Yes. The incorrect idea that God's covenants with His people are just His promises was defended by Waggoner. In this he was clearly in disagreement with Ellen White.

Seems to me Abraham's role was pretty minimal when viewed in light of everything that happened between the birth of Isaac and the birth of Jesus. God simply told Abraham he would have a son through whom the Messiah would eventually come. Everything depended on God choosing to work with the nation of Israel. The conditions of the promise rested with God - not Israel. That is, it rested with God to impregnate Mary with Jesus. God didn't ask Mary's permission. He simply told her - You're going to give birth to the Messiah.


He said he is busy. I suspect the whole NJK Project debacle burned him out.

Yes, his part was quite minimal, but necessary. Here's how the SOP describes it:
One can look at the situation this way: "God made His promises unilaterally, with no conditions upon man." Or one can look at it this way: "God made His promises to a man whom He knew would meet the conditions." I go with the latter.


I'm sorry I missed most of that debacle. Well, actually, not that sorry. I'm more sorry for those who had to go through it.

The less said on the NJK destructive conflict the better.....

Now, what do you all think of the commentary 'While both the ceremonial and moral law were “added” at Sinai because of transgression, we will see by considering the following question that Paul appears to have the moral law primarily in mind,' and how do you all read the answer to Tuesdays question....

In Galatians 3:19–29 Paul makes multiple references to “the law.” What law is Paul primarily referring to in this section of Galatians?

"23 Before the coming of this faith,[a] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."

As usual, I get to teach this lesson, and the moment I read this and tell them it literally means..... 'Before the coming of this faith of Christ, we were held in custody under the Moral Law, locked up until the faith of Christ was revealed. So the Moral Law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith of Christ has come, we are no longer under a guardian of the Moral Law.'

The bethren will instinctively pick up rocks and stones as they hear what I am saying........

Yes, I like that one, too. The conditions, however, also applied to his descendants, the nation of Israel. That is, Jesus knew they would meet the conditions.

Yes, the 10Cs were added at Sinai in the sense they were written on stone. They are added in another sense when Jesus writes them on our newborn hearts.

Keep ducking until you get to this week's lesson. "What law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments."

They agreed, actually, but got to have the whole context for that.

The covenant God made with Abraham concerns justification by faith, not also sanctification, though that part - condition - of salvation was implicit, already, too. Waggoner taught a JBF which makes the believer a converted, doer of righteousness: rebirth is part of JBF, after all, so that we may use God's power to obey him, becoming children of God in JBF by that same power.

God's promise to Abraham didn't call immediately for the obedience of Mount Moriah, but for taking God at his word, trusting God as telling the truth. The Quarterly is thus correct, limiting that moment to God's promise and miracle of a new heart in Abraham: JBF, or RBF which is the experience of justification - i.e. receiving the promised gift of salvation.

It's all about the promises of God, here, in this week's lesson, remeber.

Both laws indeed were our guardian, the moral law still so, since Christ prioritises himself, the law-giver, over the written law, for those who believe, writing the 10C on our heart with our birth from above (Jn 3:3b, marg.).

Nice reminder of the 'defence' of the law conflict, RickH.