When most of us have a question, we have discovered that Google has an answer, or at least points us to someone who does. Of course we might just get a wrong answer that we did not want. On the other hand, if we have a spiritual question, we ought not ask Google. Google has no spiritual discernment. We must go to Inspiration for a spiritual answer.
There is a most important spiritual question that deserves a Biblical answer. Why is it that God's church is divided when it comes to the foundation of our faith? Are we lacking truth? Did God not entrust His sacred oracles to us, His end time remnant church? Yes, He did. Then why the division when it comes to the gospel truth? Who will deny that there are multiples gospels being preached from our pulpits and printed on our presses?
In making an effort to answer the question, let us look at the "great controversy" theme. How did it begin? There was war in heaven. Satan deceived at first half the angels, then some realized their dumbness and came back to God. But, one third of the angels in heaven turned against God, believing Satan's lies that God was unfair.
The lies which were so successful in heaven, Satan employed on Earth where he has been equally successful at deceiving most professing Christians, including a multitude in God's remnant church. What were those lies? In the battle between Christ and Satan we understand that Satan attacked the character of our God. He made two equally devastating charges against God. And, sadly many in the church have believed him.
What were the two accusations? First, Satan stated that God is unfair by requiring that sinners keep the commandments of God. Satan knows that it is impossible for sinners to keep the commandments in and of themselves. It is only when we love Jesus supremely and make a whole heart surrender to Him that we can keep His commandments. If we know Christ as it is privilege to know Him, then we will be empowered to do all He asks of us. When we surrender the whole heart, the Holy Spirit takes possession of it and brings with Him every one of the fruits of the Spirit, not one will be missing. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance will be seen in the life of all who love Jesus with the whole heart. “It is folly to bid the sinner come to Christ before being convicted of his sin by being brought before the mirror of the law of God. What is the sinner to be converted from? The transgression of God’s law to obedience of it. But if he is told that he cannot keep the law of God, and that if he should attempt it he would be brought into bondage, to what is he then converted,—transgression of the law to a continuance in that transgression? This is absurd. Yet professed ministers of Christ tell the sinner that he is guiltless while disloyal to the law of God. Such conversions are not ratified in heaven.
“Our Christ was the Saviour of the ancient worthies as much as he is our Saviour. They looked forward by faith, to a Saviour to come. Adam was saved by the gospel as virtually as we are saved today. Abraham was saved by faith in Christ as the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. Moses was saved by the merits of Christ, who was the angel that led the armies of Israel in all their travels through the wilderness. God commanded, ‘Provoke him not, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him,’ All who have died in faith, from righteous Abel unto our day are saved by the merits of Jesus Christ.
“Jesus said: ‘Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity.’ How many there are who cry Christ, Christ, only believe on Christ, when they do not the works of Christ. Such are represented by the class mentioned by our Saviour as workers of iniquity. They transgress the law of God, and by precept and example teach others to do likewise. Nominal profession of faith in Christ will not save a soul; neither will nominal observance of the law. The law of God must be obeyed from the heart; its principles must be carried out in the life; and faith in Jesus Christ as the world’s Redeemer must be manifested in the life and character, or there is no true conversion." Signs of the Times, July 18, 1878.
Satan made another charge against the character of our God. "Satan declared that there is no forgiveness with God; that if God should forgive sin, he would make his law of no effect. He says to the sinner, You are lost. Christ came to this world to prove the falsity of this statement, to show that God is love, that like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Follow the Saviour from the manger to the cross, mark his life of unselfish ministry, his agony in the garden, and his death on the cross; and know that with God there is plenteous forgiveness. He abhors sin, but with a love that passes knowledge he loves the sinner." Review and Herald, January 19, 1911.
It was at the cross that we see justice and mercy in God's character. Satan does all he can to separate the two, but they cannot be separated. Both reflect the character of God. He did not give up His justice in order to forgive guilty man. No, He instead sacrificed His innocent Son that we might know of His great love and be converted. He is both just and merciful. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalms 85:10.
Let the people of God teach and live the truth. When we obey God and keep His commandments from the heart, then we are His witnesses that Satan did lie. When we sin, we give power to Satan's lie that man cannot keep His law. Why is this so hard to understand? Ask your head elder or your pastor to explain.
