We are warned about “doctrines of devils” that is, doctrines that originated from the depths of Satan and his demons. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. (1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 2:24) Hebrews 13:9).
2. If the doctrine is not the doctrine of Christ, i.e., not the Character of Christ, the person, being separated from God, does not have God. (2 John 9,10; John 14:6).
3. Regarding the production of the Sabbath School Lessons Quarterly, we are warned by Mrs. White.
“The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them…The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message for this time…” Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 106, 107.
4. Again we are warned about the doctrines held by the traditional SDA Church.
“Every soul must look to God with contrition and humility, that He may guide and lead and bless. We must not trust to others to search the Scriptures for us. Some of our leading brethren have frequently taken their position on the wrong side; and if God would send a message and wait for these older brethren to open the way for its advancement, it would never reach the people.” Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 303.
5. Again, when any study is written by anyone in the church, the real aim of the study must be seen in it, that is, the glory of God, and man’s uplifting to sinfreeness. We are told:
“The burden of every book and every passage of the Bible is the unfolding of this wondrous theme, — man’s uplifting, — the power of God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ellen G. White, Education, p. 125.
6. The following is a summary of the facts about the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide Oct. – Dec. 2017. Salvation by Faith Alone: The Book of Romans.
a. The book is written by different authors [ABSG staff; editor Clifford R. Goldstein], and more often takes the format of a boring lessons book rather than a Spirit directed living revelation.
b. The topics of the book are placed in a confusing manner, with no real order that can show the unity of the Book of Romans.
c. There are many Gospel topics that are not only erroneous, but they also have irrational conceptual contradictions. Example:
i. This is 100 percent true.
“The baptized person is now living “unto God.” That is, God is the center of his or her new life. The person is serving God, doing what pleases God, and, therefore, he or she cannot serve sin at the same time.” Ibid., p. 58.
“Paul follows an interesting line of argument in chapter 6 as to why a justified person should not sin. To begin with he says that we shouldn’t sin because we have died to sin.” Ibid., p. 57.
ii. This is also true. (Choice is the issue).
“When Paul says, “let not sin…reign,” he implies that the justified person can choose to prevent sin’s setting itself up as a king in his or her life. This is where the action of the will comes in.” Ibid., p. 58.
iii. This is not only evidently contradictory, but in part is also 100 percent erroneous.
“Again we see the clear choice: one or the other. There is no middle ground. At the same time, as we all know, being free from the dominion of sin doesn’t mean sinlessness…” Ibid., p. 61.
d. Lack of theological soundness and unity in the authors and editor, can account for the lack of harmony in teachings and lack of doctrinal unity.
e. The material content of the study is a perfect blend of erroneous apostate Protestant false doctrines assumed to be true as learned from their institutions by Adventist scholars, and Seventh day Adventist prophetic doctrines. However, the consequential implications for SDA eschatology and the unpreparedness it places the members for the end, are not at all carefully studied and thought out.
f. Doctrines that are streams coming out from apostate Protestantism, that contain positions that were not corrected thus causing the reformation to fall away, are the major concepts in the SDA Church’s interpretation of the Book of Romans.
g. There is also the problem of attempts to glorify God by claims being saved by Grace alone or Faith alone, and not by works of the Law. These are mere empty catch phrases because they are not proven by rational truth, (faith), and seeming phrases that contradict them.
h. There is the problem of incipient and subtle antinomianism which overwrite attempts to explain obedience to God’s Law accordingly too Adventist theology, when contrasted to apostate Protestant theological concepts. Here is an example:
i. “In other words, Christ made victory over sin — as well as meeting the positive requirements of the law — possible for those who believe, not as a means of salvation but as the result of it. Obedience to law had not been, nor even can be, a means of salvation.” Ibid., p. 72.
ii. “We have been declared righteous, or regarded as righteous, not through any deeds of the law but through our having accepted Jesus Christ. The perfect life that Jesus lived on this earth, His perfect law-keeping, has been credited to us.” Ibid., p. 47.
iii. The point is, if our obedience to the law of God cannot save us, and Jesus’ obedience to the law is credited to the justified person, then obedience to the Law of God by the saved person has no real salvific value whatsoever. If we don’t keep it by Faith we are still not saved by this, but Jesus’ Law-keeping is put to our account and thus saves us, then we are not motivated to keep the law at all, this is incipient, subtle antinomianism (against Law-keeping) that overpresses our need to actually do God’s Law as the experience of salvation. This is presented in the book. Psalm 19:7,8; Psalm 119:1–3; Romans 3:30,31; Romans 2:13,16; James 2:8–13,14,17,21–24; Revelation 22:14.
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