SDA Pastor speaks of "active faith"

[Admin]

Our SDA Pastor says “As I mentioned on Sabbath, I agree with your broad points in regards to claiming promises and actually having an active faith.”

We mean no disrespect to our Pastor in presenting this article. Our hope is to show how misleading our communications can be, even if we get things right in our own eyes, they are wrong in the eyes of the Lord. Let us pray for each other that we all can be humble and be saved under His grace, we accept each other wholeheartedly.

Rob searched for the phrase “claiming promises” There were zero references to this term.

Rob searches in Ellen White writings all references to “active faith” : there are 121 references to this term. We show all the references as they are presented, new ones only, many repeat.


Oh, for living, active, faith! We need it; we must have it, or we shall faint and fail in the day of trial. {CET 190.2}


Christ asked the question: “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” We must cherish a living, active faith. The permanence of our faith is the condition of our union. {NL 45.4}



Sin will appear as it is,—the transgression of God’s holy law. The atonement will be better understood; and by living, active faith, we shall see that whatever of virtue humanity possesses, it exists only in Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer (The Review and Herald, December 22, 1896). {4BC 1141.2


Christ asked the question: “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” We must cherish a living, active faith. The permanence of our faith is the condition of our union. {5T 231.2}
A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish.  {5T 231.3}


Our souls will become sluggish and our faith enfeebled unless we arouse and have a firm, steady, active faith.... {TDG 50.2}



Let us strive to educate the believers to rejoice in the Lord. Spiritual joy is the result of active faith. God’s people are to be full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Then He will be glorified in them.—Bible Training School, April 1, 1905. {YRP 72.4}



Endeavor to live a consistent life. Take hold of Christ by living, active faith. Come to him just as you are, helpless and dependent, and say, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Help me to study thy life, thy self-denial and self-sacrifice; help me to become a Christian in every sense of the word. {GCB May 30, 1909, par. 26}
But the example of Christ is placed before us, that we may not fail nor be discouraged. Faith—living, active faith—must work through apparent discomfiture and contempt. The love of Christ in the heart must not be quenched, but show itself invincible through God. In seeking wisdom from God in the work of saving souls, unwavering faith must be manifested. {RH August 16, 1898, par. 15


What we need now is a living, active faith in God. You do not know, dear reader, that you will live one day longer. You cannot call one hour your own. You do not know how soon death may feel for your heart-strings. Will you, then, let envy, hatred, and jealousy live in your hearts? or have you gained one precious attainment after another, until pride, malice, and selfishness have been swept away, and there remain the graces of the Spirit,—meekness, forbearance, gentleness, charity? God will help every one of us, if we will take hold of the help he has provided. {SW March 24, 1908, par. 4}



All sanctification comes through a living, active faith, and transforms men and women into the image of Jesus Christ. {19MR 322.1}



Streams of light seemed to come upon us from our heavenly Father and the room seemed to be illuminated with the presence of the Lord. Living, active faith will penetrate the clouds of darkness and let the gleamings of glory through. {21MR 240.2}



It was faith that men lacked in the days of Noah, and it was this lack of living faith that brought destruction upon them. How different would have been the result had they heeded Noah’s appeal as the voice of God speaking through him. But they were unwilling to hear and to receive the engrafted word which would have saved them. It is faith, an active faith, that will make the gracious promise of any avail. {PC 45.1}


He will impart it. You need more devotion to God, more living, active faith; distrust self, but have firm confidence in God. The Lord is proving you; if you are faithful in the things of this life, you will be faithful in the things of the future life. You should set your mark high and be satisfied with no low standard. God will bless all your efforts put forth in His strength. {Lt5-1879.}


Faith, living, active faith, must be brought into our labors as never before. Faith is the medium of connection between human weakness and divine power. Sore temptations and heavy trials will be experienced by every soul that is saved. We must seek to have our faith strengthened. The iniquity that abounds must not for one moment lessen our faith and love for God or weaken our implicit trust in His sure promises, else some mighty storm of temptation will sweep us away from the true foundation. We have a great work to do, and we need a greater faith. {Lt24-1888.}


Ever reach upward, advance as Christ leads the way, and you will preserve the simplicity of faith, that living, active faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. {Lt87-1894.



I long to see our people venturing in one line of work after another by living faith worked by the Holy Spirit of God. I pray for this; I long for this more than the weary soul longeth for the morning. Let us cultivate faith, living, active faith. {Lt160-1897.


Let us strive to educate the believers to rejoice in the Lord. Spiritual joy is the result of active faith. God’s people are to be full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Then He will be glorified in them. {Lt153-1902.31}


He wants all there is of us—soul, body, and spirit—to be fully sanctified. It is time that we began to know that we are fastened to the Lord Jesus Christ by a living, active faith, and to take hold of Christ and the Holy Spirit of God. Let our petitions come up before God. Let us believe in Him, and trust in Him, and we shall see His mighty power working among us. I will read further: {Ms97-1906.5


Faith, living, active faith will do wonderful things. {Lt46-1907.4



We need a living, active faith, and entire dependence upon God as though we were little children, and then our requests will be granted. {Ms 32, 1889, par. 2}


I long to see our people venturing in one line of work after another by living faith worked by the Holy Spirit of God. I pray for this; I long for this more than the weary soul longeth for the morning. Let us cultivate faith, living, active faith. {Lt 160, 1897, par. 4}

Take hold of Christ by living, active faith. Come to Him just as you are, helpless and dependent, and say, “Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief.” [Mark 9:24.] Help me to study Thy life, Thy self-denial and self-sacrifice; help me to become a Christian in every sense of the word. {Ms 33, 1909, par. 27}

Notice if we search [ "active faith" "precious promises" ] we receive zero hits.


Now notice the Ellen White references to [“genuine faith” “precious promises”] = 3 hits:


We shall all be tested by trial and temptation, and we shall be able to endure only by having genuine faith, by having root in ourselves. It will not do for us to depend upon others. We must know that we have a hold from above. May God help us to realize the importance of examining our hearts to see whether or not we are in the faith. There are many who will fail because they do not gather every ray of light emanating from the word of life; they do not cherish the divine precepts, and dwell upon the precious promises of God. If they did this, fruits of righteousness would appear in their life, and every day they would be growing stronger and stronger, and more and more like Christ. {RH April 14, 1891, par. 11}


The enemy of our souls would be glad to steal away these precious promises from us, and cast darkness before our eyes, so that we should not be able to appropriate the good things that God means that we shall have. God is waiting to do great things for us as soon as we come into a right relation with him; but if we hold ourselves in doubt and unbelief, the enemy can keep the control of our minds, and intercept the promises of God. Unbelief always results in a great loss to our souls. It was said concerning one place where Christ visited, “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Christ cannot work in our behalf if we do not manifest faith in him. We should train our souls to have faith in God. But instead of this, how many there are who educate themselves to doubt. I have heard testimony after testimony in meeting in which there did not seem to be one word of genuine faith, but which cast a shadow over the whole congregation. It is not God’s will that we should be in this position. Brethren and sisters, it is our privilege to walk in the light, as Christ is in the light. He is at our right hand to strengthen us, and he tells us that greater works than he has done shall we do, because he goes to the Father. He is ready to impart unto us the rich blessing and grace of God. {ST November 11, 1889, par. 3}


Of the 3 hits, only 2 are new, and presented above. Notice how rare these passages are in Ellen White references to faith.

There are 523 references to the search for “genuine faith” , nearly 3 times than “active faith”.

We will present just a few, to show something to readers: There are 12 hits to the term in the search [“genuine faith” appropriate]


They have not genuine faith to appropriate God’s promises to themselves. They do not regard Him as their personal Saviour, in whom they may trust as a child trusts its loving parents. They do not regard God as a loving Heavenly Father, who has provided for them a perfect Saviour, a never failing friend, an infallible guide and teacher. {PrT June 13, 1895, par. 1}

Do you believe that Jesus saves you now? Do you believe that you can appropriate the merits of your Saviour to yourself? Do you believe that you can cast your helpless soul upon Christ, and that his righteousness will be imputed unto you? If you have genuine faith, you will confess your backslidings and sinfulness. You will no longer stay in the darkness of unbelief; you will come to the light of Heaven. Says the Saviour, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” {ST June 10, 1889, par. 5}

They have not genuine faith to appropriate God’s promises to themselves. They do not regard Him as their personal Saviour, in whom they may trust as a child trusts its loving parents. They do not regard God as a loving heavenly Father, who has provided for them a perfect Saviour, a never-failing Friend, an infallible Guide and Teacher. {PH045 1.1}


They are for every family, for every soul in every family. As we individually appropriate these blessings, we will impart to others. This is the sure result of genuine faith. Faith without works is dead, being alone. In our lives we must reveal that faith which works by love and purifies the soul from selfishness. All that heaven contains is waiting the draft of every laborer with God. We must have true sympathy with Christ, and then will come the fellowship of the Spirit. {Ms105-1899.


Notice the difference when you seek the right messages from Ellen White. By just reading over 100 passages with “active faith” you miss entirely what faith is, how faith is appropriated to us personally, and what precious promises really are.

And thus you become without a true understanding of faith as Ellen White and GOD presents it. Question: Why is the messages of Ellen White, therefore confusing?


False teachers are afraid to let the people hear the Word of God and search the Scriptures for themselves. The messages God has given His people in His Word are clear and comprehensive, but confusing explanations are given by the pastors who do not and will not understand the Scriptures. They seek to pervert and explain away the real truth until its meaning is misconstrued and misstated. {Lt83-1900.}

And this passage from Scripture:

Mt 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Bible presents a principle here, some do not read nor do they hear the messages from the Scriptures.

So if you read the “active faith” theme on it’s own, without other terms like “genuine faith” you miss out on knowing the overall meaning of faith. Your eyes are closed.

The reference to "living faith" and "active faith" is a broad term. Reading "genuine faith" do readers begin to understand what "faith" is and thus learn the process of faith how this process affects our salvation in Jesus.

Those who say "once saved, always saved" teach the principle that "faith in Jesus" is required only ONCE. The rest of our doings can be as Israel did "doing what is right in their own eyes" (Judges 17:6).

Question: How often is the faith process processed by supporters of Christ?

Ps 119:1 ¶ ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Yes but how often?

Ps 119:44 So shall I "process" thy law continually for ever and ever.
45 ¶ And I will walk at liberty:

 (shamar translated as keep by KJV, actually means "process/processed" in this verb form, it means "process")

Notice we process the faith commandments for ever and ever continually, to walk in their liberty...

Ps 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful:

All the ten words have principles of faith in them.

Ps 119:140 ¶ Thy word is very pure:

Seek the precious promises in the Ten Words and process your faith.

Ps 119:147 ... I hoped in thy word.

Faith is hoping in the word, appropriating Jesus powers by faith to yourself.

Ps 119:151 ... all thy commandments are truth.

Truth is a Hebrew word meaning to "Affirm faith"

And in the latter rain we find these verses:

Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Ro 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Ro 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

So if you are grafted into the tree of Christ, how often must the branch drink and eat, both of which are faith processes, does the branch have to do, to remain alive and abiding in Christ? Every day we fight the good fight of faith.

Ro 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

This love comes from faith in the precious promises of the Ten Words, so that love is the fulfillment of the Ten Words of the Law.

Shalom

[Admin]

How to read messages from God:

Condensed and adapted from George R. Knight, Reading Ellen White" 

A person can read inspired materials in at least two ways. 

One is to look for the central themes of an author; 

the other is to search for those things that are new and different. 

The first way leads to what can be thought of as a theology of the center, while the second produces a theology of the edges. Doing a theology of the edges may help a person arrive at "new light," but such light in the end may look more like darkness when examined in the context of the central and consistent teachings of the Bible.

What makes the teachings of many apostles of "new light" so impressive is their obvious sincerity and the fact that much of what they have to say may be needed truth. How can we tell when we are on center or chasing stray geese near the edges of what is really important? 

In her book Education, Ellen White wrote, "The Bible is its own expositor. Scripture is to be compared with scripture. The student should learn to view the Word as a whole, and to see the relation of its parts. He should gain a knowledge of its grand central theme, of God's original purpose for the world, of the rise of the great controversy, and of the work of redemption. He should understand the nature of the two principles that are contending for supremacy, and should learn to trace their working through the records of history and prophecy, to the great consummation. He should see how this controversy enters into every phase of human experience; how in every act of life he himself reveals the one or the other of the two antagonistic motives; and how, whether he will or not, he is even now deciding upon which side of the controversy he will be found" (p. 190; italics supplied).

So on the basis of our SDA George Knight, is "active faith" a theological center, or a theological edge?

Or is "genuine faith"&&"precious promises" a theological edge?

There are 123 references to "Active faith" and over 500 references to "genuine faith"

And there are only 2 references to "genuine faith"&&"precious promises"

Are we looking as he termed stray geese?

The more people of a scholarly nature write and add words to label things, the more confusion we bring into the topics at hand. Shalom

[Admin]

Notice how some SDA members saw Mrs White's messages

"I was led to conclude and most firmly believe that every word that you ever spoke in public or private, that every letter you wrote under any and all circumstances, was as inspired as the ten commandments. I held that view with absolute tenacity against innumerable objections raised to it by many who were occupying prominent positions in the [Adventist] cause," wrote Dr. David Paulson to Ellen White on April 19, 1906.

Rob replies: "This is a false claim, because the words of the ten commandments contain "precious promises" of faith and thus come with divine power.

But the rest of the words around the Ten Words are merely the ordinary words chosen for mankind. These words do not have Divine Power.

Mrs White messages are messages from God to humans, so we understand the Bible in a English perspective, even though the language of the Bible is Ancient Hebrew, a language first given to Adam and Eve in Eden, is my two pennies of thought.

I do not see Mrs White messages have "precious promises" of Divine Power, like the Scriptures promise to contain, nor have I entertained this thought?

Mrs. White replied to Paulson on June 14, 1906. "My brother," she penned, "you have studied my writings diligently, and you have never found that I have made any such claims [to verbal inspiration], neither will you find that the pioneers in our cause ever made such claims" for her writings. She went on to illustrate inspiration in her writings by referring to the inspiration of the Bible writers. Even though God had inspired the Biblical truths, they were "expressed in the words of men." She saw the Bible as representing "a union of the divine and the human." Thus "the testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of God" (Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 24-26)

Here we are presented to a mixing of George Knight and Mrs White...

Let us see what the messages are from God:

"expressed in the words of men" has 15 hits:-

The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are all “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men. The Infinite One by his Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and hearts of his servants. He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed, have themselves embodied the thought in human language. {GC88 c.4

Rob replies" Notice the Infinite One is referenced as He, and thus the Holy Spirit carries His messages to the writers of the messages, who express these messages in

the experiences they understand.

The union of the divine and the human, manifest in Christ, exists also in the Bible. The truths revealed are all “given by inspiration of God;” yet they are expressed in the words of men and are adapted to human needs. Thus it may be said of the Book of God, as it was of Christ, that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:14. And this fact, so far from being an argument against the Bible, should strengthen faith in it as the word of God. Those who pronounce upon the inspiration of the Scriptures, accepting some portions as divine while they reject other parts as human, overlook the fact that Christ, the divine, partook of our human nature, that He might reach humanity. In the work of God for man’s redemption, divinity and humanity are combined. {2TT 345.1}

Rob replies" Hmm? What is this message actually saying?

When the supporter of God prays "Lord your words I write, not mine" is this not a "precious promise" that we write the very message from the Lord, the readers need to hear?

Here is one of the "precious promises" that claim this

Ex 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Here we see a union of the the human with the Divine, but through faith in the precious promise, the human writes the messages of GOD through his own experience and language.

Of the 15 hits only the above two are unique.

Now lets search for "imperfect expression" :- (12 hits)

God has been pleased to communicate his truth to the world by human agencies, and he himself, by his Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was intrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language; yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth. {GC88 d.3}

Of the 12 hits, only this passage is quoted, all the rest are repeats.

Question: Where does this idea of imperfect expression of human language come from the Bible?

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Notice the Bible makes a prophecy that the Ancient Hebrew goes out into a new tongue and this new tongue is with stammering lips, in other words the " imperfect expression of human language"

Question: Does Ellen White speak of Hebrew as a language?

There are 8 hits to the theme "Hebrew language"

The Hebrew language was cultivated as the most sacred tongue in the world. A spirit of devotion was cherished. Not only were students taught the duty of prayer, but they were taught how to pray, how to approach their Creator, how to exercise faith in Him, and how to understand and obey the teachings of His Spirit. Sanctified intellects brought forth from the treasure house of God things new and old. {FE 97.3

Yet even here was evidence of the sin of Israel. Through the intermarriage of the people with other nations, the Hebrew language had become corrupted, and great care was necessary on the part of the speakers to explain the law in the language of the people, that it might be understood by all. Certain of the priests and Levites united with Ezra in explaining the principles of the law. “They read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” {PK 661.3

Looking down from the elevated platform, the eye swept over a sea of heads. From all the surrounding country the children of the covenant had assembled; and as one man they were listening, intent and reverent, to hear once more the words of the Most High. But even here the evidence of their sin was apparent. In their mingling with other nations, the Hebrew language had become corrupted, and therefore great care was necessary on the part of the speakers to explain the law in the language of the people, and so present it that it might be understood by all. {ST January 10, 1884, par. 4}

In this portion of sacred history is a precious lesson of faith for all who are convicted of sin, and weighed down with a sense of their unworthiness. When they compare their characters with God’s great standard of right, they see themselves condemned as transgressors. There is no power in law to free them from their guilt. But as they confess their sins, they can find pardon through Christ. From him flows the cleansing stream that can wash away the stains of sin. When the sinner has come to Christ with contrition of soul, confessing his transgressions, it is then his duty to appropriate to himself the Saviour’s promise of pardon to the repentant and believing. He who seeks to find goodness and cause for rejoicing in himself, will always be in despair; but he who looks to Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith, can say with confidence, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” {ST January 10, 1884, par. 13}

Mrs White messages make no real details in the Hebrew Language, that is the most sacred tongue in the whole world, became corrupted over time. Only recently have we discovered Ancient Hebrew letters preserved in the modern Hebrew letters, so is this sacred tongue a preservation of His word according to increasing genuine faith?