This is inspired after a YouTube video where the person looks at the Seventh-day Adventist Church today and judges the church according to the people in it today. This is like saying the Jews were a wicked organization because they rebelled against God, because they worshiped idols, because they made their children pass through the fire, because they killed the prophets, and because they did so many wicked things. Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church legalistic? The Jews’ belief system was given by God; the truth of the Old Testament cannot be corrupt because God gave it.
In the same way, if the truth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is given by God, then no matter what people do in the church, the truth remains the truth. Let us understand a very important concept: God is not responsible for what people in the churches do. God is only responsible for the truth He sends. Often, His churches turned away from Him, but God remained true. The fact that Israel turned away from God does it mean that the Old Testament was false? No.
But this is the way some people judge today. They look at some Adventist churches, which is true, are legalistic, and they say, “Oh, the whole message and every Seventh-day Adventist church is legalistic.” This is because they do not know what has happened in the past.
Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church legalistic? What happened in the past?
Most people do not know what 1888 is. Do you know what 1888 is in the Seventh-day Adventist Church? It is the most important General Conference. In 1888, A. T. Jones and Waggoner, two young men called by God, gave the most solemn and important message called righteousness by faith. We find a lot of information about what happened in 1888 in books like Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, or Testimonies to Ministers.
The difference between Sunday churches’ grace belief is that this Sunday grace belief is a scam, as it says on one hand that there is no more law. But on the other hand, they say we need grace. If there was no law, we would not need to obey anything, and we would not need grace. This is called cheap grace belief. It is a corrupt counterfeit to the true grace, or righteousness by faith belief. When A. T. Jones and Waggoner came to preach, the whole of the Seventh-day Adventist Church rejected the truth.
Only prophet Ellen G. White came behind the pulpit to say that the message they heard that day was from God and that it is the most important for the church. In fact, this message by A. T. Jones and Waggoner is called the fourth angel of Revelation 18, or the loud cry, or the third angel’s message in verity. Since that time, most Adventists do not preach the righteousness by faith 1888 message. Ellen G. White herself said that only those who receive this 1888 experience are converted and will make it through the time of trouble.
Sadly, most Adventists today, as well as many Sunday keepers, do not understand righteousness by faith and are lost. But it does not mean that this is the Adventists’ message. The true Adventist message is righteousness by faith. Read those A. T. Jones and Waggoner books, brothers; they are stunning.
Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church legalistic? What is righteousness by faith?
In many sermons, like the ones I heard this month, this brother has good videos. But in some, he said that we need to become holy, to have holiness, and that we can attain to a place where we will not sin. When he said that, it was in the context of man doing works to be saved and becoming holy. We cannot be holy. Only God is holy. Only God can give righteousness by which we can do His work.
This is the misconception where many unconverted Christians think they can become holy. No holiness and righteousness are only found in God. Unless God gives us His righteousness, we have none of our own. We are saved without the works of the law. Paul called people who think they are saved by works foolish.
GA 3 ‘O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Paul calls believing in works to be saved like receiving a spell. When men think so highly of themselves that they think they can become God and holy and righteous. Even on the day of our death, if we are not connected to God, we will have no holiness, no righteousness.
GA 3 10 ‘For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.’ Someone who believes they are saved by works is bound to always be perfect and keep all the laws in the Old Testament. Paul calls it a curse. Do you want to be cursed? No. The free Christian is the one who believes that we have no holiness, we have no righteousness or goodness, and only through God’s righteous gift can we do what is right.
Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church legalistic? The state of the church today
The misconception comes from people looking at the Seventh-day Adventist Church today and thinking this is their belief: legalism. Not all Adventist churches are legalists. The Adventist message is righteousness by faith, the 1888 message. But because so many Adventists never heard this message, or so many pastors only teach a legal religion, even when they teach the truth, on this point they are wrong and teach errors by telling members that they are saved by doing things. Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church legalistic?
No, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not legalist, but most members never studied the 1888 message, and they follow pastors who are legalists instead of studying for themselves what the Bible says. Here are a few quotes from Ellen G. White, the Seventh-day Adventist founder, on righteousness by faith.
That such a fundamental, all-embracing truth as imputed righteousness—justification by faith—should be lost sight of by many professing godliness and entrusted with Heaven’s final message to a dying world, seems incredible; but such, we are plainly told, is a fact. COR 87.1
“The doctrine of justification by faith has been lost sight of by many who have professed to believe the third angel’s message.” – The Review and Herald, August 13, 1889. COR 87.2
“There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” – The Review and Herald, September 3, 1889. COR 87.3
“What is it that constitutes the wretchedness, the nakedness, of those who feel rich and increased with goods? It is the want of the righteousness of Christ. In their own righteousness they are represented as clothed with filthy rags, and yet in this condition they flatter themselves that they are clothed upon with Christ’s righteousness. Could deception be greater?” – The Review and Herald, August 7, 1894. COR 90.2
“This I do know, that our churches are dying for the want of teaching on the subject of righteousness by faith in Christ, and on kindred truths.” – Gospel Workers, 301. COR 93.4
“We have transgressed the law of God, and by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. The best efforts that man in his own strength can make are valueless to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed; but through faith in Christ he may claim the righteousness of the Son of God as all-sufficient. COR 96.6
“Christ satisfied the demands of the law in His human nature. COR 96.7
“He bore the curse of the law for the sinner, made an atonement for him, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. COR 96.8
“He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility. COR 96.10
“Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his works should not be of himself; Christ should work in him to will and to do of His good pleasure.” – The Review and Herald, July 1, 1890. COR 97.1
Father God, forgive our sins, help us to receive Your righteousness. Provide for all our needs. Help us to be at peace with us. Deliver us from sickness and troubles, make us happy, and give us life in abundance, please, in the name of Jesus, amen.
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