Last week, we looked at the different views of the doctrine of salvation among Protestants and the various sects within Adventism. Today, we are going to explore the practical implications of these differences and how they shape our understanding of moral law.
Despite the differences, all major Adventist views, as well as mainstream Protestant beliefs, agree that true salvation should lead to moral transformation or Christian perfection. However, there is a debate over whether this perfection is primarily the responsibility of human striving and achievement, or if it is accomplished through resting in God’s grace and the finished work of Christ being applied to the believer. This disagreement fundamentally arises from different interpretations of the complex relationship between grace and human effort in the process of sanctification and glorification.
In my 24-year Adventist journey, for a good 15 years, I held the view that I must strive to achieve Christian perfection. My efforts were sincere, and my desire was genuine. But I consistently failed which led me to depression and led me to doubt my faith. Thanks to the work of Dr. Weaver, I began a new journey that made me look at the 10 commandments in a new light. To better understand that let’s first understand the difference between first and second covenants.
God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites through Moses and established the first covenant. In Exodus 19:3-8, God promised that if the Israelites obeyed Him fully and kept His covenant, they would be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The people agreed, saying, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”
We know the story. Israelites repeatedly failed to keep the covenant. God acknowledged this failure of the people in Jeremiah 31 and foretold a new covenant that He would make with His people. Paul talked about it in Hebrews 8.
Hebrews 8:6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant. with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors. when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
The old covenant depended on the people’s promises to God, but the new covenant is based on God’s promises to us. The old covenant was built on the feeble human effort, but the new covenant was built on the Christ the Solid Rock. Our salvation rests not on our ability to keep promises to God, but on believing His promises to us. Embracing this new covenant frees us from the “yoke of bondage”. The old covenant mindset consists of constant striving to be more perfect followed by constant failures to live up to the mark set by God. The new covenant releases us from being “under the law” and brings us “under the Spirit.” The new covenant mindset consists of resting in the Grace of God.
Under the old covenant, even the best efforts of Israel’s prophets, judges, and kings could not produce lasting revival and reformation. Their repeated cycles of backsliding demonstrated the weakness inherent in a covenant based on human promises.
Unlike the old covenant, the covenant based on God’s promises results in success. Many of us think that this covenant based on God’s promises is new, but it was present even before the old covenant. The Abrahamic covenant precedes the Mosaic covenant, and it was made entirely on the promises of God. Abraham understood his helplessness in front of the God of the universe and didn’t dare to make a return promise. Instead, he simply believed in the promise of God. Therefore, his belief became righteousness unto Him.
The idea is that Justification is by Grace alone, but sanctification requires Grace, and Human effort is like mixing the new covenant with a little bit of the old covenant. The problem with this mixing is that a little bit of the old covenant paralyzes the entire spiritual experience producing lukewarmness.
The new covenant message of righteousness by faith alone makes us realize that just like Abraham, by believing in Christ’s promises, we become righteous, and the Ten Commandments become Ten precious promises. By resting in God’s grace, we become righteous. This is hard for us to understand because in this world nothing comes to us by resting. But that is exactly what we need to do in Christ and His Grace.
Based on this understanding, I reimagined the Ten Commandments as the Ten Promises of God. By simply believing in His promises, and resting in His grace, they will be fulfilled in our lives.
Just a word of caution. This is my interpretation based on the books that I read. I spent almost a month writing these ten promises. More than the finished product, the act of writing them was more rewarding for me. I don’t have a good way to explain how wonderful my experience was. You may not like what I have written but I encourage you to write the 10 commands as 10 promises on your own and experience the joy that I experienced. You will not be disappointed.
First Commandment:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.
I am your Creator and Redeemer. Despite any hostility you may harbor toward Me, I claim you as My own. I have completely freed you from the bondage of sin, self-centeredness, and eternal condemnation. Only in Me will you find true freedom, joy, and fulfillment. Nothing false will ever deceive you again.
Second Commandment:
You shall not make for yourself a carved image any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Understand that nothing in this world can fully grasp My essence. My goodness, grace, and love transcend anything earthly. I am the sole source of true goodness and love, capable of fulfilling all your needs. My presence is constant and enduring. I will guide you to seek Me with sincerity and authenticity, ensuring fulfillment for countless generations. However, if you turn to false sources for fulfillment, I, in My grace, will restrict the repercussions to only three or four generations.
Third Commandment:
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
I will refine your hypocritical character into an authentic one that endures the flames of trial. You will never misrepresent Me again but embody genuineness through and through.
Fourth Commandment:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
After completing creation in six days, I gave you the gift of the Sabbath, a day of rest intricately woven into the very fabric of time. It’s more than just a respite from the week’s toils; it’s a precious gift, a gentle beckoning to seek solace in My embrace. When you embrace this sacred day, dear child, and enter the tranquil sanctuary of My love, you unlock a wellspring of peace and a deeper communion with your Creator. In that serene stillness, I assure you of My presence and infuse your heart with the peaceful joy of My company. Come, rest in this assurance, and affirm your belonging as My chosen people. As you find solace in My presence, I pledge to sanctify and shower blessings upon you.
Fifth Commandment:
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
I will empower you to honor your father and mother, regardless of their imperfections, ensuring your days on this earth are prolonged and filled with joy.
Sixth Commandment:
You shall not murder.
I will transform your heart to cherish and safeguard life.
Seventh Commandment:
You shall not commit adultery.
I will cleanse your heart, nurturing faithfulness, and integrity in your marriage. Moreover, I will mend your mind, instilling a profound reverence for the inherent dignity bestowed by Me upon both you and your spouse.
Eighth commandment:
You shall not steal.
I will cultivate contentment in your heart, guiding you to cherish what you have and to respect the possessions of others.
Ninth commandment:
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
I will cultivate truthfulness in your speech and integrity in your interactions, ensuring you uphold honesty and fairness in your relationships with others.
Tenth commandment:
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
I will uproot covetous desires hidden deep within your heart, replacing them with a rich harvest of contentment. From the depths of your being, I will cultivate a profound sense of peace and satisfaction, banishing envy and discontent. Trust in Me, for in My embrace, you will find true fulfillment and lasting joy.
(A key reference I used in assembling my thoughts on this topic was Wieland, R. J. (2000). A New Look at God’s Law. CFI Publishing.)
How do you feel about the 10 Commandments as 10 promises?
Reinhard: The coming of Jesus is the fulfillment of what the Old Testament talks about, the New Covenant. This shows us how to relate, how to receive, how to worship God. In the Old Testament, people tried to be sanctified by work, but with Jesus, we have grace. So, the New Covenant is very compatible with the idea of grace. People can understand more in the Old Testament if grace is introduced to them. Before, they didn’t know how to have faith in God, how to worship God with this idea because Jesus’ sacrifice is complete. By believing in Him, justification by faith can happen; He will accept us.
What I get from this is the old versus the new. The New Covenant, after Jesus came and showed us how to worship God, means we don’t have to rely on our work to be with God or to earn our salvation. Just by faith, we will automatically do His work. Jesus summed up all 10 Commandments with: “Love God and love man.” I think it will become easy for us to do what God wants from us when we understand more about the mission of Jesus and how He showed us during His ministry how we can come to God and worship the right way—by faith and to love Him.
C-J: What I liked about the way that God revealed His love, grace, and intention for His creation is that it’s all about loving provision. I don’t think that I have enough faith, goodness, or capability of being made in the image of God. I have to completely trust in the promises you spoke of, that when I experience struggle and come through it, the humility and appreciation for that is what transforms me. It takes me out of my confusion, my sense of loss, my sense of “I must do it too,” to completely surrender. And as I allow that root to grow, it gets easier for me to just surrender. Let God do the work. It’s not your battle. It’s beautiful. Kiran, I am so blessed by your testimony and that experience. It is work to grow in God, to not have all that junk in our head saying “I am unworthy.” But when we just surrender, God does it in such a beautiful way. I’m so blessed to hear what you shared.
Donald: It’s interesting how you interpret the 10 Commandments, transitioning from the old to what is not as concisely described in the New Testament. It’s more of a statement than a direct translation. This reflection, piece by piece, contrasts with something short and concise. Although it’s refreshing in its brevity, it’s certainly different. It’s wonderful to compare the old with the new, step by step, walking right through it, as you just did.
Don: It seems, Kiran, that what you’ve offered, which is beautiful and much appreciated, really boils down to something quite simple. The Old Covenant was based on our effort, and the New Covenant is based on God’s effort. Looking at the Old Testament stories, the motif of the New Covenant plays out in various narratives. For instance, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord through the ark, a vessel of refuge engineered entirely by God, including its dimensions and construction materials.
In Abraham, we repeatedly see the assurance that God will provide, symbolizing that Isaac represented all of Abraham’s efforts and future. Yet, when Abraham placed Isaac on the altar, it highlighted that our efforts are not sufficient; only God’s provision is. This illustrates the Old Covenant’s reliance on human effort, which is ultimately futile and fatal, versus the New Covenant’s foundation on God’s work, which is sanctifying and salvific.
Anonymous: Where does faith fit into this picture? Looking back, Abraham’s faith allowed God to work through him, offering a new understanding of salvation. Isn’t part of salvation for us to believe? If we don’t have faith, then nothing can work. What do you think?
Kiran: The distinction is important. Abraham is often regarded as the epitome of faith. Yet, it’s crucial to recognize there are two types of faith mentioned in the Bible: general faith, considered saving faith, and specific faith, known as wonder-working faith. In Romans 12:3, Paul emphasizes that through grace, each individual is endowed with a measure of faith sufficient for salvation. Additionally, in Corinthians, faith is depicted as a spiritual gift, capable of performing miracles, granted to those with a committed relationship with Christ. Thus, the requisite faith for salvation is innate, enabling us to embrace Christ. This faith, bestowed by God, grows through our experiences with Him.
We celebrate Abraham’s faith despite his failures and lapses in truthfulness. This suggests that the essential faith is provided by God, who also nurtures its growth within us. It’s a dynamic of relationship rather than self-generated faith.
Michael: Despite our recognition of Abraham as a paragon of faith, his narrative is not predominantly marked by faithfulness. It may seem that his faith only becomes evident towards the end of his journey. I concur that faith is crucial and it also underpins how we interpret the 10 Commandments as promises rather than mere directives. This perspective is a testament to the power of faith.
Carolyn: I’m curious about the interrelation of faith versus belief. Is one contingent upon the other? Do they coexist within us, and is the act of believing or acting upon our beliefs the sole requirement? I’m interested in exploring this further.
Donald: Don’t you think belief precedes faith? If you don’t believe, then what’s the point of faith? It seems to me that belief is a prerequisite for faith, not the other way around. It’s a sequential process, yet they are intricately linked. In my prayers, I often reflect on how God, who created us, understands our struggles, our hearts, and our minds. He’s aware of the challenges His requests pose to us and how easily life can overshadow our faith or belief. It’s not that we don’t believe; sometimes, we just fail to take the time to believe. God knows us completely, and this knowledge reassures me that He understands our journey and struggles.
C-J: I compare faith and belief to drilling a well for water, inspired by my grandfather’s profession as a well driller. When drilling, you don’t always know how deep you need to go to find water, nor whether it will be of good quality and sufficient quantity. Similarly, when Kiran chose to delve into the 10 Commandments, it was like drilling into the foundation of our belief system. Despite the historical depth and potential obstacles, he continued, hoping to discover something valuable. In the end, he struck a gusher. This metaphor illustrates that our faith deepens and strengthens as we continue our journey, understanding our past and embracing our relationship with God. It’s a process where the longer we walk with God, the more we produce good fruit, shifting from self to God. Certain individuals, like Samuel and Daniel, were recognized early for their closeness to God and their potential to do great things. However, even they had to learn surrender, ensuring that it’s not about their achievements but what God accomplishes through them. This perspective significantly alters how we view our relationship with God.
Kiran: I read a book titled “Justified” by an Adventist professor from Andrews University, which discusses the difference between belief and faith. In the original languages of the Bible, Greek and Hebrew, the same words denote both faith and belief, with their verb forms also being interchangeable. The distinction in English between faith and belief, each drawing from different linguistic sources, is primarily to enrich meaning. However, in common usage, there might be a nuanced difference: belief acts as a roadmap, indicating God’s will, while faith goes beyond mere acknowledgment, embodying trust, obedience, and action in alignment with belief.
Carolyn: Now, considering faith and beliefs as implanted in our hearts, the question arises: How do we acquire belief? Is it something innate, or do we reach out, accept, and practice it?
Don: Reflecting on previous discussions about love, charity, and grace, it’s essential to delve deeper into Carolyn’s inquiry. The Book of Hebrews identifies Jesus as both the author and finisher of our faith, highlighting faith as a divine initiative rather than a human effort. This perspective suggests a synergistic relationship between faith, grace, and even the concept of Agape love, necessitating further exploration to delineate our contributions versus God’s interventions in cultivating faith.
David: I agree that faith and belief are largely synonymous, and I caution against overly analytical or reductionist approaches to biblical interpretation. The Hebrews passage Kiran quoted emphasizes that God’s laws are inherently within us, inscribed in our minds and hearts, signifying that faith/belief is a pre-existing condition within our essence. This beautiful simplicity eliminates the need for existential angst or theological quandaries over “developing a relationship” with God, because it’s already there.
Carolyn: While I acknowledge the simplicity of John 3:16 and the promise of salvation through belief in Jesus, I’ve recited this since childhood without fully grasping that the New Covenant was within my heart. Despite my desire to believe, I find myself wavering and questioning whether belief alone is sufficient. I struggle with self-judgment and doubts, even though I cherish the New Covenant and my love for Christ deeply.
C-J: I view belief as a conscious decision, a choice to have faith, whereas faith itself is transformative and marks a transition. It’s akin to Einstein’s theory of relativity—initially, he had no equation to prove his insights into the universe, just a theoretical understanding. As Christians, we choose to believe based on the evidence presented through biblical stories and human history, recognizing our consistent failures. Faith, as Kiran articulated through his new perspective, clears the slate and illuminates our understanding in a profound, simple way that leaves little else to be said.
Michael: While I theoretically concur with David on the simplicity of faith and belief, my reality contrasts sharply, highlighting the difficulty and rarity of such discussions in religious contexts. For me, understanding began with knowledge, particularly about grace, and evolved through experiencing grace, which often contradicted everything I was taught and believed. Recognizing grace’s omnipresence and pivotal role, despite initial teachings, suggests that knowledge is crucial, paving the way for faith to manifest and transform our experiences.
Reinhard: Looking at the Old Covenant, we recall the 10 Commandments given to Moses, alongside the civil and ceremonial laws. In the New Testament, those laws were essentially abolished, except for the 10 Commandments. This highlights a fundamental difference in how people worship God. In the Old Testament, individuals came to the temple, adhered to the regulations, and while they believed in God, their experience and adherence often remained superficial, limited to mental acknowledgment rather than heartfelt conviction. The key difference introduced by the New Covenant is the embedding of these principles within the heart, making them a part of one’s very essence and spirit, unlike the external adherence observed in the Old Testament.
The New Testament teachings emphasize a deep, internalized faith that enables us to live in accordance with God’s covenant, especially the moral law. Through grace, our shortcomings are covered, and by placing everything in God’s hands, we avoid the mistakes of the past, such as idol worship and rebellion against God. With faith in Jesus, our relationship with God is strengthened, and the Holy Spirit aids our faith. This encapsulates the essence of the New Covenant—living by what God desires for us, knowing His grace is always sufficient in times of struggle or failure.
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