The Gospel

Introduction

True Christianity—including Seventh-day Adventism—is all about God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Every attempt to do business with God on any other basis than grace amounts to folly and deadly delusion.

We acknowledge and confess with deep regret that Adventists have never been clear about this. Many evangelists bring people to the cross to get forgiven, only to take them away to Mt. Sinai to establish core doctrines through legalism—kinder and gentler than it used to be, cloaked in the language of love. But it’s still performance based rather than grace based. This is scandalous—and unnecessary!

All of our 28 fundamental beliefs have value, purpose and power in the grace of God alone, founded in Scripture alone. This is our best and only defense against those like Dale Ratzlaff who have committed themselves to destroying Adventism and “transitioning” members away from our fellowship.

Dale’s stated strategy to accomplish this specifically targets the lack of assurance that so many Adventists still suffer from. We must learn to cling to the old rugged cross, not only to secure initial forgiveness but also to learn and teach everything else we believe.

In getting away from legalism, we need to avoid going to the opposite extreme of laxity and lawlessness. Grace that saves us cannot disgrace our Savior. Not only does it cover our sins, but it profoundly changes our lives. Faith in Christ makes us faithful—never good enough for heaven, but different from what we used to be. It radically transforms our relationship with God and with each other, filling us with love, joy and peace.

Martin confesses having had a hard time grasping grace in the Adventist Church. He shares personally in the following chapters how childhood religious instruction told him he would be lost unless he attained sinless perfection before heaven’s sanctuary closed down. He describes how he lived many years in fear that God would sadly but surely consign him to hell for being nothing better than a decent person who may have wanted to be like Jesus but fell short of sinlessness.

The following chapters records how truth about grace has not only saved his soul but brings him great joy, mingled with hope and wonder.

Don’t miss his chapter “Demons of Righteousness (Legalism is the high road to hell).” Also the paper Martin presented about salvation at the annual convention of the Society of Adventist Religious Studies.

Articles

Tortured No Longer By My Conscience

Martin Weber recovers from devastating legalism - From his 1994 book, Who's Got the Truth?

Demons of Righteousness

Legalism is the high road to hell - From Martin Weber's 1994 book, Who's Got the Truth?

Soteriology: The Representational Model

Vacation from guilt is vocation for ministry - Martin Weber's 2000 paper for his graduate work

A Soteriological Alternative

Comparing three views of the gospel; Martin Weber's presentation to the Adventist Society of Religious Studies at it's 2001 convention

Frequently Asked Questions