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Jesus said, "To know God is eternal life." (John 17:3). One cannot know God and live for the flesh.
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So, what is the meaning of "knowing" God?

In His love

James S

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I disagree that God will make any distinction whatever based on membership in any of our denominations, wether it be SDA or UP or RC.
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I agree with you, I don’t think that the people of God is a denomination, because at the end there are only two groups, sheep and goat, saints and the wicked. People of God consist' of individuals.
Is there a possibility that SDA church as a denomination / organization might become Babylon and hunting her members because at last she gives up her beliefs and faiths?

In His love

James S

Again, I agree every human being, alive and dead, saved and lost, are people of God, but the title - "the" people of God - refers exclusively, in these last days (since 1844), to the SDA church.

Between now and the close of probation people will be saved or lost based on whether or not they live up to the light they believe to be true. This, of course, includes people within and without the SDA church.

However, during the loud cry of the later rain, during the mark of the beast crisis, anyone who rejects the three angel’s messages is lost. Also, anyone who refuses to join the SDA church during this time is lost.

Again, “the” people of God, that is, God’s chosen remnant people, as described in Rev 12:17, is none other than the SDA church. God is not describing a remnant “person” in Rev 12:17; instead, He is describing “the” remnant people, “the” remnant church – “the” SDA church.

MM, a couple of questions. First of all, where do you get the idea that a person will be lost if they do not join the SDA church? I've never heard that idea before, and I've been an SDA a long time.

Secondly, there was no SDA church in 1844, or 1854 for that matter, so how could the people of God refer exclusively to a church which didn't exist?

Finally, where do you get the idea that "people of God" refers exclusively to SDA's at *any* period of time?

This idea of exclusivity is the same lack of perspective the Jews suffered from. God has never been exclusive. Whosoever will may come. Whether or not we are of God depends upon our relationship with Christ, not on church membership or nationality.

What we can say is that the Jews, or SDA's today, are God's denominiated, or visible, people. God's true people are those who know Him, regardless of denomination.

I agree with Toms post to Mike, although with some questions about the first sentence of the last paragraph. The example from the history of Israel from the bible show with all due clarity that being Gods denominated people doesnt say anything at all about the individuals relationships with God. Israel of old seemed to spend more time in rebellion against God than in living out their position as Gods people on earth.
If that position is today inherited by SDA?
I once heard the purpose of the SDA church, its reason for existence if one wills, explained in a way that can be compared with the mission John the Baptist had in introducing Jesus first comming. Noteworthy of course is that this while truly being an important task didnt make John and his diciples an elite or secure specific priviliges for them. John being imprissoned, doubting and ending at the sharp end of a executioners ax or sword...
Then the comparasion that I think seems closer to the one more often heard is the general public of Jesus day Israel or maybe the Jews of today. A self image of a people whom will soon end up lords and masters of all the heathen nations around. The messiah will come and lead us in toppling Caesar in Rome and then we will rule the world. And rule it we shall. Anyway...

/Thomas

The SDA church is the only church in the history of the world that God has raised up to poclaim the three angel's messages, to call people out of Babylon. The SDA church is the only church in the world that is not a part of Babylon. All other churches are Babylonian.

FLB 282
God has a church upon the earth, who are His chosen people, who keep His commandments. He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a people. {FLB 282.2}

UL 315
God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. {UL 315.5}

LDE 45, 46
The Lord has made us the depositaries of His law; He has committed to us sacred and eternal truth, which is to be given to others in faithful warnings, reproofs, and encouragement.--5T 381 (1885). {LDE 45.1}

Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a peculiar people, separate from the world. By the great cleaver of truth He has cut them out from the quarry of the world and brought them into connection with Himself. He has made them His representatives and has called them to be ambassadors for Him in the last work of salvation. The greatest wealth of truth ever entrusted to mortals, the most solemn and fearful warnings ever sent by God to man, have been committed to them to be given to the world.--7T 138 (1902). {LDE 45.2}

In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the Word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import--the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.--9T 19 (1909). {LDE 45.3}

2SM 66
God is leading out a people. He has a chosen people, a church on the earth, whom He has made the depositaries of His law. He has committed to them sacred trust and eternal truth to be given to the world. {2SM 66.2}

TM 20
God has a church, a chosen people; and could all see as I have seen how closely Christ identifies Himself with His people, no such message would be heard as the one that denounces the church as Babylon. God has a people who are laborers together with Him, and they have gone straight forward, having His glory in view. {TM 20.1}

TM 49, 50
Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard. … {TM 49.1}

God has a church on earth who are lifting up the downtrodden law, and presenting to the world the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The church is the depositary of the wealth of the riches of the grace of Christ, and through the church eventually will be made manifest the final and full display of the love of God to the world that is to be lightened with its glory. The prayer of Christ that His church may be one as He was one with His Father will finally be answered. The rich dowry of the Holy Spirit will be given, and through its constant supply to the people of God they will become witnesses in the world of the power of God unto salvation. {TM 50.1}

There is but one church in the world who are at the present time standing in the breach, and making up the hedge, building up the old waste places; and for any man to call the attention of the world and other churches to this church, denouncing her as Babylon, is to do a work in harmony with him who is the accuser of the brethren. … {TM 50.2}

Mike, the quotes you presented are dealing with SDA's as a visible, corporate group, aren't they? God has risen up a corporate body whose purose is to make known His character, to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Our job is to proclaim the Gospel. This is a corporate work, of which we take part as individuals.

You wrote that since 1844 that the "people of God" refers exclusively to the SDA church, but there was no SDA church in 1844 and for years thereafter, so how could what you are asserting be true?

What evidence is there that one must join the SDA church to be saved?