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In the following study we analyze seven of the heretical Seventh-day Adventist doctrines and compare them with Bible truth. These are not all of the heresies taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but they are seven of the most egregious.

Seventh-day Adventism plays the same game in salvation as every other false movement of Christendom. They profess to teach salvation by grace through faith, but they redefine this in a way that is contrary to New Testament doctrine.

Though they often deny this, the Adventist denomination teaches that salvation is by grace plus law, faith plus works. Grace, according to Adventist theology, is the power and forgiveness God gives to enable a sinner to keep the law and to thereby build a holy character fit for Heaven. He who fails to build the right character by God’s grace will never see Heaven. Faith and works are the two oars by which the believer is propelled to glory.

The Adventist doctrine of salvation is a subtle mixture of grace and law that can never provide Bible security. Simply stated, this doctrine is as follows: The sinner is powerless to live up to God’s holy standards, the law. He does not and cannot possess in himself the character demanded of God. Thus God has come to his aid through the sacrifice of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. God now offers, because of the atonement of His Son, enablement to the sinner by which he is empowered to keep the law. Christ’s blood covers all shortcomings, (only) as long as these are properly confessed and forsaken. God offers the grace and power; the sinner must take these and develop within himself the character demanded by the law, or, at least—to put it as the cults would—allow Jesus to do this work. The believing sinner who fails to properly walk with the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit shall ultimately be lost, in spite of his faith in Christ.

This doctrine of salvation cannot and does not offer any security for the adherent. There can never be assurance of eternal life for the cultist, because he does not, in practice, believe that eternal salvation is TOTALLY a gift of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The cultist, rather, is convinced that he, too, has a part in gaining eternal life. He must properly endure to the end in the law of God and the works of his church. If he fails to develop the proper character, he will never inherit eternal life. Thus, he can have no assurance of salvation until after the examinations of judgment day. The misled cultist cannot "stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2). Since works play a role in his salvation, he can never testify with joy, saying, "I am NOW justified by his blood ... I SHALL BE saved from wrath through him" (Rom. 5:9).

The goal of the cults when approaching an individual is to bring that soul into legalistic bondage and to shut him out from the true grace of God. They deny this, but their doctrine proves this is true.

Consider a person who has placed his trust in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, he has therefore been cleansed of sin, justified, placed into the family of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is a saved sinner, walking in the eternal liberty of the redeemed sons of God, happily serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—not for fear of rejection, not to inherit salvation, not to complete his salvation—but in gratitude to his Savior for the eternal life he has been freely given.

Along comes the false teacher. Rather than rejoicing with this redeemed sinner over his good fortune in finding salvation and encouraging him simply to continue in the grace of Christ in a good Bible-believing church, he clucks his tongue in a very concerned way and says: "Not enough; not enough. Faith in Christ is not enough! To be really saved, my friend, you must do this and that and the other; yes, if you really want to be saved, you must come with us into our group. You need the Sabbath. You need the sacraments. You need tongues. You need our kind of baptism. You need a second blessing. We will show you the way."

Such false teachers are aptly described by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Galatians: "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage" (Gal. 2:4).

It is important that we thoroughly document the SDA doctrine of salvation, since it is very subtle. Often, in their literature produced for the general public, the SDA modify what they really believe, including the doctrine of salvation, in an attempt to appear orthodox. The Christian should beware of the deceitfulness of the cults. They are as ready and able as the disguising chameleon to change colors according to varying situations. On one hand, they try to appear perfectly orthodox. They claim to be persecuted and misunderstood by other Christians because of their heresies. "We are just like you are," they protest. On the other hand they promote all sorts of heretical teachings and speak boldly against orthodox Bible doctrines and attempt to draw converts away from the Bible-believing churches. This should not surprise us. The New Testament refers frequently to the deception of false teachers:

"come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Mt. 7:15).

"deceive many" (Mt. 24:4,5,11,24).

"deceitful workers" (2 Co. 11:13).

"false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily" (Gal. 2:4).

"cunning craftiness" (Ep. 4:14).

"seducing spirits" (I Tim. 4:1).

"speaking lies in hypocrisy" (1 Ti. 4:2).

"who creep into houses" (2 Ti. 3:6).

"seducers ... deceiving and being deceived (2 Ti. 3:13).

"feigned words" (2 Pe. 2:2).

"many deceivers are entered into the world" (2 John 7).

"certain men crept in unawares" (Jude 4).

"seducers" (Re. 2:20).

WHAT ADVENTISM TEACHES: The SDA doctrine of salvation documented. Consider carefully the following Seventh-day Adventist statements relative to salvation. While professing to uphold salvation by grace alone through faith alone, they actually redefine this contrary to apostolic revelation. The result is a false gospel that subtly mixes grace and law.

From a SDA tract deceptively titled Saved By Grace: "Christ says to every man in this world what He said to the rich young ruler: ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,’ Matthew 19:17. In other words, THE STANDARD FOR ADMISSION INTO HEAVEN IS A CHARACTER BUILT ACCORDING TO THE TEN SPECIFICATIONS, OR COMMANDMENTS, OF GOD’S LAW. ... He can lift you up to the place where the requirements of the law are met in you. ... THE MASTER BUILDER WILL STAND RIGHT WITH YOU AND IN YOU, AND SEE TO IT PERSONALLY THAT YOUR LIFE COMES UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD’S LAW" (Charles T. Everson, Saved By Grace, pp. 45-46).

From SDA correspondence courses. "It is not the work of the gospel to weaken the claims of God’s holy law, but to bring men up to where they can keep its precepts" (Prophetic Guidance Correspondence Course, Lesson 10, p. 36).

"Do you want to be a Christian? ... The steps to Christ are few and plain and easy to understand, and we will turn to God’s Guidebook now for information. ... Believe; that’s the first step toward becoming a Christian. ... the second step is repentance ... repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and putting them away ... the next step in becoming a Christian is confession ... real repentance and confession mean not only to stop sinning, but to do everything possible to make past wrongs right ... The next step is baptism, and the proof for that is found in Acts 2:38-39 ... Fifth, obedience through Christ in us ... So we have clearly outlined the steps that we need to take in order to become a Christian: to believe in God, to repent of and to confess our sins, to be baptized, AND TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. ... He may stumble and fall, but he gets up and presses forward again, determined to overcome by God’s enabling power. Such a fall is not counted against him when he repents and asks forgiveness and divine help to live the right life" (New Life Voice of Prophecy Guide, #12).

"Before Christ comes a second time to take us to His Father’s house in heaven above, we must allow Him to conquer sin in our lives. ... Because in this life we have chosen to accept these lovely graces of Christ as our own, the sudden transformation at Jesus’ appearing will seal our characters. ... ONLY THOSE WHO LIVE THE JESUS-LIFE CAN BE FREED FROM SIN. ... Jesus counseled the rich man who was seeking eternal life, ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ ... It is Jesus who delivers us from sin but not in sin. WE MUST ACCEPT HIM AND THROUGH HIS POWER IN US BE SEPARATED FROM THE IMPURE, THE UNHOLY, THE DEFILING—ALL DISOBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS" (New Life Guides, #10).

From a SDA catechism. " ... We were slaves to sin. Jesus came down and suffered with us, and for us, and delivered us. As we behold Him in His word, and in prayer and meditation, and serve Him in the person of others, WE MAY BE CHANGED MORE AND MORE INTO THE GLORY OF HIS LIKENESS; THEN, IF FAITHFUL, WE SHALL SOMEDAY SEE HIM FACE TO FACE" (Bible Footlights, 1960, p. 17).

From a SDA doctrinal study. "To whom will God impart immortality? ‘To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality’ (Rom. 2:7). What shall be their reward? ‘Eternal life’ (Rom. 2:7). Upon what conditions may men obtain this blessing? ‘Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life’ (1 Tim. 6:12). ... Will a man’s final destiny be in accordance with the life he has lived? ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap’ (Gal. 6:7)" (C.B. Haynes, When A Man Dies, pp. 46-47).

From one of Ellen White’s major works. While discussing the doctrine of Investigative Judgment, Mrs. White presents the following teaching about salvation: "The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are counted worthy of ‘the resurrection of life.’ ... As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. ... every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance. ... all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance ... the work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another" (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 425, 431).

Adventism labels this doctrine "salvation by grace," but it is a very strange type of grace’ it is a "grace" foreign to the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: How does the true gospel of the grace of Christ differ from the SDA gospel?

1. Salvation is by grace ALONE through faith ALONE, without the works of the law in any sense whatsoever. Contrary to Adventist doctrine, grace and faith, law and works are not mutually sympathetic systems and are not to be mixed.

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Ro. 3:19-20).

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Ga. 3:10).

"But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; 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" (Ro. 3:21-25).

"Christ hath REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Ga. 3:13-14).

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. FOR 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 Co. 5:18-21).

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW" (Ro. 3:28).

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Ro. 4:4-5).

"AND IF BY GRACE, THEN IS IT NO MORE OF WORKS: OTHERWISE GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Ro. 11:6).

"But that NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith" (Ga. 3:11).

The Good News of Christ is not salvation through grace producing the works of the law. It is eternal salvation by God’s grace alone through faith alone WITHOUT THE LAW. All who will be saved must come on these glorious terms, trusting in the shed blood alone for full salvation.

Those who, after initial faith in Christ, attempt to return to the Mosaic law to perfect their salvation are committing the same error as the Galatians of the first century.

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham" (Ga. 3:1-7).

Those who persist in placing themselves under the Mosaic law in spite of clear New Testament teaching are outside of true salvation. Seventh-day Adventist leaders who believe the teaching of their own denomination as stated in the such publications as the New Life Voice of Prophecy correspondence courses are of this number; they are Galatian legalizers.

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (Ga. 4:9-11).

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you" (Ga. 4:19-20).

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Ga. 5:1-5).

2. Salvation is secure upon conversion. Only the true gospel can offer security. Note the following Bible confirmation of this precious doctrine.

Salvation is secure because it is a free gift, entirely unmerited by the sinner (Ep. 2:8-9).

Salvation is secure because it involves being declared absolutely righteous by God (Ro. 3:21-24). The Greek word translated "justified" is also translated righteous. To be justified is to be declared righteous. Notice how the terms "justified" and "the righteousness of God" are used interchangeably in Romans 3:21-24 quoted above. Notice too, that this righteousness is obtained "by faith," "freely by his grace." What is the sinner’s problem and curse? Is it not his lack of righteousness? Therefore, if God justifies the believing sinner, if God declares that sinner righteous, what more does such a blessed individual need? To be justified is to be righteous in God’s eyes, just as righteous as Jesus. To be righteous is to be saved and safe. Hallelujah!

Salvation is secure because it is a present possession.

Justification is a present possession (Ro. 5:9).

Peace with God is a present possession (Ro. 5:1).

Reconciliation is a present possession (Ro. 5:10).

Atonement is a present possession (Ro. 5:11)

Eternal life is a present possession (1 Jn. 5:11- 13).

Being a child of God is a present possession (Ep. 1:6).

Being accepted in Christ is a present possession (Ep. 1:6).

Forgiveness of sin is a present possession (Ep. 1:7).

Being made alive in Christ is a present possession (Ep. 2:1).

Being made fit for heaven is a present possession (Col. 1:12).

Being delivered from the power of darkness is a present possession (Col. 1:13).

Being translated into Jesus’ kingdom is a present possession (Col. 1:13).

Mercy is a present possession (1 Pe. 2:10).

Healing of sin is a present possession (1 Pe. 2:24).

My friend, do you enjoy these glorious spiritual possessions? Have you acknowledged that you are a sinner and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? A person is either saved or lost—entirely saved or entirely lost. There is no middle ground, no growing into or perfecting salvation. Are you trusting the blood of Christ, and the blood of Christ ALONE for salvation? If so, the Bible says you possess all the spiritual blessings listed above, plus much, much more. They are secure blessings in Christ!

Salvation is secure because it is positional. There are only two types of persons in reference to salvation—the person outside of Christ, and the person in Christ. All are sinners. It is the sinner’s position in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ which determines his standing before God: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ep. 1:3). See also Ro. 6:11; Ep. 1:6; 1 Jn. 5:12.

Salvation is secure because it is by imputation and substitution. "For 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 Co. 5:21). "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us..." (Ga. 3:13).

The sinner has two problems before God. He is sinful and needs forgiveness, and He is unrighteous and needs righteousness. He needs his sin taken away and righteousness imparted or imputed to him. This is what God gives in the Lord Jesus. By Christ’s substitutionary death, He paid the price our sin demanded. He, therefore, offers full pardon and forgiveness. This is substitutionary atonement—Jesus dying for man’s sins. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Pe. 2:24).

God gives the forgiven sinner righteousness by imputing Jesus’ righteousness to his account. This is not a righteousness which God works in the sinner, but righteousness which God places on the sinner’s account. It is imputed, not infused. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Ro. 3:24).

The cults despise this doctrine of imputed righteousness. They hate the teaching that a saved man’s standing before God has NOTHING to do with his personal works, but rests SOLELY upon Christ’s work and the righteousness God imputes to him on the basis of this work. Yet the Bible teaches this. Romans chapter four uses the words "impute," "reckon," and "count" eight times, emphasizing the blessed truth that the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to the believing sinner’s account.

There is standing, and there is walk. There is position, and there is practice. There is relationship, and there is fellowship. To confuse these is to pervert the gospel. The two are seen clearly in the book of Ephesians. Chapters 1-3 present the believers position in Christ; chapters 4-6 present the walk he is to maintain in this world. The pivotal verse in Ep. 4:1 says, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Paul admonished the believers to walk worthy of their eternally secure position in Christ. The position doesn’t change, but the walk certain does. Ephesians 5:8 says, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but NOW are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." The believer has a secure position in Christ, but he is called upon to live up to this position in this world by walking in obedience to God. Colossians 3:1,3 says the same thing: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God ... For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." In position, the Christian is dead to sin and risen with Christ; in practice he is to live up to this eternal calling by seeking the things which are above.

The Christian’s standing and position and relationship is eternally secure the moment he is born again. His state and practice and fellowship changes according to his daily walk with Christ. The true believer is perfect before God—justified, declared righteous. He is as righteous, in this sense, the day he is converted as he is after forty ears of spiritual maturing. At no time does his standing in Christ as a justified sinner change. The standing is not affected by his growth. He is admonished to live up to this glorious, free position. The believer is challenged to obey the Lord, not in order to attain a position of righteousness, but to live up to the position God has already given him.

What a wonderful salvation! The better a believer understands these truths and his secure position in Christ, the more heartily he desires to serve his Savior God.

Salvation is secure because sanctification has two parts. The New Testament presents two distinct aspects to the believer’s sanctification, or his setting apart to God from sin—positional and practical. The words "sanctification," "holy," and "saint" are all translated from the same Greek word. Thus the things we say here are equally true for all terms, for the believer’s sanctification, for his holiness, and for his sainthood.

The word "sanctification" itself means to be set apart for special service. It can refer to the setting apart of the tabernacle furniture (Ex. 40:10-11,13), of a mountain (Ex. 19:23), of God in the believer’s heart (1 Pet. 3:15), even of food set apart by the believer’s prayer (1 Tim. 4:5). So, when we speak of the believer’s sanctification, we are referring to the believer being set apart from sin to God. To sanctify, or to make holy, does not necessarily mean to purify morally. Mt. Sinai certainly was not purified morally when the Israelites "sanctified" it!

There are two aspects to the believer’s sanctification. First, the believer is said to be positionally, once for all, eternally set apart to God from sin at his new birth. He is, at that moment, positionally sanctified and holy. He is, right then, a saint, positionally, although, as a brand new Christian, he certainly is not very saintly. He is a saint, sanctified and holy, solely because of his position in Christ Jesus. Amen! "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (He. 10:10). Some other passages which teach this are Ac. 20:32; 1 Co. 1:2,30; 6:9-11; He. 10:14; and 1 Pe. 1:2. Positional sanctification is a free gift of God’s grace received by simple faith in Christ; it is a secure and present possession.

Secondly, the believer is instructed to be sanctified in a practical sense. This is Christian growth—putting away the old man and putting on Christ, laying aside sin and attaining to godliness. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour" (1 Th. 4:3-4). Some other passages speaking of this are 1 Th. 4:3; 1 Pe. 1:14-16; and Ro. 6:19,22.

There are these two different parts to every believer’s sanctification and holiness. He is once for all sanctified in Christ positionally at the new birth. Then he is to follow the Lord in obedience and growth in practical sanctification.

These two aspects are well illustrated by two Old Testament feasts—the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread. Of course, the Passover, according to 1 Co. 5:7, pictures the believer’s salvation through the atonement of the Lord Jesus. This refers to positional sanctification. The feast of unleavened bread, which occurred during the seven days following the Passover, pictures the believer putting sin out of his life in a practical, daily sense (1 Co. 5:7-8). This is practical sanctification. Christ’s Passover sacrifice secures the believer’s cleansing and standing before God. Saved from sin positionally, the believer begins to put sin out of his life and to grow in grace.

Those who teach a person can lose his salvation often fail to see these two different types of sanctification. They teach that unless the believer follows through with practical sanctification, he will not be saved. To teach this, though, is to deny the multitudes of comforting passages that say a believer is complete and safe in Christ. "...he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ep. 1:6-7).

Salvation is secure because it is not servitude, but sonship. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Ro. 8:15). The man under the law is under the bondage of servitude. His relationship to God is based on faithful service to God’s law. He can never rest securely. The man under the grace of Christ has entered the eternal freedom of Sonship. His relationship is secure because it is based, not on his works, but on Christ’s work. Christ became a servant that sinners might be made free to serve Him in love and thanksgiving rather than in fear of possible failure and ultimate rejection. There is liberty in Jesus! He has redeemed the believer eternally from the slave market of sin. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Ga. 5:1).

Salvation is secure because the believer is promised certain deliverance from sin. "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we SHALL BE saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we SHALL BE saved by his life" (Ro. 5:9-10). See also Ro. 8:28-30.

Salvation is secure because the believer is kept by the power of God. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pe. 1:3-5). How can a believer be assured he will enjoy the inheritance spoken of in verse four? Because of the power of God spoken of in verse five!

From the previous studies, it can be seen that true Bible salvation does not have the uncertainty and legalistic admixture of the Adventist gospel. The SDA gospel is false.

DOES SECURITY IN CHRIST MEAN A PROFESSOR CAN LIVE IN SIN AND STILL GO TO HEAVEN? It is important here to consider exactly what is meant by eternal security in Christ. Does true Bible salvation mean a person can profess Jesus and live "any way he wants to" and go to Heaven? Absolutely not.

1. Salvation demands repentance (Ac. 17:30). Repentance means a change of mind resulting in a change of life, and Jesus Christ said "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3). The person who has never changed his mind about God, sin, Christ, and the Bible, has never turned from sin and self-will to God, has never been saved. The individual who professes salvation, yet does not experience a changed life, is not a person who falls away from salvation; he is a person who has never possessed salvation. He has never repented.

2. The new birth changes a man’s life. The Bible says those who are truly saved are born again. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Co. 5:17). The new birth is God giving the sinner a new nature. The saved man has new desires. God’s nature within him makes him desire to live God’s way. The indwelling Holy Spirit ministers a desire for holiness and truth. The professor in Christ who does not love God’s way is not a saved man who falls away from salvation; he is a hypocrite or a deceived person who has never possessed true salvation.

3. Salvation is evidenced by perseverance. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (Jn. 10:27). Jesus did not say there are any exceptions to this. The true believer follows Christ. The writer to Hebrews says, "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (He. 3:14). Note this verse does not say "we WILL BE made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence." It says we ARE made partakers if we remain stedfast. The stedfastness is the evidence of salvation, not the perfection of it. True faith keeps on keeping on; it perseveres. The Savior keeps His own. The saved man might stumble and halt and grow weak at times, but his faith will continue. The person who completely turns from the Lord Jesus is one who has never had true faith to begin with. He has perhaps dabbled in the things of Christ; perhaps he has curiously tasted of God’s table, but he has never truly drunk of the salvation of Jesus Christ.

The verses quoted above teach that believers do not keep themselves saved by keeping on in the things of the Lord. By continuing in the things of Christ, they simply demonstrate that they have been saved. They keep on because God works in them. No one has any authority from Scripture to say someone is truly saved who does not continue in the things of Christ. On the other hand, this does not mean that the believer cannot enjoy a know-so position in Christ. He is safe in Christ already the very day he is converted. The Bible says so. This does not make him slothful; it inspires him with love and devotion to his Savior.

4. True saving faith produces works. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone..." (Jam. 2:17). A faith that does not work is a dead faith. The individual who professes to be saved, but who is not interested in Christ and the things of God, has a very peculiar kind of "faith." It certainly is not saving faith.

We agree with the Adventists that salvation produces works; but we vehemently disagree with them that these works in any way perfect salvation. Evidencing salvation by one’s works is one thing; perfecting one’s salvation through works is quite another. Evidencing salvation by works is the gospel; perfecting salvation through works is a perversion of the gospel.