Alternative Report

of the
Primacy of the Gospel Committee
to the General Conference AD-COM
March 25, 2000

Areas of Agreement

1. Emphasis on God’s Initiative in Salvation. We agree that salvation is always at God’s

initiative and that the church needs constantly to hear and then to give that message to the world.
The preaching of the law and obedience to the law must always be presented in the context of
Gods enabling grace. When the cross of Christ is truly lifted up, then our faith and confidence
rests wholly on His ability to save.

2. Emphasis on the Saving Merits of Jesus. We agree that God unconditionally made provision
for the salvation of all. Christ purchased salvation for every human being through his death. The
penalty has been paid. Therefore, every human being would be saved if they would receive the
gift through faith. (John 3:16)

3. Emphasis on Faith in Accepting God’s Gift of Salvation. We agree that by faith we believe,
appreciate, trust, and receive the objective truth of God’s salvation. God has given salvation to
all in Jesus Christ but the gift must be individually received for the experience of salvation to
begin.

4. Emphasis on Salvation by Grace through Faith Being Intimately Connected With a

Transformed Life and the Keeping of the Commandments of God. We agree that the new birth
takes place at the very moment when a person comes to Jesus and is justified by faith; and that in
the new birth experience God through the Holy Spirit gives Christians a heartfelt desire to live
God’s will through his imparted grace.

5. Emphasis on Agape. We agree on the centrality of agape in the Christian’s life and on its
foundational role in Christian living. Agape alone can cast out fear, and purify the motives in the
Christian experience.

6. Emphasis on the Inability of Humans to Do Right in and of Themselves. We agree that human
beings are incapable of doing right in and of themselves or of initiating their personal salvation.

7. Emphasis on the Nearness of God to the Sinner. The good news is that God is on the side of
sinners, a merciful and compassionate Friend and Brother. In taking our fallen nature, Christ
becomes acquainted with our struggles and knows how to help in time of need. He draws near to
us as sinners and yet never sins.
8. Emphasis on Bringing People to Christ. We agree on the fundamental importance of bringing
people to Christ as our response to the gospel commission.

9. Emphasis on Repentance in the Body of Christ. We agree that, for the sake of and in
fellowship with the crucified and risen Christ, the Christian believer experiences a deep
identification with the sins of others, knowing that they could be his or hers but for the grace of
the Savior. Such identification leads to humility in place of spiritual pride. We further agree that
the more pervasive this spirit of identification, the more intensely will be felt compassion for
each other and a corresponding experience of unity with fellow human beings. (John 2:25)

10. Rejection of Universalism. We reject universalism, defined as the belief that every person
will be saved independent of personal commitment to the Lord.

11. Emphasis of the Primacy of the Bible in the Formation of Christian Understandings. We
agree that the teachings of the Bible represent the center of any theological process.

12. Emphasis on the “Most Precious Message” Set Forth by Jones and Waggoner. We agree that
studying and sharing the “most precious message” presented by Jones and Waggoner is
important. This is the message God commanded be given to the church and through the church to
the world. Ellen White has provided us with a summary of some of the essential elements of that
message in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 91-93. We list some of the
highlights for the sake of brevity.

A. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Savior, the
sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

B. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person,
His merits, and His changeless love for the human family.

C. The efficacy of the blood of Christ was to be presented to the people with freshness and
power, that their faith might lay hold upon its merits.

D. The message of the gospel of His grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct
lines, that the world should no longer say that Seventh-day Adventists talk the law, the law, but
do not teach or believe Christ.

E. This faith is the life of the church.

13. Application of Ellen White’s remarks related to 1888. We agree that many of Ellen White’s
remarks related to 1888 do not necessarily apply to the leadership of the church today. We
believe these must be read in context. One must be extremely cautious in applying statements
that were made in one context to a later period in which some of the factors have changed.
Notwithstanding, we need to be equally cautious not to ignore statements applicable to today,
especially in light of the Laodicean message. Humility and openness is always a safe position.
 Areas of Disagreement

1. History of 1888. We disagree that there are no parallels between our 1888 history and the
condition of the church today. Many statements made by EGW would be well for us to consider
in today’s context, especially those regarding the unconscious resistance of the 1888 message as
the light to lighten the earth with glory.

2. Primacy of the Bible. The 1888 Message Study Committee fully affirms the supremacy of the
Bible as the basis and foundation for all truth. However, we believe Jones and Waggoner should
be studied in the light of EGW’s extensive endorsements.

We appeal to the GC to publish and support the wide distribution and study of an anthology of
the messages of Jones and Waggoner in the 1888 era. A careful study of the biblical evidence
supporting their understanding of righteousness by faith and related topics should be included in
the training of our ministers, educators and leaders. The full truth of Christ Our Righteousness is
to be the theme that will capture the attention of the world.

3. Ellen White's Endorsement of Jones and Waggoner. EGW said that what she heard from
Waggoner “perfectly harmonized” with her understanding of the message. However, we do not
think she thereby gave their theology blanket endorsement inasmuch as no one in the world is
“infallible”. We do believe that the overwhelming weight of evidence is on the side of EGW’s
agreements and not vice versa.

4. Corporate Repentance. Many have drawn mistaken conclusions in regard to our understanding
of corporate repentance. We have never used the term “corporate confession”. We do not believe
it is a call to vote or publish a statement of apology for the resistance of Butler, Smith, and their
supporters in opposition to the message of righteousness by faith in the 1888 period. We believe
leadership at all levels should lead the church in the experience of repentance described in item
#9 of Areas of Agreement. We see corporate repentance as an individual experience, primarily in
relation to humanity’s corporate involvement in the crucifixion of Christ, and secondarily in
“our” resistance of the latter rain and the loud cry as EGW many times likened it to the Jews’
rejection of Christ.

5. Universal Legal Justification. We believe that there is a significant truth and great evangelistic
appeal in the proclamation of the objective work of Christ on the cross. Christ redeemed the
whole human race and in one sense “saved” them. In 1 John 2:2, John asserts that Christ “is the
propitiation for our sins, and not ours only but also for the whole world”. Church scholars can
help us state this objective truth of the gospel more effectively. Ivan Blazen’s paper (presented to
the PGC) on 2 Cor. 5 is very helpful in this regard.

6. The “in Christ” Motif. We believe the Bible teaches that the “in Christ” idea expresses both
legal and relational concepts as to the accomplishments of Christ set forth in Romans, Ephesians,
Corinthians, etc. We believe an exegesis of scripture supports this good news teaching. Members
of the 1888 MSC will continue to study with seminary scholars and others to determine the full
truth.
7. Nature of Christ. We also believe we must be exceedingly careful in dealing with the
humanity of Christ. It is noteworthy that a significant and growing number of competent non-
SDA theological scholars understand this biblical teaching similar to the 1888 MSC, as well as
an increasing number of SDA scholars. The church wisely allows freedom in this area.

8. Jones and Waggoner and the Reformers. We agree that neither the Bible nor Jones and
Waggoner should be set against the great reformers. Historically, Seventh day Adventists assert
that the Advent movement is the “repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in”. Its
mission is to complete the work of the 16th century reformers. We believe that includes the
Sabbath, the state of the dead, and similar “doctrinal “ truths as well as a greater understanding
of the gospel. We see the 1888 era message as in no way opposed to but a further development of
truth.

EGW insists that the love of God revealed on the cross in the atonement will not only be the
study of the redeemed for eternity but will be the principal impact of the loud cry message of
Revelation 18. We agree that new truth rightly understood does not contradict previously
revealed truth. But we consider it presumptive to think that Luther, Calvin, Wesley, the
Evangelicals, or Jones and Waggoner have a totally complete understanding of the gospel or the
atonement. We are deeply impressed with EGW’s statements regarding what happened on the
cross as being an essential element of the final “loud cry” message.

9. The Covenants. While the Bible teaches that any covenant initiated by God is a reiteration of
the “everlasting covenant” or “new covenant,” the people of Israel at Sinai took God’s gracious
new covenant promises and transformed them into a covenant of human “works of the law” (Gal.
2:16) rather than works of faith (Gal. 5:6). Inspired evidence supports the Waggoner and Jones
view of the two covenants. It has a marvelous evangelistic appeal to human hearts that we all
need to understand more clearly.

10. Attitude of Criticism. We agree that the 1888 message has always stirred some people to
object. Even from the very beginning. However, we are not aware of anyone leaving the church
as a result of our ministry. It may be so, but we would like to be informed. On the other hand, we
are aware of many hundreds, perhaps thousands through the years, whose faith has been renewed
and their commitment to Christ and His church strengthened. Additionally, we know of many
whom have returned to the SDA church as a result of hearing this message.

We believe in supporting the SDA church with our tithes and voice. We welcome continued
input that we might improve in our contribution to the work of the SDA church. We join with
other supporting ministries of the church to preach the gospel to both believers and unbelievers.
We are reminded that some of these ministries were at one time seen as divisive but through
interaction and communication, adjustments were made on all sides and they are now considered
a blessing to the church. Many outside of our Committee have told us they consider our work as
making a significant contribution to the spirituality of the church.

11. The Church and the Message of Justification by Faith. We affirm the fundamental beliefs of
the SDA church on righteousness by faith. Many in the church have been preaching these truths.
We believe and support all “27” statements of belief. We are attempting to recover the insights
of “heavenly credentials” presented in the 1888 era primarily by Jones, Waggoner and EGW. We
believe those insights add important power to the “27”. We agree with you that the message to
the church of Laodicea is an ever-present message to be continually proclaimed by and to God’s
humble, submissive people. We also recognize that the 1888 MSC needs that Laodicean message
as much as anybody; “we” are all a corporate whole, a part of the “body.”

12. Observations. We question the Group Report given previously to ADCOM. It seriously
misrepresents us in many ways. We do not think it represents the results of our discussions
accurately, nor even necessarily the feelings of the majority. It definitely makes claims about our
past and future that cannot accurately be substantiated. This may sound accusatory, but forgive
us for being defensive in the face of what we feel are distortions.

For example, we do not claim or believe that the church is proclaiming a false gospel. We do not
believe the church is in apostasy. We do not believe that we are the ones with the only true
message of the gospel. We do believe, however, the SDA church will ultimately triumph and that
the leadership will be Christ’s agents. We do believe the message of Christ Our Righteousness
will swell into the Loud Cry. Inspiration tells us that began to happen in the 1888 era. We desire
with you to recover the clarity of that message and hasten the coming of Jesus. That is our
burden. The revelation of the character of Christ is to shine to the church and through the church
to the world. Then Jesus will come.

13. In Conclusion. Thousands of loyal church members worldwide are deeply interested in and
rejoicing in the truths of the gospel as expressed in the 1888 message. We appreciate the
opportunity given us to try and present that message to the PGC. It is a good beginning.

A number of church leaders and pastors for several decades have supported those who called for
deeper study of the 1888-era message, beginning with W. A. Spicer in 1950. Others have been
Mervin Maxwell, Herbert Douglass and GC president Robert Pierson. We propose that the
General Conference select scholars mutually agreed upon by the GC and the 1888 MSC to
continue an in-depth study of this “most precious message” including detailed exegesis of
pertinent scriptures in order to render an objective judgment for the attention of the church.
History is being made. May God grant you the wisdom for such a time as this.

1888 Message Study Committee

8784 Valley View Drive
Berrien Springs, MI U.S.A.