Contrary to the vehement assertions being made by certain determined voices in our denomination, the understanding of righteousness by faith to which we hold as Seventh-day Adventists is not the same as that held by popular Christianity, or what the Bible calls Babylon. The very idea is repulsive and greatly blasphemous. Our position, which is derived from the sanctuary message, does not supplement or even remotely resemble the presumptuous “cheap grace” view of salvation, as our professor would have us believe. Solomon says: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). Two actions are here presented as our personal duty: confess and forsake our sins. And God, by the Holy Spirit, works in us “both to will and to do” these actions (Philipians 2:13). We are never left to take this up alone. 

John says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Forgiveness with cleansing is what Christ offers to sinful human beings, not forgiveness alone. Those who would be forgiven must also be willing to be cleansed.

The nature of this cleansing, as well as the only possible means of its accomplishment, are described in this simple but powerful statement from the messenger of God: “Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.” ¹

In the second and third chapters of Revelation, Christ issues seven promises to those who overcome, and the preceding quote makes clear in what sense we are called to be overcomers. It behooves us therefore, dear friends, to abandon completely the false speculations of men and heed the counsel of Christ to be “zealous and repent”, which is to turn away from sin (Revelation 3:20). It is a simple matter. No surrender, no salvation! No repentance, no sealing. No seal, no deal! No one will be allowed entrance to Heaven who is not wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness, which means being purified through and through from every spot and stain through justification and sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Once again, so that none is left confused, hear the Testimony of Jesus:

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples….” ²

In what sense is it “left with us”? Well, we must surrender to Christ. We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit in his work of regeneration. We must resist unto blood if necessary, striving against sin as did Jesus, that we might overcome as He showed us how (Hebrews 12:4). These are choices that we must make, friends. God will not make them for us, but He certainly supplies all the power that we need to live in a manner which pleases Him. Therefore, no merit accrues to us.

Again, the prophetess testifies: “Church members need to fast and pray, striving earnestly to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. . . . Those who do not repent of and forsake all uncleanness will fall with the wicked. Those who become members of the royal family and form God’s kingdom in the earth made new, will be saints, not sinners. Isaiah 30:1-3, 8-16.” ³ Of course, that last sentence will evoke the ire of some professed Adventists. And that is too bad for them because it is the truth.

One of the exceedingly great and precious promises mentioned in the previous segment is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24. Look at these amazing words: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” With words like these in the Bible, how can theologians promote the view that God is not seeking to make us holy, but only to declare us so? Where in the Scriptures is this doctrine taught? Nowhere! It is an invention of Satan, propagated by his agencies the beast and the false prophet. It is that age-old repetition of his original lie that God has given to us a law which we cannot obey, even in His strength.

God promises to completely sanctify those who put their trust in Him. And we can believe that He will honor His word to write His law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:3) and restore within mankind the spotless image of the Creator. To experience righteousness by faith is to believe that He will do this and to allow Him to do it! The professor and his sympathizers do not believe that this is possible, and therein lies their basic problem. Fundamentally, what we are dealing with is unbelief—a lack of faith in God. These individuals promote a form of godliness, but really deny the power of God to truly save from sin (2 Timothy 3:5; Matthew 1:21) They do not have enough faith to believe that God will do just what He said, which is to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is extremely unfortunate in light of the following prophetic warning:  

“In the day of judgment, the course of the man who has retained the frailty and imperfection of humanity will not be vindicated. For him there will be no place in heaven. . . . He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.”⁴

No place in Heaven! That is the reality facing those who reject Christ’s offer to be overcomers. This is sad indeed! After all the divine promises we’ve been given, have we learned nothing? With good reason did Jesus wonder: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth” (Luke 18:8)? God is offering us complete deliverance from sin. Friend, that is good news! Why is deliverance from sin such a repulsive and irritating thought to so many Christians? Why should we be so faithless and unbelieving? No wonder Paul asks, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3)?

The answer is that there will be no escape should we be found neglectful. Christ offers today, in His infinite mercy, the only escape from the bondage of sin, which is total surrender. Accept His offer, dear reader. Any other proposal is a fatal delusion.

References

1. White, Ellen G., The Desire of Ages, p. 671.

2. White, Ellen G., Maranatha, p. 240.

3. White, Ellen G., Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery and Divorce, p. 119.

4. White, Ellen G., Manuscript 161, 1897, pp. 8, 9.