All:
Seventh Day Adventists' denies the Biblical doctrine of the complete atonement or sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the ONLY means of man's salvation.
This alone, qualifies the premise that the SDA is a cult, however, according to the 'Apologetics Study Bible' report noted in the first post of this series, there are at least 19 other reasons to call the SDA's a "cult".
This is the most serious of the heresies of the SDA cult. SDA's profess to teach salvation by grace through faith, but they then redefine this to include or add works to grace. In part 1 of this and 2 it was noted about SA math. I know this from visiting and attending a SDA church, and incognito, pressed the pastor on this and other doctrines.
According to the SDA doctrine, grace is the power and foregiveness God gives to enable a sinner to keep God's law and to thereby build a holy character fit for heaven. The individual that fails to build the right character by God's grace will never see heaven. Faith and works are said to be the two oars by which the believer is propelled to Glory.
These false teachers are aptly described by the Apostle Paul in Galatians: "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty that might bring us into bondage" -(Galatians 2:4).
It is important that we carefully document the SDA doctrine of salvation, since it is very subtle. Often in their literature produced for the general public, the SDA modify what they believe in an attempt to appear orthodox Christian. The Christian should be aware of the deceitfulness of the false churches. They are like chameleons that changes colors according to the situation need. On one hand they try to appear orthodox, "We are like you" they protest. On the other hand they promote all sorts of heretical teachings and attempt to draw converts (sheep stealing) away from Bible-believing Christians/churches. This should not be surprising to us. The New Testament refers frequently to the deception of false teachers. Jesus Christ called the false teachers "wolves" in sheep's clothing -(Matthew 7:15). He warned that they would try to deceive many -(Matthew 24:4-5). The Apostle Paul called them "deceitful workers" -(2 Corinthians 11:13). He said they use "cunning craftiness" -(Ephesians 4:14). He said they "speak lies in hypocrisy" -(1 Timothy 4:2).
Here is an extract from a SDA correspondence course:
"Do you want to be a Christian? ... The steps to Christ are few and plain and easy to understand, and
we will turn to God's guidance now for information. ... Believe; that's the first step towards becoming a
Christian. ... The second step is Repentance. ... Repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and
putting them away ... The next step in becoming a Christian is Confession ... real repentance and
confession means not only to stop sinning, but to do everything possible to make past wrongs right. ...
The next step is Baptism, and the proof for this is found in Acts 2:38-39. ... Fifth, Obedience through Christ
in us. ... So we have clearly outlined the steps that we need to take in order to become a Christian: To
Believe in God, to Repent of and to Confess our sins, to be Baptized, AND TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. ... He may stumble and fall, but he gets up and presses forward
again, determines to overcome by God's enabling power. Such a fall is not counted against him when he
repents and asks forgiveness and divine help to live the right life." This is a quote from (New Life Voice of Prophecy Guide #12).
Adventists labels this doctrine "Salvation by Grace," but it is not the grace that was preached by the Lord's Disciples.
1. According to the Bible, salvation is by grace ALONE through faith ALONE, without the works of the Law. "And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is an more work." -(Romans 11:6).
Additional passages on this major point can be found in these many references (John 3:16; 6:28-29; Acts 15:10-11; 16:30-31; Romans 3:19-25; 4:1-8; Galatians 3:10-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7).
The "Good News" of Christ Jesus is not that we are saved through a grace that produces the works of the Law. The "Good News" is that we are saved by God's Grace Alone through Faith Alone WITHOUT THE LAW. All who will be saved must come on these glorious terms, trusting in the shed blood Alone for full salvation.
Those who attempt to return to the Mosaic Law to perfect their salvation are committing the same error as the Galatians in the first century AD.
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, received ye the spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh: Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain, he therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worked miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." -(Galatians 3:1-7).
Those who persist in placing themselves under the Mosaic Law in spite of clear New Testament teaching are outside of true salvation. Note what the implications are for all that fall into that trap. SDA teachers who believe the doctrine of their denomination/cut, as stated by their publications as the 'New Life Voice of Prophecy' correspondence course are of this number, they are nothing more than Galatians - "legalizers". I hope any of you that are SDA's will pay very close attention to my point from Paul's words to the Galatians.
SDA cultists who mingle "Law" and "Grace" can't have it both ways. This is not a combination+ means of salvation. This might shock some SDA's, however, you can't co-mingle "Law" and "Grace", and in so doing, disqualify themselves of salvation. Lucifer is using the SDA cult, the JW's, and the Mormons to deceive believers to play it safe by buying into their heresy, but unfortunately they become owners of the Big Lie!
The reader needs to examine Paul's words in Galatians -(4:9-11; 19-20; and 5:1-5)
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggerly elements where unto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." -(Galatians 4:9-11).
This is a troubling passage for many believing they need to return to the Hebrew Roots form of worship. We can learn much from the Hebrew Roots up to a point where one finds it necessary to become a Jew. There is a fine line of distinction to where "Grace" is being subplanted by Law".
"My little children in the liberty where with Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debter to the whole Law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law, ye are fallen from Grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by Faith" -(Galatians 5:1-5).
The true gospel says that the believer is saved entirely by God's Grace through Christ and he has eternal life.
We know that salvation is secure because it is a free gift, entirely unmerited by the sinner -(Ephesians 2:8-9). If the recipient does anything or pays anything, the "gift" is no longer a "gift".
We know that salvation is secure because it means that the believer is declared righteous by God -(Romans 3:21-24). This is the meaning of the word "justified". Notice how the terms "justified" and the "righteousness of God" are used interchangeably in Romans 3:21-24. Notice too, that this righteousness is obtained "by faith" and "freely by His grace". What is the sinner's problem? Is it not his lack of righteousness? Therefore, if God declares that sinner righteous, what more does he need? Biblical salvation is an exchange process. Jesus takes the sinner's unrighteousness, and the sinner receives Jesus' righteousness. -(2 Corinthians 5:21).
We know that salvation is secure because it is a present possession!
In the following verses, Salvation is not described as a possibility, but a certainty, as a "present" possession.
1. Justification is a present possession -(Romans 5:9).
2. Peace with God is a present possession -(Romans 5:1).
3. Reconciliation is a present possession -(Romans 5:10).
4. Atonement is a present possession - (Romans 5:11).
5. Eternal life is a present possession -(1 John 5:11-13).
6. Being a child of God is a present possession -(Ephesians 1:6).
7. Being accepted in Christ is a present possession -(1:6).
8. Forgiveness of sin is a present possession -(Ephesians 1:7).
9. Being made alive in Christ is a present possession -(Ephesians 2:1).
10.Being made fit for heaven is a present possession -((Colossians 1:12).
11.Being delivered from the power of darkness is a present possession -(Colossians 1:13).
12.Having been translated into Jesus' kingdom is a present possession -(Colossians 1:13).
13.Mercy is a present possession -(1 Peter 2:10).
14.Healing of sin is a present possession -(1 Peter 2:24).
Have you got the point? Do I need to quote more?
A person is either saved or he is lost, either entirely saved or entirely lost. There is no middle ground, no growing into or perfecting of salvation. Are you trusting the blood of Christ, and the blood of Christ ALONE for salvation?
If so, the Bible says you possess all the spiritual blessings listed above, and a few more I did not mention; and furthermore, they are secure blessings in Christ Jesus!
We know that salvation is secure because it is an entirely position before God.
Salvation is an entirely new position in Christ -(Romans 5:1-2). The sinner is either in Adam or he is in Christ. If he is in Christ, he has all the spiritual blessings. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us ith all spiritual blessings in Hevenly places in Christ." -(Ephesians 1:3). This is confirmed in the following: -(Romans 6:11; Ephesians 1:6; 1 John 5:12).
The believer has a new standing before God in Christ, and he also has a walk in this world as well. The new standing cannot change because it depends entirely upon what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. To confuse our standing and walk is to pervert the Gospel. Consider the book of Ephesians, chapters 1-3 describe the believer's new position in Christ; chapters 4-6 describes the believer's walk in this world. Ephesians 5:8 says, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: Walk as children of the light". The believer has a new position in Christ that can never change, and he is called to live up to this position in this world by walking in obedience to God. Colossians 3:1,3 says the same things, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God ... for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." In his new position, the Christian is dead to sin and risen with Christ. In practice he is to line up to this eternal calling by seeking things which are above.
The believer's standing is eternally secure the very moment he is born again. His walk, on the other hand, changes according to his obedience.
What a wonderful salvation! The better the believer understands his secure position in Christ, the more heartily he desires to serve his Savior God.
We know that salvation is secure because the believer is promised certain deliverance form sin. "Much more than being now justified by His blood, we SHALL BE saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled we SHALL BE saved by His life" -(Romans 5:9-10).
We know that salvation is secure because the believer is kept by the power of God.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again with a lovely hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" --(1 Peter 1:3-5).
The believer can be sure that he will enjoy inheritance spoken of in verse 4 solely because of the power of God. This does not mean that a person can live as he so pleases and still go to heaven just becaus he says he "believes". The Lord Christ Jesus said that it is impossible to be saved without being born again. -(John 3:3,7), and the new birth is a dramatic, life-changing experience. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away - behold, all things are become new" -(2 Corinthians 5:17). When a sinner is born again he received a new nature from God. He has new desires. God's nature within him impels him to have God's way. The indwelling Holy Spirit ministers to desire for holiness and truth. The professor in Christ who does not love God's way is not a saved man who falls away from salvation, he is a hypocrite or a deceived person who has never possessed true salvation.
The Bible exhorts us to be on guard, to learn to rightly divide the Word, to understand that Satan is roaming around doing his best to steal the truth from us before it even gets to us. If it is important enough for him to steal it, it must be quite important. In today's times, there are those who say that all paths lead to God. Jesus said the whole exact opposite. Taken as a whole, the entirety of the Bible points to Jesus Christ only.
SDA's today, will always, sooner or later, bring in the teachings of it spiritual leader, Ellen G. White. She was a deceived woman, perhaps even mentally ill. That is not my words, but the remarks of a medical doctor, who, himself, was an Adventist back in Michigan. I refrained from quoting from Ellen G. White, because I have a whole post that will be devoted to this deranged false teacher, and certainly was not a prophet, because she made so many prophecies that failed to come to pass, which immediately disqualifies anyone as a genuine prophet or prophetess of God. Be not deceived by the SDA cult! Next time we will disrobe the false sabbath worship for the Christian.
God bless,
Pastor Bob