Twilight Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 The topic of the "Merits" of Christ, was the keynote fundamental truth that became an issue at the 1888 Conference (as my understanding goes). But the question often asked is: "What exactly ARE the "merits" of Christ"? Simple answer: Christ's perfect works... Your thoughts? Mark :-) PS These perfect "works" become the "threads and" "weave" for the "Robe of Righteousness" which is imparted to us. Quote The best wisdom is always second hand...
Guest Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 The merits of Christ, not our merits, is our only hope of gaining heaven. Remission of sins can be obtained only through the merits of Christ. {DA 806.3} Quote
Moderators John317 Posted August 12, 2009 Moderators Posted August 12, 2009 Christ's perfect robe of righteousness is both imputed and imparted to us. In other words, genuine justification-- having the perfect righteousness of Christ put to our account, or being declared righteous-- actually changes us so that we become more like Christ. Justification affects our lives and is not a static truth. It results in the process of sanctification. If it doesn't, it's not genuine. This is one area in which the 1888 Message as taught by Ellen White, E.J. Waggoner and A.T. Jones was different from the view of righteousness by faith that the 16th century Reformers taught. Waggoner wrote in 1893: "Being justified by faith, then, is simply being made a doer of the law by faith.... What the law cannot do, the grace of God does. It justifies a man.... It does not mean that He glosses over a man's faults, so that that man is counted righteous, although he is really wicked; but it means that He makes that man a doer of the law. The moment God declares an ungodly man righteous, that instant that man is a doer of the law... It will be seen, therefore, that there can be no higher state than that of justification [by faith]. It does everything that God can do for a man short of making him immortal, which is done only at the resurrection." (Signs of the Times, 1893) Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Woody Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Quote: All legalism, all the sorrow and woe by which you may encompass yourself, will not give you one moment of relief. You cannot rightly estimate sin. You must accept God's estimate, and it is heavy indeed. If you bore the guilt of your sin, it would crush you; but the sinless One has taken your place, and though undeserving, He has borne your guilt. By accepting the provision God has made, you may stand free before Him in the merit and virtue of your Substitute. {BEcho, July 2, 1894 par. 3} Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Â
skyblue888 Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Great topic Mark. Yes it was the keynote of the 1888 message but sadly it was rejected. See 1 S.M.234,235; T.M.96,97. If someone is given a badge on which are inscribed the words, "Merit For Service Award" for, lets say, rescuing someone from imminent death, we don't usually ask, What are His merits? We take it for granted right away that the good deed of that man is meritorious simply because in our eyes it has value and the man is honored according to the merits of that good deed. The more value the "good deed" is attributed the more merits it has and the man is honored accordingly. How much more the sacrifice of Christ!!! Who can measure the infinity of that sacrifice? It is so great that we are to hold in abomination all other merits save those of Jesus!!! See G.C.221. The value of Christ's sacrifice is beyond estimate because it was the life of God in His Son that was poured out for us on Calvary's cross. See F.W.22; D.A.660. So the merits of Christ are as infinite as His sacrifice was and the Good News (stupendous news) is that all His merits are open to fallen man, presented to him as a gift to be appropriated by faith. Whether we appreciate this stupendous gift or not, it is still the truth that "Jesus was treated as we deserve (according to our demerits) that we might be treated as He deserves (according to His merits)." D.A.25. Therefore we read, "The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour: which appropriates His merits to ourselves." Desire of Ages, p.347. *parenthesis mine The blessing of the Gospel of Christ is bestowed according to His merits. Are there anyone among us who are able to fathom the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of the merits of Christ? Yet this is the treasure that we, through our connection with Him, are to receive, to reveal, and to impart. It is our privilege to claim the merits of that infinite sacrifice for ourselves and then invite others to do the same. As the merits of Christ are appropriated by faith, the gift that is worthy of Christ's greatness and Majesty is bestowed. It is the gift that cannot be excelled and which brings all other blessings in its train: the Third Person of the Godhead coming with no modified energy but in the fullness of divine light and love and power! See Eph.3:19; P.K.596; Bible Commentary, Vol.7a, p.277. By the way, this is the only way sin can be resisted! See D.A.671. Since it is the good pleasure of the Father to treat the needy suppliant (the poor in spirit) according to the merits of His Son, it follows then that not only does the Father clothes him with the glistening vesture of Christ's righteousness but He honors him and glorifies him and loves him as He loves Jesus. See F.W.101. So I believe the question should be, What is the value of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross? It is infinite. Therefore the merits of that shed blood are in proportion to the value of the sacrifice that was made and by whom it was made. Jesus was God in the highest sense and the Father was in Him reconciling the world unto Himself!!! As the suppliant comes to God claiming the merits of that sacrifice on a daily basis, Christ places His own merits upon him and thus elevates him in the scales of moral value with God! In other words he is made a partaker of Christ's nature, a nature far above that which Adam and Eve forfeited by transgression. Then He sits with Christ by faith at the right hand of the Majesty on High, clothed with the full armour of light and he becomes impregnable to the assaults of Satan. See D.A.324, A.A.11. In other words, he is enabled to keep every precept of the law of God for Christ's righteousness is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. See T.M.92. "The storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it? Are we one with Christ as He is one with the Father?" Review and Herald, Vol.4,242. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Moderators John317 Posted August 12, 2009 Moderators Posted August 12, 2009 Since it is the good pleasure of the Father to treat the needy suppliant (the poor in spirit) according to the merits of His Son, it follows then that not only does the Father clothes him with the glistening vesture of Christ's righteousness but He honors him and glorifies him and loves him as He loves Jesus. See F.W.101. As the suppliant comes to God claiming the merits of that sacrifice on a daily basis, Christ places His own merits upon him and thus elevates him in the scales of moral value with God! In other words he is made a partaker of Christ's nature, a nature far above that which Adam and Eve forfeited by transgression. Then He sits with Christ by faith at the right hand of the Majesty on High, clothed with the full armour of light and he becomes impregnable to the assaults of Satan. See D.A.324, A.A.11. Wonderful quotes! I have read them over and over again to get them fixed in my mind. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
skyblue888 Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Originally Posted By: skyblue888 Since it is the good pleasure of the Father to treat the needy suppliant (the poor in spirit) according to the merits of His Son, it follows then that not only does the Father clothes him with the glistening vesture of Christ's righteousness but He honors him and glorifies him and loves him as He loves Jesus. See F.W.101. As the suppliant comes to God claiming the merits of that sacrifice on a daily basis, Christ places His own merits upon him and thus elevates him in the scales of moral value with God! In other words he is made a partaker of Christ's nature, a nature far above that which Adam and Eve forfeited by transgression. Then He sits with Christ by faith at the right hand of the Majesty on High, clothed with the full armour of light and he becomes impregnable to the assaults of Satan. See D.A.324, A.A.11. Wonderful quotes! I have read them over and over again to get them fixed in my mind. Thanks John317! Praise God! The one that says that Jesus places His own merits upon us and thus elevates us in the scales of moral value with God is found in the devotional book Our Father Cares, p.121 and the other one about becoming partakers of Christ's nature, a nature far above that which Adam and Eve forfeited by transgression is found in the devotional book The Upward Look, p.18, first parg. These statements are paraphrases of 1 Cor.15:47-49. God bless, sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Woody Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Quote: Perfection through our own good works we can never attain. The soul who sees Jesus by faith, repudiates his own righteousness. He sees himself as incomplete, his repentance insufficient, his strongest faith but feebleness, his most costly sacrifice as meager, and he sinks in humility at the foot of the cross. But a voice speaks to him from the oracles of God's word. In amazement he hears the message, "Ye are complete in him". Now all is at rest in his soul. No longer must he strive to find some worthiness in himself, some meritorious deed by which to gain the favor of God. {ST, July 4, 1892 par. 8} Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Â
Woody Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Quote: "Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit. He tells them to abide in Him." DA 677 Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Â
Robert Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 These perfect "works" become the "threads and" "weave" for the "Robe of Righteousness" which is imparted to us. "Oh that will be glory for me..glory for me...glory for me...." Song sound familiar? That's what a lot of SDA think they will be singing....Wow, the flesh wants that credit....It loves the white hot spot light....It's bent to self....Me, me, me....Well the gospel is "Not I, but Christ".... The word "Imparted" means what Christ does thru me....If that's the robe you have a problem because as nice as growth is, we are coming up short....So what the legalists do is break it down like so: Christ's imputed righteousness makes up for my shortcomings where my works, Christ's imparted righteousness, is the other part....So it's what He did 2000 years ago PLUS what He does in me now. That's heresy!!!! That's traditional, historic, Adventism in a nutshell. We are saved totally by the imputed righteousness of Christ....What does EGW say about the robe? "Not one thread of human devising"....It's all Christ...It's all His righteousness from what He did in our humanity 2000 years ago.... Rob Quote
Robert Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Christ's perfect robe of righteousness is both imputed and imparted to us. Hellish heresy.... Quote
Robert Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 "Ye are complete in him". Where's the "imparted" righteousness in the above? Good quote, Redwood! Quote
skyblue888 Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 To be complete in Him means that the same fullness that dwelt in Him dwells in us by faith in His merits. Rom.3:25; Eph.3:19. This is imparted righteousness. Just another way of saying that we become partakers of the divine nature that we may overcome as He overcame. 2 Peter 1:4. The Lord Himself has given the command: "Be filled with the Spirit." (Eph.5:18) and this command is also a promise of its fulfilment. It was the good pleasure of the Father that in Christ should "all the fullness dwell" and in Him we are made full. See M.B.21. The Holy Spirit prayed that Christ might dwell in our hearts by faith that we might be filled with all the fullness of God! See Eph.3:14-19. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Robert Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Originally Posted By: Redwood "Ye are complete in him". Where's the "imparted" righteousness in the above? Good quote, Redwood! So, what does Christ do with our works in the judgment? Do they save? No! First, why is there a judgement? Because there's an accuser! He [satan] correctly tells God that He doesn't have a right to take believing sinners to heaven. So what does God do? Does He look to see how good believers are (imparted righteousness)? No! He examines the works to see if He is the source of the fruits because the believer is standing on the Rock Jesus Christ for his assurance and salvation. In other words when one is depending on the imputed righteousness of Christ for his ticket to heaven the imparted righteousness will be genuine. Once Christ establishes this He can tell Satan, “This person’s faith is in Me and in Me he stands complete (imputed righteousness). So God looks at the source of your works to prove, not your righteousness, but your faith. Then He presents you perfect in His imputed righteousness! So the important thing is where are your works coming from? Are they an attempt to help Christ save you (imparted + imputed), or are you depending solely on Christ’s imputed righteousness? If so, your imparted fruits will be genuine because they’ll be free of any iniquity…. You see if I don’t have assurance in Christ’s imputed righteousness all my works will be egocentric because I am depending on those works [imparted works] to some how save me….Such works will be void of the Spirit and hence self-righteous works (even if we claim they come from God). They will prove the so called believer’s faith is not fully in Christ, but partially in what Christ does in the believer….Such will be condemned because their faith was partially in their surrender/works…..It's called self-righteousness.... Quote
Robert Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 HEY ALL WOULD the merits of JESUS CHRIST be HIS character dgrimm60 Oh boy... Quote
skyblue888 Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 It is the merits of His shed blood, the merits of His infinite sacrifice. The all-sufficient merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36. It is our privilege to claim the merits of Christ in order to bring His righteousness--character, love--into the life and His righteousness is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. "Righteousness is love and love is the light and the life of God." M.B.18. "Present your case before God pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary's cross." Faith and Works, 106. "Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." 5 T 744. In the book Faith and Works, p.65, it speaks there of "the faith that lays right hold upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour to bring Christ's righteousness into your life." On page 27 it says there that "His righteousness accomplishes everything." On page 24 it says there that "The Lord imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the penitence, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins in presenting His righteousness for man to grasp by living faith." Then on page 64 it says there that "living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour..." In testimonies to Ministers, p.92, it says there that the eyes of the people needed to be directed to Jesus, to His divine person, to His merits, in order to bring His righteousness into the life and His righteousness is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. On page 93 of Testimonies to Ministers, it says there that we cannot be saved unless we make it our lfe business to look to Christ and to accept His merits which it is our privilege to claim. As we claim the merits of Jesus, every command becomes a promise, a most positive promise of its own fulfilment. "Although we have no merit in ourselves, in the great goodness and love of God we are rewarded as if the merit were our own. When we have done all the good we can possibly do, we are still unprofitable servants. We have done only what was our duty. What we have accomplished has been wrought solely through the grace of Christ, and no reward is due to us from God on the ground of our merit. But through the merit of our Saviour, every promise that God has made will be fulfilled, and every man will be rewarded according to his deeds." {RH, June 27, 1893 par. 15} sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Robert Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 You are making EGW the measuring stick of truth....Go use Paul....He is part of the Bible, not Ellen.... Quote
Moderators John317 Posted August 13, 2009 Moderators Posted August 13, 2009 Originally Posted By: Redwood "Ye are complete in him". Where's the "imparted" righteousness in the above? Good quote, Redwood! AS long as you are quoting Ellen White, she plainly teaches that the robe of Christ's righteousness includes the "imparted righteousness" of Christ. "It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is IMPARTED to all who receive Him as their personal Savior." COL 310. Read the entire chapter. You may think it is "heresy" but at least you will know what she wrote. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
skyblue888 Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 You are making EGW the measuring stick of truth....Go use Paul....He is part of the Bible, not Ellen.... The apostle Paul taught the same exactly. Through faith in the merits of Christ's shed blood (Rom.3:25) Paul prayed by the Holy Spirit that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith that we may be filled with all the fullness of God! Eph.3:14-19. This is the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ Paul speaks of in Rom.15:29. Paul said, "I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor.15:8,10. The fullness of the grace of the Holy Spirit is the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, the Holy Spirit coming with no modified energy but in the fullness of divine light and love and power. This is the grace which was at work in the apostle Paul and in Jesus of Nazareth. This is the command of the everlasting God for obedience to the faith: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Romans 16:24-26. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." 1 Thess.5:28. "And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. See 1 Tim.2:14. This is the grace that was upon the apostles at Pentecost. "Great grace was upon them all." Acts 4:33. Rob, since I have known you, you have been quoting from the writings of Ellen White left and right!!! Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
skyblue888 Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 HEY ROBERT the only merit we as followers of JESUS have is HIS character which is given to us by the HOLY SPIRIT dgrimm60 "Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." 5 T 744. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
skyblue888 Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 better believe it,,, i don't know anyone who quotes as much from her writings as Rob does! Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Guest Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 But yesterday somebody asked if he knew more than EGW and he said yes. Quote
Moderators John317 Posted August 13, 2009 Moderators Posted August 13, 2009 Originally Posted By: Robert You are making EGW the measuring stick of truth....Go use Paul....He is part of the Bible, not Ellen.... Rob, since I have known you, you have been quoting from the writings of Ellen White left and right!!! Yeah but that's only when she's right & agrees with him. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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