Page 605 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire” (1 Co. wilderness—represent the Lord Jesus Christ. The slain
3:11-15). See also 2 Corinthians 5:5,9-10. goat pictures the act of Christ’s atonement: it is a bloody
Consider some important differences between the sacrifice. The released goat pictures the sufficiency of
judgment described in these passages and the Christ’s atonement: it is accomplished once for all and is
Investigative Judgment of Seventh-day Adventism: (1) forever complete. To interpret the scapegoat as a
Christ’s judgment of believers does not determine their reference to Satan is blasphemous. Adventism finds
salvation. Those who stand at the judgment of 1 confirmation of this doctrine, not in Scripture rightly
Corinthians 3 will be there because they have already divided, but in the visions of Ellen White, which is yet
been saved, not in order to determine whether or not another example of how they have added to the Bible’s
they will be saved. The ones judged in 1 Corinthians 3 revelation.
are those that have established their lives upon the solid Heresy #7—Misuse of the Mosaic Law
foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Co. 3:11-12). (2) The According to Adventist doctrine, the law works
believer’s judgment will not result in damnation, torment, together with grace to justify the believer. Adventism
or separation from God. Believers whose works fail the teaches that God, through Jesus, gives a sinner grace to
test will suffer shame and loss of reward, but not loss of build a holy life according to the standard of the law.
salvation. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall Salvation is determined by how successfully this life is
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by built. While Adventists profess to believe in salvation by
fire” (1 Co. 3:15). Words could not be plainer. (3) grace alone, they redefine grace so that it actually
Notice, too, that the believer shall appear personally includes the law. The following study proves this:
before his Lord. “For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ” (2 Co. 5:10). According to Adventist Errors about the Law
Adventist theology, the believer’s judgment occurs in the 1. According to Adventism, law and grace are not
heavenly holy of holies between 1844 and the Second opposing systems, but both work together for man’s
Coming, while the believer himself is supposedly on salvation.
earth or sleeping in the grave. This is not what the “The fact that all who are redeemed are saved by grace
apostle Paul taught. does not dispense with the law of God any more in the
3. The Adventist distinction between forgiveness of one dispensation than in the other. The law is not
against grace, and grace is not against the law ... Grace
and blotting out of sin is not taught in the New is not something that exists apart from the law, but by
Testament. reason of the law. It is, therefore, foolishness to talk of
“... the thought that Christ did not blot out sins one age as the dispensation of the law, and the other as
previous to 1844 is without one shred of Scriptural the dispensation of grace, as if each existed at a
support. ... In fact, the entire distinction between the different period of time from the other. Law and grace
forgiveness of sins, and the blotting out of sins—which have existed side by side from the time man first
is basic to Seventh-day Adventist theology—is foreign sinned, and will stand together until man’s probation
to the Scriptures. Does David suggest that there is any closes” (Charles T. Everson, Saved By Grace, pp. 11,
such distinction when he prays in Psalm 51:1, ‘Have 17).
mercy upon me, O God, according to thy “Christ says to every man in this world what He said to
lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy the rich young ruler: ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep
tender mercies blot out my transgressions’? In the New the commandments.’ Matthew 18:17. In other words,
Testament the word commonly used for forgive is the standard for admission into heaven is a character
aphieemi. The root meaning of this word is to let go or built according to the ten specifications, or
to send away; hence it has acquired the additional commandments, of God’s law. ... The Master Builder
meaning: to cancel, remit, or pardon sins. Is there, will stand right with you, and see to it personally that
now, any justification for the view that one’s sin can be your life comes up to the requirements of God’s
canceled without being blotted out? When Jesus, for law” (Everson, Saved By Grace, pp. 45-46).
example, said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer, “The question that decides destinies for eternity is,
thy sins are forgiven’ (Mt. 9:2), did He mean: ‘Your ‘Have you by the grace of Christ done the will of the
sins are now forgiven, but not yet blotted out; if you do Father—have you kept His word?’” (J.L. Shuler, The
not continue to live up to all my commandments, these Great Judgment Day, p. 114).
sins may still be held against you?’ Why should the
paralytic have been of good cheer, if this was the 2. The Law of Moses is the standard by which God
meaning of these words?” (Anthony Hoekema, shall judge believers.
Seventh-day Adventism, pp. 78-79). “The Ten Commandments are heaven’s balances of
4. It is unscriptural to identify Satan with the justice and righteousness, in which the great Judge will
scapegoat of Leviticus 16. Both goats of the Day of weigh the life of each person ... nine points of
Atonement—the one slain and the one released into the obedience in our lives will not meet the ten
requirements in God’s law. The law of Ten

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