one interest will prevail, one subject....

[skyblue888]

"One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other: Christ and His righteousness." E.G. White.

Anyone who is guided by the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish between the work of God and that of man.

"If you lose confidence in the Testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth." Testimonies, Vol.5. 674.

"The testimonies themselves will be the KEY that will explain the messages given, AS Scripture is explained by Scripture. Many will read with eagerness the messages reproving wrong that they may learn WHAT THEY MAY DO TO BE SAVED. Light will dawn upon the understanding, and the Spirit will make an impression on minds, as BIBLE TRUTH is CLEARLY and SIMPLY presented in the messages that since 1846 God has been sending His people. These messages are to find their place in hearts, and transformations will take place." 1 S.M.

42.

So if any man comes with the suggestion that the

Testimonies do not present Bible truth, do not receive him.

"As the end draws near and the work of giving the LAST WARNING to the world extends, it becomes MORE IMPORTANT for those who accept PRESENT TRUTH to have a clear understanding of the NATURE and INFLUENCE of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE from its very rise." Testimonies, vol.5,654.

It is in the book Testimonies to Ministers that we find some of the clearest testimonies as to what the third angel's message is in light of the merits and righteousness of Christ. To ignore these messages will result in us drifting

away from Bible truth.

This is one of the most solemn warnings that the Lord has sent to us.

Will we heed this warning and receive the precious rays of light from the Throne?

"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." T.M.

96-97.

This, brothers and sisters, is Bible truth, the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare, the Bible truth that the Reformers discovered from studying the Scriptures.

This is the truth that the enemy is fighting against all the time:

"Man can do no meritorious work; the GRACE of God, which he receives by FAITH in the MERITS of Christ alone, saves him." Martin Luther, Daubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, p.337.

Where did Mrs. White and Luther get this teaching that we receive the grace of God by which we are to be saved through faith in the merits of Christ alone?

From the Scriptures.

It is in the Scriptures such as Romans 3:25 and Titus 2:11 but we do not understand its simplicity as we ought to.(F.W.64) That is why the Lord has sent to us these precious rays of light from the Throne.

Yes many believe that we are saved by grace but the part that we less understand is the how to obtain this grace. It is by faith in Christ of course which is by faith in HIS MERITS. In other words, we must daily appropriate His merits to ourselves by claiming them.

And if anyone asks what the merits of Christ are that we may claim them, tell him or her that they are the merits of His infinite sacrifice, the merits of the blood that He shed for us upon Calvary's cross keeping in mind that this blood

is of value beyond estimate and therefore full of divine merits.

The Good News is that it is our privilege to claim them! Unless we do this on a daily basis we cannot be saved, we cannot keep God's commandments.(T.M.93)

The angels of God eagerly look to see who will avail themselves of this opportunity.

So let us be very careful here how we treat this most precious message. Let us take off the shoes from off our feet for we are on holy ground and we are definitely under obligation to believe.

sky

[LifeHiscost]

Right now I have other pressing activities so I won't be able to comment a lot on your post, skyblue888, but considering what I've already experienced(not wanting to rain on your parade ) you probably won't be receiving a lot of accolades for your effort. I think that's why the Word is called the Sword of the Spirit, it cuts both ways.

God bless you brother.

God cares!

[skyblue888]

Right now I have other pressing activities so I won't be able to comment a lot on your post, skyblue888, but considering what I've already experienced(not wanting to rain on your parade ) you probably won't be receiving a lot of accolades for your effort. I think that's why the Word is called the Sword of the Spirit, it cuts both ways.

God bless you brother.

God cares!

Ooookay.

sky

[skyblue888]

"The Jewish people cherished the idea that

they were the favorites of Heaven, and that

they were always to be exalted as the church

of God. They were the children of Abraham,

they declared, and so firm did the foundation

of their prosperity seem to them that they

defied earth and heaven to dispossess them

of their rights. But by lives of unfaithfulness

they were preparing for the condemnation

of Heaven and for separation from God." C.O.L.294.

In the same chapter Mrs. White draws the lesson

for us who have come to the end of the ages:

"Because they failed of fulfilling God's purpose,

the children of Israel were set aside, and God's

call was extended to other people. If these too

prove unfaithful, will they not in like manner be

rejected?" Idem, 304.

These statements clearly teach that God's call is

conditional and therefore just as there was a

time of probation for the Jewish church, there is

a time of probation for the Adventist church.

That time has almost run out.

sky

[skyblue888]

We are now living in the time of the second call of the

parable of Matt.22 as the 1888 message is again inviting

us to receive the righteousness of Christ by laying right

hold upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.

The King's last invitation to the bidden ones of the

parable, the Advent people:

"You want to be like little children, hanging upon the

merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, and then you

will be fortified. How? The angels of God will be

around you as a wall of fire; the righteousness of

Christ will go before you and the glory of God will be

your rearward. God sanctify our tongues, our thoughts,

our minds, that we may dwell upon heavenly themes,

and that we may impart that knowledge to others."

E.G. White, Ms 9,1891.

"We have been at work on the law until we get as

dry as the hills of Gilboa, without dew or rain. Let us

trust in the merits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. May

God help us that our eyes may be anointed with

eyesalve that we may see." E.G. White, 1888 Material,

vol.2,557.

The dew and the rain represent the outpouring of the

Holy Spirit. The only way we can receive this gift that

cannot be excelled is by trusting wholly in the merits

of a crucified and risen Saviour.

"Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits, we

appropriate the blessings of light and peace and

joy in the Holy Spirit." Testimonies, vol.5,744.

This is the 1888 message in a nutshell and in

all its beautiful simplicity. It is the message for

this time and if it is resisted again and the bearers

of that message persecuted, the church will seal

her rejection of God's mercy and the call will be

extended to other people during the loud cry to

the world.

sky

[skyblue888]

The most powerful evidence that the second

coming of Christ has long been delayed is

because of our failure of accomplishing

the work that God has given us to do and

the evidence for that is the fact that we

are still here.

Now I would like to provide you with clear

evidence that Jesus should have returned

shortly after 1844:

"The history of Ancient Israel is a striking

illustration of the past experience of the

Adventist body; God led His people in the

advent movement, even as He led the

children of Israel from Egypt. In the great

disappointment their faith was tested as

was that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea.

Had they still trusted to the guiding hand

that had been with them in their past

experience, they would have seen the

salvation of God. If all who has labored

unitedly in the work in 1844, had received

the third angel's message and proclaimed

it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord

would have wrought mightily with their

efforts. A flood of light would have been

shed upon the world. Years ago the

inhabitants of the earth would have been

warned, the closing work completed, and

Christ would have come for the redemption

of His people." The Great Controversy,457-458.

These words are unmistakably clear. Jesus would

have returned shortly after 1844 if the advent

people had received the third angel's message and

proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

But they didn't. Why? The next paragraph

tells us why.

"It was not the will of God that Israel should

wander forty years in the wilderness; He

desired to lead them directly to the land of

Canaan and establish them there, a holy,

happy people. But 'they could not enter in

because of unbelief.' Heb.3:19. Because of

their backsliding and apostasy they perished

in the desert, and others were raised up to

enter the Promised Land. In like manner, it

was not the will of God that the coming of

Christ should be so long delayed and His

people should remain so many years in this

world of sin and sorrow. But unbelief separated

them from God. As they refused to do the work

which He had appointed them, others were

raised up to proclaim the message. In mercy

to the world, Jesus delays His coming, that

sinners may have an opportunity to hear the

warning and find in Him a shelter before the

wrath of God shall be poured out." Idem,458.

In 1901 the Lord sent this testimony:

"We may have to remain here in this world because

of insubordination many more years, as did the

children of Israel." Evangelism, 696.

It has been 112 years since this last testimony

was sent and we are still wandering in this

world of sin and sorrow. How much longer will

the Lord have to wait before we come into

working order with Him so that He may finish

the work upon the earth and cut it short in

righteousness? (Rom.9:28) Probation for the church

is about to close. Who among us will avail themselves

of the last invitation, to lay hold, day by day, upon

the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour that they

may be clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness,

that God, through the Holy Spirit, may work in

them both to will and to do His good pleasure?

sky

[skyblue888]

We are to grow in grace according to the

commandment, "Grow in grace and in the

knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ." 2 Peter 3:18.

How are we to grow in grace? By the same

power that causes the seed to grow and the

bud to turn into flower and the flower into fruit:

"The Lord puts His own Spirit into

the seed, causing it to spring into life.

Under His care the germ breaks through the

case enclosing it and springs up to develop

and bear fruit." Testimonies, Vol.8,326.

As we are told of the work that the Holy

Spirit does for the seed, we learn the

secret of growth in grace.

"As the dew and the rain are given first

to cause the seed to germinate, and then

to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit

is given to carry forward, from one stage

to another, the process of spiritual growth.

The ripening of the grain represents the

completion of the work of God's grace in

the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit

the moral image of God is to be perfected

in the character. We are to be wholly

transformed into the likeness of Christ."

T.M.506.

Now this:

"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 of

His Spirit. As the third angel's 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 what must we do in order for the grace

of the Holy Spirit to cause the Seed of Christ

to spring into the heart and to develop and

bear fruit?

"Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His

merits we appropriate the blessings of

light and peace and joy in the Holy

Spirit." 5 T 744.

Hence we read, "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." T.M.97.

This is our life business, to look to Jesus

and to trust in His merits. Unless we do this,

we cannot be saved, that is, we cannot advance

in spiritual grown from one stage to another

until Christ's character shall be fully formed within.

And "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly

reproduced in His people, He will come to claim them

as His own." C.O.L.69.

sky

[joeb]

I'd say you left out the most important part of the quote on the first line of your first post, for the rest of that paragraph shows why that line is important, and why RbyF will be the subject that will swallow all others up.

Quote:

The end is near! We have not a moment to lose! Light is to shine forth from God’s people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world. Our work is not to be restricted to those who already know the truth; our field is the world. The instrumentalities to be used are those souls who gladly receive the light of truth which God communicates to them. These are God’s agencies for communicating the knowledge of truth to the world. If through the grace of Christ his people will become new bottles, he will fill them with the new wine. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered, and replaced in the frame-work of truth; and wherever the laborers go, they will triumph. As Christ’s ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures, to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error. And every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,—Christ our righteousness. {RH December 23, 1890, Art. B, par. 19}

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

And "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly

reproduced in His people, He will come to claim them

as His own." C.O.L.69

"He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”"John 8:7 NASB

" Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."Jude 1:24 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

"Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."John 14:1-3 NLT

"For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."Heb 9:15 NASB

God cares!

[skyblue888]

All the law and the prophets are summed up

in a few words:

There is salvation for you but only through

the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.

What is "salvation" if it is not to receive the

gift that brings all other blessings in its train,

the gift that cannot be excelled which is worthy

of Christ's greatness and Royalty? Is it not the

gift of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the

Godhead offered in infinite plenitude?

In other to receive this most excellent gift the

sinner must, day by day, come to God just as

he is, sinful, helpless, dependent, trusting wholly

in the merits of Christ's infinite sacrifice that the

Holy Spirit may work in him both to will and to do

God's pleasure which is to fulfill all the requirements

of the law.

Is this not what it means to be clothed with the robe

of Christ's righteousness which accomplishes everything?

and is this not the third angel's message in clear, distinct

lines, the last message of mercy to the church and to the

world?

Personally, I believe that all who receive, believe, and

act upon this most precious message will become

God's spokesmen, vessels fit for their Master's use.

[skyblue888]

Someone says: you should be able to much

better explain the "merits" of Christ."

It is a plural word and therefore, you

should be able to give a complete list

and description of said "merits."

__________

The merits of Christ are the merits of His

infinite sacrifice, the merits of His

shed blood, the merits of His sufferings:

Do we not, by faith, see in the midst of

the throne One bearing in hands and feet

and side the marks of the sufferings endured

to reconcile man to God? Do we not also see

a Father, infinite, dwelling in light

unapproachable, yet receiving us to Himself

through the MERITS of His Son?

Is this not the Good News? The Father accepts us

through the merits of the blood that was shed

for us upon Calvary's cross. This blood is of value

beyond estimate because it was the Life of God

in His Son!

Is there anything more that can be added?

Either we believe that the MERITS of Christ's

sacrifice are sufficient to plead before the

Father in our behalf in order to obtain the

gift that brings all other blessings in its

train or we don't!

It is just as simple as that, just as simple as

receiving the alphabet.

Our part, which is our life business, is to lay

right hold by faith of the merits of a crucified

and risen Saviour. This is what we must do in

order to be saved. This is faith, even living

faith, and this faith is also the gift of God.

Today, as in 1888, we are invited to lay right

hold upon the merits of the Saviour in order

for the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the

Godhead, to bring Christ's righteousness into

our life that it may work in us both to will

and to do God's good pleasure which, again, is

to fulfill in and through us all the requirements

of the law. Phil.3:9; Phil.2:13.

We lay hold of His merits by claiming them.

So, unless we make it his life business to

behold the uplifted Saviour and to accept

His merits which it is our privilege to claim,

we cannot partake of the Holy Spirit in large

measure and take part in the proclamation of

the last message of mercy to the world: we

cannot become fit vessels for our Master's

use.

Are these not the heavenly themes we are to

dwell upon and is it not our duty to impart

that knowledge to others? Is this not the

interest that should prevail and the subject

that should swallow up every other?

sky

[LynnDel]

When it all comes down to it, it is so simple, isn't it?

LD

[LifeHiscost]

Beautiful!!

Sky, I can't think of one other thing that I could add except perhaps alluding to this all being accomplished as a result of the continuous cleansing of the shed blood of Jesus, the Christ.

"If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]."1 John 1:9 AMP brackets parenthesis theirs' LHC

This seems to identify Who will finish that which is needed.

"For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”"Romans 1:17 NASB

"Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." John 4:34 NKJV

"For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth."Romans 9:28 NKJV

"...for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Philippians 1:5-6 NLT

"“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

John 3:16-17 NASB

God cares!

[olger]

i can only say

Forsooth.

And

Amen.

[Gibs]

The penalty of sin is death and we all have sinned! The only way any one of us can be saved is to have his Merits, White Robe of righteousness imputed to us.

There is no other remedy for sin. That is not really a remedy but the Grace of God that we can be covered by the Righteous One. Washed in His Blood and born anew of His Spirit and then to walk with Him as He walked, we now can!

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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.

[LifeHiscost]

i can only say

Forsooth.

And

Amen.

So nice for an old man to have a young man's approval. Not always easy to find, for either generation.

God cares!

[LifeHiscost]

I was listening to a song this morning, in which these impressive thoughts were voiced.

"Lord, keep me in Your will,

so I don't get in Your way."

I don't think our Father will fail to answer that plea.

Quote:

"What does God require of me before I can claim his promises. What must i do?"

" By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. "

{COL 311.4}

God cares!

[joeb]

I was listening to a song this morning, in which these impressive thoughts were voiced.

"Lord, keep me in Your will,

so I don't get in Your way."

I don't think our Father will fail to answer that plea.

Quote:

"What does God require of me before I can claim his promises. What must i do?"

" By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. "

{COL 311.4}

God cares!

Do you realize, LHC, that your quote from COL contains a condition? I'm pretty sure you do.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Yes, so true; and here is what submitting oneself to Christ entails:

"We are not to be altogether passive, thinking that there has been no task allotted to those who would win immortality. No; no; God calls upon us to do our best with the powers that he has given us,--to put to the stretch every faculty, and exercise every ability, that we may not fail of everlasting life. That man can be saved in indolence, in inactivity, is an utter impossibility. There is a constant conflict before those who would win eternal life. Faith and works go hand in hand. That man has nothing to do but to believe, is a fallacy and a most dangerous doctrine. Faith without works is dead. A man saved in his sins would be out of harmony with the plan of redemption and the work of God. Sin must be hated, and put away. The works of the flesh must be warred against. The Christian cannot be an idler. No sluggard ever engages in a determined opposition to inclination and folly. He will not be found on the defensive when Satan presses his temptations upon the soul. Those who would inherit eternal life must subdue pride, conquer passion, walk in the light as God is in the light. They must run in the way of God's commandments. They must make use of all the helps that providence has placed within their reach, looking constantly unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of their faith. Christ says, 'Without me, ye can do nothing'." {RH, October 30, 1888 par. 4}

All fulfilled when accepting these promises.

"Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."Philippians 2:12-15 NLT

"“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."John 15:5 NKJV

God cares!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Untiring energy is required of the Christian

Please, name one other than Jesus?

We have a Savior because we need One, One Who has stood in our place, that when we fail (and we will) we can continue to count on imputed righteousness to bear witness to the hope we have in Jesus.

"We are all infected and impure with sin.

When we display our righteous deeds,

they are nothing but filthy rags.

Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,

and our sins sweep us away like the wind."

Isaiah 64:6 NLT

The righteousness of Christ alone is our assurance of eternal life.

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."

Philippians 2:13 NLT

His Robe of Righteousness

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. “I counsel thee,” He says, “to buy of Me ... white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.”

ST November 22, 1905, par. 4

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God was “manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” Sin is defined to be “the transgression of the law.” But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” When on earth He said to His disciples, “I have kept My Father’s commandments.” By His perfect obedience, He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ the heart is united with His heart; the will is merged in His will; the mind becomes one with His mind; the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then, as the Lord looks upon us, He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. ST November 22, 1905, par. 5

bold underlined mine LHC

God cares!