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 Dear Sal,
I am so close to joining the SDA church, but I find myself still hesitant and uncertain, I find that after hearing the teachings I am a bit confused. I see in ACTS that Paul did keep the sabbath, and a meeting on the first day of the week only occurred once. Is this really that important? The sda church say they are carrying the 3 angels messages to the world now, mentioned in revelation if this is true then are they not the church we should be listening to at this time? Help! any info would be helpful
Answer Dear Joy:
I believe that it is significant that our Lord never commanded Sabbath keeping for his followers nor did the Apostles. Paul claimed to have preached the complete gospel yet not one word on the necessity of Sabbath keeping. Indeed Paul did say that Sabbath keeping was not necessary (Rom. 14:5), that it was a mere shadow of the reality that is Christ (Col. 2:16-17), that to keep it as something necessary means you don’t get it (Gal. 4:8-11), and that it was replaced by a better rest in Christ (Heb. 4:9).
Paul going to the synagogue to preach Christ is no reason for Christians today to keep the Sabbath. Of all the Sabbath meetings recorded in Acts not one is a Christian meeting. Luke recorded history. He never tried even once to teach Sabbath keeping for Christians. Also note that the Sabbath is never the main point it is always the preaching of the gospel that is central. The fact that the meetings occur on the Sabbath is incidental. “And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer, rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2-3). Paul’s custom was to go to the town’s synagogue and to preach Christ. Paul was not fixated on a day, but on Christ. In all the Sabbath episodes in Acts nothing is ever taught about Sabbath keeping being a requirement. Paul went to the synagogues when it suited his evangelistic purposes. “And to the Jews I become as a Jew, that I might win Jews” (1 Cor. 9:20). Paul is clear that in his great zeal for Christ he would do whatever and become whatever to win souls for Christ. “I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow-partaker of it” (1 Cor. 9:22-23).
Jesus was a Jew born under the law (Gal. 4:4). We are not Jews or under the law; therefore, Jesus as an example for us fails in this case. Paul was free to keep the Sabbath if he wished it just wasn’t a salvation issue (Rom. 14:5). It is a historical fact the Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3). Does this mean that Paul was teaching that circumcision was necessary for Christians? Of course not, and neither is Sabbath keeping necessary.
"If" it were true that the SDA had a special message then we should listen to it. However, the SDA Church doesn't have any special message to give to the world. They do have some false messages that are to be avoided such as Ellen White being a prophet, the Ivestigative Judgment, and the keeping of the Jewish Sabbath.
