This informative session is based on a Facebook Messenger dialogue that took place between an Adventist individual and the author several months ago. He has since become a born-again Christian and is ready to reveal his identity to the public. His name is Brother Glemett Gil B. Melitante, and he has renounced his affiliation with the Seventh-Day Adventist church in favor of the gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. Currently, he serves as a Sunday School Teacher at Solid Rock Baptist Church in Juban, Sorsogon. This article will also serve as a promotion for our upcoming live podcast on November 19, 2023. We are thrilled to have him as a special guest on our upcoming Sunday evening podcast, where he will share his testimony live. This article is titled "Chapter 9" because it's part of a book the author is writing called "Leaving Adventism: an SDA Apologist Journey to Faith," which is a helpful guide to transitioning Seventh-day Adventists.
I am indebted to him for granting permission to publish our conversation in this book, with the hope that it will benefit others. My prayer is that this guide will assist Christians in communicating the gospel with their Seventh-day Adventist friends and family.
For Christians, both faith and works hold great significance and are interdependent. Through faith, we are redeemed in Jesus Christ, and good works are a reflection of that faith.
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24, ESV)
OBIDOS:
In your opinion, which of these two options do you believe is correct?
1.) Faith + Works = Salvation
2,) Faith + Salvation = Works
SDA:
I choose #1 bro, Faith + Works = Salvation.
OBIDOS:
It appears that your perspective does not align with the biblical teachings.
SDA:
How come?
OBIDOS:
Brother, let me explain to you that salvation is a matter of faith. It commences with faith alone and concludes with faith. Therefore, there is no necessity to add anything like any of your good works.
“For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, "The person who is put right with God through faith shall live." (Romans 1:17, GNB)
SDA:
Faith is more than just words; it requires action. I'm not trying to challenge you, but how can you demonstrate your faith if you don't put in the work?
OBIDOS:
It's important to note that the phrase "from faith to faith" emphasizes the significance of faith, rather than works. Additionally, when James stated "How can you show me your faith without works," it should be understood in a different context than what Paul expressed in Romans.
SDA:
How can you demonstrate your faith to me if you don't have works to show for it? Can you provide an answer?
OBIDOS:
Before I answer that question, let's take a moment to comprehend what Paul meant by saying that salvation is "by faith from first to last," bro. Let's read Galatians chapter 3,
“Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:2-3, ESV)
“Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—” (Galatians 3:5, ESV)
Suppose Paul asked, "When did you receive salvation?"
1.) Is it through your obedience to the law? or
2.) By faith alone?
SDA:
#2 By Faith alone, as it's important to prove that we're deserving of salvation. We mustn't take salvation for granted because it can be lost if we don't take action to maintain it. As an example, consider what Paul said:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7, ESV)
OBIDOS:
So, if you believe that you have already received salvation by faith/believing even without good works, why do you need to prove that you deserve salvation when you have already received it? This was the issue of the Galatians that Paul corrected. They accepted salvation at the beginning by faith, but in the end, they wanted to maintain salvation by means of works.
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3, ESV)
SDA:
I want to make it clear that we will need help to complete this task. My point is that faith and work go hand in hand and cannot be separated. Being a Christian or disciple of Jesus is not a matter of faith alone. Let's examine Jesus' teachings on this topic:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12, ESV)
OBIDOS:
What is in John 14:12 is not talking about salvation but service to the Lord after you are saved NOT to be saved. Bro, I'll just repeat my question earlier, okay? Have you accepted salvation by:
1.) Faith/Belief or
2.) Works?
SDA:
Number one brother, by faith/belief. However, if I am living a sinful life that conflicts with my faith, even though I have the privilege of salvation. Do you think that's acceptable to Jesus?"
OBIDOS:
It is important to remember that living in sin is not acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. Once you have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, you are called to lead a life that is free from sin.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)
Do you believe that salvation is granted prior to doing good works? Friend, what do you think God saw in you and why did He choose to save you?
1.) Your "faith/belief" in Jesus work of salvation or
2.) Your own good works?
SDA:
#1. Faith/Belief bro.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)
OBIDOS:
I appreciate your comment, brother. Is it more accurate to say "Faith + Salvation = Works" instead of "Faith + Works = Salvation," as you suggested in your earlier response?
SDA:
Both statements are correct, my friend. At the start of our conversation, I simply noted that the two concepts are interconnected.
OBIDOS:
Can you elaborate on how the two opposing salvation formulas can both be considered accurate? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
SDA:
Friend, let's not complicate things. Our salvation is not based on our works but on our faith in Jesus. However, good works are a significant part of our salvation. Are you comfortable with this concept? Do you have any questions?
OBIDOS:
I'm worried about the confusion caused by the contradictory answers you provided earlier. To avoid further complications, please choose between the two opposing formulas: "Faith Works=Salvation" and "Faith Salvation=Works". Please confirm your preferred choice before we proceed to the next question.
SDA:
Ok bro, no problem, I'm in #2: "Faith + Salvation = Works."
OBIDOS:
Alright, thanks, bro! "Faith + Salvation = Works." Praise the Lord, we finally agree! What's your next question, bro?
SDA:
To better comprehend the issue at hand, can you please provide additional information about the disagreement between Paul and James?
OBIDOS:
At what point, bro?
SDA:
Faith and works? Paul seems to promote "Faith alone" while James disagrees by promoting "faith without works is dead!"
OBIDOS:
They don't disagree, bro. They just have different emphases based on their respective topics and contexts.
SDA:
Can you confirm if works are excluded because of Faith or not?
OBIDOS:
Yes, brother, it's true that you cannot separate faith and works in practical Christian living, but in terms of salvation, they are separate.
SDA:
Amen, bro! I agree with you there.
OBIDOS:
The issue regarding salvation by faith alone apart from works is now resolved, bro. There's no issue about it from God's perspective. However, from a human's perspective, faith alone is not enough. You need to prove it through actions, as people are more convinced by actions rather than words or claims. This is the context of James.
James 2:14-17 (ESV) 14 What good is it, my brothers if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Do you notice the good works in the context of helping men?
James 2:18 (ESV) But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Here is an example from Abraham"
James 2:20-22 (ESV) Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
However, for the sake of Abraham as a person, God used Abraham's actions to confirm his faith in God and for Abraham's assurance. In short, Paul and James do not contradict each other; they just have different contexts.
Therefore, in the context of salvation as sinners, all that is needed for the Lord's plan of salvation is faith/belief. However, once you are saved by faith, you must prove to others, as a witness to God's grace, that God has made you good through your good works.
SDA:
That's what I want to point out, bro. Amen! Before we finish, is work useless because of faith when it comes to the totality of Scripture?"
OBIDOS:
Your good works as a believer have no bearing on whether or not you will be saved. It all comes down to when you first believed in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. As I mentioned before, good works are important as a testimony to others, but they are not necessary for salvation.
SDA:
Amen! Praise God. I agree. Thank you for the Bible Study!
OBIDOS:
It was my pleasure, my friend, to be guided by the Holy Spirit in our Bible Study. Let's do it again soon. May God bless you!
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