Linda's Story: The Truth Set Me Free

Hello. My name is Linda and I am fifth generation Adventist. I attended SDA elementary and academy schools. Throughout my life as I read the Bible, I always tried to match what I had learned from my beloved Bible classes and church to what the Bible states. I remember being so confused because certain points in the Bible did not coincide with the E. G. White messages. I told myself that I must not be smart enough to understand the differences. Besides I was always taught that we could not fully understand the Bible. I understood that we had ‘new light’ to clarify the old writings. I would skip over parts and try not to be troubled by the differences. Eventually, out of frustration and rebellion, I left the church all together.

I rejoined the SDA church as a member of Celebration Center. That is where I first was taught the grace message of Jesus Christ. This brought me to new understanding and a renewed desire to study scripture. As I restudied God’s Word, I ran into the old problems of trying to match the scriptures to the Adventist fundamentals. I was told not to worry about the old beliefs of Adventism because, “We were in a new liberated church and didn’t really believe some of the old E. G. White writings anyway.” Celebration Center always remained and still is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Conference. Again, the old conflicts began to gnaw at me, but I loved my church and my church family. One day while I was reading the Bible a thought came to me that if someone could show me a verse in the Bible that proved to me that the seventh day was not the Sabbath that I would be able to leave the Seventh Day Adventist church, and at a prayer meeting a friend, Cherry, did just that. She told me to look up Hebrews 4. Please read the whole chapter to put it into context. Hebrews 4:7 says, “Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today.” Suddenly the Holy Spirit brought all of my doubts and confusion to my mind and made them clear. God does not want us for just one day, our Sabbath rest is in Jesus 24/7. My confusion about the old and new covenants and what was buried at the cross all started to make sense. Friends, I encourage you to read these studies and as you read, please clear your mind of old teachings. Everything here is backed by scripture and research.

I no longer have to match scripture to what I have been taught.  I am a blood bought Christian and I believe in the Word of God. In John 8:31 & 32, Jesus says, “…If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and truth will set you free.” I praise God daily for He has set me free.