By God’s grace, the majority of the gospel workers – ministers, elders, Bible workers – of the European Region were able to get together for a seminar on Bible doctrine held in Porumbacu, Sibiu, Romania, from 29th of October to the 4th of November. During this week, we deeply felt the presence and the blessing of God through the topics presented, the brotherly fellowship, and the beautiful natural ambient of the Campus which hosted the event.
The theme of the seminar was the very important subject that should engulf all our attention and interest concerning our salvation, the subject of all subjects: “Christ our Righteousness”, the truth that will prepare a people, ready for the soon coming of our dear Savior.
The topics were presented by Brother Davi Paes Silva, the President of the General Conference, and Brother Peter Lausevic, the first Vice President. We were privileged as well with some medical topics presented by Brother Dragan Ivanov, the GC Medical Missionary Department Director and Brother Emil Barbu, his assistant in this Department.
Brother Silva's presentations were based on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans accompanied with texts from the Spirit of Prophecy, in which the inspired Word of God unveils the precious truth on righteousness by faith. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’,” (Romans 1:16-17).
“In his epistle to the Romans, Paul set forth the great principles of the gospel. He stated his position on the questions which were agitating the Jewish and the Gentile churches, and showed that the hopes and promises which had once belonged especially to the Jews were now offered to the Gentiles also.
"With great clearness and power the apostle presented the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ. He hoped that other churches also might be helped by the instruction sent to the Christians at Rome; but how dimly could he foresee the far-reaching influence of his words! Through all the ages the great truth of justification by faith has stood as a mighty beacon to guide repentant sinners into the way of life. It was this light that scattered the darkness which enveloped Luther's mind and revealed to him the power of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin. The same light has guided thousands of sin-burdened souls to the true Source of pardon and peace. For the epistle to the church at Rome, every Christian has reason to thank God,” {AA 373}.
“The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure,” {TM 91.2}.
Brother Peter Lausevic’s presentation “Married to Christ” brought to attention the beautiful biblical comparison between the marriage of a man with his wife and the “marriage” of Christ with the believer. “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God,” (Romans 7:1-4).
“Every association we form, however limited, exerts some influence upon us. The extent to which we yield to that influence will be determined by the degree of intimacy, the constancy of the intercourse, and our love and veneration for the one with whom we associate,” {5T 222.4}.
As the husband becomes one with his wife, sharing the same spirit as they associate together along their life, the more time we spend with Jesus, the more we become like Him. “Thus by acquaintance and association with Christ we may become like Him, the one faultless Example,” {5T 222.4}. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” (2 Peter 1:4). The “new birth” (John 3:3.5) is bringing this partaking to the divine nature
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Rom 6:16) “The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship.” (DA 189.2) “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 Joh 3:7) This means to have a character like the Lord Jesus'.
Besides the spiritual topics, we enjoyed important talks on the medical field, presented by the brethren Dragan Ivanov and Emil Barbu, like: “The Open Windows to Heaven”, “The Benefits of Autophagy”, “The Resurrection and Reincarnation in the Light of God’s Word”. As Gospel workers busy in serving people, we have to take care of our own health and treat it as a valuable talent, so that both our spiritual and physical health level will be as high as possible and as close as possible to the Lord’s will for us!
After the presentations, time was allotted for written or verbal questions, through which we gained a better understanding of various aspects of the precious truths presented.
Every morning and evening worship was an opportunity for the participants to deepen their understanding of the topics of the seminar, as their colleagues, gospel workers of the European Region, presented meditations from God’s Word.
On Sabbath, brethren from the neighboring churches, some of them from longer distances, joined the seminar attendees to study the Word of God and to participate in the praise and experiences program of the afternoon. On Sunday, the seminar ended under the special blessing of the Lord, and the workers left to their respective homes and missionary fields.
We thank the Lord for every moment spent at this event, and may He bless that everyone present, together with the entire people of God may accept with their whole heart this all-important message of justification by faith! And under the power of the Holy Spirit may He help us all to proclaim this saving message to all the corners of the world so that when the Lord will come, may He give us the great joy to continue with Him in His Holy Kingdom forever!