For some Adventists, it fills them with embarrassment. They are ashamed.
For other Adventists, it fills them with anxiety, fear and dread leading to near
immobilization.
And for other Adventists, they become filled with joy and trust.
What does these various things to various Adventists?
The Investigative Judgment, and how it has been presented and perceived by different Christians and different ones in the Adventist Church.
I have been leading the Conference staff each Monday morning worship for several months now, through 1 chapter a week in the book, Great Controversy. 2 weeks ago, we reflected on the investigative judgment. This great teaching more fully reveals our Savior Jesus Christ and the beautiful role He is playing in the working out of our Salvation. He finished paying the price on the Cross of Calvary, for sin. Now He is applying the merits of His sacrifice on our behalf, in His great mediatorial role as our Advocate and our High Priest.
There is no doubt in scripture of a final judgment.For we must all appear before the judgment seat of God…
The books were opened, the judgment was set…
Judgment begins with the house of God…
Who will judge the living and the dead…
The dead were judged out of the book…
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14
The Sanctuary service throughout the history of God’s people clearly teaches the role of the cost of sin, an innocent party providing atonement, and the role of applying atonement for those who choose to be under the blood of the Lamb.
So what scares Adventists about the investigative judgment?
“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate (emphasis supplied) presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses: "Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book." Exodus 32:33.” GC pg. 483.
Some get scared about names being investigated, some accepted, some rejected.
But, did you notice the words – OUR ADVOCATE?
What is an Advocate? Someone who stands up for, intercedes for, or presents a favorable case on behalf of another. Right in this description is the wonderful news that we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. Some, when reading of the Investigative judgment here, somehow miss the point that there is an Advocate for those who trust in the plan of salvation, and then they become morose and almost spiritually comatose.
“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isaiah 43:25. Said Jesus: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.” GC pg. 483
Notice that it is the claim of the blood of Jesus that is the reason for anyone’s name to be in the books of heaven. Not our own efforts or merit, or the merit of some perceived saint, but our total response to the love of Jesus and in faith in His blood.
Now, reading on, notice this awesome description of Christ’s intention for us and during His work in the heavenly Sanctuary, what He is pleading for His people who have put their faith in His blood.
“The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to "the first dominion." Micah 4:8. Satan in his efforts to deceive and tempt our race had thought to frustrate the divine plan in man's creation; but Christ now asks that this plan be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.” GC pg. 484
Let me list in brief form the key points Jesus wants for us.
• Restored to their Eden home.
• Crowned as joint heirs with Himself.
• Christ’s original plan for us be carried into effect as if man had never sinned.
• Pardon and justification full and complete.
• A share in His glory.
• A seat upon His throne.
Wow, and I would be satisfied with just a quiet corner somewhere in the earth made new. But imagine, a seat upon His throne! (see also Ephesians 2:4-6, Revelation 3:21)
Since this is a wonderful aspect to the work of Christ, it is going on right now, and it is our joy and a source of courage to us, notice next what Satan is trying to do in these last days.
“Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.” GC pg. 488
Jesus gave a complete price for sin on the cross. Now he is applying that price for the sinner, just as the lamb in the earthly Sanctuary was sacrificed in the outer court and the blood was carried into the Sanctuary and applied before the veil, and then on the day of atonement carried within the veil and applied before the ark of the covenant. Now Jesus is applying the full price He already paid at the cross, to our eternal salvation. There is no other price that can be paid. No other effort. No other merit than that which Christ has obtained and which He gives.
“The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.” GC pg 489
In the meantime, Satan loves to taunt Christ. He loves to throw into the arena of the universe the course of those who claim to be a disciple and a child of Jesus, the way some don’t really put all trust, all faith, all willing obedience in their Savior and make Jesus truly number one in their life.
“If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him: "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2 Corinthians 12:9. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29, 30. Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them.” GC pg. 489
Yes, it is a solemn time. We are living in that day. The final day of atonement.
Do we live in dread, fear anxiety and fright? Hardly able to enjoy being a Christian?
Or do we live in joyful anticipation. Fully trusting our Savior? Fully committed each day to be the man or the woman that Christ can totally have, unreservedly? Have we totally sold out to Christ and have as our only motivation, to please Him?
When we have that attitude and choice, we have no need of fear in the judgment. For we know we are loved perfectly, so we have chosen to love Jesus more than anything else in the world. And “Perfect love casts out all fear.”
Our issue to decide each day, during the last days of earth’s history, is: “Do we love Jesus more than anything else?” Because we love Him, are will be hungry and thirsty to reflect His character, His motives, His atmosphere?” His complete sacrifice and our complete, joyful, trusting surrender -- that answers the question of our standing and fitness in the final judgment.
