I would like to affirm what Greg just said and add some more scriptures and comments:

31"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[h] against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-37 ESV)

These verses follow that golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:28-30 where our salvation is in the past tense. I don’t know what could be clearer than Paul’s statement above. “Nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ...”

Jesus is very clear in John 10 affirming the same truth:

25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me,[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

This is a clear affirmation that no one--not even Satan or ourselves can snatch us out of the hand of God.

All I can say is that once these precious truths were brought home to me, and I realized I was chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world, and He saved me for a purpose,--and the real truth didn’t sink in until about 2 years ago--but since that time, God has given me a zeal for the study of His Word like no other time in my life. God literally changes the heart to want to do His will, and when the outcome is for certain, it just becomes easier.

Otherwise, if you always have to be worrying about your own salvation, then it just produces anxiety.

Greg said it very well, the spiritual battle we fight has already been won at Calvary, so now as Ephesians 6 declares:

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation..”

That phrase “Helmet of Salvation” speaks volumes to me. We fight the battle because we already have salvation, and that knowledge keeps renewing our minds to continue to fight the battle.

Stan

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
These verses follow that golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:28-30 where our salvation is in the past tense. I don’t know what could be clearer than Paul’s statement above. “Nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ..."This is a clear affirmation that no one--not even Satan or ourselves can snatch us out of the hand of God.

Then Satan really is wasting his time trying to ‘tempt’ us never mind make us give up hope and turn our backs on God. All his ‘devouring, destroying and stealing’ is for nought. Even being brought down to the worst part of despair to the point that we curse our lives and the Lord and kill ourselves doesn’t really matter as my salvation is already assured.

Again, ‘fight’ ‘endure’ ‘run the race’ are terms of a struggle, a ‘perseverance’. I don’t see these words as merely ‘fruit’.

Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean that I can’t be assured that I am saved and that Christ’s blood isn’t good enough to cover all my sins, but to me if there is nothing I can do to put my salvation in jeopardy, then the ‘Christian walk’ with all its ups, downs, temptations and trials are merely a redundancy and the language used in the Bible to denote the ‘fight’, ‘be a good Christian’, ‘turn from evil’ and even the admonishment from Christ who says that not all who say ‘Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom but He that does my will’ is meaningless.

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
Greg said it very well, the spiritual battle we fight has already been won at Calvary, so now as Ephesians 6 declares:

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Exactly what does it mean to ‘withstand in the evil day’? What battle am I exactly girding myself up with in God’s armory for? What evil day am I trying to ‘withstand’? And if the call is there to ‘stand’ then it means that I can also fall.

I fail to see the language of Paul describing the Christian walk in such graphic terms (not merely here but in many parts of the NT) for something that doesn’t amount to anything because there is nothing that can happen to cause me to fall.

I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. However, to me this is a factual statement and not necessarily a statement of my salvational standing. There is nothing that can happen or do anywhere that will stop God from loving me. God even loves those who are doomed to hell. I don’t see this as rock solid proof that I cannot fall away from my Christian walk.

Guibox,

When Jesus makes ironclad promises like these:

24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 ESV

How can this verse say that at some point after 1844, a believer must come into a review of his life to see if he has lived a life worthy of salvation? You probably don’t hold that view, but many traditional SDAs as well as Ellen White did hold that view.

And how can life that is said to be eternal, be lost?

44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44

And notice verse 37 in the same chapter:

37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

So, if no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him, and all that the Father gives me will come to me...Who is the All?” None who are drawn to salvation can possibly be lost if Jesus’ words are true. I don’t see anyway around this.

Again in John 10:

27"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I GIVE them eternal life, and they WILL never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me,[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

The above is so clear--these are promises from Jesus Himself. He freely gives us eternal life and we will never perish. These promises would mean nothing to me, if I knew I was the one responsible for holding on and fighting against the devil. He has given us the Helmet of Salvation so the outcome is assured. If this makes us complacent, then it is possible that we are not truly born again, because as John 1 makes clear, we are born from above not by Human will, but born of God:

12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

So, we are born again not by our will, but of the will of God. We are new creations in Christ. As Dr. Martin said so wll, there will be no abortions in the kingdom of God.

Stan

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
Guibox,

When Jesus makes ironclad promises like these:

24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 ESV

Stan,
Alot of people who support the immortality of the soul use this verse to show we will never die, hence our soul goes to heaven. However, Jesus reiterated what ‘having eternal life’ meant

He who believes in me shall never die...And this is the will of Him who sent me that whosoever believes in me has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day john 6:47,40

Our eternal life is only consummately fulfilled at the resurrection. It doesn’t mean that if I keel over tomorrow that I get to head to heaven as some soul. Having eternal life means that I will never experience the second death.

As far as my salvation goes, I have eternal life now. When I didn’t know Christ I was in death. Knowing Christ has moved me from death to life. It is presumptuous, however, to think that that automatically gives me a passport to heaven if I choose to walk away from it, nevermind live a life of debauchery against the principles of faith.

Nothing is contingent on that salvation applying to me. I can do nothing to get it. I cannot move myself from death to life. I am saved through faith alone in Christ alone by His grace. No SDA or any other Christian disputes this.

But my eternal life is not consummated yet. It is more a promise to those that ‘endure to the end’. That doesn’t mean that my works save me but that if I choose to walk away form Christ, I have rejected that gift that has not yet been fulfilled.

Anyway, that is how I see it. Perhaps it is just a matter of perspective. My opinion is that I can do nothing to save myself and I believe I am saved now...However, if I choose to remove myself from God’s grace and forgiveness, how can I expect to get a free ride to heaven for rebellion?

I believe that bible makes it clear to Christians that one can stray from the faith and that rebellion can take hold again. If not (as I asked in my last post of which points were not really answered...hint, hint ), why is Satan wasting his time on Christians?

Guibox,

Thanks for the reminder.

I am not sure Satan knows that we are secure in Christ. How do we know that satan has access to our scriptures? He did quote scripture incorrectly when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

And let us say that Satan does know the outcome , and that we are saved forever. But here is one motive he might have: If he can make us ineffective in our Christian life and in our witness, then he has won a mighty battle. He doesn’t want us to be ineffective ambassadors for Christ.

I would also add that if a person walks away from the gospel and renounces Christ, then John has an answer for this:

18Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us”

So, if someone initially professed belief--as is so common today--and if they walk away, then it proves they were never miraculously regenerated as a new creation in Christ anyway. There have been many studies on the false conversions that happen at many crusades. People come forward swept away by the emotions of the moment, but the seed doesn’t take root.

But there are many cases, where true believers backslide--like me for many years--but in that case, the Good Shepherd brings the lost sheep home safely. It is all of God.

When David sinned grievously look what he said in Psalm 51:

10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Notice how he prayed restore the joy of my salvation, and not my salvation itself.

I know from sad personal experience, that when backslidden, you are not rejoicing in your salvation. There is no joy. You can run from God if you are His property, but you can’t hide. He will always bring you back.

I think you are right Guibox when it comes down to our perspective. For so long my perspective was clouded by my upbringing, but after becoming absorbed in scripture, and leaving other books behind, my perspective changed.

Stan

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
Guibox,

Thanks for the reminder.

I am not sure Satan knows that we are secure in Christ. How do we know that satan has access to our scriptures? He did quote scripture incorrectly when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

But the call is not to Satan, but to those who believe. Even if it weren’t...what does it matter what Satan does or doesn’t know. It doesn’t affect by standing with God whether He gets me to sin or not according to what you are saying.

Still a contradiction or redundancy here…

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
If he can make us ineffective in our Christian life and in our witness, then he has won a mighty battle. He doesn’t want us to be ineffective ambassadors for Christ.

That could be true...However, if it is God that ‘draws all man’ and has ‘chosen’ or ‘predestined’ them, then it doesn’t matter what I do or don’t do as an effective witness. If God is using me directly to bring someone to Him, then you have a point.

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
I would also add that if a person walks away from the gospel and renounces Christ, then John has an answer for this: 18Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us”...So, if someone initially professed belief--as is so common today--and if they walk away, then it proves they were never miraculously regenerated as a new creation in Christ anyway

I don’t think you could compare a ‘false christ’ of which John is speaking of here, to a ‘Christian’ who was sincere at the time but didn’t let the seed take root. To me, John is speaking of knowingly deceptive ‘false teachers’ who show by their evidence they were deceptive all along and not genuine.

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
But there are many cases, where true believers backslide--like me for many years--but in that case, the Good Shepherd brings the lost sheep home safely. It is all of God.

But what were you backslidden from? Are you saying that you were not sincere when you first accepted Christ into your life? What is the big deal if you backslid if your salvation is assured when you accepted Christ.

[quote author="Stan Ermshar"]
So, if someone initially professed belief--as is so common today--and if they walk away, then it proves they were never miraculously regenerated as a new creation in Christ anyway...There have been many studies on the false conversions that happen at many crusades. People come forward swept away by the emotions of the moment, but the seed doesn’t take root.

What can I trust then? So what you are saying is that if I don’t experience a change in my life to the point where everything good is automatic, I really didn’t have a ‘real’ conversion experience? To me, that is just as ‘feeling insecure in my salvation (actually more) then knowing that my bad actions can do me in.

Guibox,

Sometimes this is a difficult medium to communicate in and not be misunderstood.

I believe those who have been truly converted or born again know when it has happened, and they know that they are not the same person they were prior to conversion. The Holy Spirit gives us that assurance of faith.

The great joy of living the christian life is the assurance of knowing that you belong to Christ and have eternal life.

I don’t know any other way to explain it any differently for now.

However, I sense that you are one who does know Christ. I would just like you to reconsider the richness of the gospel of grace. I have already learned a lot from you, and with this dialogue we can learn a lot from each other.

Stan

Guibox, I understand what you are saying, but I’m not sure you are acknowledging the magnitude of what has been accomplished for us in Christ.  We have literally been moved from death to life, from hell into the heavenly places (Eph. 1).  In human terms, this is like winning the lottery 20 times in a row and this would be just scratching the surface.  If we truly believe that without Christ we would be dead in our sins and we realize how fortunate we are to find ourselves in his grace, why on earth would we choose to walk away from him?  This would be like choosing to stop breathing or eating!  Indeed, it is those who partake of the bread of life (Jesus) who are saved.  Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 ESV).  To suggest that we would choose to walk away from our salvation in effect makes Jesus a liar, because we would be thirsting for something more than him.

Sure, there are those who appear to have a Christian walk but fall away, however, we can be very certain that those individuals were never born again in the first place.  “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19 ESV) We can be assured that those who appear to be Christians but who leave the faith were never Christians in the first place.  While observing this is cause for reflection and sadness, it should by no means cause us to question our own standing in the beloved--saved by the grace of God from the foundation of the earth.  He who has begun a good work in you is faithful to complete it and he will complete it!

Greg

Posted anonymously by: Trailady

What a beautiful and reasonable letter.  Thank you for this.  I very much enjoyed reading your thoughts on this.  You have a way of disagreeing without being hateful and I appreciate this humility on your part.

I must agree that the Gospel has NOT been the focus of Adventism.  Having gone nearly all the way through SDA schools- including university, I knew SDA culture, how to present Revelations, and proof-text people into my lifestyle & doctrines, but I didn’t understand Grace or the Gospel message until my THIRTIES.  It was so beautiful- I felt quite disappointed that the church never showed me these things before!  They could’ve saved me a lot of suffering, had they told me it’s about the work Christ did on our behalf and not about us working our way to Heaven.  I remember feeling confused as we would sing a hymn such as ‘Jesus Paid it All’ or ‘Blessed Assurance’, then hear a sermon about how if we don’t keep Sabbath, or worship ‘just so’, then we will not make it to Heaven.

Growing up with a Baptist mother and an SDA father, I was somewhat confused.  The Investigative Judgement and the anti-meat eating, anti-sports teachings never made any sense to me.  I read a quote from EGW once in which she states that God had to destroy the anti-diluvian world because of their gross sins- which came about largely because they were flesh-eaters.  What makes no sense to me is how God destroys the entire world, man & beast, then no sooner does Noah and the other survivors step off the ark than God says, “Here, eat meat”.  Also, the tall, majestic people on Jupiter and other ridiculous statements.

I no longer hold EGW to be a “prophet”.  I’ve read just about everything she ever published and at one point, she was my God- an obsession.  However, God pulled me out of that mindset and showed me there are many variances between her writings and the Bible.  I believe she was a very dear lady who was on a spiritual journey- very much like myself.  I have a great deal of respect for her.  She started out terrified of God and much of her writings addressed her culture NOT ours a hundred years later.  However, when she died, neighbors remembered her not as the one who wore no jewelry or who kept Sabbath, but as the little old lady who spoke so lovingly of Jesus. I think the Adventist church exploited her and propped her up as a prophet- a title she was reluctant to receive, in order to feel of equal sigificance with Mormans and other religions who also had “prophets”.  I was amazed to find that EGW heavily endorsed 1888 message and was somewhat vocal about it- so much so that they sent her overseas to Australia to quiet her.  After all, SDA’s were no longer a small movement of spiritually minded people, they were now a mega denomination- a well-oiled machine with countless real estate and influence.  If they were to admit- even for one minute that other churches had truths to offer, they felt they would lose clout as a remnant church. 

I’ve often heard statements like “To return to a simple Gospel message and focus on the Cross would water down our beliefs.  I mean, you can hear the Gospel at any Sunday church.  We are supposed to remain a distinct people.” Repenting and embracing the Gospel, would mean Adventist would need to step down from their spiritual high-horse and admit we don’t have it all together either.  That’s a lot to ask from “the last remaining guardians of truth”.

However, I must say that I do see wonderful paradigm shifts occuring- especially with the young adults.  We are not afraid to ask questions, we are hungry for something real.  I believe God is big enough to bring about transformation.

Blessings to you!!

Big church is big business.  A simple message, a focus on Christ, a heart that loves and associates with ALL people- not just those who think exactly like we do..... well, frankly it just doesn’t do much for a heavily institutionalized church movement.

I highly respect Ellen G. White and much of what she wrote has blessed my life.  However, she is no longer the final authority for my spiritual journey.  The Bible is simply elegant and that is sufficient for me. :o)

Trailady,

Thanks for voicing your sentiments and for your very kind words.  That you have discovered the inconsistencies of the Adventist church yet you can retain a spirit of love for Adventists is a tremendous testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit in renewing your mind and working in your life.

[quote author="Trailady"]
I’ve often heard statements like “To return to a simple Gospel message and focus on the Cross would water down our beliefs. I mean, you can hear the Gospel at any Sunday church. We are supposed to remain a distinct people.” Repenting and embracing the Gospel, would mean Adventist would need to step down from their spiritual high-horse and admit we don’t have it all together either. That’s a lot to ask from “the last remaining guardians of truth”.

This is THE problem with the Adventist church.  If we believe that we are settling for something because “all we have is the gospel” or “all we have is Jesus,” then we have fundamentally MISSED the gospel and Jesus.  Those who think that being a Christ-follower is not “different enough” from what others believe do not see that it is Jesus who gives us our identity as Christians, not our unique prophetic insights, diet, clothing, day of worship, or “remnant” theology.  It is Jesus who is distinct, it is his Word that sanctifies, and it is his Spirit who guides us into all truth (John 16:12-15, John 17:17-18).

It’s a tragedy, but many have commandeered Christianity for their own purposes and are practicing a religion devoid of faith in Christ.

Trailady, thanks again for your insightful comments and for gracing us with your presence.

Greg

[quote author="Trailady"]I believe she was a very dear lady who was on a spiritual journey- very much like myself.  I have a great deal of respect for her.  She started out terrified of God and much of her writings addressed her culture NOT ours a hundred years later.  However, when she died, neighbors remembered her not as the one who wore no jewelry or who kept Sabbath, but as the little old lady who spoke so lovingly of Jesus. I think the Adventist church exploited her and propped her up as a prophet- a title she was reluctant to receive, in order to feel of equal sigificance with Mormans and other religions who also had “prophets”....I highly respect Ellen G. White and much of what she wrote has blessed my life.  However, she is no longer the final authority for my spiritual journey.  The Bible is simply elegant and that is sufficient for me. :o)

Trailady, Graeme Bradford addresses this throughout his recently published book ‘More Than a Prophet’. I must tell you as a progressive SDA, I am really excited about this book from what I have read of it. I highly recommend you and everybody else here read it. Had our church come clean on so many things throughout the years and not halted progression, I strongly believe that we wouldn’t have so many rabid, anti-EGW former SDAs today.

On my ‘1982 EGW Conference’ thread, RandyG has posted a link where you can access the entire book.

Chapters 18-22 are especially revealing which show the progression (and digression) of our church throughout the 20th century, concerning the spirit of prophecy and the halting of the church’s efforts to move Adventism closer to Evanglism, as well as the major players involved.

This book will be a major eye-opener for many people and even though conservative SDAs are already slamming it, it is not anti-EGW at all. All it does is clear the years of dirty air, cover-ups, misconstrued beliefs and decades of abuse concerning EGW and other areas.

What a fantastic book!

Some years ago a burned-out Adventist said to me about Ellen White, “she just wrote too much”.

I think that’s an apt depiction of the Adventist problem in using EGW. She wrote so much that virtually any Adventist or any theological stripe can reach into her writings and come up with something that supports their viewpoint. And given all she wrote, Adventism really brought on a bigger burden on itself than it can endure by declaring her writings authoritative.

With that in mind, and in line with TraiLady’s remarks about EGW’s growth as a Christian, I’d recommend reading Alden Thompson’s Escape from the Flames. Thompson is a religion professor at Walla Walla. His thesis is that if you look at the three iterations of what became the Conflict of the Ages series (Spiritual Gifts, Spirit of Prophesy, Conflict of the Ages), you’ll notice a change (and needless to say, an expansion of material as well) from a meaner, more judgmental God to more of a loving conception of God. Ellen White changed in other words, from a more law centered to a more grace-centered view of God.

Not everyone buys this thesis, but I think he does present some compelling evidence.  Beyond that, I also find Thompson a great spiritual writer. I’ve done some dialoging with him and have found him very open and engaging as well.

He has a website that includes many of his writings, which you might want to check out. I’d highly recommend it.
http://people.wwc.edu/staff/thomal/index.htm

Guibox, I tried the hyperlink to the Bradford book but got an error message. Perhaps you could post a comprehensive review when you’re done.

[quote author="glennspring"]I’d recommend reading Alden Thompson’s Escape from the Flames. Thompson is a religion professor at Walla Walla. His thesis is that if you look at the three iterations of what became the Conflict of the Ages series (Spiritual Gifts, Spirit of Prophesy, Conflict of the Ages), you’ll notice a change (and needless to say, an expansion of material as well) from a meaner, more judgmental God to more of a loving conception of God. Ellen White changed in other words, from a more law centered to a more grace-centered view of God.

glenn, my brother who is an SDA pastor recommended to me once to read this book from Thompson.  Even though I hadn’t read it, I did engage in debate (read: head beating against the wall arguing)with the more conservative kin on Revival sermons.org on the concepts of this book.

Bradford devotes an entire chapter to the theological growth of EGW. Bacchiocchi made this chapter (as well as two others) in his newsletters before ‘More Than a Prophet’ was published. It basically supports what Thompson says.

[quote author="glennspring"]Guibox, I tried the hyperlink to the Bradford book but got an error message. Perhaps you could post a comprehensive review when you’re done.

Try this one:

http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/bradford/index.htm

“even though Christ has made atonment for all my sins, isn’t this merely a blanket statement of insurance? That there is no sin that I can’t commit that Christ won’t forgive me because of His sacrifice?”

In Matthew 18.21-35, we read of the unforgiving servant. My question is, Is not this story by Jesus in “essence” Justification by Faith?, If so, then if his sin was “pardon, forgiven, atone for”, then why is the “King” making remembrance of it later on?. Who can “know” the heart. I cannot speak on behalf of other SDA’s, but I can only testify of what the teachings of the SDA church which are founded on the Bible and supported by the SOP have done in my life. The Christ that I have deposited my faith on is the Christ of the Gospel. He who alone can save and who can transform me by His dwelling in me. Thank God that He gives us freedom of choice. He who wants to believe in and hold unto the “cheap” grace that mainstream protestantism preaches about it’s find with me. The Bible clearly teaches that We, “our choice”, wether to believe of not will determine our destiny. And such believe, (faith in the Atoning sacrifice of Christ), will be made evident by our life. This in essence is what EGW wrote about. And I understand her writings are quite clear and in unison with the Gospel of Jesuschrist.

Hi Chowman,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

We discussed the parable of Matthew 18:21-35 on another thread previously.  I encourage you to read the discussion and feel free to extend it with your observations.

Just one word about your analysis of the parable.  Your interpretation unfortunately sets up a situation where a believer cannot know with certainty that he has received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that he has been justified by the blood of Christ.  He remains in a state of probation until the last judgment when the outcome of his verdict will be a surprise, yet the Bible says the verdict can be known with certainty today (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 2:13-14, Romans 8:1-4, John 3:17-18, John 5:24, John 6:37).

You said that faith will be evident by how we live our life, and I could not agree more, however, you also seem to indicate that anyone who believes he can be secure in the saving grace of Jesus is holding on to something “cheap”.  I encourage you to go back to the previous page of this appeal and read through those texts again.  While I agree with you that some use “grace” as a license to embrace a life of sin, a Christian who has been indwelt with the Holy Spirit and made a new creation in Christ will not rush to undo the work God has begun in his life.  He who has been forgiven much will forgive much and will live a life of gratitude for the finished work of Jesus.

This is worlds apart from what Ellen White said in the quote at the top of this page, which ironically enough is used in the SDA Bible Commentary on Romans 8:1. “When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit” (My Life Today, pg. 250).

Where the Scriptures make it clear that no one is righteous and that we bring absolutely nothing to justify us before the judgment seat of God, Ellen White endorsed a system whereby man could indeed earn God’s favor.

“To obey the commandments of God is the only way to obtain His favor” (4T 28).

“Man, who has defaced the image of God in his soul by a corrupt life, cannot, by mere human effort, effect a radical change in himself. He must accept the provisions of the gospel; he must be reconciled to God through obedience to His law and faith in Jesus Christ” (4T 294-5).

What a contrast to the Bible, which says, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it–the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:21-25 ESV, cf. Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:4-7, Psalm 143:2).

God’s grace is anything but cheap–it was secured with the very costly blood of Jesus!

Greg