Hello Harry and James,
I would not say that I am unaffected by the opinions of others, but I do strive to let them be no more than a minority voice when it comes to deciding things that have eternal consequences. In this context, your comments regarding EGW changing her position on righteousness by faith, God's messenger not being a reliable messenger, demand more than your expression of others opinions, or your own opinion, for support!
So my challenge for you both is, bring out the evidence in context.
James, on a different topic, you said, "Brother Richard, because of the weakness of the flesh (Romans 8:3), we [are]continually sinning before God (Romans 3:23)."
I would encourage you to include in your theology some texts that paint a bigger and brighter picture than the hopeless one you have painted.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5.16
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1Jn 3.6
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2Pe 1.4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Co 10.3-5
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him…For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Ro 6.6-8,14
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ro 8.3,4
The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us "partakers of the divine nature," and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin. {MH 180.5}
(By the way, the above statement was published in 1905.)
James, what do you do with the above thoughts? In light of the scripture quoted above, it seems to me that you would need to find an interpretation of Rom 3.23 that is in harmony with those quoted above.
God Bless,
Steve
[This message has been edited by sdboyd (edited 04-22-2001).]