Righteousness by Faith 4
There is no other way of getting out of this world except through the message of righteousness by faith. We can give many Bible studies, but if we don't understand this message of righteousness by faith we are stuck in this world.
"For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." (Romans 9:28)
In the Greek, word "in" in Romans 9:28 means "by." Therefore, God will finish the work and cut it short by righteousness.
Righteousness is only by faith, therefore, God will finish the work and cut it short by righteousness by faith. The message of righteousness by faith quickly finishes the work of God on this earth. This message quickly ends this world.
Listen to how the pioneer comments on this verse:
"Now another thing: What is that first expression which we have just read? "He will cut it short in righteousness." Then when that message of God's righteousness--the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, God's right doing--when that is received and is allowed to be carried on and is held by His people, what does that mean about the work of God on earth? It will be but a short time until the whole thing is done." (February 13th, 1893 A.T. Jones, General Conference Daily Bulletin page 243.)
The pioneer points out the fact that when we, as a people, receive the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, it will only take a short time until everything is finished on this earth. The world will end quickly when we recieve this message as a people.
Can you see how important it is to recieve this message?
Listens to how the Spirit of Prophecy comments on Romans 9:28:
"Yet the work will be cut short in righteousness. The message of Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God which closes the work of the third angel." (Testimonies volume 6 p. 19)
When the work of the third angel closes, probation closes, we then go through the time of trouble, mark of the beast period, and the world ends at the Second Coming of Christ.
Therefore, the 1888 message of righteousness by faith is the message that brings the second coming of Christ and gets us out of this world FAST!
If I'm a Seventh-day Adventist and I don't know this message, I would be unable to be used by Jesus to get the world prepared for the Second Coming. Adventist, with the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, are the only people who can get the world prepared for the second coming of Christ, but they must use the 1888 message to do it.
However good a person preaches or gives Bible studies, without the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, they cannot be used to get the God's people ready for the second coming of Christ.
The third angel's message warns us against the beast, his image, and his mark.
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:9-12)
This is the third angel's message which is the everlasting Gospel. Let's look at verse 6 of this same chapter to show that the third angel's message is the everlasting Gospel.
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people..." (Revelation 14:6)
The third angel's message is righteousness by faith.
"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 Spirit of Prophecy says that the third angel's message is justification by faith in VERITY. In verity means, "IN REALITY." So the third angel's message, which gets the world prepared for the second coming of Christ, is justification by faith in reality.
What is justification by faith? Justification by faith is righteousness by faith.
The pioneer said, "faith is the depending on the word of God only to do what the Word says. Justification by faith, then, is justification by depending upon the Word of God only and expecting that Word to accomplish it. Justification by faith is RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH, for justification is the being declared righteous." (A.T. Jones Review and Herald January 17, 8199)
Let's analyze what we just said so we can get it:
1. The third angel's message is the everlasting Gospel.
2. The third angel's message in reality is justification by faith. Therefore, justification by faith is the everlasting Gospel.
3. Justification by faith is righteousness by faith. Therefore, righteousness by faith is the everlasting Gospel.
4. To be justified means to be declared righteous. Therefore, it is the work of the Gospel to make us RIGHTEOUS.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Let us analyze this verse:
1. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
2. Why is he not ashamed of Christ's gospel? Because it is the POWER OF GOD that leads us into salvation which is being SAVED.
3. But Romans 1:16 teaches that the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God, saves ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
4. To believe is to EXERCISE FAITH. So the power of God saves only those who EXERCISE FAITH.
5. In the Gospel is revealed the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
6. His righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. The word "from" in Romans 1:17 means "by" in the original language. Therefore, God's righteousness is revealed BY FAITH.
7. And finally Romans 1:17 teaches that the just shall live by faith. A just persons is a righteous person. So a righteous persons lives by faith.
The way the Gospel works and how God saves you is ALL BY EXERCISING FAITH.
Christ Our Righteousness, Christ Our Creator, And God In the Flesh.
Without understanding righteousness by faith which is the third angel's message, you will receive the mark of the beast. There is no way not to. Christ's righteousness put upon you is what protects you from the mark of the beast.
If you’re giving Bible studies and preaching sermons and “CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,” is not the center of it, God cannot use your ministry to finish the work.
The Seventh-day Adventist pioneers were preaching powerful messages, but their message couldn’t finish the work, so He sent A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner with the 1888 message of CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS so God could finish the work in the first generation of Seventh-day Adventist.
"The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT GOD COMMANDED TO BE GIVEN TO THE WORLD. IT IS THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure." (Testimonies to Ministers p. 91)
Let's take a closer look at this quote:
1. God sent a most precious message to His people - This message was sent in 1888 and its called A MOST PRECIOUS MESSAGE.
2. This message was sent through Elders A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner - These men were divinely chosen by God to give the most precious message to His people.
3. The most precious message, which is the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour - Prominently means to MAKE THE SAVIOUR stand out more clearly, to make Him more noticeable before the people.
4. It was the Saviour's great sacrifice that was made on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins that was to stand out more clearly.
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)
Understanding more clearly Christ’s sacrificial dead on Calvary for us would draw us to God.
5. This message presented justification through faith in Surety. A surety is someone who pays a debt that you must pay, but cannot. You could not have paid the debt that you owed and still lived. So Christ, the Surety, came into the world and paid the debt for you so you could live forever.
What was the debt that I owed, but could not pay and still live forever? The first claim of the law of God, which is the Ten Commandments, is PERFECT OBEDIENCE.
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said 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." (Matthew 19:16,17)
The rich young ruler wanted to know how to have eternal life and Jesus told him that the way to get eternal life is by keeping the commandments.
Therefore, the first claim of the Law that is resting upon mankind is PERFECT OBEDIENCE to the Ten Commandments.
"The terms of the old covenant was OBEY AND LIVE." (Patriarchs and Prophets p. 371)
The foundation of the old covenant was the Ten Commandments. This is what mankind was to obey so they could live.
"And He declared unto you His COVENANT, which He COMMANDED YOU TO PERFORM, even TEN COMMANDMENTS; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone." (Deuteronomy 4:13)
"Ye shall therefore keep my STATUSES, and my JUDGMENTS: which if a man DO, he shall LIVE in them: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 18:5)
Theses statues and judgments were no other that the Ten Commandments. If they did them they would live. This is the first claim of the law, perfect obedience.
"The law requires righteousness, - a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law." (Desires of Ages p. 762)
The law requires a righteous life and a perfect character from mankind in all ages. But the Spirit of Prophecy says, "this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God's holy law."
"It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to the law of God. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. WE HAVE NO RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR OWN WITH WHICH TO MEET THE CLAIMS OF THE LAW OF GOD." (Steps to Christ p. 62)
What happens if I cannot meet the claims of the law of God? What happens to me if I cannot give the law what is demands of me?
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)
Sin is breaking God's law.
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)
So the wages of sin or beaking God’s law is eternal death. This is the penalty of sin.
If God let sinners live throughout eternal ages, the whole universe would eventually become like this world. To be an immortal sinner would eventually be fun to nobody and life would be eternal torment.
To forever prevent this from happening, God has placed all created beings, including angels, under the first claim of His law of love. This is why heaven is a place of infinite peace, joy, happiness, love, and everlasting life. All the angels obey the law of God, therefore all heaven is happy and without sickness, suffering, or death.
"Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, hearkening unto the voice of his word." (Psalm 103:20)
Mankind is in a bad situation because he cannot give the law perfect obedience. He cannot meet the first claim of the law and therefore MUST MEET THE SECOND CLAIM AND DIE FOR EVER! The whole human race must die for eternity UNLESS GOD HELPS THEM!
The second claim of the law resting upon mankind is DEATH and unless God helps them, all would have no choice but to meet that claim and perish for eternity.
God saw the hopless situation that the fallen race was in. His love was stirred to its unfathomable depths.
"The Son of God, heaven's glorious Commander, was touched with pity for the fallen race. His heart was moved with infinite compassion as the woes of the lost world rose up before Him. But divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed. The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. In all the universe there was but one who could, in behalf of man, satisfy its claims. Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin—sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son. Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race." (Patriarchs and Prophets p. 63)
Let's analyze this qoute:
1. The Son of God, which is heaven’s glorious commander, He was touched with pity for the fallen race. His heart was moved with infinite compassion as He saw their hopeless condition.
The Son of God is Jesus Christ. He existed as an eternal Spirit in glory with God the Father before the world was created. Jesus praying to His Father said,
"And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self WITH THE GLORY WHICH I HAD WITH THEE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS." (John 17:5)
Before Jesus came to planet earth through His incarnation, He existed as an eternal Spirit from all eternity. Incarnation means that He put human flesh upon Himself.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." (Philippians 2:5,6)
This verse teaches that Christ, before His incarnation, existed in the form of God and was equal with God.
But in order to carry out the plan for man's redemption He couldn't stay in heaven in the form of God. He had to go through the Incarnation and take on the form of a man.
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippines 2:7,8)
The One who came to save you was the Creator of every single thing in the entire universe.
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
This verse teaches that Jesus Christ is the Creator. The fact that Christ created every single thing that was ever created, shows that He existed before all created things.
The fact that He existed before all created things, shows that He is not among created things. Chirst is eternal and uncreated. The Father did not create Him, He is SELF-EXSITANT.
What does self-existance mean?
Websters dictionary says:
existing of or by oneself or itself independently of any other being or cause: not caused to exist by someone or something else.
Your Saviour was the self-existant God that became flesh to accomplish your redemption.
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 (Timothy 3:16)
The mystery of godliness is GOD BECAME FLESH.
Jesus Christ was GOD IN THE FLESH!
“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…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 1:1-3,14)
To save YOU, God came into the world and appeared on earth as Jesus Christ to meet the first and second claim of the Law in your behalf.
He lived thirty-three and a half years of perfect obedience to the Ten Commandment FOR YOU.
By His perfect obedience, He developed the righteousness that the Law requires FOR YOU.
By His death, He satisfied the second claim of the Law FOR YOU.
Now He has the ability to impute His righteousness to you. When He puts His own righteousness upon you, you now have the righteousness that the Law requires and you can live forever.
Are you willing to repent and recieve the righteousness of Christ right now?