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BEYOND BELIEF
 Jack Sequeira
Pacific Press Publishing Association 1993Preface The material presented in this book contains what I consider the essential teachings of Scripture pertaining to the everlasting gospel, the Three Angels’ message of Revelation 14:6-12 which is to be proclaimed “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” andwhich every believer must clearly grasp in order that the power of the gospel may become aliving reality.After almost two thousand years of church history, God’s people today must confess withshame that they have failed miserably to demonstrate the mighty power of God revealed inChrist Jesus to deliver people totally from the tyranny of sin and self. But our Lord made itclear that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness[demonstration, see 1 Corinthians 4:20] unto all nations, and then shall the end come”[Matthew 24:14]. The last days of this world’s history are upon us. We are living in “perilous times” for menhave become “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, falseaccusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded,lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying thepower thereof” [2 Tim. 3:1-5]. In view of this, no longer can we remain nominal Christians,for God has made it clear to this last generation of believers that He will no longer tolerate alukewarm people [Revelation 3:14-16, 19]. The church today desperately needs revival (renewal of truth) and reformation (change of behavior); and the starting point must be a clear understanding of the truth as it is in Christ.It is this truth, received in the heart [Revelation 3:20], that will bring genuine, heartfeltrepentance among the people of God and which in turn will open the way for the outpouringof the Holy Spirit as at Pentecost [read Joel 2:12, 13, 17, 18, 28-32]. To this end this studyguide is dedicated. The material presented within these pages is not intended for the casual reader but for thosewho have put the cause of God’s kingdom first and are therefore hungry and thirsty afterrighteousness, the very righteousness of Christ. Further, this volume is not a book to be readbut a study guide, and is presented so that its full value can only be appreciated if it isstudied alongside with the Bible. As you read each unit, turn to the texts and read them foryourself, preferably from more than one translation, so that the truth as it is in Christ maycome to you directly from God’s Word. Only then will the true gospel become meaningful toyou and you will rejoice greatly in “the pearl of great price.” The gospel is the power of God, and the only power which is able to save all men from sin[Romans 1:16; Matthew 1:21]. According to Scripture, all men have sinned and are comingshort of God’s glory [Romans 3:23]. Furthermore, all humanity is in slavery to sin because of 
 
the fall [Romans 3:9-20; 7:14], and consequently all men are hopelessly lost apart from thesaving grace of God in Christ, which is the good news of the gospel. In studying the truth of this gospel, we will discover much of it is a contradiction to our human reasoning or even tonatural law. This is because the Word of God is not a philosophy but a divine revelation, andmust therefore be studied as such. Reason, while important, must never be substituted forrevelation. Consider the following texts:Isaiah 55:8, 9. God’s ways and thoughts are very far from and different from man’s waysand thoughts.1 Corinthians 1:17, 18. The gospel, equated to the cross of Christ, is foolishness to thenatural mind.1 Corinthians 2:14. Apart from the convictions of the Holy Spirit the natural mind of itself cannot receive divine truth. John 16:12, 13. It is the Holy Spirit who must guide us into all truth, and not our unaidedhuman reasoning. John 15:1-8. Note how Jesus’ illustration of the vine and the branches is the very opposite tonatural law of grafting. In nature the branch has to be of the good vine grafted into the wildgrape root to produce good fruit, while in Christ’s illustration it is the very opposite.2 Timothy 2:11. According to the natural order, in this sinful world, we begin by receiving lifeand we end up with death. The gospel program is a contradiction to this order, for it beginswith death of the old Adamic self-life and ends up with life eternal, God’s gift to man in Christ[1 John 5:11; Romans 6:3-8].As we approach the study of the gospel, may we do so humbly and with a teachable spirit, sothat God may lead us all into the wonderful truth of His salvation. The writer claims nooriginality, but has endeavoured to present here what God in His great mercy has revealed tohim through Spirit-filled men of the past and present, and through his own personal study of the Word. All truth belongs to God and He reveals it to men in various ways for the benefitand profit of the total body of Christ, the church [1 Cor. 12:7]. To all who love the Lord dearly, but especially to my flock whom God has given into mycharge, I send out this study guide with my earnest prayer that “ye shall know the truth, andthe truth shall make you free” [John 8:32].Unit 1 – The Sin Problem (Part 1)Since the gospel is God’s power to save men from sin, it is important that we begin our studywith a brief outline of the sin problem before we turn to its solution which God has preparedfor us in Christ.It is only against the background of man’s total sinfulness and depravity that the gospel of Christ becomes meaningful. The gospel, when accepted and applied to our lives, may bedefined by the formula: “Not I, but Christ” (Gal. 2:20). This formula is expressed in the New Testament in various ways (1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 3:3, 8, 9). The most difficult part of this formula when it comes to its practical application is the firsthalf, “Not I.” The reason for this is because we fallen sinful human beings are born ego-centric or self-centered, and naturally want to live independent of God (Rom. 1:20-23). A trueunderstanding of the sin problem is the only sure way of destroying all confidence in self andturning to Christ as our only righteousness, hope, and surety. The following is a brief historyand analysis of the sin problem.
 
1. Origin of SinEzekiel 28:14, 15. Sin originated in heaven in the mind of Lucifer, the head of the angelicbeings. The Bible does not explain how sin could begin with a perfect being, because sin isunexplainable. Hence, it is referred to as “the mystery of iniquity.”Isaiah 14:12-14. The essence of Lucifer’s sin was self-exaltation, what the Bible defines asiniquity, which in Hebrew means bent to self (Isa. 53:6). Hence, the love of self is theunderlying principle of all sin, in complete opposition to the principle of God’s governmentwhich is founded upon selfless love or agape (see 1 Jn.4:7, 8, 16). Sin therefore may berightly interpreted as rebellion against God or His agape. According to 1 Corinthians 13:5,there is no love of self in agape.Romans 7:7. At the heart of every sin is covetousness or self-seeking. Lust originated withthe devil and is not of God (see 1 Jn. 2:15, 16). John 8:44. In heaven, Lucifer (who became Satan) coveted the position of Christ andtherefore desired to murder Him so that he might get Him out of the way (murder in God’seyes begins in the mind, see Matthew 5:21, 22).Revelation 12:7-9. Sin in the heart of Lucifer led to war in heaven. Satan and the angels whosided with him were defeated and were cast out of their heavenly home.2. Development of SinWhile sin originated in the mind of Lucifer in heaven, it was never allowed to develop inheaven. It was on this earth that Satan and his angels developed sin. Let us see how this wasdone:Genesis 1:26, 28. God created this earth for man and therefore gave him dominion over it.Luke 4:5, 6. By deceiving our first parents (Adam and Eve) and causing them to fall, Satantook possession of this world and made it his own; this is based on the principle recorded in 2Pet. 2:19. Please note that Jesus did not question Satan’s claim that the world was deliveredto him. John 14:30. Since the fall of man, Satan has become the “prince of this world.”2 Corinthians 4:3, 4. Paul refers to Satan as the “god of this world.”1 John 5:19. The whole world, apart from the Christian, is under the control of Satan, or asthe Greek text actually says, “the wicked one.”2 Peter 2:19. Man defeated by Satan is in bondage (slavery) to him (Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:17).Using man as his tool, Satan has developed a kingdom (the Bible refers to it as “the kingdomof this world”) that is based entirely on the principle of self and which is in completeopposition and contradiction to the “kingdom of heaven.” Everything, therefore, that goes tomake up this worldly system (kosmos) — nationalism, tribalism, politics, education,commerce, recreation, sports, social clubs, technology, etc. — is founded upon the principleof love of self, even though at times this principle may not be obvious. According to 1 Jn.2:16, “all that is in the world” (i.e., without exception) is based or founded upon lust (i. e.,
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Slawek Gromadzki

This is the best book dealing with the salvation by faith, cross and the sin problem!

reply06 / 14 / 2009
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