Repairing the Breach

Wesley's famous declaration:

"I want to know one thing -- the way to Heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri" [man of one book]. Standard Sermons, ed. Edward H. Sugden, 2 vols. (London: Epworth Press, 1921), 1:31-32.

The dying world is before you, and you can find work to do anywhere in its borders; but what are you doing for the salvation of those for whom Christ has died? God in his providence has been preparing the way for the coming of the living agent to all lands, that men may hear the good news of salvation. All things are now ready, and the angels wait for the co-operation of those who believe the truth for these last days, that they may go forth, and work with the followers of Christ in drawing souls to God. {HM, September 1, 1892 par. 5}

What is our duty as Bible believing Christians and Seventh Day Adventists in particular?

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Isa 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

"Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come and whither I go." They were ignorant of his divine character and mission because they had not searched the prophecies concerning the Messiah, as it was their privilege and duty to do. They had no connection with God and Heaven, and therefore did not comprehend the work of the Saviour of the world, and, though they had received the most convincing evidence that Jesus was that Saviour, yet they refused to open their minds to understand. At first they had set their hearts against him, and refused to believe the strongest proof of his divinity, and, as a consequence, their hearts had grown harder until they were determined not to believe nor accept him. {2SP 354.2}

It will not be much different at the second coming of Christ since unbelief will be as prevalent as it was in the days of Noah and Lot.

The exceeding great and precious promises given us in the Holy Scriptures have been lost sight of to a great extent, just as the enemy of all righteousness designed that they should be. He has cast his own dark shadow between us and our God, that we may not see the true character of God. The Lord has proclaimed Himself to be "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." {1SM 372.1}

In the light of this spiritual darkness, what is our duty?

Proclamation of Truth Our Work.--In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light-bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the Word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import,--the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention. {Ev 119.3}

Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Satan had so confused the minds at the time of the first coming of Christ that His own people did not recognize Him for who He was or what the nature of His mission was. The same will be repeated at the second coming of Christ and millions will be lost because of the popular teachings of the day.

Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Dealing with the sin problem

Before the fall the pulse of heaven beat in unison. No taint of sin marred its peace, no stain marred its beauty. Heaven restored must be transformed to its original state or sin would be perpetuated. Sin and sinners must be excluded from its realm and safeguards set in place that sin should not raise its head again. Satan cannot be thrown out the front door only to allow sinners in via the back door.

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Grace without law

There are many who claim that the law of ten commandments has been done away with, but the law is not the problem, it is the transgression of the law that is the problem. Grace without law is a contradiction in terms, the law is holy just and good, the law is eternal and its claims immovable. It must therefore follow, that if the sinner (transgressor of the law) wants to inherit eternal life, he not only has to find a way to pass from death to life, but he must also be transformed so as to comply with the righteous claims of the law.

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

To pass from death to life there has be a life giver. To pass from sin to righteousness there has to be a restorer.

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

How do I procure it? Ask, believe, receive.

Isa 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Isa 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

Isa 55:1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

It was impossible for the sinner to keep the law of God, which was holy, just, and good; but this impossibility was removed by the impartation of the righteousness of Christ to the repenting, believing soul. The life and death of Christ in behalf of sinful man were for the purpose of restoring the sinner to God's favor, through imparting to him the righteousness that would meet the claims of the law and find acceptance with the Father. But it is ever the purpose of Satan to make void the law of God and to pervert the true meaning of the plan of salvation. Therefore he has originated the falsehood that the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary's cross was for the purpose of freeing men from the obligation of keeping the commandments of God. He has foisted upon the world the deception that God has abolished His constitution, thrown away His moral standard, and made void His holy and perfect law. {FW 118.1}

Had He done this, at what terrible expense would it have been to Heaven! Instead of proclaiming the abolition of the law, Calvary's cross proclaims in thunder tones its immutable and eternal character. Could the law have been abolished, and the government of heaven and earth and the unnumbered worlds of God maintained, Christ need not have died. The death of Christ was to forever settle the question of the validity of the law of Jehovah. Having suffered the full penalty for a guilty world, Jesus became the Mediator between God and man, to restore the repenting soul to favor with God by giving him grace to keep the law of the Most High. Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them to the very letter. The atonement of Calvary vindicated the law of God as holy, just, and true, not only before the fallen world but before heaven and before the worlds unfallen. Christ came to magnify the law and to make it honorable. {FW 118.2}

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Are we therefore legalists if we keep the commandments of God?Legalism is the denial of grace. He died for my sin thus confirming my guilt. He alone can save me from this body of death for it is by grace that I am saved lest I should boast.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

If the law cannot be done away with can it be changed?

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Psa 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

The transference of the Sabbath robs Jesus of His authority. He is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the memorial to creation, and by abolishing it Jesus is deprived of His title “Creator”.

Exo 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

The transference of the Sabbath

The doctrine “only believe and you will be saved”

There are many whose religion consists in theory. To them a happy emotion is godliness. They say, "Come to Jesus, and believe in him. It makes no difference what you believe so long as you are honest in your belief." They do not seek to make the sinner understand the true character of sin. He is not urged to search the Scriptures on bended knees that he may know what is truth, or to pray that his eyes may be anointed with eyesalve that he may see the grace of Christ. When the lawyer came to Christ, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" the Saviour did not say, Believe, only believe, and you will be saved. "What is written in the law?" he said; "how readest thou?"

The lawyer answered: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Christ said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." Here the false doctrine that man has nothing to do but believe is swept away. Eternal life is given to us on the condition that we obey the commandments of God. {RH, June 26, 1900 par. 4}

Can I be perfect?

There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ, and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God.

No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. {FLB 118.4}

The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to his perfect nature. But do not be discouraged. This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you, and your indifference and unconcern are passing away. No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not see and realize its own sinfulness. The soul that is transformed by grace will admire his divine character; but if we do not see our own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ. {RH, February 17, 1885 par. 17}

The character is revealed by the works, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. Those who would put God out of their knowledge will show a want of principle. Every man will show which master he is serving with the strength of his intellect, his skill, and his ability. The servant of Christ will watch unto prayer; he will be devoted, humble, meek and lowly in heart, seeking to know and do the will of God. Whereas he was once the servant of sin, he has, through the grace of God, become transformed in mind and character. He will love the day of Christ's appearing; for he will be able to say with Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.“ {ST, March 27, 1884 par. 12}

Can I keep the law? Paul continues:

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If He died for my sin it is all the evidence that I need that I can die to sin. The price is paid; I need only to claim what is mine by redemption. Christ did not only die for my overcome sins but also for those that tend to overcome me. It takes a strong man to throw the thief out – one stronger than I. I do not keep the law to be saved – as Luther said keeping the law is a free will offering. That makes me not a legalist but a loyalist.

Deu 5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

There is no change here between the Old and the New Testament. Christ has not changed, He is still the same Yesterday, today and for ever (Heb 13:8).

underestimating the justice of God

Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

"Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of underestimating the justice of God. The tendency of the modern pulpit is to strain out the divine justice from the divine benevolence, to sink benevolence into a sentiment rather than exalt it into a principle. The new theological prism puts asunder what God has joined together. Is the divine law a good or an evil? It is a good. Then justice is good; for it is a disposition to execute the law. From the habit of underrating the divine law and justice, the extent and demerit of human disobedience, men easily slide into the habit of underestimating the grace which has provided an atonement for sin." Thus the gospel loses its value and importance in the minds of men, and soon they are ready to practically cast aside the Bible itself. {GC88 465.3}

Many religious teachers assert that Christ by his death abolished the law, and men are henceforth free from its requirements. There are some who represent it as a grievous yoke, and in contrast to the bondage of the law, they present the liberty to be enjoyed under the gospel. But not so did prophets and apostles regard the holy law of God. Said David, "I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts." [PS. 119:45.] The apostle James, who wrote after the death of Christ, refers to the decalogue as the "royal law," and the "perfect law of liberty." [JAMES 2:8; 1:25.] And the Revelator, half a century after the crucifixion, pronounces a blessing upon them "that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." [REV. 22:14.] {GC88 466.2}

Deut. 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Is it people or sin He wishes to consume?

To sin, wherever found, "our God is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:29. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them. {FLB 176.9}Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Eze. 18:4. {FLB 177.1}

The investigative judgment

For those struggling with the idea of the judgment and particularly the uniquely Adventist proclaimed investigative judgment, John T. Anderson’s book, Investigating the Judgment (Published by Review and Herald), is to be recommended.

In Revelation 14:6, 7 we read that the message that this judgment has already commenced was to be proclaimed to the world as part of the Three Angels’ messages.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

In Daniel chapter 7, the Bible describes a great judgment scene which takes place in heaven prior the second coming of Christ.

Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

The judgment scene in Daniel 7 parallels the cleansing of the sanctuary in chapter 8 and so they must refer to the same event. The part of the sanctuary service that particularly had judicial proceedings was the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur which was seen as the day of judgment.

Daniel 7 has the following sequence: World empires, little horn power, judgement scene, horn power destroyed, God’s kingdom

Daniel 8 sequence: Empires, horn power, sanctuary cleansed, horn power destroyed.

When the horn power is destroyed, God’s people are delivered.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary (qodesh, ko'-desh as apposed to miqdash, miqqedash as used in vs. 11) be cleansed. KJV

The Hebrew word for cleansed is Tsadaq , and it has an implicit legal function. It is mostly translated as being just or justified, turn to righteousness or cleansed.

tsadaq tsaw-dak'A primitive root; to be (causatively make) right (in a moral or forensic sense): - cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be, turn to) righteous (-ness).

In the cleansing of the sanctuary, which in type took place on the Day of Atonement, the record of confessed sin is removed and in type placed upon the scapegoat which is then led into the wilderness.

In the great day of final award, the dead are to be "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:12. Then by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven. Thus the sanctuary will be freed, or cleansed, from the record of sin. In the type, this great work of atonement, or blotting out of sins, was represented by the services of the Day of Atonement--the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary, which was accomplished by the removal, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, of the sins by which it had been polluted. {PP 357.6} As in the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven, no more to be remembered or come into mind, so in the type they were borne away into the wilderness, forever separated from the congregation. {PP 358.1}

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

All judicial cases pass through a number of phases. There is an enquiry (investigation), a pronouncement of judgement and an executive judgement. Prior to the coming of Christ the decree is issued which signals the close of probation. Every case will then have been decided. In order to issue such a decree there must have been an investigation in heaven which preceded it.

In Scripture there is always a judicial investigation before God acts. The following examples are also typical of the final judgment.

The floodGen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The Tower of BabelGen 11:5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Sodom and GomorrahGen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; Gen 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

In the judgement Jesus is the sole judge:

Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

But he is also the advocate, the accused, the faithful witness , the intercessor and the surety for those who have repented and by faith have laid hold of the free gift of salvation.

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Those who are in Christ need have no fear of the judgement:

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The doctrine of “substitution without consequence”

This doctrine emphasises God’s mercy but is contrary to the legal requirements of justice and is one of Islam’s indictments against Christianity. If two are guilty justice demands that they both be punished, the one cannot legally bare the penalty for the other, not even under divine law.

Deu 24:16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Redemption in Christ must satisfy this legal requirement or else justice will not have been done. Neither God’s mercy nor His justice may be compromised in the plan of salvation. How can this be achieved?

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Col 3:1 -3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

It is therefore not just one man dying for all, but all are required to die in Him so they may be resurrected in Him.

2Ti 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Rom 6:1 - 8 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Jesus continued: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." By nature the heart is evil, and "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." Job 14:4. No human invention can find a remedy for the sinning soul. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Rom. 8:7; Matt. 15:19. The fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams can become pure. He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility. There is no safety for one who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement this change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. {DA 172.1}

Salvation thus requires the death of the sinner in Christ and life can only be attained by resurrection in Christ who has the capacity to rise from the dead as He has life within Himself. Since God alone is immortal, it follows that Jesus must be God, and since God cannot die he veiled His divinity in humanity in order to lay down His life for His friends.

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The value of a soul, who can estimate? Would you know its worth, go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Christ through those hours of anguish, when He sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross. Hear that despairing cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Mark 15:34. Look upon the wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. Remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of a soul. {COL 196.4}

Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Are God’s judgments fair? Let's look at some of the doctrines that seem to suggest otherwise.

The doctrine of predestination makes Jesus arbitrary and a sadist for even those tortured in hell must praise him for the honor of making the distinction between the redeemed and the lost so great that by the difference in their states the redeemed are glorified. The doctrine of salvation by lineage is linked to the doctrine of predestination and makes God’s grace arbitrary favoring only a few. This Israel vision fuses Christianity with Judaism and this fusion combines those who accept the lordship of Christ with those who deny it making a mockery of both.

The doctrine of predestination

(Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Peter 1:2). God's Predestination.--The Father sets His love upon His elect people who live in the midst of men. These are the people whom Christ has redeemed by the price of His own blood; and because they respond to the drawing of Christ, through the sovereign mercy of God, they are elected to be saved as His obedient children. Upon them is manifested the free grace of God, the love wherewith He hath loved them. Everyone who will humble himself as a little child, who will receive and obey the Word of God with a child's simplicity, will be among the elect of God. . . . {6BC 1114.3}

Rom 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:

Mat 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

Hope is not in selection, birthright, nation or church – hope in Christ

John 5:44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

John Wesley writes in his discourse against predestination:

“This doctrine is novel. In the first four hundred years after Christ, no mention is made of it by any writer, great or small; in any part of the Christian Church. Foundations were laid in the later writings of Augustine, when unguardedly writing against Pelagius. It was afterward taught by Dominicus, a polish friar, and the monks of his order, and at last , it was unhappily taken up by John Calvin. This doctrine is first injurious to God, because it makes Him the author of all sin; : it is injurious because it represents Him as delighting in the death of sinners, expressly contrary to his own declaration (Exek. 33:11; 1Tim. 2:5); Thirdly this doctrine is highly injurious to Christ, our mediator, to the efficacy and excellency of His Gospel.

Second It supposes His mediation to necessarily of no effect with regard to the greater part of mankind.: Fourth: this doctrine makes the coming of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross , instead of being a fruit of God’s love to the world, to one of the severest acts of God’s indignation against mankind; it being only ordained (according to this doctrine) to save very few, and for the hardening and increasing the damnation of the far greater number of mankind; namely all those who do not believe; and the cause of this unbelief, according to this doctrine, is the council and decree of God; Sixth this doctrine is highly injurious to mankind; for it puts them in far worse position than the devils in Hell. For these were sometime in capacity to have stood. They might have kept their happy estate but would not.

Whereas, according to this doctrine, many millions of men are tormented forever, who were never happy, never could and never can be. Again, devils will not be punished for neglecting a great salvation: but human creatures will.In direct opposition to this we affirm that God has willed all to be saved; and hath given His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth on Him might be saved. There is hardly any other article of the Christian Faith so frequently, plainly and positively asserted. It is that which makes the preaching of the Gospel :Glad tidings to all” (Luke 2:10). Otherwise had this salvation been absolutely confined to a few, it would have been sad tidings of great sorrow to most people.? (Quote in : Where Two Creeds Meet, The Biblical Evaluation of Calvinism and Armenianism. O. Glenn McKinley, Beacon Hill Press, Kansas City, Missouri 1995, p. 77.

O. Glenn McKinley comments: ... “such caprice ascribed to God would make Him the basest hypocrite in His own universe. ... That they would picture God as the basest sadist who ever existed, in that He would deliberately choose to damn to all eternity certain portions of His own created race, for no rhyme or reason, no moral responsibility or guilt or free choice whatsoever, except His own viscous caprice.. One could but hate such a God who would thus damn one of our sons and save the another who was equally guilty or innocent.” (Where Two Creeds Meet, The Biblical Evaluation of Calvinism and Armenianism. O. Glenn McKinley, Beacon Hill Press, Kansas City, Missouri 1995.p. 83)

No man receives holiness as a birthright, or as a gift from any other human being. Holiness is the gift of God through Christ. Those who receive the Saviour become sons of God. They are His spiritual children, born again, renewed in righteousness and true holiness. Their minds are changed. With clearer vision they behold eternal realities. They are adopted into God's family, and they become conformed to His likeness, changed by His Spirit from glory to glory. From cherishing supreme love for self, they come to cherish supreme love for God and for Christ. . . . Accepting Christ as a personal Saviour, and following His example of self-denial--this is the secret of holiness. {AG 120.4}

It has ever been the design of Satan to draw the minds of the people from Jesus to man, and to destroy individual accountability. Satan failed in his design when he tempted the Son of God. He succeeded better as he came to fallen man. The doctrine of Christianity was corrupted. Popes and priests presumed to take an exalted position, and taught the people to look to them to pardon their sins, instead of looking to Christ for themselves. The Bible was kept from them, in order to conceal the truths which would condemn them. {1SG 108.1}

Predestination. Wonderful possibilities are provided for every one who has faith in Christ. No walls are built to keep any living soul from salvation. The predestination, or election, of which God speaks, includes all who will accept Christ as a personal Saviour, who will return to their loyalty, to perfect obedience to all God's commandments. This is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people, chosen by God from among men. All who are willing to be saved by Christ are the elect of God. It is the obedient who are predestinated from the foundation of the world. "To as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to as many as believed on him." {GH, June 11, 1902 par. 3}

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Eph 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

Eph 1:5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: Eph 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Eph 1:8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

These promises are not made to a few, but to all who will come to the heavenly banquet that God has prepared by sending His Son to our world to die in our behalf, that through faith in Him, we should become one with God. The praise and glory of His grace, power, and wisdom is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people. Wonderful possibilities are provided for every one who has faith in Christ. No walls are built to keep any living soul from salvation. The predestination of which God speaks includes all who will accept Christ as a personal Saviour, who will return to their loyalty, to perfect obedience to all God's commandments. This is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people, chosen by God from among men. All who are willing to be saved by Christ are the elect of God. It is the obedient who are predestinated from the foundation of the world. {6MR 388.2}

Once saved always saved

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Exo 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Ez 33:7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 10“Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?”’ 11Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Joh 15:16 Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Alcasar: By the preterist interpretation, all the prophecies relating to antichrist were pushed back in an endeavor to find their fulfillment before the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Preterism and Futurism

"Alcazar, a Spanish Jesuit, taking a hint from Victorinus seems to have been the first (AD 1614) to have suggested that the Apocalyptic prophecies did not extend further than to the overthrow of Paganism by Constantine." // "It has been usual to say that the Spanish Jesuit Alcasar, in his Vestigatio Arcani Sensus in Apocalypsi(1614), was the founder of the Præterist School.." Farrar

Preterism:

An Investigation into the Hidden Sense of the ApocalypseRev. Luis Alcazar of Seville

Published by John Keerberg in Antwerp, 1614.(Royal Publication Privilege Granted in 1611)

Ribera: took those same prophecies and hurled them off into the future, declaring that the antichrist would make his appearance after the coming of Christ.

Ribera published a commentary in 1585 containing these ideas.

Protestants today are divided between Modernists and Fundamentalists. Modernists give little or no place to the study of prophecy, and fundamentalists are, in the main, futurists.

Futurism:

Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) was a Jesuit doctor of theology, born in Spain, who began writing a lengthy commentary in 1585 on the book of Revelation (Apocalypse) titled In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij, and published it about the year 1590.

To resist the use to which Scripture prophecy was put by the reformers is no light or unimportant matter. The system of prophetic interpretation known as Futurism does resist this use. It condemns the interpretation of the reformers. It condemns the views of all these men, and of all the martyrs, and of all the confessors and faithful witnesses of Christ for long centuries. It condemns the Albigenses, the Waldenses, the Wicliffites, the Hussites, the Lollards, the Lutherans, the Calvinist; it condemns them all, and upon a point upon which they are all agreed, an interpretation of Scripture which they embodied in their solemn confessions and sealed with their blood. (Romanism and the Reformation)

Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, one of the best known Jesuit apologists, published a work between 1581 and 1593 entitled Disputationum Roberti Bellarmini De controversiis Christianæ fidei adversus hujus temporis hæreticos, (Polemic Lectures Concerning the Disputed Points of the Christian Belief Against the Heretics of This Time), in which he also denied the day = year principle in prophecy and pushed the reign of antichrist into a future period of 3 1/2 literal years.

March 5, 1616

Cardinal Robert BellarmineOn this date, the Copernican theory was declared “false and erroneous” by the Decree of the Holy Congregation of the Most Illustrious Lord Cardinals in charge of the Index (more commonly known as the Decree of the Index) written by Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, and issued by the Catholic Church in Rome. Further, no person was to be permitted to hold or teach the theory that the Earth revolves around the sun. When Galileo subsequently violated the decree, he was put on trial and held under house arrest for the final eight years of his life.

http://diogenesii.wordpress.com/tag/astronomy/

To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin.

— Cardinal Robert BellarmineTrial of Galileo, 1615

http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/quotes

In spite of these blunders, Cardinal Bellarmine, is considered one of the greatest scholar of the Catholic Church. He built upon Ribera’s work, emphasizing, as some earlier writers did, that antichrist would be a Jew from the tribe of Dan, that he would be a supernatural personage of great power, and would persecute the Jews whom, he said, would return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple and reinaugurate their ancient sacrificial system.

Dispensationalism

A by-product of futurism is dispensationalism, by which an endeavor is made to divide history into seven dispensations, as taught amongst others by Schofield.

The advocates of this system say that the dispensation of the kingdom follows the dispensation of grace, at which time the Jews will preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world after the church has been raptured. During this time the antichrist is supposed to come. After entering into covenant relationship with the Jews, he will turn and persecute them, but will later be destroyed by the visible appearing of Christ at the end of the seven years.

Lewis Sperry Chafer, founder of Dallas Theological Seminary defines dispensationalism in these words: “The dispensatonalist believes that throughout the age God is pursuing two distinct purposes: one related to the earth with earthly people and earthly objectives involved which is Judaism; while the other is related to heaven with heavenly objectives involved, which is Christianity.”

Daniel Payton Fuller, dean of the Fuller Theological Seminary defines dispensationalism in much the same way as Chafer and Ryrie when he writes.“The basic premise of dispensationalism is two purposes of God expressed in the formation of two peoples who maintain their distinction throughout eternity

“Through the call of Jesus men become individuals. Willy-nilly, they are compelled to decide, and that decision can only be made by themselves. It is no choice of their own that makes them individuals: it is Christ who makes them individuals by calling them.. Every man is called separately, and must follow alone. But men are frightened of solitude, and they try to protect themselves by merging themselves in the society of their fellow-men and their material environment.” Dietrich Bonnhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, p. 105

H.Ray Dunning, writing in the Beacon Dictionary of Theology, states: Dispensationalism’s most popular ideas relate to its eschatological teachings. The kingdom of heaven they say refers to the earthly, nationalistic rule which Jesus offered to the Jews but which they rejected. Thus God’s programme for Israel had to be postponed until later, and as an interim arrangement the Church age was ushered in. A further implication of this is the dispensationalist teaching of a secret Rapture of the Church to remove the Church from the earth so God can resume His original plan of establishing a Jewish earthly kingdom. http://www.rbc.org.nz/library/dispensationalism.pdf

Dispensationalism’s most popular ideas relate to its eschatological teachings. Building upon a Calvinistic view of covenant as unconditional, it is deeply interested in national Israel and her relation to the land of Palestine, which dispensationalists insist will be possessed in the end time for the establishment of an earthly, Jewish kingdom in fulfillment of God’s promise to David. (i.e. “The Millennium)

Pastor Kevin Gore sums up the dispensationalist view in his article: http://www.rbc.org.nz/library/dispensationalism.pdf

( “SINCE YOU ASKED” WHY I DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING FIVE PILLARS OF DISPENSATIONALISM

Here are some of his conclusions:

The five pillars of dispensationalism.

1. The claim to a consistent literal interpretation of scripture.2. The belief that God has a twofold plan and purpose for mankind.One that specifically concerns the ethnic nation of Israel, and one that specifically concerns the Christian Church.3. The belief that “the Church” is not one with “spiritual Israel”.4. The belief in a secret rapture of the Church from this earth prior to God resuming His original plan of establishing a Jewish earthly kingdom.5. The belief in a future Millennial kingdom of Christ on earth before the ushering in of the new heaven and new earth.

Dispensationalistsm insists that the earthly promises which were made to Abram, were made exclusively with him and with his physical seed. Scripture however, states to the contrary.

a. Romans 2:28-29 He is not a Jew who is one outwardly. b. b. Romans 9:6 They are not all Israel which are of Israel. c. c. Galatians 3:29 They that are Christ’s are Abrahams seed.d. Galatians 3:14 That the blessings of Abraham may come on the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.e. Galatians 3:28 For “ye are all one in Christ Jesus”.

Thus he concludes that: The New Covenant does not pertain to the physical nation of Israel, but it pertains to the whole family of God – the True Israel of faith.

“The Two-Fold Purpose of God”Dispensationalism insists that God has two distinctly different eternal plans and purposes for mankind, one which specifically concerns the ethnic nation of Israel, and one which concerns the Christian Church.

In effect then, dispensationalism claims that God has two families, or bodies, or classes of people which he calls His own. Now few will deny that God may yet do a wonderful work of grace within the ethnic nation of Israel, but to claim that God has two “distinctbodies” or “families” of saved people is to contradict the plain teaching of scripture, as you will see from the verses below.

Ephesians 4:4 For there is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

John 10:16 And other sheep (Gentiles) have I that are not of this fold (Judaism) them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.

“The Separation of Israel and the Church”Dispensationalism insists the name “Israel” pertains exclusively to the natural descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and therefore “the Christian Church” is not the new Israel of God. Charles Ryrie writes:“Use of the words Israel and Church shows clearly that in the New Testament natural Israel continues with her own promises and the Church is never equated with a so-called “new Israel’ but is carefully and continually distinguished as a separate work of God”.

In response to these statements, I reply. The Bible does equate Israel with the Church. …… Of course, naturally speaking the Jews are Abraham’s seed, (John 8:37) yet it is abundantly evident from scripture that they are not the seed of Abraham to whom the promises of God are made.

Romans 9:6-8 “For they are not all Israel, who are Israel; neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they children, but in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of promise are counted as seed.”

“The Secret Rapture of the Church”“In recent times, dispensationalist theology has developed the idea of a “secret rapture”. This relates to their view that there will be a definable seven year period of intense persecution of the Jews, called “the time of Jacobs trouble”. (Jer.30:7)In order for this to occur, the church must be removed from the earthly scene, consequently dispensationalists structure their eschatology to include a “Pre tribulation Rapture” which is secret in nature and separated by the “tribulation” from Parousia.That this is a presumption not explicitly taught in scripture, honest dispensationalists freely admit.” (Beacon Dictionary of Theology)

The issue now before us does not concern whether or not the Christian Church will one day be “raptured” or “caught up” to meet Christ in the air, for the Bible clearly and plainly teaches this doctrine (1 Thess 4:13- 17,) but the issue concerns whether or not the scripture teaches that the Church will be raptured secretly, seven years before the glorious visible return of Christ, as dispensationalists claim.

Dispensationalists quote the following verses of scripture to support their belief in the secret rapture of the Church. John 14:1-3, 1 Thess.4:13-17, 2 Thess.1:7-9, Jude 1:14-15, 1 Cor.15:51-57, Zech.14:1- 5. …. These verses most definitely refer to the return of the Lord Jesus for his people, but there is no indication whatsoever that this coming will take place seven years before his visible return.

1 Thess.4:13-17. Certainly these verses speak to us of a rapture of the Church, but once again there is no suggestion at all that this rapture will take place at any other time than the Lord Jesus’ visible return. Actually verse 16 reads, “for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God”.Those words sound very much like the words of Matthew 24:31 which read, “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, and from one end of heaven to the other”. This latter quotation is clearly referring to our Lord’s visible and glorious second coming which takes place at the end of this age, not seven years before the end of the age.

“The Millennial Kingdom of Christ”

The theory of an earthly “millennium” is based entirely upon tradition and assumption.“It is said that one verse in thirty of the New Testament relates to the second coming of Christ. Yet not one verse refers to a millennial reign upon earth! Not even the Mystical and symbolical “thousand years” of Revelation chapter 20, hints at an earthly Utopia.The complete silence of the New Testament regarding any earthly “millennium” cannot be ignored. Likewise not one verse of the Old Testament even hints of a reign of a thousand year duration. This being so, the whole theory of an earthly “millennium” must be based entirely upon tradition and assumption”. (Archibald Hughes. A New Heaven and New Earth. Page 209 & 210).

( “SINCE YOU ASKED” WHY I DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING FIVE PILLARS OF DISPENSATIONALISM By Pastor Kevin Gore . http://www.rbc.org.nz/library/dispensationalism.pdf

The doctrine of dispensationalism also make Christ and His judgments arbitrary by applying different standards for salvation to different generations. Absolute obedience to the law being a requirement for one generation and grace in disobedience for another. The Millennial doctrines and Second chance doctrines deny justice to all previous generations while favoring the last generation through the conversion of all nations. Moreover, By throwing the last week of the 70 week prophecy into the future, this great climax of the messianic mission is applied to the antichrist and Christ is blasphemed by making Him antichrist.

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

As the typical Elijah called the people back to obedience, so the antitypical Elijah will do the same.

Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Psa 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

One reminder alone remains: our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. . . . {AG 361.5} The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow Life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love. {AG 361.6}

Through Christ's redeeming work the government of God stands justified. The Omnipotent One is made known as the God of love. Satan's charges are refuted, and his character unveiled. Rebellion can never again arise. Sin can never again enter the universe. Through eternal ages all are secure from apostasy. By love's self-sacrifice, the inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union. {DA 26.2}

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.