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Online Magazine: Edition 12

August/September 2006

Welcome to the Tweflth Edition of the Online Magazine of the Thornleigh Seventh-day Adventist Church

Articles

Editorial

My World View - Statement of what I Believe

by Norman Tew

This is not a doctrinal statement in the usual form. Maybe it does not cover in precise manner all the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist church. However I think it does give a background picture in which the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist church are placed. And the result of understanding those beliefs. Thus I present this statement of my personal understanding of the world as it is came into being, what developed and how it is now.

God made a perfect world and placed in it two perfect people. He told them to take control and rule the world in accordance with his directions. He daily visited them to give them instructions.

An enemy came in who had already rebelled against the leadership of God elsewhere. He persuaded the two people in this world that they could not trust God, but that he could guide them in a better way.

The result of this was pain and suffering, but God in love did not destroy the rebels but laid a plan to draw them back to himself. Down through the ages he sent messengers to guide the people how to live better lives, but over and over again their words were rejected.

However a few listened and when God came in the form of Jesus to live here among us, there were a few who accepted his words. In dying, God took the natural result of our sins and exchanged our reward for his reward. The apostle Paul wrote, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him". 2 Cor 5:21

Christ died for all men, his sacrifice was sufficient to cover all. However the Bible makes it plain that there are those who will not benefit from His Gift. It has to be accepted into the life.

Those who accept God's gift of a new life will seek to live according to the guidance that God has given in his word, not as a means of salvation but as a result of their salvation.

The sin and suffering in this world is not God's plan. It is not because he is unable to stop it, but because he is giving us all a chance to make our own decisions for him, or against him. Why he has given so long I do not fully understand, but I believe it has to do with revealing to all the universe the true results of rebellion.

Soon God is coming back to make an end to the rebellion and make all things new. At that time he will cleanse all sin and wrong and all the results of evil from this world and make all things new. In that new world he will place those who have accepted his salvation. All those who chose to follow their own way (which is Satan's way of evil) will acknowledge their situation and that God is just and they will be destroyed in the fires that cleanse this earth.

May God guide each reader that they too will accept the Gift that he offers freely to all.

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