Behavior in Adventism and its Relationship to Salvation

Introduction

Just the other day a link to an Adventist Review article appeared in the timeline ticker of updates in the upper right

Philippians 413 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

corner of my facebook page. From it one of my friends had commented on a quotation which was very much a disingenuous statement especially looking back on what I was taught growing up in Adventism. So in this article we are going to look at that quote and discuss how the behavior of an individual within Adventism is in fact used as a factor in determination of not only their walk, but in relationship to Salvation.

An Interesting Quotation

So let’s take a look at the quotation taken from this article: Adventist Review Article

“Our standards should be higher than those of any legalists because we understand that our behavior doesn’t determine our salvation, so why not aim high?”

The first thing that should be noted is that apparently the author of the article really thinks that the Adventists must be the most in tune, best, finest, legalists with the highest standards possible. That smacks of pride and reminds me of how Paul viewed himself looking back on who he once was:

³ For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— ⁴ although I once also had confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:⁵ circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

Philippians 3:3-6

Remember that Paul was once Saul, and he was a member of the Pharisees, the adamant Legalists of the day. He attempted to bring the Christian Church to ruin before God caused him to be Born Again on the road to Damascus. This transformation can be seen in the next few verses of Philippians 3:

⁷ But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.

Yet Saul, renamed on rebirth to Paul considered all the legalistic perfectionism of his past to be filth, useless, now that he has gained Christ and been found in Him.

If this is the case with Paul, what of the author of the article. It seems to me that he clings to the pride of legalism over anything else. Let’s break down the next portion of the quotation after the break.

A Dangerous Role to Play

If I were still an Adventist I would NOT be playing the role which I am playing for my friend Writer/Director/Producer  Daniel Medina Jr. in his upcoming Christian film The Thief in the Night. Since however I’m now a Christian my Salvation is secure and I’m sealed by The Holy Spirit as a Guarantee/Down payment for a certain place in Heaven. No longer do I have to be afraid of falling out of…and climbing into Salvation.

I’ve said this a number of times in the past but that Adventist teaching of salvation is woefully inadequate, Jesus saves By Grace through Faith- PERIOD!

Salvation is not a revolving door, it is not the hokey pokey.

A Fair Fight between Christ and Satan?

What's wrong with this picture? A LOT.

I’m sure the vast majority of people who’ve visited this blog have seen this picture in some shape or form. It’s certainly a striking concept, it’s well done artistically and in that case it has merit. However what it depicts is a gross distortion of scripture, the Word of God is quite imperative, Satan was defeated on the cross this is not an even battle.

Jesus is God and Satan is a Created Being

The first thing that is so very wrong about this artwork is that it puts Jesus who is God at the same level of strength as Satan who is a created being. Remember all of creation came through the Voice of The Father, God the Son, the Word, Jesus Christ. Therefore Jesus Christ is in a position of superiority over Satan simply because He is God and His very utterance brought Lucifer, who fell from Grace and became Satan, into existence.

FAF Weekend 2012: Worldview Alignment Needed: First Thoughts

A number of weeks ago I sat back thinking about how I would do coverage of FAF Weekend 2012 (FAF 2012). I felt really bad about so lousily following through on all my grand plans after my first FAF Weekend last year, I was determined not to drop the ball this year. Grand ideas flooded my overly creative noggin and I worried that I’d have pathetic coverage all over again- such is not the case this year.

I have a lot on my mind after this weekend. Both theologically and personally. I have new questions and old answers and new answers to old questions- there’s a lot bouncing around in my mind that hasn’t quite become grounded. There a lot of truth, about Truth (Jesus who is God) that I’m going to be contending with. That I’m going to be struggling with.

I’m going to be “working out my salvation with fear and trembling-” something we’re called to do, for a long time. And working out your salvation doesn’t mean that you’re worried about being saved or not…it means your studying into the depths of the Gospel and it’s ramifications to you on a personal level. It’s a call to never leave the awesome news, the challenging depths of the Gospel, but to feed on that truth and the Power of the Cross, and the washing of the Blood that was shed by Jesus Christ- the God Man- the Messiah. His blood shed for us- to quote our main speaker Phil Bubar-

“Christ became an ABOMINATION for us.”

My Commentary is up for this Weeks SDA Adult Lesson Study!

Hello guys!

I’m sorry I haven’t posted here in a good long while but I’ve been very bus with all kinds of projects going on.

For my Adventist friends who are going through the Book of Galatians in their Adult Sabbath School lesson I did the commentary on it for Bible Studies for Adventists for the current study about Paul’s Preaching Style.

Here’s a link to the page that overviews the entire week. Week 9 SDA Adult Lesson Study Commentary.

Check it out.

God Bless,

U.A.

So Adventists are Delaying an Imminent Event?

Image via Wikipedia

I ran across a quote from Ellen G. White today from the book Christ’s Object Lessons I’ll quote it now and then we’ll discuss it and compare it to what scripture teaches.

‘Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church.  When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.’

As usual with quotes from Ellen it sounds holy and quite wonderful, I’m certain that if I were reading this before I was born again I would heartily agree with this statement.

(This section is written from a true Adventist perspective)

After all as an Adventist Jesus and I are alike. We are both body+breath=living soul. He could have lied, and to be honest I constantly lie. Yet He perfectly kept the Law, so that proves that I can perfectly keep the Law, as long as I truly follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit as it directs my life from the outside. And I HAVE to be able to PERFECTLY keep the Law under my own power because eventually I will have to stand without a Mediator. And not only that Christ’s character MUST be perfectly reproduced by not only me but everyone in THE CHURCH, it has to be possible because only then will He come to claim us as His own and take us to Heaven.

Back to reality.

To my Adventist friends if you are reading that and nodding enthusiastically then it may come as a shock to you that the paragraph below…and Ellen White’s quote…are entirely without Biblical Support.

Let’s break all this false teaching down.

Wretched Radio Reveals Adventist Realities

Yesterday on Wretched Radio Todd Friel spent an hour discussing Seventh Day Adventists with Colleen Tinker a former Adventist and friend of mine. The whole program is fantastic as it enables to listener to experience a never been and former Adventist openly discussing what is not generally openly discussed in Adventism.

Todd and Colleen also enable you to compare the beliefs of Adventism and Christianity and see whether they are are complimentary and Biblical- or opposed and unbiblical.

If Adventism is proven to be in opposition to Biblical teaching I would recommend giving up yourself and your knowledge- and accepting the leadership of the Holy Spirit in your life. Let the Holy Spirit illumine the Word…and not the lesser light.

Here’s the links to listen to the file:

Wretched Radio @ Former Adventist Upper right under news updates.

Wretched Radio @ LAM Upper left news updates.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead you into the truth of Freedom in Christ whose blood IS the New Covenant!

U.A.

Related articles

• Adventists Reveal Self Truth in Flashmob! (thebiblerunner.wordpress.com)
• Harold Camping meets the Not So Amazing Facts (thebiblerunner.wordpress.com)

Badventist? Only if you remain under the Law.

 

Whether or not such an App exists doesn’t matter, what does matter is that no matter how humorous this short is it points to the main problem of the Law. And that is that:

It can’t save and you can’t keep it.

It causes one to focus on what you’re doing rather that the fact that Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly and when you’re Born Again you are putting on Christ. And through the Son the Father sees you as perfectly following God’s Law.

Galatians 3:19-27

19 Why then was the law given?   It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels  by means of a mediator.  20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.  21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith af  has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.

My Adventist friends give up trying to do the impossible and enter into the Rest that has been promised for those who are Born Again.

It’s not about what you can do but about what Christ has already done and finished, it’s simply up to you to accept it.

U.A.

Related Articles

• A Slave of Jesus Christ (revivalandreformation.wordpress.com)
• Are You Making Backsliders or Disciples? (compassiondave.wordpress.com)
• The Old and New Covenants Contrasted (2Co 3:6-18) (dtbrents.wordpress.com)

FAF Weekend 2011: Two Videos

The following videos were taken yesterday I especially want to thank Brandon for recording my Testimony.

Praise and Worship

My Testimony: Spiritual War

Hope you are blessed in the praise and saving power of Jesus Christ.

ADDED NEW VIDEO: Mark Martin on Why Christians Worship on Sunday (Short Clip)

U.A.

The Jesus of Adventism

Image via Wikipedia

The Jesus of Adventism

The incorrect understanding of the Holy Spirit is the Achilles heel of all false conversion and misunderstanding in religion. Problems of understanding the Holy Spirit end up effecting multitudes of doctrines not the least of which is a correct understanding of Jesus Christ himself. Adventism paints a picture that ends up being a spectacular deception; an utter failure to give Jesus Christ what the Bible says He had.

The Creation of Man

 In order to tackle the enormity of this Frankenstein of a Jesus presented to Adventists we must go back to Genesis and the creation of man. It is in the presentation of the creation of man that we find the truth behind the makeup of the Son of Man.

 (Gen 1:26)

Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”

(Gen 1:27)

So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.

“…in our likeness…”

The first part of God’s image and the only part I’ll address in this article is the fact that God is in fact Spirit.

While there are a plethora of texts equating God with having say a mighty right hand, that doesn’t mean that God has a literal mighty right hand. If he did have a literal hand it would have to be larger than infinity, God did not have skin and a literal body until he was born in Bethlehem as Jesus Christ. In Genesis 2:7 it says God formed man out of the dust, it doesn’t say how He did it, on this was can only speculate but I have a hard time thinking He would change His modus operandi and not use His Word. The Word which happens to be equated not with just the Bible, but with the Son Jesus Christ.