ADVENTISM’S NEW
VIEW
‘It’s
Beyond Belief’
2
JEFF
PIPPENGER
The
publishing of the book Beyond Belief by Jack Sequeira has brought about a
chain of circumstances necessitating the formulation of the following book.
This
book will first briefly describe the gospel plan as set forth in the
Scriptures and echoed in the Spirit of Prophecy. We will address a few
aspects of the gospel, then set forth the gospel message as brought by AT.
Jones and EJ. Waggoner. We will then identify some of the concerns we find
in the book Beyond Belief It matters not what any man or group of men
believes to be truth. It does matter what we individually believe. It is our
prayer that individually God's people will come to the true understanding of
the plan of salvation, and then experience and proclaim it.
We
must know individually the prescribed conditions of entering into eternal
life. . . . We cannot allow these questions to be settled for us by
another's mind, or another's judgment. We must search the Scriptures
carefully with a heart open to the reception of light and the evidences of
truth. We cannot trust the salvation of our souls to ministers, to idle
traditions, to human authorities, or to pretensions. We must know for
ourselves what God has said. . . . It is not to be our study as to what may
be the opinion of men, or of popular faith, or what the Fathers have said.
We cannot trust to the voice of the multitude, but we want to know what is
the voice of God, what is His revealed will. . . .The Lord positively
demands of every Christian an intelligent knowledge of the Scriptures.
Review and Herald, March 8, 1887.
Purpose
of the Gospel
By
sin the image of God in man has been marred and well-nigh obliterated; it is
the work of the gospel to restore that which has been lost; and we are to
co-operate with the divine agency in this work. And how can we come into
harmony with God, how shall we receive His likeness, unless we obtain a
knowledge of Him? It is this knowledge that Christ came into the world to
reveal unto us. Testimonies, vol. 5, 743.
The
true object of education is to restore the image of God in the soul. In the
beginning, God created man in His own likeness. He endowed him. with noble
qualities. His mind was well balanced, and all the powers of his being were
harmonious. But the Fall and its effects have perverted these gifts. Sin has
marred and well-nigh obliterated the image of God in man, It was to restore
this that the plan of salvation was devised, and a life of probation granted
man, To bring him back to the perfection in which he was first created, is
the great object of life--the object that underlies every other. Patriarchs
and Prophets, 595.
There
is a science of Christianity to be mastered, - a science much deeper,
broader, higher than any human science as the heavens are higher than the
earth. The mind is to be disciplined, educated, trained; for we are to do
service for God in ways that are not in harmony with inborn inclination.
Hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil must be overcome. Often the
education and training of a lifetime must be discarded, that one may become
a learner in the school of Christ. Our hearts must be educated to
become steadfast in God. We are to form habits of thought that will enable
us to resist
temptation. The Ministry of Healing, 453-454.
The
purpose of the gospel is to reproduce God's character in fallen man.
Chapter
2 - Gospel Conditions
Except
for brief connecting words and a few comments, the following remarks are all
quotations taken from the Spirit of Prophecy: There are rules given in the
gospel (see Testimonies to Ministers, 192-193). Indeed, the gospel sets
before us a high standard (see Testimonies vol. 5, 87-88). We are not only
"to appreciate" (Review and Herald, December 18, 1886), and
"give attention to the claims of the gospel" (Christ's Object
Lessons, 224), but to "submit to the gospel requirements."
Testimonies, vol. 6, 96.
Strive
to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter
in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24.
Repentance
"Repent
ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15. Repentance is associated with
faith, and is urged in the gospel as essential to salvation, See Review and
Herald, November 4, 1990. In 1828, Noah Webster defined essential: 2. First
or constituent principles; as essentials of religion. 3. The chief point;
that which is most important.
There
is no salvation without repentance. No impenitent sinner can believe with
his heart unto righteousness. Repentance is described by Paul as a godly
sorrow for sin, that "worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented of', 2 Corinthians 7: 10. This repentance has in it nothing of the
nature of merit, but it prepares the heart for acceptance of Christ as the
only Saviour, the only hope of the lost sinner. Selected Messages, book 1,
365. See ibid" 353.
The
gospel of Christ requires penitence for sin. See Review and Herald,
September 3, 1901. Repentance has been deemed as "a radical change of
mind and spirit and action." Ibid., book 1, 393.
Obedience
Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew
7:21.
Go
. . . . and teach all nations teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20. And when he had called the people
unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his
life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mark 8:34-35.
But
he must co-operate with divine power, and put forth his human effort to
subdue sin, and stand complete in Christ. Fundamentals of Christian
Education, 429-430.
The
Spirit of God does not propose to do our part either in the willing or the
doing. . . . As soon as we incline our will to harmonize with God's will,
the grace of Christ stands ready to cooperate with the human agent; but it
will not be the substitute to do our work independent of our resolving and
decidedly acting. In Heavenly Places, 27.
The
gospel is to be preached. . . . in clear lines, showing that obedience is
the condition of gaining eternal life. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible
Commentary vol. 7, 972.
The
gospel requires our obedience in response to the love of God as displayed at
the cross. In chapter 10 of Romans Paul speaks of the "gospel of
peace." (Scripture teaches, "Great peace have they which love thy
law.") In verses 16 Paul exclaims of ancient Israel, "But they
have not all obeyed the gospel." In this complaint about ancient Israel
is the truth that the gospel demands obedience.
In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1 :8.
God
requires obedience, not for the purpose of showing His authority, but that
we may become one with Him in character. We shall find in God the attributes
of character needed to form characters after His likeness. We are to form
characters that are in harmony with the Deity. Thus our natures become
spiritualized in every faculty. Special Testimonies, Series B, No.7, page 7.
Obedience
is the first price of eternal life. 1888 Materials, 1477.
Gospel
Conditions
Faith
But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek
him. Hebrews 11 :6.
The
gospel message proclaimed by Christ's disciples. . . . set before men the
hope, through faith and obedience, of sharing the inheritance of the saints
in light. Christ's Object Lessons, 226-227.
Surrender
In
addition to repentance, faith, and obedience, "The gospel demands. . .
. unreserved consecration to God." Review and Herald, April 12, 1887.
When our repentance and surrender are complete so that Christ dwells within
us, then "The gospel. . . . must be appropriated as the branch
appropriates the nourishment in the sap." Review and Herald, January
8,1889. Through the power of Christ the gospel can and must be
"lived," Medical Ministry, 236, and "practiced." Ibid.,
23.
Salvation
has been provided for every man who will respond to the provisions, the
terms, and the conditions contained in the gospel. Christ surrendered His
divine being for eternity; then He joined Himself with sinful flesh through
the incarnation, and then He died the sinner's death in order to redeem
fallen humanity. But the salvation offered to mankind because of these
actions is effective only when the sinner responds to the provisions
supplied, and meets the conditions set forth within the gospel. If the
gospel were unconditional, Jesus would not have had to die. His death not
only demonstrated divine love, but it also upheld the divine law. The
gospel plan is the perfect blend of mercy and justice.
This
goody-goody religion that makes light of sin and that is forever dwelling
upon the love of God to the sinner, encourages the sinner to believe that
God will save him while he continues in sin and he knows it to be sin. This
is the way that many are doing who profess to believe present truth. The
truth is kept apart from their life, and that is the reason it has no more
power to convict and convert the soul. There must be a straining of every
nerve and spirit and muscle to leave the world, its customs, its practices,
and its fashions. . . . If you put away sin and exercise living faith, the
riches of heaven's blessings will be yours. Selected Messages, book 3, 155.
Chapter
3 - Righteousness by Faith
Humanity
is of course incapable, of itself, of meeting the conditions contained in
the gospel. Man can meet the conditions of the gospel only by responding
to the call of the Holy Spirit and receiving the righteousness that is of
faith. To receive and maintain this righteousness is man's greatest need.
But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. Matthew 6:33.
Righteousness
is doing right works, See 1 John 3:7. Faith that produces right works is the
only real faith. See Galatians 5:6. A true understanding of both faith or
righteousness cannot be separated from works. Works are a man's experience,
either good or bad. Therefore righteousness, which man receives by the
twofold process of justification and sanctification, is primarily a term
used to describe an experience. Likewise, justification and sanctification
are best understood when viewed experientially.
The
faith that justifies always produces first true repentance, and then good
works, which are the fruit of that faith. There is no saving faith that does
not produce good fruit. God gave Christ to our world to become the sinner's
substitute. The moment true faith in the merits of the costly atoning
sacrifice is exercised, claiming Christ as a personal Saviour, that moment
the sinner is justified before God, because he is pardoned. Selected
Messages, book 3, 195.
Sinners
can be justified by God only when He pardons their sins, remits the
punishment they deserve, and treats them as though they were really just and
had not sinned, receiving them into divine favor and treating them as if
they were righteous. They are justified alone through the imputed
righteousness of Christ. Ibid., 194.
Calvary
is not justification. Calvary is the location where the possibility for
justification was secured. The death of Christ is not justification, it is
the infinite price paid that man might receive justification. To simply
believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world does not justify. The
devils believe and tremble. To be justified we must believe and fulfill the
conditions included in the plan of salvation.
A
sinner is justified by God when he repents of his sins. Ibid., 193.
A
knowledge of Christ will avail nothing unless we become like him in
character. . . . Christ is of no value to us unless He is formed within, the
hope of glory. That I May Know Him, 107.
Justification
and sanctification are terms that define and illustrate the experience of
righteousness in the believer. Both are the work of God by His Spirit, but
both require the believer's cooperation. Each term describes a different
aspect of the total process of righteousness by faith.
None
are living Christians unless they have a daily experience in the things of
God and daily practice self denial, cheerfully bearing the cross and
following Christ. Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine
life. As he advances towards perfection, he experiences a conversion to God
every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to
perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing
touch of immortality. Testimonies, vol. 2, 505.
In
order to begin the experience of righteousness by faith, a believer must
meet the conditions of repentance, surrender, faith, confession, and
obedience. When a man fulfills these conditions as illustrated in the story
of the Pharisee and the publican, (see Luke 18:9-14), he is at that moment
justified. Justification is a description of the "attitude" that a
believer must have in order to receive pardon for his sins. This attitude
must be maintained continually if one is going to remain justified. At the
moment the conditions for justification are met by a man, sanctification
also begins. Sanctification is a person's growth in holiness. Without the
attitude of the humility that allows justification, sanctification cannot be
retained. Justification describes the attitude that a man must have to
receive righteousness; whereas sanctification is the experience that comes
with the reception of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
Sanctification is the principle of "by beholding we become
changed." It is impossible to have "Christ in you" without
becoming "conformed to the image of the Son."
God's
forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from
condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin.
It is the out flowing of redeeming love that transforms the heart. David had
a true conception of forgiveness when he prayed, "Create in me a clean
heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. And
again he says, "As far as the east is from west, so far hath He removed
our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12. Thoughts From the Mount of
Blessing, 114.
Justification
and sanctification are achieved by the believer upon faith, and both must be
present simultaneously for the experience of righteousness to exist in the
believer's life.
When
through repentance and faith we accept Christ as our Saviour, the Lord
pardons our sins, and remits the penalty prescribed for the transgression of
the law. The sinner then stands before God as a just person; he is taken
into favor with Heaven, and through the Spirit has fellowship with the
Father and Son. Then there is yet another work to be accomplished, and this
is of a progressive nature. The soul is to be sanctified through the truth.
And this is accomplished through faith. For it is only through the grace of
Christ, which we receive through faith, that character can be transformed.
Selected Messages, book 3, 191.
God
requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take
place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual
obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the
soul. Ibid., book 1,366.
Righteousness
by faith then is maintaining the attitude of the publican, which brings the
Holy Spirit into one's heart and allows God to live out His life in the
believer. The provision for this experience to happen in the life of a
sinner is the gospel.
CONTINUE-
3
RETURN |