Please judge this message for yourselves

[skyblue888]

If ever anyone presented the 1888 message in clear, distinct lines, it was Ellen White. You are invited to judge for yourselves.

Is it not marvelous that in just a few words, we have here, so simply stated, the true religion, the only religion of the Bible, the latter rain message in clear, distinct lines:

"How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the word of the Lord: There is salvation for you (pardon and peace and joy and righteousness in the Holy Spirit) but only through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offered to you again and again." Testimonies to Ministers, p.97. *parenthesis supplied

But that message was resisted. (1 S.M.234,235) What could have caused resistance to this most precious message?

Here is a clue: "When light begins to shine forth to make clear the plan of redemption to the people, the enemy works with all diligence, that the light may be shut away from the hearts of men." The Review and Herald, Sept.3, p.1889.

These words were penned shortly after the proclamation of the message which God had intended to come to His people as the latter rain message:

"We have been in the time of the latter rain since the Minneapolis meeting." E.G. White, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.377.

How did the enemy succeed in blinding God's people and cause them to reject the simple message of the merits and righteousness of Christ?

The answer to this question is no less simple and clear:

"Men are losing the right way, in consequence of thinking that they must climb to Heaven, that they must do something to merit the favor of God. This they can never accomplish." Letter 22, 1889.

During a morning talk to ministers at the General Conference session held in November 1883, at Battle Creek, Michigan, Mrs. White said:

"We have long desired and tried to obtain the blessings of the covenant of grace but have not received them because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves worhty of them."

In a general manuscript written in 1890, the Lord described His people as being "in a fog of bewilderment."

There were "discussions strenuously advocating creature merit, and each man striving for the supremacy."

They needed "to discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit." The Holy Spirit desired to fix their eyes, instead, upon the merits of a crucified and risen Savior!

In an article of The Review and Herald, November 4, 1890, Mrs. White clarified the issue of righteousness by faith:

"Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin."

I am so amazed at the simplicity of the Gospel of the righteousness of Christ. If somehow this last statement did not do it for you, consider this:

"Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ." Ibid.

Do you see how simple and clear the message of salvation is?

"Bring to God the merits of Christ."

This answered the question, What must I do to be saved?

"Bring to God the merits of Christ."

For the sinner who hungers and thirsts for salvation, God could not have made the plan of redemption more simple and He could not have taught it more clearly.

In fact, in May 11, 1889, Mrs. White wrote:

"The matter of salvation is just as simple as ABC. But we don't understand it." F.W.64.

"Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they may claim His blessing. But these dear souls many claim the blessing even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent." Faith and Works, p.38.

"'Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.' Present your case before God pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary's cross." Faith and Works, p.106.

sky

"We are accepted through Christ's merits alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of love, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merits of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. (Luke 17:10) We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.5, p.1122.

This statement says it all, does it not?

[Musicman1228]

The 1888 message does say it all, and 'all' is a disaster for the SDA church because in it EGW confirms Paul's concept of 'righteousness by faith through grace', which has led our church into lawlessness. This is just one more example of Satan leading our church away from the truth with we had at the beginning, and instead has led the church into taking the easy way to 'salvation', as have all apostate churches that are based in RCC theology. That 'easy way' is the wide path that leads to destruction.

Jesus told us that the world would hate us for knowing and practicing the truth. We have spent years trying to be 'just like them' when it comes to our overall theology of salvation, so that the world won't hate us-and we have succeeded. WE HAVE BECOME JUST LIKE THE WORLD in our understanding of how salvation works; they DO NOT hate us because we are just like them. This is proof positive that we are as a church are on the road that leads to death and destruction. I will no longer be a party to this massive deception. You do what you want, but don't blame God when you are left outside of the marriage feast.

[skyblue888]

Because in it (1888 message) EGW confirms Paul's concept of 'righteousness by faith through grace', which has led our church into lawlessness.

Musicman

______________________

In case you missed it, the grace of the Holy Spirit is offered to us through faith in the merits of Christ (trusting in the merits of Christ for our acceptance with God) and this grace of the Holy Spirit is given to us to help our infirmities so that we may form a Christian character. How can the grace of God lead us into "lawlessness" then? On the contrary the grace of God leads us into law-keeping for as we present ourselves before God trusting wholly in the merits of the blood shed for us upon Calvary's cross, the Holy Spirit brings Christ's righteousness into the life and His righteousness is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

Ellen White herself stated that the 1888 message "invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." Testimonies to Ministers, p.92.

The message was resisted but it is still the truth and nothing but the truth.

sky

[Musicman1228]

What does 'unmerited' mean in the context of 'righteousness by faith'? You mention 'unmerited favor' being granted those who accept the righteousness of Christ as their own, through faith. If it is Christ's righteousness and not our own that brings us salvation then what is the need or demand to 'keep the law' ourselves? Paul clearly states that there is no need to keep the Law/Covenant because Jesus Christ kept it for us, and then Jesus granted us the blessing of this righteousness as our own even though we don't deserve it (unmerited favor).

I know how appealing it is to think that this 'righteousness by faith' will eventually make us desire to obey the Law of God, but if salvation is not predicated on any action on our part human nature is that we will never take that action. Most if not all Christians believe that NO ONE can or ever will be able to keep the Law of God here on this earth because even God through the Holy Spirit does not possess the power to change the stone hearts of humanity to a heart of flesh, thus making it impossible for any human being except Jesus Christ Himself to completely and fully keep the Law of God. And the only reason Jesus was able to keep the Law was that He was God in addition to being human.

And this is EXACTLY RIGHT. No one other than a member of the family of God can possibly keep the Law/Covenant, whether here on earth or in Heaven. But did not Jesus pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven"? The will of God is that we obey Him. If it is impossible to do this then Jesus is a liar and no better than Satan.

We will keep the whole Law when we become 'born' into the family of God and take Their family name. If you now do not keep the Covenant (the 10 Commandments) then you cannot possibly say that you have been 'born again', because everyone that has been 'born again' obeys God by demonstration of the Covenant of the Kingdom of Heaven. By this definition I know of no one today that has actually been 'born again'. We know that this IS going to happen before the end because Jesus said so in Revelation:

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Rev.12:17.

In speaking of the 144,000 Jesus says:

These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Rev.14:4-5.

The Holy Spirit of God DOES work with those that express the desire to be obedient to Him, to lead them into ALL truth. That is why I am confident that before the Great Tribulation begins God will have a people on earth that 'keep the commandments of God, and hold to the testimony of Jesus'.

If you believe in 'righteousness by faith' it will be impossible for you to be one of them. (Ref. the 5 Wise or Foolish Bridesmaids in Matt. 25:1-13.)

[John317]

Paul doesn't teach that believers can be saved while living lawless lives. He teaches clearly that the gospel causes believers to love God and each other-- and that they will have the Holy Spirit in them-- so that they will obey God's commandments. See Romans 6 and 8; and 1 Cor. 6, 7, 9, among others.

What Paul is saying is that people cannot be justified-- or set in right relationship with God-- by works of the law. Why? Because the only work of law that will earn us a right relationship with God is perfect obedience to the law, and no human being has perfectly obeyed the law.

God did not give us the law in order for us to use it as a means of earning salvation or justification. That was never its purpose. It's primary purpose is to show us our need of a Savior-- to make us aware of our desperate need of God's forgiveness and power. Anyone who thinks they can earn salvation or justification by obeying the law has no realistic understanding of their sinfulness.

Christ's perfect life and rightousness (right-doing-ness) is the only obedience that God accepts as deserving of eternal life. We don't have this perfect obedience to offer God. All we have to offer God on our own is our sinfulness. 99.99 % righteousness will not meet the standard of the law. It demands 100% righteousness, and only Christ has this to offer. These are Christ's perfect merits. The merits are His life. We have nothing but Christ's merits-- His absoluttely perfect life-- to offer God.

True, genuine faith/trust in Christ's righteousness-- in His merits-- will be manifested in obedience to the commandments of God. As Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Christ offers to exchange His perfect righteousness for our sinfulness, a gift that is received through genuine faith in Him. And the Investigative Judgment is revealing before the heavenly intellignces who has true faith-- because its evidences, or fruits, are seen in the life of true believers in Jesus.

[skyblue888]

What does 'unmerited' mean in the context of 'righteousness by faith'? You mention 'unmerited favor' being granted those who accept the righteousness of Christ as their own, through faith.

Musicman

___________________

I don't remember talking about "unmerited favor" in my posts but I remember talking about the importance of seeking to gain salvation through the merits of Christ vs the utter worthlessness of creature merit in order to gain Heaven.

Anyway, here is it is in a nutshell:

At the gates of Heaven if the redeemed of the Lord be asked, What right have you to the City? They will reply that they are "unprofitable servants" (Luke 17:10) and that if they walk through the everlasting gates it will be solely on account of the all-sufficient merits of their precious Redeemer. And they will declare that they have done nothing to deserve Heaven. They will say, "Christ did it all" for His righteousness accomplished everything.

Then the Father will say to them, "Enter in, for you the gates are wide open."

sky

But God will reward them as though they had done the good works themselves.

[John317]

The 1888 message does say it all, and 'all' is a disaster for the SDA church because in it EGW confirms Paul's concept of 'righteousness by faith through grace', which has led our church into lawlessness. This is just one more example of Satan leading our church away from the truth with we had at the beginning, and instead has led the church into taking the easy way to 'salvation', as have all apostate churches that are based in RCC theology. That 'easy way' is the wide path that leads to destruction.

This is false. It is based on a perversion of Paul's and Ellen White's writings. What has led people away from the truth and into lawlessness is the false teaching, not the true.

No one who has really studied the writings of Paul and Ellen G. White with understanding can fail to see this. For instance, no one who understands the following statements can possibly say that these two inspired individuals were antinomian in their theology:

Romans 2:5-11

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

[6] He will render to each one according to his works: [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; [8] but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. [9] There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, [10] but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. [11] For God shows no partiality.

1 Cor. 6:9-11

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.

When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing. GC 425

As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses: "Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book." Exodus 32:33. And says the prophet Ezekiel: "When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, . . . all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned." Ezekiel 18:24.

All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isaiah 43:25. Said Jesus: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33. GC 483

[Guest]

MM I see you're back to highjacking other people's threads again. I guess the habit is deeply ingrained since that has been your modus operandi for so long.

Please start your own thread for spewing this kind of nonsense. Just try it. Who knows, you might like it.

[Guest]

What does 'unmerited' mean in the context of 'righteousness by faith'? You mention 'unmerited favor'

No he didn't. Are you so sure you know what others believe, that you don't even bother to read their posts? You're having a one sided conversation.

[Musicman1228]

MM I see you're back to highjacking other people's threads again. I guess the habit is deeply ingrained since that has been your modus operandi for so long.

Please start your own thread for spewing this kind of nonsense. Just try it. Who knows, you might like it.

Remind me never to compliment you again, or try to make peace with you, Richard, because it is obvious that your 'modus operandi' is to castigate anyone you happen to disagree with. I answer questions and give opinions based on my perspective, just as you do. I do not hijack threads. This seems to irk you somehow that you cannot persuade me to your way of thinking no matter how hard you try, and you seem to take this as a personal affront. This is not personal with me, as it should not be personal with you.

As to the 'nonsense' factor; I am not the only one that has a perspective and understanding that others think is nonsense; Jesus faced the same stubborn, stiff necked attitude which you display when He was facing off with the Pharisees. They disliked His theology as much or more than you (obviously) dislike mine. It didn't make it wrong then, and it doesn't make it wrong now to disagree with established doctrine. We all pay our money and make our choice.

God bless you.

[John317]

....Jesus told us that the world would hate us for knowing and practicing the truth. We have spent years trying to be 'just like them' when it comes to our overall theology of salvation, so that the world won't hate us-and we have succeeded. WE HAVE BECOME JUST LIKE THE WORLD in our understanding of how salvation works; they DO NOT hate us because we are just like them.

MM, a lot that you say here is true, but ironically, much that you say is similar to the messsage that Ellen White was often inspired to write.

Therefore, no one can justifiably blame either Paul or Ellen G. White for what is happening in the church.

In fact, both the Bible and Ellen White predicted-- and warned about--what is happening in the SDA church. Only a remnant of the Remnant will be saved.

Originally Posted By: Musicman

This is proof positive that we are as a church are on the road that leads to death and destruction. I will no longer be a party to this massive deception. You do what you want, but don't blame God when you are left outside of the marriage feast.

When you speak of the "church" that is on the road that leads to death, you are wrong if you mean the message of the church. Our message is true, but the problem is that as a people, we have generally failed to live up to the knowledge God has been pleased to reveal to us. But the foundational pillars of our faith are not at fault.

Similarly, the message the Israelites had from God while in Sinai was true, but the people were lost because they failed to obey God and His prophet. That is the same thing that is happening today. Many of the same people who claim to want Jesus to come and to be in heaven are in open rebellion against God's prophet just as the ancient Israelites rebelled against Moses on the border of the Promised Land. Therefore their bodies rotted in the dry sands of the desert. Why? Not because message was in error but because they rejected the very message God sent to them through His prophet. By rejecting the message brought by the prophet of God, they were in reality rejecting God Hismelf.

[doug yowell]

Remind me never to compliment you again, or try to make peace with you, Richard, God bless you.

Oops.

[skyblue888]

Look again:

"We are accepted through Christ's merits alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of love, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merits of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. (Luke 17:10) We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.5, p.1122.

So even the good works which the grace of the Holy Spirit enables us to do have no merits toward our salvation. "Works without faith are dead and faith without works is dead. Works will never save us; it is the merit of Christ that will avail in our behalf." Signs of the Times, June 16, 1890; (F.W.48)

Have you ever read anything like this before, other than from Ellen White? To me this is the most beautiful and most enlightening statement ever written. It speaks of faith, grace, works, and merits. Everything we need to know. Nothing is missing. It is the whole counsel of God. If we believe implicitly that God receives us to Himself through the merits of His Son, that is faith, even living faith. It means pardon and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Nothing short of that. In other words, this is the faith that brings God's blessing, His grace, which is the Spirit of Christ, to help our infirmities and to form a Christian character.

This is what believing the glorious Gospel of God is all about, is it not?

So all that is expected of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and for God's approval is that they come to God just as they are, sinful, helpless, dependent, believing implicitly that He receives them through the merits of His Son.

So by faith these lay right hold of the merits of Christ by claiming them, for it is their privilege to do so, and by faith they bring them to God and they know with full assurance that they are accepted of Him. This is how faith is accounted righteousness and if they continue in this faith which is the only true faith, these may go on from grace to grace and from light to a greater light, and from victory to victory, for through continual reliance upon the merits of Christ the grace of the Holy Spirit brings the righteousness of Christ into their lives and it accomplishes everything. It is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

But these will be the last ones to brag about living righteously. They will be scarcely conscious of it. Instead they accuse themselves like the Publican did and they go down to their houses justified. This is the spirit of the Gospel. If they fall, they know that they have an Advocate at the right hand of God. They confess their sins and they know that God is faithful to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. But they know that through the grace of the Holy Spirit obtained through faith in the merits of Christ they may overcome as Jesus overcame.

"Thus, through the merits of Christ, finite man is elevated to fellowship with God and with His dear Son." E.G. White, Sanctified Life, p.17.

Take a look at another beautiful statement. In all the religious literature in this world, again nothing could even begin to compare with the following statement:

"We see in the midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the marks of the suffering endured to reconcile man to God. We see a Father, infinite, dwelling in light unapproachable, yet receiving us to Himself through the merits of His Son. The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and despair, in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God; Live, sinner! ye penitent, believing souls, live! I have paid a ransom." A.A.333.

Those who daily come to God trusting wholly in the merits of Christ for their acceptance with God may hear the Voice of Him whose word can renew the soul unto everlasting life:

"Live, sinner! ye penitent believing soul, live! I have paid a ransom."

Jesus said, "I know that His commandment is, Live forever!" John 12:50.

"From Zion God has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore!" Psalm 133:3.

sky

Here is another of those special gems of truth:

"If we are conscious of the weakness of self, we shall not be self-confident and reckless of danger, but we shall feel the necessity of seeking to the source of our strength. We shall come in repentance and contrition, with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness, and learn that we must daily apply to the merits of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." Signs of the Times, May 19, 1890 (F.W.86)

[Musicman1228]

Sky said, "So even the good works which the grace of the Holy Spirit enables us to do have no merits toward our salvation."

Please point out to me specifically where Jesus Christ said anything like what you are claiming as truth. And if what you have said is true then what is the point of keeping any of the Commandments of God. If it doesn't matter why bother; just claim the merits of Jesus Christ as your own and you are saved.

[skyblue888]

Sky said, "So even the good works which the grace of the Holy Spirit enables us to do have no merits toward our salvation."

Please point out to me specifically where Jesus Christ said anything like what you are claiming as truth. And if what you have said is true then what is the point of keeping any of the Commandments of God. If it doesn't matter why bother; just claim the merits of Jesus Christ as your own and you are saved.

Musicman

_________________________________

Appropriating the merits of Christ to ourselves by claiming them (for it is our privilege to do so) brings the righteousness of Christ into our lives and the righteousness of Christ accomplishes everything. In other words, the grace of the Holy Spirit enables us to do the good works of obedience for which God will reward us but these works have no merit for our salvation. If we could be saved through the merits of "good works" what would happen to seeking salvation only through faith in the all-sufficient merits of Christ's infinite sacrifice?

"The merits of Christ's sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." Steps to Christ, p.36.

"There is salvation for you but only through the merits of Jesus Christ." T.M.97.

Notice these words:

"If we would gather together everything that is good and holy and noble and lovely in man and then present the subject to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as treason." Faith and Works, p.24.

Where did Christ teach this?

Luke 17:30

"So ye also, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded of you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.'"

Only through the grace of the Holy Spirit can we do all that is commanded of us, and this grace is obtained through faith, that is, by looking to Jesus and trusting in His merits alone. And at the end of the day the redeemed will say, "We are unprofitable servants." This is the spirit of the Gospel. For these the everlasting gates shall be wide open.

sky

Here is another gem:

"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}

[John317]

.... And if what you have said is true then what is the point of keeping any of the Commandments of God. If it doesn't matter why bother; just claim the merits of Jesus Christ as your own and you are saved.

The fact that nothing we do can merit eternal life doesn't mean that it doesn't matter whether we keep the commandments of God. Keeping the commandments of God is not for the purpose of earning salvation.

Obeying God's commandments is the fruit of genuine faith in Christ and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. A righteous life glorifies God and helps other people.

What you are suggesting is precisely what people do who have a perverted understanding of the gospel. All they are doing is making an empty claim to have faith in Christ but their life of disobedience and rebellion betrays their false claims.

Remember what Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Nowhere in the Bible does Chrirst indicate that people merit salvation or earn justification with God by their obedience to a code of law.

[skyblue888]

Nowhere in the Bible does Chrirst indicate that people merit salvation or earn justification with God by their obedience to a code of law.

John317

__________________________

John, and nowhere in the Bible or in the Testimonies of God's Spirit is it taught that people merit salvation or earn justification with God even by the good works that the grace of the Holy Spirit enables them to do. This is not merely talking about obedience to a code (letter) of law for as far as obeying the letter (code) of the law, outwardly the Pharisees were blameless. So believed Paul before his conversion but that was only self-righteousness, not the good works of the grace of God. It was only their own righteousness which is of the letter of the law (their best efforts to keep the law without the grace of God). What they needed was the righteousness which is of God through faith in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.. See Phil.3:9.

And this righteousness which is of God by faith producing the good works which the law demands cannot act any part in the salvation of the soul or in merit. To believe otherwise would be treason!

agree?

sky :)

[skyblue888]

You see, the foundation of every false religion is centered in the merits of the creature but the heart and essence of the religion of the Bible, the only true religion, is centered in the divine merits of Jesus Christ. Thus we read, "The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith." The Great Controversy, p.73.

So the 1888 message was a warning about "the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life" and bringing to view the most precious truth that had been buried under the rubbish of error , which is that "When we seek to gain Heaven through the merits of Christ, the soul makes progress." E.G. White, Review and Herald, July 1, 1890.

Throughout the ages Satan had worked in most subtle ways to hide the merits of Christ and he made sure that the focus should be on the merits of the creature to find God's approval. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was said to have a bank of merits and so did those who were declared by the pope to be "saints". The people were to pray to them because these had lived a "meritorious" life. But when the Reformers discovered the precious truth, it is said that "they cast themselves wholly upon the merits of Jesus." The Great Controversy, p.74.

For our instruction, one of the Reformers' prayers was recorded: "Lord we had devised for ourselves many useless follies, but You have placed Your word before me like a torch, and You have touched my heart, in order that I may hold in abomination all other merits save those of Jesus." The Great Controversy, p.221.

So these inspired statements settle it forever that "The only way the sinner can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ." R&H, Nov.4, 1890.

sky

*See how Muslims and Buddhists try to earn their salvation through the merits of their "good works" even if that means killing the infidels. In that they are no different than the Catholics especially during the Dark Ages. Mrs. White even warned that we too had not received the blessings of the covenant of grace because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves worthy of them!

[Musicman1228]

If it is only the 'merits' of Jesus Christ that grant us salvation then what reason would there be for entering into the process of sanctification, as described in the Sanctuary Service and in the testimony of Jesus Christ? After all, if we need not overcome as Jesus overcame (Rev.3:21) and instead rely solely on the righteousness of Christ as our ticket to everlasting life what purpose would there be in needing to live any kind of righteous life?

[Ted Oplinger]

Because, Musicman, most people's concept of leading righteous lives is that of a matter of will power, with the occasional help from God on some of the biggies. That is "faith PLUS works" - a thought which has dominated Christendom for the last 1800 years, and permeates Adventist thought today. It is a far cry from what Christ testifies is His way of overcoming, which both Paul and Ellen White both attested to.

Christ's own testimony - which is the basis of the 1888 3rd Angel's message - is found in John 14, in answer to Philip's question. Christ Himself testified His overcoming on a day-by-day basis was the unfolding of the Father's presence doing His own acts and speaking His own words within His Son Jesus. Nowhere in the Gospels is it recorded that Christ overcame by His own will and strength coupled to the Father's. Yet, that is the theology Christendom lives by today, in some form or fashion.

Christ, a few verses later, declares that the same victory can and will be repeated in anyone who submits to the indwelling of the Godhead within them. Again, it is God indwelling and doing His righteousness as we submit to His doing so.

Paul repeats this this same declaration when in Philippians he says that that Christ had the full indwelling of the Godhead bodily, and that it is God who wills and works within our trembling souls to effect the reality of our salvation and the walking of righteousness in our lives here on earth.

Not only must we confess we have nothing to offer up to God except our sinful selves, not only must we plead only the merits of Christ's own blood as the sole satisfaction for that sin, but we must also plead for the grace to submit to God's indwelling to fulfill His promise to effect righteousness in our lives (read: obedience to the Law), even while Satan (with help from LOTS of people) is all too willing to show all the unfinished unfolding is proof we aren't righteous! No wonder Paul says we tremble in the outworking of our salvation!

It is not "faith PLUS works". The overcoming which Christ demonstrated is "faith which works by love". That is what He offers us with the symbols of the white rainment, the gold tested in the fire, and the eye-salve.

In effect, our "probationary time" here is not to "prove ourselves reformed", so that we may pass heavenly exam in the Day of Judgment, but rather for God to demonstrate to those we are spectacles before that He Himself has answered every need to fit us to rejoin the ranks of the Unfallen. This is what John refers to as having confidence in the judgment hour...

Blessings,

[John317]

... nowhere in the Bible or in the Testimonies of God's Spirit is it taught that people merit salvation or earn justification with God even by the good works that the grace of the Holy Spirit enables them to do. .....agree?

It's true that people don't earn merit with God by the good works done by the Holy Spirit.

All of the merit that earns anyone salvation is from Jesus Christ.

However, that is not to deny that righteousness by faith includes both imputed and imparted righteousness.

[skyblue888]

Correct.

"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}

[John317]

Great and important quote.

[wayfinder]

Isaiah 26:9,10 NAS

At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently ; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness ; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD.

Righteous is accomplished through a process of learning. Favor is shown to both righteous and wicked.

Psalm 111:10 NAS

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom ; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Amen.

[Musicman1228]

I'm going to start a new thread with the title "For whom did Jesus Christ die?" I think part of the problem that the church is experiencing right now is that we don't really know the answer to this question. Oh, there are lots of answers but from my experience on this and other forums most of those answers are incorrect.

I am looking forward to seeing your responses to this question.