Presenting the Law and the Sabbath

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SDA Leaders Have Agreed to Tone Down Public Presentations of the Sabbath

"If we would have the spirit and power of the third angel’s message, we must present the law and the gospel together, for they go hand in hand."—Gospel Workers, 161 (1915). {Ev 232.1}

 

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Presenting the Law and the Sabbath

 

Our Special MessageThe Lord has a special message for His ambassadors to bear. They are to give the people the warning, calling upon them to repair the breach that has been made by the Papacy in the law of God. The Sabbath has been made a nonentity, an unessential requirement, which human authority can set aside. The holy day of the Lord has been changed to a common working day. Men have torn down God’s memorial, placing a false rest day in its stead.—Manuscript 35, 1900. {Ev 225.2}

 

The Last Message to the WorldThe last message of warning to the world is to lead men to see the importance that God attaches to His law. So plainly is the truth to be presented that no transgressor, hearing it, shall be excusable in failing to discern the importance of obedience to God’s commands. {Ev 225.3}

 

I am instructed to say, Gather from the Scriptures the proofs that God has sanctified the seventh day, and let these proofs be read before the congregation. Let those who have not heard the truth be shown that all who turn aside from a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” must suffer the result of their course. In all ages the Sabbath has been the test of loyalty to God. “It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever,” the Lord declares.—Gospel Workers, 148, 149 (1915). {Ev 226.1}

 

The Deciding Question for Whole WorldThe light concerning the binding claims of the law of God is to be presented everywhere. This is to be a deciding question. It will test and prove the world.—Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 7, pp. 17, 18. (1874). {Ev 226.2}

 

The Build-up in New Fields—I have had to break off writing to have an interview with Brother _____. He is in some perplexity.... He wished to know how to present the truth in entering new fields, whether the Sabbath should be presented first. {Ev 226.3}

 

I told him that the best and wisest plan would be to dwell upon subjects that would arouse the conscience. He could talk to them upon practical godliness; devotion and piety; and present the self-denial, self-sacrificing life of Jesus as our example until they will see the contrast in their self-indulgent life, and become dissatisfied with their unchristian lives. {Ev 226.4}

 

Then present to them the prophecies; show them the purity and binding claims of the Word of God. Not one jot or tittle of this law is to lose its force, but hold its binding claims on every soul to the end of time. When the law of God is made void; when the Christian world is joined to the Catholic and the worldly, in making of none effect the commandments of God, then God’s chosen people arise to defend the law of Jehovah. {Ev 226.5}

 

This is the guile that Paul used; this is the wisdom of the serpent; the harmlessness of the dove. When we come to a community that is acquainted with our faith, this cautious course need not to be pursued, but in every case special efforts should be made to come close to hearts by personal efforts. Avoid running down the churches; do not let the people receive the idea that your work is to tear down, but to build up, and to present the truth as it is in Jesus. Dwell much upon the necessity of vital godliness.—Letter 2, 1885. {Ev 227.1}

 

Broaching the Sabbath in New FieldsThe message of truth is new and startling to the people of this country [Australia]. The Bible doctrines presented are as a new revelation, and they really look upon the sentiments advanced as infidelity. In presenting the Sunday question, or the union of church and state, handle it carefully. It will not answer to present the strong positions that have been and will of necessity be presented in America. {Ev 227.2}

 

These subjects must be broached guardedly. We have not as yet obtained standing place in this country. The enemy of all righteousness has been and still is working by every device he can invent to hinder the work that ought to be done in enlightening and educating the people; his forces are increasing. Delays have been giving Satan advantage of the situation, and these delays have caused the loss of many souls. The Lord is not pleased with the retarding of the work. Every delay renders more difficult the work that must be done, because advantage is given for Satan to preoccupy the field, and prepare for determined resistance. {Ev 227.3}

 

The tardy movements of our people in raising the standard in our large cities are not in harmony with the light given of God. A glimmering of light has been shining in the cities, but just enough to make the false shepherds feel that it is time for them to be actively at work in presenting fables and falsehoods to turn the people away from the message of truth. Some little effort has been made, but men and money are not furnished to do the work. Satan has worked and will work with his lying wonders, and strong delusions will be accepted where the banner of truth should have been uplifted. Now the fact that God’s people that know the truth have failed to do their duty according to the light given in the Word of God, makes it a necessity for us to be more guarded, lest we offend unbelievers before they have heard the reasons of our faith in regard to the Sabbath and Sunday.... {Ev 228.1}

 

There is need now to give to the people patient, kind instruction; the education of a lifetime is not to be readily counteracted; great tact and patient effort are needed by those who shall present the truth in any manner.—Undated Manuscript 79. {Ev 228.2}

 

Defer Its PresentationYou should not feel it your duty to introduce arguments upon the Sabbath question as you meet the people. If persons mention the subject, tell them that this is not your burden now. But when they surrender heart and mind and will to God, they are then prepared candidly to weigh evidence in regard to these solemn, testing truths.—Letter 77, 1895. {Ev 228.3}

 

Caution Against Undue DelayCaution is needed; but while some of the workers are guarded, and make haste slowly, if there are not united with them in the work those who see the necessity of being aggressive, very much will be lost; opportunities will pass, and the opening providence of God will not be discerned. {Ev 228.4}

 

When persons who are under conviction are not brought to make a decision at the earliest period possible, there is danger that the conviction will gradually wear away.... {Ev 229.1}

 

Frequently when a congregation is at the very point where the heart is prepared for the Sabbath question, it is delayed through fear of the consequences. This has been done, and the result has not been good.—Letter 31, 1892. {Ev 229.2}

 

In a Brief Campaign—When you have a congregation before you for only two weeks, do not defer the presentation of the Sabbath question until everything else is presented, supposing that you thus pave the way for it. Lift up the standard, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Make this the important theme. Then, by your strong arguments, make it of still greater force. Dwell more on the Revelation. Read, explain, and enforce its teaching. {Ev 229.3}

 

Our warfare is aggressive. Tremendous issues are before us, yea, and right upon us. Let our prayers ascend to God that the four angels may still hold the four winds, that they may not blow to injure or destroy until the last warning has been given to the world. Then let us work in harmony with our prayers. Let nothing lessen the force of the truth for this time. The present truth is to be our burden. The third angel’s message must do its work of separating from the churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth.—Testimonies For The Church 6:61 (1900). {Ev 229.4}

 

Note: These serious facts of Bible and Spirit of Prophecy truth might help to keep you humble and kind when presenting the truth to fallen Babylon and the world:

 

Because of its abominable apostasy for which we are to sigh and cry, this separating now includes separation from the professing new movement, new organization Seventh-day Adventist Synagogue of Satan. Our very sealing is dependent upon whether we will sigh and cry for all the abominations done in the church, to wit:

 

“Mark this point with care; those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by the man in linen, are those "that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in an agony, even sighing and crying.” Ezekiel 9 {RH, June 8, 1886 par. 2}

 

Ezekiel 9 is speaking to Jerusalem (spiritual Jerusalem in our case). That is where it begins—AT HIS SANCTUARY.

 

6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. Ezekiel 9:6.

 

Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211. End note.

 

Life and Death MessageWe are as a people in danger of giving the third angel’s message in such an indefinite manner that it does not impress the people.... Our message is a life-and-death message, and we must let this message appear as it is,—the great power of God. Then the Lord will make it effectual. We are to present it in all its telling force.—Letter 209, 1899. {Ev 230.1}

 

Message Not Muffled—Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel’s message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. The third angel’s message must be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms but with boldness and power.... There has been too much beating about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. The message has not been given as clearly and distinctly as it should have been.—Manuscript 16, 1900. {Ev 230.2}

 

Note: The leaders of the ecumenical movement asked SDA leaders to tone down the issue of the Sabbath, and SDA leaders complied. This is one of the abominations for which we are to sigh and cry. Here is the link to the following item as quoted by Vance Ferrell, a former credentialed minister of the SDA church. You should read all of this article by Vance:

 

Look for the following statement in the article at this link: https://omega77.tripod.com/secretinterchurch2.pdf  

 

“The officer then told the layman that, at a secret meeting of Catholic, Adventist, and Protestant church leaders, it had been agreed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church would tone down its public presentations of the Bible Sabbath. The church officer made it clear that this was the one doctrine which was especially disturbing to other denominational leaders.” End note.

 

As Christ Presented the LawChrist presented the principles of the law of God in a direct, forcible way, showing His hearers that they had neglected to carry out these principles. His words were so definite and pointed that the listeners found no opportunity to cavil or raise objections.The Review and Herald, September 13, 1906. {Ev 230.3}

 

Paul Adapted His Methods—To the Gentiles, he [Paul] preached Christ as their only hope of salvation, but did not at first have anything definite to say upon the law. But after their hearts were warmed with the presentation of Christ as the gift of God to our world, and what was comprehended in the work of the Redeemer in the costly sacrifice to manifest the love of God to man, in the most eloquent simplicity he showed that love for all mankind—Jew and Gentile—that they might be saved by surrendering their hearts to Him. Thus when, melted and subdued, they gave themselves to the Lord, he presented the law of God as the test of their obedience. This was the manner of his working—adapting his methods to win souls.Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 6, p. 55. (1895). {Ev 230.4}

 

First the Fundamental PrinciplesDo not make prominent those features of the message which are a condemnation of the customs and practices of the people, until they have opportunity to know that we are believers in Christ, that we believe in His divinity and in His pre-existence. Let the testimony of the world’s Redeemer be dwelt upon.—Testimonies For The Church 6:58 (1900). {Ev 231.1}

 

We Preach the Gospel—Let the outsiders understand that we preach the gospel as well as the law, and they will feast upon these truths, and many will take their stand for the truth.—Letter 1, 1889. {Ev 231.2}

 

Will Convict of SinThe law and the gospel, revealed in the Word, are to be preached to the people; for the law and the gospel, blended, will convict of sin. God’s law, while condemning sin, points to the gospel, revealing Jesus Christ, in whom “dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” The glory of the gospel reflects light upon the Jewish age, giving significance to the whole Jewish economy of types and shadows. Thus both the law and the gospel are blended. In no discourse are they to be divorced.—Manuscript 21, 1891. {Ev 231.3}

 

The religionist generally has divorced the law and the gospel, while we have on the other hand almost done the same from another standpoint. We have not held up before the people the righteousness of Christ and the full significance of His great plan of redemption. We have left out Christ and His matchless love, and brought in the theories and reasonings, preached arguments.—Manuscript 24, 1890. {Ev 231.4}

 

They Go Hand in HandIf we would have the spirit and power of the third angel’s message, we must present the law and the gospel together, for they go hand in hand.—Gospel Workers, 161 (1915). {Ev 232.1}

 

Reinforce the Message With Literature—The days in which we live are times that call for constant vigilance, times in which God’s people should be awake to do a great work in presenting the light on the Sabbath question.... This last warning to the inhabitants of the earth is to make men see the importance God attaches to His holy law. So plainly is the truth to be presented that no transgressor, hearing it, shall fail to discern the importance of obedience to the Sabbath commandment.... {Ev 232.2}

 

There is work for all to do in order that the simple truths of the Word of God may be made known. The words of Scripture should be printed and published just as they read. It would be well if the nineteenth and the greater portion of the twentieth chapters of Exodus, with verses twelve to eighteen of the thirty-first chapter, were printed just as they stand. Crowd these truths into small books and pamphlets, and let the word of God speak to the people. When a discourse concerning the law is preached that is right to the point, if you have any means of doing so, get it into a printed leaflet. Then when those who plead for Sunday laws meet you, place these leaflets in their hands. Tell them that you have no discussion over the Sunday question, for you have a plain “Thus saith the Lord” for the keeping of the seventh day.The Review and Herald, March 26, 1908. {Ev 232.3}

 

Make the Distinguishing Mark Prominent—We are to give to the world a manifestation of the pure, noble, holy principles that are to distinguish the people of God from the world. Instead of the people of God becoming less and less definitely distinguished from those who do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath, they are to make the observance of the Sabbath so prominent that the world cannot fail to recognize them as Seventh-day Adventist.—Manuscript 162, 1903. {Ev 233.1}