The Heart of the 1888 Message

[Guest]

Ten Unique, Essential Ideas

1. Christ’s sacrifice is not merely provisional but it is effective for the whole world.

He finished the work the Father gave Him to do. His mission was successful. The only reason anyone can be lost at last is that he has chosen to resist the saving grace of God. Salvation is by faith; condemnation is only by personal unbelief (or anti-faith).

2. Thus Christ’s sacrifice has literally saved the world from premature destruction and has legally justified the entire human race.When the sinner hears and believes this pure gospel, he experiences justification by faith . By their unbelief, the lost deliberately negate the justification Christ has already effected for them and has given them.

3. Thus, true justification by faith is always a change of heart.

It is, therefore, much more than a legal declaration of acquittal; it makes the believer to become obedient to all the commandments of God.

4. This marvelous work is accomplished through the ministry of the new covenant.The Lord actually writes His law in the heart of the believer. Under the new covenant, the Ten Commandments become ten promises of complete victory over sin. This new motivation transcends the egocentric one of fear of being lost or of hope of reward in being saved. Abraham’s faith enabled him to live under the new covenant, while multitudes today live under the old covenant because self-centered concern is their motivation. The old covenant was the promise of the people to be faithful; under the new covenant salvation comes by believing God’s promise to enable us to obey, not by our making promisesto Him which by their very nature are vain.

5. God’s love is active, not passive. As Good Shepherd, Christ continually seeks His lost sheep. Salvation does not depend on the lost sheep seeking the Shepherd, or the lost coin its owner, but on our believing that He is seeking us. Such faith motivates us to yield our all to Him.

6. It is difficult to be lost and it is easy to be saved if one understands and believes how good the gospel Good News is.A constant resisting of His grace is laborious sin. Since Christ has already paid the penalty for every one’s sin, the only reason anyone can be condemned at last is continued, persistent unbelief, which is a refusal to appreciate the redemption accomplished by Christ on His cross. The true gospel unveils this unbelief and leads to an effective repentance that prepares the believer for the close of probation.

7. In seeking lost mankind, Christ came all the way to where we are, taking upon Himself and assuming the fallen, sinful nature of man after the Fall.

This He did that He might save the human race. He must be tempted in all points like as we are yet demonstrate perfect righteousness “in the likeness of [our] sinful flesh.” “The message of Christ’s righteousness” is rooted in this unique view of the nearness of Christ. The contrary teaching that Christ took the sinless nature of Adam before the Fall is a legacy of Roman Catholicism, the insignia of the doctrine which keeps Him “afar off” and “not nigh at hand.”

8. Our Savior “condemned sin in the flesh” of fallen mankind.This means that He has outlawed sin, conquered it forever. In the light of the cross, the devil cannot force anyone to sin. To be truly “human” is to be Christ-like in character, for He was and is truly human as well as truly divine.

9. The only element God’s people need in order to prepare for Christ’s return is genuine faith which works by love.

Righteousness is by faith; it is impossible to have faith and not demonstrate righteousness in the life, because true faith works by love. Moral and spiritual failures are the fruit of perpetuating Israel’s ancient sin of unbelief today through the confusion of a false righteousness by faith.

10. Righteousness by faith since 1844 has become “the third angel’s message in verity.”

Thus it is greater light than what the Reformers could see and what the popular churches can understand today. It is a message of much more abounding grace consistent with the unique understanding of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. It is a work contingent on the full cleansing of the hearts of God’s people on earth, which the High Priest is accomplishing for all who let Him do so.

[Woody]

Praise God we have Salvation by Faith.

[BobRyan]

The issue of victory over sin had to be the same for Enoch as it was for Paul.

In Romans 8 we have the statement that victory over sinning is in the form of "by the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the flesh".

The question I guess I am asking is "what changed" in 1844 or 1888 regarding victory over sin?

Nothing?

Think about what was the new aspect to Righteousness by Faith introduced in 1888 that would have been news to all those other Christian faith's preaching Righteousness by Faith since the 1700's?

Ellen White says that the 3rd angel's message is the Justification by Faith in verity. What part of the 3rd Angel's message? She also says that the whole Gospel is entailed in the 3rd angel's message.

in Christ,

Bob

[Guest]

Did you read all ten?

All those other "Christian faiths" have never believed that Jesus took on our sinful nature. They believed, and still do, that he took on the nature of Adam before the fall.

7. In seeking lost mankind, Christ came all the way to where we are, taking upon Himself and assuming the fallen, sinful nature of man after the Fall.This He did that He might save the human race. He must be tempted in all points like as we are yet demonstrate perfect righteousness “in the likeness of [our] sinful flesh.” “The message of Christ’s righteousness” is rooted in this unique view of the nearness of Christ. The contrary teaching that Christ took the sinless nature of Adam before the Fall is a legacy of Roman Catholicism, the insignia of the doctrine which keeps Him “afar off” and “not nigh at hand.”

[John317]

Is there a significant difference between the 1888 Message and the message that Luther and other leaders of the Reformation taught over 300 years before?

[Guest]

Most definately. They didn't have the understanding of the Sanctuary.

The much deeper understanding is the difference. The understanding they had was fine for that time, but now we need the bigger picture.

Righteousness by faith since 1844 has become “the third angel’s message in verity.”

Thus it is greater light than what the Reformers could see and what the popular churches can understand today. It is a message of much more abounding grace consistent with the unique understanding of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. It is a work contingent on the full cleansing of the hearts of God’s people on earth, which the High Priest is accomplishing for all who let Him do so.

[Guest]

Also they did not have the Sabbath truth.

[skyblue888]

Richard, your opening post reminds me of the position of the 1888 Message Study Committee. I noticed that there is not one word about the merits of Christ. Isn't that amazing? The heart and essence of the 1888 message centered around the necessity of appropriating to ourselves the all-sufficient merits of Jesus IN ORDER TO bring His righteousness into the life so that the people of God might be enabled to keep the commandments.

Mrs. White made that forever clear when she spoke of that message, that by laying right hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour His righteousness was brought into the life. See F.W.65,66. And then we will not depend upon what we can do or what we will do for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything (see again F.W.66 and 27), for His righteousness is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. See F.W.66 and T.M.92.

Again in the context of the 1888 message she declared that unless we make it our life business to behold the uplifted Saviour and accept His merits which it is our privilege to claim, we cannot be saved, that is, we cannot be pardoned, justified or sanctified. See T.M.93.

This is the 1888 message in a nutshell.

Why do we hesitate talking about the merits of Christ? Mrs. White stated that His merits were the remedy provided for sin and yet we don't talk about it. "Faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin." F.W.101.

Why is it the remedy provided for sin? Because as we lay hold upon them by faith on a daily basis, we are clothed with the robe of His righteousness that we may go on from strength to strength and from victory to victory!

sky

*"The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour: which appropriates His merits to ourselves." D.A.347.

Thus we must daily apply to the merits of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use. See F.W.86.

[Woody]

Quote:

Why is it the remedy provided for sin?

It is the remedy because Jesus took our place. He answered the curse of the law so that the curse of sin no longer applies for those In Him.

[Guest]

3. Thus, true justification by faith is always a change of heart.

It is, therefore, much more than a legal declaration of acquittal; it makes the believer to become obedient to all the commandments of God.

You can't have justification by faith without the merits of Christ. That is understood.

[Woody]

3. Thus, true justification by faith is always a change of heart.

It is, therefore, much more than a legal declaration of acquittal; it makes the believer to become obedient to all the commandments of God.

You can't have justification by faith without the merits of Christ. That is understood.

Salvation by Faith is just that ... Salvation by Faith. Our prophet clearly indicates that we will continue to sin. The Law has always been applicable. We are to obey the law. That is true before we are justified and after. But both before and after ... we will continue to sin. The curse of the Law has been removed for those IN Christ however.

[skyblue888]

Quote:

Why is it the remedy provided for sin?

It is the remedy because Jesus took our place. He answered the curse of the law so that the curse of sin no longer applies for those In Him.

Jesus did not take our place so that we would be free to continue to transgress the law of God. Transgression is what brought the curse in the first place. But by appropriating His merits to ourselves we recieve power, the Third Person of the Godhead, coming with no modified energy but in the fulness of divine power to keep us from sinning, enabling us to keep all the commandments of God. The religion of Christ means much more than the forgiveness of sin. See D.A.671.

When the Holy Spirit is poured out in latter rain power the seed of the character of Christ in the people of God will be brought to perfection and then probation will close.

Thus the merits of Christ will have been shown to be the remedy provided for sin.

sky

[Guest]

Our prophet clearly indicates that we will continue to sin..

Please show where she clearly indicates this.

[Woody]

Quote:

Jesus did not take our place so that we would be free to continue to transgress the law of God.

Jesus came not to destroy the Law ... but to fulfill. We are to obey the Law clearly. But when we fail ... we have an advocate who forgives and takes our place.

[Guest]

Please show where she clearly indicates that we will continue to sin.

[Woody]

It's like talkin' to a brick wall. Some times one gets worn out when this happens. I just ain't got the stomach to do it.

[skyblue888]

Quote:

Jesus did not take our place so that we would be free to continue to transgress the law of God.

Jesus came not to destroy the Law ... but to fulfill. We are to obey the Law clearly. But when we fail ... we have an advocate who forgives and takes our place.

This is true but we are still falling short every time we fall. The advent message through the sanctuary doctrine is that God will perfect a people before Jesus can return. This means that God's people, in spite of their sinful natures, must come to the place where they cease to sin. He has provided that through the merits of Christ we may overcome as He overcame.

"As we behold Christ, pierced for our sins, we shall see that we cannot break the law and remain in His favor; we shall feel that as sinners we must lay hold of the merits of Christ and cease to sin. Then we are drawing nigh to God." 1 S.M.312.

"Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty Agency of Third Person of the Godhead who would come with no modified energy but in the fullness of divine power." D.A.671.

"He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning." D.A.311.

It is true that if we fall we have an Advocate who is faithful to forgive us our sins if we confess them and He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Thank God for that. But the aim is to cease from sin through the merits of Christ by the power of the Third Person of the Godhead. This is an end-time issue which needs to be brought to the front because the end of the controversy between Christ and Satan hangs upon our understanding it. We cannot receive the latter rain unless we have the victory over every sin and besetment that the Holy Spirit brings to our consciousness.

sky

[Guest]

It's like talkin' to a brick wall. Some times one gets worn out when this happens. I just ain't got the stomach to do it.

You don't have the stomach to supply a quote?

It's because there is no such quote.

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: Redwood

It's like talkin' to a brick wall. Some times one gets worn out when this happens. I just ain't got the stomach to do it.

You don't have the stomach to supply a quote?

It's because there is no such quote.

Amen!

[Woody]

Not to one who has been set in his mind with preconceived notions about what our prophet is saying. One needs to compare ALL that she wrote and not just out of context quotes.

[Guest]

Then by all means put it in context for us and straighten us out.

You are here posting, why not?

[skyblue888]

Not to one who has been set in his mind with preconceived notions about what our prophet is saying. One needs to compare ALL that she wrote and not just out of context quotes.

Then show us how the following quotes are taken out of context then:

"As we behold Christ, pierced for our sins, we shall see that we cannot break the law and remain in His favor; we shall feel that as sinners we must lay hold of the merits of Christ and cease to sin. Then we are drawing nigh to God." 1 S.M.312.

"Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty Agency of Third Person of the Godhead who would come with no modified energy but in the fullness of divine power." D.A.671.

"He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning." D.A.311.

sky

[skyblue888]

"We are preparing to meet Him who, escorted by a retinue of holy angels, is to appear in the clouds of heaven to give the faithful and just the fnishing work of immortality. When He comes He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time. When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give them holy characters. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refining process and remove their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us." Testimonies, Vol.2, p.355

How can anyone read this quote and not understand the context? Our characters are to be transformed, cleansed, changed in these hours of probation, not at the coming of Christ. Is that clear?

sky

[Woody]

These quotes are all well and good. I have no disagreement with them when properly understood. We are to stop sinning. Christ came not to destroy but to fulfill the Law. It is the curse of the Law that was fulfilled In Christ. We are to obey but when we sin we have an advocate with the Father.

And what helps to keep us from sinning? The Holy Spirit.

[skyblue888]

make up ur mind red hehe