The teacher who wrote that article criticizing Mark Finley’s last generation sermon asks his readers: Have we learned nothing? And I ask:
Such as what, dear doctor? What would you have us to learn? That victory over sin is impossible? Not true! That God’s law cannot be obeyed even by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit? That’s blasphemy! That we can be sure of salvation while knowingly rebelling against God? Absolutely not! That our characters will be instantaneously changed when Jesus comes? They certainly won’t! That the wine of Babylon is not so deadly after all? You think?
Just a few years ago these heresies were only taught in the fallen churches. Adventists knew how to detect and to shun those falsehoods, and some of us still do, despite the theological confusion that seems to be running rampant in our midst.
No, teacher! We who have received the love of the truth have not learned these things, neither do we care to. We are unlearned in the sophistries of Satan and wish to remain so. We have nothing to do with those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). We firmly believe in the power of a God who is more than able to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10)! We do not doubt the power of God because the change is not immediate. We understand that holiness is a lifetime pursuit, but firmly believe that God will complete the work which He has begun, as long as we allow Him to do so. Although it does not yet appear what we shall be, we have no doubt that when He comes, we shall be like Him, for we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). This is what He promises to do for those who place their dependency upon Him.
And now, before I close this series in defense of the unchanging truth of God’s Word, let me address in the most direct manner my brethren who have charge of the flock of Christ. I intend to have no man’s blood upon my garments, so let me deliver this word to you. I shall speak in the most solemn language to my esteemed and beloved colleagues who minister the Word of God. Had I not cared for your souls, I would not have ventured to address you.
Some among you may feel free to boast and exult about the current popularity of the Evangelical gospel (or, rather, the gospel according to Babylon) in our church, like in this shocking statement printed in the Adventist Review, to which I have made reference in chapter 13 of my book The Message and the Mission. A certain schoolman displayed great audacity while reporting that “most Adventist scholars and pastors today have accepted (Desmond) Ford’s definition of righteousness by faith.” 1
Ah! Is that right? If that is so, then they should start reflecting upon the day of judgment and what awaits them, because it will not be a pleasant experience for those “scholars and pastors”! Since that writer was bold enough to make such an announcement in the church paper, let me respond by making it clear what this means for those individuals. If indeed that is the case, then all those scholars and pastors have turned their doomed feet down the perilous path to Gehenna, and, should they fail to change course, will surely take their place with the miserable multitude outside the walls of the New Jerusalem, awaiting the fiery deluge that will come down upon them from the presence of Jehovah. If they have not only accepted the heresy themselves but have gone on to teach it to others, thereby ruining precious souls, the retribution will intensify in a proportionate manner. Ford’s definition of righteousness by faith echoes apostate Protestantism and defiantly denies the power of God to completely sanctify His people! It is a total rejection of the gospel as revealed in the sanctuary message, which is an unmovable pillar of the Seventh-day Adventist theological framework. That is the reason he was so intolerant of our 1844 prophetic message!
Another famous and revered Adventist theologian, who has been quite a “crowd favorite” in the church for several decades, has written a book sarcastically titled I Used to be Perfect, and started one of his crowd-pleasing sermons by announcing that he can just look at the audience and know the ones who are “perfect.” “They’re the ones who are usually not smiling,” he says, and the audience breaks out in laughter. Thus, he mocks and scoffs at those who believe that Jesus wants us to depart from iniquity and keep His commandments by faith. As I listened, I thought: Man, if you indeed have a message from God, why not just open the Bible and speak the word? Why all this mockery and derision of those with whom you disagree? Why such disdain for those who honor the law of God? But I think we know well which spirit inspires this activity. Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).
Scoffers notwithstanding, the Word of God says clearly, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 MEV). No unsanctified soul will ever see the face of God. All the unholy and unclean, including the scoffers, will run away in terror when Jesus appears in the clouds of Heaven (Revelation 6:15-17). If we are not born again, we WILL NOT be saved (John 3:3). That is the truth, whether we like it or not!
Pastors, teachers, evangelists and all who minister the sacred Word, I adjure you in the name of our crucified Lord, leave Babylon’s false doctrines alone! Stop promising your readers and hearers salvation in their sins! The Holy Spirit testifies that “God’s forgiveness (justification) is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart.” 2 Our duty is to tell men and women to prepare to meet their God by departing from all iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). All who refuse to do this will be without excuse! Christ will soon leave the sanctuary, pronounce Revelation 22:11, and there will no longer be mediation for sin at that time.
Theologians and scholars, I speak to you upon the authority of God’s holy Word. Watch yourselves, brethren! Stop telling the churches that they can never overcome. Withdraw these “books of a new order” which you have written and pushed before the people, profiting from the gullibility of the masses while denying the power of God to save men’s souls from sin. Stop taking the lies of Babylon (which treads the sanctuary under its feet) and spreading these heresies among God’s people. The same ones who praise you today for preaching smooth things to their itching ears will come after you when they discover you have ruined their souls eternally, and led them to perdition. A fearful fate awaits every false teacher at the close of human probation. How are you so bold in promulgating falsehood? How are you not afraid to destroy vulnerable souls?
Read chapter 41 of The Great Controversy, you traffickers of falsehood. God showed His messenger the terror that will overtake those who teach heresy and lead souls to perdition.
The destroying angel will come upon you and your households, she was shown. The seven last plagues will rain down upon you. Preacher, teacher, scholar, doctor, repent before it is too late! God will punish you with utmost severity for the lies you have told and for leading souls to damnation. He says: “Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way by promising him life” (Ezekiel 13:22).
Here, in the most arresting and solemn language, the Lord of Heaven admonishes those who refuse to warn sinners to turn away from sin and “strengthen their hands” in wrongdoing by promising them eternal life in their sins, claiming that it is either unnecessary or impossible to wholly repent from our transgressions. What an expensive lie! Will this divine warning go unheeded by men in positions of trust? I say preach the truth, minister. Preach the truth, I appeal to you, no matter the cost, that you may not be found unfaithful in the day of God’s visitation.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear! And if you will not hear, then know that your day of retribution will come! God will give special attention to your case. The prophet says, “Their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. It will come about in that day that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them” (Zechariah 14:12, 13). That is what will happen to the eyes which refused to see the truth. That is what will happen to the tongues which spread Satan’s lie that God’s law cannot be obeyed. Have you not heard that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31)? Tempt the God of Heaven and you will be made to understand that helping Satan to send human beings for whom Christ died to hell is no light matter in His sight. “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. . . . Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:1, 2).
When probation closes and the plagues begin to fall, the people will understand that they have been deceived, and they will react! God’s maidservant saw it in vision. She wrote: “The people see that they have been deluded. They eagerly accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things . . .The multitudes are filled with fury. ‘We are lost!’ they cry, ‘and you are the cause of our ruin;’ and they turn upon the false watchmen. The very ones that once admired them most, will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God’s people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed.” 3
Woe, smooth-preaching pastor! Woe, Mr. Cool Clergyman, man of talent and pleasing address! Woe, lying shepherd! Your end will be bitter. Your end will be miserable indeed!
To the general reading audience, let me assure you once more of the precious hope of total deliverance from sin which our Lord instructed us to pray for in that wonderful and faith-filled supplication: “deliver us from evil, for thine is the . . . power and the glory” (Matthew 6:13). To those who will follow His instruction, He gives the assurance: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:6, 8 NKJV). Like the humble leper, all who will bow before the Savior with the heartfelt petition, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean” will receive the answer, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Luke 5:12, 13 NKJV).
Friends, let no human agent take this hope away from you. Let no man convince you that deliverance from the evil within us is beyond reach! By the mighty grace of God we can overcome; we can “be made partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Jesus is able to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Do you believe this?
May our faith be strengthened as we meditate upon these things, even as we see the Day approaching. Let us not be among those who are being tossed to and fro by the winds of doctrine, and who have learned nothing from the plain truths clearly taught in the Word of God.
References
Supplementary material
For an in depth Bible study on this subject featuring Mark Finley and Steve Wohlberg, see the following video: “God’s Final People: A Bible Study With Mark Finley & Steve Wohlberg”. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7yEL1mdedIg Accessed Jan. 25, 2026.
Finley’s original sermon on the topic may be found here: https://youtu.be/xX7qsYKbqvA?si=gVxYWErlRKPvhcH0 Accessed Jan. 26, 2026.
You’ve raised an important concern, and I believe the article speaks to it clearly. It challenges a version of the gospel that emphasizes Christ’s sacrifice while downplaying the necessity of a transformed life. While salvation is indeed a gift of grace, Scripture consistently shows that genuine faith produces obedience and a desire to live righteously. The idea that one can claim Christ yet remain unchanged, or pursue a message centered mainly on material prosperity, falls short of the fuller biblical picture. True faith is not only about receiving redemption, but also about reflecting it in how we live, including a sincere commitment to God’s commandments and a life that bears spiritual fruit.