| Author | Message | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 2031 Registered: 7-2004  |
I am writing a new blog post for Proclamation and wanted to share part of it here for reactions: The book of Galatians was not written to a church that is similar to modern SDAs because the book of Galatians was written to a church of born again Believers. Galatians was written to warn these Believers of some vipers among them who were usurping the message and leading Believers away from the simple message of salvation they had accepted at conversion. These deceiving vipers were not believers but were condemned to damnation (Gal 1:10) and were severed from Christ (Gal 5:4). The letter to the Galatians was written to those whom the vipers were trying to deceive, not to the treacherous vipers. The book of Galatians was warning Believers about people who were much like the modern SDA church. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2891 Registered: 5-2007  |
Thank Ric, very good point. The Quarterly for Aug. 16 quotes Gal. 1:8,9. This is how I responded:
I had already made the point that Adventism adds to the pure simple gospel. Fearless Phil | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 2032 Registered: 7-2004 |
I struck me while I was pondering Galatians this evening that the common Former thinking that this book was almost custom written for SDAs was WRONG. I was thinking about who the audience really was, and who the enemy of this audience was. Paul didn't address the enemy directly. The Galatians had started their journey by faith and had received the Spirit. They were born again believers. SDAs, as a general rule, began the journey by law. Some were broken by that law and came to true faith. But the SDA church starting point is law not faith. It is not like the Galatians at all. It is like the deceivers working among the Galatians to draw them away from Faith alone. The letter doesn't warn SDAs about too much legalism. It warns Christians about those like SDAs who teach a different gospel. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 1160 Registered: 2-2011  |
Ric~ Exactly! "It warns Christians about those like SDAs who teach a different gospel." ~mj~ | ||
| Capross Registered user Username: Capross Post Number: 66 Registered: 7-2012 |
Ric And yet it is for all who are in bondage that they might become free in Christ. While I was still an SDA my mainstay in directing me to freedom was Galations. The truth is the truth no matter who sees it. I only wish that God would put Galations into the hearts and minds of all who are still bound by the SDA doctrine so that they might be free also. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 2033 Registered: 7-2004 |
Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. God's Word will build faith in those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. That is true of all parts of His Word. But consider who the audience of Galatians was. It was not written to convert the lawmongers, it was written to protect the Believers from the lawmongers. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14542 Registered: 12-2003  |
Absolutely, Rick. Thank you for making this really important point! It was written to warn believers away from "Adventist-like" people. Yes. Colleen |
