When sin marred the perfect world God had created, grace was the promise given to our first parents. Adam and Eve and their descendants became custodians of that grace. Until sin disturbed the peace and beauty of the first garden home, there had been no need for grace. Sin is the transgression of the law, and with sin appeared, grace was introduced into the equation as well.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20).

In order for grace to abound, the transgression of a law had to precede it. And therefore, before we can understand grace or its meaning to humankind, the need for grace must be clearly portrayed and understood. The law, the mirror of character, was to be upheld so that we could turn to the Saviour to find the solution for our condemnation and sentence. Custodians of His grace must, therefore, also be custodians of His law.

God placed man under law, as an indispensible condition of his very existence. He was a subject of the divine government, and there can be no government without law (HP 146.2).

Soon the world became so wicked that God in His mercy had to eradicate sin. The flood was a judgment from God, and also an act of grace. The flood would induce a milder, more dependent spirit in humanity.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8).

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly (2 Peter 2:5).

After the flood, in spite of the changed conditions of Earth and the shortened human life span, apostasy soon prevailed again upon the earth. However, God found in Abraham one who sought Him with his whole heart.
Many have the dispensationalist view that law and grace reign in different periods of our existence. It is believed that under the dispensation of law, people were saved through obedience. Then, Christ fulfilled the obligations of the law thus bringing grace. However, law and grace are inseparably united. Abraham lived before the law was given at Sinai, yet he kept the law. It must therefore have been in existence and passed down by word of mouth.

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations (Genesis 17:9).

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Genesis 26:5).

Jesus never replaced the law with grace. When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees about Magdalene’s adultery, he exposed their hypocrisy by writing in the sand. This writing induced them all to leave. He showed their own sins, as confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy. Turning to Mary Magdalene, He asked, “where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” Upon which she replied, “No one, Lord.”

Then Jesus replied, “Neither do I condemn you” (John 8:10-11 NKJV). With this statement, Jesus places her under grace. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Then He says to her, “go and sin no more,” and places her under the law. Grace does not remove the obligation of keeping the law, since grace is only the solution to the problem of sin.

The important correlation of the law to grace is evidenced from the very beginning of the Bible. The great controversy between self reliance and self exaltation as opposed to obedience and trust in God has divided humankind into two classes since the time of Adam.

This battle continued in Abraham’s descendents with Jacob and Esau representing these two great groups. But God has proven Himself longsuffering and filled with compassion for erring man, “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). Again and again He reminded His people that the way to life was to be found only in obedience to His righteous precepts and that in keeping them, there was great reward (Psalm 119:18).

Jacob and Esau are prime examples of the workings of grace. Jacob wrestled with the angel and fell broken on the rock. Esau sold his birthright and built his fortress in the rocks of Petra thus relying on his own merits for salvation, but his city is desolate.

Aaron and the Golden Calf
Speaking to Moses, God says, “shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6). And the Lord admonishes His people, “Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 22:31).

When Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law written with the finger of God, the people turned away from God, citing Moses’ delay as a justifiable reason for their apostasy. In leading the Israelite people out of Egypt (the world) into Canaan (the Promised Land), and continually interceding before the Lord for his people, even offering his own life for them, Moses was a type of Christ. Is it possible that the delay in the Lord’s coming at the close of this earth’s history could have similar results at the end of time?

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD...

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear...

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him (Exodus 32:1-5, 17-18, 25-26).

The delay induced a desire for a worship of a seen god. Succumbing under the pressure, Aaron gave in. The type of worship was reminiscent of all pagan cultures with dancing around the molten calf.

What comprised the play?

Once the burnt offerings and peace offerings had been presented, “they rose up to play” (Exodus 32:6). Strong’s concordance defines this “play” as “sport.” Pagan cultures had sun worship games which, according to the Gilgamash epic, were games with a ball and an implement from a tree in the form of a branch or stick with which a ball had to be shot into a hole. In fact, all our modern sports are schooled on the games of ancient sun worship. According to UNESCO, games such as baseball, hockey, cricket, soccer, rugby, and football are all based on sun worship rituals. In fact, in all sports, scoring a goal was equated with the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil.ⁱ

We must realize that in occultism, Lucifer is regarded as light, and Adonai (the God of the Bible) is regarded as darkness. Therefore, in Masonic temples, there are only three lights (candles), and the north is in darkness because the north represents the throne of God. The worshipful master sits in the east and represents the “dog star” Sirius, a symbol of Lucifer, the brightest star in the heavens. Baseball is related to the sun in the sundial shape and pattern of the field, as well as its rules of play and scoring. Like all sports, baseball also embodies the sun’s seasonal cycles in much the same way as ancient ceremonial contest were held as part of fertility rites.ⁱⁱ

When the children of Israel rose up to play, they participated in pagan sun worship sport rituals. Ellen White counsels to avoid this type of game playing and to channel energy into useful activities.

Games have been allowed such as God disapproves. It was to prevent this kind of thing that the Lord gave counsel to the effect that students should learn useful trades…Where were these watchmen while these unseemly games and athletic sports, these trials of animal strength and exhibition of physical skill were in progress?...Do not substitute play, pugilistic boxing, football, matched games, and animal exercises, for manual training. All of this stripe and type should be vigilantly prohibited from the school ground (11 MR 161.3).

What did it mean that people were naked?

Moses saw that the people were naked (Exodus 32:25).

Other translations render the term “naked” as “uninhibited, boisterous, charismatic.” Strong’s concordance renders this term also as “let go, let loose, be loosened of restrained, to show lack of restraint.” There is a modern movement to replace reverence in worship with a “let your hair down” attitude.

As their wandering in the wilderness continued, the leaders of Israel also rebelled against what seemed to them to be overly restrictive regulations of Mose: Korah and the chief princes rebelled against Moses.

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?...And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?...And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods...And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense (Numbers 16:1-3; 20-22; 32, 35).

Interestingly, it was the famous men in the congregation, the “men of renown,” who were unhappy with Moses’s Spirit-led management. Moreover, they claimed that “all the congregation are holy, every one of them.” This doctrine reminds us of the “once saved, always saved” attitude that forms such a prominent part of the new theology in our age. But God showed in this example of Korah’s rebellion that our only safety lies in meticulous obedience to God’s leading.

Ahab and Elijah

 

In the time of Elijah, the people again turned from God under the leadership of Ahab and Jezebel. The people were led into accepting the religions of the surrounding nations. We read those stories today as if they were strange and amazing, but the same thing is happening in our day. The doctrines of the world are accommodated by the Church so that it will become more acceptable in the world’s sight. Ahab was not irreligious, there were numerous prophets of which he inquired. However, worship of God had become worship of Baal without the children of Israel really realizing in which way they were led:

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:17-21).

In spite of the harlotry of Israel, God never called her Babylon. God permitted apostasy to run its course, but He always called His people back. The final custodians of His law may follow the same pattern but God will call them back.

 

The final movement of destiny on this planet is Laodicea. There is no call out of Laodicea, there is no removal of the candlestick of Laodicea and passing it on to another organization. There is just a “spitting out” of Laodicea because of its lukewarm state. There is, however, counsel and reproof: “Buy from Me gold, refined in the fire.” 
The story of Elijah will repeat itself.

Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets (2 Kings 17:13).

But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there (Nehemiah 1:9).

The New Testament contains the same entreaties. Christ had paid the price for our transgressions. This revealed love of Christ should compel us into a life of worship and obedience.

If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love (John 15:10).

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name (Romans 1:5).

The Seventh-day Adventist Mandate
According to Revelation 10, the final warning of God would be proclaimed to the world after the unsealing of the sealed scroll, bringing about a sweet expectation of the Second Coming of Christ but would turn to bitter disappointment, which was experienced by the Advent believers in 1844.

They also had to prophesy again to many nations, peoples, and multitudes and this theme we pick up in Revelation 14, where we have the Three Angels’ Messages proclaimed worldwide only by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is to be the custodian of God’s grace at the end of time.

Every institution established by Seventh-day Adventists is to be to the world what Joseph was in Egypt and what Daniel and his fellows were in Babylon. As in the providence of God these chosen ones were taken captive, it was to carry to heathen nations the blessings that come to humanity through a knowledge of God. They were to be representatives of Jehovah. They were never to compromise with idolaters; their religious faith and their name as worshippers of the living God they were to bear as a special honor (6T, 219, emphasis added).

Are we fulfilling this mandate or is the past being repeated as we live in the very end of time? It has been predicted that there would be a “falling away” at the end of time, and that we would experience confusion and apostasy. Ellen White mentions it numerous times in her writings:

The things you have described...the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. AND this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit (Mar 234.1).

A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working...Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted (2SM 36, 38).

Let us give no place to strange exercisings, which really take the mind away from the deep movings of the Holy Spirit. God's work is ever characterized by calmness and dignity (2SM 42.4).

The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure (1SM 204-205).

Some are acting the part of Aaron, to help on the work of apostasy. They have been weighed in the balances, and have been found wanting. Men are spoiling their record, and are proving that they are not to be trusted, but that they will betray the interests of the cause of God, making them the sport of sinners. The messages of heavenly origin that God has sent to His people, to prepare them to stand in the last days, they have sneered at and scorned. But the evidence we have had for the past fifty years of the presence of the Spirit of God with us as a people, will stand the test of those who are now arraying themselves on the side of the enemy and bracing themselves against the message of God (Testimony to Members of the B.C. Church, Oct 24, 1907).

New theology wishes to bring the doctrines of grace and salvation in line with the doctrines of evangelical Christianity which marginalizes the law and exalts grace. This theology also negates the work in the heavenly sanctuary since it teaches that the work of Christ was completed for all humankind at the cross. Yes, the sins were paid for in full, but we still have a High Priest who intercedes on our behalf in the sanctuary above.

Christ entered into the heavenly sanctuary at His ascension and He could not have entered into the Most Holy as the new theology teaches, as the priest could not commence the sanctuary service prior to the sacrifice, as he was not permitted to enter without blood.

 

Since Christ entered not with the blood of sheep and goats, but with His own precious blood, the service in the sanctuary could only have commenced in the Holy and not the Most Holy. This means that the service in the Most Holy must have commenced sometime after the service in the Holy. The only prophecy dealing with this is the 2300-day prophecy which culminates in 1844 and therefore, the position that Christ entered into the Most Holy in 1844 is the only one that is backed by Scripture.

New theology has removed the doctrine of the antitypical day of atonement and the pre-advent judgment. This doctrine places Seventh-day Adventists in the unique position of being the only custodians of the final day message: the Third Angel's Message emphasizing the mark of the Beast, which is the essence of the righteousness of Christ. This is seen by modern thinkers to be a contradiction in terms but if law and grace are inseparable because without transgression of the law there is no need for grace, then there is perfect harmony in the pioneer position regarding this issue.

If we adopt the new theology, the Seventh-day Adventist Church would no longer qualify as the remnant chosen by grace to deliver the final judgment message to the world. It could become just one of the many churches teaching grace while de-emphasizing the law. This opens the way to full ecumenical participation and violates the principle of "Come out of her, my people" (Revelation 18:4).

No matter how many in our ranks or no matter how high the position of those who adopt these new teachings, the cause of God is still effects and we still do not have the right to call the Church "Babylon." Moreover, it does not even mean that they are lost. Aaron was the high priest but he succumbed to pressure and made the golden calf, giving his sanction to idolatrous worship.

In spite of this, God did not remove him from his position nor did He judge him on the spot. Aaron repented of his error and served God the rest of his life. Therefore, we have no right to become judgmental but are to leave all things to the judgment of God.

However, this does not mean that we are not to reprove error. Moses reproved Aaron. God will purge His Church. God will eventually spit out those that fall into the category of Korah and his rebellious cohorts. Let us weep between for all the evil that is done in Israel and wait on the Lord. Just as Moses interceded on behalf of Israel when God wanted to destroy them and make a new nation from the seed of Moses, so we should be endowed with the same spirit. Separating ourselves from the body does not reflect the spirit of Moses.

When anyone is drawing apart the organized body of God's commandmentkeeping people, when he begins to weigh the church in his human scales and begins to pronounce judgment against them, then you may know that God is not leading him. He is on the wrong track (3SM 18).

God will set His Church in Order

There is no need to doubt, to be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and He will set everything in order. If matters need adjusting at the head of the work God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong. Let us have faith that God is going to carry the noble ship which bears the people of God safely into port (2SM 390.2).

Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counselled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard (TM 45, 49).

The bulwarks of Satan will never triumph. Victory will attend the third angel's message. As the Captain of the Lord's host tore down the walls of Jericho, so will the Lord's commandment-keeping people triumph, and all opposing elements be defeated (TM 410, 1898).

Iceberg Ahead

In a representation which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done by medical missionary workers. Our ministering brethren were looking on, watching what was being done, but they did not seem to understand. The foundation of our faith, which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the Scriptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have nothing to rest upon--the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone. I realized that something must be done.

The battle nearly killed me. I saw what was coming in, and I saw that our brethren were blind. They did not realize the danger. Our young people, especially, were in danger. They delighted in the beautiful representation--God in the flower, God in the leaf, God in the tree. But if God be in these things, why not worship them?

The reason I have published anything in regard to the medical missionary work, was that the errors that were coming in must be met. I did not design to meet them, but in the visions of the night I saw a large ship far out at sea. Suddenly the man on the lookout cried, "Iceberg ahead!" Without hesitation, the command rang out, "Meet it." The engines were put on at full force, and the vessel crashed into the iceberg. There was a tremendous shock, and the ship quivered from stem to stern; but she rebounded from the shock unhurt, and went safely on her way. After seeing this representation. I knew what work I must do. I knew that I must meet the errors that were coming in among us (1 SAT 344).

The Church will triumph. God Himself has informed us that there would be obstacles and icebergs ahead. But He also guarantees that the church will go through triumphant! There is no need to abandon ship. And let us remember that God did not come to heal the healthy but the sick. We have a work in helping each other to come into harmony with the teachings of Christ.

The most useful men in the world have not been the exalted, self-sufficient ones, who have been praised and petted by society; but those who have walked humbly with God, who have been unassuming in manner and guileless in conversation, who have given all the glory to God, not taking any of it to themselves, are the ones who have exerted the most decided and healthful influence upon the church. When they stand before the people, as a mouth-piece for God, everything around them is forgotten. Their words come forth in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power. They exert their God-given ability to set things in order in the church, whether it makes them friends or foes. When straight, solemn testimony is needed, in rebuking sin and iniquity, even though it be in those of high position, they will not hold their peace, but will heed the instruction of the God of truth, when he commands, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." They will stand as faithful watchmen upon the walls of Zion,--not to hide sin, not to flatter the wrongdoer, not to obtain the sympathy of their brethren, but to meet the approval of God. They will not suppress one syllable of truth that should be brought out in reproof, or warning, or in vindication of the righteousness of the oppressed, in order to gain the favour and influence of any one. In a crisis, they will not be found in a neutral position, but they will stand firmly on the side of righteousness and truth, even when it is difficult to take this position; and to maintain it may imperil their prosperity, and deprive them of the friendship of those whom they love (RH, September 4, 1888).

If we hide self in Jesus, if we lift up and exalt the Saviour, if we take no credit to ourselves, the preaching will not be in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, will be presented before the people as the one who "is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercessions for them." "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous." Then let us do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Let us come in full assurance of faith. Let us draw from the heavenly storehouse, and present to the people things new and old, giving to every man his portion of meat in due season; "and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (RH, September 4, 1888).

If we are to preach grace and the righteousness of Christ with power, then we will have to lift up His downtrodden law, lest we receive His grace in vain.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1).

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13)

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i Madanjeet Singh, The sun in myth and art (UNESCO, 1993): 87-88.
ii Ibid.