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Extremely well said! I'm going to incorporate this into my knowledge base! Humbling!

I’d often wondered where the doctrine of sinless perfection came from. It certainly sounded attractive; however, my daily life caused some serious doubts about it. Usual suspects included Ellen White, John Wesley, and M.L Andreasen. I was surprised to find that it had nothing to do with John Wesley and was taught in the denomination before Andreasen was born. J.N. Andrews, prior to his death in 1883, spoke of standing before God without an atoning sacrifice. There will be no need of an Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator, or High Priest (Andrews, The Judgment, p.23). Andrews tied sinless perfectionism directly to the Investigative Judgment in his posthumously published book “The Judgment. Its Events and Their Order.” Andrews believed that the cleansing of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment were the same thing, a single event beginning in 1844. The Investigative Judgment also included the blotting out of sin. The sanctuary was cleansed by means of the IJ. The record of sin, preserved in the book of remembrance, polluted the sanctuary. As Andrews understood it, every professed believer’s name was entered in the book of life. The believer’s life record was preserved in the book of remembrance. Every idle word, neglected duty, overt sin was there. If these things had not been confessed and overcome， the “believer’s” name would be blotted out of the book of life. The investigation was a judgment of the believer’s faithfulness. The record of our life, preserved in the book of remembrance, determines who will be accounted worthy. Overcoming sin was an important element in the thinking of Andrews. Only those who were overcomers would be preserved in the book of remembrance and ultimately, the book of life. They would experience the justification of the [investigative] judgment and be accounted worthy of immortality (Andrews, The Judgment, p. 21). “…. Only those who have fully repented of their sins and have perfectly accomplished the work of overcoming” will have their sins blotted out. “They must have completed their work of overcoming” (Andrews, The Judgment, pp. 20, 21). Andrews was not alone in emphasizing the necessity of “overcoming” to succeed in the Investigative Judgment. James White, in his early Review and Herald article “The Judgment" also considered “overcoming” as necessary to pass the judgment. “The white raiment in this text [Rev. 3:5] is the same as that offered by the True Witness. Hence, we conclude that the overcoming, which is necessary in order to have the names of the people of God retained in, and not blotted out of, the book of life, consists in obeying the testimony to the Laodiceans.” (ARSH January 29, 1857, page 101.3). James White outlined the steps to success in the Investigative Judgment:1)“Perfect faith by works,” 2). “Be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.” 3) Get the anointing of the Holy Ghost (ARSH January 29, 1857, page 101.4). Ellen White describes how Jesus pleads for the salvation of those whose names come up in the Investigative Judgment. While not excusing their sin, He shows their faith and penitence, claiming forgiveness for them (GC, 412). God will not despise penitence and contrition (Psalm 51:17). They shall walk with God in white, for they are worthy.

The Apocrypha is little known among SDA members. I am working on an in-depth article in which I will introduce us to the individual writings. I have decided to post my article in parts, as I finish it. I will open this thread for comment when I have finished. The Apocrypha The Bible that Christians use today consists of a selection of writings that were commonly used in the congregations as Christianity spread in the years after the accession of Christ back to heaven. The Old Testament consists Jewish writings thought to be necessary for the Christian faith. The New Testament consists of Christian writings that were produced as Christianity developed in the early years. The Apocrypha is is a group of writings that were produced during the Intertestamental period between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Those writings have been accepted as having value by some Christian groups and therefore included in the Bibles that they use. Some of these are additions to standard Old Testament books. Other parts are complete books that are added to the Old Testament. Many Protestants, to include Seventh-day Adventists do not include them in their Bibles. In this document I will inform you as to the various material included in the Apocrypha. NOTE, Current SDA scholars are giving study to the comments that Ellen White make that are related to this issue. She was favorable. The Pseudepigrapha consists of similar writings that developed in the early years of Christianity. This is a very large collection of material, I will not further comment on those writings. How ever, it is interesting to note that the New Testament book of Jude, the 14tn verse clearly quotes from the Pseudepigraphal book of Enoch.

The following is a lilting of the materials that are commonly included in the Apocrypha. In some cases, I may have shortened the title from what is the title as included in Bibles. Also, I do not list in the order in which they are included in the Bibles. If you wish to read the following, they are probably all available on the Internet. 1st Maccabees: This book is considered to be the best history that we have of the specific period of time that it describes. 2nd Maccabees: This book is thought to have some historical value for the covered period of time, but not as much as the one directly above. NOTE: Two other similar (3rd & 4th) versions did not make it into the cannon of any present Christian group. The Three Holy Children: This section tells the story of the three who were thrown into the furnace of fire, their conversations while they were in the furnace, and their deliverance. Susanna: This is the story of a woman falsely accused of immoral conduct. Daniel steps in to defend her and proves her innocent. It is an addition to the book of Daniel. Bel and the Dragon: This is a fanciful story of Daniel who destroyed the Babylonian god Bel, and also a dragon god, who was then thrown into the den of lions for 6-days during which God fed Daniel., 1st Esdras: This is a long story of how Cyrus allowed the Jews to return from their captivity in Babylon to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. 2nd Esdras: This book begins with the story of God delivering the Jews from Egypt. It has a focus on End Time Events that differs from the other book. Prayer of Manasses: He is a captive in Babylon. This is his prayer asking for forgiveness. Tobit: This is the story of a righteous man on a journey, accompanied by an angel of God who encounters an evil spirit. He heals people with gall. One person dies at 185 years of age. Tobit dies at 127 years of age. Judith: In this story, God uses the woman, Judith to deliver Israel from the enemy. It differs some, but, is similar to the story of Jael killing Sisera in Judges 4:17-22. Additions to Esther: These additions to the book of Esther expand upon the story of the attempt to kill the Jews and how Esther approached the King to request that they be saved. Wisdom of Solomon: This is simply alleged to be the teachings of King Solomon. Christians would likely agree with much. Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus: This is a collection of the teachings of a man named Jesus who lived many years prior to Jesus the Christ. Baruch: this book was written to Jews in captivity in Babylon. It states that such happened due to their sins and assures them that if they repent, God will deliver them and return them to their previous land.

He was a good human being. He went to bat for those that couldn't help themselves!!

It was interesting hearing the former president’s speak at the funeral.

The above article has been removed from the Internet. However, it has also been posted on the following website; https://www.educatetruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/0226Recorder.pdf

Gustave, yes, there once was an SDA Church in San Francisco that was more liberal than the typical SDA church. I do not know that it ever allowed such marriages. In any case, that experiment ended some years ago. I once was a member of a large SDA congregation that had a homosexual couple who attended. But, they were not members. I am aware of another SDA congregation that accepted a homosexual couple into membership. The pastor was expelled from ministry. Other action resulted related to another clergy person. But, the couple remained members.

Lead by example. We are to be the leaders of the house. To do that we need to be deeply involved in weekly bible study. I believe we need to do daily bible study.

Revelation 14:12 tells us: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

When Jesus healed the man/2men, when the pigs ran into the sea; they were pagans. They lived in a city where they were to show others how wonderful Greek life is. This was one of 10 Greek cities on the east side of the sea of Galilee and Jordan river, and the entire area was pagan. This was the "far country" that the prodigal son went to. These men would have been pagan. They would have known little to nothing of the people with a strange religion down south in Judah and pockets here and there in the north, but all across the lake. They knew very little. They would not have known the Bible. Yet, Jesus sent them to be his first missionaries to the gentiles. I wonder how comfortable we would feel if we could go back in time and attend their meetings?

Reclaiming the Prophet: An Honest Defense of Ellen White's Gift is one of the more important books related to Ellen White. The following link will allow you to read that book on-line. In addition, it will allow you t download a digital Copy of the book. https://spectrummagazine.org/reclaiming-the-prophet/

I am stubborn enough to keep going through the motions every day, but I'm not getting anywhere. Every time I look at a blank page I feel the weight of responsibility to fill it with something valuable, and a sense of dread that I will have to do everything alone until I can reliably do that. I ask God for help, over and over and over again, for so many years, and come up empty. I understand that I might not get to have anything outside of myself to keep me going, but so far that hasn't worked too well.

I guess my question would have to be 'which God?' That's probably just because I'm too analytical, but I also don't think I can answer the question in the OP without asking that question. I've been watching this thread throughout its life, and refraining from posting. The reason was that, if the God in question is an interventionist God as usually described in Adventism and Christianity, my answer would have to be 'nothing'. Nothing makes that God real to me. I didn't want to post that because I thought it would bring my friends here down. I'm not an atheist: I do think a God exists. But it is a God that is larger than our universe, and that our universe exists within. This view is described as 'panentheism'. This infinite God contains all possibilities, and does not directly intervene in our lives. When it comes to what we can observe and measure, there is no perceptible difference between how the world looks from a panentheist perspective and from a purely naturalistic perspective. So I guess what makes God real for me is a set of beliefs and ideas, but that the God that is real for me is somewhat unlike the God worshipped by most of my friends here.

As I think of it, I would like to say to Geaorrge that I have been really trying to understand your dilemma. I so appreciate your willingness to explain how it is for you. I know it is easy for others to pinpoint the block in someone else but please don't let that discourage you. I don't know why you have had the struggle you have. I am happy that in spite of it you are here with us And I am happy that you have shared!

'Country' Joe McDonald, '60s rock star, proud protest counterculture icon, dies at 84 https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/mar/10/country-joe-mcdonald-60s-rock-star-proud-protest-counterculture-icon-dies-at-84/

Bernard LaFayette, Selma voting rights organizer, dies at 85 https://apnews.com/article/bernard-lafayette-voting-rights-organizer-dies-f2f526a1a0b911edb9ef3c219cee77e8?

Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to its last national title in 1988, died on Wednesday, March 4. He was 89. Notre Dame is in northern Indiana, not far from Andrews University.

🕯️ The Rev. Jesse Jackson is lying in state today at the South Carolina Capitol in Columbia after a long career fighting for civil rights. The final full honors from his birth state are a far cry from his childhood in segregated Greenville. Get the latest.