Dear Brother Fagal,
It was good to hear from you a few weeks ago. Thanks for your e-mail regarding women's ordination; it was very helpful!
I've been studying a concept called "Legal Justification" as presented by Robert Wieland's books; Jones and Waggoner; in the light of the Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible. I would like to know if you agree with the following concept. If not, I would like to know your position. Is this an important truth? This subject is interesting because I have found opinions against this concept written by Clifford Goldstein and many others. The different positions will be listed at the end of this e-mail.
Dear ___________,
Thank you for writing back. As far as I know, the Ellen G. White Estate trustees have not taken a position on the questions you are asking about. I do not feel qualified to offer an opinion on these things, as I have not made a study of them for myself. There are others in the church who have done so, I believe under the direction of the Biblical Research Committee of the General Conference. If you wish, you might get in touch with BRI to see whether they have any materials on the subject.
In looking just now for an email address to send you for BRI, I went to their website and noticed anew their search feature. So I put in "legal justification" and got some hits. You may want to have a look at these for yourself. The website is http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org.
I hope this helps. May the Lord bless and guide you as you study.
--------
William Fagal, Director
Ellen G. White Estate Branch Office
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1400 USA
Phone: 269 471-3209
FAX: 269 471-2646
Website: www.WhiteEstate.org or www.egwestate.andrews.edu
E-mail: egw@aubranch.egwestate.andrews.edu
What is the 1888 message? Is this concept included in this message? Why are there so many positions within the SDA Church on this subject and even the human nature of Christ? Joe Crews, Amazing Facts, says that Christ had a sinful nature. Ellen White's writings says the same thing and foremost, the Bible says He "likewise, also," took the same flesh. However, writers such as Martin Weber and George Knight disagrees and says that Christ took a sinless nature. This is a different subject ... but it is quite interesting!
I visited, http://gospel-herald.com/wieland/10truths/ten_truths.htm and found an outline of the 1888 message which defines legal justification, the human nature of Christ and much more. I would like to know what you believe on these issues.
Your brother in Christ, ___________
What is Legal Justification?
Legal Justification is not Justification by Faith. It is a legal transaction that took place at the cross 2000 years ago. Jesus paid the ransom for the whole human race. He "tasted" the second death for each person and therefore took our penalty, whether we accept it or not. Hebrews 2:9. The Bible says that Jesus is the Saviour of the world.
John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
He literally "saved the world" or in other words, He "redeemed" the whole human race. Ellen White described it in this way, "[Christ] took in His grasp the world over which Satan claimed to preside as his lawful territory, and by His wonderful work in giving His life, He restored the whole race of men to favor with God" (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 243)." This is why we can come to Jesus just as we are, sinful and unholy. He already "accepts" us "in Christ," for it is written,
Ephesians 4:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
The legal justification has a lot to do with God's acceptance of sinners. In other words, "At Christ's baptism, the Father "accepted" the human race in Him (Matthew 3:17). Thus He is already "the Savior of all men" (John 4:42); no one can any longer doubt that the Lord has accepted him/her "in Christ." But Christ is "especially" the Savior "of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). Our salvation does not depend on our initiating a "relationship" with Him; it depends on our believing/responding to the "relationship" He has already initiated with us."
However, God loves us too much to leave us in our sins.
Another way to define this meaning is to look at the example of Abraham Lincoln. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. He "legally" freed the slaves. It was a legal act that freed ALL SLAVES. However, not one slave "experienced" freedom until he 1) heard the good news 2) and believed it.
Likewise, 2000 years ago, Jesus died on the cross and "legally" saved the world, and freed ALL SINNERS from the guilt and penalty of sin and from the power and slavery of sin. However, not one sinner or saint can "experience" this freedom until he 1) hears the good news of the gospel and 2) believes it! This is called Justification by Faith!
The "legal" justification takes place at the cross for the whole human race. This is why, saints and sinners, are alive today. However, when the sinner 1) hears the gospel and 2) believes it, then he "experiences" justification by faith which is a transformation of his own life. A person will only be saved if they accept the good news and believe it which this faith is the kind of faith which works and enables one to keep all of the commandments. In other words, we, sinner or saint, because of Christ's sacrifice at the cross, we are "accepted in the Beloved".... we're accepted in Christ and that is why we can come to Jesus, just as we are.. in our sins. But after we come to Jesus, He saves us "from" our sins which is the sanctification process.
Joe Crews, from Amazing Facts, wrote, "But not only does God accept the atoning sacrifice of His Son as a total satisfaction of the universal death sentence against every member of the fallen race, He imputes to each one who chooses to accept it the credit for living a life just as holy as Jesus lived. In other words, they are not only declared "not guilty"; they are declared to be just as righteous as the sinless Saviour who lived here in the flesh for 33 years without committing a single sin. It is in this amazing manner that all degrees of transgression are canceled, and "whosoever will" may stand without condemnation before God. His faith alone has opened a door to a new "standing" in relation to God. It is called justification, and it provides forgiveness for every wrong-doing of the past which has been repented of, confessed, and forsaken. And even though it can be said that the death of Jesus, in one sense, made a corporate reconciliation of all men to God, it is only through personal acceptance of the sacrifice that anyone can experience "justification by faith." Three Steps to Heaven, by Joe Crews.
I read a quote from Ministry of Healing on pages 89, 90, 91.
"With His own blood He has signed the emancipation papers of the race."
Using the illustration of Abraham Lincoln, did Jesus really do something for "ALL MEN" at the cross? Romans 5:18. Yes, I believe He has. He has "legally" justified "all men" reversing the condemnation of Adam and has freed "all men" from slavery to sin. However, no one will "experience" freedom from slavery and justification by faith until he 1) receives the gospel and 2) believes it. Ellen White continued, "...Jesus was speaking of His mission to set free the slaves of sin." In other words, Ellen White said, "Our ransom has been paid by our Saviour. No one need be enslaved by Satan. Christ stands before us as our all-powerful helper."" Selected Messages, vol. 1 p. 309.
The reason why no one needs to be enslaved is because Jesus "legally" saved us at the cross, He freed us at the cross. Now we need to hear the good news and believe it! And the only reason we will be lost at the end is because we cherish unbelief.
This is described in Steps to Christ on page 27. "The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ, but if he does not resist, he will be drawn to Jesus... he will be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins...." To be lost, one must resist, fight against, and decide to be lost by their actions and decision they make in regards to what Christ did at the cross and what He is doing now to save us. Bible references are:
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
In essence, I can say when I am asked by my Baptist brothers in Christ: Are you saved? Yes, I was "legally" saved 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross for me. However, I did not "experience" salvation until 1993. In 1993, I accepted the fact that Jesus loved me and gave His life for me, taking my unrighteousness and giving me His righteousness. Not only that but Jesus has been in the process of saving me "from" my sins and giving me a new life each and every day.
The Different Positions on this subject:
The 1888 Message
1. http://gospel-herald.com/wieland/10truths/ten_truths.htm
2. http://www.1888message.org/studygroups/studygroupmaterials.htm
3. http://gospel-herald.com/wieland/brief%20look/1888"brief_look"s204.htm
4. http://www.1888message.org/articles.htm
Opposition:
1. http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/Independent%20Ministries/Primac...
2. http://www.adventistreview.org/2002-1517/story4.html
Have you seen my webpage of quotes?
Click here: www.angelfire.com/sc/YJesusCame/quotes.html
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