my testimony one more time

[skyblue888]

After I joined the church, for many years, I read and studied any book I could get my hands on and then got involved in many theological discussions and debates, at the theological seminary, in church, at home, and finally on the internet. Everything seemed so complicated and obscure until one day the Lord really opened my blind eyes as I was agonizing over my being utterly unable to live the Christian life. I had read the book Patriarchs and Prophets more than once over the years and there I was reading it again but this time with a deep sense of despair over my finite weakness. The more I read the more I felt helpless and the more I felt like giving up. But giving up was not an option. I kept on reading until I read these wrods: "We can do nothing of ourselves. In all our helpless unworthiness we must trust in the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour. None will ever perish while they do this." p.203.

The moment I read these words, I knew the Lord has just spoken to me, in a still, small voice, and yet it was like He had spoken to me very loudly at the sound of the trumpet giving no uncertain sound! I knew right away, there and then, that this had to be the true light, in a nutshell, the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.

I kept on reading without skipping until the same message was brought to my attention again:

"If we are conscious of our needs, we should not devote all our powers to mourning over them. While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we are not to yield to discouragement, but rely upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Look and live. Jesus has pledged His word. He will save all who come unto Him. Though millions who need to be healed will reject the offered mercy, not one who trusts in His merits will be left to perish." p.432.

Not one who trusts in the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour will be left to perish! I realized as never before, as I was reading these words, that this was the key that could unlock all the treasures of God's grace, and that my part was simply to trust in the merits of Christ and that God's part was to accomplish the rest, that He Himself would work in me both to will and to do His good pleasure.

It was not very long after this experience that this statement was brought to my attention:

"The merits of Christ's sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.

This was what I had been searching for all these years. I was puzzled that in 20 years I had never heard words like these from the pulpit or read them from the Sabbath School Lesson, let alone discuss them!

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

sky

[phkrause]

[skyblue888]

Thanks pk. Bless your soul!

From another forum where I posted it, I received a couple more positive reactions.

Amen! Powerfull words of encouragement and truth from Mrs. White, (and a truly Biblical perspective).

Ricker

_____________

Yes Richer, they are indeed powerful words of encouragement. To me, at that time, that is just what they were. It was like I had been standing thirsting near the fountain all these years yet without being able to quench my thirst. I thank God for the Holy Spirit who did, that day, come into my heart to impress this most precious truth into my soul. "When the Holy Spirit shall come into your hearts to impress the truth into your souls, you will not let it go easily." F.W.57

That day the Holy Spirit did indeed write these words upon the fleshly tablets of my heart. I will always be grateful to Him. Since then I have, with pen and voice, with the help of the Holy Spirit, made every effort to share it with my brothers and sisters eveywhere I have gone but especially through the internet. I invite you to take a look at the first three of my booklets on this topic from my website at www.hidden-treasures.ca

God bless as you read.

Would appreciate your feedback.

sky

___________

It's interesting how we can have a superficial knowledge of the truth for years and when ready, the Holy Spirit can bring old knowledge to a new light...

ECR

_____________

So true ECR. What an experience it was for me after being in the church for 25 years. I had been a diligent student from the word go and had worked as a pastor and a Bible worker for years! Later I read, in Testimonies to Ministers,367,369, how the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, "You must be born again," are "spoken just as verily to presidents of conferences, elders of churches, and those occupying official positions in our institutions."

When you have the time, please take a close look at these two pages from Testimonies to Ministers,367,369. God bless.

sky

[skyblue888]

In these pages we are told that Nicodemus, a man in high position of trust, a man who was looked up to as one educated in Jewish customs, one whose mind was stored with wisdom, in possession of talents of no ordinary character, and yet did not understand the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God. And he was not alone. If those in high position did not understand the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God, what could be said of the common people for, generally speaking, the majority follow the guidance of their spiritual leaders.

And this was recorded for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

sky

[Gibs]

Sky,

My grandfather was in the Millerite movement and later he became a SDAdventist and taught a little church back in the hills where I was born.

I didn't know of these things for many years. I even found some of his Sabbath studies and sermons he had printed out on his own little printing setup.

I became a Sabbath believer not knowing these things about him.

Then I came across the book "Early Writings" by EGW and I had no problem discerning she had light from our God. All her early writings I like the best, exceptions being "Desire Of Ages" "Steps To Christ", those can't be beat on the salvation issue.

"Word To The Little Flock" is relevant for us now, all should get it and read it.

Truly it is a little flock at the end I'm sure, the Remnant!

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Kevin H]

Thank you Sky and Gibs for your message here. I am tempted to make more comments, but maybe another time. I don't want to distract from the wonderful message you shared here!

[skyblue888]

Kevin, tempted to make more comments about what exactly, the wonderful message that was shared? :)

[phkrause]

Thank you Sky and Gibs for your message here. I am tempted to make more comments, but maybe another time. I don't want to distract from the wonderful message you shared here!

Why Kevin? Are you gonna give us some negative message? hahaha Just kidding. :)

[Kevin H]

The message about Jesus' love and simply trusting in Jesus as you pointed out.

Too often we look at our unworthyness, which is definately true, but we look at it with the traditional view of hell, that either Jesus says "Welcome into heaven" or "Sorry but you have to be incinerated" rather than what I believe the Bible and Mrs. White teach about how the "fire" is the glory and beauty and love of seeing God physically and in person, and what makes this eternal fire heaven is simply having a relationship with Jesus. Our focus becomes more about "Jesus let me know" rather than "can I make it?" It has been said that the human mind can only take in (oh, I forgot the number, I've used it a lot since I read it) something like 126 bites of information a second, and I'd rather spend those 126 bites of information looking for information about Jesus rather than focusing them on my unworthyness.

[skyblue888]

In these pages we are told that Nicodemus, a man in high position of trust, a man who was looked up to as one educated in Jewish customs, one whose mind was stored with wisdom, in possession of talents of no ordinary character, and yet did not understand the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God. And he was not alone. If those in high position did not understand the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God, what could be said of the common people for, generally speaking, the majority follow the guidance of their spiritual leaders.

And this was recorded for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

sky

"'Are you not a master of Israel, and you do not know these things?' Jesus asked. Surely one entrusted with the religious instruction of the people should not be ignorant of truths so important." D.A.173.

We know that during the interview, Jesus sought to bring the lifting of the serpent of brass by Moses in the wilderness to the attention of Nicodemus to teach him the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.

"There are thousands (millions now) who need to learn the truth that was taught to Nicodemus by the uplifted serpent." D.A.175.

In the book Patriarchs & Prophets, we read, "They knew that there was no virtue in the serpent itself, but it was a symbol of Christ; and the necessity of faith in His merits was thus presented to their minds." p.430.

So what is the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God?

Daily exercising faith in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.

Nicodemus, a man in high position of trust in Israel, had failed to understand this but he was not the only one. What about us today?

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit "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 the blood of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." Faith & Works,86.

In the book Faith & Works, bottom of page 65, Mrs. White speaks of "the faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour to bring Christ's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do," for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." Faith & Works,27.

And His righteousness is "made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." See T.M.92.

sky

[skyblue888]

In the book Faith & Works, bottom of page 65, Mrs. White speaks of "the faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour to bring Christ's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do," for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." Faith & Works,27.

And His righteousness is "made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." See T.M.92.

sky

[skyblue888]

I realize the word "merit" is not a word used by the Bible writers but nevertheless it should be understood that it is there by implication. Daubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century shows that the Reformers did understand this. Mrs. White did not invent the doctrine of salvation only through the merits of the blood of Christ.

Luther and several other reformers often spoke of the merits of Christ. In fact, salvation through the merits of Jesus Christ alone was the "true light" that had dawned upon them. See G.C.74.

Please let me share a few statements from Daubigne's book.

"Do not look for salvation in your own strength or in your good works, but in the merits of Christ and in God's grace." Martin Luther, p.78.

"Anselm of Canterbury laid down, as the very essence of Christianity, the doctrines of the incarnation and atonement, and in a work, in which he teaches us how to die, he says to the departing soul,'Look only to the merits of Jesus Christ.'" p.31.

Even Calvin said, "Father, 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.." Martyn, Vol.3,ch.13; G.C.221.

"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 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,96,97.

If we stop to really think about it, all the religions of this world have the merits of the creature as their foundation. They all teach in one way or another salvation through the merits of the creature. Satan knows that it is only through the merits of Christ's infinite sacrifice that salvation is gained. So what does he do? He directs the eyes of the people to the merits of the creature and thus frustrate the plan of redemption.

Christ and His all-sufficient merits is the subject that should swallow up every other. Some have asked, What are the merits of Christ? What do you mean by the merits of Christ? So, as you can see, the enemy has done his nefarious work. No wonder the Bible says that the whole world is in captivity to him.

I was watching National Geographic one day. On this particular show, the heroic deeds of a brave fireman were featured and he was given a beautiful badge on which were inscribed these words:

MERIT FOR SERVICE AWARD.

I was raised being taught to trust in the merits of the virgin Mary and of the saints and even in the merits of my own good works. But only the merits of Christ avail with God.

Since men wrongly ascribe "merits" to their fellowmen for their courageous, heroic or "holy" deeds, must not the infinite sacrifice of the world's Redeemer be full of "divine merits" in the eyes of the Father and in the eyes of the holy angels and in the eyes of the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity?

So much so that we are "to hold in abomination all other merits save those of Jesus." See G.C.221.

"When we seek to gain Heaven through the merits of Christ the soul makes progress." E.G. White, Faith & Works,94.

sky

[skyblue888]

Here are three more statements that really nail the matter of salvation in clear, distinct lines:

"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." E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles,333.

"John, while in vision, saw a company clothed in white robes. They were seen in the Temple of God. This will be the result for all who will lay hold of the merits of Christ and wash their robes in His blood." E.G. White, Our Father Cares, p.339.

"Lay hold by faith of the merits of Christ and the soul-cleansing blood will be applied." Faith and Works, p.94.

sky

[Gibs]

Sky,

What I am wondering about is the true Gospel into all the world as proclaimed, being preached but by the very few.

Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We are assurredly at that time. The question is how much of what is being preached is the True Gospel of the Kingdom.

I'm wondering if it isn't the 144,000 that are commissioned to do it. He no doubt mostly or wholly has gotten sealed now to do it as it very clear to me the popular salvation preaching is not the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Truly is not the whole of Christianity today terribly Laodician?

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[skyblue888]

I am aware that there are those who teach that the 144,000 will be sealed and that they will give the loud cry message. But this is false. In order to become a member of the 144,000, one must have the victory over the beast and its image which means that one must successfully pass the great final test at the end of the loud cry. Only those who do pass this test, the death decree, will pass the scrutiny of the judgment of the living and receive the final seal before entering into the time of Jacob's trouble.

Our focus at this time is to be on the merits and righteousness of Christ to prepare us for the loud cry:

"As we acknowledge before God our appreciation of Christ's merits, fragrance is given to our intercessions. As we approach God through the virtue of the Redeemer's merits, Christ places us close by His side, encircling us with His human arm, while with His divine arm, He grasps the throne of the Infinite. He puts His merits as sweet incense in the censor in our hands, in order to encourage our petitions." E.G. White, Our Father Cares, 120.

Wonderful words of life.

For more than 20 years I had been an avowed reader of the Bible and of the writings of Ellen White and other authors as well as Jones and Waggoner, not to mention many others. I had taken theology and worked as a pastor and Bible instructor for years, and yet I had NEVER noticed this emphasis on the merits of Christ. Oddly enough, in all of these years, I had never heard a speech or sermon on the topic.

Take the following statement for example:

"Unless he makes it his life business to behold the uplifted Saviour and accept the merits which it is his privilege to claim, the sinner CAN NO MORE BE SAVED than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." Testimonies to Ministers,93.

To be saved from sin and to reflect a character after the similitude of God is a miracle just as walking upon the water is.

In other words, since of ourselves we cannot do any righteous action unless we daily apply to the merits of our precious Redeemer, by claiming them, it begs the question: Why have we not taught this in our churches?

"The work for the servants of God is to present Jesus. The work for the ministers of Christ is to HANG their helpless souls upon His merits. Men who turn away from the path of obedience and make transgression of the law of God a virtue are under the inspiration of the archdeceiver. They are blinded by his power. They need to have before them a representation of what the truth can do in ENABLING men to preserve a Christlike temper when tempted to become imperious and impatient. The enemies of the truth want to PROVOKE those who teach the binding claims of the law of God. If there is RETALIATION ON OUR PART, Satan's host triumph. By their mean course of action the agents of Satan try to tempt the advocates of truth to say and do things that will not be commendable." Testimonies to Ministers,247,248.

Solemn!

sky

[skyblue888]

"Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and that they must prove to the Lord that they are reformed BEFORE they can claim His blessing. These dear souls may 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,38.

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

This is the fountain that has been opened for sin. The Gospel of the merits and righteousness of Christ is revealed, not to those who are rich and increased with God and in need of nothing, but to those who know that they cannot possibly save themselves, who know that of themselves they cannot do any righteous action. They are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit whom Jesus declares to be blessed.

sky

[skyblue888]

I asked the question before but I don't think I got answers. Can you in your own words explain:

1. what's the merits of Christ

2. and more importantly how do we trust and apply the merits of Christ daily.

OntheDL

from Christianforums

________________

What's the merits of Christ?

I believe I have already answered these questions before but it won't hurt to go over this again.

The merits of Christ are the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, the merits of His infinite sacrifice, the merits of the blood shed for us upon Calvary's cross, the merits of the blood that is of value beyond estimate because it was the life of God in His Son that was poured out on Calvary's cross. These are the merits which Jesus pleads in our behalf before the Father. See F.W.23,105; S.C.36; G.C.73 just to mention these references.

How do we trust and apply to the merits of Christ daily?

Again from what I have read from the inspired writings, to trust in the merits of Christ is to believe that they are SUFFICIENT to present to the Father in our behalf (S.C.36) both for our justification and sanctification. That would explain why it is written that "The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith." G.C.73.

When the Reformers discovered this truth, it is written that they had discovered the "true light" and "they cast themselves wholly upon the merits of Jesus." G.G.74.

We daily apply to the merits of Christ's sacrifice by claiming them since it is our privilege to do so. We are plainly told that unless we do this, we cannot be saved. See T.M.93 and D.A.25.

Daily applying to His merits ensures both out title and fitness for Heaven for "The sinner is justified through the merits of Jesus" (F.W.107) and "We are to be transformed through the merits of Christ." Our Father Cares,204.

sky

[skyblue888]

Obedience to the law and all principles of God's kingdom(good works) cannot save us but they have always been the condition upon which salvation is given.

We are saved by grace through faith on condition that we cease to sin and live in harmony with all that God has said.

It's true that for the most part Protestantism, and even most SDAs, have overlooked and disregarded this fact. The 'law' does not mean just the ten commandments.

VIW

from Christianforums

___________

VIW, I am glad that in your first sentence you are saying that obedience to the law, or good works, cannot save us. However, in the next sentence you are stating that we are saved by grace through faith on condition that we cease to sin which is to live a life in harmony with the will of God.

I believe I understand what you are saying but your statement could easily be misconstrued to say that we must first cease to sin in order to be saved by grace when it is grace alone, the Spirit of Christ, that enables us to overcome all sins.

Notice the next statements which agree with your fist statement:

"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." Faith & Works,48.

So it will not be our obedience that will save us, even the obedience of faith, but the merit of Christ.

The next one is even more emphatic:

"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 of the salvation of the human soul, or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as TREASON." E.G. White, Faith & Works,24.

The above words perfectly describe the life of the righteous and it is a life of obedience, yet if we were to present that to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul, it would be rejected as treason!

Why? Because "Who can measure the infinity of the sacrifife!" Faith & Works,24.

This clearly means, that "Any works (even a life of perfect obedience to the law) that man can render to God will be far less than nothingness." Faith & Works,24.

Obedience is the fruit of faith and it will be rewarded as though it were our own obedience, even though the Scriptures teach that it is the obedience of Christ in and through us.

So, at the end of the day we will not be saved because we have ceased from sin, no matter how important that is, but because Christ places His own merits upon us.

Let me put it this way. If, at the end of the day, the faithful (especially the 144,000 who will have ceased to sin) were asked what rights they have to the City, their only answer would be the answer of faith. They would reply that they are unprofitable servants and that if they enter into the City it will be solely on account of the all-sufficient merits of their Redeemer.

If they were to reply, Well, have we not kept the commandments? Have we not done this and that in your Name? They would then there and then be accused of treason and the Lord would say to them, I do not know you. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. But the righteous will have the right answer because they possess the Spirit of the Gospel. They will extol the merits of Christ and the merits of Christ alone and to them the everlasting gates will be wide open.

Makes sense?

sky

[skyblue888]

jbg wrote: I was just wondering if sky could clarify his testimonies by giving me the meaning of the following quotes?

"That which God required of Adam before his fall was perfect obedience to His law. God requires now what He required of Adam, perfect obedience, righteousness without a flaw without shortcoming in His sight." 2SM 380,4

"God requires at this time just what He required of the holy pair in Eden, perfect obedience to His requirements." 6BC 1073.

So the way I read this we with a sinful human nature are to do what Adam and Eve could not do with a sinless human nature?

Do I have that correct?

jbg

__________

Great rethorical question jbg!

Wow, the way you put it certainly makes it look like we are at such great disadvantage compared to Adam and Eve in Eden, in their perfect, sinless human nature. But as strange as this might seem, the Scriptures teach that we do have an advantage over Adam and Eve in spite of our sinful fallen nature.

Let me explain what I mean.

Just as there was no excuse for Adam and Eve in Eden, in their perfect, sinless human nature to sin, so there is no excuse for the descendants of Adam & Eve in their sinful, fallen human nature to sin for through faith in the merits of Christ's infinite sacrifice they, in their utterly helpless condition, may become partakers of Christ's nature, a nature far above that which Adam and Eve forfeited by transgression:

"It is the PRIVILEGE of every believer in Christ to possess Christ's nature, a nature FAR ABOVE that which Adam forfeited by transgression." E.G. White, The Upward Look,18.

This statement is substantiated by 1 Cor.15:47.

That is why the Scriptures do teach that by being partakers of Christ's divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) we may become "MORE than conquerors" (Rom.8:37) over all our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil and grow up into Christ until the full corn of His character is in the ear.(Mark 4:26-29)

This will be the experience of God's people during the latter rain and loud cry:

"As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict,'the time of Jacob's trouble,' THEY WILL GROW UP INTO CHRIST, AND WILL PARTAKE LARGELY OF HIS SPIRIT. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the LATTER RAIN which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel." Testimonies, Vol.1,353.

And when the mission of the Gospel is completed, the great final test will separate the good from the bad and their destiny will be forever fixed. Probation will close and the faithful will enter into the time of Jacob's trouble while the 7 seven last plagues will be falling upon the finally impenitent.

sky

[Windsor]

Sky,

My grandfather was in the Millerite movement and later he became a SDAdventist and taught a little church back in the hills where I was born.

Your grandfather or your great great grandfather?

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: Gibs

Sky,

My grandfather was in the Millerite movement and later he became a SDAdventist and taught a little church back in the hills where I was born.

Your grandfather or your great great grandfather?

hehehe