State of the Dead Pushback
I’m still working out what the Bible says about the state of the dead, but I was alarmed to hear Colleen say (in the Former Adventist Podcast entitles “What Happens When We Die?”) that Ecclesiastes “wasn’t meant for doctrine, ” in direct contradiction of 2 Timothy 3:16.
—VIA YOUTUBE
Response: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
First, “doctrine” is not mentioned here. Further, Paul says “ALL Scripture is God-breathed…” We don’t form doctrine on the basis of a single out-of-context passage. Ecclesiastes is not didactic teaching. It is considered “wisdom literature” or “poetry”. It reveals truth and reality, but it must be understood in context.
Ecclesiastes gives us the reflections of a man considering the implications of living a life without God. Furthermore, the very next phrase of Ecclesiastes 9:5 states that there is no memory of the dead under the sun. Yet even Adventists do not believe this phrase. They DO remember their dead.
Doctrine—the way we live our lives as believers—is not determined by DESCRIPTIVE passages of Scripture. It is determined by PRESCRIPTIVE passages. Further, context is king. We can’t take commands given to a nation under a different covenant and say its commands belong to us. If we could, we would never mix linen and wool in any fabric. Clear didactic passages that explain how believers are to live (as expounded in the NT epistles) are where we form our doctrine.
God Keeps His Promises to Israel
This podcast (Former Adventist Podcast, “Replacement Theology Examined: Romans 9:1–5”) is one of the best in this “Romans” series. Well-researched and deeply profound! What a blessing. Thank you.
—VIA YOUTUBE
Adventist Gospel Magnifies the Law
Sometimes, criticism leads others to discover the truth for themselves. Now regarding the accusation that “Adventism equates the law with God,” that is a misunderstanding. Seventh-day Adventists exalt Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, whose sacrifice on the cross is the foundation of salvation. However, we also believe the moral law—especially the Ten Commandments—remains the standard of righteousness and sin. The Bible clearly says, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and Paul affirms, “I would not have known sin except through the law” (Romans 7:7). Without a clear understanding of sin, repentance becomes empty and meaningless. Christ died not to abolish the law, but to fulfill its demands and offer grace to transform our hearts. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). True faith in Christ leads to surrender, transformation, and obedience—not rebellion. The gospel does not erase God’s moral law; it magnifies it in the life of the believer.
—VIA YOUTUBE
Response from YouTube Moderator Jim Liley: This is an example of how those in the Adventist organization takes descriptive passages and applies them as prescriptive passages. Whenever an Adventist reads the words “law” or “commandment”, all they see in their minds is that this must be referring to the TEN Commandments.
The Old Testament should be read and understood through the lens of the New Testament. The gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-4) is key in understanding and applying scripture.
Those in the Adventist counterfeit pseudo-Christian organization believe they and they alone have been given the God particle of biblical interpretation.
Response from the first author to Jim Liley: Thank you for sharing your perspective. I understand where the confusion often lies. It’s not that Seventh-day Adventists assume every mention of “law” refers to the Ten Commandments. Instead, we study the context to distinguish between ceremonial, civil, and moral laws. When we uphold the Ten Commandments, it’s because Scripture itself does. Paul wrote, “I would not have known sin except through the law” (Romans 7:7), and John said, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Repentance without the knowledge of sin—which is defined by the moral law of God written by His own hand—is empty and powerless. Jesus Himself said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). If our Lord ties love to obedience, who are we to twist, replace, or ignore His standard? The gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1–4) is not at odds with God’s law—it magnifies it. Adventism doesn’t claim special authority, but we urge all to test everything by the Word of God. Sometimes criticism, even when meant to discredit, leads others to seek and find truth for themselves. That search is what truly matters.
Response from Jim Liley: No confusion here, having been in the Adventist denomination for 45 years and now out for 25 years, not once have I heard or read any definition of the law from an Adventist as anything other than the TEN. To divide the law into three separate partition— ceremonial, civil, and moral laws—is a corrupt application and is done primarily to elevate a part of the law to a position that it was never understood to be, when first given.
Paul was a pharisee’s pharisee and is expressing one of the reasons why the law was given to Israel. Will a Christian also be able to understand that reason as well? Of course; however, the law was not given to obtain or maintain one’s salvation. “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) is a mistranslation in the KJV and is correctly translated as “Sin is lawlessness” in modern translations.
The word translated ’commandments’ in John’s writings is entole which is always referring to Christ’s teachings and commands while here on earth. John is consistent in his references to “law” and to “commands” or “commandments”. In his writings he uses the word nomos to refer to the law, or the 10 Commandments.
So, are you saying that the Adventist organization doesn’t believe and teach they are a special “remnant people” raised up by God to proclaim their unique interpretation of the Three Angels’ Messages in Revelation? That they and they alone have the correct understanding of the Sabbath and it’s future application?
The Seventh-day Adventist counterfeit pseudo-Christian organization reads, interprets, and applies the Scriptures totally differently from Christians.
All the scriptures should be read using the correct hermeneutics. Proof texting rarely ends well.†
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