Jesus Only: Rediscovering the Passion of Primitive Godliness

Copyright © 2011 Ernan Norman

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from The Clear Word, Copyright © 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004 by Review and Herald Publishing Association. All rights reserved.

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-(866) 928-1240

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2932-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2933-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2931-8 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/28/2011

Contents

A REVIVAL IS COMING

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

EPILOGUE

APPENDIX

NOTES

PRAISE for Jesus Only

by Dr. Ernan Norman

In his usual style of eloquence but careful thought-provoking and scholarly appeal to the modern church, Dr. Norman once again leads believers to rediscover the Lord Jesus Christ as THE Healer, Protector, Savior, the central focus in life, and all in all -comforting and reassuring indeed! But rather pointedly Ernan emphasizes that the believer, individual and corporate is held to a very high standard of moral integrity, by his maker, God. He points out that the church today is practically sleep-walking, going through the motions, with a visible lack of spiritual dynamism. In order to be an evangelistic church (and to grow like the early church in Acts, and to measure up to the life that God intended for her), and to be relevant to the issues of today, there is an urgent need for renewal-personal and corporate.

This compelling (there is a mark of urgency throughout the book) reading calls those who are yet to appreciate Christ, as well as those of us who believe we have the truth to realize that the success of the Christian life and the Missio Dei is in Jesus Only. Since the book is heavily Seventh-day Adventist, in the evangelical tradition (many of the citations are from SDA and other evangelical sources) the message of the book should lead believers to the clear word of Scripture that salvation is found in Jesus Only.

A must read for all engaged in bringing salvation to this modern world.

Pastor (Dr.) Jacob Nortey,

Chair, Business Administration Department

Atlantic Union College

A REVIVAL IS COMING

Before the final visitation of God’s judgment upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children.

Ellen G. White – The Great Controversy, p. 280.

The end is near! We have not a moment to lose! Light is to shine forth from God’s people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world… The instrumentalities to be used are those souls who gladly receive the light of truth which God communicates to them. These are God’s agencies for communicating the knowledge of truth to the world. If through the grace of Christ His people will become new bottles, He will fill them with new wine. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered, and replaced in the frame-work of truth; and wherever the laborers go, they will triumph. As Christ ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures, to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error. And every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,—Christ our righteousness…

Ellen G. White – Sons and Daughters of God (1955) p. 259.

The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the ‘former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the ‘latter rain’ will be more abundant.

Ellen G. White – The Desire of Ages, p. 827.

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to all those of you who love Jesus and depend on Him as your only source and means of healing and salvation.

I also dedicate this book to the memory of my father and mother, both of whom taught me to love Jesus. This book is also dedicated to my wife Velvia, and our three children, Joy, Joshua, and Jewel.

Finally, the book is dedicated to the honor and glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I give full acknowledgment to my immediate family, who witnessed day by day my ups and downs during this process, and whose prayers and undying support and patience, cannot be fully expressed in mere words. My wife Velvia, who provided ardent support, encouragement, and great patience, was my source of strength in times of struggle, and in times of exuberance. My children Joy, Joshua, and Jewel, whose prayers, support and patience provided an added source of strength and motivation for me. Thank you family for supporting me and for enduring the loss of my presence during the many hours I spent on this book.

I thank my sister Donna who encouraged me through listening and helpful suggestions from time to time.

I also wish to recognize my brother Edison, who believed that this is a great book, and encouraged me to that end. Thanks to my good friend and prayer partner Sandy Smith whose prayers and words of encouragement went a long way in helping to encourage me in the writing of this book.

Last, but certainly not least, is the honor, praise, and thanks due to my Heavenly Father. His grace, wisdom, and imparted giftedness to me are the reasons why I accomplished this task. Without Him I could have done nothing. Therefore, all praise and all credit ultimately belongs to Him. To God [is] the Glory, great things He has done.

INTRODUCTION

Why Jesus Only?

Some preachers hold up their Bibles in front of their congregations and shake them while they vehemently declare: This is my Bible. It is the word of God. I can do what it says I can do. I can be what it says I can be. Today I will be taught the word of God. My mind is made up; my heart is ready, and I will never be the same again. Amen. The congregation repeats after the preachers, words to this effect. The irony is that in the moments following this recitation, the Bible is immediately laid aside, with hardly a reference to its pages. Everything pertaining to the social gospel is preached (if we can call it preaching), everything from positive thinking to self-help, including the kitchen sink, everything, except Jesus and Him crucified.

In our post-modern culture truth is no longer prized; and in the many pulpits of this age Jesus who is the -Truth- is no longer the focus in preaching. In addition to preaching, much of what is taught is lacking biblical authority. Far more important is the reality that much of the didache coming from pulpits everywhere is Christ-less—there is no Jesus. Christ is divorced from His own words; and in His stead is a new humanist philosophy trumpeted to eager crowds; a new social emphasis on wealth, health, and blessings. The gospel as taught by Christ, Paul and all the apostles is no longer identifiable in the popular pulpits of the world.

Recognizing this unique problem in the Christian community today, Leonard Sweet in his book, Post-modern Pilgrims, states:

"Someday I will hold up my Bible before a congregation, shake it, and yell at the top of my lungs, ‘This is not a book primarily about propositions and programs and principles. This is a book about relationships. This is a primer in connectedness. This is a book about you and God’s love for you in God’s only begotten Son.’ Or in the words of Hugh Ross Mackintosh: ‘when once the Gospel has been severed from a historic person, and identified with a complex of metaphysical ideas, what it ought to be called is scarcely worth discussion; that it is no longer Christianity, is clear.’

Jesus himself is the Truth.

Jesus himself is the Kingdom.

Jesus himself is the Life.

Before God and all witnesses, I plight my ‘troth’ to Jesus the Christ."

To this confession I add a thousand amens—so let it be! The fact that men and women enthusiastically wave their Bibles during religious gatherings, and then proceed with itching ears to listen to what amounts to a social gospel, does not sanitize the message they are hearing as acceptable in God’s sight. The message of the Bible has its center in Jesus and Jesus only. That means every discourse based on any text, topic, or subject taken from the Word of God, should be Christ centered and should lift up Jesus as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Remember, it is Jesus Himself who stated: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39). Like the apostle Paul every preacher and teacher of the gospel should pledge unequivocally before their audiences: I come to you, not in excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God, for I determine not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

It is very clear, that what is needed today in the church of the living God is a revival of primitive godliness. The phrase primitive godliness is a phrase used by Ellen White (an inspired writer, and one of the leading founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church) to describe the spiritual life and fervor of the church in the book of Acts—the era of the apostles. This primitive godliness was marked by a singular passion for Jesus Christ. Everything positive emanating from the life of the church in Acts found its source in a central focus on Christ, not only as the founder of Christianity, but as the church’s very object.

It is recorded in Matthew 17:8 that the disciples who had been privileged to witness firsthand the transfiguration of Christ, immediately after that unforgettable scene saw no man, save Jesus only. The New Living Translation puts it this way—: they saw only Jesus. In these words is contained the secret of the life and power that marked the history of the early church. It was the secret of the spiritual health of the church as recorded in Acts 2-4. When the disciples first heard the words of Christ, they felt their need of Him. They sought, they found, they followed Him. They were with Him in the temple, at the table, on the mountainside, in the field. They were as pupils with a teacher, daily receiving from Him lessons of eternal truth.

That’s it! The life, power, fire, and dynamism we see exhibited as the signs of health in the early church found its source in Christ. Their primitive godliness—the entirety of their spiritual fabric—was predicated upon, built upon, and sustained by a Jesus only focus. The early church lived Christ, talked Christ, taught Christ, breathed Christ, and preached Christ, from house to house and in the temple. Christ made all the difference in what would have been an otherwise dead and lifeless religion. At that time, Judaism, having turned inward on itself, was as barren and lifeless as the cursed fig tree, twice dead, from the roots up. The difference-maker between the old Judaism and the young, new Christian church was Jesus only.

What about the church today?

The question now naturally arises: What can we say for the church in this post-modern age—in this Laodicea age? Is Jesus Christ and Him crucified the center of the life and teaching of the church today? Does the same life and power that marked the early church exist in the church today? If not, why not?

But someone might object, Aren’t you splitting hairs? My answer is: no. There is no question that the church has been enriched with present truth for this time. The problem is that without Jesus as the center and object of such truth, the church is no richer for it. To the contrary, we (the church) become woefully impoverished. Jesus warns the church in this era of Christianity, that unless certain conditions are met, He will be obliged to spew the church out of His mouth: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Revelation 3:16-18, KJV).

Jesus’ rebuke to the Laodicea church must be taken seriously. Increased doctrinal truth is not a substitute for the centrality of Christ in His own church. The other day, I over-heard a preacher teaching that the promised latter rain is doctrine. Yes, you heard me right: doctrine. If the latter rain is doctrine, then we have been experiencing its copious showers for the better part of two hundred years. We have been given so much doctrine, and we have been faithful in teaching the doctrines to the point of leaving Christ outside the doctrines. Ellen White was forthright in declaring that such teaching aside from the centrality of Christ is as dry as the hills of Gilboah.

The later rain may involve doctrine, and it may bring a clearer understanding of our present theological positions, but the latter rain is not doctrine; the latter rain is about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, the One to whom the Spirit bears witness. Our issue is not theological orthodoxy but our lack of spiritual quality of life in Christ. The condition of the church as described by Christ is not theological but spiritual; thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked are not theological or doctrinal concerns; rather, these are spiritual concerns. What Christ is saying to us, the church, is that without Him (as the central focus of everything that the church has and does) the church is in an abject deplorable spiritual condition. The sad part is that the church is not even conscious of its present situation—and knowest not that thou art,—see verse 17.

The remedy

The remedy is: Let Me in: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). It is more than just an unfortunate situation that Jesus is standing outside the door of His own church. It is pitiable, heart breaking, and scandalous, that the Lord of glory, who purchased the church by the shedding of His own blood is locked out of the church. It is no use trying to argue against this point. The Bible is clear on this issue. Jesus is no longer the focus of the church of Laodicea. In this age of self-admiration, the church has taken to admiring its abundance of riches, with the mistaken conclusion that the church is doing just fine and is in need of nothing. This is the greatest danger of all: the voice of Jesus is practically not heard. He says, if any man hear my voice, suggesting that His voice is—without question—different from the voice of self-congratulation that the ears of the church are attuned to.

The voice of Christ is heard in two ways as He diagnoses and prescribes the spiritual condition and remedy for His church. First, He rebukes the church for its self-sufficiency, followed by a faithful description of the church’s true spiritual standing. Second, He offers the remedy, and the steps to be taken in applying the remedy. It all boils down to one essential thing: the church needs Jesus.

Jesus presents Himself as a heavenly merchant-man laden with the unsearchable riches of glory. He is waiting to enter His church through the heart’s door of every believer. Jesus has the pure golden wedge of Ophir: gold tried in the fire, (the riches of faith and love) the answer to our spiritual poverty. He also possesses white raiment (representing His righteousness) with which to cover our spiritual nakedness. And finally, Jesus has the spiritual eyesalve, with which to anoint our spiritual eyes, that we may see again. This spiritual transaction will be a reality if we (the church of Laodicea) would unlatch the door and let Him in. The Scriptures indicate that when this happens there will be a spiritual feast—a revival of primitive godliness—so to speak. See Revelation 3:20.

The key to the life and power of the early church is found in the words Jesus only. That same key will be the secret to a spiritual revival of life and power in the end time church. That is why I have focused this book on the theme: Jesus only. In seven chapters I address the fact that the believers in Acts 2-4 made Christ the all and in all of their lives.

In this book I address different aspects of the life and mission of the early church. First and foremost the early believers preached a message that was rooted in Christ crucified, Christ raised, Christ ascended, Christ interceding, and Christ coming again. Every doctrine found its source and center in Jesus. The early church’s love for and embrace of Jesus was the reason for the spirit of love, unity, and self-sacrifice that we witness in the Acts 2-4 community of faith.

In reality, the primitive godliness that served as the signature of the apostolic church was due to Jesus only. The revival of primitive godliness that will be witnessed once again in the end time church, such as was not witnessed since apostolic times, will be due to Jesus only. One subject will swallow up every other subject and that subject will be Christ and His righteousness. Every doctrine, and every subject of present truth under the three angels’ messages, will be centered in Jesus Christ. Under the power of the latter rain there will be a revival of primitive godliness in the end time church, and the final warning of God’s redeeming love and mercy will be proclaimed. The whole earth will be lightened with its glory. It is for this that we ought to pray.

Let us pray for restoration and renewal

A revival and reformation is the most urgent of all our needs; for this we must seek, for this we must earnestly pray. H. M. S. Richards, Sr. once prayed the following prayer:

"Dear heavenly Father, as we are here together this afternoon, we bring our hearts to Thee. O Lord, we are ashamed of them. We bring them here… and we just lay them at the foot of the cross. Father, see how hard they are, how impure. And when we look at Jesus we are ashamed to look up and to look at each other…

Give us a new heart, a heart of flesh that reaches out for the salvation of the whole world. O Lord, how can we see nations going down in blood and terror, and millions concerned and wondering and perplexed? How can we… let this go on without more heart yearnings and tears? . . . We read that Jesus looked down at the beautiful city of Jerusalem, and that tears ran down His face… How can we look at San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and all these great cities and not weep over them… Give us tender hearts; take away our sins… Give us we pray, an old-time revival—a real old time, a time of the prophets, a time of the apostles. Help us to tell the truth. Help us to love one another. Help us, O God, to be converted. We ask it in Jesus’ name."

Dear reader let us make this prayer our own, and I do pray that as you read this book, you and I may find the answer in Jesus Only. Amen.

CHAPTER 1

Jesus Only:

The Only Source of Healing and Salvation

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved

(Acts 4:12)

~~~~~~~~

Walk into a medical clinic, hospital, emergency room, sanitarium or other center for healing, and the sign or emblem that represents that profession and its practice is the symbol of an entwined serpent on a winged staff—the Caduceus. It is said that the caduceus derives from the treatment of Guinea Worm disease. The process required the patients to pull the worms out of their legs slowly, over a period of days, by winding the worm around a stick that was twisted a little more each day until the worm was completely drawn out. The doctors themselves wrapped the extruding parasite around a stick over the course of weeks or months, and the result was worn as an indicator of the doctor’s competence. Some medical organizations have also joined the serpents of the caduceus with rungs to suggest a DNA double-helix.

Walk into a church, a chapel, or a Christian institution and the symbol representing spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional healing for the Christian is the cross of Christ— sometimes referred to as the crucifix. This Christian symbol is usually depicted as a Roman wooden cross on which Jesus offered Himself as a willing sacrifice for the healing and restoration of all people. It represents historical reality, and its typology in biblical history antedates the Roman crucifix. It is based on type found in the Old Testament narrative of the Exodus. Read now the brief story recorded in Numbers 21:4-8:

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. ‘Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?’ they complained. ‘There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manner!’ So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.’ So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, ‘Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!’ So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed (NLT).

This deadly attack by poisonous snakes on the Israelites during their exodus out of Egypt was due to their lack of faith, stubbornness, and unceasing rebellion against God. Divine patience bears long with sinful men, but there comes a time when divine patience is exhausted. Jehovah placed a special shield of protection around the Israelites in their wilderness journey from Egypt in route to the Promised Land. That protective shield kept them secure from the attacks of the poisonous (venomous) snakes, among other things. The inpatient and rebellious Israelites continually put God to the test. When Jehovah reached the limits of His divine forbearance He simply removed His protection based on the people’s choice. The result was an insidious attack of venomous snakes that threatened to wipe out the entire camp of the Israelites. Everywhere could be heard the mournful cries of the dead and the dying.

The biblical account of this snake-attack doesn’t stop there, thanks be to God. As soon as the people returned to God and made confession of their sin of rebellion, God in His mercy instructed Moses to Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole with the instruction that All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it! What a wonderful and merciful God we serve! The bronze snake attached to a pole was the antidote provided by a merciful God for the healing of all who had been bitten. Just look and live!

That Moses’ erection of a bronze snake attached to a pole also typified a spiritual cosmic reality is understood especially by Jesus’ reference to this story when He said to Nicodemus:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:14-17, NKJV).

When Jesus was lifted up on the cross, He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. He became sin for us in order that we might escape its deadly grip and be healed from the serpent’s venom (the poisonous nature of sin). This was foretold in the protevangelum (the first gospel) of Genesis 3:14-15:

So the Lord said to the serpent: ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than any beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman. And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel (NKJV).

The prophecy in Genesis 3:15 found fulfillment at the cross. Jesus, through His suffering and death, paid the supreme sacrifice for man’s sin, and satisfied the claims of God’s immutable law. By His sufferings on the cross, Christ vanquished Satan, sin, death, and the grave. Through the shedding of His precious blood, He opened up a fountain for sin and uncleanness; says the prophet: In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1, KJV).

All who have been snake bit, and in whose nature is the poisonous venom of sin, are invited to plunge beneath the fountain of