I have not been a former Adventist for very long, only a few years. Nevertheless, much has changed in my life during this relatively brief period of time. I have a new life in Christ, I have a new position among the people of God, and my outlook on virtually everything has radically changed. I think it’s often good for formers to periodically pause and look back at what God has brought them through over past years.
I remember distinctly stopping by my old Adventist high school out of curiosity a few years ago. That time I was with my own young son. As I was there with him, looking around, at one point I was overcome with emotion marveling at the sheer grace of God. Little did I know as a child how God would eventually save me, grant me new life, bring me out of darkness, even give me a precious son! Like with so many things in life, we can sometimes take what we have for granted and forget the past.
It is because of that slipping into taking God’s grace for granted in subtle ways that I was surprised to find myself experiencing the new covenant in a fresh and dramatic way at the 2020 Former Adventist conference with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, most of whom, like I, were once Adventists. For those who have never been to an FAF conference––it is a truly wonderful experience that I look always anticipate; it is a kind of highlight of the year. It’s my prayer that more former Seventh-day Adventists may find the time and means to gather together at this event, by God’s grace.
For my part, I flew across the pond from my current home in the UK to California with the intention of ministering to others through teaching and song. Yet at the same time, I found myself ministered to by the New Covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit––mediated through wonderful teaching, fellowship, and worship.
Unity of the Spirit
In his majestic epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul begins to exhort his fellow believers beginning in chapter 4, after presenting a glorious picture of Christ and the many gospel benefits that come to those who trust in Him. He describes a “unity of the Spirit” in verse 3 and then goes on to talk about “one body” and “one Spirit” in verse 4. As formers, we were not just called out of darkness. We were called into one body, the body of Christ, to which we belong. We were called into one Spirit, who indwells us forevermore. This unity was evidently manifest at the 2020 FAF conference. People had arrived from many different places, including such distant locations as Canada. Even I, having flown all the way over from the UK, discovered that I was not the only one, for it turned out that a dear sister had travelled to the conference from Liverpool, on the same flight, no less!
And yet despite our diverse backgrounds, despite our very different present circumstances, there was an instant unity in Christ that was palpable. Among the New Covenant promises given to us is the declaration that we shall all be taught of God (Isa. 54:13). We are one because we all have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and are led by the Spirit to praise God for his mercy and rejoice together in the gospel. The joy we have as formers in the gospel is a special joy because of our background, and that joy simply comes alive when we come together in celebration.
Love for one another
The New Covenant is ALL about love—love for God and love for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The New Testament is replete with references to love and constantly urges believers to excel in love. It even devotes an entire chapter to love (1 Cor. 13) and declares that God is love (1 John 4:8), something that no other attribute or quality of God can compete with in terms of prominence or focus. At the 2020 Former Adventist conference, I was truly awash in the special love that is so sweet among born-again believers. The selfless ministry of so many who devoted themselves to serving us was so moving (as it is every year). Families gave of their time to prepare and serve meals, clean rooms, and do all the detailed preparation that must be done for an event such as this. I am overwhelmed at the sacrifices that so many have made to help Richard and Colleen Tinker make this conference a success and blessing.
I was also touched in a special way by those coming to the conference who had never been Adventists themselves. Many of them are involved in apologetics ministry, and they have sacrificed time and money to come here in order to listen to us and better understand Seventh-day Adventism (which has an extraordinarily complex history and doctrines). It is so clear that these brothers and sisters care about us and about those still inside Adventism. This is a special love that is unquestionably a fruit of the Spirit.
Finally, a love for the Lord was clearly felt throughout the conference. It showed through whenever attendees worshipped in song, singing enthusiastically with hearts full of joy. It was evident in the care with which people listened to the teaching and followed along in their Bibles. It was powerfully demonstrated in the many testimonies given, some of which left hardly a dry eye in the room.
Freedom in Christ
Our theme this year, of course, was “Jesus––The New Lawgiver.” During his last supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Lord gave us a new commandment, to love as he has loved. The commandment is new because of Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, now fully revealed to us––and because of His sacrifice for us. The New Covenant promises us a new heart with which we are enabled to love. And with this, the New Covenant gives us a radical freedom in Christ. Paul says in Galatians 5:22–23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.”
For a long time I had been puzzled by Paul’s final statement: “against such things there is no law.” Why even say something like that? Of course God has never been against such things! But then I remembered that Paul elsewhere describes a kind of law which he terms “the law of sin and death.” It is not as though the Mosaic law was ever bad in and of itself (which the apostle repeatedly stresses). Rather, it was our sin nature which brought the condemnation of God’s law upon us. But now, because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection on our behalf, we are granted new life. We are born again, regenerated, such that we now bear fruit to God––the fruit of the Spirit.
The demands of the law used to only bring condemnation to us. I chuckle at a saying that I have heard that perfectly describes fallen humanity in an amusing way: “Everything I like is either, illegal, immoral, or fattening.” It’s funny because it’s true. Yet, although a Christian will continue to struggle living in this old body, he has nevertheless been given new desires. Christians are truly the most free people of all.
It’s so amazing to me how every Former Adventist conference makes me realize that to some degree I have forgotten or taken for granted the freedom I have in Christ in the New Covenant. At the same time, I fail to appreciate the magnitude of the bondage that so many have experienced, being placed under the idolatry of the Sabbath, described as a shadow in the New Testament, yet perpetuated by Adventism somehow as an eternal sign of loyalty to God.
The Gospel
Last but not least: the gospel. Christianity is all about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do not “graduate” from the ABCs of the gospel. We live and stand in the gospel! The gospel became dear to me in a very new way at the 2020 FAF conference, as I experienced fellowship with God’s people as a redeemed sinner, saved by grace. We all participated in the Lord’s table at Redeemer Fellowship on Sunday following the conference, and we felt the weight of his sacrifice on our behalf. God has been so faithful to save me from my blindness, to reveal to me his precious Son, and to allow me to experience never-ending grace. I praise Him for His amazing kindness, and I pray that God continue to bless Life Assurance Ministries as it calls Adventists to trust in Christ and to enter into the New Covenant. †
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