Thanks for your reply.
To use your own words towards me, I saw a lot of "spin" in your post trying to justify SDA doctrine.
So I sifted through much of it to highlight what the outcome was of SDA doctrine. And as we see above, it's death to anyone who does not obey the law. According to SDA doctrine anyone who does not obey the law is a slave of sin, condemned by the law and thus facing death, and therefore not free and not a saint. I find this all somewhat similar to what the Pharisees taught.
Aside from the fact that Adventists don't keep the Sabbath as described in the OT anyway, anyone with Adventist friends and acquaintances know all too well their consistent failure to keep the commandments. I guess this means Adventists never really repented to begin with and are thus condemned by the law, a slave to sin, not free not a saint, and thus face death.
But for Christians, however, our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5. Hence we do not face that death penalty that SDA doctrine condemns people with.
Our righteousness is not determined by the law.
Thus I suggest to you that Heb 10:26 is actually referring to those who turn back to the law to determine righteousness/salvation ( as SDA's do).
How does one make themselves a sinner, willfully?
Gal 2:18
For if I build again the things which I destroyed (righteousness by works of the law), I make myself a transgressor./Sinner
Remember that the law is not of faith, Gal 3:12.
Thus we see the willful sin in Heb 10:26 speaks of those who reject Christ (the truth) and instead turn back to works of the law to determine their righteousness.
Remember that it's the sin of unbelief in Jesus that the world is convicted of, John 16:9.
No probs. now to address this post of yours.
You said "
it's death to anyone who does not obey the law"
actually that is according the the bible as it is written:
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
so then the carnal mind is not subject to Gods law and thus Death as Paul clearly says here and this mind cannot please God.
again Sin is breaking the law according to 1 John 3:4 and according to Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death. also the quoted passages in Galatians 5 show that those who do the works of the flesh do not inherit the kingdom of God. see verse 21. and above that those who have the spirit do not fulfil the works of the flesh.
So no this is not SDA teaching its in the Bible.
then you said " According to SDA doctrine anyone who does not obey the law is a slave of sin"
actually that also is in the bible:
As conclusively shown from John that sin is indeed breaking the law, the word of Jesus as also quoted in the post you refer to say very simply:
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
being that sin is breaking the law this could just as accurately say: whosoever breaks the law is a slave of sin.
Paul puts it this way:
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
So again the law points out sin. and again Paul says in the chapter before:
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
so if you sin/break the law you will die unless you repent and by faith in the power of Christ blood sin no more.
John puts it this way:
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
but you say that the Devil still has power. I believe Satan was overcome at the cross and being that he has no power over those who look to Christ by faith Sin which is of the Devil also has no power over us.
You then said " I find this all somewhat similar to what the Pharisees taught."
however you are in error, the Pharisees taught to keep the law indeed but they did not do so by faith but by human effort.
as it is written:
Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
So one attains by faith the other fails by self works. Paul writes on this same vain in chapter two:
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
so the Gentiles by nature do what? the things contained in the "law" how? they have the law written on their heart. This is the work of Faith in Gods promise as it is written:
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
and again:
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
So the teachers of the law tried to attain by self works and failed.
But those who are of faith in the promises of God are able to attain by Gods work in them. as it is written:
Rom 8:3 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:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The law could not save because as Paul showed in chapter 7 it simply points out what is good. but in so doing it reveals our bad. but Jesus through the Spirit fulfilled the righteousness of the law in us by writing it on our hearts so that by faith we make the mark that the teachers of the law could not. not by word only but literal obedience the fruit of the Spirit.
As to you talking of Adventist I will say nothing being that I can not speak for them, I only speak to what the Word says. and for my own experience of the truths contained in it.
You said:
"But for Christians, however, our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5"
And I have demonstrated that that righteousness is not just by word but a literal change of life. a new creature that actually does righteousness. a true Christian is not just righteous by title but by deed also. as shown above it is done by faith and not works. but faith without works is dead.
as John says:
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
If you do not do righteousness then you are not righteous according to this verse.
God is not a God of confusion, you can't be a slave to sin and righteous at the same time. remember sin is not righteous but as the scripture says:
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
but sin repented of/ turned away from does not lead to death but life by faith in the transforming power of Christ.
why do you have such a low estimate of the power of Christ's blood and resurrection?
Do you think that God who created all things has not the power to destroy the works of the Devil?
I am sure you would say He does, yet you say that this powerless Devil still holds sway over the redeemed, how is that?
make no mistake you will be judged by Gods law as it is written:
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
and again in this place:
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Revelation also reveals the wrath of God on those who disobey Gods law:
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Angels come form the Most Holy Place where is seen the ark of the testimony/law. and they pour out wrath.
Do you not know that this is prophesied in the law on the day of atonement When the High priest would enter the Most Holy Place with the breastplate of Judgement on Those who did not afflict themselves were cutt off from Gods people:
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
those who keep the comments are those who love God and have faith in Him as it is written:
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
as the Lord himself said:
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
quoted from the law/10 commandments:
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
and again who does the Devil hate?
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
vers 9 says the dragon is Satan. notice He hates those who keep the commandments, why?
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Because those who have faith have been transformed and are obedient by His power working in us. He has no power over those who have faith and obey the commandments.
But those who do still sin/break the law are still under his power.
So why are you along with Satan persecuting those who keep the commandments of God and teach to do so?
It is written:
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Beware friend that you don't find yourself as one of those who are labelled lawless/lawbreakers.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work lawlessness.
I agree that it is sin to have unbelief in Jesus:
as it is written:
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
but Belief without works is dead.
He who truly believe will obey as it is written:
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Here John connect belief with obedience.
How is it that you do not see that it is you that is outside of faith on this one. you say faith has no fruit its merely words.
for indeed Abraham was justified by faith as it is written:
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
but is this faith without works?
God forbid as it is written:
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
So if you claim to be free from sin by faith and yet by works you are a slave to sin still, then you have been deceived.
There is freedom in Christ, freedom from the evil one.
Joh 8:31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;
Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered unto him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
Joh 8:36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.