The Advent Christian Lane on the Highway of Christ
Feature by Pastor Brad Rigney
I am sure that all of us have had the experience of driving on a multilane highway. I am used to traveling on freeways in large cities. In fact, within two miles from where I currently live, I can get on four interstate freeways: The I-5, I-8, I-805 and I-15. Each of these has up to five lanes headed in each direction.
As I think about the Christian faith and our destination to his promised kingdom, I understand Christianity as the Highway of Christ. Jesus himself tells us in John 14:6, that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
This analogy of Christianity being the highway for us to know God and have eternal life helps us to grasp the truth versus the popular opinion “that all roads lead to God.” Like driving, if I get on the I-8 and want to go to LA or Washington State – guess what? I will never get there. The I-8 will take me to Florida but not North of San Diego. Jesus said he is the Way, no one comes to the Father accept through him. The Highway of Christ is the only highway that leads to God and eternal life with him in his kingdom.
The importance of being on the Highway of Christ is therefore essential. Those who are on this highway believe in Jesus as Lord and hold to the essential teachings that make up Christianity: The Bible is the Word of God, God is Creator, sent his Son, Jesus, and because of his love, he became the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through faith and by grace we can be saved: forgiven, become a new creation and receive the gift of eternal life. This same Jesus is coming back to judge all people and establish the kingdom of God for all those who believe, as his church: his bride. Any other beliefs may be on some type of spiritual highway, but it is not the Highway of Christ and doesn’t lead to the same destination.
The Advent Christian Lane
Now on this Highway of Christ, there are many lanes. Those on this highway trust in Jesus as Lord and believe in the essential tenants of Christianity. Yet, there are some differences – even as there are differences in each lane on a highway. The Advent Christian Church is in one of the lanes on his highway. We hold the essential teachings of Christianity. However, there are some ways that we understand Scripture that may differ from other Christians on this highway. We are headed in the same direction and on the same highway, but in a different lane. I want to share with you the Advent Christian view as declared in Article IV of our Declaration of Principles. Here is the article for us to consider, even as it may differ from other Christian views in another lane:
Let’s understand the two areas that are described in this article:
- That when a person (Christian or not) dies, they are in a state of unconsciousness or sleep until Jesus returns and they are resurrected. This means that when a loved one dies they don’t immediately go to heaven. Why would Jesus say he has to come back to get us if we are already there (John 14:1-3)? This is why in Scripture death is most often referred to as sleep. Jesus himself used this term with Lazarus and others who died. It is why Jesus’s second coming is so vital and why Jesus’s resurrection is the first-fruits for those who believe. Death is an enemy, Christ’s coming to resurrect us, is our hope.
- That for those who reject Jesus as Lord, their names are not written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-15), they will be cast into the lake of fire to perish (John 3:16), to be punished with everlasting destruction. They will receive the second death (Revelation 20:14) and be consumed (Hebrews 12:28). They will not be tormented for eternity.
Now these two teachings may sound different from what you have heard or been taught. But before you dismiss this teaching, let’s consider the biblical foundation.
The Biblical Foundation for Article IV
The foundation for this biblical teaching stems from the creation of Adam. We read in Genesis 2:7, “The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground (a body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit), and the man became a living being (literally, “soul” – Nephesh).”
Here we learn that God didn’t create mankind with a soul but created them as a soul. So, what happens when we die? Scripture teaches that the breath of life (spirit) returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Without the breath of life, we are no longer a “living soul,” but rather, a dead soul or as Scripture depicts, a “sleeping soul.” And the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
This foundation is further expounded upon when we study the word “immortality.” As you read 1 Timothy 1:17 and 6:15-16, you find that only God is immortal. In Romans 2:7, we are taught that man seeks immortality.
What can we conclude from this biblical foundation? That there is nothing within us as human beings that is immortal, for only God is immortal. Although, some believe that every person has an immortal soul, Scripture doesn’t support such a view. This view is believed to have risen from Greek philosophy, which provided roots for our culture today.
Therefore, if we do not have an immortal soul, then what happens at death? We are no longer a living a soul, but a sleeping soul! We know nothing and our only hope for eternal life is to trust in the only One who has immortality: the Lord. Like Jesus who was raised from the dead, our resurrection will be similar. We will be awakened, with a new resurrected body and receive eternal life through our faith in Jesus as Lord.
However, if we rejected Jesus as Lord, we will be raised from the dead only to be cast into the lake of fire for the second death. We will perish, that is, be punished with everlasting destruction. We will cease to exist. No do-overs; no reincarnation; no eternal torment. Our God is a righteous, holy, and just God. Yet, he is a loving and merciful God too. The punishment is not to be tormented, but to be separated from God forever – to die and never live.
Significance of this Biblical Teaching
- God loves us and desires to save our total beings. Because we are souls rather than just having souls, the Lord loves and cares about every aspect of our lives: spiritually – but also physically, emotionally, intellectually. Our response is the Great Commandment: Love the Lord our God with all our strength, mind, heart and soul.
- The focus of this teaching is on God, not us. Life and eternal life are completely and only from God. There is nothing innate within or natural about us that possesses immortality. God calls death an enemy and the means for life and eternal life, is only found in Jesus our Lord.
- Our dilemma in this life is not where we will spend eternity but if we will live for eternity.
- When a loved one dies, there is comfort in knowing that he/she is sleeping, resting in the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). We may feel good thinking that a loved one is watching over us from heaven to see the joys of life and special occasions, etc. However, have we thought about the pain of a loved one seeing us go through hardships, breakups, sufferings? How could that be heavenly, to watch your loved ones go through such calamities of life and unable to help them? Instead, there is comfort that death brings rest in God’s loving care until resurrection.
- This biblical teaching shuts the door for Satan to mislead and deceive us. We are able to discern the deception from the beliefs that wandering “souls” are seeking revenge, or reincarnated into another person, etc. Deuteronomy 18 strictly forbids us from the practices of sorcery, witchcraft, mediums, etc. If we do not naturally have an immortal soul, there is no soul to encounter.
- This doctrine motivates us to minister to people in a holistic manner. We are not seeking to save a person’s “soul” as some spiritual part of him, but to bring the gospel to him by loving and caring for him as a total person. That is why Jesus and the Scriptures call us to “do unto the least of these as unto Jesus” (Matthew 25); to care for the poor, disenfranchised, the widow, the orphan, the abused, the captives, etc. We can’t divide people up by thinking we are to save their souls, but rather how we can be used by God to save them as souls.
So now you understand Article IV of the Advent Christian Declaration of Principles. I am proud to be an Advent Christian and to have served in our denomination for about 35 years now. We can be confident that we are a people centered on the Lord and his Word, even as we move in a different lane than other Christian denominations. I pray that we will learn and seek God’s truth in all matters for our lives, our churches and our ministries. Let’s press on to what the Lord Jesus has called us to be and do (Philippians 3:12-14). As we travel on this Highway of Christ, let us continue to love and serve the Lord as we keep our eyes open to those who are not on this highway. May God use us to love them, serve them and present to them the gospel so they can come to Jesus and travel with us as Advent Christians on this Highway of Christ. May we believe that the Lord is the only one who can grant life, and eternal life.
Brad Rigney has been a full-time Advent Christian pastor since 1988. He began his studies while in the Navy but completed his formal studies by graduating from Azusa Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree in Theology. He currently serves as pastor at North Park Community Church in San Diego, CA, where he has served since 2003.
Brad Rigney, “The Advent Christian Lane on the Highway of Christ,” The Advent Christian Witness, Spring 2022