Bondage or Liberty?

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 7, 1907

Bondage or Liberty?

In writing to one of his members who had decided to keep the true Sabbath, a pastor of a Christian church described this people as follows:—

They are like those Jewish teachers in the early church who were reproved by Paul in his letters because they deluded the people back into the bondage of the law, trusting in the law rather than in Christ himself. An unprejudiced mind that will stop to consider the facts will admit this is true of the Seventh-day Adventists.

It is plain that this pastor is not acquainted with the teachings of Seventh-day Adventists, for had he known what they really are, he could not have honestly made such a charge against this denomination. What are the facts? Seventh-day Adventists believe and teach that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, according to Paul’s reply to the jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;” that we are justified by faith, and not by the deeds of the law; that we are saved by grace wholly, and not through any works of our own; and that no man can save himself by keeping any one of the commandments, or all of them. On the other hand, Seventh-day Adventists believe and teach that we do not make void the law through faith; that the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ is to be witnessed by the law and the prophets; and that the fruit of our salvation is seen in a life in harmony with the law of God.

These views have been before the world for many years in printed form, and have not been written up merely to answer a charge. The following extract will show this:—

There are two errors against which the children of God—particularly those who have just come to trust in his grace—especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.

The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption.

But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of his very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of his government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed “after the image of him that created him,” the new covenant promise is fulfilled, “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience—the service and allegiance of love—is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the scripture says, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments;” “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience.

We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith. . . .

That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. “By grace are ye saved through faith.” But “faith, if it hath not works, is dead.” Jesus said of himself before he came to earth, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” And just before he ascended again to heaven, he declared, “I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” The scripture says, “Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. . . . He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” “Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.”

The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,—just what it was in paradise before the fall of our first parents,—perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized.—“Steps to Christ,” pages 74-77.

When the matter is correctly understood, it will be found that Seventh-day Adventists do not attempt to lead people “back into the bondage of the law,” but out into the liberty of Christ, that gospel liberty which is retained by an obedience which is the fruit of faith. This is the experience described by the psalmist: “I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” But Seventh-day Adventists do not believe in that perversion of liberty which makes it a license to walk contrary to the commandments of God under the specious plea that pure love is free from law. This is free love, but it is not the love of God. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

After he has read this article, this pastor will not again make this same charge against Seventh-day Adventists, if he is an honest man and desires to represent this people fairly.