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 Question: While watching T.V. one of the actors asked if he could later change his mind about some deal and the other replied, “It's not written in stone.” Does this have any allusion to Biblical roots?
Answer: Many sayings originate in the Bible such as “the handwriting on the wall,” “saved by the skin of my teeth,” etc. It is amazing that the pagan and the infidel recognize that something written in stone is unchangeable but that many so called professed Christians are ignorant to this fact. For instance there are those that claim that some or all of the commandments have been done away with citing no other reason than that it is Old Testament.
Question: I am not a Bible scholar but through logic can I believe that the 10 commandments are still binding?
Answer: Absolutely. Did you know that the only document that God ever wrote personally with His own finger was the 10 commandments on tablets of stone? As He wrote He spoke the words signifying their permanent nature. Even after Moses broke the tablets God later on told Moses to hew out two tablets and that He would again write the 10 commandments on them which He later did. When these 10 commandments were given the mountain was ablaze, the ground shook and even Moses the friend of God stated that “I tremble and fear greatly.” Would it make any logical sense to think that something given with such great majesty would be revoked without so much as a peep? Another thing to consider is that the ceremonial ordinance of circumcision which was later revoked in the New Testament is mentioned scores of times as having been done away with. In fact Paul dedicates an entire chapter stating that “circumcision is nothing.” Again, using logic doesn't it seem reasonable that something so minor as circumcision being done away with is given so much attention yet something so important such as any of the commandments would disappear without so much as a mention?
Question: That makes logical sense.
Answer: Logic and reason supports the enduring nature of the 10 commandment law and I did not even get into the Biblical support. It is tragic that some so called Christians would unashamedly claim to use logic in presenting the Gospel message and yet they don't have even a clue of what constitutes logic.
Answer Dear ZZ:
Here are some answers to your questions.
1. There is no indication that God would not have continued to speak all the commandments had the people not requested that He stop because of their fear (Ex. 20:18-21; Deut. 5:22-31).
2. God only has to speak to make it so. “Let there be light” and there was light (Gen. 1:3). “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood” and the Old Covenant was replaced (I Cor. 10:25). There is no necessity for a Mt. Sinai experience for there to be a New Covenant. The reason for the Mt. Sinai fireworks was so that the immature Israelites would fear God and put faith in Moses (Ex. 19:9 & 20:20). In the New Covenant of Jesus we do not need to tremble in fear as did the spiritually immature Israelites. As mature people of God we hear and obey out of love. “Love has no room for fear; rather perfect love casts out all fear. And since fear has to do with punishment, love is not yet perfect in one who is afraid” (I Jn. 4:18). St. Paul did not believe that we need a Mt. Sinai experience in the New Covenant. “You have not drawn near to an untouchable mountain and a blazing fire…No you have drawn near to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem to myriads of angels in festal gatherings…” (Heb. 12:18-24). While the Old Covenant originated in fear, the superior New Covenant originated in love.
3. Circumcision is mentioned so much because it is the entrance sign into the Old Covenant. “I point out once more to all who receive circumcision that they are bound to the Law in its entirety” (Gal. 5:3). If the entrance sign is done away with so is the entire Old Covenant, the heart of which were the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13).
4. The fact that the Ten Commandments are obsolete in the New Covenant certainly is mentioned in, for example, II Cor. 3:7, 11 “destined to pass away”, Heb. 8:13 “obsolete”, Heb. 10:9 “takes away”. Jesus illustrates the obsolete nature of the Ten Commandments and the other laws of the Old Covenant in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:21-48).
