The year following the SDA Church leadership’s rejection of the 1888 message, EGW immediately began writing to advance the true message and to call the church to repent and embrace the truth. Many books, The Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, Christ Object Lessons, teach this truth. She also wrote many letters and articles trying to break through the false legal lies. And in 1890, she wrote an article that was published in the Review and Herald that lays all of this out plainly. In this part 2 of this series, let’s unpack portions of that article.

The Lord has seen our backslidings, and he has a controversy with his people. [Have you heard of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan? Did you ever consider that Jesus has a controversy with Seventh-day Adventists? And what is that controversy? The very same one He has with Satan—one of pride, selfishness, thinking we are rich and righteous, which is driven by the unregenerate spirit of fear and selfishness and is advanced by the means of a creature, upon the imposed law, and law enforcement as justice. The imposed-law legal system of theology prevents renewal, rebirth, and regeneration; it protects the spirit of fear and selfishness. Notice what EGW writes next.] Their pride, their selfishness, their opening of the mind to doubt and unbelief, are manifest in his sight, and grieve his heart of love. [Doubt and unbelief are the same as saying they do not trust, they don’t have living faith, and the pride and selfishness are the same as saying they are animated by the spirit of fear and selfishness. This is a manifestation of people distrusting God, not aligning, choosing, or living a life of love and trust—why? Because the root lie about God’s law causes God to be viewed as untrustworthy, and they place their faith in the legal mechanics that they believe protect them from God.] Many gather darkness about their souls as a garment, and virtually say, “We want not a knowledge of thy way, O God; we choose our own way.” [What is our own way? These are not people leaving the church saying I want to walk in godlessness, or I want to walk in hedonism, worldliness in the sense of alcohol, drugs, porn. No, these are church members saying, “I want salvation my way, me first, protect and save me, not surrender of self,” but the protection of self driven by the spirit of fear and selfishness, which always leads to a law and law-enforcement understanding, the rule-keepers, the penal legal lies.] These are the things that separate the soul from God. There is in the soul of man an obstacle which he holds there with stubborn persistency, and which interposes between his soul and God. It is unbelief. [The spirit of fear and selfishness that incites distrust of God, doubt in His goodness, refusal to believe God could really love and forgive us without something done to pay Him for our horrible crimes, which is solidified by the imposed-law lie.] God gives sufficient evidence, but man, with his unsanctified will, refuses to receive evidence unless it comes in his own way, to favor his own ideas. With a spirit of bravado he cries, “Proof, proof, is what we want,” and turns away from the evidence that God gives. [The integrative evidenced-based approach, design law, how reality actually functions, is rejected by legalists who believe based on claims, proclamations, and statements, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it,” without any comprehension; do it because you will get into legal trouble if you don’t and the claim sola scriptura to sustain the false legal view, and then the Bible becomes a rule book of deeds and sins.] He talks doubt, unbelief, sowing the seeds of evil which will spring up and yield their harvest. He is separating his soul farther and farther from God (Review and Herald, December 23, 1890, par. 1, emphasis mine).

She writes a few paragraphs later,

We would seek most earnestly to know God’s way; we would work in an opposite direction from selfishness, and our constant prayer would be that we might have the mind of Christ, that we might be molded and fashioned after his likeness. It is in looking to Jesus and beholding his loveliness, having our eyes steadfastly fixed upon him, that we become changed into his image. [Notice the emphasis is on our being changed, transformed, having the mind of Christ within us, that we are being fashioned into the likeness of Christ. This is righteousness by faith, real righteousness by faith; we become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5.21), not legally declared righteous while we are not. This requires we trust God, not trust the legal mechanisms to protect us from God. And notice, she describes design law, the law of worship, by beholding we become changed. This is not a legal process in a court; it is an actual process of healing, transformation, occurring in a living being by the power of our Creator God. And the legal model is designed to obstruct people from experiencing this. This is why we have a message that is to call people back to Creator worship.] He will give grace to all that keep his way, and do his will, and walk in truth. But those who love their own way, who worship their idols of opinion, and do not love God and obey his word, will continue to walk in darkness. O, how terrible is unbelief! [Love their own way—selfishness, driven by the spirit of fear, forming their own idols of legal religion, with a god who functions like them, with the laws of a creature, made-up rules requiring enforcement through the infliction of punishment, which causes distrust in God while they claim faith in the legal mechanics, the payments. Their problem is not failing to believe a certain doctrine or truth, such as Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior, the state of the dead, or the Sabbath, but failing to trust God because of the lie about His law.] As well let light be poured upon the blind, as to present truth to these souls; the one cannot see, and the other will not see (par. 4, emphasis mine).

She goes on to write,

I beseech you whose names are registered on the church-book as worthy members, [This is written to church members!] to be indeed worthy, through the virtue of Christ. Mercy and truth and the love of God are promised to the humble and contrite soul. The displeasure and judgments of God are against those who persist in walking in their own ways, loving self, loving the praise of men. [His displeasure at their refusal to trust, their refusal to allow Him to heal them, is the displeasure a parent experiences when their child refuses correction, healing, saving; and His judgment is the accurate diagnosis of their condition. He judges that they refuse Him, prefer their own selfish, legal religion, worshiping a god who is like them, and that there is nothing more He can do for them.] They will certainly be swept into the satanic delusions of these last days, because they received not the love of the truth. [This is the natural result of refusing truth, the only thing left for the mind to rest upon is lies and, thus, the lies become fixed—delusional. And we see these lies being taught by many in leadership, just like Caiaphas and Annas and the Jewish leadership did 2,000 years ago.] Because the Lord has, in former days, blessed and honored them, they flatter themselves that they are chosen and true, and do not need warning and instruction and reproof. [This is the message to the church at Laodicea—we are rich, we have the right doctrines, God has blessed this movement…] The True Witness says, [remember who the True Witness is—Jesus] “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” The professed people of God have the charge against them, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (par. 5, emphasis mine).

The love to Jesus that once burned upon the altar of the heart, has become dimmed and nearly extinguished. [The power of God for salvation is not primarily creation power, it is not might and force, but the power of truth and love, and this is the power that we need—it is gospel power, the good news about God that is obstructed by the penal/legal lies that focus on physical power, that they then falsely claim God will use to torture and kill His children, which undermines trust and obstructs salvation.] Spiritual strength has become enfeebled. The displeasure of the Lord is against his people. In their present condition it is impossible for them to represent the character of Christ. [Again, this is a message to the SDA Church, and this is the reason behind Jesus’ delay. The 1888 message was rejected, the lie that God’s law is imposed was retained, and the organized system is promoting a false legal religion that has bolted the doors of hearts to the Holy Spirit.] And when the True Witness has sent them counsel, reproof, and warnings because he loves them, they have refused to receive the message; they have refused to come to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved. Jesus said, “I lay down my life for the sheep. … Therefore doth my Father love me.” “By taking your sins upon myself, I am opening a channel through which his grace can flow to all who will accept it. In giving myself for the sin of the world, I have prepared a way for the unrepressed tide of his love to flow to men.” (par. 6, emphasis mine).

Notice again, the purpose of Christ’s sacrifice was not to do something to the Father; it was not legal; it was operational, functional, reality-based because of how God has built life to function—His sacrifice was so that His life, His love, could flow back into humanity and regenerate, cleanse, heal, save us, and make us righteous. His sacrifice was never a legal/blood payment to a punishing god or applied to records in heaven, but the channel for His life, love, Spirit, to flow into us to renew and transform us. (If you would like to read more on why Jesus death was necessary to save us, see our magazine Salvation and You: What It Really Means to be Saved).

Three paragraphs later, she writes,

There is a lack of moral and spiritual power throughout our Conferences. Many churches do not have light in themselves. [Again, our churches …] The members do not give evidence that they are branches of the True Vine, [Design law, we must receive the life of Christ infused into us to be reborn with a new animating energy, the spirit of Christ, but the false legal theology closes the door of the heart to the Spirit.] by bearing much fruit to the glory of God, but appear to be withering away. Their Redeemer has withdrawn his light, the inspiration of his Holy Spirit, from their assemblies. … There has been a separation of the soul from God; many have cut off the communication between him and the soul by refusing his messengers and his message. [Jones and Waggoner, messages like this from EGW, and every person since who is taking this same eternal gospel about God to the world.] (par. 9, emphasis mine).

In our largest churches the greatest evils exist, because these have had the greatest light. They have not a true knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent. [Again, our churches! But they have the right 28 fundamental beliefs, and they are rich and feel good about themselves. What are they missing? The truth about God’s law being design law. These deluded souls have all the right doctrines set in the wrong law, the imposed law, the law of a creature, and, thus, they have the wrong god. They are worshiping a dictator who is the wielder of death inflicted as punishment for law-breaking. That is why we are called to reset all our right doctrines into design law, to worship God as Creator, and then we will be won to genuine trust, open the heart, and experience the power of God for rebirth and salvation.] The leaven of unbelief is working, and unless these evils which bring the displeasure of God are corrected in its members, the whole church stands accountable for them. The deep movings of the Spirit of God are not with them; the glorious presence of the King of saints, and his power to cleanse from all moral defilement, are not manifest among them. [Again, the focus is on cleansing people from sin so they love; they reveal in themselves the character, righteousness of Christ, they become righteous, but this reality is obstructed and prevented by the lie that God’s law functions like human law.] Many come to the assembly as worshipers, like the door upon its hinges. They understand not the true application of the Scriptures, nor the power of God. They have eyes, but they see not; ears have they, but they hear not; they continue in their evil ways, yet regard themselves as the privileged, obedient people who are doers of the word… [the false legal theology] (par. 10, emphasis mine).

And she writes,

The Lord has sent a message to arouse his people to repent, and do their first works; but how has his message been received? While some have heeded it, others have cast contempt and reproach on the message and the messenger. [The 1888 message, God’s law is design law, and righteousness is experienced within the believer; it is not a legal adjustment in record books that claim legal righteousness while sinners remain unrighteous.] Spirituality deadened, humility and childlike simplicity gone, a mechanical, formal profession of faith has taken the place of love and devotion. [The mechanical performance is the faith in the mechanics of penal/legal theology, price paid, legal declarations, robe covering, blood erasing, no faith/trust in God, but faith in the mechanics, thus, no regeneration because the heart remains closed.] Is this mournful condition of things to continue? is the lamp of God’s love to go out in darkness? The Saviour calls; listen to his voice: “Be zealous and repent.” Repent, confess your sins, and you will be forgiven. “Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?” Why will you try to rekindle a mere fitful fire, and walk in the sparks of your own kindling? (par. 16, emphasis mine).

Jesus Is Pleading

Jesus is calling to you and to me:

Turn to me, please turn to me! Turn away from the imposed-law lies of this world, turn away from the gods of this world who make up rules and use power to punish rule-breakers; turn back to me your Creator, worship me who made the heavens, earth, sea, and fountains of water, leave that false system of legal religion with a god who requires a blood payment be offered to him so he won’t hurt you, and trust me! I am standing at the door of your heart, knocking with truth and love; won’t you trust me? Won’t you surrender yourself, your life of fear and selfishness, the years of working so hard to protect yourself, hide yourself, cover yourself, believing the lie that if my Father saw you, He would be angry, wrathful, and required by law to punish you? That is Satan’s lie about my Father—don’t you remember I told you that if you have seen me, you have seen my Father? I was sent by my Father because He loves you so much; He doesn’t want you to die. My Father and I together gave my life to you, to humanity, to restore you to love and trust in my Father. For God so loved the world He gave me to you. Please stop believing the legal lies that have barred your heart from trusting my Father. If you trust me, I will pour my Spirit upon you, and you will become my righteousness, for you will no longer live animated by the spirit of fear and selfishness, but I will live in you, and you will be a partaker of my very nature! (Galatians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:4).

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:14–20 NIV84).

I implore you, reject the legal lies, worship God as Creator, open your heart to Jesus, and become His righteousness.