Jack Sequeria and "Beyond Belief"
Do the writings and theology of Jack Sequeria truly represent correct Bible doctrine, or is it something else again?
Here is one quote from Jack Sequerias book, “Beyond Belief.”
“The gospel of faith plus works, or justification plus sanctification, is at the heart of Roman Catholicism theology. It is a subtle form of legalism.” (p. 25)
That’s funny; this is not what the Bible teaches.
James 2:20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
He assigns two Bible doctrines to Roman Catholicism in one fell swoop.
He also denies the necessary lifelong work of sanctification, which is separate from justification.
By faith in Christ, and obedience to the law of God, we may be sanctified, and thus obtain a fitness for the society of holy angels and the white-robed redeemed ones in the kingdom of glory.
{RH, April 26, 1881 par.
Here is one quote from Jack Sequerias book, “Beyond Belief.”
“The gospel of faith plus works, or justification plus sanctification, is at the heart of Roman Catholicism theology. It is a subtle form of legalism.” (p. 25)
That’s funny; this is not what the Bible teaches.
James 2:20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
He assigns two Bible doctrines to Roman Catholicism in one fell swoop.
He also denies the necessary lifelong work of sanctification, which is separate from justification.
By faith in Christ, and obedience to the law of God, we may be sanctified, and thus obtain a fitness for the society of holy angels and the white-robed redeemed ones in the kingdom of glory.
{RH, April 26, 1881 par.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Travis on -
What does he mean by "justification plus sanctification"? If you don't give enough of the quote (this sounds rather familiar), we can't know what he actually means.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Billiter on -
It should be crystal clear. When we are born again, we are justified by faith in Christ. (see on Romans 5:1, Eph. 2:8,9) We then begin the lifelong process of sanctification. We need both during our Christian life at all times. One cannot exist without the other. Sanctification is that process where we submit to God daily, and let Him take away our faults. Our character becomes Christlike as we learn of the Master and imitate Him.
Quite obviously the thief on the cross did not have time to become sanctified, because he died right after accepting Christ.So Sequeria is saying we do not need sanctification, an obvious unbiblical error. Beyond Belief is online if you want to read more.
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Permalink Reply by N Him on -
If properly understood ... the statement is most certainly true.
We are not saved by any of our works. That is clear. So the false teaching that we are saved by faith plus works is of Satan. Our works ... even the works that Christ does in us ... DO NOT SAVE US. The blood of Jesus is all that saves us. But if you have faith ... you will automatically have some works to show for it.
What the Bible is talking about in James ... is that we will not have faith that is dead. Faith WORKS. However ... those works even though from Christ ... DO NOT SAVE US.
My pastor and I have just started reading Jack Sequeria. He is an excellent SDA Pastor who is very Gospel focused and preaches God's love clearly.
Saying "So Sequeria is saying we do not need sanctification, an obvious unbiblical error." This is an obvious misrepresentation of what Jack is saying. NO were does he say what you have accused him of. This is just your ignorance on the subject showing.
Beyond Belief is a great book. I have my own copy and so I don't need to read it online. But if you read it you will further learn that we are not saved by our sanctification. Sanctification is a natural outgrowth of our saved status.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Billiter on
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Sorry, but I disagree with you. If there is no works then there is no real saving faith either. That is what James is saying. I'm aware that liberals everywhere love Jack Sequeria's writings.I'm certainly not trying to convert you. But if one reads this and learns to study for themselves instead of following a false teacher, then I'm happy, and God is pleased.
Sanctification must be worked at, it is NOT a natural outgrowth. Sequeria teaches a cheap, easy, fluffy, no conditions for salvation false gospel.I will not let anyone lead me into the flames.
I've read Beyond Belief, online. I will not spend money for a book that has false teachings. I did however buy Kevin Paulsen's "Beyond Belief Reviewed" an excellent expose to complement my own.
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Permalink Reply by N Him on
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You continue to accuse all of being false if they don't conform to your narrow understanding. Yet, you have failed in your repeated attempts to show that anything Jack has said is false. Your repeated false claims and twisting of his words gets tiresome.
If Sanctification is not a natural outgrowth ... it is not from God. Only the works from God are sanctification. I'm not going to be a Kevin Paulsen follower.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Billiter on
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Here’s another unbiblical error:
“The righteousness of God obtained for all humanity in Christ, (justification) is full of merit. It is this alone that qualifies us for heaven, now and in the judgment (see Eph. 8-9; Titus 3:5) The righteousness God produces in us has no saving value.” (Jack Sequeria, {“Beyond Belief, P. 170)
The problem here is Sequeria leaves out obedience, the same dilemma as the first error, faith and works.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
This is the real qualifications, keeping the commandments. If the free gift of salvation does not cause us to love the commandments, we are still yet in our sins and not converted.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
God requires of all His subjects obedience, entire obedience to all His commandments. He demands now as ever perfect righteousness as the only title to heaven. Christ is our hope and our refuge. His righteousness is imputed only to the obedient. Let us accept it through faith, that the Father shall find in us no sin. But those who have trampled on the holy law will have no right to claim that righteousness. O that we might view the immensity of the plan of salvation as obedient children to all God's requirements, believing that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ, our atoning sacrifice (RH Sept. 21, 1886)! {6BC 1072.8}
It was evident to him that the law did not abate one jot of its justice, but through the atoning sacrifice, through the imputed righteousness of Christ, the repentant sinner stands justified before the law. {7ABC 467.5}
Christ bore the penalty that would have fallen upon the transgressor; and through faith the helpless, hopeless sinner becomes a partaker of the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. Christ imputes His perfection and righteousness to the believing sinner when he does not continue in sin, but turns from transgression to obedience of the commandments.-- The Review and Herald, May 23, 1899.
There is no way back to innocence and life except through repentance for having transgressed God's law, and faith in the merits of the divine sacrifice, who has suffered for your transgressions of the past; and you are accepted in the Beloved on condition of obedience to the commandments of your Creator. {ST, December 15, 1887 par. 4}
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Permalink Reply by N Him on
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Again ... if properly understood and read ... what he has written is exactly correct. Twisting what someone says just for the controversy ... is not uplifting. See my previous note. You have the same misunderstanding there.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Billiter on
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nope, I understand perfectly.
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Permalink Reply by N Him on
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I would challenge you then to write to Jack and confirm your "understanding" with him. The understanding you have is your own private misunderstanding of what he is trying to say. I've heard him in person speak. Have you?
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Billiter on
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I have heard him speak in the Reno church. I also stood up and challenged him on his universal justification error.All I can say is that one must be led by the Spirit, and study diligently, AND have a love for all of God's truth. There is no other way to prevent being deceived into error. Some of his theology is close to the truth, but not that close.
I have also written to Jack and refuted his errors, he really doesn't l;like to debateanyone unless they agree with him.
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Permalink Reply by Herbert Leon Bryan on -
Hello Stephen
I'm not quite sure what universal justification is. However, you need to be careful with the sanctification doctor because many people teach this doctrine in a manner that appears to seem that we are saved by our works. It may be difficult for some Christians understand that we are saved by the free gift of salvation, which is confirmed by our relationship with Christ. This relationship requires involves a life of service, and dedication to his purpose. As the Bible indicates, those are connected with Christ will display the fruits of the Spirit. If one reads to the fruits of the Spirit they are characteristics allow us to interact with our fellow man in a manner that is representative of Christ character. Unfortunately, many people look for how well a person files and organizational doctrine, and then further extrapolate this to making salvation statements about specific violations of that doctrine.
Leon
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Permalink Reply by Shay on -
It seems the problem is that some think that by receiving Christ's robe of righteousness, they no longer have to be concerned about what they do. But receiving His robe means receiving His person, His sacrifice, His Spirit, the Holy Spirit who then oversees the work of transformation. So one can never be the same if yielded to the process.
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