Here's what I think on this question. Right judging has to do with the action involved. We can say that we understand a given action to be right or wrong. Unless we have specific evidence, such as a person's actual declaration, we cannot make judgments regarding what light they have regarding the wrong action, or what their motivations were.

We have no right to judge a *person.* That's God's prerogative alone. This is why I've been pointing out we haven't been called to say whether a person if saved or lost. That's not our job. However, we can, and should, judge actions which we see are not right.

The evidence is that she did not have the mind of Christ, was listening to Satan instead of God, was telling people it was OK to disobey God. It should be clear that she was not being led by the Holy Spirit, unless the Holy Spirit can be credited for leading people to disobey.

Is she saved while in this condition? Some have asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Match the answer to this situation and it should be possible to determine where this lady was headed.

True, she didn't use those specific words, but there is more than one way to convey the idea that someone isn't is in a saved state or that someone is in a lost state (that was two different ways to say the same thing).

What Ellen said was - "This woman did not possess genuine sanctification. It was not God who told her that she could be sanctified while living in disobedience to one of His plain commandments. God's law is sacred, and none can transgress it with impunity."

These words plainly say this lady was in an unsaved state. But, as Teresaq pointed out, this is not to say she couldn't repent and be saved. It's just that in her present state she was lost.

As to why I brought this up for discussion - it's because I suspect it can help us better understand the blessed assurance. We should be able to confidently approach the throne of God knowing we are saved fearing nothing. We should be able to know this about ourselves, and we should be able to help others to know it about themselves.

So, here's the question - Under what conditions can we know we are right with God, that we are without spot or blame, that our service and allegiance are acceptable and pleasing in His sight? Or, would it be too dangerous to know the truth about ourselves in this lifetime? Would it be safer for us now to believe we are so sinful and so unlike Jesus that it isn't even funny?

Here is just a short list and reference of those who will be lost according to Ellen White:

Napoleon EW 293
Thomas Paine EW 301
Felix AA 427
Herod Antipas DA 731
Nero AA 496-7
Pharaoh PP 268-9
King Saul 2BC 1023 PP 635, 676
Korah and companions PP 405
People of Nazareth DA 241
Pharisees 5BC 1092
Sanhedrin DA 241
Jewish priestst + rulers TM 73
Judas Iscariot DA 654-5
Jewish people in rejecting christ DA 324
Idolatrous Israelites PP 326
Satan SR 26-7 + angels 4BC 1163
Some Millerite Adventists GC 432
Sons of Eli 2BC 1010 PP 580

IAH, thank you for the list. But, man, what a terrible time you must have had compiling it. You must have been tempted to think your time could be better spent doing something more satisfying!!!


What do you think?

The letter of 1 John discusses this in detail. Paul tells us:



Regarding what EGW said about the lady, she said she did not have genuine sanctification and that it was not God who was telling here the things she said. That's sufficient. We don't need to comment about the state of others, whether they are lost or not. Ellen White said:



If we shouldn't say or feel that we ourselves are saved, it's hard to fathom that we should be expected to judge the state of others.

The closer we come to Jesus, the more clearly we see our defects of character. I believe the light from God gives us an accurate view of ourselves.

yes, i agree. the farther i am from God the better i look. the closer i am-i dont look real good to myself.

Yes, but the better God looks!

Sometimes the study of Ellen White requires dirty work. But someone has to do it.