Searching Sabbath 19: The Law of God

This is a huge topic, and rather than simply being a stand-alone statement of doctrine, it’s really intended as an introduction to the next several beliefs, which are all Adventist beliefs about behavior — how we should act towards God and one another. Stating that we believe God’s law, especially as expressed in the Ten Commandments, is intended for Christians to keep, is a necessary foundation for everything that follows.

As I’ve tried to touch on all-too-briefly in the video, this is a hugely complex topic on which the New Testament itself is by no means simple and straightforward. The most Biblical answer is perhaps, “Yes, we are saved by grace … and yes, we are saved by keeping the law.” Which is hard for us to wrap our minds around, as we like either-or answers. Perhaps the best way is to think of law and grace as two concepts that always have to be kept in balance, in tension. Growing up Adventist in the particular time and place I did it was very easy to see the dangers and evils of legalism and to wholeheartedly embrace, as I have done, the message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus — something in which I thoroughly believe. It took much longer — and again, I tried to touch on this in the video — to see the possible dangers of an overemphasis on grace as well — the danger of a religion that becomes nothing more that lip service to a set of doctrines, and does not express itself in ethical and loving behavior towards others. I’ll try to discuss this a bit further when we get to the doctrine called Christian Behavior … but for now, as always, I’m interested in your opinions. I particularly like it when readers/viewer share bits of their own personal journeys, whether those have been toward, within, or away from Adventist Christianity, or along some other path altogether — so please let me know what you think about The Law of God!!