A Matter of Identity

The Sanctuary Series#1: A Matter of IdentityPresented By: Elder Michael NisbettSt. David’s SDA Church22 January 2011

IntroductionImportance of the Sanctuary MessageHistory of how the Message lost its importance in the churchWhat we should do personally with the advanced knowledge you received tonight2

Importance of Sanctuary TruthThe Sanctuary Truth lies at the foundation of our historic beliefs. It is the reason why we were formed into a denominated people.It is the foundation truth which underlies our entire message to the world.It calls us by faith to fulfil the purpose of our existence in this hour of Earth’s history.3

Importance of Sanctuary TruthIt reveals Jesus and the Plan of Salvation in object lessonsThy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?—Psalm 77:13.4

Importance of Sanctuary TruthThe subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill—GC 488, 489.5

Importance of Sanctuary TruthAs a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John—Ev 222. Satan is striving continually to bring in fanciful suppositions in regard to the sanctuary, degrading the wonderful representations of God and the ministry of Christ for our salvation into something that suits the carnal mind…6

Importance of Sanctuary TruthHe [Satan] removes its presiding power from the hearts of believers, and supplies its place with fantastic theories invented to make void the truths of the atonement, and destroy our confidence in the doctrines which we have held sacred since the third angel's message was first given. Thus he would rob us of our faith in the very message that has made us a separate people, and has given character and power to our work--Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 17.7

Brief HistoryPrior to the mid-1960s, our pastors, leaders, journals and books presented various aspects of the Sanctuary Truth.It was taught by Uriah Smith, S.N. Haskell, F.C. Gilbert, M.C. Wilcox and M.L. Andreasen.9

Author and editor of the Review and Herald for over 50 years.10

One of the first pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific (particularly Australia and New Zealand) in 1885.11

Responsible for Seventh-day Adventists first paying special attention to Jews (after his conversion in 1889).Fred C. Gilbert12

Brief HistoryIn that decade, 1960, a strange silence fell over the entire subject.The following great truth was set aside…13

Great TruthThrough the enabling grace of our Great High Priest, we are called to put away our sins, proclaim obedience to the law of God through the power of Christ, and warn mankind that human probation is soon to close.The Sanctuary Truth has been abandoned because it was generally no longer believed and accepted by the church.14

Questions on DoctrinePublished in 1957 by the Review and Herald. Republished in 2003 by Andrews Univ.Heavily subsidized by the General Conference and distributed to our workers and leaders around the world.15

Questions on DoctrineDesigned to gain a greater acceptance of Adventism by evangelical Christians.Split the church into those who supported and those who opposed.Caused a gradual drift away from the truths of our faith.16

Questions On Doctrine’s InitiatorTeacher and principal of several academiesPresident of the Wisconsin Conference, East Pennsylvania Conference, and Indiana Conference.Tobias Edgar Unruh17

Questions On Doctrine’s AuthorsFirst associate secretary of the General Conference Ministerial AssociationThe founding editor of Ministry MagazineMade many attempts to deflect the condemnation of the Roman Catholic ChurchLe Roy Edwin Froom18

Questions On Doctrine’s AuthorsEvangelistLong-time Secretary of the General Conference Ministerial AssociationEditor of Ministry MagazineRoy Allan Anderson19

Questions On Doctrine’s AuthorsTrained for two years to be a Baptist minister before joining the SDA churchBelieved the truth on Christ’s human nature a few years beforeWe don’t know for sure what, if anything, happened between then and the bookWalter E. Read20

Sequence of EventsUnrah had a number of debates with Evangelical author, David Gray Barnhouse.Barnhouse wrote a scathing review of Ellen White’s Steps to Christ.Barnhouse commissioned Walter Martin to write a book about Adventists.A meeting was held between Barnhouse, Martin, Froom, Anderson, Reid and others.21

Sequence of EventsFroom lied to Martin and told him that Adventists have always believed in the sinless human nature of Christ in order to gain favour with the group.At the end of the meeting, it was decided the Adventist representatives would write a book for evangelicals to prove that Seventh-day Adventists were mainstream Christians.22

Questions on DoctrineThe most vocal opponent of the document was Milian Lauritz (M.L.) Andreasen (pictured).Was president of the Greater NY Conf., dean of AUC, and professor at what is now Andrews University among others.M.L. Andreasen 23

Questions on DoctrineAndreasen articulated a three-phase understanding of the atonement. In the first phase Christ lived a perfect life despite having a fallen nature. During the second phase the death of Christ on the cross occurred. And finally, during the third phase (the focal point of his theology), Christ demonstrates that man can do what He did. Satan was not defeated at the cross but would be defeated by the "last generation" in its demonstration that an entire generation of people could live a sinlessly perfect life.24

Questions on DoctrineHe pleaded with the church not to publish the document and wrote his rebuttal to it in the last chapter of The Sanctuary Service.His pleadings were ignored and the document was published.M.L. Andreasen 25

Questions on DoctrineAndreasen went public in stating the book was a sinister change in Adventist theology.The church revoked his ministerial credentials in 1961, but reinstated him posthumously in 1962.M.L. Andreasen 26

Acceptance at a Huge PriceQuestions on Doctrine has proven to be the single most divisive event for Adventists in the latter half of the twentieth century. Church historian George R. Knight has written that "Official Adventism may have gained recognition as being Christian from the evangelical world, but in the process a breach had been opened which has not healed in the last 50 years and may never heal."27

Acceptance at a Huge PriceConservative Herbert Douglass agreed, "most, if not all, of the so-called 'dissident' or 'independent' groups of the last 45 years are direct results of the explicit and implicit positions espoused by [Questions on Doctrine] on the atonement and the Incarnation."28

The Controversy ContinuesThe book was so controversial that attempts to reprint it were blocked after 1963.Throughout the following decades, the two Adventist camps—those who supported and opposed QOD respectively—continued a bitter struggle which was exacerbated by "the ambiguous stance taken by General Conference leadership on Questions on Doctrine" under Robert Pierson (president 1966–1979) and successive presidents.29

Importance of Sanctuary TruthObedience, empowered by the grace of Christ, lies at the very heart of a genuine Christian experience.This is the experience that the “remnant”—the last part of the faithful of all ages who are finally saved—will be living in the last days.30

The Crisis ContinuesIn December 1963, Signs of the Times printed an article by Dr. Edward Heppenstall entitled “Is Perfection Possible?” which was given wide circulation.31

The Crisis ContinuesHe was professor of Theology at La Sierra and Loma Linda Universities and Chairman of the Systematic Theology Department at Andrews.32

The Crisis ContinuesA 1985 survey of North American Adventist lecturers revealed Heppenstall was the Adventist writer who had most influenced them.33

The Crisis ContinuesHe influenced a generation of preachers and religion teachers through his college and seminary lectures. Themes highlighted by Heppenstall would echo in other classrooms through such teachers as Hans LaRondelle and Raoul Dederen and in the pulpit through Morris Venden throughout the 1970s and 1980s.What was he teaching that caused such a crisis in 1963?34

Heppenstall PostulatesMan has an evil nature which does not permit obedience to God in his life.The gospel does not make provision for the eradication of this evil nature or obedience to the Law of God.Genuine obedience is not possible before the Second Advent and neither is perfection of character.35

God's Word DeclaresAnd Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine—Exodus 19:3-5.36

God's Word DeclaresThou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments—Exodus 20:5, 6. 37

God's Word DeclaresHe that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die—Proverbs 19:16.If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land—Isaiah 1:19.38

God's Word DeclaresAgain, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die—Ezekiel 33:14, 15. 39

God's Word DeclaresWhosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven—Matthew 5:19, 20. 40

God's Word DeclaresFor whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother—Matthew 12:50.Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you bothto will and to do of his good pleasure—Philippians 2:12, 13.41

God's Word DeclaresAnd hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him—1 John 2:3-5. 42

God's Word DeclaresAnd the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ—Revelation 12:17.Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city—Revelation 22:14. 43

Ellen White SaysYou have thought when you could realize a certain prosperity in your business, then you would obey the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. But the Lord requires of every one of His subjects entire obedience—Evangelism, p. 242.44

Ellen White Says[In the case of Nadab and Abihu] God designed to teach the people that they must approach Him with reverence and awe, and in His own appointed manner. He cannot accept partial obedience. It was not enough that in this solemn season of worship nearly everything was done as He had directed—PP 360.The gospel is given in precept in Leviticus. Implicit obedience is required now, as then. How essential it is that we understand the importance of this word!--6T 392. 45

Ellen White SaysMan is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in [the] human nature which we now have--3SM 140.46

Ellen White SaysNot only did Christ give explicit rules showing how we may become obedient children but He showed us in His own life and character just how to do those things which are right and acceptable with God, so there is no excuse why we should not do those things which are pleasing in His sight--3SM 139.47

Ellen White SaysSo perfect is the character represented which men must have in order to be Christ's disciples that the infidel has said that it is not possible for any human being to attain unto it. But no less a standard must be presented by all who claim to be children of God. Infidels know not that celestial aid is provided for all who seek for it by faith—HP 201. 48

Definition: InfidelA heathenA non-believerA gentileA paganA person who has no religious faithA person who does not accept a particular faith, esp. Christianity—Dictionary.com.49

Personal IdentityThe dilemma of an unclear sense of personal identity was illustrated by an incident in the life of the famous German philosopher Schleiermacher, who did much to shape the progress of modern thought. The story is told that one day as an old man he was sitting alone on a bench in a city park. A policeman thinking that he was a vagrant came over and shook him and asked, "Who are you?" Schleiermacher replied sadly, "I wish I knew."51

Great TruthTherefore, you and I as individuals must study, comprehend and live out the message ourselves.Do not wait for others to present you with the message in all of its fullness.God gave us this message as an essential part of our identity.Do not let those that EGW calls “infidels” strip us of the purpose for our existence.52

Great TruthWe must break Satan’s hold on us and live holy lives.Holy lives cannot be accomplished without putting away sin (my next subject in this series)!See you back here next time to learn more!53

A Matter of Identity

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A Matter of Identity