IN OUR September, 1975, editorial, we apologized to our non-Adventist colleagues in the ministry for, along with other failures in communication and fellowship, "not making it abundantly clear that we believe in the magnificent truth of righteousness by faith alone in Christ." We went on to mention our conviction that "the sacrifice our Saviour made on Calvary is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. Every truth from Gene sis to Revelation must be studied in the brilliant light that streams from the cross." We also mentioned that "we want to do everything possible to help you, our fellow ministers, to uplift Him as the foundation of every sermon, talk, and prayer."
In spite of this apology and doctrinal clarification, a few ministers who subsequently corresponded with us questioned our belief in this fundamental doctrine. In order to further assure our readers that our stand on this pivotal truth of salvation by faith alone through Christ is absolutely unequivocal, we will quote from our Church Manual. This is the accepted statement sup ported by the world body of Seventh- day Adventists. Chapter 2, beginning on page 32, sets forth our fundamental beliefs. No. 8 states our position on salvation by faith and the relationship of grace and law. It reads: "That the law of ten commandments points out sin, the penalty of which is death. The law can not save the transgressor from his sin nor impart power to keep him from sinning. In infinite love and mercy God provides a way whereby this may be done. He furnishes a substitute, even Christ the righteous one, to die in man's stead, making 'him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him' (2 Cor. 5:21). We are justified, not by obedience to the law, but by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. By accepting Christ, man is reconciled to God, justified by the blood of Christ for the sins of the past, and saved from the power of sin by His indwelling life. Thus the gospel becomes 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.' This experience is wrought by the divine agency of the Holy Spirit, who convinces of sin and leads to the Sin Bearer, inducting believers into the new-covenant relationship, where the law of God is written on their hearts; and through the enabling power of the indwelling Christ, their lives are brought into conformity to the divine precepts. The honor and merit of this wonderful transformation belong wholly to Christ. (1 John 3:4; Rom. 7:7; 3:20; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 John 2:1, 2; Rom. 5:8-10; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:17; Heb. 8:8- 12.)"
Beginning on page 53 in the same manual, there is a summary of Doctrinal Instructions for Baptismal Candidates. Number 2 clearly states that "Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead, and the eternal Son of God, is the only Saviour from sin; and man's salvation is by grace through faith in Him. (Matt. 28:18,19; John 3:16; Micah 5:2; Matt. 1:21; 2:5, 6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:11, 12; Eph. 1:9-15; 2:4-8; Rom. 3:23-26.)"
Number 4 in the same list reads, "Through Christ, believers receive forgiveness of sins which are forsaken and confessed, and for which, as far as lies in their power, restitution is made. (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14, 15; 1 John 1:7-9; Isa. 55:6, 7; Eze. 33:15; Matt. 5:23, 24; 6:14, 15.)"
Finally, three of the thirteen baptismal vows, which are taken by those joining our church, read as follows:"
Do you accept the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of men, and believe that through faith in His shed blood men are saved from sin and its penalty?""
Renouncing the world and its sinful ways, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and do you believe that God, for Christ's sake, has for given your sins and given you a new heart?""
Do you accept by faith the righteousness of Christ, recognizing Him as your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and do you claim His promise to strengthen you by His indwelling Spirit, so that you may receive power to do His will?"
To these authoritative statements could be added hundreds of others dealing with salvation and righteousness by faith found in the millions of books, magazines, and leaflets that roll from our denominational presses every year.
But what more can we say? What more can we do to convince the world that Adventists believe that Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the Sun in our theological solar system? To deny the doctrine of salvation by faith alone through Him, would, of course, move Adventists completely out of the Christian orbit. Salvation cannot be bought or earned by any works on our part. It is the gracious free gift of God, who so loved that He gave us His only begotten Son as a ransom for the fallen human race. And we fully believe that nothing we do can add one whit to the salvation earned for us by His vicarious death on the cross.
We are not fence-straddlers. We are not double-talkers. We are not deceivers. We solidly take our stand on the scriptural truth, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).
The justifying act of Christ is based totally on what He has done, not on what we have done. We firmly believe Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." A Mount Everest of good deeds and gifts can never secure salvation.
Then why do Adventists talk so much about the law? one minister asked. In brief, the moment a sinner comprehends what Christ did for him in paying his penalty on the cross, an act accomplished outside the sinner, something begins to happen inside the sinner. When the all-important act of Christ's justifying atonement is understood and accepted by faith, there immediately fol lows an all-important sanctifying action in the believer's life, which is also accomplished by faith. Jesus summed it up by saying, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
Note carefully that love precedes obedience. If not motivated by love for Christ, obedience to His law becomes legalism. In the 119th psalm David's joy and delight in and respect for God's testimonies, statutes, and laws are the perfectly natural result of his deep love for the Lord of law. Thus God accepts only that obedience which is rooted in love.
Justification and sanctification are experientially inseparable. Theologically we may separate them, but in real life you cannot truly sense God's love, revealed on the cross, without joining with Paul in trembling and astonishment and in crying out, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). Paul maintains a calculated balance in all of his writings on the subject of justification and sanctification. For instance, in Romans 3:28, he declares, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." But he is quick to add, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (verse 31).
In chapters 4 and 5 of Romans, Paul's theme is justification by faith. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 go on to show the natural result of an understanding and acceptance of Christ's justification. That result is summed up in Romans 6:22, "But now being made free from sin, and be come servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." Paul brings this balance into focus in Ephesians, chapter 2. Verses 8 and 9 speak of salvation by faith, and then comes verse 10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be fore ordained that we should walk in them."
His famous passage in Titus 3:5 tightly weaves together justification and sanctification. What a fabulous salvation the believer has in Christ. Jesus daily becomes more precious to him. He recognizes that anything good that he was, is, or will be, is the result of Christ's salvation. Even credit for obedience to God's commandments all goes to Christ.
The real Christian says, It is Christ who justifies me. It is Christ who sanctifies me. It is Christ who forgives me. It is Christ who enables me to obey. It is Christ who has paid my penalty. It is Christ who imparts His power to me for victory over sin.
Thus Christ is not a truth. He is the truth. He is not a way. He is the way. He is not a door. He is the door.
In Christ there is total salvation for the whole man a salvation received by faith and faith alone in Him! He is the only and all-sufficient Saviour.
In the same editorial in THE MINIS TRY from which we initially quoted in order to affirm the Adventist belief in salvation by grace through faith alone, we offered a free copy of the Adventist classic entitled, Steps to Christ. About 20 million copies of this book have been circulated since its first printing in 1892. We feel that this little book not only will clear up any misunderstanding our ministerial colleagues may have concerning Christ being the center of our faith and teaching but also will be an inspirational and thrilling reading experience for you if you have never read it before.
We would be pleased to send you a copy of this volume if you have not yet taken advantage of the offer made in the September issue. Simply drop us a note requesting this book.
J.R.S.
