AboutSal Expertise I am privileged to be able to offer an alternative insight into the complicated world of Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) theology. I will rely heavily on the Bible, but will also consider history and use logic in exposing deficiencies in SDA teachings. I would ask anyone who is considering becoming a SDA or if you are already in the SDA church, but are searching for the truth, to please allow me to offer a different explanation for the claims of the SDA. Remember : "The truth will set you free" (John 8:32). I can answer your questions pertaining to the beliefs and history of the SDA. I am not able to answer questions concerning spirituality or church discipline.
Experience I have extensively studied the theology of the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) for a number of years. I have many books and tape sets produced by experts in this field of study. I have debated current members of the SDA church. I have a great desire to help these people see the truth.
Education/Credentials M.S. degree in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics
Question Do you really read and understand what you write? I Am going to ask you to pray for 'true understanding' when you are reading your bible. Please read Matthew chapter 24 again. This time with an open heart and mind.
The Ten Commandments as was written by God's hand and given to Moses, do exist to this day. However, with the coming of Jesus Christ, a new covenant has been made. This agreement was that Jesus Christ was the high priest replacing all high priests and the Laws would then be inscribed into the minds and hearts of man (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrew 8: 6-13). You cannot deny that:
1. Every nation upon this earth knows it’s not right to murder;
2. Every nation worships some form of gods if not the almighty true God (first two commands). Our job then is to direct them to the true God.
3. Efforts are made not to use God’s /gods name in vain.
4. Efforts are made to have special worship on a particular day. Through the deceit of man there are a lot of senseless debates as to which day this should be.
5. Efforts are made to honor parents;
6. Efforts are made not to commit adultery;
7. Efforts are made not to steal;
8. Efforts are made not to bear false witness/lie;
9. Efforts are made not to covet;
I say efforts because we all do sin and come short of the glory of God. That is why Jesus was chosen as the everlasting high priest to continuously make intercessions for us.
There were several covenants made between God and his people. For example: Gen 9; There is the covenant over sacrifice Psalm 50:5; Matthew 26: 26 and onwards, covenant of remembrance of his death; Jeremiah 31: 31-34 and Hebrew 8:6-13 are the only texts that specifically talks about changing of the old covenant to a new covenant/agreement. This is based on the Laws of God.
There was a new covenant but there were no new laws. The new covenant Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrew 8: 6-13, was established with the coming of Christ. This New covenant (agreement) was that with the coming of Christ the Laws would no longer be on stones but in the hearts and minds of men. All men.
Hebrews 7 shows the purpose of Christ. Former high priests died but Jesus Christ, the heavenly priest is forever to make intercession for all who come to him. The sacrifice is now made forever, for our sins gone and those yet to come. With the coming of Christ the commandments are now written in our hearts, spiritual laws. The spiritual laws, now written in our hearts, are for all to observe. The observance of the law is now done through faith in Jesus Christ.
May God be continuously praised, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Answer Dear Vonne:
Matthew 24:20 in context is concerning difficulties that Christians would have in attempting to quickly flee Jerusalem. Jesus was most certainly not teaching on Sabbath observance. There is nothing in the text indicating the Christians would be or should be observing the Sabbath. Jesus warned his followers that they must flee quickly when destruction becomes immanent (vs. 17 & 18). Then he lists hindrances to a quick escape—pregnancy, nursing babies, weather, and the Sabbath (vs. 19 & 20). We can all see why the first three items would cause difficulty. Why would travel be difficult on the Sabbath? The idea that it would be a problem because Christians must keep the Sabbath is unsupported by Scripture.
First, not in this text nor any other New Testament text are Christians commanded to observe the Sabbath. Second, even if they were so commanded why would traveling to safety be a violation of this Sabbath? Did not our Lord teach that preserving life is completely acceptable on the Sabbath (see Mt. 12:11-12; Lk. 6:9; 14:5)? The reason I see for Jesus mentioning the Sabbath as an obstacle to fleeing was because the Pharisees would be watching closely for any real or imagined violation of their Sabbath. No doubt the Pharisees, strict Sabbath-keepers, would try to prevent the Jewish Christians from traveling with all their belongings, thus the hindrance to fleeing.
The fact that SDAs quite often, in my experience, resort to Mt. 24:20 in an attempt to find a Sabbath command from our Lord illustrates just how contrary their belief is to Scripture. Good people are driven to such desperate measures in order to hold on to an unbiblical belief. It is sad to see otherwise intelligent brothers and sisters in the Lord throw out all proper biblical exegesis and logic in a failed attempt to prop up a fallen denominational doctrine. A doctrine that neither our Lord nor his Apostles thought was worthy of inclusion in the New Covenant.
I believe that if Christians would just read the Bible and accept whatever it says without adding denominational teaching they would see what God’s word says in a much clearer light. In this case, one would easily see that Mt. 24:20 has nothing to do with Christians having to keep the Sabbath. One would realize that the Sabbath was never even given to the Gentiles. It was an Israelite feast day meant for them only. It was the sign of the now obsolete Mosaic Covenant (Ex. 31:13, 16-17). Someone with a firm grasp on the covenants of the Bible would not even for a minute entertain the notion that Jesus was commanding Sabbath observance for Christians in Mt. 24:20. I say this in Christian love, the fact that some so strongly do see a Sabbath command there is sad proof that a veil lies over their understanding (see 2 Cor. 3:14 & 15).
I agree that moral laws are written on the hearts of all men. In the Old Covenant document, the Ten Commandments, there were nine such moral laws and one ceremonial sign of that covenant. The nine moral laws are still valid for all men and the one ceremonial law is obsolete for New Covenant Christians. I notice in your list that you do not say that men know in their hearts to worship on the Sabbath. In that you are correct. Men know to worship God, but what day one chooses to do that on is not important.
Scripture states that if Jesus is a new priest then the priesthood has changed and because of that the laws must also change. “For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law” (Heb. 7:12). Based on that verse your idea that there are no new laws in the New Covenant doesn’t hold water. Also we have this clear statement from our Lord, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn. 13:34).
