fzappa13 this post is for you. You said you have a good friend who is a SDA and so am I. The following verse is probably the most important verse in all of scripture as it completely explains the concept of righteousness by faith. This concept is also found throughout Ellen Whites writings. The church rejected this truth in 1888 and is now showing signs of beginning to find acceptance again within the church. Ifr a person doesn't accept this truth the only thing left to them is legalism so your friend may be stuck in it. I know a lot of SDA who are,
John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
[*StrongsGreek*]
01097
γινώσκω ginṓskō, ghin-oce'-ko
a prolonged form of a primary verb;
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):--allow, be aware (of), feel,
(have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak,
be sure, understand.
Here are a couple of quotes from Ellen White's writings. This first one is from her book Steps to Christ p. 47.
Many are inquiring, “How am I to make the surrender of myself
to God?” You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in
moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your
life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You
cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The
knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens
your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that
God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to
understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power
in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything
depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God
has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your
heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can
choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then
work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus
your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of
Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts
will be in harmony with Him.
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This second quote is from Desire of Ages p. 668.
All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with
Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our
thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to
His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our
own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest
delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege
to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through
an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with
God, sin will become hateful to us.
As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will
take hold of the Strong for strength. But we are not to place the
responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us
what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord
will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody
else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us
personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh
to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to
do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after pre-
senting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they
will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for
service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever
was given to Christ—the “all things” to supply the need of fallen
men—was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity.
And “whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”
1 John 3:22. |
Does this give you a different view of SDAs and Ellen White? If it does your friend is still stuck in legalism
