Is Everything Equally Important?

by Reinder Bruinsma, September 11, 2015: No, not all things in life are equally important. We often say: “The main thing is to be healthy!” And, fortunately, most people rate family and friends higher than all sorts of material things. Life becomes very difficult if one does not know how to differentiate between things that are really important and the things that should have a lower priority.
The same applies to the sphere of church and spiritual life. The “higher” church organization (in the Adventist church: General Conference, divisions, unions, conferences) certainly has a role to play, but the local church is the place where the rubber hits the road. A good understanding of theological issues is important, but a close tie with God and a faith that keeps you going in daily life are much more essential.
Is everything in the Bible equally important? It may be risky to ask that question, for who am I to say what parts of the Bible are more or less essential? In times past, church leaders and scholars decided what writings to include in the Bible and what not to include. Catholics (and also Lutherans) made a decision that differs from what Protestants have agreed upon.
Protestants tend to be satisfied with a biblical canon without the apocryphal books. The Bible is an authoritative book for them. But even most of those who claim to take everything in the Bible literally (as it “plainly” reads), tend to have something like a canon within the canon. Not everything in the Bible carries the same weight. Many Bible readers feel (to mention just one example) that they get more out of the Gospel of John than from the book Ecclesiastes, and that they find Psalms more helpful than the book of the prophet Ezekiel. This is also true for me. There are parts of the Bible that I read and re-read, but I must confess that there are also segments in the Bible that I have not read in recent years.
But, are we allowed to extend his argument even further? May we, for instance, say that some doctrines are more important than other doctrines? Adventists recognize “28 Fundamental Beliefs.” Are all of these equally “fundamental”? How in the world can they all be really fundamental, i.e., foundational? Often I hear people say: It is all part of the truth, so we cannot say that something is unimportant or less important than the rest. But, let’s be honest: that is not how reality functions. Most (maybe all) Adventists sense that particular points define their being Adventist, while other points do not fall into that same category. I believe it is useful for all of us to draw up a short list of what is really “fundamental” for us, and what might, in fact, be more in the periphery. Next week I intend to say more about this and will share my own short-list of what I consider truly “fundamental.”
P.S.: A few years ago I did a presentation for fellow Adventist theologians about the question of whether all doctrines are equally important. A little later I rewrote the text of this presentation and submitted it as a chapter in a Festschrift for Dr. Jon Dybdahl—a much valued friend and colleague, with whom I worked closely at Andrews University for a number of years. Jon (now retired) was (and is) a gifted teacher and for some time served as the president of the Adventist Walla Walla University in Washington State (US).
For those who are interested: the text of this chapter, entitled “Is All Truth Truth?” may be found on my website: https://reinderbruinsma.com/are-all-truths-truth-2/
Some things may not be equally important on every level, but still be equally important for salvation.
Thou shalt not steal is not on the same level as thou shalt not kill. But both are salvational. Adam and Eve did the simple act of eating the forbidden fruit. It cost them their eternal life.
The question is very relevant in light of the 7th day Sabbath as a final test of loyalty. Many will abandon the Sabbath for the “higher good” of what seems more important like social justice and social needs.
So we need to carefully consider the implications of the question and how it should be answered in the salvation process and redemption.
We often present the Sabbath in the context of the words of Jesus,
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word the proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
We use this scripture because many may claim the Sabbath is not all that important and so we affirm the value of doing the will of God without reference to “what is more important”?
Jesus said “every jot and tittle” is equally important when it comes to salvation.
All things equally important for salvation? Where did you get that wild idea?
Is it not possible for a person to be saved without keeping the Sabbath? Without knowing the state of the dead? I think you are confusing a legalistic concept of spiritual maturity with the progressive reality of faith that God grows in each of us through or lifetime. Righteousness by faith counts us as perfect in the eyes of God because we are followers on God’s path and growing in grace, not because we already know everything and obeying totally. Further, part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth. That’s progressive and ongoing, not something that is completed in one action and forever fixed.
Please go back and ready Matt. 5:18-19 again because Jesus didn’t say as you claimed that everything is equally important when it comes to salvation. Jesus was condemning those who would teach people to disobey God’s law, as the Jewish leaders were often doing. Contrast that with Paul’s discussion in Colossians 1 about growing in the knowledge of God.
No, our walk with God is not a static existence measured by a single standard to which we become instantly and totally accountable as you assert. It is a progressive and growing experience where God’s grace covers our failings as He nurtures us.
Matthew 5:
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Colossians 1:
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Pretty explicit; GOD does not change. You want your cake and eat it too; but CHRIST died once for us already. HE is there to catch us when we fall as individuals; but HIS law is forever “fixed” and to be taught.
Can you not let a Bible verse say what it says?
Matthew 5:18 talks about the eternal status of God’s law. It IS NOT a statement of spiritual priority.
I have no idea where you get the idea that I think God changes because I celebrate how God has changed me. Have you not experienced redemption? Have you forgotten what it is like to have God nurture you spiritually and grow you into maturity of faith? Apparently so, because it is obvious you’re overlooking the process of God working to take us from where we once were to where He wants us.
Your explicit statement:
” That’s progressive and ongoing, not something that is completed in one action and forever fixed.”
If you are growing, then grow; reach the point of HIS will that is forever “fixed”.
Matthew 5:
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
If this is not a statement of spiritual priority; I do not know what one would be. You sound like some Catholics; go sin and come confess. How about we teach to do our best not to sin instead?
You need to learn to read William; we no longer need children running up and down the isles of the Church spewing ignorance. Again, you have been rebuked; we do not feel comfortable with you around our families and children. We turn it over to HIM now.
Concerned Christian,
Your ability to heap accusations on others and assume they have said what they did not say is simply amazing. Such detachment from reality is politely called “delusional.”
Reinder,
Thank you for challenging us to think.
A powerful dimension in how we relate to spiritual matters is our experience with God, the church and others as we test the applicability and power of certain doctrines. Central to the point is the question of if a person has actually met God, or if they have merely embraced a cloak of religion and a profession of faith that remains powerless because they are not connected to God. Scripture gives us a clear method for telling the difference: believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit and their efforts for God are blessed by Him to produce results. So if someone claims to be a believer but they are not obviously empowered, then they are a pretender and their spiritual priorities are not aligned with God’s.
The clearest example of this I have seen is the frustrated and fruitless lives of those who debate prophecy or fundamental beliefs, but for whom the love of God is just another factoid that they refuse to let reign supreme and change their life. They are not growing the church and typically are driving people out because they are more concerned about being seen as correct than letting God’s power be seen working through them. If that isn’t an inversion of God’s priorities, I’m open to suggestions.
” I’m open to suggestions.”
Here is a suggestion. Maybe what you think is being “empowered by God” may well be empowered by the devil. You asked for a suggestion, so I gave you one.
“To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20
That some may well be in heaven who in this life did not know the will of God in every particular. This does not set aside the law as the one and only standard for salvation as you seem to think.
They may be forgiven because of ignorance. But willing and willful ignorance is not forgiven in this life, nor the life to come.
“If you were blind, you would have no sin (that could not be forgiven), but now you say, we see, therefore your sin remains unpardonable.” John 9
William, you have a convoluted view of the gospel and its application. Anyone who uses the gospel to attack the law as you do is far from scriptural enlightenment.
You consistently twist my words because you do not want to believe and obey God’s instructions for us to let the Holy Spirit empower and guide us.
The Holy Spirit is promised to all who believe. When a person is empowered by the Holy Spirit, the power of God is seen working through them and people who see it are turned to God to become believers. As a result the church grows. So if you’re not seeing the power of God working through you and the church growing as a result, it is because you’re not a believer. That is why you accuse me of being empowered by a devil. Well, if a devil is working through me, why are hearts being turned to God and my church growing? Is your church growing? If not, check for the absence of the Holy Spirit in you.
On second thought, I really should thank you for your accusation because the Jewish leaders who refused to believe the teaching of Jesus made the same claim to accuse Him, and you know how that turned-out. So I am honored that you would be treating me the same way. You have reminded me of Matthew 5:11 and by doing that have given me a special Sabbath blessing.
This would mean you could read, understand or do more than spew ignorance every time you open your mouth.
Matthew 5:
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Stop persecuting us and being a stumbling block to others. Why do you ask for help and then not listen to the ones guided by the Holy Spirit?
Why do we continually see the negative results of you and those like you; then have to listen to your tongues waggle? Why are we constantly having to clean up the messes, watch out for others, protect the Church and still contend with you; while also doing your job in spreading the WORD? You no longer hold the privilege to plead ignorance; although I would vouch for you in such.
Keep your individual childish views to yourself; stay away from our families and children.
Persecuting you how, with his opinion? If you live in a glass house, well you know …
We live in HIS glass house and have zeal in protecting and standing for such. We do not suffer stumbling blocks or children running up and down the isles of the Church; disrupting those doing HIS will and works, fight to save the dying Church.
If you unable to understand these simple concepts then get out. I would suggest you provide your reverence to HIM and not William; you have nothing else to offer HIM and William cannot save you.
It was people exactly like you who drive my son from the church. It was the same attitude where you imagine you are authorized by God to condemn others for their “errors” and correct them according to your wild concepts of what is or is not “true faith” that created a deep hatred in him for the SDA Church. When I was re-studying the Bible to find faith again, it was those same people like you who almost drove me from the church, too. So it is nothing short of a miracle that I am still in the church and a great miracle that I have found a ministry where the Holy Spirit empowers me to minister God’s healing love and reconciliation to others, something you obviously know nothing. While my daughter-in-law has led him into a renewal of faith, it will be a major miracle if he ever returns to the Adventist church for anything other than a funeral. And it’s all because of people like you and your total disrespect for the faith experience of others.
You guided by the Holy Spirit? Are you seeing people who don’t believe in God coming into a saving relationship with Jesus? I am. Does God speak to you and give you direction about what He wants you to do? He does that with me. Do you see God doing miraculous things that show His love and power? I do. Do people praise God after your encounters with them? I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been called an angel.
I think it’s time you learned how the REAL Holy Spirit.
William,
“Do people praise God after your encounters with them? I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been called an angel.”
It is well documented throughout Scripture that Prophets, Apostles and even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, were persecuted and rejected by many, and in the end killed. Even Paul, was found reasoning with many to turn them back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which he first delivered to them.
My point is this: If we think and see many are being “added to the church”, then we need to ask ourselves, “Are these people accepting Jesus Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit which prepares then for salvation; or are they only warming to our kindness because of the things we do for them?”
One final question: Are people praising God or you? And on that note, from whom are we to seek praise from anyway, God or man?
Just a few things to ponder.
Daniel,
You ask a good question that deserves a good answer.
I lead a ministry team called the Angel Team. We got that name because of the number of times people said we had to be angels because people wouldn’t do the things we were doing to help them. Typically we help with home-related needs. I come home richly blessed by what I’ve seen God do. So I have not the slightest shred of doubt that it is completely, totally God’s working that impressed people. Getting called an angel is just part of the blessing that comes from working with God.
I’ve seen God do amazing things. My job is to give others the opportunity to serve, not to recruit workers. God taught me a long time ago to depend on Him to provide the materials, tools and helpers that we need. For example, a few months ago nobody from my church came to help, but the helpers God sent were people from another country who hadn’t even planned on being there that day!
I see lives changed and hearts turned to God. I see people learning that God loves them and praising Him for the greatness of His amazing love. I’ve seen the sick healed and demons drive-out. (I haven’t seen the dead raised yet and leprosy is unknown where i live.) I am continually amazed both by what I see God doing and that He would want me working for Him. He’s taking me on a faith-building adventure that I never could have imagined.
Concerned Christian!
I am concerned that you call yourself a christian! I don’t know you or William Noel and others you verbally attack but to me it does not seem very caring. Whenever I see your posts I assume they will be negative and I am rarely disappointed. I wish you could take your own advice and tone it down and write things that are more charitable.
Bill, with respect, i wish to challenge your concept of entry into eternal life. You appear unable to accept THE vicarious sacrifice of “THE CHRIST” to resurrect your soul to everlasting life?? It is indelibly printed in the Bible, just as is the other portions you are continually writing of, but you seem unable to grasp it’s TRUTH. The TEN Commandments you speak of were superseded by a “NEW COVENANT”, Heb.8:6-13 “In that HE saith,a new covenant”, He hath made the first old. now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Bill, the first covenant was unable to save GOD’S creeatures, it condemned them to eternal death.
A “NEW COVENANT” was necessary, because God was unable to accept losing every single one of HIS precious children. As was required, HE gave a “NEW COVENANT”,of HIS PERFECT LOVE,and to “Seal It,GOD, suffered and died on the cross,to pay the price demanded for sin, which was death, for you and for me. He was responsible for the LAW, and HE paid the price demanded of the sin of the whole world for all time. And you and i are not worth more than any other sinner. You and i are accepted by the one CHRIST for one fact, we have accepted the grace of HIS sacrifice, and by “F_A_I_T_H” in HIM,
we will have everlasting life. We can do nothing, it is “ALL” because of the price paid on Calvary, by the Christ, in the person of JESUS CHRIST.
Earl,
“The TEN Commandments you speak of were superseded by a “NEW COVENANT”, Heb.8:6-13 “In that HE saith,a new covenant”.
Is the “New Covenant” all about the Ten Commandments or about the Priesthood? In Heb. 8:1 we read: “8 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” But regarding the Perfect Law of God, this is what He is saying: “10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.”
Heb. 9: “8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.” “11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”
Cont.
“13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
I understand that the “New Covenant” is all about Jesus Christ, our High Priest. The Law of God is written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in all true believers. “9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9.
The few Bible passages I have quoted only covers a small portion of this subject. But to say that God’s perfect Law, that is, the Ten Commandments, have no meaning in the Christian’s life would mean anything goes. That’s where everything went wrong in the first place.
Earl, I agree with most of what you wrote regarding Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf and that by His Life and Righteousness in us we are justified before God. But the Perfect Law of God has not been annulled, but rather demonstrates “Righteousness”, that is, living God’s way, which is “Right”; and it is a demonstration of the Love of God in us.
Earl said, “, but you seem unable to grasp it’s TRUTH. The TEN Commandments you speak of were superseded by a “NEW COVENANT”,”
This is spritual hog wash. The ten commandments were superseded by nothing. But is typical of the apostate Protestant view of old and new covenant.
But let me say this to those who attack EGW and the historic faith she stated. You are either “all in”, or you are “all out”. There is no redefining what she stated. It needs no new application nor clarification. She is very definitive in what she says, and what she means.
If you don’t accept it, fine, that is your decision. But you are “all out”. Don’t pretend to be a SDA while attacking the foundation of the SDA faith. In 1844 Jesus entered the Most Holy Place and began to judge the professed people of God. If they keep the commandments, they are “in” and if they don’t, they are “out”.
Your eternal life is dependent on obedience to the law of God. Jesus Himself said, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandment.”
This principle has not been altered by any “new covenant”. The motive to obey is intensified and the law is not changed. But all I am asking you to admit is that in Adventism, you are either “all in” or “all out”. And this is built on what 1844 represents in the historical process of salvation.
Looking forward to your sharing your checklist next week of what is ‘fundamental,’ Reinder.
In the meantime your enterprise is leaving some commenters here thoroughly uncomfortable. What is uncomfortable, perhaps, is the thought that the risk of falling short is so terrifying, that we dare not overlook a single ‘truth’ in aligning ourselves for eternal life.
This, it seems is at the heart of the Babylon heresy that the Gospel of Jesus renders lifeless, and with the rendering Babylon itself implodes, assuming I’m not misreading the Second Angel in the Three Angels’ Message.
Talking about checklists of the fundamentals …
Just shy of 50 years ago, I made Pascal’s wager (Google as needed) and went looking for a checklist for personal salvation. I figured that I didn’t want to make the effort and come up short, wasting my life as well as eternity. After sixteen years of Seventh-day Adventist education and more than 1,000 Sabbath sermons I realized that I didn’t recall ever seeing a checklist for personal salvation.
So I set out to make my own.
I had a concordance, which listed of all the texts in the whole Bible that included the word “saved.” I wanted to be saved at the end of my life, and I trusted that God had revealed in the Bible whatever was required of me for salvation and I believed the word “saved” would link to the requirements. It would be a pretty straightforward little exercise. There were, and still are, exactly 104 texts that include the word “saved” in the KJV.
For those who would like to read through the texts, Biblegateway.com sure makes it easier than turning the pages as I did as a 22-year-old. Just cut and paste this in your browser search for the complete list:
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=saved&qs_version=KJV&limit=500
Looking forward to your checklist next week, Reinder, and of course any comments from your readers in the meantime.
Bill,
Isn’t it amazing what happens to our understanding of God and our relationship with Him when we actually study what God says in scripture instead of just trying to prove a point of view? It sounds like you and I have been on similar paths in the past and have been forever changed by discovering God in his own words.
Where your challenge was to confirm your salvation, my catalyst for study was trying to understand the reasons for my son’s rejection of both the church and all faith in God. While I remain an Adventist, I no longer share the currently popular views of some commenters here on specific doctrines because, while I was taught them from birth, I have been forced to actually study the Bible and see what it says without the confusion of prophetic speculation. Along the way God tore-down the old basis for my faith and replaced it with a far stronger basis for my belief in Him. So I rejoice in both the security of the salvation He promises and the freedom I enjoy in the unencumbered faith He has given me.
I really appreciate your testimony, William. Many thanks for the encouragement!
William said, ” While I remain an Adventist, ….”
You want one foot in, and one foot out. In the end, you will find such a position is impossible. You are either “all in ” or “all out”. There is no other viable option.
Bible SDA’s who endorse EGW, believe law and gospel are in effect 100% of the time, all the time. You never go from law to gospel and leave the law behind. Neither do you try to “keep the law” so the gospel is no longer relevant.
Because no one can know if they actually apply this principle perfectly, they keep the law to the best of their ability as God requires and trust in grace continually as He promises.
Thus, they have adequate assurance based on this biblical principle and are aware of the presumption that is gendered by some “once saved, always saved” doctrine, or any doctrine that promises assurance apart from a total commitment to keep God’s law. Any view that obedience to God’s law is not salvational is pure presumption. We are saved to obey and we obey to be saved.
The bible is a moral influence book. Any false idea will de-motivate the mind and lead to presumption. So either a false presentation of the law, or a false presentation of the gospel will not motivate to salvation but end in rebellion and presumption.
Hi Bill,
I’m not sure, but I do not recall you ever being ‘all in’ with a single Seventh-day Adventist person here on AToday. Have you found ‘all in’ community elsewhere with Seventh-day Adventists? This is not a rhetorical question.
You note that ‘no one can know’ so we are all left ‘to trust in grace continually.’ I agree.
So it is sufficient to embrace as a fellow Seventh-day Adventist anyone on the basis of their simple testimony that they trust in grace continually. Right?
Or do you feel it is necessary to assess if a person is ‘keep[ing] the law to the best of their ability as God requires’ before you can fully identify them as a fellow believer?
So what is the checklist for salvation that you are using? What are the tick boxes on your list? Nothing else is important in the least it would seem. It will be interesting to compare your’s with Reinder’s next installment here.
And I would be happy to share mine had I been able to compose one from reading those 104 verses that use the word ‘saved.’ I utterly failed. And that required a whole bunch of rethinking of Seventh-day Adventism as you can imagine. You have probably are still rethinking what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist. In that regard, little has changed since the church was founded. What says pretty much all that is needed to be said about what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist.
In other words, I’m all in with you, Bill, if you would like to be all…
“So what is the checklist for salvation that you are using?”
That is not a relevant question, Bill. You are challenging that the church has a right to state minimal requirement to be a member and according to some, the church has no right to do this. That is utterly absurd.
As to your question, “So what is the checklist for salvation that you are using?”
The answer is “every jot and tittle of the word of God is the ‘check list’ requirement for salvation.”
Those who claim there is no requirement except to confess they believe in Jesus is equally absurd. And for others who claim they will determine what the requirement is for church fellowship, fine, go start your own church.
Does anybody have a functioning brain who posts on this forum?
My apology, Bill, with the checklist for salvation question.
I should have simply stopped with where we agree …
“You note that ‘no one can know’ so we are all left ‘to trust in grace continually.’ I agree.”
Excuse me, but I’ll take what God has taught me from scripture over your opinions about it. My being Adventist does not depend on your definition or opinion.
Matthew 19:
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
You can’t give up the world William. We Love you, but you bad mouth the Church, the Conference, the members, Sound Doctrine, your parents, create a stumbling block for others and then wonder why your Son left the Church.
We have the greatest heart; but might the problem be you? You being Adventist or part of the Body does depend on HIM. HE expects you to give up all of the world. Even CHRIST said none was good but the Father; yet you contend you are and call others “delusional”?
I may be a little more patient than Reality (I do know him) with children; but there is a limit.
Concerned,
How about doing a paraphrase of Matt 19:16-22.
I grew up being told the main character was unable to secure his own salvation because he was too rich.
After realizing that no one can secure their own salvation, I had to reunderstand the parable.
Was the parable about not trying hard enough, or was the parable about no matter how successful one is at trying all success is for naught?
I now sense the parable is a simple proposition. You need nothing that you have achieved when you trust Jesus for everything you want.
Your turn.
CHRIST does not need anything we have. All we can give HIM is our all. Until we are ready to give up the world for HIM we will never make it. The FATHER has and will never change; but CHRIST is the BRIDGE. HE can carry us over; but we have to give up all of our sin to lighten the load. Sin will not enter the presence of our FATHER.
Faith without works is dead. We cannot work enough to pay our way. Yet another GIFT was given, because of us and that soon will not be enough.
How can we trust HIM unless we give up our all? If we are drawn of the FATHER and HE made us for HIS works; should we not be happy in such? At that point we are a Body, within HIS direction; not individuals still attached to the world. We add no value as individuals and actually damage the Body as such.
Evil is a force to be reckoned with; far stronger than each of us. One third of the minion was drawn to such and within our free will we fight such each day; individually and as the Body. With HIM we are much stronger than anything; but we must take up our crosses daily.
We are placed here in Love for others. Many GIFTS are provided and job assigned; all by HIM, not us. We worry of Souls, suffering, creating strong families and children to make a strong Church. We are given the requirements to do so and fail to follow them (we are definitely not smarter than HIM). We derive our own jobs, look around and see absolute failure then wonder why; such childish behavior.
William said,
“. My being Adventist does not depend on your definition or opinion.”
In fact, your being Adventist doesn’t have any definition except your own. And with that view, anyone can call themselves a SDA without any discipline or accountability to any church definition concerning any statement of faith.
Hey, William, I am well aware of your position and that of many if not most on this forum.
I have a general response to many of the comments on this web page and elsewhere on Atoday.
This constant hurling of brickbats and accusations and reviling of those who disagree with you, is NOT a manifestation of the Spirit of Christ. The Devil is the accuser of the brethren (and presumably also the sistren?). When so much of your rhetoric is devoted to impugning the faith or character or motives of others, you are working for the Lord like the Devil. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (and the fingers type).
You would be far more convincing and a far more effective witness, if you explained your own beliefs and experiences as simply as possible. Please learn how to express your own ideas and respond to the ideas of others, without attacking the persons who disagree with you.
Jim, you just eliminated about 95 per cent of those who post on this forum. I assume you include those who incessantly attack EGW, the church, Ted Wilson, and briefly, any other basic views that were established by the pioneers of the SDA church.
Who is left to post?
Bill Sorensen isn’t that a great solution, if you can’t say anything positive then don’t say anything at all?
“Who is left to post?”
Those who can discuss the pro’s and con’s of an idea, present supporting evidence and arguments, meanwhile avoiding attacks on the PERSONS who may have written or argued for things that differ from one’s own views.
Attacking individuals, impugning their motives or characters, etc, adds more heat than light in almost any discussion.
For example, I can and do believe that William Miller was mistaken about the Second Advent in or around 1843, and that Joseph Bates was mistaken about the Shut Door. At the same time I hold both of these gentlemen in very high esteem and believe that God used them in a mighty way, despite their errors.
Likewise, Ellen White never claimed to be infallible. (see http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/studies/spiritual/the_organized_church/infallible.htm)
If God can only use perfect agents then God’s work will have to be done by unfallen angels. None of the rest of us will qualify.
The closer we come to Jesus, the more conscious we will become of our own failings, and the more forgiving we will become for the failings of others.
But Jim I thought you wanted to be hall monitor, yet you post your continuing opinions on the other AT articles/opinions? I was hoping you would take the responsibility to point out the posted failures in Sound Doctrine and rebuke continuance from now on; as the Church has charged each of us.
You state below that many are growing. As hall monitor, who is suppose to grow them; you? The Church has charged us and the BIBLE commands us to speak, exhort and rebuke; I do not see you doing that. Who is suppose to rebuke and teach?
We provide proofs from Scripture; just because others are unable to defend against such, does that change the requirements? To point out the Scripture and have others continue; does that change the requirements? Is ignorance an excuse; even to create a stumbling block to others?
Do this not sound like a child? I want to grow but not listen, I do not want anyone to correct me and I can find my own way. This does not work.
Many do not want such around their families and kids; I don’t blame them. Many are not buying anything that you sell or the causes you are addicted to. Actually many think this is absolutely discriminatory. Others have their jobs assigned and would not trade them for the world. You do not represent their conviction, strength or desires. They have voices of their own; they do not need or want yours.
Like this whole article that mocks and attacks the church and especially Ted Wilson?????
“A Proposed Letter of Apology to Pope Francis from the President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists”
By the way, be sure and read the comments this article has gendered after mocking EGW and the book The Great Controversy.
Daniel. The Ten Commandments are written in our hearts; “i didn’t say they had no meaning”. Of course we love and honor and praise God, and honor HIS creation; and we must not kill, steal, covet, etc, the difference is that the human creature could not honor the “TEN”, they condemned each sinner to death. The CHRIST, in the human form of JESUS, paid the debt for all sinners, by HIS human death, to satisfy the death demanded of all sinners.
Earl,
That sounds more to the point. I was put off when you wrote the Ten commandments were “superseded by a New Covenant”. The Ten Commandments will never be “superseded” because they are not at fault, or need changing in any way, but we do.
Regards.