Paul places the tampering of the Gospel in the realm of “ anathema ” as some versions put it. He even goes so far to say that if another apostle or angel teaches a false gospel that the curse of anathema resides upon them. If the apostles themselves do not have the authority to teach a false gospel then neither does the church, or any denomination thereof. Before laying out the False SDA Gospel that comes out of the Investigative Judgment I want to demonstrate the real one Biblically so that you can see the juxtaposition.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Gal 1:6-9 KJV

Where we are not free is to turn our eschatological views into a false Gospel, Paul gives us a clear warning on such things here:

The biggest problem with the Investigative Judgment isn’t that it is false eschatology. In fact, I would recommend to anyone to be rather forgiving on eschatology in general, I think there is a call for Christian freedom in disagreeing on the particulars of the end times.

At the moment I intend for this to be my final post on the Investigative Judgment. I feel I proved it wrong with the very first post on this anyways, but for the sake of those who might be stuck in the doctrine I chose to continue. To go any further than this might run this risk of giving the reader the false impression that they are in the Jury box over and against God’s Word on this. The Bible is so clear that the Investigative Judgment is false that to hold to it after sound study is to be in open rebellion to the very Word of God.

This is the seventh post in a series on the Investigative Judgment, each of these builds consecutively on the prior so if you have not already read my most recent post please click HERE .

What is the Gospel? What shall we teach so as not to be anathema? Fortunately Paul very succinctly defines this in another one of his letters.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Cor 15:1-4 KJV

Above see that Paul says that we are saved from our sins and wicked nature by the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One may ask then, how does one receive this gift upon them? Fortunately Paul also explains this in his letter to the Ephesians.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:8-10 KJV

I kept verse 10 in my quote above as without it this becomes a passage used to negate good works entirely. They are important, necessary even, but I would qualify that they are necessary for Christians and not for salvation as the placement of Good Works clearly transpires chronologically after Justification in the above passage.

Notice in verse 8 the words “it is the gift of God“. What is the referent of the word “it”? Specifically, what gift am I receiving from God? Faith or Grace? I would argue grammatically that both faith and grace are gifts received from God. So Biblically God gives us the Faith by which we then receive Grace from him unto salvation.

Fortunately Paul also explains a means of Grace, in how Faith is given to us as as this gift from God.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:17 KJV

For those curious, I recommend reading the preceding text on your own by clicking HERE. You will see there is a preaching factor in this as well. That is a bunny trail in and of itself for another post at another time.

Here is the point though, the Bible teaches the Gospel and how one receives it. It teaches that we are saved by Grace alone through Faith alone. We do not get to take credit for our salvation, or help Jesus out in any way. Even if you have changed since accepting Christ and are not wallowing in the sins of your past any longer, you still need Jesus just as much for your salvation as you did the day before you called upon the name of the Lord. Know that when you are in Christ you are covered in the righteousness of God, not your own righteousness.

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” Php 3:9 KJV

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor 5:21 KJV

Adventist doctrine undermines the gospel with their eschatology. The reason this happened is because in the Millerite movement they tried to predict the end of the world and the second coming of Christ down to the date. This is not terribly unlike the Harold Camping movement a few years ago. Just like with Camping, the Millerite movement adjusted their dates a few times, then after 1844 came and went they claimed spiritual fulfillment to hide from their shame of rebelling against God’s Word (Matt 24:26).

The Spiritual fulfillment that the SDA claimed morphed through many forms but eventually rested on the Investigative Judgment doctrine that I have written about in my most recent posts. The tragedy of this is that it resulted in the SDA teaching a false gospel. Even though most Adventists I know would likely agree with the entire post I have presented to this point, their problem is that the Investigative Judgment invariably contradicts the Biblical teaching of the Gospel.

First of all the Investigative Judgment teaches that our sins are not blotted out until the completion of the entire eschatological process. A false teaching of the SDA which I refuted HERE.

“The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books, it is impossible that the sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their cases are to be investigated.” Great Controversy 1888 Page 485, Ellen White

Second the Investigative Judgment teaches that once our sins are blotted out, we must stand before a Holy God without a mediator. They teach that this is the close of probation, and that those who do not keep the ten commandments perfectly at this point are not saved.

“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.” The Great Controversy, Pg. 425 Ellen White

Above Ellen is teaching that a combination of your efforts and the Grace of God must bring you to a state of absolute perfection during a probationary period on planet earth. So to that I would say:

How is this working out for you?

Are you perfect yet? (Matt 5:48)(1 John 1:8)

Well you better be if you expect to make it in the end times as she says that your efforts are required!

What Ellen White teaches is a wicked false Gospel from the pit of Hell. The Bible teaches that we are saved by Grace alone through Faith alone, even in the end times. Your best piety will not save you, only Jesus will save you.

Jesus didn’t just die for your worst deeds, he died for your best good works too. Even at your very best you either failed to Love God with all your heart or were puffed up with pride in your ability to do something right. The Sabbath will not even extra save you in the end times. If that is your extra assurance for the last days like it was for me you are clinging to an idol.

Repent and trust in Christ and Christ alone, your true Sabbath rest.