Righteousness by Faith and the Everlasting Gospel
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." (Review and Herald April 1, 1890)
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, 1899)
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." (Romans 1:16,17)
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.