HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2014 / FALL / ADVENTISM EXAMINED WITH RICK BARKER

Rick Barker is a native of Southwestern Ohio and facilitates a weekly Bible study for former and transitioning Adventists in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Rick graduated from Andrews University in 1987 and received a Masters degree from the University of Dayton. Rick and his wife Sheryl formally left the Adventist chuch in 2004. Prior to this they had been active in the Miamisburg and Wilmington, Ohio, churches.

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Adventism EXAMINED with Rick Barker
 

Fundamental Belief #11: Growing in Christ

By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus’ victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church. As we give ourselves in loving service to those around us and in witnessing to His salvation, His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment and every task into a spiritual experience.

 

Comments about the belief statement

The Biblical accuracy of this belief statement depends entirely on the context of the claims. As this belief statement points out, Scripture is clear that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers leads to fruits that are evident (Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:12-15, Jas. 2:9-17), particularly in the way we treat each other. However, this belief statement does not point out that Scripture also states that converted believers are not perfect (Eccl. 7:20, Rom. 7:14-25, I Jn. 1:6-10, Jas. 3:2) in their own behavior, but are considered perfect because of Christ. We will not become righteous until the day in which we are all changed (1 Cor. 15:42-53).

Matt Slick of The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry has pointed out that the key distinction between true Christianity and pseudo-Christian cults is how they distinguish between salvation (justification) and sanctification: “The cults consistently blur the meanings of the two terms and misapply the truths taught in God’s word.”

The question surrounding sanctification is not whether God changes those who believe in Him. Rather, the real question is whether these changes that He does in us qualify us for heaven, or if that qualification has already occurred.

The cultic view of sanctification is that sanctification is the process of God making us into righteous people who, therefore, are worthy of eternal life. The biblical and evangelical teaching is that it is only Christ’s perfect life that is deserving of eternal reward, and sanctification occurs in those who have already been justified and “qualified” by being in Christ.

The key question about this fundamental belief, and a question that is not answered in the accompanying commentary of the book Seventh-day Adventists Believe, is this: has salvation been fully accomplished by Christ’s death in our place on the cross, or is salvation accomplished or maintained, at least in part, by applying the power achieved by Christ’s death so that we “grow into the likeness” of Christ?

The claim that we “grow into the likeness of His (Christ’s) character” is a teaching and a wording that comes solely from the writings of Ellen White. She proclaims that our characters must be perfected here on earth because they will not change between earth and heaven (Christ’s Object Lessons, 316, 3 Selected Messages, 191). In fact, she states, “Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement” (Testimonies For the Church, vol. 5, 214).

The Bible emphasizes not “character” but belief in the Lord Jesus. This fundamental belief masks the underlying Adventist teaching that salvation is dependent upon our growth in Christ and our faithfulness to perfect our characters. †

 

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