Why
True Righteousness by Faith has Fallen in the Streets
Psa 77:13
Thy way, O
God, [is] in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a God as [our] God?
Psa 19:7 The law of
the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
Dear
Reader,
The objective of this study is
to determine why righteousness by faith has never had a very good track
record for being accepted and practiced by God’s people. Perhaps if we knew
the cause for this failing, we could take the proper steps to insure a true
understanding of the most precious message of righteousness by faith and a
continuum embracement of it amongst God’s people. That is the desire of this
writer and the mission of this document.
Ellen White said that the Reformationist
reformers adopted righteousness by faith. Here is her statement.
“Eagerly did the Vaudois missionary unfold
to the inquiring mind the precious truths of the gospel. Cautiously he
produced the carefully written portions of the Holy Scriptures. It was his
greatest joy to give hope to the conscientious, sin-stricken soul, who could
see only a God of vengeance, waiting to execute justice. With quivering lip
and tearful eye did he, often on bended knees, open to his brethren the
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precious promises that reveal the sinner's
only hope. Thus the light of truth penetrated many a darkened mind, rolling
back the cloud of gloom, until the Sun of Righteousness shone into the heart
with healing in His beams. It was often the case that some portion of
Scripture was read again and again, the hearer desiring it to be repeated, as
if he would assure himself that he had heard aright. Especially was the
repetition of these words eagerly desired: "The blood of Jesus Christ
His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. "As Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:14, 15.
Many were undeceived in regard to the
claims of Rome.
They saw how vain is the mediation of men or angels in behalf of the sinner.
As the true light dawned upon their minds they exclaimed with rejoicing:
"Christ is my priest; His blood is my sacrifice; His altar is my
confessional." They cast themselves wholly upon the
merits of Jesus, repeating the words, "Without faith it is impossible to
please Him." Hebrews 11:6. "There is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts
4:12.
The assurance of
a Saviour's love seemed too much for some of these poor tempest-tossed souls
to realize. So great was the relief which it brought, such a flood of light
was shed upon them, that they seemed transported to heaven. Their
hands were laid confidingly in the hand of Christ; their feet were planted
upon the Rock of Ages. All fear of
death was banished. They could now covet the prison and the fagot if they
might thereby honor the name of their Redeemer.” The Great Controversy, p. 74.
Indeed the
Reformationist Reformers did embrace true righteousness by faith. But what
happened? True righteousness by faith involves gold tried in the fire or
faith that works by the self-sacrificing love of Christ indwelling the mind
of man. That is the Laodicean message. But all too soon, the Reformers fell
into the Laodicean condition of lukewarmness, accepted cheap grace and “only
believe,” the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, in lieu of the arduous works of
Holy Spirit inspired righteousness by faith they once performed, and which
were motivated by the self-sacrificing love of Christ.
Then, in 1844,
Adventists come on the scene as reformers. They must have possessed true
righteousness by faith, because they were an era of Philadelphians, and the church of Philadelphia is not faulted for one
thing! But before long, even Adventists fell into Laodiceanism and a lukewarm
stance as far as the conditions for salvation are concerned.
Then, in 1888,
Adventists were again given a bold reminder of the message of righteousness
by faith and how they had fallen from their first love.
Why did the
Reformers and the Adventists, who were once so zealous in faith and
self-sacrificing works, fall into lukewarm Laodiceanism? What could have been
the lack of “staying—keeping” power contributing to the failure of such a
basic truth and condition for salvation?
Note if you will the following statement by
Sarah Elizabeth Peck, a personal friend and acquaintance of Ellen G. White,
who wrote a book on the Sanctuary entitled The Path to the Throne of God—The Sanctuary:
“Sanctuary Study a Keeping Power. As already noted, God has repeatedly urged upon the
Remnant church the necessity of thorough and earnest study of the sanctuary.
Why is this? Is it not because the sanctuary represents the ground work of the plan of
redemption which holds the church in the narrow path and keeps it moving
steadily forward? It keeps out deceptive and destructive error. When the truths of the sanctuary are lost
sight of, the church slips from its moorings and loses its way.
When
the Hebrew church began their work for God, it was the sanctuary that gave it
its power. When the Christian church
was organized, Paul and other apostles, working for both Jew and Gentile, drew convincing and converting power
from the sanctuary as a type of the work of Christ for their salvation. When these generations of the church
lost the spiritual significance of the sanctuary, they lost their power, and
the next generation—the Remnant church—was called to pick up the lost truth,
and finish His work.
(still quoting S. Peck until I
give the reference)
A
Revival of Sanctuary Study Now Due. At the very beginning of the Remnant
[Adventist] church, a study of the "temple," or sanctuary, threw a
flood of light on the
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Judgment
message to be given the world at that time, and gave power to the preaching of
this timely truth. During the years that have followed, a continued study of the
sanctuary has been more or less neglected. But before the end, the sanctuary is to be "restored to
its rightful position." Dan. 8:14; [Hebrews 8:2; 9:8-12]. The
time allotted for this restoration is about to close, and of that time the
prophet says: "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David
that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his
ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." Amos 9:11.
This
prophecy was referred [to] by James in his appeal before the Jerusalem Council,
saying, "I...will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen
down, and I will build again the ruins thereof. . .that the residue (the
remnant) of man might seek after the Lord." Acts 15:16,17. Is not this a challenge to the
Remnant church who are looking for the soon coming of Him whom the sanctuary typifies?
Does it not indicate that before the end there will be a revival of sanctuary
study among the people of God? The final fulfillment of this
prophecy is now due. There can be no doubt about this, because the time has
fully come when the work of redemption is being finished, and a knowledge of
the sanctuary is needed to give us more distinct views of the work of our
High Priest, and a broader comprehension of the value of eternal realities.
In the light of the sanctuary, we more fully comprehend the plan
of redemption, and because this is "the
key that will unlock. . .the whole treasure house of God's word," Ed 126, through its study all Scripture takes on new beauty and fullness
of meaning, until the Bible becomes a new and fascinating Book. Then the desire for wealth, reputation, honor, selfish ease,
and other lusts will gradually lose their hold upon us and we shall find the
necessary time so that the Word shall no longer be choked. Then these worldly lusts, rather than we ourselves, will be
sifted out--the chaff will be separated from the wheat. Such a study of the
sanctuary will not only vitalize and establish Christian experience but it
will strengthen faith in the closing work of the gospel.
How will this revival of sanctuary study affect the progress of
God's work in the earth? "That they may possess. . .all the heathen which
are called by My name." v. 12. In this final harvest of souls, "the
plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed;"
v. 13; that is, those who have only begun the work in the Lord's vineyard will
overtake those who have toiled through the heat of the day, and with their
combined efforts, the harvest will be quickly gathered;--"The final movements
will be rapid ones." 9 T. 11. Sarah Elizabeth Peck, The Path to the Throne of God—The Sanctuary, pp. 220, 221.
I have typed out the entire 276 page book
by Sarah Elizabeth Peck. You may find it at this link. It will take some time
to load because I included scans of the illustration pictures in the book,
but it will load. Just be patient. It may take five minutes or longer
depending on the speed of your connection.
https://omega77.tripod.com/pathtothethronefinal.htm
Ellen
White Statements on the Sanctuary Message
“Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our
minds that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be
best acquainted. The arch-deceiver hates the great truths that bring to view
an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful Mediator. He knows that with him
everything now depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and his truth.”{4SP
312.2}
“Those
who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing
to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The
hours heretofore given to pleasure, to display, or to 313
gain-seeking, should now be devoted to an earnest,
prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the
sanctuary and the investigative Judgment should be clearly understood by the
people of God. All
need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High
Priest. Otherwise, it will be
impossible for them to exercise the faith essential at this time, or to
occupy the position which God designs them to fill.” {4SP 312.3}
Ron’s Commentary: Some are presenting
the subject of righteousness by faith as the be-all and end-all, but I submit
to you the above statement that if the subject of the sanctuary and the
investigative Judgment are not clearly understood by the people of God, it will be IMPOSSIBLE for them to exercise
the [righteous by] faith essential at this time, or to occupy the
position which God designs them to fill.
Ron’s Commentary: Don’t forget the above statement
friend! It will be IMPOSSIBLE for you to exercise the faith
essential at this time if you do not understand the investigative judgment
and the Sanctuary Service. End
comment.
We are to
bear testimony of the great truths which God has committed to us. The
sanctuary in Heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the
earth. It opens to our view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the
very close of time, and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between
righteousness and sin. It is of the
utmost importance that all who have received the light, both old and young,
should thoroughly investigate these subjects, and be able to give an
answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them. {4SP 313.1}
The
intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential
to the plan of salvation as was his death upon the cross. By his death he began that work which after his
resurrection he ascended to complete in Heaven. We must by faith enter
within the vail, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." There the light from the cross of Calvary
is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight
into the mysteries of redemption. The
salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to Heaven; the
sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus
has opened
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the
way to the Father's throne, and through his mediation the sincere desire of
all who come to him in faith may be presented before God. {4SP 313.2}
"He that covereth his sins shall not
prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." [PROV.
28:13.] If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how
Satan exults over them how he taunts Christ and holy angels with them, they
would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Satan is continually seeking to deceive
the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that their defective traits
of character render it impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads
in their behalf his wounded hands, his bruised body; and he declares to all
who would follow him, "My grace is sufficient for thee." "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is light." [MATT. 11:29, 30.] Let none,
then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to
overcome them. {4SP 314.1}
All who
would have their names retained in the book of life, should now, in the few
remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls
before God by sorrow for sin, and true repentance. There must be deep,
faithful searching of heart. The
light, frivolous spirit indulged by the majority of professed Christians must
be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who
would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. {4SP 314.2}
Ron’s Commentary: In the Sanctuary Service, on the
Day of Atonement,
all who would not afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true
repentance, were put out of the camp of Israel. If all sin was not put
out of the camp, the high priest would die in the Most Holy Place and would not come out
of the Sanctuary to the people and their sins would not be atoned for. What
application would this have to God’s people today? End comment.
Solemn
are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous
are the interests
315
therein involved. The Judgment is now passing in the
sanctuary above. Forty years has this work been in progress. Soon--none know
how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of
God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it
behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition, "Watch and pray,
for ye know not when the time is." "Watch ye therefore, . . . lest
coming suddenly he find you sleeping." [MARK 13:33, 35, 36.] {4SP 314.3}
"If
therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief; and thou
shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." [REV. 3:3.] How
perilous is the condition of those, who, growing weary of their watch, turn
to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the
pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the
daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,--it may be in that hour the
Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, "Thou art weighed in
the balances, and art found wanting." {4SP 315.1}
Every
soul that has named the name of Christ has a case pending at the heavenly
tribunal. It is court week with us, and the decision passed upon each case
will be final. 316
{4SP 315.2}
Now we saw a great work to be done to present this
light to the people, for the sanctuary question, if understood, would remove
all perplexities as to where we were standing in prophecy, and explain
clearly the disappointment in 1844. The light of prophecy would then appear
clear and forcible to those who would search the Scriptures with hearts open
to receive the truth which had been so undiscerned. New hope and courage took
possession of our souls. . . . {4MR 403.2}
It is not
necessary that anyone should yield to the temptations of Satan and thus
violate his conscience and grieve the Holy Spirit. Every provision has been
made in the word of God whereby all may have divine help in their endeavors
to overcome. If they keep Jesus before them they will become changed into His
image. All who by faith have Christ
575
abiding in them carry a power into their labor which
makes them successful. They will be constantly growing more and more
efficient in their work, and the blessing of God, shown in the prosperity of
the work, will testify that they are indeed laborers together with Christ.
But however much one may advance in spiritual life, he will never come to a
point where he will not need diligently to search the Scriptures; for therein
are found the evidences of our faith. All points of doctrine, even though
they have been accepted as truth, should be brought to the law and to the
testimony; if they cannot stand this test, "there is no light in
them." {5T 574.2}
The great
plan of redemption, as revealed in the closing work of these last days,
should receive close examination. The scenes connected with the sanctuary
above should make such an impression upon the minds and hearts of all that
they may be able to impress others. All need to become more intelligent in
regard to the work of the atonement, which is going on in the sanctuary
above. When this grand truth is seen and understood, those who hold it will
work in harmony with Christ to prepare a people to stand in the great day of
God, and their efforts will be successful. By study, contemplation, and
prayer God's people will be elevated above common, earthly thoughts and
feelings, and will be brought into harmony with Christ and His great work of
cleansing the sanctuary above from the sins of the people. Their faith will
go with Him into the sanctuary, and the worshipers on earth will be carefully
reviewing their lives and comparing their characters with the great standard
of righteousness. They will see their own defects; they will also see that
they must have the aid of the Spirit of God if they would become qualified
for the great and solemn work for this time which is laid upon God's
ambassadors. {5T 575.1}
Christ
said: "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood,
ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth
576
My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My
blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood,
dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live
by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me." How many
of those who are laboring in word and doctrine are eating Christ's flesh and
drinking His blood? How many can comprehend this mystery? The Saviour Himself
explains this matter: "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life." The word of God must be interwoven with the living character
of those who believe it. The only vital faith is that faith which receives
and assimilates the truth till it is a part of the being and the motive power
of the life and action. Jesus is called the Word of God. He accepted His
Father's law, wrought out its principles in His life, manifested its spirit,
and showed its beneficent power in the heart. Says John: "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." The followers of
Christ must be partakers of His experience. They must assimilate the word of
God. They must be changed into its likeness by the power of Christ and
reflect the divine attributes. They must eat the flesh and drink the blood of
the Son of God, or there is no life in them. The spirit and work of Christ
must become the spirit and work of His disciples. {5T 575.2}
It is not
enough to preach the truth; it must be carried out in the life. Christ must
be abiding in us, and we in Him, in order to do the work of God. Each must
have an individual experience and put forth personal efforts to reach souls.
God requires each to put all his powers into the work and, through continual
effort, educate himself to do that work acceptably. He expects everyone to
bring the grace of Christ into his heart, that he may be a bright and shining
light to the world. If God's
577
workers train all their powers thoroughly, then they
may work understandingly, in all wisdom, and God will surely respond to their
efforts to uplift, refine, and save their fellow men. All the workers must
use tact and bring their faculties under the controlling influence of the Spirit
of God. They must make it a business to study His word and hear God's voice
addressing them from His living oracles in reproof, in instruction, or in
encouragement, and His Spirit will strengthen them, that they may, as God's
workers, advance in religious experience. Thus they will be led on step by
step to greater heights, and their joy will be full. {5T 576.1}
Conclusion: I believe that by God’s grace I have
shared with you the reason why righteousness by faith has failed to do its
intended purpose. It is impossible without an understanding of the
Investigative Judgment and the Sanctuary Service. So I would conclude that if
you are interested in your own salvation and the salvation of others, you
will teach them this truth for the Sanctuary message must be restored before
the Loud Cry, and before righteousness by faith is fully understood and
become a lasting, binding power among God’s people.
When I covenanted with God Almighty to warn His
people, I said I would agree to do so as long as He gave me the answers.
Thank you Lord for giving me the crucial answers to the most pressing
problem(s) of your people that we might make the proper amends and be ready
for your coming.
God bless as you study His way which is in the
Sanctuary,
Ron Beaulieu
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