Please accept the following as my personal testimony as to how, after many years of long and painful investigations, I was finally made able to better appreciate what inspiration identifies as "The true religion, the only religion of the bible." T.M.468.
THE 1888 MESSAGE
In May of 1889, a few months after the 1888 Minneapolis Conference, the Lord sent a Testimony to His people saying that the matter of salvation, though simple, was still not understood: "The matter of salvation is just as simple as ABC. But we dont understand it." May 11,1889, Manuscript 1,1889. (F.W.64)
Then, in September of the same year, this Testimony was heard: "Not one in one hundred understands the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare." RH Sept.3,1889 (1SM 360)
Sixty-one years later, Short and Wieland, in their first edition of their 1888 Message Re-Examined, 1950, p.242,243, made this astonishing declaration: "Many in the church today and even in the world are trying to discover the light which God revealed to His people in 1888. NO ONE HAS SO FAR BEEN SUCCESSFUL. Religious leaders are yearning for something no one clearly understands though it would seem that a few are on the verge of discovery."
Another thirty-seven years went by and Short and Wieland published their second edition of THE 1888 MESSAGE RE-EXAMINED. On page 184 is found the same, reiterated admission: "It would seem that 1888 presents a problem unique in the history of God's confrontations with His people. There seems to be a PRECIOUS LIGHT involved therein that seems MORE ELUSIVE THAN ANY in the history of past ages."
As for myself, I graduated as a theology student in 1981 being determined to search for this precious light. I worked as a pastor for about two years and then joined an independent ministry being convinced it was the sole expositor of this precious message only to prepare myself for a great disappointment. I learned many new and fascinating things while studying with this group of people until I began studying A.T. Jones's lectures given at the 1893 and 1895 General Conference Sessions. I then realized, to my dismay, that there was something definitely wrong with some of the claims of the movement I had joined and worked for as a Bible instructor for about four years.
I was left with no other choice but to return to the church I had left a few years before. I attended church sporadically concentrating on my studies at home. I spent much of my time digging into the writings of Jones and Waggoner and the SOP over the next twelve years. Finally, in January of 1999, my eyes were opened! All it took was one lone statement hidden away in a chapter of the book Patriarchs and Prophets. It was then that I realized for the first time, after all these years, how simple but precious was the 1888 message! I kept asking myself how such a simple message could have remained so elusive to the church for so long!
It was in January of 1999 that I decided to read Patriarchs and Prophets all over again. The precious light dawned on me while I was reading page 203. Shortly after, I was impressed with another statement from Testimonies to Ministers which would prove beyond any shadow of doubt that I had finally been made to begin to see and appreciate the 1888 message in all its simplicity and beauty. It is indeed the most precious message ever sent to God's people since the days of Pentecost.
The statement I read from Patriarchs and Prophets was this one: "As dangers surround them, and despair seizes upon the soul, they must DEPEND SOLELY UPON THE MERITS OF THE ATONEMENT. We can do nothing of ourselves. In all our helpless unworthiness we must TRUST IN THE MERITS OF THE CRUCIFIED AND RISEN SAVIOR. NONE WILL EVER PERISH WHILE THEY DO THIS." Notice how the emphasis is on trusting in the MERITS of Christ as our only hope for time and eternity!
And then the statement from Testimonies to Ministers: "How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness. God has given them HIS MESSAGE. They bear THE WORD of the Lord: THERE IS SALVATION FOR YOU BUT ONLY THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST." p.96,97.
Short and Wieland had stated that "The reception of the Holy Spirit was implicit in the reception of the message itself." What was the message? "THERE IS SALVATION FOR YOU BUT ONLY THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST." This sentence was followed with these very words: "The Holy Spirit has been offered to you again and again." Ibid, 97.
Notice how is described the work of Christ in the sanctuary above: "The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of PRESENTING HIS DIVINE MERITS in the offering of Himself before the Father as our Substitute and Surety... Christ added His intercession. He claimed the gift of the Spirit that He might pour it upon His people." F.W.105; A.A.37.
In an article of the Signs of the Times, July 4, 1892, Ellen White stated the matter of salvation in these simple words: "Present your case before God PLEADING THE MERITS OF THE BLOOD that was shed for you on Calvary's cross... THIS IS YOUR ONLY PLEA." We have no merit or goodness whereby we may claim salvation but it is our privilege to APPROPRIATE TO OURSELVES the ALL-SUFFICIENT MERITS of the ALL-ATONING BLOOD of the spotless Lamb of God. "Our door-post must be marked by the atoning blood, thus acknowledging our OWN INFEFFICIENCY and the MERITS of the LAMB OF GOD." 2 ST 228.
These statements make it crystal clear that "The ONLY FAITH that will BENEFIT us is that which embraces Him as a personal Savior: WHICH APPROPRIATES HIS MERITS TO OURSELVES." D.A.347.
In the book Steps to Christ this matter is, again, stated in these simple words: "The MERITS of His sacrifice are SUFFICIENT to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C. 35. It is court week with us. The merits of the blood of Christ is our only plea!
In the book Acts of the Apostles, this truth is stated in a most beautiful graphic way: "We see in the midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the marks of the suffering endured to reconcile man to God. We see a Father, infinite, dwelling in light unapproachable, yet RECEIVING US to Himself through the MERITS of His Son." A.A. 333.
Hence these words: "Unless he makes it his lifebusiness to BEHOLD the uplifted Savior and ACCEPT His MERITS which it is his PRIVILEGE TO CLAIM, the sinner CAN NO MORE BE SAVED than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." T.M.95.
Therefore "We must DAILY APPLY to the MERITS of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." F.W.86. "Looking unto Jesus, and trusting in His MERITS we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." 5 T 744; 2 Cor.3:18.
This message is based on Eph.4:5; Jude 3,20; Rom.3:25; 5:9; Eph.1:7; Col.1:20; Heb.13:12; 10:19; Rev.12:11.
THROUGH THE MERITS OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WE MAY FIND THE APPROVAL OF GOD! (OFC122)
THANK GOD FOR THE ALL-SUFFICIENT MERITS OF THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN!
[This message has been edited by adventbeliever (edited 02-16-2001).]