Just what are the Pillars of our faith? Ellen White answers

[Maschil]

While all the doctrines of the Bible are true, and certainly important…., yet all doctrines are not of equal stature and standing. Ellen White quickly came to differentiate, among them by means of an interesting metaphor, the chief elements of which are: (a) a “solid, immovable platform,” ( four principal “pillars” that support the platform, and © “three steps” that serve the dual functions of supporting the platform (as do the “pillars”) and providing entry.

I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps-- the first, second, and third angels' messages. Said my accompanying angel, "Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received." I was again brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had purchased their experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. God had led them along step by step, until He had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform. I saw individuals approach the platform and examine the foundation. Some with rejoicing immediately stepped upon it. Others commenced to find fault with the foundation. They wished improvements made, and then the platform would be more perfect, and the people much happier. Some stepped off the platform to examine it and declared it to be laid wrong. But I saw that nearly all stood firm upon the platform and exhorted those who had stepped off to cease their complaints; for God was the Master Builder, and they were fighting against Him. They recounted the wonderful work of God, which had led them to the firm platform, and in union raised their eyes to heaven and with a loud voice glorified God. This affected some of those who had complained and left the platform, and they with humble look again stepped upon it. {EW 258.3}

Interpreting her own symbols, Ellen explained that the “platform” of “truth"—not merely truth as propositional “theory,” nor yet truth as “controversial subject,” but rather the truth “as it is in Jesus” —was the total doctrinal construct of the newly developing church.

After the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, his disciples listened with wonder and amazement to his lessons of truth; for they seemed as new ideas to them; but he told them, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you. . . . Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures." The truth is constantly unfolding and presenting new features to different minds. All who dig in the mines of truth, will constantly discover rich and precious gems. We are anxious that all who claim to believe the truth now open before us, and especially those who take the responsibility of teaching the truth to others, should have a clearer conception themselves of the all-important significance of the themes of the Bible. {RH, June 3, 1890 par. 9}

Those who stand in vindication of the law of God, are in a position where they need much of the Spirit of God. If ministers are wanting in meekness, if they are easily irritated when opposed, it is evident that they need divine enlightenment. Men must manifest the grace of Christ as they labor for souls. The truth as it is in Jesus will have altogether a different influence upon the minds of unbelievers, from that which it has had when presented as a theory or as a controversial subject. If we do our very best to present the truth in its stirring character, crossing the opinions and ideas of others, it will be misinterpreted, misapplied, and misstated, to those who are entertaining error, in order to make it appear in an objectionable light. There are few to whom you bring the truth, who have not been drinking of the wine of Babylon. It is hard for them to comprehend the truth, therefore the necessity of teaching it as it is in Jesus. Those who claim to be lovers of truth can afford to be meek and lowly of heart, as was the great Teacher. Those who have been diligently working in the mines of God's word, and have discovered the precious ore in the rich veins of truth, in the divine mysteries that have been hidden for ages, will exalt the Lord Jesus, the Source of all truth, by revealing in their characters the sanctifying power of what they believe. Jesus and his grace must be enshrined in the inner sanctuary of the soul. Then he will be revealed in words, in prayer, in exhortation, in the presentation of sacred truth, for this is the great secret of spiritual success. When self is woven into our labors, then the truth we bear to others does not sanctify, refine, and ennoble our own hearts; it will not testify that we are fit vessels for the Master's use. It is only through fervent prayer that we may hold sweet fellowship with Jesus, and through this blessed communion the words and the spirit are made fragrant with the spirit of Christ. There is not a heart that will not bear watching. Jesus, the precious Saviour, enjoined watchfulness. The oversight of self must not be relaxed for a moment. The heart must be kept with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Watch and discipline the thoughts, that you may not sin with your lips.

The pillar doctrines were chiefly those that support the four corners of that platform—cardinal teachings such as the second coming of Christ, conditional immortality (“soul sleep”), the seventh-day Sabbath (in the greater framework of the immutable Law of God), and the high priesthood of Jesus Christ in His heavenly sanctuary.

The Landmarks Defined.--In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was evidence and there was reasoning from the word that commended itself to the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the "old landmarks" when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks, but they had perverted ideas of what constituted the old landmarks. {CW 30.1}

The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God's people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels' messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God's law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing the old landmarks is all imaginary. {CW 30.2}

And the “three steps”? The three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 not only support the total framework of “present truth,” but also provide the key to unlock contemporary meaning and open the door of understanding.

I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps-- the first, second, and third angels' messages. Said my accompanying angel, "Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. {EW 258.3}

Of all the pillar doctrines, the doctrine of Christ's high priesthood in the sanctuary above was “especially” validated by the Holy Spirit “over and over again” and “in a marked manner,” more than any of the others.

For more than half a century the different points of present truth have been questioned and opposed. New theories have been advanced as truth, which were not truth, and the Spirit of God revealed their error. As the great pillars of our faith have been presented, the Holy Spirit has borne witness to them, and especially is this so regarding the truths of the sanctuary question. Over and over again the Holy Spirit has in a marked manner endorsed the preaching of this doctrine. But today, as in the past, some will be led to form new theories and to deny the truths upon which the Spirit of God has placed His approval.--Manuscript 125, 1907. {Ev 224.2}

Also, it alone constitutes the unique contribution of Seventh-day Adventists to the theology of Protestant Christendom, “the very message that has made us a separate people, and has given character and power to our work.”

Satan is striving continually to bring in fanciful suppositions in regard to the sanctuary, degrading the wonderful representations of God and the ministry of Christ for our salvation into something that suits the carnal mind. He removes its presiding power from the hearts of believers, and supplies its place with fantastic theories invented to make void the truths of the atonement, and destroy our confidence in the doctrines which we have held sacred since the third angel's message was first given. Thus he would rob us of our faith in the very message that has made us a separate people, and has given character and power to our work.--Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 17. (1905.)

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[John317]

You make some very good points, and those are excellent quotes. Thanks for posting. It will be interesting to see what others say.

[skyblue888]

Thank you Maschil for this. I agree that these are excellent quotes. I remember how, many years ago, they meant so much to me. So the sanctuary doctrine is both the foundation and central pillar of the Advent Movement, hence an immovable platform of truth. As it is written, "The Scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: 'Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.' Daniel 8:14." The Great Controversy, p.409.

Those who fail to follow Jesus into the most holy place will not be able to exercise the faith that is required of us in these last days.

Notice that this statement does not say that the sanctuary doctrine is the foundation of the Christian's faith but that it is the foundation of the Advent faith.

So what is the foundation of the Christian's faith then? "The merits of a crucified and risen Savior are the foundation of the Christian's faith." The Great Controversy, p.73.

They are are the foundation of the Christian's faith for unless the sinner looks to Jesus and accepts His merits which it is our privilege to claim, he cannot be saved. See Testimonies to Ministers, p.93. And thus we read that the only faith that will benefit us is that which appropriates Christ's merits to ourselves. See Desire of Ages, p.347. As we, day by day, appropriate His merits to ourselves, by claiming them, the Lord clothes us with His robe of righteousness which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. See Testimonies to Ministers, p.92. (The sinner daily presents himself before God as he is, sinful, helpless, dependent, trusting wholly in the merits of the blood shed for him upon Calvary's cross. It is his only plea) See Faith and Works, pp.38,106.

And this, Mrs. White declared, is the third angel's message in clear, distinct lines. She defines "living faith" as the faith that lays right hold upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour to bring Christ's righteousness into the life (see Faith and Works,pp.64 and 65), and, she adds, His righteousness accomplishes everything. p.27. It is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God, including the seventh day Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

Jesus presents His righteousness for man to grasp by living faith. As we lay right hold upon the merits of His sacrifice, He imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the repentance, all the inclination, and all the pardon of sins. See Faith and Works, p.24.

Added to this, of course, as pointed out in Maschil's post, is the teaching of the non-immortality of the soul, which shows that the unsaved will not suffer eternally in hell fire.

The teaching of the faith of Jesus and the commandments of God also leads to the proper understanding of the character of God, the nature of His government, and the principles of His dealing with sin for His character has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. See The Great Controversy, p.492 and Christ's Object Lessons, p.415.

And also to know God aright is to know Him as revealed in and through all created things for above, beneath, beyond, abides Infinite Love, working out all things to accomplish the good pleasure of His goodness. See Education, p.134.

And there is also the need to understand what it means to eat Christ's flesh and to drink His blood as far as our physical and spiritual natures are concerned.

And, of course, we need to study the order of last day events, the sealing work, the timing of the investigative judgment especially for the living, the close of probation, and the time of Jacob's trouble, not to mention the drying up of the river Euphrates.

sky

*Personally I would purchase Volume 7A of Bible Commentary since this volume contains only Mrs. White's comments from Genesis to Revelation.

[John317]

...Those who fail to follow Jesus into the most holy place will not be able to exercise the faith that is required of us in these last days.

Notice that this statement does not say that the sanctuary doctrine is the foundation of the Christian's faith but that it is the foundation of the Advent faith.

So what is the foundation of the Christian's faith then? "The merits of a crucified and risen Savior are the foundation of the Christian's faith." The Great Controversy, p.73.

They are are the foundation of the Christian's faith, as it is written, that unless the sinner looks to Jesus and accepts His merits which it is our privilege to claim, he cannot be saved. See Testimonies to Ministers, p.93. And thus we are told that the only faith that will benefit us is that which appropriates Christ's merits to ourselves. See Desire of Ages, p.347. As we, by faith, appropriate His merits to ourselves, by claiming them, the Lord clothes us with His robe of righteousness which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. See Testimonies to Ministers, p.92.

Excellent points, sky.

[skyblue888]

Thanks John.