The law is a transcript of God's character. It defines righteousness. It prohibits sinning. It condemns sinning and sinners. It demands death. It points sinners to Jesus as their only hope of pardon and salvation.

"The sinner gets into trouble with the Father through transgression of his law. Christ, the sinner's Advocate, pleads in his behalf. The law cannot release the sinner from the consequence of his transgression, but Christ himself pays the penalty the sinner has incurred by his disobedience. {ST, July 18, 1878 par. 7} "Christ, in counsel with His Father, instituted the system of sacrificial offerings; that death, instead of being immediately visited upon the transgressor, should be transferred to a victim which should prefigure the great and perfect offering of the Son of God. {1SM 230.1}

The substitutional life and death of Jesus is required to atone for past sins confessed and pardoned. “Justice demands that sin be not merely pardoned, but the death penalty must be executed." “In the plan of redemption there must be the shedding of blood, for death must come in consequence of man’s sin.” "The transgression of God's law made the death of Christ essential to save man and yet maintain the dignity and honor of the law." "He bore the death penalty of man’s transgression. He became the sinner’s substitute and surety." "Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man's place. He shall have another chance"

"Adam listened to the words of the tempter, and yielding to his insinuations, fell into sin. Why was not the death penalty at once enforced in his case?--Because a ransom was found. God's only begotten Son volunteered to take the sin of man upon himself, and to make an atonement for the fallen race. There could have been no pardon for sin had this atonement not been made. Had God pardoned Adam's sin without an atonement, sin would have been immortalized, and would have been perpetuated with a boldness that would have been without restraint. {RH, April 23, 1901 par. 9}

Is the atonement LEGAL? NO. The law can not be changed. The law can NOT release the sinner from the consequences of his transgression. There is not a legal solution to the problem. A real solution must be found. The only solution is that man must be born again. The stain of sin must be removed. This is healing, not legal. A legal declaration makes no change in man. A restoration of the human character by the divine is the only solution. Just God is just and justifier. Justification is setting right. This is not a legal solution, it is a real solution.

Those two posts have been a great personal blessing for me. Steps to Christ and Ministry of Healing that we do well in reading often in our daily experience.

While attending the SDA Seminary, H M S Richards Sr. visited us for a week with daily lectures. It was fascinating listening to him telling us about his meeting with Sister White. He also told us he would not let a year pass by without having re-read Steps to Christ. The New Testament monthly and the Old Testament annually. This is what gave him Spiritual Power in his preaching.

Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us.

I have also received a blessing by reading your book, Mike.

You obviously think you have something important connected to what you are saying here APL, so why don't you just say what is on your mind so we can all see how important what you have to say is.

The law is an expression of the character of God.

"...fathers and mothers were to instruct their children that the law of God is an expression of His character, and that as they received the principles of the law into the heart, the image of God was traced on mind and soul." {CG 32.3}

are you making your own theology?

Reading these discussions I get reminded of an EGW passage. In which way do you think this applies here?

Excellent quote Pastor.

I have actually looked for that quote before, and now I can make a reference.

But On this topic with APL; He keeps asking me open ended questions and does not give any reason why, asking me directly and incessantly "what is the meaning of forgiveness"? Then making the audacious statement "Atonement is not legal" etc.

If Atonement is not legal then was God mistaken in making it law?

APL you need to make a statement instead of asking me open ended questions, and talking in circles if you want to challenge the position I offered.

The reason God gave the law is so we can identify the Spirit of Truth in how scripture is presented, the evidence lying in the life of Christ. There is no two ways to interpret the truth on the same matter. Mathematically there can only be one truth.

There are subjects that some can grasp and others cannot, but that does not mean the same text has two different interpretations.

James 1:25(ESV)

"But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

"The same enmity existed in the heart of Saul that stirred the heart of Cain against his brother Abel, because Abel’s works were righteous, and God honored him, and his own works were evil, and the Lord could not bless him. Envy is the offspring of pride, and if it is entertained in the heart, it will lead to hatred, and eventually to revenge and murder. Satan displayed his own character in exciting the fury of Saul against him who had never done him harm.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 651. {ChL 19.2}

"When Cain saw that his offering was rejected, he was angry with the Lord and with Abel; he was angry that God did not accept man’s substitute in place of the sacrifice divinely ordained, and angry with his brother for choosing to obey God instead of joining in rebellion against Him. Notwithstanding Cain’s disregard of the divine command, God did not leave him to himself; but He condescended to reason with the man who had shown himself so unreasonable. And the Lord said unto Cain, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?” Through an angel messenger the divine warning was conveyed: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” The choice lay with Cain himself. If he would trust to the merits of the promised Saviour, and would obey God’s requirements, he would enjoy His favor. But should he persist in unbelief and transgression, he would have no ground for complaint because he was rejected by the Lord. {PP 73.3}
But instead of acknowledging his sin, Cain continued to complain of the injustice of God and to cherish jealousy and hatred of Abel. He angrily reproached his brother, and attempted to draw him into controversy concerning God’s dealings with them. In meekness, yet fearlessly and firmly, Abel defended the justice and goodness of God. He pointed out Cain’s error, and tried to convince him that the wrong was in himself. He pointed to the compassion of God in sparing the life of their parents when He might have punished them with instant death, and urged that God loved them, or He would not have given His Son, innocent and holy, to suffer the penalty which they had incurred. All this caused Cain’s anger to burn the hotter. Reason and conscience told him that Abel was in the right; but he was enraged that one who had been wont to heed his counsel should now presume to disagree with him, and that he could gain no sympathy in his rebellion. In the fury of his passion he slew his brother. {PP 74.1}

Yes, true religion is essential!

Now does your bible say that GC?

Romans 8:19-22 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.

What legal problem causes all creation to groan? Why do dogs get cancer? Are they also in legal trouble? I don't think so. So what happened to them?