Verse 14 is much more forceful in the Scriptures, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:". In the SDA Clear Word Bible it almost sounds like "It was God's own Son who died to redeem us and to forgive us our sins." means that the process is still not complete. It doesn't say that we are saved now, and forgiven now.
Given that Ellen White emphatically states,
Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This is misleading. (Christ Object Lessons, page 155)
As long as man is full of weakness–for of himself he cannot save his soul–he should never dare to say, "I am saved." (Selected Messages, vol 1, page 314)
this timidity is not suprising. The Seventh-day Adventist has no such assurance that his sins are forgiven. Ellen White tells us that even unconscious sins will come up in the pre-advent investigative judgment.
Verse 15 is also interesting. "Visible likeness" of God? We are told in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." In Luke 24:39, Jesus tells us, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." The Scriptures don't say anything about a visible likeness. I guess since Adventism teaches that the spirit is nothing but the breath in a person's lungs and that the soul just disappears into nothingness when a person dies, it has to deny a separate soul or spirit. A "visible likeness" is all the Adventist is left with!
Verse 19 is rather interesting. The Scriptures say, "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ". The SDA Clear Word Bible says, "With pleasure the Father acknowledged Him as fully God, in spite of His human nature. ". These two versions don't even say the same thing! |
Colossians 1:10-19 (King James Version)
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
|
|
Colossians 1:10-19 (New International Version)
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. |
|
Colossians 1:10-19 (SDA Clear Word Bible)
10 Also, we're praying that you will continue to please the Lord by living honorably, bearing the fruit of good deeds and growing in the knowledge of the Lord.
11 May God strengthen you and give you His mighty power to have even greater endurance and patience.
12 Let us all be joyful in the Lord and give thanks to the Father who has made us acceptable future citizens of His kingdom in heaven.
13 He has delivered us from the control of the kingdom of darkness and transformed us into members of the kingdom of light.
14 It was God's own Son who died to redeem us and to forgive us our sins.
15 He is the visible likeness of the invisible God, and as God's firstborn, He has the right to be placed over all creation.
16 Through Him the Father created all things to begin with, both in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. all order and power was instituted by Him, whether spiritual or secular, including the arrangement of governments, rulers and various levels of authority. All things were created by Him and are intended to serve His purposes.
17 He existed before anything was created, and by Him everything that exists continues to hold together.
18 He is also the head of the church and controls the church as the head controls the body. Although He existed from the beginning, He was the only human who ever died and yet conquered death. Therefore, He is worthy to be given first place above everything in heaven and on earth.
19 With pleasure the Father acknowledged Him as fully God, in spite of His human nature.
Texts credited to Clear Word are from The Clear Word, copyright © 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004 by Review and Herald Publishing Association. All rights reserved.
|
|
|