The blame however for this deceit belongs not to the blind guides alone but is likewise shared by the blind who chose to follow them as the vast majority of professed believers have long since placed far too much faith in the “wisdom of men”, in their ministers, their “guides”, pastors, teachers and etc., these themselves being taught and guided by seminaries, synods, presbyteries, church councils and etc., all man-made man construed institutions. Had they (both) thoroughly examined the scriptures for themselves they would have found that there is no scriptural evidence to support the theory that a mere profession of faith grants anyone spirit begettal.
In the scriptures as taught through the Tabernacle types, which the Apostle Paul assures us is, “a shadow of good things to come”. (Heb 8:5; 10:1; Col. 2:17) only those who had entered into the courtyard, who had recognized the brazen altar as typifying Christ sacrifice, and subsequently washed at the laver and from there gone forth to present themselves at the entrance to the Tabernacle (typifying the surrender of the will, consecration), only these having passed the “first vail” and entered the “holy” are begotten of the spirit. The majority of professed Christians (through their own ignorance and that of those who lead them) have yet to have taken this last crucial step in their courtyard experience, experiencing spirit begettal and a change of natures, and as such they remain of the earth, earthly, “natural men” lingering in the courtyard, in the tentatively justified condition.
Some of these as previous mentioned are content with what they have learned with regards to Christ’s great ransom sacrifice as typify in the Brazen altar and have stopped there, still others have made it as far as the laver and are unsure of what to do next. Such are easily deceived by the blind guides of Christendom.
Speaking of these blind guides and false shepherds (the “rams and the goats”) the Lord states,
“Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture (which resides within the courtyard), that you must (likewise) tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture and to have drunk of the clear waters (of truth), that you must foul (pollute) the residue (the remainder) with your feet (pollute it with your errors and traditions)? And as for my flock (those who were approaching me), they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet… You have pushed with side and shoulder, butted (from the true path) all the weak ones (the lambs, those new to the Christian faith) with your horns (you’re supposed positions of power, authority), and (thus) scattered them abroad (some into the wilderness condition [“outside the camp”] others trapped within the various confines of Babylon [the “camp”], in one of the various enclosures or pens found there)." Ezek 34:18-21
“The 'Court,’ the justified human condition, is entered by faith only; but while we must retain the faith that justifies, we must do more, if we would experience a change of nature and become 'new creatures,’ `partakers of the heavenly calling,’ to be `partakers of the divine nature.’
Entering the `Holy,’ therefore implies our full consecration to the Lord’s service, our begetting of the spirit and our start in the race for the prize of the divine nature—the terms of which are faithfulness to our vow, crucifying the justified flesh, presenting our human wills and bodies living sacrifices to God; no longer to seek human pleasure, honor, praise, etc., but to be dead to these and alive to the heavenly impulses. Yet, into this condition also, we still come through Christ Jesus our Lord, who not only opened for us the `Gate’ of justification through faith in his blood, but who also opened the `Door’ (the First Vail) into the Tabernacle, `a new way of life,’ as spirit beings, through and beyond the second vail, by the sacrifice of our justified flesh, hence the two apartments of the Tabernacle, the `Holy’ and the `Most Holy, ‘represent two phases or stages of the new life to which we are begotten by the Holy Spirit.
Again justification means `to make right.’ It does not signify a change of nature, (it) merely means to make right that nature which was …God could not accept us as a sacrifice unless first we were justified … justification must come first for God cannot accept an imperfect sacrifice. We must be made right by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness; and we believe that the very instant after Christ has imputed His merit, the very next minute the Father accepts our sacrifice and grants us the indication that we are accepted by giving us the Holy Spirit.” (Q408; CR349)
NOTE: Let it be understood that not all the “lambs” gathered by the blind guides are taken from the courtyard alone, many are those who having bound themselves at the door of the Tabernacle in covenant relationship with the Lord having passed the spiritual divide, the “first vail” into the “Holy” of the Tabernacle, are likewise taken.
How so say ye, how did the “robbers”, the blind guides get into the “Holy” or “Holy condition” if it is only accessible to the fully consecrated?
You forget that just like those individuals occupying the courtyard condition are free to wander back into the “camp” or wordily condition so too those in the Holy or “spirit begotten condition” are free to wander back into the courtyard and/or the world if they so choose. Keep in mind that this generally applies more so to the newly consecrated, those new to the truth, these being but “babes in Christ” have not spent enough time in the Holy of the Tabernacle partaking of the light of the Holy Spirit (as represented in the Golden Lampstand) nor have they partaken much of the special food prepared for their development as new creatures (as represented in the bread [food] placed upon the Table of Showbread).
Many of these like Lot’s wife “looking back” long for what they have left behind, friends, family, social standing, reputation etc. etc. still others long since accustomed to the structure and control found in the various creed fences are easily corralled once again by the blind guides, totally oblivious of the shackles placed upon them once again. This applies equally to some of the blind guides themselves some of these are likewise “babes in Christ”, however being poorly fed and developed themselves they have nothing much to offer the “lambs” in their charge except the husk of the doctrines and traditions of men.
The tables of Babylon are full of vomit, filled with every detestable thing (Isa 28:8) therefore no further progress or further development (beyond spirit begettal) could be expected to take place in the child of God whilst still in Babylon. These are the tribulation saints who unless they wake up will soon suffer the plagues coming upon Babylon.
In our next post we will take a look at the second half of the Tabernacle picture, the Tabernacle proper with its two chambers, the “Holy” and the “Most Holy”.
