Commentary on "Walking in the Light:
Rejecting Antichrists"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 7: Friday, August 7, 2009

This is, perhaps, the most disturbing section of this weeks less on antichrists.

First, it is recommended that one read from Ellen G. White's Testimonies for the Church, in regards to avoiding worldliness. On day four, we discussed Ellen White's view of the Testimonies, and other SDA leaders view of the importance of her writings. For this reason alone, it would be best to stick only with scripture.

Second, a quote of Ellen White's is included that has disturbing implicatons for the work of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the quote is good, however the quote itself provides false information about the fact that the Holy Spirit, who is God, can never be bestowed to supersede the Bible. Although it is true that the Holy Spirit will never contradict the word of God, there are many in the history of the world who have never even seen a Bible. In these cases, it is the Holy Spirit himself who witnesses to the person about Jesus and salvation that is offered in him alone. The Holy Spirit is God. Saying that he will not contradict his word is correct. Saying that he cannot be bestowed upon someone to supersede the Bible is a lie of the enemy. Given the title of this week's lessons, this would be an antichrist.

Third, the very last statement on page 76 is carefully designed to make you, the reader of this particular commentary, question whether you should even be reading this. The Teacher's Quarterly states:

How should we, as a church, relate to those former members who now openly attack us? What should our attitudes be toward them?

The very fact that this question is asked at this point in the Quarterly, implies that those of us who are former Seventh-day Adventists are antichrists. It would be very easy to dismiss any former Seventh-day Adventist as an unbeliever. However, many of us have more intimate relationships with our Lord than we had living under a legalistic system, where we questioned everything we ate, drank, what activities we did on which days, etc.

Now that we have been freed from an inherently legalistic system, we are free to be holy at all times during the week, we are free to eat and drink all that the Lord has made, because prayer and the Word of God sanctifies these things, as is stated in First Timothy 4:4-5: For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and are continually growing in the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone in your Sabbath School class suggests that this is antichrist, we encourage you look to the word of God for yourselves. Pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit and you will find Jesus on every page of the Bible.

 

Summary

1. If the Bible is the final objective authority for belief, as has been stated in the Quarterly, then one should not need to turn to the Testimonies of Ellen White for guidance.
2. When the Bible is not available to someone seeking God, the Holy Spirit absolutely supersedes the Bible in that case and can teach the individual all that is needed for salvation in Christ. This has more often been the case in countries where the Bible is either not available, or not translated into the local dialect. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit will contradict scripture, but that is a different matter.
3. Most former Seventh-day Adventists do not attack Seventh-day Adventists. We are attacking a false system of belief that is fostered by the institution. Most, if not all, of us, have loved ones within the SDA Church. To claim that we are attacking specific individuals, indicates that one is not really reading the information that we are providing here.
4. Read the New Testament. Pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit. You will find Jesus and have a deeper relationship with him as you do.

 

Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 4, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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