -- And His throne (Review and Herald, December 26, 1882, December 15, 1896). United with Christ we also become partakers and sharers of: -- The Divine nature (Review and Herald, January 12, 1886, July 1, 1890; Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896). -- The glorious liberty of being the sons of God (Reflecting Christ, p 377; Amazing Grace, p 313; Education, p 151). -- The mercy of God (Review and Herald, September 22, 1896). -- The love of God (Review and Herald, September 22, 1896). -- The favor of God (Selected Messages, book 1, p 326). -- The dignity of His suffering (Manuscript Releases, vol 18, p 80). -- The joy of holiness (Steps to Christ, p 14; Lift Him Up, p 243). -- The purity and influences of heaven (Southern Watchman, July 9, 1903). -- Heavenly peace (Amazing Grace, p 320; In Heavenly Places, p 35). -- The power of His resurrection (Desire of Ages, p 209). -- The habitations of the blessed (Review and Herald, August 22, 1912). -- And eternal life (Desire of Ages, p 25; Counsels on Stewardship, p 25; Review and Herald, March 9, 1905). All these stupendous blessings and privileges are made possible only because of Christ! "The sins of the world were laid upon Christ, and for this reason He was numbered with transgressors. He bore the curse and was treated as a transgressor, in order that the repentant sinner might be clothed with His righteousness. He was condemned for sin in which He had no share, in order that we might be justified by righteousness in which we had no part. Christ has manifested His love for us, and has become our representative, in order that our sin need not drown us in perdition." Review and Herald, June 23, 1896 (vol 3, p 369). "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as he deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed.'" Desire of Ages, p 25 (see also Testimonies, vol 8, p 208-209). 10) May we study for ourselves. May we test every doctrine we hear or read by God’s inspired word, so that we will not just follow or reject it because of someone elses beliefs, but be able to say "I know what I believe and can prove it from God's inspired word." “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. If we do not study for ourselves and know what we believe, and end up losing eternal life, who can we blame but ourselves? "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God." 2 Timothy 2:15. "God has given us the precious endowment of reason and intellect, and we shall be held accountable for our mistakes if we do not use the mind in earnest study of the word of God. God has endowed us with capabilities whereby we may understand what is acceptable unto Him. Our human ideas, our human wills, are not to take the throne, but the will of God is to be supreme." Signs of the Times, February 26, 1894 (vol 3, p 101). 11) The only pathway set out for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in is the very same pathway Christ Himself chose to walk. "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." Hebrews 13:12-13.