Page 593 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

can keep its precepts” (Prophetic Guidance God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness.
Correspondence Course, Lesson 10, p. 36). Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered
“Do you want to be a Christian? ... The steps to Christ with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish
are few and plain and easy to understand, and we will act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with
turn to God’s Guidebook now for information. ... every artful dissembling. ... The law of God is the
Believe; that’s the first step toward becoming a standard by which the characters and the lives of men
Christian. ... the second step is repentance ... will be tested in the judgment. ... Every name is
repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are
putting them away ... the next step in becoming a accepted, names rejected. When any have sins
Christian is confession ... real repentance and remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of
confession mean not only to stop sinning, but to do and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the
everything possible to make past wrongs right ... The book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be
next step is baptism, and the proof for that is found in erased from the book of God’s remembrance. ... All
Acts 2:38-39 ... Fifth, obedience through Christ in who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed
us ... So we have clearly outlined the steps that we the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had
need to take in order to become a Christian: to believe pardon entered against their names in the books of
in God, to repent of and to confess our sins, to be heaven; as they have become partakers of the
baptized, AND TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDMENTS righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found
OF THE LORD. ... He may stumble and fall, but he gets to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be
up and presses forward again, determined to overcome blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted
by God’s enabling power. Such a fall is not counted worthy of eternal life. ... Sins that have not been
against him when he repents and asks forgiveness and repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and
divine help to live the right life” (New Life Voice of blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to
Prophecy Guide, #12). witness against the sinner in the day of God” (Ellen
“Before Christ comes a second time to take us to His White, The Great Controversy, pp. 424-425, 428).
Father’s house in heaven above, we must allow Him to Adventism labels this doctrine “salvation by grace,”
conquer sin in our lives. ... Because in this life we have but it is a grace foreign to the true gospel of Jesus
chosen to accept these lovely graces of Christ as our Christ.
own, the sudden transformation at Jesus’ appearing What the Bible Says
will seal our characters. ... ONLY THOSE WHO LIVE
THE JESUS-LIFE CAN BE FREED FROM SIN. ... Jesus How does the true gospel of the grace of Christ differ
counseled the rich man who was seeking eternal life, ‘If from the SDA gospel?
thou wilt enter into life, keep the 1. Salvation is by grace ALONE through faith ALONE,
commandments’” (New Life Guides, #10). without the works of the law in any sense whatsoever.
From an SDA catechism: Contrary to Adventist doctrine, grace and faith, law and
“ ... We were slaves to sin. Jesus came down and works are not mutually sympathetic systems and cannot
suffered with us, and for us, and delivered us. As we be mixed. See Romans 3:21-25; 4:4-5; 11:6; 2
behold Him in His word, and in prayer and meditation, Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 3:13-14; Ephesians
and serve Him in the person of others, WE MAY BE 2:8-10.
CHANGED MORE AND MORE INTO THE GLORY OF The Good News of Christ is not that we are saved
HIS LIKENESS; THEN, IF FAITHFUL, WE SHALL
SOMEDAY SEE HIM FACE TO FACE” (Bible Footlights, through a grace that produces the works of the law. The
1960, p. 17). Good News is that we are saved by God’s grace alone
From an SDA doctrinal study: through faith alone WITHOUT THE LAW. All who will
“To whom will God impart immortality? ‘To them who be saved must come on these glorious terms, trusting in
by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and the shed blood alone for full salvation.
honour and immortality’ (Ro. 2:7). What shall be their Those who persist in placing themselves under the
reward? ‘Eternal life’ (Ro. 2:7). Upon what conditions Mosaic Law in spite of clear New Testament teaching
may men obtain this blessing? ‘Fight the good fight of are outside of true salvation. Seventh-day Adventist
faith, lay hold on eternal life’ (1 Ti. 6:12). ... Will a teachers who believe the doctrine of their own
man’s final destiny be in accordance with the life he denomination as stated in such publications as the New
has lived? ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he Life Voice of Prophecy correspondence courses are of this
also reap’ (Ga. 6:7)” (C.B. Haynes, When A Man Dies, number; they are Galatian legalizers (Ga. 4:9-11;
pp. 46-47). 4:19-20; Ga. 5:1-5).
From one of Ellen White’s major works:
While discussing the doctrine of investigative 2. Salvation is secure upon conversion. The true
judgment, Mrs. White presents the following concept gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ offers perfect security,
of salvation: “Every man’s work passes in review before and ONLY the true gospel can offer security. [See
Eternal Security.]

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 593