Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.
Synopsis
Sequeira traces how Adventism's historic emphasis on the binding nature of God's law arose largely to counter Dispensationalism, which claimed the law was abolished at the cross. In reacting to this error, early Adventist pioneers like Uriah Smith emphasized the law so heavily that, for decades, justification by faith was scarcely preached — a defect Ellen White herself lamented and which the 1888 message of Waggoner and Jones sought to correct. He shows from Colossians 2:14 and Romans 7:4 that it was the condemnation of the law, not the law itself, that was nailed to the cross, and it was humanity that died in Christ's body, not the law's authority. The chapter carefully distinguishes the law as a false 'means of salvation' (which Israel wrongly pursued) from the law as a valid 'standard of Christian living.' Salvation has always been by grace alone, offered as promise in the Old Testament and fulfilled in reality at the cross; the law's proper role is to reveal sin and human helplessness, driving sinners to depend wholly on Christ.
Key points
- Adventism's historic emphasis on the law arose largely as a reaction against Dispensationalism's claim that the law was abolished at the cross.
- What was nailed to the cross was the law's condemnation against humanity, not the law itself; humanity died in Christ's body (Rom. 7:4; Col. 2:14).
- The law was never given as a means of salvation but as a standard revealing sin and driving sinners to depend on grace.
- Overemphasis on law without justification by faith produced decades of legalism in Adventist preaching, a defect the 1888 message sought to correct.
Key texts
- Romans 3:19-20
- Galatians 2:16
- Romans 9:30-32
From the book
Chapter 16 · Belief 19 · Read this chapter
- “You should preach the law.” As a people, we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God.” (ch. 16)
- “This can hardly apply to Christ the Savior, to which the ceremonial law pointed. In truth, what was nailed to the cross was the condemnation of the law, which was against us as well as contrary to us.” (ch. 16)
- “Scripture nowhere teaches that God introduced the law as a means of salvation, nor does it teach that obedience to the law contributes toward one's salvation.” (ch. 16)
Put it into practice
- Preach or teach the law always in connection with Christ, never as a separate path to salvation.
- Let conviction of sin from the law drive you to depend more fully on grace, not to despair or self-effort.
- Distinguish clearly, when teaching others, between law as a means of salvation (false) and law as a standard of Christian living (true).
- Read Ellen White's 1888-era statements on righteousness by faith to correct any imbalance toward legalism.
- Comprehension
1. Why did the early Adventist pioneers place such heavy emphasis on the binding nature of God's law?
- Scripture
2. What does Colossians 2:14 actually say was nailed to the cross, and how does Sequeira interpret it?
- Doctrinal Clarity
3. According to Romans 7:4, what actually died at the cross, in Sequeira's reading?
- Contrast
4. Contrast the two ways Sequeira says the law of God can be viewed.
- Scripture
5. How did Adventism's early overemphasis on law affect its preaching, according to Ellen White's own words quoted in the chapter?
- Doctrinal Clarity
6. What was Israel's fundamental mistake regarding the law, according to Romans 9:30-32?
- Comprehension
7. What is the true function of the law in the plan of salvation, per Romans 3:19-20?
- Application
8. Where in your own walk have you unconsciously treated obedience to God's law as a means of earning favor rather than as fruit of grace already received? What would change if you truly believed 'not under law but under grace'?