SDA
Pastor E. H. “Jack” Sequeira on Justification and Sanctification
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Dear Reader, What follows is a critique of Pastor Jack Sequeira’s study
on Justification and Sanctification.
My comments will be in this font color and will appear below the
Pastor’s comments. Justification
and Sanctification (Romans 5:1-5) Introduction One of the major areas of confusion among
Adventists, as well as Since most of you were raised up in the Adventist church,
we will Following this we will define these two
terms, i.e., Justification SDA's
Traditional Teaching on Justification & Sanctification We have already seen in a previous study that
traditionally This traditional understanding of the salvation has to a
large As a result, justification has been defined as only the
forgiveness However, we all know that sanctification is an on going
process It is this view of justification and sanctification that
is to a This confused idea of salvation is what led E. G. White to
correct "The danger has been presented to me again and again
of Ron’s
Commentary: Considering
her many statements concerning sanctification and justification AFTER 1888,
one can only conclude that by imputed righteousness, Ellen White meant that
no man can earn salvation by works of his/her own. If that was not her intended meaning, then
she was a very false and self-contradictory prophet by the following
statements made AFTER 1888: Sequeira
is taking a very “selected” statement out of context, and I will give the
full context of Ellen White’s teaching on faith, works, justification and
sanctification further along in this document. Of
course the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us because all empowerment
for obedience is from Him. The
experience of Abraham provides a full example of the full gospel in
microcosm. Abraham was given the free
grace gift of faith as are all men who will accept that gift. Abraham was given the free grace gift of power to act on his faith. Because of His belief in accepting those
free gifts, his faith and obedience were then accounted unto him (imputed
unto him) for righteousness: Jam 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. Paul
said the same thing: Rom 4:11 And
he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the
faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of
all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Rom 4:22 And
therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake
alone, that it was imputed to
him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Notice the words: “if we believe
on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” If is a conditional word.
But is belief (faith) all that is essential? What about the message to We cannot keep the commandments in our own power. He abides in the heart; plants His law in
our heart (mind), and obeys in and through us to do His good pleasure, and
then imputes His righteous obedience to us.
How do we know that we love Him?
We find ourselves surrendered to His will; dead to self, and then we
find Him dwelling within keeping His law for us, because He said He would
plant it in the heart of man as part of the New Covenant: The very heart of the gospel is
Christ IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. The
heart of the gospel is Christ’s Holy Spirit literally in our hearts (minds).
That was the intent of the New Covenant: Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come,
saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Jer 31:32 Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the
hand to bring them out of the Jer 31:33 But this [shall be]
the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days,
saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in
their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 32:40 And I will make an
everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do
them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart
from me. Mal 3:1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and
the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger
of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the
LORD of hosts. Hbr 8:8 For finding fault with
them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Hbr 8:9 Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the
hand to lead them out of the Hbr
8:10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Hbr 8:13 In that he saith, A new
[covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth
old [is] ready to vanish away. So the New Covenant is the Holy
Spirit dwelling in the hearts and minds of men, doing the Will of God. That is very legal subjectively, while the
justification for sins we can do nothing about is very legal objectively. Col 1:27 To whom
God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory: Rom 8:9 But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his. Rom 8:10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead
because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. Where did
Abraham’s belief (faith) derive from? Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man
that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought
to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man
the measure of faith. Considering
her many statements concerning sanctification and justification AFTER 1888,
one can only conclude that by imputed righteousness, Ellen White meant that
no man can earn salvation by works of his/her own. If that was not her intended meaning, then
she was a very false and self-contradictory prophet by the following
statements made AFTER 1888: Ellen
White made the following statement concerning justification and sanctification
made by Ellen White in 1903, the date being proven later in this study: "No one can believe with
the heart unto righteousness, and obtain justification by faith, while
continuing the practice of those things which the Word of God forbids, or
while neglecting any known duty....As God works in the heart, and man
surrenders his will to God, and co-operates with God, he works out in the
life what God WORKS IN by the Holy Spirit, and there is harmony between the
purpose of the heart and the practice of the life. Every sin must be
renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and
glory....It is by continual surrender of the will, by continual obedience,
that the blessing of justification is retained." E.G. White, Selected
Messages, vol. 1, pp. 396-397. Genuine faith
will be manifested in good works; for good works are the fruits of faith. As
God works in the heart, and man surrenders his will to God, and cooperates
with God, he works out in the life what God works in by the Holy Spirit, and
there is harmony between the purpose of the heart and the practice of the
life. Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the
Lord of life and glory, and the believer must have a progressive experience
by continually doing the works of Christ. It is by continual surrender of the
will, by continual obedience, that the blessing of
justification is retained. {NL 28.1} Those who are
justified by faith must have a heart to keep the way of the Lord. It is an
evidence that a man is not justified by faith when his works do not
correspond to his profession. James says, "Seest thou how faith wrought
with his works, and by works was his faith made perfect?" (James 2:22).
{NL 28.2} The faith that
does not produce good works does not justify the soul. "Ye see then how
that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). . . . {NL 28.3} Advocates of the New Theology, such as
Jack Sequeira, try to imply that Ellen White’s experience regarding a correct
understanding of justification and sanctification was “progressive,” and that
she changed her mind after the Jones and Waggoner presentation of
righteousness by faith in 1888.
However, Ellen White said that she understood and taught righteousness
by faith BEFORE 1888. However, let’s review Ellen White’s
teaching after 1888. Notice the date of
the following statements—1910, twelve years after the 1888 Message was delivered. But to pray in
Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept his character,
manifest his spirit, and work his works. The Saviour's promise is given on
condition. "If ye love me," he says, "keep my
commandments." He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who
love him will show their love by obedience. {RH, July 14, 1910 par. 5} All true
obedience comes from the heart. It was heart-work with Christ. And if we
consent, he will so identify himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our
hearts and minds into conformity to his will, that when obeying him we shall
be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will
find its highest delight in doing his service. When we know God as it is our
privilege to know him, our life will be a life of continual obedience.
Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with
God, sin will become hateful to us. {RH, July 14, 1910 par. 6} As Christ lived
the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for
strength. But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others
and wait for them to tell us what to do. We can not depend for counsel upon
humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as he will teach
somebody else. If we come to him in faith, he will speak his mysteries to us
personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune
with us as he did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that
will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before him, just
what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength.
Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has
promised. Whatever was given to Christ,--the "all things" to supply
the need of fallen men,--was given to him as the head and representative of
humanity. And "whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1
John 3:22. {RH, July 14, 1910 par. 7} A.T. Jones
statement: "The power working
within us. And what is this? Our faith. Well, then, that is all the limit put
upon God--the power of God being limited only according to the measure of our
faith. Then, brethren, let us have faith. God is able to do all he promises.
Romans 1:16-17. Many do not know what this
expression "from faith to faith" means. We begin with faith,
and the exercise of that faith will develop the capacity to exercise faith
tomorrow--so that we grow from faith to faith, from today's to tomorrow's
--therefore we grow in faith, and from grace, favor, power with God, to
grace, and in knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us exercise our faith
then, and it will develop power--the power of God unto eternal salvation. Why, then, should we not
rejoice? Now faith works, Galatians 5:6. Here is where the work comes
in, and is the only work acceptable to God, for it is of God, but works
without faith are our own. James 2:18. Well let it do this for it is
true, the man who has the most faith will do the most
acceptable work to God. Work is of no value except it have faith, and faith
without works is valueless. Works will tell the amount of faith we possess, 1
Thessalonians 1:3 2 Thessalonians, 1:11. Now comes obedience. Where?
Romans 16:25-26, all made manifest for the obedience
of faith--then all short of this faith is sin, that is, "comes
short" of the perfection of the law of God, according to the view of
God--not intentional sin, perhaps, but short of the glory of God, and is not
obedience--for without faith it is impossible to please God. So, then, our obedience comes
in after we have faith, and God's spirit is dwelling within us. Do you not
see now that we have to be made good before we can do good? If then you want
to do better get more of Jesus Christ in your heart. It is all well enough to want
to do better, but go first to Jesus to be made better.” Romans 1:5, margin, also Timothy 6:12."
Alonzo T. Jones Grace and power imputed --
"His imputed grace and power
He gives (Imparts) to all who receive Him by faith." E.G. White
Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 929 col. 2 (MS 1, 1892).
Notice the date--1892, four years after the 1888 Message. Thus, no one is justified unless they accept the FULL FREE
PACKAGE OF GRACE—PARDON AND POWER.
Christ gives (IMPARTS) grace and power—HE DOES IT ALL—all the works in
and through us! Unfortunately, this mixed, confused idea
of salvation is still being Nowhere in all of Scripture
do we find justification defined as only Ron’s Commentary: Sequiera makes a very serious error in
saying that NOWHERE in all Scripture do we find justification defined as only
the forgiveness of past sins. Notice: Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; The same principle is found in the
following Scriptures: Hbr 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hbr 10:39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of
them that believe to the saving of the soul. If we draw back to a state of unbelief,
we draw back to perdition. But we are
also assured that if we fall and are repentant, we have an advocate with the
Father: 1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I
unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Yes, the Bible clearly teaches that genuine
justification by faith Ron’s Commentary:
Friend, I have a serious question for you: If Christ was Incarnated to give us His
Holy Spirit for the purpose of indwelling us and keeping His commandments (His
Will—His good pleasure) in and through us, is it not blasphemous to say that
good works (WHICH ARE ALL HIS) do not contribute one iota towards our ticket
to heaven—our salvation? We do not do
the works, because we are dead to self and alive to His Spirit that worketh
in us: Eph 3:20 Now
unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us, Phl 2:13 For
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. Col 1:29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh
in me mightily. How
Then are Justification and Sanctification Defined in
Scripture? The word justification, as with the word
condemnation, is a legal Ron’s Commentary: Sequeira really sabotages himself
above. Here Sequeira admits that
justification (salvation) involves two aspects—justification and
sanctification, because the only subjective experience is
sanctification! Erudite logic demands
the conclusion that if justification is used two ways in the gospel—as an
objective (forensic—legal) fact as well as a subjective experience, then both
are essential and conditional to salvation, just as Ellen White bears out! The statement in red font above is true
in spite of the fact that Sequeira contradicts the statement by saying in
other places that works done as part of the subjective experience have
nothing to do with salvation but are only a result of being saved. They certainly do have EVERYTHING TO DO
WITH SALVATION, because it is God who does the works in and through is and
then imputes them unto us as righteousness just as He did in Abraham’s case! But since this objective justification is
God's supreme gift to Ron’s Commentary: Here again Sequeira totally sabotages
himself by self-contradiction to other of his statements—expressly the
statement that works have nothing to do with salvation but are only results
of salvation. Here (above) he admits
that one must not only believe, but obey and be baptized in Christ, and that
the Bible refers to this as justification by faith. But he says elsewhere that such obedience
has nothing to do with justification (being saved), and then says that
justification in the Bible is used in tow ways, objectively and
subjectively! Get this down good folk,
for he is contradicting himself. In
another statement he says that the only aspect of justification that provides
salvation is objective, forensic justification. Then he now says that justification is used
in two ways—“as an objective fact as well as a subjective
experience.” Here is Sequeira’s contradictory
statement again folks: “Yes, the Bible clearly teaches that
genuine justification by faith Ron’s Commentary: Do you see it?! Here he is saying that genuine
justification (being saved) by faith always results in sanctification or good
works, but that these good works are just evidence of salvation but do not
contribute one iota towards salvation.
Then he says: “When
used in the Justification means saved. Is justification or being saved is used two
ways—as an objective fact as well as a subjective experience, then both are
part of, conditional to, being saved!
Ellen White says that one cannot separate the two and she is
right. And even when men like Sequeira
ramble their errors long enough, they end up contradicting themselves and
giving the truth inadvertently—truth mixed with error! Ellen White says that the law and the
gospel cannot be separated. That is
why there cannot be any separation between the law and the gospel, or
objective, forensic justification and subjective justification! They both are legal. They both involve propitiation of the
law. Christ satisfies both by His
death that made pardon possible, and His gift of His Holy Spirit that made
His power possible. Thus, both, PARDON
AND POWER are efficacious and contributory to our salvation. But Christ does it all IN AND THROUGH US,
as a free gift of grace. This dual application of justification is
also true of the word Ron’s Commentary: Wow!
He does it again! The same
thing all over again! On the one-hand
Sequeira and his disciples teach that justification is ONLY forensic,
objective pardon, while he unwittingly admits that objective justification
and subjective sanctification are part of the salvific process and
conditional to salvation. Subjective
Application: 2 Thes. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2. In Christ, the whole
world has been sanctified or made holy [Eph. Ron’s Commentary: Here Sequeira says that objective
justification is different because it applies to the entire world. But he also confesses that justification is
subjective when applied to believers.
He rightly says that it is all NOT I BUT CHRIST, and that is nothing
but full surrender to Christ, and dying daily to self. So, ONCE AGAIN, he contradicts his former
statement that works have nothing to do with being saved, but are rather only
the result of one having been saved. Works are always subjective. If they have nothing to with salvation,
then it must follow that justification cannot involve both the objective and
subjective as regards the believer!
Keep in mind that Sequeira said that it is the Independent Ministry
leaders who are confused concerning the requirements for salvation! No, they have it down right! Sequeira and all who teach as he does, are
the self-contradictory, confusing factor. In justification by faith, God declares
sinners, who believe in The answer is that the word justification
can be applied in two As sinners the law condemns us to death.
But when we were baptized Thus justification by faith means, on the
one hand, we stand Ron’s Commentary: The mistake Sequeira and like disciples
make, is to assume that Christ kept the law for them and outside them at and
before the cross. The fact is that
Christ keeps the law IN THEM NOW AFTER THE CROSS. His keeping of His own law in and through
us is efficacious toward our salvation!
Why? Because His works are
efficacious! That is why He did and
does them! Many SDA Pastors are taking isolated
statements by Ellen White out of context and totally misrepresenting her balanced
tension between faith, works, justification and sanctification. Here is a
fully balanced statement made in 1893, just five years after the 1888
presentation of righteousness by faith.
The following statement proves the falsity of Jack Sequeira’s theology
and the theology of current SDA New Movement leaders: A
Statement by Ellen White in 1893: Chap. 62 - Justified by Faith [THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE BIBLE STUDENTS' LIBRARY, SERIES, APRIL, 1893.
When God pardons the sinner, remits the punishment he deserves, and
treats him as though he had not sinned, He receives him into divine favor,
and justifies him through the merits of Christ's righteousness. The sinner
can be justified only through faith in the atonement made through God's dear
Son, who became a sacrifice for the sins of the guilty world. No one can be
justified by any works of his own. He can be delivered from the guilt of sin,
from the condemnation of the law, from the penalty of transgression, only by
virtue of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Faith is the only
condition upon which justification can be obtained, and faith includes not
only belief but trust. {1SM 389.1}
Many have a nominal faith in Christ, but they know nothing of that
vital dependence upon Him which appropriates the merits of a crucified and
risen Saviour. Of this nominal faith James says: "Thou believest that
there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:19, 20).
Many concede that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world, but at the same
390 time they hold themselves away from Him,
and fail to repent of their sins, fail to accept of Jesus as their personal
Saviour. Their faith is simply the assent of the mind and judgment to the
truth; but the truth is not brought into the heart, that it might sanctify
the soul and transform the character. "For whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he
justified, them he also glorified" (Rom. 8:29, 30). Calling and
justification are not one and the same thing. Calling is the drawing of the
sinner to Christ, and it is a work wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the heart,
convicting of sin, and inviting to repentance. {1SM 389.2}
Many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the work
of salvation. Repentance is thought to be a work the sinner must do for
himself in order that he may come to Christ. They think that the sinner must
procure for himself a fitness in order to obtain the blessing of God's grace.
But while it is true that repentance must precede forgiveness, for it is only
the broken and contrite heart that is acceptable to God, yet the sinner
cannot bring himself to repentance, or prepare himself to come to Christ.
Except the sinner repent, he cannot be forgiven; but the question to be
decided is as to whether repentance is the work of the sinner or the gift of
Christ. Must the sinner wait until he is filled with remorse for his sin
before he can come to Christ? The very first step to Christ is taken through
the drawing of the Spirit of God; as man responds to this drawing, he
advances toward Christ in order that he may repent. {1SM 390.1}
The sinner is represented as a lost sheep, and a lost sheep never
returns to the fold unless he is sought after and brought back to the fold by
the shepherd. No man of himself can repent, and make himself worthy of the
blessing of justification. The Lord Jesus is constantly seeking to impress
the sinner's mind and attract him to behold Himself, the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sins of the world.
391 We cannot take a step toward spiritual
life save as Jesus draws and strengthens the soul, and leads us to experience
that repentance which needeth not to be repented of. {1SM 390.2}
When before the high priests and Sadducees, Peter clearly presented
the fact that repentance is the gift of God. Speaking of Christ, he said,
"Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour,
for to give repentance to The Meaning of Faith
Paul writes: "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on
this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to
bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is,
to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh
thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which
we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (
The faith that is unto salvation is not a casual faith, it is not the
mere consent of the intellect, it is belief rooted in the heart, that
embraces Christ as a personal Saviour, assured that He can save unto the
uttermost all that come unto God by Him. To believe that He will save others,
but will not save you is not genuine faith; but when the soul lays hold upon
Christ as the only hope of salvation, then genuine faith is manifested. This
faith leads its possessor to place all the affections of the soul upon
Christ; his understanding is under the control of the Holy Spirit, and his
character is molded after the divine likeness. His faith is not a dead faith,
but a faith that works by love, and
392 leads him to behold the beauty of Christ,
and to become assimilated to the divine character. {Deut. 30:11-14 quoted.}
"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy
seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
that thou mayest live" (Deut. 30:6). {1SM 391.3}
It is God that circumcises the heart. The whole work is the Lord's
from the beginning to the end. The perishing sinner may say: "I am a
lost sinner; but Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. He
says, 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Mark
2:17). I am a sinner, and He died upon Imputed Righteousness
Christ is a risen Saviour; for, though He was dead, He has risen
again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. We are to believe with
the heart unto righteousness, and with the mouth make confession unto
salvation. Those who are justified by faith will make confession of Christ.
"He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life" (John 5:24). The great work that is wrought for the
sinner who is spotted and stained by evil is the work of justification. By
Him who speaketh truth he is declared righteous. The Lord imputes unto the
believer the righteousness of Christ and pronounces him righteous before the
universe. He transfers his sins to Jesus, the sinner's representative,
substitute, and surety. Upon Christ He lays the iniquity of every soul that
believeth. "He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). {1SM
392.2}
Christ made satisfaction for the guilt of the whole world, and all who
will come to God in faith, will receive the righteousness of Christ,
"who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to
393 sins, should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Our sin has been expiated,
put away, cast into the depths of the sea. Through repentance and faith we
are rid of sin, and look unto the Lord our righteousness. Jesus suffered, the
just for the unjust. {1SM 392.3}
Although as sinners we are under the condemnation of the law, yet
Christ by His obedience rendered to the law, claims for the repentant soul
the merit of His own righteousness. In order to obtain the righteousness of
Christ, it is necessary for the sinner to know what that repentance is which
works a radical change of mind and spirit and action. The work of transformation
must begin in the heart, and manifest its power through every faculty of the
being; but man is not capable of originating such a repentance as this, and
can experience it alone through Christ, who ascended up on high, led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. {1SM 393.1}
Who is desirous of becoming truly repentant? What must he do?--He must
come to Jesus, just as he is, without delay. He must believe that the word of
Christ is true, and, believing the promise, ask, that he may receive. When
sincere desire prompts men to pray, they will not pray in vain. The Lord will
fulfill His word, and will give the Holy Spirit to lead to repentance toward
God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. He will pray and watch, and put
away his sins, making manifest his sincerity by the vigor of his endeavor to
obey the commandments of God. With prayer he will mingle faith, and not only
believe in but obey the precepts of the law. He will announce himself as on
Christ's side of the question. He will renounce all habits and associations
that tend to draw the heart from God. {1SM 393.2}
He who would become a child of God must receive the truth that
repentance and forgiveness are to be obtained through nothing less than the
atonement of Christ. Assured of this the sinner must put forth an effort in
harmony with the work done for him, and with unwearied entreaty he must
supplicate the throne of grace, that the renovating power of God may come
into his soul. Christ 394 pardons none but the penitent, but whom
He pardons He first makes penitent. The provision made is complete, and the
eternal righteousness of Christ is placed to the account of every believing
soul. The costly, spotless robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has been
provided for the repenting, believing sinner, and he may say: "I will
greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe
of righteousness" (Isa. 61:10). {1SM 393.3}
Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept
free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed
at our command. We are to draw from the well of salvation. Christ is the end
of law for righteousness to everyone who believeth. In ourselves we are
sinners; but in Christ we are righteous. Having made us righteous through the
imputed righteousness of Christ, God pronounces us just, and treats us as
just. He looks upon us as His dear children. Christ works against the power
of sin, and where sin abounded, grace much more abounds. "Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1, 2). {1SM
394.1}
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:24-26). "For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph.
2:8). {John 1:14-16 quoted.} {1SM 394.2} The Promise of the Spirit
The Lord would have His people sound in the faith-- not ignorant of
the great salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are not to look
forward, thinking
395 that at some future time a great work is
to be done for them; for the work is now complete. The believer is not called
upon to make his peace with God; he never has nor ever can do this. He is to
accept Christ as his peace, for with Christ is God and peace. Christ made an
end of sin, bearing its heavy curse in His own body on the tree, and He hath
taken away the curse from all those who believe in Him as a personal Saviour.
He makes an end of the controlling power of sin in the heart, and the life
and character of the believer testify to the genuine character of the grace
of Christ. To those that ask Him, Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit; for it is
necessary that every believer should be delivered from pollution, as well as
from the curse and condemnation of the law. Through the work of the Holy
Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer becomes fitted for the
courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His righteousness is upon
us. Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We would not enjoy
heaven unless qualified for its holy atmosphere by the influence of the Spirit
and the righteousness of Christ. {1SM 394.3}
In order to be candidates for heaven we must meet the requirement of
the law: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy
neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). We can do this only as we grasp by
faith the righteousness of Christ. By beholding Jesus we receive a living,
expanding principle in the heart, and the Holy Spirit carries on the work,
and the believer advances from grace to grace, from strength to strength,
from character to character. He conforms to the image of Christ, until in
spiritual growth he attains unto the measure of the full stature in Christ
Jesus. Thus Christ makes an end of the curse of sin, and sets the believing
soul free from its action and effect. {1SM 395.1}
Christ alone is able to do this, for "in all things it behooved
him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for
the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being
396 tempted, he is able to succor them that
are tempted" (Heb. 2:17, 18). Reconciliation means that every barrier
between the soul and God is removed, and that the sinner realizes what the
pardoning love of God means. By reason of the sacrifice made by Christ for
fallen men, God can justly pardon the transgressor who accepts the merits of
Christ. Christ was the channel through which the mercy, love, and
righteousness might flow from the heart of God to the heart of the sinner.
"He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). {1SM 395.2}
In the prophecy of Daniel it was recorded of Christ that He shall
"make reconciliation for iniquity, and . . . bring in everlasting
righteousness" (Dan. 9:24). Every soul may say: "By His perfect
obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found
in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly
for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He
clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law.
I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me
to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human
agent. All is of Christ, and all the glory, honor, and majesty are to be
given to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." {1SM
396.1}
Many think that they must wait for a special impulse in order that
they may come to Christ; but it is necessary only to come in sincerity of
purpose, deciding to accept the offers of mercy and grace that have been
extended to us. We are to say: "Christ died to save me. The Lord's
desire is that I should be saved, and I will come to Jesus just as I am
without delay. I will venture upon the promise. As Christ draws me, I will
respond." The apostle says, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness"
(Rom. 10:10). No one can believe with the heart unto
righteousness, and obtain justification by faith, while continuing the
practice of those things which the Word of God forbids, or while neglecting
any known duty. {1SM
396.2-397} By the time Sequeira finishes, he
includes works as evidence that one is saved, so if one is not performing
works, (OR AS IT REALLY IS—IF CHRIST IS NOT PERFORMING THE WORKS IN AND
THROUGH ONE), he/she still has no assurance of salvation! So what is the gain by way of any “good
news” ASSURANCE Sequeira is proffering?! There is no “gain,” but there is a great
danger of a huge loss, and I refer to the ultimate loss of eternal life. Wherein?
Because all who teach as does Sequeira, teach the serious error that
as long as one believes, he/she is in relationship with Christ, and need not
be concerned with works as a condition to salvation. Sure, he teaches that works are a result of
being saved, but he teaches that sanctification is progressive and one would
thereby never know whether or not he/she was victorious and/or whether or not
he/she met God’s test for loving Him and the brethren which is keeping the
commandments of God. "...The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism
(see SDACom 7:957). Nicolaitans
of the 2d cent. seem to have continued and extended the views of the
1st-cent. adherents, holding to the freedom of the flesh, and teaching that the deeds of the flesh
had no effect upon the health of the soul and consequently no relation to salvation." SDA Bible Dictionary, vol. 8 of the Commentaries, p. 770,
771. The teachers of the doctrine of
the Nicolaitans always vehemently deny that they
teach it, but it takes little discernment to see that when they clearly say
that the deeds, behavior, (works of the flesh), have no effect upon salvation,
EVEN WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DOING
THE WORKS, that denies the efficacy and very purpose of the Holy
Spirit gift to permit Christ to indwell us, and do His Will in and through
us. To say that such works as done by His Holy Spirit, have nothing to do
with salvation is pure blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’s office and
mission. God bless, Ron Beaulieu P.S. I will publish any and all rebuttals
to my statements. Nothing I said is
contradictory. We are teaching truth
ONLY when nothing contradicts.
Sequeira’s gospel is self-contradictory; it contradicts scripture and
Ellen White’s testimony. Isaiah 8:20
is apropos. |