Ang Tanong sa Kaligtasan sa SDA: LGT vs. Non-LGT

Kahit magtalo ang dalawang kampo ng SDA LGT vs SDA non-LGT tungkol sa "Righteousness by Faith" (RbF), sa huli, pareho nilang ginagawang condition para sa salvation ang Sanctification. At nangyayari ito dahil sa context ng Investigative Judgment (IJ).

Ang Root Cause: Ang Investigative Judgment

Ang main issue dito ay hindi lang yung away ng SDA LGT at SDA Non-LGT. Ang tunay na "elephant in the room" ay yung mismong Investigative Judgment doctrine yung 1844 framework nina Hiram Edson at Ellen White.

Sa ilalim ng IJ doctrine:

• Ini-scrutinize ang life records ng mga Christians bago ang Second Coming.

• Ang goal is to determine kung sino ang "worthy" maligtas.

• Ang implication nito: Hindi sapat ang Justification alone kailangan pang i-verify yung naging takbo ng buhay mo.

Kaya kahit yung mga Non-LGT SDAs na nagsasabing "Justification by faith alone" sila, pagdating sa IJ, ang ending pa rin ay: "Ano ang basehan ng judgment?" At ang sagot nila? Record ng pamumuhay (Sanctification).

Comparison: LGT vs. Non-LGT

Feature	LGT (Last Generation Theology)	Non-LGT (Mainstream SDA)
Formal Position	RbF = Justification + Sanctification	RbF = Justification by faith
IJ Focus	Perfect character is required.	"Persistent faith"; records are reviewed.
Functional Soteriology	Sanctification = Explicit condition.	Sanctification = Hidden condition.
Ground of Salvation	Christ + Character	Christ + Perseverance (merit-tinged).

1. Ang LGT Camp (The Direct Approach)

Para sa mga followers ni M.L. Andreasen, clear-cut ang usapan:

• Dapat ma-achieve ng huling henerasyon ang perfect character.
• Kailangang i-vindicate ang character ng Diyos laban kay Satanas.
• Kailangang mabuhay nang walang Intercessor pagkatapos ng close of probation.
• Dito, talagang ginawang "entrance fee" sa langit ang Sanctification.

2. Ang Non-LGT Camp (The Subtle Approach)

Eto yung mainstream version (General Conference). Sabi nila, "Naniniwala kami sa Justification by faith alone." Pero ang catch:

• Sa Investigative Judgment, ang names ng Christians ay dinadala pa rin sa harap ng Diyos para suriin.
• Ang judgment daw ay based sa "persistent faith," pero in practice, tinitingnan nila yung "fruits" o yung life record.
• Sabi nga ni Ellen White sa Great Controversy (p. 425), yung mga buhay pa sa pagtatapos ng intercession ni Christ ay kailangang tumayo sa harap ng Diyos "without a mediator."

Kaya kahit i-deny nila ang "LGT," pareho lang ang functional logic: Ang Sanctification ay nagiging ground o basehan ng kaligtasan sa huling paghuhukom.

Ang Reformed at New Covenant Theology (NCT) Perspective

Kung titingnan natin gamit ang Biblical framework (NCT/Reformed), dito nagkakatalo:

1. Definitive Justification: Ayon sa Romans 5:1 at 8:1, ang justification ay complete at definitive base lamang sa righteousness ni Christ na ibinilang (imputed) sa atin. Hindi ito muling sinusuri sa isang future investigation.
   
   
2. Walang Exegetical Basis: Walang solidong basehan ang Daniel 8:14 para sa 1844 doctrine. Ang "cleansing of the sanctuary" ay hindi tungkol sa pag-audit ng Christian records sa langit.
   
   
3. Finished Work: Malinaw sa Hebrews 9-10 na ang work ni Cristo sa heavenly sanctuary ay completed na hindi ito isang ongoing investigative process.
   
   
4. The "Idem Crimen" (Same Sin): Parehong kampo SDA LGT at SDA non-LGT) ay nagkakasala sa paggawa sa kaligtasan na "uncertain." Nilalagyan nila ng conditionality ang final salvation na lampas sa Solus Christus.

Konklusyon

Ang Investigative Judgment doctrine ang "structural force" na pumupuwersa sa parehong kampo na gawing condition ng kaligtasan ang sanctification gaano man nila ito balutin sa "faith-language."

Ang tunay na point ng tension sa pagitan ng Biblical soteriology at SDA ay hindi lang yung LGT debate, kundi yung mismong Investigative Judgment dahil ito ang ugat kung bakit nagiging "deformed" ang gospel sa kanila. Ito ang pinaka-importanteng apologetic pressure point kapag nakikipag-usap sa mga SDAs. 

From Shackles to Sonship: Why a Slave and a Son Can Never Be Ruled by the Same Law! by Ptr. Ellery Sembrano

 

I am going to say this plainly and conclusively: the law that governs a slave is not the law that governs a son. These are not two versions of the same covenant. They are two entirely different administrations established at different times, with different mediators, different foundations, and different results.

To eliminate confusion once and for all, I will define both systems clearly and then lay them side by side.

I. The Law That Governs a Slave (Outside of Christ)

The slave is the person still under the covenant given at Sinai, the Mosaic covenant.

This covenant is revealed in:

·        Exodus

·        Leviticus

·        Numbers

·        Deuteronomy

It includes:

     1.          The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

     2.          Civil legislation governing national Israel

     3.          Ceremonial regulations, sacrifices, priesthood, dietary laws, feast days

According to Galatians 3, this covenant functioned as a guardian. According to 2 Corinthians 3, it was a ministry of condemnation. According to Romans 7, it bound those under it.

This law:

·        Is written on stone.

·        Commands obedience externally.

·        Promises life upon perfect performance.

·        Exposes sin but does not remove it.

·        Produces fear and bondage.

The slave relates to God as Judge and stands before Him based on works.

II. The Law That Governs a Son (In Christ)

The son is the person united to Christ under the new covenant.

This covenant was promised in Jeremiah 31 and established by Christ, explained thoroughly in Hebrews 8.

The governing law is not the Mosaic covenant. Scripture says believers are:

·        Not under law but under grace (Romans 6)

·        Released from the law (Romans 7)

·        No longer under a guardian (Galatians 3)

Instead, the son is governed by:

    1.          The Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)

    2.          The Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2)

    3.          The Royal Law of Love (James 2:8)

And Christ’s defining command:

Love one another as I have loved you (John 13)

This law:

·        Is written on the heart.

·        Is empowered by the Spirit.

·        Flows from a finished righteousness.

·        Produces freedom.

·        Is relational, not national.

The son relates to God as Father.

III. The Difference Made Visible

Below is a direct comparison. This removes ambiguity.

Category	Slave (Under Mosaic Covenant)	Son (Under New Covenant)
Covenant	Sinai Covenant	New Covenant in Christ
Mediator	Moses	Christ
Primary Text	Exodus–Deuteronomy	Hebrews 8; Galatians; Romans
Law Code	613 commandments, including moral, civil,and  ceremonial	Law of Christ; law of love
Written Where?	Stone tablets	Heart
Basis of Standing	Obedience to commands	Union with Christ
Relationship to Law	Under it	Released from it
Result	Condemnation when broken	No condemnation (Romans 8)
Power to Obey	Human effort	Indwelling Spirit
Identity	Servant/slave	Adopted son

IV. The Structural Change in Law

Hebrews 7 teaches that when the priesthood changed, the law changed.

• Christ is not a Levitical priest.
• He is a priest of a different order.
• Therefore, the governing covenant necessarily changed.

If the law did not change:

·        The old covenant would still be binding.

·        The cross would not mark covenantal transition.

·        The distinction between slave and son would collapse.

But Scripture refuses that collapse.

V. The Core Distinction in One Final Chart

Identity	Governing Principle	Motivation	Relationship to God	Covenant Status
Slave	Written code of Moses	Fear of penalty	Judge	Under the old covenant
Son	Law of Christ through Spirit	Love and gratitude	Father	Under the new covenant

The Final Conclusion

The slave serves because he must.

The son serves because he is transformed.

The slave strives for acceptance.

The son obeys from acceptance.

The slave is governed by Sinai.

The son is governed by Christ.

Different covenant.

Different mediator.

Different law.

Different identity.

These are not overlapping systems. They are successive and structurally distinct.

And once that is seen clearly, the difference between a slave and a son can never be confused again.