The Pebble Blog

Drawing on the sources, sin is fundamentally defined as the transgression of the law . This is explicitly stated in multiple sources. For instance, the Bible defines it as: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" . This definition is reiterated by Ellen G. White: "The only definition of sin given in God's Word, is transgression of the law " {GCDB, March 2, 1897 par. 3}. Further insights from the sources elaborate on this definition: The Law Reveals Sin: The law serves to make sin known. As Paul inquired, "Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet ". This indicates that "without the law we have no knowledge of what sin is". The law serves to "detect sin", "discover the defects in the moral character", and show "sin to be exceeding sinful, revealing it in all hideousness". Scope of Sin: Sin is not...

"His people today are to remember that the house of worship is the Lord's property, and that it is to be scrupulously cared for. But the funds for this work are not to come from the tithe ." [55, GW 226.1, 139, PaM 244.3] Members should be willing to work with their own hands to provide a church building.--Whenever it is possible, let our church buildings be dedicated to God free of debt. When a church is raised up, let the members arise and build. Under the direction of a minister who is guided by the advice of his fellow-ministers, let the newly converted ones work with their own hands, saying, "We need a meeting-house, and we must have it." God calls upon His people to make cheerful, united efforts in His cause. Let this be done, and soon will be heard the voice of thanksgiving, "See what the Lord hath wrought!"--GW 432. {PaM 244.1} The tithe is set apart for a special use. It is not to be regarded as a poor fund. It is to be especially devoted to t...

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them.” What is that character? The character of Christ. Right? If we have the character of Christ What does it mean? What is that stain or spot? When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in his people then Christ will come to claim them as His own. COL 70. What does christ's character mean? When will this happen? What exactly does it mean? When will that happen -- just before his coming? How is that related to the close of probation? To the close of investigative judgment?   You are right that the character needed to receive the seal of God is related to the character of Christ. The sources emphasize that to receive the seal of God, one's character must be without spot or stain . What is the character of Christ and what does it mean to have it? The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness . It includes everything good, pure, noble, and elevated. ...