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Commentary on "Garments of Splendor"
Day 7: Friday, May 20, 2011 - Further Study
Overview
As always, several EGW quotes are offered as “proof” of the Adventist position.
Problems
I do not question an Adventist’s desire to be holy. There is not a serious person in the world who does not want this. All of us want what we know is not within our capability to obtain.
What I question is Adventism’s approach to attaining holiness. Their only suggestion is to focus on behavior. What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? How can I change the wrong to right? How much of myself am I willing to spend to get there?
They focus on behavior because there is no hope in their theology. True hope is based on the completed work of Jesus, both in the past (His death, burial and resurrection) and in the future (His final victory in the creation of a new heavens and new earth). If Jesus didn’t finish anything in the past, then the future is not guaranteed. If the future is not guaranteed, then I have no hope.
Without hope, I have no faith, because faith is applying hope to this moment. If I have no assurance of things hoped for (ultimate salvation) and no conviction of things not seen (forgiveness, righteousness, sanctification, etc.) then I cannot function as a child of God.
Adventist theology explicitly rejects the finality of the cross, and, therefore, cannot rejoice in the reality of the resurrection. Adventist theology explicitly requires perfect obedience to the Law in order to obtain salvation in the future, and it explicitly requires this to be accomplished without the indwelling Holy Spirit.
There is a better way. His name is Jesus. He completely defeated sin on the cross and defeated death in His resurrection. Therefore, He offers us eternal life, in spite of the unregenerate flesh with which we struggle. Once we accept this gift, He never will take it away from us. Such was the completeness of His victory over sin and death. Once sealed with the Holy Spirit, there is no way to become unsealed.
“Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen in Narnia!”
These are the garments of splendor we’ve been granted. Do not ignore such great salvation, but press on to Jesus, only Jesus.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 2, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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