Adventists usually refer to the continuing war which Satan began long ago in heaven as "the great controversy between Christ and Satan." Sin entered the universe when Lucifer inexplicably became self-centered instead of God-centered. Selfishness is the very essence of sin. And sin is deadly. It contains within it the seeds of self-destruction.
Incredibly, Adam and Eve---though enjoying daily personal fellowship with God---were persuaded by Satan to doubt God's fairness and love. They selfishly chose their own way rather than God's, and the floodgates of sin opened on our world. And sin always leads to death---eternal oblivion.
But God had already planned for just such an emergency. Jesus the Son would come to this earth and become mankind's Substitute. He would reap the result of sin by dying in man's place. Men and women would then have another chance to live forever---as God had originally intended.
Jesus did die for us all---on a horrible cross, surrounded by men and women driven to a frenzy of hate by Satan, the great enemy. But after a Sabbath rest in the tomb, Jesus rose again, forever breaking the power of death for us.
When we accept Christ's life and death in our place, He justifies us---which means that He pardons us fully and accepts us---which means that He pardons us fully and accepts us as if we had never sinned. He also makes us new again (the new birth) and gives us power to live as He lived and love as He loved.
Adventists believe that salvation is on;y by God's grace through faith in Jesus as mankind's substitute. We can add nothing to deserve or earn salvation; it is God;s free gift. Everyone who in faith accepts Jesus as Saviour can rejoice in the full assurance of complete forgiveness and salvation.
We believe too that born-again Christians will give evidence in their lives of this great change. They will daily surrender themselves to the Lord Jesus and allow Him to bring about growth in grace and victory over sin.
- Gen 31-24 John 3:16 Rev. 3:20
- Rom. 5:12 1 Cor. 15:22 John 3:1-15
- Rom. 6:23 Eph. 2:8, 9 Gal 2:16, 20
- Rom. 5:8 John 1:12 Phil. 2:12, 13
The Light of Life
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
- John 6:63
The light shines from the sacred pages, in clear, glorious beams, showing us God, the living God, as represented in the laws of His government, in the creation of the world, in the heavens which He hath garnished. His power is to be recognized as the only means of redeeming a world from degrading superstitions which are so dishonoring to God and man. Every student of the Bible who not only becomes familiar with revealed truth through the education of the intellect, but also through its transforming power upon heart and character, will represent the character of God to our world in a well-ordered life and a godly conversation.
The entrance of the word giveth light. The mind is expanded, elevated, purified. But many have pursued a course of action inconsistent. Great sin and loss resulted from the neglect to walk in the light from heaven. In plunging into amusements, match games, pugilistic performances, they declared to the world that Christ was not their leader in any of these things. All this called forth the warning from God. Now that which burdens me is the danger of going into extremes on the other side; there is no necessity for this; if the Bible is made the guide, the counselor, it is calculated to have an influence on the mind and heart of the unconverted. Its study, more than any other, will leave a divine impress. It will enlarge the mind of the candid student, it will endow it with new impulses and fresh vigor. It will give greater efficiency to the faculties by bringing them in contact with grand and far-reaching truths. It is ever working, drawing; it is an effective instrument in the converting of the soul. If the human mind becomes dwarfed and feeble and inefficient, it is because it is left to deal with commonplace subjects only.
God can and will do a great work for every human being who will open the heart to the word of God, and let it enter the soul-temple and expel every idol. Summoned to the effort, mind and heart take in the wonderful disclosures of the revealed will of God. The soul that is converted will be made stronger to resist evil. In the study of the Bible the converted soul eats the flesh and drinks the blood of the Son of God, which He himself interprets as the receiving and doing of His words, that are spirit and life. The Word is made flesh, and dwells among us, in those who receive the holy precepts of the word of God. The Saviour of the world has left a holy, pure example for all men. It illuminates, uplifts, and brings immortality to all who obey the divine requirements. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:10
The Victorious Life Part#3
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
- Isaiah 49:15
Satan seeks to draw our minds away from the mighty Helper, to lead us to ponder over our degeneration of soul. But though Jesus sees the guilt of the past, He speaks pardon; and we should not dishonor Him by doubting His love. The feeling of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the cross, or it will poison the springs of life. When Satan thrusts his threatenings upon you, turn from them, and comfort your soul with the promises of God. The cloud may be dark in itself, but when filled with the light of heaven, it turns to the brightness of gold; for the glory of God rests upon it.
God's children are not to be subject to feelings and emotions. When they fluctuate between hope and fear, the heart of Christ is hurt; for He has given them unmistakable evidence of His love. He wants them to be established, strengthened, and settled in the most holy faith. He wants them to do the work He has given them; then their hearts will become in His hands as sacred harps, every chord of which will send forth praise and thanksgiving to the One sent by God to take away the sins of the world.
Christ's love for His children is as tender as it is strong. And it is stronger than death; for He died to purchase our salvation, and to make us one with Him, mystically and eternally one. So strong is His love that it controls all His powers, and employs the vast resources of heaven in doing His people good. It is without variableness or shadow of turning, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Although sin has existed for ages, trying to counteract this love and obstruct its flowing earthward, it still flows in rich currents to those for whom Christ died.
