Fulfilled Desire

In the previous episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talked about spiritual gifts. Today, he’s going to discuss one of these, the gift of prophecy.

We read in Revelation 12:17Revelation 12:17
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In connection, the eighteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: “The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.”

The gift of prophecy was in operation throughout the Old Testament times. For instance, when Aaron and Miriam rebelled against Moses’ leadership, God said to them, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream” (Numbers 12:6Numbers 12:6
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Before his death, Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15Deuteronomy 18:15
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This prophecy was fulfilled through Joshua and the prophets who succeeded him. But its ultimate fulfillment was in the appearance of the Messiah, Who was the Prophet to lead God’s people from the slavery of sin into the heavenly Canaan.

Meanwhile, the gift of prophecy was working in the New Testament times as well. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that it would remain in the church “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:13Ephesians 4:13
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God bestowed this gift of prophecy on a woman by the name of Ellen G. White. She was a woman of remarkable spiritual gifts who lived most of her life in the nineteenth century.

She wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books. Her writings made a revolutionary impact on millions of people around the world. These cover subjects including religion, education, social relationships, evangelism, prophecy, publishing, nutrition, and management.

Ellen White was more than a gifted writer. She was also appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world’s attention to the Bible and prepare them for Christ’s Second Advent.

From age 17 until her death at 70, God gave her 2,000 dreams and visions. The knowledge and counsel she received through these revelations were all in her writings. Thus, we, Seventh-day Adventists, accept her writings as inspired by God.

However, “the writings of Ellen White are not a substitute for Scripture. They cannot be placed on the same level. The Holy Scriptures stand alone, the unique standard by which she and all other writings must be judged and to which they must be subject” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe…, p. 227).

Indeed, Ellen White was a remarkable woman who met all the tests of a true prophet as in the Scriptures. She helped found the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Through her counsels, God has blessed the church immensely.

As an appeal, 2 Chronicles 20:202 Chronicles 20:20
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Let us embrace this gift of prophecy God has bestowed upon the church.

More about the gift of prophecy at www.adventist.org/gift-of-prophecy/the-gift-of-prophecy/ and Ellen White’s writings at www.egwwritings.org.

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Everyone enjoys receiving gifts, especially from people we love, may it be on a birthday or any other special occasion. But more important than the gift itself is the person who took the time and effort to prepare and give it. And thoughtfulness is what makes it more special and memorable.

In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, talk about the spiritual gifts and ministries based on the seventeenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

Matthew 25 tells the parable of the talents wherein a man entrusted his workers with valuable gifts or talents.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey” (verses 14 and 15).

Continuing in verses 16 to 18, “then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord’s money.”

When the owner returned, he commended those who used their talents wisely, telling each of them, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (verse 21).

Meanwhile, the one who didn’t use his talent and buried it in the ground blamed the owner for giving him such, saying, “I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed!”

These workers were not asked to do their work without resources or, in other words, to “make bricks without straw.” They were given the things they needed. If used wisely, they would be richly rewarded.

God gives each of us gifts and talents to use for Him and reach others. There is no greater joy than seeing someone respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He works through us.

As our seventeenth fundamental belief states, “God bestows upon all members of His church in every age spiritual gifts that each member is to employ in loving ministry for the common good of the church and of humanity.”

It continues, “Given by the agency of the Holy Spirit, Who apportions to each member as He wills, the gifts provide all abilities and ministries needed by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained functions. According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the help and encouragement of people.”

It goes on, saying, “Some members are called of God and endowed by the Spirit for functions recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic, and teaching ministries particularly needed to equip the members for service, to build up the church to spiritual maturity, and to foster unity of the faith and knowledge of God.”

Lastly, “when members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is from God, and is built up in faith and love.”

In connection to this, Ellen White reminds us in Christ’s Object Lessons, “The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit” (page 327). “The special gifts of the Spirit are not the only talents represented in the parable. It includes all gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual. All are to be employed in Christ’s service” (page 328).

But God doesn’t ask us to do something without giving us the power to do it. On page 333 of the same book, Ellen White says, “As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.”

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In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about the Lord’s Supper based on the sixteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

The Lord’s Supper is a participation in the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him. In this experience, Christ is present to meet and strengthen His people. And as we partake in it, we “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:261 Corinthians 11:26
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Preparation for this communion includes self-examination, repentance, and confession. These are manifested in the service of foot washing, signifying renewed cleansing and willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility and unite our hearts in love.

The Lord’s Supper follows Jesus’ demonstration of love when He washed His disciples’ feet like a servant. By doing this, He showed an example of kindness and unconditional love. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15John 13:14-15
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Aside from washing one another’s feet, the three significant parts of the communion service involve eating unleavened bread and drinking grape juice. All these are symbolic of Christ’s sacrifice to save us and the servant-like example He set.

Also, these actions follow Jesus’ words to His disciples: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19Luke 22:19
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The bread represents Christ’s body broken for us. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.'” (Matthew 26:26Matthew 26:26
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Jesus said in John 6:48John 6:48
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This bread, as used in the communion service, is unleavened. Why?

During the Passover, God instructed the Israelites to get ready to leave Egypt soon as Pharaoh permitted. So, they baked unleavened cakes of dough. Through the years, they used unleavened bread in celebrating the Passover as a reminder of their exodus from Egypt.

Meanwhile, Apostle added another meaning to this. “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore, purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast not with old leaven nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6-81 Corinthians 5:6-8
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On the other hand, the fruit of the vine symbolizes Jesus’ blood “which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28Matthew 26:28
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This fruit of the vine, as used in Passover, was unfermented grape juice. Jesus said in Matthew 26:29Matthew 26:29
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With this, the Bible condemns fermented wine. In Proverbs 20:1Proverbs 20:1
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As such, only pure grape juice, freshly squeezed from the vine, fits the symbol of the perfect blood of Christ.

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper to commemorate our deliverance from sin. It is the new covenant service that continues the Passover celebration.

The communion is the perfect time to think about how we can grow in Christ and honor Him with our lives.

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In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about baptism, constituting the fifteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

Baptism, a public ceremony proclaiming that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, demonstrates your commitment to Him. 

Its biblical practice involves immersion in water which can be traced back to Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist before He started His ministry. Similarly, His followers were baptized. And before He ascended back to heaven, He commissioned the disciples to continue baptizing people.

In Matthew 28:18-20Matthew 28:18-20
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Water immersion, as practiced by Seventh-day Adventists, symbolizes Christ’s death and resurrection. It provides forgiveness of our sins. In the process, we proclaim to accept His sacrifice and acknowledge Him as our personal Savior. Coming out of the water symbolizes rising to a new life in Christ.

“Baptism” comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means to “immerse, submerge” and “make fully wet.”

In connection, Colossians 2:12Colossians 2:12
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WP-Bible plugin explains baptism as being “buried with Him…in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead.”

The physical act of baptism is not what changes you. Instead, it is the Holy Spirit’s work that makes the difference. Baptism moves your heart toward a closer relationship with Christ. It marks the beginning of a journey of a changed life.

The Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Belief #15 puts it this way: “By baptism, we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus, we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior, become His people, and are received as members by His church.

It continues, “Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings.”

Reading about baptism in the New Testament, we find three important aspects:

1. The people believed the good news they heard (Acts 2:41Acts 2:41
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2. Believers confessed their sins (Mark 1:5Mark 1:5
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3. Baptism was the result of their repentance (Matthew 3:11Matthew 3:11
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Since baptism is based upon a conscious decision to confess and repent of your sins and to accept Jesus as your Savior, the Adventist church does not practice infant baptism. Infants are too young to understand the meaning of this important rite.

Now, baptism is an essential step in the life of a believer and is a reason to celebrate as he publicly declares his intent to follow Jesus.

Ellen White writes, “The ceremony of baptism is a most solemn one. Men and women are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This signifies that the three greatest representatives of heavenly authority behold the baptismal service and hear the vows that are made by human agents to walk henceforth in newness of life. In taking the baptismal vows, man unites with the highest powers in the heavenly courts. He covenants to live the life that Christ lived while on this earth. And Christ, on His part, fulfills every promise that He has made in His Word. He molds the character of every one who follows in His footsteps. Wonderful, wonderful is His work in behalf of sinners!” (17 LTMS, MS 57, 1902, par. 26).

To learn more about baptism, visit www.adventist.org/baptism. You may also contact your local Adventist pastor about how you can commit your life to God through baptism and become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. If you’ve already been baptized, you may also renew your commitment today.

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In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson is with his fellow General Conference executive officers, Erton Kohler and Paul Douglas, to talk about unity in the body of Christ which constitutes our church’s fourteenth fundamental belief.

Unity among believers began with Christ Himself. 

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father: “Keep through Your name those whom You have given Me; that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11John 17:11
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Through this unity of Christ’s believers, the world will accept the good news we share. But what does this unity look like and how can it be achieved?

Ellen White writes in the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, page 1148, “What a wonderful statement! The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. In mind, in purpose, in character, they are one, but not in person. By partaking of the Spirit of God, conforming to the law of God, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ brings His disciples into a living union with Himself and with the Father. Through the working of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, man is made complete in Christ Jesus. Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity with one another. This unity is the most convincing proof to the world of the majesty and virtue of Christ, and of His power to take away sin.”

Jesus’ disciples had different backgrounds, personalities, and ways of doing things. Hence, they sometimes fought over who would be the greatest. Jesus knew all this and He had a mission for them. But He knew they could never accomplish this mission until they were united.

So, He prayed for them. And in Acts 2:1Acts 2:1
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In her book The Acts of the Apostles, page 36, Ellen White says, “As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief.” 

On page 37, she continues, “The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to…speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.” Also, “the disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy function that was to fit them for the work of soul saving…They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised.”

But how did this transformation take place?

“Under the training of Christ, the disciples had been led to feel their need of the Spirit. Under the Spirit’s teaching, they received the final qualification, and went forth to their lifework…No longer were they a collection of independent units or discordant, conflicting elements. No longer were their hopes set on worldly greatness. They were of ‘one accord,’ ‘of one heart and of one soul’…Christ filled their thoughts; the advancement of His kingdom was their aim. In mind and character, they had become like their Master, and men ‘took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus'” (Acts of the Apostles, page 45).

This is the kind of unity we need in the church today. Amid our differences in culture, nationality, language, and so on, God calls us to unite in one message and mission to save souls through His power.

Our fourteenth fundamental belief states: “The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ, we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, Who, by one Spirit, has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, we share the same faith and hope and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, Who has adopted us as His children.”

As we follow the steps of the early disciples, let’s set aside our own desires and ambitions, yield to Christ, and pray earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. By then, He will give us wisdom, strength, and courage to proclaim the gospel to the entire world. And the end will come.

To learn more about the fourteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists, go to www.adventist.org/unity-in-the-body-of-christ/.

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In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses God’s remnant and its mission, constituting the thirteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

A remnant is a group of people who remain loyal to God no matter what.

Noah and his family were an example of the remnant people in the beginning.

In Genesis 6:5, 11Genesis 6:5, 11
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“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” verse 8 says. God told him of His plan to destroy the earth with flood because people were so wicked. Amid the destruction, there would be a way of escape for those who chose to accept God’s grace through faith and obedience.

God asked Noah to build an ark, inviting people to come inside so that they would be safe from the flood. Noah preached for 120 years but only his family of eight chose to be saved.

In the last days, before Jesus returns to earth to take His children to heaven, a similar situation will happen. The world will be filled with wickedness but those who trust and believe in God will remain strong in following His ways amid worldly influence.

Our thirteenth fundamental belief states, “The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His Second Advent. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth. Every believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness.”

Throughout history, God has always had His remnant people. Thousands of martyrs have sealed their faith with blood, especially during the Dark Ages. The same persecuting power of the Dark Ages will rise again as a religious and political power in the last days. It will persecute those who will not submit to its demands.

God’s faithful remnants are referred to in Revelation 12:17Revelation 12:17
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These remnant people are commissioned to share the three angels’ messages found in Revelation 14:6-12Revelation 14:6-12
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“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him Who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water'” (Revelation 14:6,7Revelation 14:6,7
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It implies that the first angel proclaims the everlasting good news that God is our Creator, the source of salvation. And we are to worship only Him. It also indicates that the seventh day is the Sabbath. Still, it includes the message that the hour of judgment has come—a call for true repentance and reformation.

Moving on, Revelation 14:8Revelation 14:8
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This second angel warns that Babylon, the biblical symbol of false worship and coercion, will fall. God’s judgment is coming. So, people must flee the confusion of Babylon and its false teachings and turn to Christ and His truth.

The third angel’s message warns, “saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:9, 10Revelation 14:9, 10
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This final crisis involves true and false worship. Time will come when everyone on earth will decide whether to worship the beast or be true to God.

The proclamation of these messages is the mission of God’s remnant people. Through the remnant church, He proclaims a message to restore true worship by calling His people out of apostasy and preparing them for His return.

The end is near. Jesus is coming soon. Now is the time to give our hearts fully to Him and become part of the remnant, fulfilling His mission.

To know more about the thirteenth fundamental belief, go to https://www.adventist.org/remnant-and-its-mission/.

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In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, share what the Bible teaches about the church, specifically what it is, how it began, and what its purpose is today.

In Genesis, God created Adam. But “it is not good for man to be alone,” so he created Eve to be his companion. And together, they worshipped God as their Creator.

“From the earliest times, God-fearing families in the lineage of Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, and Abraham were the guardians of His truth. These households, in which the father functioned as the priest, could be considered the church in miniature. To Abraham, God gave the rich promises through which this household of God gradually became a nation. Israel’s mission was simply an extension of that given to Abraham: To be a blessing to all nations, showing God’s love for the world” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe: An Exposition of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, p. 167).

Through Israel, God desired to create the largest church on earth where representatives of all nations would gather to worship, learn of Him, and preach to their own people the message of salvation. Unfortunately, Israel fell into idolatry, nationalism, and pride, hence, failing in its mission.

Then, Jesus came into the world and died on the cross, signifying the end of Israel’s mission but inaugurating the Christian church and its mission to proclaim salvation through His redeeming blood. Everyone was invited to accept this gift of salvation and become a part of His church.

Meanwhile, the Bible uses metaphors to describe the church. In Ephesians 2:16Ephesians 2:16
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WP-Bible plugin, believers are “baptized into one body.” In Colossians 1:18Colossians 1:18
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WP-Bible plugin, Christ is the “head of the body,” and in Ephesians 5:23Ephesians 5:23
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WP-Bible plugin, the “head of the church.” These statements emphasize the unity of the church and the relationship among its members.

In addition, 1 Corinthians 3:91 Corinthians 3:9
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Still, the church is described as a bride with Jesus as the bridegroom. “I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy” (Hosea 2:19Hosea 2:19
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Finally, the church is a family that unites heaven and earth. “For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…” (Ephesians 3:14Ephesians 3:14
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In connection to this, the twelfth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: “The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to humanity, and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. The church derives its authority from Christ, Who is the incarnate Word revealed in the Scriptures. The church is God’s family; adopted by Him as children, its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died that He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He will present her to Himself a glorious church, the faithful of all the ages, the purchase of His blood, not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish.”

To learn more about this fundamental belief, visit www.adventist.org/the-church/. Also read Ellen G. White’s The Acts of the Apostles at www.egwwritings.org, particularly the first chapter entitled “God’s Purpose for His Church.”

In closing, God has given us the wonderful privilege of being part of His church. He invites us to unite with Him in proclaiming the gospel into all the world. Let us also invite others to be part of this church and thank Him for this gift.

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In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson tackles the eleventh fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists—growing in Christ.

Growth takes time. 

For instance, planting a garden requires a lot of work and care before the plants get mature. Similarly, raising a child takes years of nurturing before he becomes a full-grown adult. Even friendship takes time and commitment for the relationship to grow.

Growing in Christ is a wonderful privilege to have once we accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. It begins with His death on the cross that redeemed us from sin. 

In Colossians 1:13Colossians 1:13
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In connection, Romans 8:1Romans 8:1
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However, to “walk in the Spirit” requires death to self. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20Galatians 2:20
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The closer we get to Christ, the more we love Him, and the more we become like Him.

“When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God” (The Desire of Ages, p. 173).

This concept of growing in Christ is echoed in our eleventh fundamental belief. 

It states, “By His death on the cross, Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He Who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus’ victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life.”

To read more about this fundamental belief, you may visit www.adventist.org/growing-in-christ/.

In closing, Pastor Wilson shares these four essential, practical building blocks for growing in Christ:

1. Prayer

Through prayer, we connect with God. 

Colossians 4:2Colossians 4:2
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2. Reading the Bible

The Bible is our faithful guide.

2 Timothy 3:162 Timothy 3:16
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3. Applying what we’ve learned

We must not only read the Bible but also do what it says.

As stated in James 1:22James 1:22
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4. Meeting with other believers

God wants us to encourage and strengthen our fellow believers for we are one family and one body of Christ.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25Hebrews 10:23-25
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As you grow in Christ, remember that He loves and cares for you. He died to redeem you from sin and give you eternal life. He dwells within you through the Holy Spirit, speaking to you in prayer and guiding you through His Word.

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In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses the tenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists—the experience of salvation.

The experience of salvation that reaches deep into the souls comes from God alone. “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5John 3:3, 5
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Only through Jesus Christ can we experience salvation. “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12Acts 4:12
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Our tenth fundamental belief states: “In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God. Led by the Holy Spirit, we sense our need, acknowledge our sinfulness, repent of our transgressions, and exercise faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord, Substitute and Example. This saving faith comes through the divine power of the Word and is the gift of God’s grace. Through Christ, we are justified, adopted as God’s sons and daughters, and delivered from the lordship of sin. Through the Spirit, we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God’s law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him, we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment.”

Jesus freely offers us the gift of salvation from sin. All we have to do is accept it. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10, 9-10Romans 10, 9-10
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Once we accept this gift, He forgives our past sins and looks at us as if we’ve never sinned. He then helps us overcome sin. As said in Jude 24 and 25, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

After accepting Jesus, He calls us to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4Romans 6:4
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Jesus meets us where we are and delights in saving us from our lost condition. There is no sinfulness His grace and forgiveness cannot redeem.

In response to His great love, we follow God’s law and teachings. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15John 14:15
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But if we make mistakes, God is still there to rescue us. Before He was crucified, He warned His disciples, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38Mark 14:38
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Though we’ve chosen Jesus, we will still be tempted to sin. But He promises in Hebrews 13:5Hebrews 13:5
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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17
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Finally, Steps to Christ p. 70 explains what it truly means to experience salvation in Christ: “A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love—this is the subject for the soul’s contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness.”

As an appeal, Pastor Ted invites you to come to God now and experience this gift of salvation today!

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