Help With the Human Spirit
First, thank you for your podcast series of what Adventists believe. My wife and I have good friends who are Adventists. For years we thought that the only difference between us and them was the day we worship. In the last couple of years, the husband has really been hitting me and our close men’s group hard about things such as the Sabbath, annihilation of the unsaved, and soul sleep. Through study I have learned about the Investigative Judgment.
I somehow found your podcasts during the second week of this series. They have been a blessing. I have a burden for my friends, but feel OVERWHELMED with all the intricacies of the Adventist belief system.
The husband, a former Catholic, and I have had some breakfast discussions that can get rather fiery. You mentioned in this podcast (The Nature of Man) that there is a list of Scriptures that you would be able to send to me regarding humans being spirit and not body. I would welcome a response with those Scriptures. Also, anything that you might send about how to witness to Adventists would be helpful.
I live in a location where there is a decent population of Adventists. There use to be an Adventist academy in town that has been closed in recent years.
Our friends run a ministry for LGBTQ called “Coming Out Ministries”. The ministry is exciting and helps bring people out of the LGBTQ lifestyle, but now I fear they are not preaching the TRUE gospel message, which is so sad.
Sorry for rambling. Thanks so much for your ministry. I believe my friends love Jesus, but I am sad that they live in fear of not knowing for sure of their salvation, (as preached by EGW).
I have been re-listening to your podcasts as I wait for the new one each week. 🙂 Keep up the great work.
—VIA EMAIL
Response from Colleen and Nikki: Thank you so much for writing! First, the Lord is leading you as you learn about Adventism and study with your friend. It is extremely difficult to figure out what Adventists “think” from merely talking to them.
I believe during that podcast episode I also had offered my notes which included OT text references giving evidences of the human spirit. I actually took those notes and made them into a blog entry. Here is the link: How The Bible Convinced Me We Have Spirits
Here is another link to an article that might be helpful: Are Humans More Than Living Bodies?
The very best way to witness to an Adventist (and to figure out what he believes) is to engage in ongoing inductive Bible study with him. Would your friend meet with you to read one chapter at a time through a New Testament epistle? If so, I recommend beginning with Galatians and then moving to Hebrews. If you meet and read one chapter together each week, agreeing not to use any outside sources for interpretation (he really must not use his EGW commentary), you may discover his particular skew. If you keep him on track and insist on reading contextually, knowing that context is everything and words matter (and mean what they say), the Bible really emerges as a completely new book to an Adventist with a openness to learn.
When we studied with our Christian neighbors in the mid-90s, Richard and I would sometimes suggest a particular understanding as we discussed passages. I remember our neighbor looking at us and asking, “Where do you find that in the Bible?” It was shocking to realize that so many assumptions we had came from EGW whom we believed to have already discarded!
We are praying for you in your work to give the gospel to your friends. It is intimidating, I know, but the Lord Jesus is more powerful than any system of lies. We will pray He opens your friend’s eyes.
How Do We Worship In Spirit?
I have a question and I wonder if you have some insight for me. Jesus told the woman at the well that God is Spirit, and we are to worship Him in spirit and truth. My question is, just how do we worship God “in spirit”? Is it an intentional thought process? Is it more of a feeling? Or an attitude? How do we worship “in spirit”?
—VIA EMAIL
Response: I believe that Jesus was referring to the life He gives us in our spirits. People who are dead in sin cannot really worship God; they can only perform actions and try to muster up feelings. When we are born again, however, we experience love for Him. We KNOW Him and are known by Him.
I believe it is this intimacy which Jesus meant; when we have His life in us, His word makes sense for the first time, and He teaches us to apply it to our lives. At the same time, as we begin to learn the truth about who He is, who we are, and what He has done, we are filled with gratitude and peace and love and relief from anxiety. I believe this “experience” is worshiping Him in spirit. He puts worship of Him into our hearts and minds, and His word enhances our trust and submission to Him. We have intimacy with Him, and we are filled with gratitude.
Difficult Decisions
We appreciate you guys! Sorry we can’t give more often. Your ministry will always hold a special place in my heart because you were there when the most difficult decisions I could make were happening: the decisions to resist the temptation to just “comply” and return to Adventism to escape family rejection. May God bless you.
—VIA EMAIL
- 4. Jesus and Rituals - May 16, 2024
- 3. Israel Learns of the Sabbath - May 9, 2024
- 2. Did Abraham Keep the Sabbath? - May 2, 2024
A letter last week , asked if Adventist’s are those under the Law . Yes , Adventist’s are under the law .
The Mosaic law was the ten Commandments plus 603 other laws . The Ten Commandments written on stone were housed in the Ark of the Covenant . The 603 written on scrolls were placed beside the Ark. With the death of Christ , only the Ten Commandments remain , because they are eternal . This is Adventist teaching . Last month I was in discussion with an Adventist lady , 91 years old , on this very subject . She said James 2 applied only to the Ten Commandments because the 603 were fulfilled by Christ . Adventist teach that the law in Galatians is the Ceremonial law and not the Ten Commandments and they therefore place little emphasis on Galatians . This is how they defend the Ten Commandments .
Living under the law one’s FOCUS is on obedience , rather then faith . Last quarters Bible Study Guide was riddled with the theme of obedience . In reality it was about faith , but living under the law the focus was turned from faith to obedience .
At Taree SDA church NSW Australia , their was a pastor who was able to include John 14 : 15 in nearly every sermon ” If you love me , keep my commandments ” . Of course he was referring to the Ten Commandments . But Christ was restating John 13 : 34 , 35 ” So now I am giving you a New commandment : love each other . Just as I have loved you , you should love each other . Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples ” .
Satan wants you to sin . But more than sin , Satan wants you to keep the law . He knows that you will eventually break the law and come under shame , guilt and condemnation . The law was given to cause us to have sin consciousness and because Adventist are under the law , their continuing relationship with the law causes Adventist to maintain sin consciousness .
Adventist live in a state of constant confusion . Living under the law brings condemnation , but the New Covenant says ” there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” { Romans 8 :1 } Combining Law and Grace = zero results .
” Sin shall not have dominion over you . For you are not under the law , but under grace ” [ Romans 6 : 14 ] . When you are under the law , sin and sin consciousness will have dominion over you .
The age of the law has come to an end , and it has been replaced by the age of grace . But Adventists are still living under the old , cancelled covenant .
The law blinds people to the grace of God . Satan has a strategy to keep Adventists blind to the truth of Gods word . Satan uses wrong teaching and the result is wrong believing and wrong living .
“The old written covenant ends in death ” [ 2 Corinthians 3 : 6 ] . Living according to the Old Covenant , under the law , will end in death .