Adventist Teaching: Yes
Biblical Teaching: No
In Adventist theology, you are reconciled to God by your faith and your obedience to the 10 Commandment Law. This is contrary to the Biblical teaching which is that it’s a person’s faith in the person and work of Jesus (Romans 5:9-11), which includes His perfect obedience to the Law (Philippians 2:8), that reconciles a person to God. Believers are given a foreign, alien righteousness—in full—from God himself, when they believe (Philippians 3:9). This places them in a position before God where they are seen as if they have indeed kept the Law perfectly, when they have not. Jesus is standing before them and God the Father sees Him and His perfect life. In Adventist theology, Jesus is standing off to the side of you, cheering you on, but not in front of you as your covering. This is what being “in Christ” entails (2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Romans 8:1-2, 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-14, 2:6).
Obedience to Jesus is a by-product of having already been reconciled and having peace with God (Romans 5:1), not something Believers do to maintain their reconciliation or be seen as worthy of Christ’s atoning benefits eventually. Believers are completely secure in the person and work of Jesus and their true, heartfelt trust in Him and His saving grace.
This is why the Adventist Church is teaching a false Gospel (Galatians 1:9-11). It is your obedience that ultimately reconciles you to God, not Christ alone.
