Important
and Encouraging Messages From Ellen G. White
Act 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless
you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
By Steve Pond
[ri-pen-tns, -pen-tuhns]
|WORD ORIGIN
SEE MORE
SYNONYMS FOR repentance ON THESAURUS.COM
deep sorrow,
compunction, or contrition for a past sin,
wrongdoing, or the like.
regret for
any past action.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). {1SM 350.1}
God requires that we confess our sins, and humble our hearts before Him; but at
the same time we should have confidence in Him as a
tender Father, who will not forsake those who put their trust in Him. Many of
us walk by sight, and not by faith. We believe the things that are seen, but do
not appreciate the precious promises given us in God's Word; and yet we cannot
dishonor God more decidedly than by showing that we distrust what He says, and
question whether the Lord is in earnest with us or is deceiving us. {1SM 350.2}
God does not give us up because of our sins. We may make mistakes, and grieve
His Spirit; but when we repent, and come to Him with contrite hearts, He will
not turn us away. There are hindrances to be removed. Wrong feelings have been
cherished, and there have been pride, self-sufficiency, impatience, and
murmurings. All these separate us from God. Sins must be confessed; there must
be a deeper
work of grace in the heart. Those who feel weak and discouraged may become
strong men of God, and do noble work for the Master.
But they must work from a high standpoint; they must be influenced by no selfish
motives. {1SM 350.3}
Merits of Christ Our Only Hope
We must
learn in the school of Christ. Nothing but His righteousness can entitle us to
one of the blessings of the covenant of grace. We have long desired and tried
to obtain these blessings, but have not received them
because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves
worthy of them. We have not looked away from ourselves, believing that Jesus is
a living Saviour. We must not think that our own grace and merits
(righteousness) will save us; the grace of Christ is our only hope of
salvation. Through His prophet the Lord promises, "Let the wicked forsake
his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly
pardon" (Isa. 55:7). We must believe the naked promise, and not accept
feeling for faith. When we trust God fully, when we rely upon the merits
(righteousness) of Jesus as a sin-pardoning Saviour, we shall receive all the
help that we can desire. {1SM 351.1}
We look to self, as though we had power to save ourselves; but Jesus died for
us because we are helpless to do this. In Him is our hope, our justification,
our righteousness. We should not despond, and fear that we have no Saviour, or
that He has no thoughts of mercy toward us. At this very time
He is carrying on His work in our behalf, inviting us to come to Him in our
helplessness and be saved. We dishonor Him by our unbelief. It is astonishing
how we treat our very best Friend, how little confidence we repose in Him who is able to save to the uttermost, and who has given us every
evidence of His great love. {1SM 351.2}
My brethren, are you expecting that your merit (righteousness) will recommend
you to the favor of God, thinking that you must be free from sin before you
trust His power to save? If this is the struggle going on in your mind, I fear
you will gain no strength, and will finally become discouraged.
{1SM 351.3}
Look and Live
In the
wilderness, when the Lord permitted poisonous serpents to sting the rebellious
Israelites, Moses was directed to lift up a brazen
serpent and bid all the wounded look to it and live. But many saw no help in
this Heaven-appointed remedy. The dead and dying were all around them, and they
knew that without divine help their fate was certain; but they would lament
their wounds, their pains, their sure death, until their strength was gone, and
their eyes were glazed, when they might have had instant healing. {1SM 352.1}
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," even so was
"the Son of man ... lifted up: that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14,
15). If you are conscious of your sins, do not devote all your powers to
mourning over them, but look and live. Jesus is our only Saviour; and although
millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who
trusts in His merits (righteousness) will be left to perish. While we realize
our helpless condition without Christ, we must not be discouraged; we must rely
upon a crucified and risen Saviour. Poor, sin-sick, discouraged soul, look and
live. Jesus has pledged His word; He will save all who come unto Him. {1SM
352.2}
Come to Jesus, and receive rest and peace. You may
have the blessing even now. Satan suggests that you are helpless,
and cannot bless yourself. It is true; you are helpless. But lift up
Jesus before him: "I have a risen Saviour. In Him I trust, and He will
never suffer me to be confounded. In His name I triumph. He is my
righteousness, and my crown of rejoicing." Let no one here feel that his
case is hopeless; for it is not. You may see that you are sinful and undone;
but it is just on this account that you need a Saviour. If you have sins to
confess, lose no time. These moments are golden. "If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Those who hunger and thirst after
righteousness will be filled;
for Jesus has promised it. Precious Saviour! His arms are open to receive us,
and His great heart of love is waiting to bless us. {1SM 352.3}
Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord
that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But 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. {1SM 353.1}
Repentance a Gift of God
Repentance, as well as forgiveness, is the gift of God
through Christ. It is through the influence of the Holy Spirit that we are
convicted of sin, and feel our need of pardon. None
but the contrite are forgiven; but it is the grace of God that makes the heart
penitent. He is acquainted with all our weaknesses and infirmities, and He will
help us. {1SM 353.2}
Some who come to God by repentance and confession, and even believe that their
sins are forgiven, still fail of claiming, as they should, the promises of God.
They do not see that Jesus is an ever-present Saviour; and they are not ready
to commit the keeping of their souls to Him, relying upon Him to perfect the
work of grace begun in their hearts. While they think they are committing
themselves to God, there is a great deal of self-dependence. There are
conscientious souls that trust partly to God, and partly to themselves. They do
not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against
temptation, and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him.
There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons
toil to no purpose; their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest
until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus. {1SM 353.3}
There is need of constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving devotion; but
these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through
faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend ourselves to
divine favor. We must not trust at all to ourselves nor to our good works; but
when as erring, sinful beings we come to Christ, we may find rest in His love.
God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits
(righteousness) of a crucified Saviour. Love springs up in the heart.
There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust.
Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes
a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that
before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of
Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ is in the light. {1SM
353.4}
At the Kansas meeting my prayer to God was, that the power of the enemy might
be broken, and that the people who had been in darkness might open their hearts
and minds to the message that God should send them, that they might see the
truth, new to many minds, as old truth in new framework. The understanding of
the people of God has been blinded, for Satan has misrepresented the character
of God. Our good and gracious Lord has been presented before the people clothed
in the attributes of Satan, and men and women who have been seeking for truth,
have so long regarded God in a false light that it is difficult to dispel the
cloud that obscures His glory from their view. Many have been living in an
atmosphere of doubt, and it seems almost impossible for them to lay hold on the
hope set before them in the gospel of Christ. . . . {1SM 355.1}
On Sabbath, truths were presented that were new to the
majority of the congregation. Things new and old were
brought forth from the treasure house of God's Word. Truths were revealed which
the people were scarcely able to comprehend and appropriate. Light flashed from
the oracles of God in relation to the law and the gospel, in relation to the
fact that Christ is our righteousness, which seemed to souls who were hungry
for truth, as light too precious to be received. {1SM 355.2}
But the labors of the Sabbath were not in vain. On Sunday morning there was
decided evidence that the Spirit of God was working great changes in the moral
and spiritual condition of those assembled. There was a surrendering of the
mind and heart to God, and precious testimonies were borne by those who had
long been in darkness. One brother spoke of the struggle that he had
experienced before he could receive the good news that Christ is our
righteousness. The conflict was severe, but the Lord was at work with him, and
his mind was changed, and his strength renewed. The Lord presented the truth
before him in clear lines, revealing the fact that Christ alone is the source
of all hope and salvation. "In him was life; and the life was the light of
men." "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth" (John 1:4, 14). {1SM 356.1}
One of our young ministering brethren said that he had enjoyed more of the
blessing and love of God during that meeting than in all his life before.
Another stated that the trials, perplexities, and conflicts which he had
endured in his mind had been of such a character that he had been tempted to
give up everything. He had felt that there was no hope for him, unless he could
obtain more of the grace of Christ; but through the influence of the meetings
he had experienced a change of heart, and had a better
knowledge of salvation through faith in Christ. He saw that it was his
privilege to be justified by faith; he had peace with God, and with tears
confessed what relief and blessing had come to his soul. At every social
meeting many testimonies were borne as to the peace, comfort, and joy the
people had found in receiving light.
{1SM 356.2}
We thank the Lord with all the heart that we have precious light to present
before the people, and we rejoice that we have a message for this time which is
present truth. The tidings that Christ is our righteousness has brought relief
to many, many souls, and God says to His people, "Go forward." The
message to the Laodicean church is applicable to our condition. How plainly is
pictured the position of those who think they have all the truth, who take
pride in their knowledge of the Word of God, while its sanctifying power has
not been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of God is wanting in their
hearts, but it is this very fervor of love that makes God's people the light of
the world. {1SM 357.1}
The Laodicean Message
The True Witness says of a cold, lifeless, Christless church, "I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth"
(Rev. 3:15, 16). Mark the following words: "Because thou sayest, I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked"
(Rev. 3:17). Here is represented a people who pride themselves in their
possession of spiritual knowledge and advantages. But they have not responded
to the unmerited blessings that God has bestowed upon them. They have been full
of rebellion, ingratitude, and forgetfulness of God; and still He has dealt
with them as a loving, forgiving father deals with an ungrateful, wayward son.
They have resisted His grace, abused His privileges, slighted His
opportunities, and have been satisfied to sink down in contentment, in
lamentable ingratitude, hollow formalism, and hypocritical insincerity. With
Pharisaic pride they have vaunted themselves till it has been said of them,
"Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing." {1SM 357.2}
Has not the Lord Jesus sent message after message of
rebuke, of warning, of entreaty to these self-satisfied ones? Have not His
counsels been despised and rejected? Have not His delegated messengers been
treated with scorn, and their words been received as idle tales? Christ sees
that which man does not see. He sees the sins which, if not repented of, will
exhaust the patience of a long-suffering God. Christ cannot take up the names
of those who are satisfied in their own self-sufficiency. He cannot importune
in behalf of a people who feel no need of His help, who claim to know and
possess everything. {1SM 357.3}
The great Redeemer represents Himself as a heavenly merchantman, laden with
riches, calling from house to house, presenting His priceless goods, and
saying, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou
mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that
thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore,
and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and
will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:18-20). {1SM 358.1}
Let us consider our condition before God; let us heed the counsel of the True
Witness. Let none of us be filled with prejudice, as were the Jews, that light
may not come into our hearts. Let it not be necessary for Christ to say of us
as He did of them, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life"
(John 5:40). {1SM 358.2}
In every meeting since the General Conference, souls have eagerly accepted the
precious message of the righteousness of Christ. We thank God that there are
souls who realize that they are in need of something
which they do not possess--gold of faith and love, white raiment of Christ's
righteousness, eyesalve of spiritual discernment. If you possess these precious
gifts, the temple of the human soul will not be like a desecrated shrine.
Brethren and sisters, I call upon you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
to work where God works. Now is the day of gracious opportunity and privilege.
{1SM 358.3}
A Message From God
[DRAWN
FROM REPORT OF THE CAMP MEETING AT ROME, NEW YORK.]
The
present message--justification by faith--is a message from God; it bears the
divine credentials, for its fruit is unto holiness. Some who greatly need the
precious truth that was presented before them, we fear did not receive its
benefit. They did not open the door of their hearts to welcome Jesus as a
heavenly guest, and they have suffered great loss. There is indeed a narrow way
in which we must walk; the cross is presented at every step. We must learn to
live by faith; then the darkest hours will be brightened by the blessed beams
of the Sun of Righteousness. {1SM 359.1}
We are not safe if we neglect to search the Scriptures daily for light and
knowledge. Earthly blessings cannot be obtained without toil, and can we expect
that spiritual
and heavenly blessings will come without earnest effort on our part? The mines
of truth are to be worked. Says the psalmist, "The entrance of thy words
giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Ps. 119:130). The
Word of God must not be kept apart from our life. It must be entertained in the
mind, welcomed in the heart, and be cherished, loved, and obeyed. We need also
much more knowledge; we need to be enlightened in regard to
the plan of salvation. There is not one in one hundred who understands for
himself the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and
eternal welfare. 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. If we come to the Word of God with a
teachable, humble spirit, the rubbish of error will be swept away, and gems of
truth, long hidden from our eyes, will be discovered. {1SM 359.2}
There is great need that Christ should be preached as the only hope and
salvation. When the doctrine of justification by faith was presented at the
Rome meeting, it came to many as water comes to the thirsty traveler. The
thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any
merit (righteousness) on our part, but as a free gift
from God, seemed a precious thought.--The Review and Herald, Sept. 3,
1889. {1SM 360.1}
No Relish for Sin
When we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, we
shall have no relish for sin; for Christ will be working with us. We may make
mistakes, but we will hate the sin that caused the sufferings of the Son of
God.--The Review and Herald, March 18, 1890. {1SM 360.2}
Extreme Teaching
There are grand truths, long hidden under the rubbish
of error, that are to be revealed to the people. The doctrine of justification
by faith has been lost sight of by many who have professed to believe the third
angel's message. The
Holiness people have gone to great extremes on this point. With great zeal they
have taught, "Only believe in Christ, and be saved; but away with the law
of God." This is not the teaching of the Word of God. There is no
foundation for such a faith. This is not the precious gem of truth that God has
given to His people for this time. This doctrine misleads honest souls. The
light from the Word of God reveals the fact that the law must be proclaimed. Christ
must be lifted up, because He is a Saviour who forgiveth transgression, iniquity, and sin, but will by no
means clear the guilty and unrepentant soul.--The Review and Herald,
Aug. 13, 1889. {1SM 360.3}
The Message Bears Fruit
[ELLEN
G. WHITE REPORT OF THE FRUITAGE OF THE MESSAGE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
OBSERVED AT THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1889 IN BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER
18 TO NOVEMBER 5. REFERENCE TO THE SPIRIT MANIFEST AT MINNEAPOLIS IS TO THE
SITUATION WHICH GREW OUT OF AN APPROACH TO BIBLE STUDY, AT THE GENERAL
CONFERENCE OF 1888, HELD IN MINNEAPOLIS, IN AN ARGUMENTATIVE AND DEBATING
SPIRIT ACCOMPANIED ON THE PART OF SOME WITH CRITICISM AND
RIDICULE.--COMPILERS.]
We are
having most excellent meetings. The spirit that was in the meeting at
Minneapolis is not here. All moves off in harmony. There is a large attendance
of delegates. Our five o'clock morning meeting is well attended, and the
meetings good. All the testimonies to which I have listened have been of an
elevating character. They say that the past year has been the best of their
life; the light shining forth from the Word of God has been clear and
distinct--justification by faith, Christ our righteousness. The experiences
have been very interesting. {1SM 361.1}
I have attended all but two morning meetings. At eight o'clock Brother Jones
speaks upon the subject of justification by faith, and great interest is
manifested. There is a growth in faith and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. There are quite a number who have not had an opportunity
to hear upon this subject before, but they are taking it in, and are being fed
with large morsels from the Lord's table. The universal testimony from those
who have spoken has been that this message of light and truth which has come to
our people is just the truth for this time, and wherever they go among the
churches, light, and relief, and the blessing of God is sure to come in. {1SM
361.2}
We have a feast of fat things, and when we see souls grasping the light we are
rejoiced, looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Christ is the great pattern; His character must be our character. All excellence
is in Him. Turning from man and every other model, with open face we behold
Jesus in all His glory. And their minds are filled with the grand and
overpowering ideas of His excellency; every other object sinks into
insignificance, and every part of moral discipline is lost which does not
promote their likeness to His image. I see heights and depths that we may
reach, accepting every ray of light and going forward to a greater light. The
end is near, and God forbid that we shall be asleep at this time. {1SM 362.1}
I am so thankful to see with our ministering brethren a disposition to search
the Scriptures for themselves. There has been a very great lack of deep
searching of the Scriptures, storing the mind with the gems of truth. How much we
all lose because we do not put to the tax our minds to search with much prayer
for divine enlightenment to understand His Holy Word. {1SM 362.2}
I believe there will be a decided advance among our people, a more earnest
endeavor to keep pace with the third angel's message.--Manuscript 10, 1889.
{1SM 362.3}
The Beginning of the Loud Cry
Let every one who claims to
believe that the Lord is soon coming, search the Scriptures as never before;
for Satan is determined to try every device possible to keep souls in darkness,
and blind the mind to the perils of the times in which we are living. Let every
believer take up his Bible with earnest prayer, that he may be enlightened by
the Holy Spirit as to what is truth, that he may know more of God and of Jesus
Christ whom He has sent. Search for the truth as for hidden treasures,
and disappoint the enemy.
The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has
already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the
sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose
glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every
one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to
present Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as
manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given
to His disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men.
Search the Scriptures; for they are they that testify of Him. {1SM 362.4}
If you would stand through the time of trouble, you must know Christ, and
appropriate the gift of His righteousness, which He imputes to the repentant
sinner.--The Review and Herald, Nov. 22, 1892. {1SM 363.1}
Appropriating the Righteousness of Christ
Through Christ, restoration as well as reconciliation
is provided for man. The gulf that was made by sin has been spanned by the
cross of Calvary. A full, complete ransom has been paid by Jesus, by virtue of
which the sinner is pardoned, and the justice of the law is maintained. All who
believe that Christ is the atoning sacrifice may come and receive pardon for
their sins; for through the merit (righteousness) of Christ, communication has been
opened between God and man. God can accept me as His child, and I can claim Him
and rejoice in Him as my loving Father. We must center our hopes of heaven upon
Christ alone, because He is our substitute and surety. {1SM 363.2}
We have transgressed the law of God, and by the deeds of the law shall no flesh
be justified. The best efforts that man in his own strength can make, are
valueless to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed; but through
faith in Christ he may claim the righteousness of the Son of God as all-sufficient. Christ satisfied the demands of the law in His
human nature. He bore the curse of the law for the sinner, made an atonement
for him, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. Genuine faith appropriates the righteousness of Christ, and
the sinner is made an overcomer with Christ; for he is made a partaker of the
divine nature, and thus divinity and humanity are combined. {1SM 363.3}
He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law, is
attempting an impossibility. Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his
works should not be of himself; Christ should work in him to will and to do of
His good pleasure. If a man could save himself by his own works, he might have
something in himself in which to rejoice. The effort that man makes in his own
strength to obtain salvation, is represented by the offering of Cain. All that
man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin; but that which
is wrought through faith is acceptable to God. When we seek to gain heaven
through the merits (righteousness) of Christ, the soul makes progress. Looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we may go on from strength to
strength, from victory to victory; for through Christ the grace of God has
worked out our complete salvation. {1SM 364.1}
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Living faith enables its
possessor to lay hold on the merits (righteousness) of Christ, enables him to
derive great comfort and satisfaction from the plan of salvation.--The
Review and Herald, July 1, 1890. {1SM 364.2}
"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and
saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,
and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14,15). {1SM 365.1}
Repentance is associated with faith, and is urged in
the gospel as essential to salvation. Paul preached repentance. He said,
"I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you,
and have taught you publickly, and from house to
house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward
God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:20, 21). There is no
salvation without repentance. No impenitent sinner can believe with his heart
unto righteousness. Repentance is described by Paul as a godly sorrow for sin,
that "worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of" (2 Cor.
7:10). This repentance has in it nothing of the nature of merit, but it
prepares the heart for the acceptance of Christ as the only Saviour, the only
hope of the lost sinner. {1SM 365.2}
As the sinner looks to the law, his guilt is made plain to him, and pressed
home to his conscience, and he is condemned. His only comfort and hope is found in looking to
the cross of Calvary. As he ventures upon the promises, taking God at His word,
relief and peace come to his soul. He cries, "Lord, Thou hast promised to
save all who come unto Thee in the name of Thy Son. I am a lost, helpless,
hopeless soul. Lord, save, or I perish." His faith lays hold on Christ,
and he is justified before God. {1SM 365.3}
But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits
(righteousness) of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of
Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins, or
neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before
justification can take place; and in order for man to
retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living
faith that works by love and purifies the soul. {1SM 366.1}
James writes of Abraham and says, "Was not Abraham our father justified by
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture
was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him
for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by
works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:21-24). In order for man to be justified by faith, faith must reach
a point where it will control the affections and impulses of the heart; and it
is by obedience that faith itself is made perfect. {1SM 366.2}
Faith the Condition of Promise
Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a
hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace,
supernatural power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and
character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is
discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple. It is
through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated
with Him in the work of salvation. 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 (righteousness) of Christ, the remedy provided for sin. Faith can
present Christ's perfect obedience instead of the sinner's transgression and
defection. When the sinner believes that Christ is his personal Saviour, then,
according to His unfailing promises, God pardons his sin, and justifies him
freely. The repentant soul realizes that his justification comes because
Christ, as his substitute and surety, has died for him, is his atonement and
righteousness. {1SM 366.3}
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now
to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to
him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3-5).
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
in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring
to God the merits (righteousness) of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience
of His Son to the sinner's account. Christ's righteousness is accepted in place
of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant,
believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He
loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness; and the pardoned
soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light. He can say
with rejoicing, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7). {1SM 367.1}
Again: it is written, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God" (John 1:12, 13). Jesus declared, "Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:
5). It is not a low standard that is placed before us; for we are to become the
children of God. We are to be saved as individuals; and in the day of test and
trial we shall be able to discern between him that serveth God and him that
serveth Him not. We are saved as individual believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
{1SM 367.2}
Many 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. They seek to
make themselves better by their own unaided efforts. This they can never
accomplish. Christ has made the way by dying our sacrifice, by living our
example, by becoming our great high priest. He declares, "I am the way,
the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). If by an effort of our own we could
advance one step toward the ladder, the words of Christ would not be true. But
when we accept Christ, good works will appear as fruitful evidence that we are
in the way of life, that Christ is our way, and that we are treading the true
path that leads to heaven. {1SM 368.1}
He Becomes Our Righteousness
Christ looks at the spirit, and when He sees us
carrying our burden with faith, His perfect holiness atones for our
shortcomings. When we do our best, He becomes our righteousness. It takes every
ray of light that God sends to us to make us the light of the world.--Letter
22, 1889. [ORIGINALLY LISTED AS LETTER 33, THIS REFERENCE HAS BEEN RECLASSIFIED
AS LETTER 22, 1889. {1SM 368.2}
I spoke to the people of Otsego from the fourth and fifth verses of the second
chapter of Revelation: "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and
repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent"(Rev. 2:4, 5).
The people to whom these words are addressed have many excellent qualities,
which are recognized by the True Witness; "Nevertheless," He says,
"I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
Here is a want that will have to be supplied. All the other graces fail to make
up the deficiency. The church is counseled to "remember therefore from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come
unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except
thou repent. . . . He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Rev. 2:4-7). {1SM
369.1}
In these words are warnings, reproofs, threatenings, promises, from the True Witness, He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand. "The seven
stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which
thou sawest are the seven churches" (Rev. 1:20). {1SM 370.1}
When this church is weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, it is found
wanting, having left its first love. The True Witness declares, "I know
thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them
which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are
not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my
name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted" (Rev. 2:2, 3).
Notwithstanding all this, the church is found wanting. What is the fatal
deficiency?--"Thou hast left thy first love."
Is not this our case? Our doctrines may be correct; we may hate false doctrine, and may not receive those who are not true to
principle; we may labor with untiring energy; but even this is not sufficient.
What is our motive? Why are we called upon to repent?--"Thou hast left thy
first love." {1SM 370.2}
Let each member of the church study this important warning and reproof. Let
each one see if in contending for the truth, if in
debating on the theory, he has not lost the tender love of Christ. Has not
Christ been left out of the sermons, and out of the heart? Is there not danger
that many are going forward with a profession of the truth, doing missionary
work, while the love of Christ has not been woven into the labor? This solemn
warning from the True Witness means much; it demands that you shall remember
from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; "or
else," says the True Witness, "I will come unto thee quickly, and
will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Rev.
2:5). O that the church might realize its need of its first ardor of love! When
this is wanting, all other excellences are insufficient. The call to repentance
is one that cannot be disregarded without peril. A belief in the theory of the
truth is not enough. To present
this theory to unbelievers does not constitute you a witness for Christ. The
light that gladdened your heart when you first understood the message for this
time, is an essential element in your experience and labors, and this has been
lost out of your heart and life. Christ beholds your lack of zeal, and declares
that you have fallen, and are in a perilous position. {1SM 370.3}
Present Love and Law Together
In
presenting the binding claims of the law, many have failed to portray the
infinite love of Christ. Those who have so great truths, so weighty reforms to
present to the people, have not had a realization of the value of the atoning
Sacrifice as an expression of God's great love to man. Love for Jesus, and
Jesus' love for sinners, have been dropped out of the religious experience of
those who have been commissioned to preach the gospel, and self has been
exalted instead of the Redeemer of mankind. The law is to be presented to its
transgressors, not as something apart from God, but rather as an exponent of
His mind and character. As the sunlight cannot be separated from the sun, so
God's law cannot be rightly presented to man apart from the divine Author. The
messenger should be able to say, "In the law is God's will; come, see for
yourselves that the law is what Paul declared it to be--'holy, and just, and
good.' "It reproves sin, it condemns the sinner, but it shows him his need
of Christ, with whom is plenteous mercy and goodness and truth. Though the law
cannot remit the penalty for sin, but charges the sinner with all his debt,
Christ has promised abundant pardon to all who repent, and believe in His
mercy. The love of God is extended in abundance to the repenting, believing
soul. The brand of sin upon the soul can be effaced only through the blood of
the atoning Sacrifice. No less an offering was required than the sacrifice of
Him who was equal with the Father. The work of Christ--His life, humiliation,
death, and intercession for lost man--magnifies the law, and
makes it honorable. {1SM 371.1}
Many sermons preached upon the claims of the law have been without Christ, and
this lack has made the truth
inefficient in converting souls. Without the grace of Christ
it is impossible to take one step in obedience to the law of God. Then how
necessary that the sinner hear of the love and power of his Redeemer and
Friend! While the ambassador for Christ should plainly declare the claims of
the law, he should make it understood that none can be justified without the
atoning sacrifice of Christ. Without Christ there can be only condemnation and
a fearful looking for a fiery indignation, and final separation from the
presence of God. But he whose eyes have been opened to see the love of Christ,
will behold the character of God as full of love and compassion. God will not
appear as a tyrannical, relentless being, but as a father longing to embrace
his repenting son. The sinner will cry with the psalmist, "Like as a
father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him" (Ps. 103:13). All despair
is swept from the soul when Christ is seen in His true character. {1SM 371.2}
The Third Angel's Message in Verity
Some of
our brethren have expressed fears that we shall dwell too much upon the subject
of justification by faith, but I hope and pray that none will be needlessly
alarmed; for there is no danger in presenting this doctrine as it is set forth
in the Scriptures. If there had not been a remissness in the past to properly
instruct the people of God, there would not now be a necessity of calling a
special attention to it.... The exceeding great and precious promises given us
in the Holy Scriptures have been lost sight of to a great extent, just as the
enemy of all righteousness designed that they should be. He has cast his own
dark shadow between us and our God, that we may not see the true character of
God. The Lord has proclaimed Himself to be "merciful and gracious, long-suffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth." {1SM 372.1}
Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith
is the third angel's message, and I have answered, "It is the third
angel's message, in verity."-- The Review and Herald, April 1,
1890. {1SM 372.2}
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
. . . For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is
dead also" (James 2:24- 26). It is essential to have faith in Jesus, and
to believe you are saved through Him; but there is danger in taking the
position that many do take in saying, "I am saved." Many have said:
"You must do good works, and you will live"; but apart from Christ no
one can do good works. Many at the present day say, "Believe, only believe,
and live." Faith and works go together, believing and doing are blended.
The Lord requires no less of the soul now, than He required of Adam in Paradise
before he fell-- perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness. The requirement
of God under the covenant of grace is just as broad as the requirement He made
in Paradise--harmony with His law, which is holy, and just, and good. The
gospel does not weaken the claims of the law; it exalts the law and makes it
honorable. Under the New Testament, no less is required than was required under
the Old
Testament. Let no one take up
with the delusion so pleasant to the natural heart, that God will accept of
sincerity, no matter what may be the faith, no matter
how imperfect may be the life. God requires of His child perfect obedience.
{1SM 373.1}
In order to meet the requirements of the law, our faith must grasp the
righteousness of Christ, accepting it as our righteousness. Through union with
Christ, through acceptance of His righteousness by faith, we may be qualified
to work the works of God, to be colaborers with
Christ. If you are willing to drift along with the current of evil, and do not
cooperate with the heavenly agencies in restraining transgression in your
family, and in the church, in order that everlasting righteousness may be
brought in, you do not have faith. Faith works by love and purifies the soul.
Through faith the Holy Spirit works in the heart to create holiness therein;
but this cannot be done unless the human agent will work with Christ. We can be
fitted for heaven only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart; for
we must have Christ's righteousness as our credentials if we would find access
to the Father. In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need
daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the
divine nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to
sanctify the heart, to ennoble the whole man. {1SM 374.1}
Look to Jesus
Let the soul look to Jesus. "Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). No one will be
forced to look to Christ; but the voice of invitation is sounding in yearning
entreaty, "Look and live." In looking to Christ, we shall see that
His love is without a parallel, that He has taken the place of the guilty sinner, and has imputed unto him His spotless righteousness.
When the sinner sees his Saviour dying upon the cross under the curse of sin in
his stead, beholding His pardoning love, love awakes in his heart. The sinner
loves Christ, because Christ has first loved him, and
love is the fulfilling of the law. The repenting soul realizes that God
"is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." The Spirit of God works in the believer's soul, enabling
him to advance from one line of obedience to another, reaching on from strength
to greater strength, from grace to grace in Jesus Christ. {1SM 374.2}
God justly condemns all who do not make Christ their personal Saviour; but He
pardons every soul who comes to Him in faith, and enables him to work the works
of God, and through faith to be one with Christ. Jesus says of these, "I
in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one {this unity
brings perfection of character}; and that the world may know that thou hast
sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (John 17:23). The
Lord has made every provision whereby man may have full and free salvation, and be complete in Him. God designs that His
children shall have the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, that all may
have the light of truth. God has provided salvation for the world at infinite
cost, even through the gift of His only-begotten Son. The apostle asks,
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32). Then
if we are not saved, the fault will not be on the part of God, but on our part,
that we have failed to cooperate with the divine agencies. Our will has not
coincided with God's will. {1SM 375.1}
The Redeemer of the world clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might
reach humanity; for it took the divine and the human to bring into the world
the salvation that was needed by fallen man. Divinity needed humanity that
humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man. Man needs
a power out of and above himself to restore him to the likeness of God; but
because he needs divine aid, it does not make human activity unessential. Faith
on the part of man is required; for faith works by love and purifies the soul.
Faith lays hold upon the virtue of Christ. The Lord does
not design that human power should be paralyzed; but by cooperating with God,
the power of man may be efficient for good. God does not design that our will
should be destroyed; for it is through this very attribute that we are to
accomplish the work He would have us to do both at home and abroad. He has
given to every man his work; and every true worker sheds
forth light to the world, because he is united with God and Christ and heavenly
angels in the grand work of saving the lost. From divine association he becomes
more and more intelligent in working the works of God. In working out what
divine grace works in, the believer becomes spiritually great. He who works
according to his entrusted ability will become a wise builder for the Master;
for he is under the apprenticeship to Christ, learning to work the works of
God. He will not shun burdens of responsibility, for he will realize that each one
must lift in the cause of God to the extent of his ability, and he places
himself under the pressure of the work; but Jesus does not leave His willing
and obedient servant to be crushed. It is not the man who carries heavy
responsibilities in the cause of God who needs your pity, for he is faithful
and true in cooperation with God; and through union of divine and human effort,
the work is made complete. It is he who shuns responsibilities, who has no
realization of the privilege to which he is called, who is an object of pity.
{1SM 375.2}
Brother
A. T. Jones:
I was attending a meeting, and a large congregation
were present. In my dream you were presenting the subject of faith and the
imputed righteousness of Christ by faith. You repeated several times that works
amounted to nothing, that there were no conditions. The matter was presented in
that light that I knew minds would be confused, and
would not receive the correct impression in reference to faith and works, and I
decided to write to you. You state this matter too strongly. There are
conditions to our receiving justification and sanctification, and the righteousness
of Christ. I know your meaning, but you leave a wrong impression upon many
minds. While good works will not save even one soul, yet it is impossible for
even one soul to be saved without good works. God saves us under a law, that we
must ask if we would receive, seek if we would find, and knock if we would have
the door opened unto us.
{1SM 377.1}
Christ offers Himself as willing to save unto the uttermost all who come unto
Him. He invites all to come to Him. "Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out" (John 6:37). You look in reality upon
these subjects as I do, yet you make these subjects, through your expressions,
confusing to minds. And after you have expressed your mind radically in regard
to works, when questions are asked you upon this very subject, it is not lying
out in so very clear lines, in your own mind, and you cannot define the correct
principles to other minds, and you are yourself unable to make your statements
harmonize with your own principles and faith. {1SM 378.1}
The young man came to Jesus with the question, "Good Master, what shall I
do, that I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). And Christ saith unto
him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:
but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." He saith unto
Him, "Which?" Jesus quoted several, and the young man said unto Him,
"All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"
Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and
follow me." Here are conditions, and the Bible is full of conditions.
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he
had great possessions" (Matt. 19:17, 20, 21, 22). {1SM 378.2}
Points to Guard
Then when you say there are no conditions, and some
expressions are made quite broad, you burden the minds, and some cannot see
consistency in your expressions. They cannot see how they can harmonize these
expressions with the plain statements of the Word of God. Please guard these
points. These strong assertions in regard to works
never make our position any stronger. The expressions weaken our position, for
there are many who will consider you an extremist, and
will lose the rich lessons you have for them upon the very subjects they need
to know. . . . My brother, it is hard for the mind to comprehend
this point, and do not confuse any mind with ideas that will not harmonize with
the Word. Please to consider that under the teaching of Christ many of the
disciples were lamentably ignorant; but when the Holy Spirit that Jesus
promised came upon them and made the vacillating Peter the champion of faith,
what a transformation in his character! But do not lay one pebble, for a soul
that is weak in the faith to stumble over, in overwrought presentations or
expressions. Be ever consistent, calm, deep, and solid. Do not go to any
extreme in anything, but keep your feet on solid rock.
O precious, precious Saviour. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John
14:21). {1SM 378.3}
This is the true test--the doing of the words of Christ. And it is the evidence
of the human agent's love to Jesus, and he that doeth His will giveth to the
world the practical evidence of the fruit he manifests in obedience, in purity,
and in holiness of character. . . . {1SM 379.1}
O my brother, walk carefully with God. But remember that there are some whose
eyes are intently fixed upon you, expecting that you will overreach the mark,
and stumble, and fall. But if you keep in humility close to Jesus, all is well.
. . . {1SM 379.2}
There is no place in the school of Christ where we graduate. We are to work on
the plan of addition, and the Lord will work on the plan of multiplication. It
is through constant diligence that we will, through the grace of Christ, live
on the plan of addition, making our calling and election sure. . . . "For
if ye do these things ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10, 11).--Letter 44, 1893. {1SM 379.3}
No Compromise With Sin
Let my brethren be very careful how they present the
subject of faith and works before the people, lest minds
become confused. The people need to be urged to diligence in good works. They
should be shown how to be successful, how to be purified, and their offerings
may be fragrant before God. It is by virtue of the blood of Christ. Messages of
a decided character must be borne to the people. Men must go forth reproving,
rebuking every manner of evil. {1SM 379.4}
If there is given to the angel of any church a commission like unto that given
to the angel of the church of Ephesus, let the message be heard through human
agents rebuking carelessness, backsliding, and sin, that the people may be
brought to repentance and confession of sin. Never seek to cover sin; for in
the message of rebuke, Christ is to be proclaimed as the first and the last, He
who is all in all to the soul. {1SM 380.1}
His power awaits the demand of those who would overcome. The reprover is to
animate his hearers so that they shall strive for the mastery. He is to
encourage them to struggle for deliverance from every sinful practice, to be
free from every corrupt habit, even if his denial of self is like taking the
right eye, or separating the right arm from the body.
No concession or compromise is to be made to evil habits or sinful
practices.--Manuscript 26a, 1892. {1SM 380.2}
Cooperation With God
Man is to cooperate with God, employing every power
according to his God-given ability. He is not to be ignorant as to what are
right practices in eating and drinking, and in all the habits of life. The Lord
designs that His human agents shall act as rational, accountable beings in
every respect. . . . {1SM 380.3}
We cannot afford to neglect one ray of light God has given. To be sluggish in
our practice of those things which require diligence is to commit sin. The
human agent is to cooperate with God, and keep under
those passions which should be in subjection. To do this he must be unwearied
in his prayers to God, ever obtaining grace to control his spirit, temper, and
actions. Through the imparted grace of
Christ, he may be enabled to overcome. To be an overcomer means more than many
suppose it means. {1SM 380.4}
The Spirit of God will answer the cry of every penitent heart; for repentance
is the gift of God, and an evidence that Christ is drawing the soul to Himself.
We can no more repent of sin without Christ, than we can be pardoned without
Christ, and yet it is a humiliation to man with his human passion and pride to
go to Jesus straightway, believing and trusting Him for everything which he
needs. . . . {1SM 381.1}
Let no man present the idea that man has little or nothing to do in the great
work of overcoming; for God does nothing for man without his cooperation.
Neither say that after you have done all you can on your part, Jesus will help
you. Christ has said, "Without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).
From first to last man is to be a laborer together with God. Unless the Holy
Spirit works upon the human heart, at every step we shall stumble and fall.
Man's efforts alone are nothing but worthlessness; but cooperation with Christ
means a victory. Of ourselves we have no power to repent of sin. Unless we
accept divine aid we cannot take the first step toward
the Saviour. He says, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end" (Rev. 21:6) in the salvation of every soul. {1SM 381.2}
But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire every man to unwearied
diligence. We are to strive, wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be
overcome by the wily foe. For the power and grace with which we can do this comes
from God, and all the while we are to trust in Him, who is able to save to the
uttermost all who come unto God by Him. Never leave the impression on the mind
that there is little or nothing to do on the part of man; but rather teach man
to cooperate with God, that he may be successful in overcoming. {1SM 381.3}
Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank and position
before God. In the judgment the sentence pronounced is according to what has
been done or to what has been left undone (Matt. 25:34-40). {1SM 381.4}
Effort and labor are required on the part of the receiver
of God's grace; for it is the fruit that makes manifest what is the character
of the tree. Although the good works of man are of no more value without faith
in Jesus than was the offering of Cain, yet covered
with the merit (righteousness) of Christ, they testify {to} the worthiness of
the doer to inherit eternal life. That which is considered morality in the
world does not reach the divine standard and has no more merit before Heaven
than had the offering of Cain.--Manuscript 26a, 1892. {1SM 381.5}
While Submitting to the Holy Spirit
Everyone who has a realizing sense of what it means to be a Christian, will
purify himself from everything that weakens and defiles. All the habits of his
life will be brought into harmony with the requirements of the Word of truth,
and he will not only believe, but will work out his own salvation with fear and
trembling, while submitting to the molding of the Holy Spirit.--The Review
and Herald, March 6, 1888. {1SM 382.1}
Jesus Accepts Our Intentions
When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are
put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best
service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit. But He
will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him, and yet are disloyal to
His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear
a great deal more about works. Many are deceiving their own souls by living an
easygoing, accommodating, crossless religion. But
Jesus says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me."--The Signs of the Times, June 16,
1890. {1SM 382.2}
The third angel's message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the
fourth commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the great
center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel's
message. By many who have been engaged in the work for this time, Christ has
been made secondary, and theories and arguments have had first place. The glory
of God that was revealed to Moses in regard to the
divine character has not been made prominent. The Lord said to Moses, "I
will make all my goodness pass before thee" (Ex. 33:19). "And the
Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and
gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by
no means clear the guilty" (Ex. 34:6, 7). {1SM 383.1}
A veil has seemed to be before the eyes of many who have labored in the cause,
so that when they presented the law, they have not had views of Jesus, and have
not
proclaimed the fact that, where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound. It
is at the cross (Atonement) of Calvary that mercy and truth meet
together, where righteousness and peace kiss each other. The sinner must
ever look toward Calvary; and with the simple faith of a little child, he must
rest in the merits (righteousness) of Christ, accepting His righteousness and
believing in His mercy. Laborers in the cause of truth should present the
righteousness of Christ, not as new light but as precious light that has for a
time been lost sight of by the people. We are to accept Christ as our personal
Saviour, and He imputes unto us the righteousness of God in Christ. Let us
repeat and make prominent the truth that John has portrayed: "Herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). {1SM 383.2}
In the love of God has been opened the most marvelous vein of precious truth,
and the treasures of the grace of Christ are laid open before the church and
the world. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son..." (John 3:16). What love is this--what marvelous, unfathomable
love--that would lead Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners! What a
loss it is to the soul who understands the strong claims of the law, and who
yet fails to understand the grace of Christ which doth much more abound! It is
true that the law of God reveals the love of God when it is preached as the
truth in Jesus; for the gift of Christ to this guilty world must be largely
dwelt upon in every discourse. It is no wonder that hearts have not been melted
by the truth, when it has been presented in a cold and lifeless manner. No
wonder faith has staggered at the promises of God, when ministers and workers
have failed to present Jesus in His relation to the law of God. How often
should they have assured the people that "He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things?" (Rom. 8:32). {1SM 384.1}
Satan is determined that men shall not see the love of God, which led Him to
give His only-begotten Son to save the lost race; for it is the goodness of God
that leads men
to repentance. Oh, how shall we succeed in setting forth before the world the
deep, precious love of God? In no other way can we compass it than by
exclaiming, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1)! Let us say to
sinners, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world" (John 1:29)! By presenting Jesus as the representative of the
Father, we shall be able to dispel the shadow that Satan has cast upon our
pathway, in order that we shall not see the mercy and love of God's
inexpressible love as manifested in Jesus Christ. {1SM 384.2}
Look at the Cross
Look at the cross of Calvary. It is a standing pledge
of the boundless love, the measureless mercy, of the heavenly Father. O that
all might repent and do their first works. When the churches do this, they will
love God supremely and their neighbors as themselves. Ephraim will not envy
Judah, and Judah will not vex Ephraim. Divisions will then be healed, the harsh sounds of strife will no more be heard in
the borders of Israel. Through the grace freely given them of God, all will
seek to answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples should be one, even as
He and the Father are one. Peace, love, mercy, and benevolence will be the abiding
principles of the soul. The love of Christ will be the theme of every tongue,
and it will no more be said by the True Witness, "I have somewhat against
thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Rev. 2:4). The people of God
will be abiding in Christ, the love of Jesus will be revealed, and one Spirit
will animate all hearts, regenerating and renewing all in the image of Christ,
fashioning all hearts alike. As living branches of the True Vine, all will be
united to Christ, the living head. Christ will abide in every heart, guiding,
comforting, sanctifying, and presenting to the world the unity of the
followers of Jesus, thus bearing testimony that the heavenly credentials are
supplied to the remnant church. In the oneness of Christ's church
it will be proved that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world.
{1SM 385.1}
When God's people are one in the unity of the Spirit, all of
Phariseeism, all of self-righteousness, which was the
sin of the Jewish nation, will be expelled from all hearts. The mold of Christ
will be upon each individual member of His body, and His people will be new
bottles into which He can pour His new wine, and the new wine will not break
the bottles. God will make known the mystery which hath been hidden for ages.
He will make known what are the "riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27)
{verses 28, 29 also quoted}. {1SM 386.1}
Jesus came to impart to the human soul the Holy Spirit, by which the love of
God is shed abroad in the heart; but it is impossible to endow men with the
Holy Spirit, who are set in their ideas, whose doctrines are all stereotyped
and unchangeable, who are walking after the traditions and commandments of men,
as were the Jews in the time of Christ. They were very punctilious in the
observances of the church, very rigorous in following their forms, but they
were destitute of vitality and religious devotion. They were represented by
Christ as like the dry skins which were then used as bottles. The gospel of
Christ could not be placed in their hearts; for there was no room to contain
it. They could not be the new bottles into which He could pour His new wine.
Christ was obliged to seek elsewhere than among the scribes and the Pharisees
for bottles for His doctrine of truth and life. He must find men who were
willing to have regeneration of heart. He came to give to men new hearts. He
said, "A new heart also will I give you." But the self-righteous of
that day and of this day feel no need of having a new heart. Jesus passed by
the scribes and the Pharisees, for they felt no need of a Saviour. They were
wedded to forms and ceremonies. These services had been instituted by Christ;
they had been full of vitality and spiritual beauty; but the Jews had lost the
spiritual life from their ceremonies, and clung to the
dead forms after spiritual life was extinct among them. When they departed from
the requirements and commandments of God, they sought to supply the
place of that which they had lost, by multiplying their own requirements, and
making more rigorous demands than had God; and the more rigid they grew, the
less of the love and Spirit of God they manifested. Christ said to the people:
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: all therefore
whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their
works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be
borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they
themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works
they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge
the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the
chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called
of men, Rabbi, Rabbi." "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Matt.
23:2-7, 23). {1SM 386.2}
The remnant church is called to go through an experience similar
to that of the Jews; and the True Witness, who walks up and down in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks, has a solemn message to bear to His
people. He says, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy
first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Rev. 2:4, 5). The love
of God has been waning in the church, and as a result, the love of self has
sprung up into new activity. With the loss of love for God there has come the
loss of love for the brethren. The church may meet all the description that is
given of the Ephesian church, and yet fail in vital godliness. Of them Jesus
said, "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou
canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience,
and for my name's
sake hast laboured, and hast not
fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love" (Rev. 2:2-4). {1SM 387.1}
A legal religion has been thought quite the correct religion for this time. But
it is a mistake. The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those
who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never
lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless
religion. When fastings and prayers are practiced in
a self-justifying spirit, they are abominable to God. The solemn assembly for
worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the
imposed sacrifice-- all proclaim to the world the testimony that the doer of
these things considers himself righteous. These things call attention to the
observer of rigorous duties, saying, This man is entitled to heaven. But it is
all a deception. Works will not buy for us an entrance into heaven. The one
great Offering that has been made is ample for all who will believe. The love
of Christ will animate the believer with new life. He who drinks from the water
of the fountain of life, will be filled with the new wine of the kingdom. Faith
in Christ will be the means whereby the right spirit and motive will actuate
the believer, and all goodness and heavenly-mindedness will proceed from him
who looks unto Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith. Look up to God,
look not to men. God is your heavenly Father who is willing patiently to bear
with your infirmities, and to forgive and heal them. "This is life
eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent" (John 17:3). By beholding Christ, you will become changed,
until you will hate your former pride, your former vanity and self-esteem, your
self-righteousness and unbelief. You will cast these sins aside as a worthless
burden, and walk humbly, meekly, trustfully, before God. You will practice
love, patience, gentleness, goodness, mercy, and every grace that dwells in the
child of God, and will at last find a place among the
sanctified and holy. {1SM 388.1}
When God pardons the sinner, remits the punishment he deserves, and treats him
as though he had not sinned, He receives him into divine favor, and justifies
him through the merits of Christ's righteousness. The sinner can be justified
only through faith in the atonement made through God's dear Son, who became a
sacrifice for the sins of the guilty world. No one can be justified by any
works of his own. He can be delivered from the guilt of sin, from the
condemnation of the law, from the penalty of transgression, only by virtue of
the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Faith is the only condition
upon which justification can be obtained, and faith includes not only belief
but trust. {1SM 389.1}
Many have a nominal faith in Christ, but they know nothing of that vital
dependence upon Him which appropriates the merits (righteousness) of a
crucified and risen Saviour. Of this nominal faith James says: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the
devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? (James 2:19, 20). Many concede that Jesus Christ is the
Saviour of the world, but at the same
time they hold themselves away from Him, and fail to repent of their sins, fail
to accept of Jesus as their personal Saviour. Their faith is simply the assent
of the mind and judgment to the truth; but the truth is not brought into the
heart, that it might sanctify the soul and transform the character. "For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover
whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Rom. 8:29, 30).
Calling and justification are not one and the same thing. Calling is the
drawing of the sinner to Christ, and it is a work wrought by the Holy Spirit
upon the heart, convicting of sin, and inviting to repentance. {1SM 389.2}
Many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the work of
salvation. Repentance is thought to be a work the sinner must do for himself in
order that he may come to Christ. They think that the sinner must procure for
himself a fitness in order to obtain the blessing of God's grace. But while it
is true that repentance must precede forgiveness, for it is only the broken and
contrite heart that is acceptable to God, yet the sinner cannot bring himself
to repentance, or prepare himself to come to Christ. Except the sinner repent,
he cannot be forgiven; but the question to be decided is as to whether
repentance is the work of the sinner or the gift of Christ. Must the sinner
wait until he is filled with remorse for his sin before he can come to Christ?
The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Spirit of
God; as man responds to this drawing, he advances toward Christ in order that
he may repent. {1SM 390.1}
The sinner is represented as a lost sheep, and a lost sheep never returns to
the fold unless he is sought after and brought back to the fold by the
shepherd. No man of himself can repent, and make
himself worthy of the blessing of justification. The Lord Jesus is constantly
seeking to impress the sinner's mind and attract him to behold Himself, the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.
We cannot take a step toward spiritual life save as Jesus draws and strengthens
the soul, and leads us to experience that repentance
which needeth not to be repented of. {1SM 390.2}
When before the high priests and Sadducees, Peter clearly presented the fact
that repentance is the gift of God. Speaking of Christ, he said, "Him hath
God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give
repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5: 31). Repentance is
no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification, and it cannot be
experienced except as it is given to the soul by Christ. If we are drawn to
Christ, it is through His power and virtue. The grace of contrition comes
through Him, and from Him comes justification. {1SM 391.1}
The Meaning of Faith
Paul writes: "But the righteousness which is of
faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into
heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into
the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it?
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word
of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:6-10). {1SM
391.2}
The faith that is unto salvation is not a casual faith, it is not the mere
consent of the intellect, it is belief rooted in the heart, that embraces
Christ as a personal Saviour, assured that He can save unto the uttermost all
that come unto God by Him. To believe that He will save others,
but will not save you is not genuine faith; but when the soul lays hold
upon Christ as the only hope of salvation, then genuine faith is manifested.
This faith leads its possessor to place all the affections of the soul upon
Christ; his understanding is under the control of the Holy Spirit, and his
character is molded after the divine likeness. His faith is not a dead faith,
but a faith that works by love, and
leads him to behold the beauty of Christ, and to become assimilated to the
divine character. {Deut. 30:11-14 quoted.} "And the Lord thy God will
circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live" (Deut.
30:6). {1SM 391.3}
It is God that circumcises the heart. The whole work is the Lord's from the
beginning to the end. The perishing sinner may say: "I am a lost sinner;
but Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. He says, 'I came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Mark 2:17). I am a sinner,
and He died upon Calvary's cross to save me. I need not remain a moment longer
unsaved. He died and rose again for my justification, and He will save me now.
I accept the forgiveness He has promised." {1SM 392.1}
Imputed Righteousness
Christ is a risen Saviour; for, though He was dead, He
has risen again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. We are to believe
with the heart unto righteousness, and with the mouth make confession unto
salvation. Those who are justified by faith will make confession of Christ.
"He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life" (John 5:24). The great work that is wrought for the
sinner who is spotted and stained by evil is the work of justification. By Him
who speaketh truth he is declared righteous. The Lord imputes unto the believer
the righteousness of Christ and pronounces him righteous before the universe.
He transfers his sins to Jesus, the sinner's representative, substitute, and
surety. Upon Christ He lays the iniquity of every soul that believeth. "He
hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). {1SM 392.2}
Christ made satisfaction for the guilt of the whole world, and all who will
come to God in faith, will receive the righteousness of Christ, "who his
own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1
Peter 2:24). Our sin has been expiated, put away, cast into the depths of the
sea. Through repentance and faith we are rid of sin,
and look unto the Lord our righteousness. Jesus suffered, the just for the
unjust. {1SM 392.3}
Although as sinners we are under the condemnation of the law, yet Christ by His
obedience rendered to the law, claims for the repentant soul the merit of His own
righteousness. In order to obtain the righteousness of Christ, it is necessary
for the sinner to know what that repentance is which works a radical change of
mind and spirit and action. The work of transformation must begin in the heart, and manifest its power through every faculty of the
being; but man is not capable of originating such a repentance as this, and can
experience it alone through Christ, who ascended up on high, led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men. {1SM 393.1}
Who is desirous of becoming truly repentant? What must he do?--He must come to
Jesus, just as he is, without delay. He must believe
that the word of Christ is true, and, believing the promise, ask, that he may
receive. When sincere desire prompts men to pray, they will not pray in vain.
The Lord will fulfill His word, and will give the Holy
Spirit to lead to repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will pray and watch, and put away his sins, making manifest his sincerity by
the vigor of his endeavor to obey the commandments of God. With prayer he will
mingle faith, and not only believe in but obey the precepts of the law. He will
announce himself as on Christ's side of the question. He will renounce all
habits and associations that tend to draw the heart from God. {1SM 393.2}
He who would become a child of God must receive the truth that repentance and
forgiveness are to be obtained through nothing less than the atonement of
Christ. Assured of this the sinner must put forth an effort in harmony with the
work done for him, and with unwearied entreaty he must supplicate the throne of
grace, that the renovating power of God may come into his soul. Christ
pardons none but the penitent, but whom He pardons He first makes penitent. The
provision made is complete, and the eternal righteousness of Christ is placed
to the account of every believing soul. The costly, spotless robe, woven in the
loom of heaven, has been provided for the repenting, believing sinner, and he
may say: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in
my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered
me with the robe of righteousness" (Isa. 61:10). {1SM 393.3}
Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from
sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our
command. We are to draw from the well of salvation. Christ is the end of law
for righteousness to everyone who believeth. In ourselves we are sinners; but
in Christ we are righteous. Having made us righteous through the imputed
righteousness of Christ, God pronounces us just, and treats us as just. He
looks upon us as His dear children. Christ works against the power of sin, and
where sin abounded, grace much more abounds. "Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1, 2). {1SM 394.1}
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his
blood (Atonement), to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth
in Jesus" (Rom. 3:24-26). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). {John 1:14-16
quoted.} {1SM 394.2}
The Promise of the Spirit
The Lord would have His people sound in the faith--
not ignorant of the great salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are
not to look forward, thinking
that at some future time a great work is to be done for them; for the work is
now complete. The believer is not called upon to make his peace with God; he
never has nor ever can do this. He is to accept Christ as his peace, for with
Christ is God and peace. Christ made an end of sin, bearing its heavy curse in
His own body on the tree, and He hath taken away the curse from all those who
believe in Him as a personal Saviour. He makes an end of the controlling power
of sin in the heart, and the life and character of the believer testify to the
genuine character of the grace of Christ. To those that ask Him, Jesus imparts
the Holy Spirit; for it is necessary that every believer should be delivered
from pollution, as well as from the curse and condemnation of the law. Through
the work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer
becomes fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His
righteousness is upon us. Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We
would not enjoy heaven unless qualified for its holy atmosphere by the
influence of the Spirit and the righteousness of Christ. {1SM 394.3}
In order to be candidates for heaven we must meet the requirement of the law:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as
thyself" (Luke 10:27). We can do this only as we grasp by faith the
righteousness of Christ. By beholding Jesus we receive
a living, expanding principle in the heart, and the Holy Spirit carries on the
work, and the believer advances from grace to grace, from strength to strength,
from character to character. He conforms to the image of Christ, until in
spiritual growth he attains unto the measure of the full stature in Christ
Jesus. Thus Christ makes an end of the curse of sin,
and sets the believing soul free from its action and effect. {1SM 395.1}
Christ alone is able to do this, for "in all things it behoved him to be
made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people. For in that he himself hath suffered being
tempted, he is able to succour them that are
tempted" (Heb. 2:17, 18). Reconciliation means that every barrier between
the soul and God is removed, and that the sinner realizes what the pardoning
love of God means. By reason of the sacrifice made by Christ for fallen men,
God can justly pardon the transgressor who accepts the merits of Christ. Christ
was the channel through which the mercy, love, and righteousness might flow
from the heart of God to the heart of the sinner. "He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1
John 1:9). {1SM 395.2}
In the prophecy of Daniel it was recorded of Christ
that He shall "make reconciliation for iniquity, and . . . bring in
everlasting righteousness" (Dan. 9:24). Every soul may say: "By His
perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is
found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law
perfectly for me. By faith in His merits (righteousness) I am free from the
condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers
all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting
righteousness. He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread
was woven by any human agent. All is of Christ, and all the glory, honor, and
majesty are to be given to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."
{1SM 396.1}
Many think that they must wait for a special impulse
in order that they may come to Christ; but it is necessary only to come in
sincerity of purpose, deciding to accept the offers of mercy and grace that
have been extended to us. We are to say: "Christ died to save me. The
Lord's desire is that I should be saved, and I will come to Jesus just as I am
without delay. I will venture upon the promise. As Christ draws me, I will
respond." The apostle says, "With the heart man believeth unto
righteousness" (Rom. 10:10). No one can believe with the heart unto
righteousness, and obtain justification by faith, while continuing the practice
of those things which the Word of God forbids, or while neglecting any known
duty.
{1SM 396.2}
Good Works the Fruit of Faith
Genuine
faith will be manifested in good works; for good works are the fruits of faith.
As God works in the heart, and man surrenders his will to God, and cooperates
with God, he works out in the life what God works in by the Holy Spirit, and
there is harmony between the purpose of the heart and the practice of the life.
Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of
life and glory, and the believer must have a progressive experience by
continually doing the works of Christ. It is by continual surrender of the
will, by continual obedience, that the blessing of justification is retained.
{1SM 397.1}
Those who are justified by faith must have a heart to keep the way of the Lord.
It is an evidence that a man is not justified by faith when his works do not
correspond to his profession. James says, "Seest thou how faith wrought
with his works, and by works was his faith made perfect?" (James 2:22).
{1SM 397.2}
The faith that does not produce good works does not justify the soul. "Ye
see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only"
(James 2:24). "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). {1SM 397.3}
Imputation of the righteousness of Christ comes through justifying faith, and is the justification for which Paul so earnestly
contends. He says: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh
be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God. . . . Do we then make
void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Rom.
3:20-31). {1SM 397.4}
Grace is unmerited favor, and the believer is justified without any merit
(righteousness) of his own, without any claim to offer to God. He is justified
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, who stands in the courts of
heaven as the sinner's substitute and surety. But while he is justified because
of the merit (righteousness) of Christ, he is not free to work unrighteousness.
Faith works by love and purifies the soul. Faith buds and blossoms and bears a
harvest of precious fruit. Where faith is, good works appear. The sick are visited, the poor are cared for, the fatherless and the
widows are not neglected, the naked are clothed, the destitute are fed. Christ
went about doing good, and when men are united with Him, they love the children
of God, and meekness and truth guide their footsteps. The expression of the
countenance reveals their experience, and men take knowledge of them that they
have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Christ and the believer become one,
and His beauty of character is revealed in those who are vitally connected with
the Source of power and love. Christ is the great depositary of justifying
righteousness and sanctifying grace. {1SM 398.1}
All may come to Him, and receive of His fullness. He
says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Then why not cast aside all unbelief and
heed the words of Jesus? You want rest; you long for peace. Then say from the
heart, "Lord Jesus, I come, because Thou hast given me this
invitation." Believe in Him with steadfast faith, and He will save you.
Have you been looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith?
Have you been beholding Him who is full of truth and grace? Have you accepted
the peace which Christ alone can give? If you have not, then yield to Him, and
through His grace seek for a character that will be noble and elevated. Seek
for a constant, resolute, cheerful spirit. Feed on Christ, who is the bread of
life, and you will manifest His loveliness of character and spirit. {1SM 398.2}
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John
3:16). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The righteousness of
Christ, as a pure white pearl, has no defect, no stain, no guilt. This
righteousness may be ours. Salvation, with its blood-bought, inestimable
treasures, is the pearl of great price. It may be searched for and found. But
all who really find it will sell all they have to buy it. They give evidence
that they are one with Christ, as He is one with the Father. In the parable the
merchantman is represented as selling all that he had to gain possession of one
pearl of great price. This is a beautiful representation of those who
appreciate the truth so highly that they give up all they have
to come into possession of it. They lay hold by faith of the salvation
provided for them at the sacrifice of the only-begotten Son of God. {1SM 399.1}
There are some who are seeking, always seeking, for the goodly pearl. But they
do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self
that Christ may live in them. Therefore they do not
find the precious
pearl. They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for worldly
attractions. They do not lift the cross, and follow
Christ in the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice. They never know what it
is to have peace and harmony in the soul; for without entire surrender there is
no rest, no joy. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near
the kingdom of heaven, but they do not enter therein. Almost but not wholly
saved means to be not almost but wholly lost. {1SM 399.2}
A daily consecration to God brings peace and rest. The merchant sold all that
he had to possess the pearl. When those who are seeking for salvation refuse to
fail or be discouraged, they will find peace and rest in the Lord. Christ will
clothe them with His righteousness. He will provide them with a clean heart and
a renewed mind. These blessings cost the life of the Son of God,
and are freely offered to those for whom the sacrifice was made. But how
do many treat the proffered gift?--They turn away, choosing rather the
pleasures of this life. Christ says of them, "Ye will not come to me, that
ye might have life" (John 5:40). {1SM 400.1}
Sinners are under a fearful deception. They despise and reject the Saviour.
They do not realize the value of the pearl offered to them, and cast it away,
rendering to their Redeemer only insult and mockery. Many a woman decks herself
with rings and bracelets, thinking to gain admiration, but she refuses to
accept the pearl of great price, which would secure for her sanctification,
honor, and eternal riches. What an infatuation is upon the minds of many! They
are more charmed with earthly baubles, which glitter and shine, than with the
crown of immortal life, God's reward for loyalty. "Can a maid forget her
ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without
number" (Jer. 2:32). {1SM 400.2}
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and
without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life
was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The
same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him
might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to
bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth
every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:1-9). {1SM 401.1}
The question has been asked me, "Do you think that the Lord has any more light for us as a people?" I answer that He has
light that is new to us, and yet it is precious old light that is to shine
forth from the Word of truth. We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the
light that is yet to come to us. We are not making the most of the light which
the Lord has already given us, and thus we
fail to receive the increased light; we do not walk in light already shed upon
us. {1SM 401.2}
We call ourselves commandment-keeping people, but we do not comprehend the
exceeding breadth of the far-reaching principles of the law of God; we do not
understand its sacred character. Many who claim to be teachers of the truth,
have no real conception of what they are doing in teaching the law of God,
because they do not have a living knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. {1SM
402.1}
As we read of Luther, Knox, and other noted Reformers, we admire the strength,
fortitude, and courage possessed by these faithful servants of God, and
we would catch the spirit that animated them. We desire to know from what
source they were out of weakness made strong. Although these great men were
used as instruments for God, they were not faultless. They were erring men, and made great mistakes. We should seek to imitate
their virtues, but we should not make them our criterion. These men possessed
rare talents to carry forward the work of the Reformation. They were moved upon
by a power above themselves; but it was not the men, the instruments that God
used, that should be exalted and honored, but the Lord Jesus who let His light
and power come upon them. Let those who love truth and righteousness, who
gather up the hereditary trusts given to these standard-bearers, praise God,
the Source of all light. {1SM 402.2}
If it should be announced that angel messengers were to open before men the
treasures of the knowledge which relate to heavenly things, what a stir would
it create in the Christian world! The atmosphere of heaven would be about the
messengers, and how eagerly would many listen to the
words that should fall from their lips! Men would write books calling attention
to the angels' words, but a greater Being than angels has been in our world;
the Lord Himself has come to reflect upon men the light of heaven. He has
announced Himself as one with the Father, full of grace and truth, God manifest
in the flesh. {1SM 402.3}
The Lord Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, gave His own life to
save perishing man, and, oh,
what light, what power, He brings with Him! In Him dwells all the fullness of
the Godhead, bodily. What a mystery of mysteries! It is difficult for the
reason to grasp the majesty of Christ, the mystery of redemption. The shameful
cross has been upraised, the nails have been driven through His hands and feet,
the cruel spear has pierced to His heart, and the redemption price has been
paid for the human race. The spotless Lamb of God bore
our sins in His own body upon the tree; He carried our sorrows. {1SM 402.4}
An Inexhaustible Theme
Redemption is an inexhaustible theme, worthy of our closest contemplation. It
passes the comprehension of the deepest thought, the stretch of the most vivid
imagination. Who by searching can find out God? The treasures of wisdom and
knowledge are opened to all men, and were thousands of
the most gifted men to devote their whole time to setting forth Jesus always
before us, studying how they might portray His matchless charms, they would
never exhaust the subject. {1SM 403.1}
Although great and talented authors have made known wonderful truths, and have
presented increased light to the people, still in our day we shall find new
ideas, and ample fields in which to work, for the theme of salvation is
inexhaustible. The work has gone forward from century to century, setting forth
the life and character of Christ, and the love of God as manifested in the
atoning sacrifice. The theme of redemption will employ the minds of the
redeemed through all eternity. There will be new and rich developments made
manifest in the plan of salvation throughout eternal ages. {1SM 403.2}
Were Jesus with us today, He would say to us as He did to His disciples,
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now"
(John 16:12). Jesus longed to open before the minds of His disciples deep and
living truths, but their earthliness, their clouded, deficient comprehension
made it impossible. They could not be benefited with great, glorious, solemn
truths. The want of
spiritual growth closes the door to the rich rays of light that shine from
Christ. We shall never reach a period when there is no increased light for us.
The sayings of Christ were always far-reaching in their import. Those who heard
His teachings with their preconceived opinions, could not take in the meaning
attached to His utterances. Jesus was the source, the originator of truth. {1SM
403.3}
The great themes of the Old Testament were misapprehended and misinterpreted,
and Christ's work was to expound the truth which had not been understood by
those to whom they had been given. The prophets had made the statements, but
the spiritual import of what they had written, was undiscovered by them. They
did not see the meaning of the truth. Jesus reproved His disciples for their
slowness of comprehension. Many of His precious lessons were lost to them,
because they did not understand the spiritual grandeur of His words. But He
promised that the Comforter should come, that the Spirit of truth should recall
these lost utterances to their minds. He gave them to understand that He had
left with them precious jewels of truth whose value they did not know. {1SM
404.1}
Precious Gems in Mines of Truth
After the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ,
His disciples listened with wonder and amazement to His lessons of truth; for
they seemed as new ideas to them; but He told them, "These are the words
which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you.... Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:44,
45). The truth is constantly unfolding and presenting new features to different
minds. All who dig in the mines of truth, will constantly discover rich and
precious gems. We are anxious that all who claim to believe the truth now open
before us, and especially those who take the responsibility of teaching the
truth to others, should have a clearer conception themselves of the
all-important significance of the themes of the Bible. {1SM 404.2}
Those who stand in vindication of the law of God, are in a position where they
need much of the Spirit of God. If
ministers are wanting in meekness, if they are easily irritated when opposed,
it is evident that they need divine enlightenment. Men must manifest the grace
of Christ as they labor for souls. The truth as it is in Jesus will have
altogether a different influence upon the minds of unbelievers, from that which
it has had when presented as a theory or as a controversial subject. {1SM
404.3}
If we do our very best to present the truth in its stirring character, crossing
the opinions and ideas of others, it will be misinterpreted, misapplied, and
misstated, to those who are entertaining error, in order to make it appear in
an objectionable light. There are few to whom you bring the truth, who have not
been drinking of the wine of Babylon. It is hard for them to comprehend the
truth, therefore the necessity of teaching it as it is in Jesus. {1SM 405.1}
Those who claim to be lovers of truth can afford to be meek and lowly of heart,
as was the Great Teacher. Those who have been diligently working in the mines
of God's Word, and have discovered the precious ore in
the rich veins of truth, in the divine mysteries that have been hidden for
ages, will exalt the Lord Jesus, the Source of all truth, by revealing in their
characters the sanctifying power of what they believe. Jesus and His grace must
be enshrined in the inner sanctuary of the soul. Then He will be revealed in
words, in prayer, in exhortation, in the presentation of sacred truth, for this
is the great secret of spiritual success. {1SM 405.2}
When self is woven into our labors, then the truth we bear to others does not
sanctify, refine, and ennoble our own hearts; it will not testify that we are
fit vessels for the Master's use. It is only through
fervent prayer that we may hold sweet fellowship with Jesus, and through this
blessed communion the words and the spirit are made fragrant with the spirit of
Christ. There is not a heart that will not bear watching. Jesus, the precious
Saviour, enjoined watchfulness. The oversight of self must not be relaxed for a
moment. The heart must be kept with diligence, for out of it are the issues of
life. Watch and discipline the thoughts, that you may not sin with your lips.
{1SM 405.3}
We want to understand the time in which we live. We do not half understand it.
We do not half take it in. My heart trembles in me when I think of what a foe
we have to meet, and how poorly we are prepared to
meet him. The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just
before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and
again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience
before the second coming of Christ--how the enemy sought every occasion to take
control of the minds of the Jews, and today he is seeking to blind the minds of
God's servants, that they may not be able to discern the precious truth.
{1SM 406.1}
When Christ came to our world, Satan was on the ground, and disputed every inch
of advance in His path from the manger to Calvary. Satan had accused God of
requiring self-denial of the angels, when He knew nothing of what it meant
Himself, and when He would not Himself make any self-sacrifice for others. This
was the
accusation that Satan made against God in heaven; and after the evil one was
expelled from heaven, he continually charged the Lord with exacting service
which He would not render Himself. Christ came to the world to meet these false
accusations, and to reveal the Father. We cannot conceive of the humiliation He
endured in taking our nature upon Himself. Not that in itself
it was a disgrace to belong to the human race, but He was the Majesty of
heaven, the King of glory, and He humbled Himself to become a babe and suffer
the wants and woes of mortals. He humbled Himself not to the highest position,
to be a man of riches and power, but though He was rich, yet for our sake He
became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. He took step after
step in humiliation. He was driven from city to city; for men would not receive
the Light of the world. They were perfectly satisfied with their position. {1SM
406.2}
Christ had given precious gems of truth, but men had bound them up in the
rubbish of superstition and error. He had imparted to them the words of life,
but they did not live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He
saw that the world could not find the word of God, for it was hidden by the
traditions of men. He came to place before the world the relative importance of
heaven and earth, and put truth in its own place.
Jesus alone could reveal the truth which it was necessary men should know in
order that they might obtain salvation. He only could place it in the framework
of truth, and it was His work to free it from error and to set it before men in
its heavenly light. {1SM 407.1}
Satan was roused to oppose Him, for had he not put forth every effort since the
Fall to make light appear darkness, and darkness light? As Christ sought to
place truth before the people in its proper relation to their salvation, Satan
worked through the Jewish leaders, and inspired them with enmity against the
Redeemer of the world. They determined to do all in their power to prevent Him
from making an impression upon the people. {1SM 407.2}
O how Christ longed, how His heart burned, to open to the priests the greater
treasures of the truth! But their minds had been cast in such a mold that it
was next to an
impossibility to reveal to them the truths relating to His kingdom. The
Scriptures had not been read aright. The Jews had been looking for the advent
of the Messiah, but they had thought He must come in all the glory that will
attend His second appearing. Because He did not come with all the majesty of a
king, they utterly refused Him. But it was not simply because He did not come
in splendor that they refused Him. It was because He was the embodiment of
purity, and they were impure. He walked the earth a man of spotless integrity.
Such a character in the midst of degradation and evil,
was out of harmony with their desires, and He was abused and despised. His spotless
life flashed light upon the hearts of men, and
discovered iniquity to them in its odious character. {1SM 407.3}
The Son of God was assaulted at every step by the powers of darkness. After His
baptism He was driven of the Spirit into the wilderness, and
suffered temptation for forty days. Letters have been coming in to me,
affirming that Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had,
He would have fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man's
nature, He could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, He
could not have been tempted as man has been. If it were not possible for Him to
yield to temptation, He could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that
Christ came to fight the battles as man, in man's behalf. His temptation and
victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker
of the divine nature. {1SM 408.1}
Divinity and Humanity United in Christ
In Christ, divinity and humanity were combined.
Divinity was not degraded to humanity; divinity held its place, but humanity by
being united to divinity withstood the fiercest test of temptation in the
wilderness. The prince of this world came to Christ after His long fast, when
He was an hungered, and suggested to Him to command
the stones to become bread. But the plan of God, devised for the salvation of
man, provided that Christ should know hunger, and
poverty, and every phase of man's
experience. He withstood the temptation, through the power that man may
command. He laid hold on the throne of God, and there is not a man or woman who
may not have access to the same help through faith in God. Man may become a
partaker of the divine nature; not a soul lives who may not summon the aid of
Heaven in temptation and trial. Christ came to reveal the source of His power,
that man might never rely on his unaided human capabilities. {1SM 408.2}
Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their being. They
must agonize on their knees before God for divine power. Christ came to be our
example, and to make known to us that we may be partakers of the divine nature.
How?--By having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust.
Satan did not gain the victory over Christ. He did not put his foot upon the
soul of the Redeemer. He did not touch the head though he bruised the heel.
Christ, by His own example, made it evident that man may stand in integrity.
Men may have a power to resist evil--a power that neither earth, nor death, nor
hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ
overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them. {1SM 409.1}
It was the work of Christ to present the truth in the framework of the gospel,
and to reveal the precepts and principles that He had given to fallen man.
Every idea He presented was His own. He needed not to borrow thoughts from any,
for He was the originator of all truth. He could present the ideas of prophets
and philosophers, and preserve His originality; for
all wisdom was His; He was the source, the fountain, of all truth. He was in
advance of all, and by His teaching He became the spiritual leader for all
ages. {1SM 409.2}
It was Christ that spoke through Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was
the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father. And all
through the generations of the past, Christ has spoken; Christ has led His
people, and has been the light of the world. When God chose Abraham as
a representative of His truth, He took him out of his country, and away from
his kindred, and set him apart. He desired to mold him after His own model. He
desired to teach him according to His own plan. The mold of the world's
teachers was not to be upon him. He was to be taught how to command his
children and his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord, to do
justice and judgment. This is the work that God would have us do. He would have
us understand how to govern our families, how to control our children, how to
command our households to keep the way of the Lord. {1SM 409.3}
John Called to a Special Work
John
was called to do a special work; he was to prepare the way of the Lord, to make
straight His paths. The Lord did not send him to the school of the prophets and
rabbis. He took him away from the assemblies of men to the desert, that he
might learn of nature and nature's God. God did not desire him to have the mold
of the priests and rulers. He was called to do a special work. The Lord gave
him his message. Did he go to the priests and rulers and ask if he might
proclaim this message?--No, God put him away from them that he might not be
influenced by their spirit and teaching. He was the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places
plain; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isa. 40:3-5). This is
the very message that must be given to our people; we are near the end of time,
and the message is, Clear the King's highway; gather out the stones; raise up a
standard for the people. The people must be awakened. It is no time now to cry peace
and safety. We are exhorted to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice
like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob
their sins" (Isa. 5:1). {1SM 410.1}
The light of the glory of God shone upon our
Representative, and this fact says to us that the glory of God may shine upon
us. With His human arm, Jesus encircled the race, and with His divine arm He
grasped the throne of the Infinite, connecting man with God, and earth with
heaven. {1SM 410.2}
The light of the glory of God must fall upon us. We need the holy unction from
on high. However intelligent, however learned a man may be, he is not qualified
to teach unless he has a firm hold on the God of Israel. He who is connected with Heaven will do the works of Christ. By
faith in God he will have power to move upon humanity. He will seek for the
lost sheep of the house of Israel. If divine power does not combine with human
effort, I would not give a straw for all that the greatest man could do. The
Holy Spirit is wanting in our work. Nothing frightens me more than to see the
spirit of variance manifested by our brethren. We are on dangerous ground when
we cannot meet together like Christians, and
courteously examine controverted points. I feel like fleeing from the place
lest I receive the mold of those who cannot candidly investigate the doctrines
of the Bible. {1SM 411.1}
Those who cannot impartially examine the evidences of a position that differs
from theirs, are not fit to teach in any department of God's cause. What we
need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without this, we are no more fitted to
go forth to the world than were the disciples after the crucifixion of their Lord.
Jesus knew their destitution, and told them to tarry
in Jerusalem until they should be endowed with power from on high. Every
teacher must be a learner, that his eyes may be anointed to see the evidences
of the advancing truth of God. The beams of the Sun of Righteousness must shine
into his own heart if he would impart light to others. {1SM 411.2}
No one is able to explain the Scriptures without the
aid of the Holy Spirit. But when you take up the Word of God with a humble,
teachable heart, the angels of God will be by your side to impress you with
evidences of the truth. When the Spirit of God rests upon you, there will be no
feeling of envy or jealousy in examining another's
position; there will be no spirit of accusation and criticism, such as Satan
inspired in the hearts of the Jewish leaders against Christ. As Christ said to
Nicodemus, so I say to you, "Ye must be born again." "Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:7, 3). You
must have the divine mold before you can discern the sacred claims of the
truth. Unless the teacher is a learner in the school of Christ, he is not
fitted to teach others. {1SM 411.3}
The Special Work of Ellen G. White
We
should come into a position where every difference will be melted away. If I
think I have light, I shall do my duty in presenting it. Suppose I consulted
others concerning the message the Lord would have me give to the people, the door
might be closed so that the light might not reach the ones to whom God had sent
it. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, "the whole multitude of the disciples
began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that
they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord:
peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among
the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and
said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones
would immediately cry out" (Luke 19:37-40). {1SM 412.1}
The Jews tried to stop the proclamation of the message that had been predicted
in the Word of God; but prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says, "Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the Lord" (Mal. 4:5). Somebody is to come in the spirit and power
of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say, "You are too earnest, you do
not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach
your message." {1SM 412.2}
There are many who cannot distinguish between the work of God and that of man.
I shall tell the truth as God gives it to me, and I say now, If you continue to
find fault, to have a spirit of variance, you will never know the truth, Jesus
said to His disciples, "I have yet many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). They were not in a
condition to appreciate sacred and eternal things; but Jesus promised to send
the Comforter, who would teach them all things, and bring all things to their
remembrance, whatsoever He had said unto them. Brethren, we must not put our
dependence in man. "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils:
for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isa. 2:22). You must hang your
helpless souls upon Jesus. It does not become us to drink from the fountain of
the valley, when there is a fountain in the mountain. Let us leave the lower
streams; let us come to the higher springs. If there is a point of truth that
you do not understand, upon which you do not agree, investigate, compare
scripture with scripture, sink the shaft of truth down deep into the mine of
God's Word. You must lay yourselves and your opinions on the altar of God, put
away your preconceived ideas, and let the Spirit of Heaven guide you into all
truth. {1SM 412.3}
My brother said at one time that he would not hear anything concerning the
doctrine we hold, for fear he should be convinced. He would not come to the meetings, or listen to the discourses; but he afterward
declared that he saw he was as guilty as if he had heard them. God had given
him an opportunity to know the truth, and He would hold him responsible for
this opportunity. There are many among us who are prejudiced against the
doctrines that are now being discussed. They will not come to hear, they will
not calmly investigate, but they put forth their objections in the dark. They
are perfectly satisfied with their position. "Thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy
of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that
thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Rev. 3:17-19). {1SM
413.1}
This scripture applies to those who live under the
sound of the message, but who will not come to hear it. How do you know but
that the Lord is giving fresh evidences of His truth, placing it in a new
setting, that the way of the Lord may be prepared? What plans have you been
laying that new light may be infused through the ranks of God's people? What
evidence have you that God has not sent light to His children? All
self-sufficiency, egotism, and pride of opinion must be put away. We must come
to the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him who is meek and
lowly of heart. Jesus did not teach His disciples as the rabbis taught theirs.
Many of the Jews came and listened as Christ revealed the mysteries of
salvation, but they came not to learn; they came to criticize, to catch Him in
some inconsistency, that they might have something with which to prejudice the
people. They were content with their knowledge, but the children of God must
know the voice of the True Shepherd. Is not this a time when it would be highly
proper to fast and pray before God? We are in danger of variance, in danger of
taking sides on a controverted point; and should we not seek God in
earnestness, with humiliation of soul, that we may know what is truth? {1SM
413.2}
Go Under the Fig Tree
Nathanael heard John as he pointed to the Saviour and
said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world" (John 1:29)! Nathanael looked at Jesus, but he was disappointed in
the appearance of the world's Redeemer. Could He who bore the marks of toil and
poverty be the Messiah? Jesus was a worker; He had toiled with humble
workingmen, and Nathanael went away. But he did not form his opinion decidedly
as to what the character of Jesus was. He knelt down
under a fig tree, inquiring of God if indeed this man was the Messiah. While he
was there, Philip came and said, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the
law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
But the word "Nazareth" again aroused his unbelief, and he said,
"Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" He was full of
prejudice, but Philip did not seek to combat his prejudice; he
simply said, "Come and
see." When Nathanael came into the presence of Jesus, Jesus said,
"Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael was
amazed. He said, "Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto
him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw
thee" (John 1:45, 46, 47, 48). {1SM 414.1}
Would it not be well for us to go under the fig tree to plead with God as to
what is truth? Would not the eye of God be upon us as it was upon Nathanael?
Nathanael believed on the Lord, and exclaimed, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of
God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I
said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest
thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of
God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:49-51). {1SM
415.1}
This is what we shall see if we are connected with
God. God wants us to depend upon Him, and not upon man. He desires us to have a
new heart; He would give us revealings of light from
the throne of God. We should wrestle with every difficulty, but when some
controverted point is presented, are you to go to man to find out his opinion,
and then shape your conclusions from his?--No, go to God. Tell Him what you
want; take your Bible and search as for hidden treasures. {1SM 415.2}
We Do Not Go Deep Enough
We do not go deep enough in our search for truth.
Every soul who believes present truth will be brought where he will be required
to give a reason of the hope that is in him. The people of God will be called
upon to stand before kings, princes, rulers, and great men of the earth, and
they must know that they do know what is truth. They
must be converted men and women. God can teach you more in one moment by His
Holy Spirit than you could learn from the great men of the earth. The universe
is looking upon the controversy that is going on upon the earth. At an infinite
cost, God has provided for every man an opportunity to
know that which will make him wise unto salvation. How eagerly do angels look
to see who will avail himself of this opportunity! {1SM 415.3}
When a message is presented to God's people, they should not rise
up in opposition to it; they should go to the Bible, comparing it with
the law and the testimony, and if it does not bear this test, it is not true.
God wants our minds to expand. He desires to put His grace upon us. We may have
a feast of good things every day; for God can open the whole treasure of heaven
to us. We are to be one with Christ as He is one with the Father, and the
Father will love us as He loves His Son. We may have the same help that Christ
had, we may have strength for every emergency; for God will be our front guard
and our rearward. He will shut us in on every side, and when we are brought
before rulers, before the authorities of the earth, we need not meditate
beforehand of what we shall say. God will teach us in the day of our need. Now
may God help us to come to the feet of Jesus and learn of Him, before we seek
to become teachers of others.
{1SM 416.1}
The Bible Our Creed
When God's Word is studied, comprehended, and obeyed, a
bright light will be reflected to the world; new truths, received and acted
upon, will bind us in strong bonds to Jesus. The Bible, and the Bible alone, is
to be our creed, the sole bond of union; all who bow to this Holy Word will be
in harmony. Our own views and ideas must not control our efforts. Man is
fallible, but God's Word is infallible. Instead of wrangling with one another,
let men exalt the Lord. Let us meet all opposition as did our Master, saying,
"It is written." Let us lift up the banner
on which is inscribed, The Bible our rule of faith and discipline.-- The
Review and Herald, Dec. 15, 1885. {1SM 416.2}