Faith

False Justification by Faith, Part I

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Allow me, please, to begin with a question: Why was justification by faith rejected in 1888 at the Minneapolis Conference? The answer: During the Dark Ages, God began to prepare a people for the Second Coming of Jesus by using Martin Luther to start the great Protestant Reformation in the preaching of justification by faith. Then, in 1844, God brought forth His Advent Movement preaching the additional truth that the divine Law of God, contained in the Most Holy Place within God’s heavenly sanctuary, must be obeyed in order for us to fully receive the righteousness of Christ.

Many within the church, in their zeal to preach the law, did so in a legalistic way, forgetting that we need Jesus in our hearts before we are able to keep the law and live the Christian life. Ellen White recognized this problem when she wrote, “As a people, we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain.” Review and Herald, March 11, 1890.

To help the servant of the Lord meet this problem, the Lord sent E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones to preach justification by faith with the law. But many within the church, especially its leaders, thought they were trying to do away with the law. This is why the Minneapolis Conference of 1888 rejected the message of justification by faith.

Today, we are facing the imminent return of Jesus. Once again Satan has infiltrated God’s true church with the “Celebration” of New Theology that proclaims a false justification by faith in teaching that all that is needed for salvation is love and unity; that no one need be concerned about the law since Christ kept it for us. As a result, millions among us today have been duped to believe the lie of Satan that the divine Law of God cannot be kept, even in the power of Almighty God; therefore, we can sin until Jesus comes. May God help us! Surely our hearts faint within us as we see many within the Seventh-day Adventist Church today blindly following Babylon’s false teachings of justification by faith alone in love and unity, without equally emphasizing obedience to the divine law.

Turning to God’s Word, we read: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 11 Corinthians 6:14-18.

In view of this clear counsel from God’s Word not to mingle with the followers of Babylon, let us examine how this false teaching of justification by faith alone is affecting the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Willow Creek

In 1975, Bill Hybels started an interdenominational Pentecostal-style church near Chicago, Illinois, focused on church growth. Today, about 17,000 adults attend his weekend services and 6,000 his mid-week services. By all human standards, the Willow Creek Church is a great success. Further, this church has formed the Willow Creek Association (WCA). Presently over 2,200 churches have joined this WCA, and at least 56 of those are Seventh-day Adventist churches; three are Seventh-day Adventist conference organizations. (See The Remnant Herald #43, Melbourne, Australia, November 1998.)

Several of these churches have adopted names that do not reflect that they are Seventh-day Adventist Churches. We must at least credit these churches with professing that which they practice, for they are surely no longer Seventh-day Adventist Churches, however the conference may regard them; thus, they do not publicly shame the name Seventh-day Adventist.

The Willow Creek Association is an organization of a fallen church of Babylon. It is a charismatic, Sunday-keeping church. These conferences and churches have now gone to a fallen church of Babylon in order to be better Seventh-day Adventists! Just as well may they go to the witch of Endor. (See 1 Samuel 28.) These conferences and churches have entered Babylon. It will be well nigh impossible to recover such denominational entities, for they have done so in the full light of truth.

Confirmation

Lest it be thought that these conferences and churches have incurred the displeasure of the church organization, or even that the Willow Creek Association on the Internet is unreliable in its listing of these churches, we direct your attention to the documented evidence to the contrary. An editorial by Andy Nash in the Adventist Review of December 18, 1997, made these points: 1) “Adventists should give Willow Creek a fair shake”; 2) “Adventists should continue gleaning from Willow Creek”; 3) “Gleaning from Willow Creek’s message doesn’t mean forfeiting our message.” (General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, 6.) These subheadings contained two disgraceful admonitions and one absolute falsehood. How can we be so blind?

Just consider this statement from the same editorial listed above: “Adventists, both pastors and lay people, consistently make up one of the largest groups at Willow Creek’s half-dozen annual seminars . . . .” Ibid. This is not only so in the United States. In 1997, numerous Seventh-day Adventist pastors and laymen attended the Willow Creek Association meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden. This report is written to warn God’s flock worldwide concerning this phenomenon within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Already the fruitage of this union with Babylon is well-known to church administrators. Again quoting from the same Adventist Review article, it is admitted, “Fact: The three largest Adventist churches to divide or depart¾Oregon’s Sunnyside, Maryland’s Damascus, and Colorado’s Christ Advent Fellowship, were clearly influenced by Willow Creek’s ministry hallmarks . . . .” Ibid.

Apostasy

Robert H. Pierson, a former president of the General Conference, foresaw what was about to take place as a result of this New Theology of a false justification by faith when he wrote in The Ministry magazine of October 1977, “It would be well for every Seventh-day Adventist leader to prayerfully study the subtle plans of the apostate ‘angel of light’ as he seeks to thwart the triumph of the Advent movement. Get out your Bibles and the Spirit of Prophecy (especially Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 193-200). On your knees consider these startling facts faithfully chronicled by the Lord’s servant. . . .

“Note well what Ellen White warns:

“1. ‘The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church would be discarded.’¾[Selected Messages, Book 1], p. 204.

“2. ‘The truth will be criticized, scorned, and derided.’¾Ibid., p. 201.

“3. ‘It will “make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin.” ’¾Ibid., p. 204.

“4. ‘Our religion would be changed.’¾Ibid., p. 204.

“5. ‘The Sabbath, of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it.’¾Ibid., p. 205.

“6. ‘The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error.’¾Ibid., p. 204.

“7. There would be a ‘supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith.’¾Ibid.

“8. ‘A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced.’¾Ibid.

“9. The new philosophy would ‘rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science.’¾Ibid.

“10. It would seek to weaken the preaching of the Second Advent by teaching, ‘that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to be given special attention.’¾Ibid.

“11. ‘Books of a new order would be written.’¾Ibid.

“12. ‘A new organization would be established.’¾Ibid.

“13. ‘Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement.’¾Ibid., p. 205.

“Now go back over those thirteen points. Study them carefully and prayerfully. You may have to meet them sooner than you expect. The seeds of such apostasy are in the churches of Christendom all around us. Before Jesus returns, the Seventh-day Adventist Church may well be confronted with a crisis that will exceed in magnitude the Kellogg alpha apostasy. It ‘will be of a most startling nature.’ ” Robert H. Pierson, “The Omega of Apostasy,” The Ministry, vol. 50, No. 10, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C., October 1977, 8.

“Spiritualism is now changing its form, veiling some of its more objectionable and immoral features, and assuming a Christian guise. Formerly it denounced Christ and the Bible; now it professes to accept both. The Bible is interpreted in a manner that is attractive to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. A God of love is presented; but his justice, his denunciation of sin, the requirements of his holy law, are all kept out of sight. Pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the senses of those who do not make God’s word the foundation of their faith. Christ is as verily rejected as before; but Satan has so blinded the eyes of the people that the deception is not discerned.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 405.

To be continued . . .

For over 60 years Pastor Lawrence Nelson served as an evangelist and minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of that time, he served 13 years as the director of evangelism for youth at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Upon retirement from the General Conference, he continued to pastor, but when, as a result of his stand for truth, he was denied the opportunity to continue his pastorate, he started Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry, recording his sermons and making them available to individuals. Before his retirement from this ministry in 2004, over 18,000 audiotapes were being sent around the world each month.

False Justification by Faith, Part II

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The pen of inspiration tells us how to recognize false teachers. “ ‘Beware of false prophets.’ Matthew 7:15.

“Teachers of falsehood will arise to draw you away from the narrow path and the strait gate. Beware of them; though concealed in sheep’s clothing, inwardly they are ravening wolves. Jesus gives a test by which false teachers may be distinguished from the true. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits,’ He says. ‘Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?’ [Matthew 7:16.]

“We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the word of God. ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.’ ‘Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.’ Isaiah 8:20; Proverbs 19:27. What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments? If men do not feel the weight of the moral law; if they make light of God’s precepts; if they break one of the least of His commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of heaven. We may know that their claims are without foundation. They are doing the work that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 145.

Celebration Beginnings

Be honest now. How long has it been since you heard a pastor preach on a subject such as the Law of God and obedience? Is the power of Celebration affecting his sermons? Think it over. So few of those within the organized church today have any idea how this all began. Believe it or not¾it is a fact¾the birth of Celebration took place within the Vatican Council II in the early 1960s. The papal document from Vatican Council II indicated that through Celebration worship, which would be absorbed into all the churches, the objective to bring the whole humanity to one fold, meaning the Roman Catholic Church, would be realized.

As soon as these actions of the Vatican were published, seminars began to be given encouraging pastors to conduct Celebration worship services within the churches.

Objectives from the Second Vatican Council included: (1) Let there be a custom application (use) of the word Celebration. (2) Let there be a custom of revival in Celebration worship in which the people will be involved directly with both verbal and physical participation. (3) Let there be a custom of Celebration worship dialogue between the pastor and the people. (4) Let us use as much variety in worship as is possible. (5) Let music, while they worship there, be the most effective. (6) Lessen the difference between the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper. Teach people that the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper are the foundation of Christian unity, friendship, and Celebration of the Lord’s Day (meaning Sunday). (7) Do all your best to encourage observation of Sunday, including rest from work.

Can you now see what the purpose of the Celebration movement is within the church today? As a result of these Vatican objectives, Celebration started within the Catholic Church with noisy music, and soon the Pentecostal, charismatic churches followed. The old method of Jesuit infiltration of Protestant churches was suspended by the new infiltration of Catholic philosophy called love and unity.

The Second Vatican Council added its blessing by no longer calling the Protestant churches heretics but separated brethren from the Mother Church. The Council then began to emphasize the Holy Spirit by holding revivals among its nuns and priests. The result was startling. Tens of thousands of priests and nuns began speaking in tongues! Now both the Catholics and the Protestants had something in common¾they both spoke in tongues in the Celebration movement. (<www.beliefnet.com/story/127/story_12789_1.html>; < www.religion-cults.com/spirit/charismatic.htm> June 11, 2007.)

Celebration vs. Three Angels

I would like to confront this Celebration movement with the Three Angels’ Messages. John Janiuk, in his book Great Controversy Endgame II (publisher unknown, 1999), identified points which clearly differentiate between what is true and false justification by faith. These points include:

  1. The Three Angels’ Messages are a call of God to leave Babylon. It is the message of separation; but the message of the Celebration movement calls for unity of all churches.
  2. The Three Angels’ Messages are a warning message; but the Celebration movement is the message of peace and security and also of love and unity. Sin and the Law of God are treated lightly.
  3. The foundation of the Celebration movement is a false gospel, a false justification teaching salvation in sin¾You will be sinning until the Second Coming of Christ. It is a gospel without the power. If you continue in sin after accepting the gospel, which is the power of God, if you accept a false gospel, a false justification, you have no power of God.

Satan also has power. Do you know what Satan’s power is? His power is through his lies. For example, Satan demonstrated his power with great effect in Eden, and we are still affected by that same power today. Today he says that we cannot keep God’s Commandments. If you believe this lie, you will not obey God’s Law.

The Bible says, “Here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. The pen of inspiration says, “Christ left his heavenly home, and came to this world, to show that only by being connected with divinity can man keep the law of God. In itself humanity is tainted and corrupted; but Christ brought moral power to man, and those who live in communion with him overcome as he overcame.” The Signs of the Times, December 3, 1896.

Ellen White also wrote: “He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that he can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” Review and Herald, March 10, 1904. “Man’s obedience can be made perfect only by the incense of Christ’s righteousness, which fills with divine fragrance every act of obedience.” The Acts of the Apostles, 532.

We continue with John Janiuk’s points:

  1. The Three Angels’ Messages are calling the whole of humanity to fear, to reverence God, in complete surrender to God and His Word and also His will¾the ten moral commandments of the gospel. But the Celebration movement depends on theology which interprets the Bible “in a manner that is attractive to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. A God of love is presented; but his justice, his denunciations of sin, the requirements of his holy law, are all kept out of sight.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 405.
  2. The three angels call to give glory to God. The pen of inspiration tells us how we can give glory to God. “To give glory to God is to reveal His character in our own, and thus make Him known. And in whatever way we make known the Father or the Son, we glorify God.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 979. The Celebration movement does not preach anything about this.
  3. The Three Angels’ Messages proclaim that the hour of God’s judgment has come. This is the pre-Advent investigative judgment, which began in 1844. The Celebration movement does not warn the people about this. However, if the subject is mentioned, they simply say, “Do not be scared of the judgment. If you believe in Jesus, do not worry about it.”
  4. God chose the way in which we can worship Him. His way tells us to keep holy the Sabbath day as a special day in memorial of His creation and redemption. The purpose, aim, and goal of the Celebration movement, according to Vatican II, is to observe Sunday and recognize the pope as the vicar of Jesus Christ and submit to him.
  5. The second angel’s message declares, “Babylon is fallen.” Why is Babylon fallen? Because Babylon rejected the Biblical truths. Revelation 18:2 describes the last-day condition of Babylon, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

The fallen churches¾Catholic and Protestant¾are attacking the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the Celebration movement. Of course, God still has in these fallen churches some individuals who are His children. Our message, especially in the time of the Loud Cry, will be, “Come out of her, my people.” Revelation 18:4.

  1. The third angel’s message is the most fearful of any before. This message was proclaimed to mortal man as a warning against receiving the mark of the beast; that is, the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath. According to the document of Vatican II, the purpose of the Celebration movement is that the whole world come to observe Sunday and to submit to the papacy. It does not matter to them what else you believe, so long as you submit in these two things. Do you see where this movement is leading us?
  2. The Three Angels’ Messages are summarized in Revelation 14:12 and describe what people will be like after they accept the Three Angels’ Messages. “Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Here are presented the main characteristics and qualities of God’s people¾the patience of the saints, they keep the commandments of God, and they have the faith of Jesus.

The Celebration movement, however, says that we cannot keep the commandments of God. In this point they are honest, because they cannot keep the commandments of God. Why is this? Because they accept a false justification by faith which claims that in justification there is no transformation. The new birth and the Holy Spirit do not come into the believer’s heart with Christ’s righteousness, and God does not write His Law in their hearts. This is why they have no power to keep the commandments of God. If somebody mentions that God requires His people to obey the law, they say that this is legalism.

Ellen White says, “Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men cannot keep the law of God.” The Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896.

Heart of Celebration

Let me become more pointed. An important element of Celebration worship style is found in the music. What kind of music? Contemporary Christian music or, as some say, Christian rock. (See www.willowcreek.org/history.) What is the message of Contemporary Christian music? It is love and praise for the most part. What is missing? A call to repentance, appeals for sacrifice, and prayer for sinners. The Second Coming is almost absent. Bible doctrines are not found. There is no mention, of course, of the seventh-day Sabbath.

Have you ever stopped to consider what is lacking in these Celebration ditties? As I heard someone put it, “In the typical, contemporary ‘praise and worship songs’ there are no expressions of confession, petition, or submission¾just praise.” Pioneering Seventh-day Adventists sang many hymns containing our message; hymns with several stanzas. They did so because they believed God had called them to proclaim a message even in their singing.

In the current Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (Review and Herald Publishing, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1998) there is a topical index of hymns. Nearly every major doctrine is represented there¾salvation through faith in Christ, the Second Coming, the Sabbath, the judgment, the sleep of the dead, stewardship, and even the sanctuary, along with still others. God intended that the great hymns of faith should be used to teach God’s end-time message. Is there any comparison between the messages of the hymns and the messages of Contemporary Christian Rock Celebration music? The majority of Celebration music falls under the broad heading of praise songs and are often characterized by monotonous repetition of a single phrase. Topics even so basic as contrition, repentance, obedience, and witnessing are noticeably absent or at least very rare.

The great fear is that these Contemporary songs, reproducing after their kind, are replacing the message songs entirely and are doing their part to produce a generation devoid of doctrinal certainty. A church’s music is not merely a vehicle for socializing or for setting a happy mood. It is an essential part of its self-identity, its witnessing, and even its survival. The ultimate unity of our end-time movement requires the unifying influence of a common “hymnity.”

The former choir director of heaven uses his Celebration music to charm people, to bind them to himself, and to control them. He uses emotionally oriented religion that depends on feeling rather than on the Word of God.

Liberal Adventism

Can you imagine an Adventist professor of religion asking this thought-provoking question: “How seriously should Adventists take apocalyptic books like Daniel, Revelation, and The Great Controversy?” Answering his own question, this theologian said, “Perhaps we should replace them with the gospel of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.” This is the central message of the Celebration movement and its worship services.

Steve Daily, former chaplain and professor at La Sierra University, Riverside, California, suggests some practical things Adventists can do to contribute to this goal. Among these are:

  1. We can cease to speak or think of ourselves as the remnant church and see ourselves as a part of God’s larger remnant.
  2. We can take advantage of the special opportunities we have to attend other churches since they meet on a different day, to befriend them, learn from them, share with them, and affirm the good things we see in them.
  3. Each of us can make a special effort to maintain active membership in at least one non-Adventist community service organization to combat our natural tendency to isolation.
  4. We can involve ourselves in inter-denominational Bible studies and a charismatic intercessory prayer group to broaden our spiritual perspectives. (Adventism for a New Generation, Better Living Publishers, Portland, Oregon, 1993, 315, 316.)

Such advice is absolutely contrary to the Spirit of Prophecy. Is this the time for Seventh-day Adventists to seek such new light on worship, church growth, and learning from others?

The Prophet’s Warning

Ellen White has warned us: “If God has any new light to communicate, He will let His chosen and beloved understand it, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error.

“I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness.” Early Writings, 124, 125.

If we reject true justification by faith and continue to proclaim a false justification, then true revival and reformation will not take place, and we will not receive the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain. We will never finish God’s work in this world. We will lose our identity, our credibility, and the purpose for our existence. What a tragedy this would be.

On the other hand, if we accept true justification, then the last great revival and reformation will take place. We will receive the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain, and God will finish His work through us in this world now. May God give us wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and power to fulfill this for His honor and glory and also for the salvation of the people of the world. Then we will go home to praise Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

For over 60 years Pastor Lawrence Nelson served as an evangelist and minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of that time, he served 13 years as the director of evangelism for youth at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Upon retirement from the General Conference, he continued to pastor, but when, as a result of his stand for truth, he was denied the opportunity to continue his pastorate, he started Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry, recording his sermons and making them available to individuals. Before his retirement from this ministry in 2004, over 18,000 audiotapes were being sent around the world each month.

The Two Principles of Faith, Part I

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We are told in II Corinthians 13:5 to, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” The topic of faith is one that has been studied by Christians throughout the ages.

Every Christian has struggles, and as they have encountered challenges, hopefully their faith has developed. It is vitally important for us to pay attention to the little tests, for they form the basic foundation of faith upon which we must build to face the larger challenges and trials of life.

In this article, we will look at some basic principles of faith. These are not necessarily anything new, but it is good to review the basics. If we are majoring in math, we want to make sure, before we start on algebra, calculus, or other higher studies of the subject, that we understand the basics. We need to first understand how to add and subtract and how to multiply and divide, and what the principles of these basic skills are.

If we do not understand the basics, as we get farther down the line and start running into bigger problems, we will not have the skill to conquer them—in math or in our walk of faith.

“The time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.” Hebrews 11:32–38.

In this passage of Scripture, we are given a picture of some of the trials and experiences through which the men of old, the men of faith, passed. The question that we need answered is, What did they have that carried them through? What did they possess?

Ellen White wrote: “Faith is trusting in God—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good.” Gospel Workers (1915), 259. The foundation of faith begins with these two basic principles―believing that God “loves us and knows what is for our best good.”

God Loves Us

We first must settle in our minds the question, Does God love us? John 3:16 offers the answer: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But how we answer this question depends, in a large part, on how we see ourselves, upon what value we place on ourselves. We may see ourselves as unlovable; even though we may not say it, through our daily actions we live out that reality. However, Paul said, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

“God’s love for the fallen race is a peculiar manifestation of love—a love born of mercy; for human beings are all undeserving. Mercy implies the imperfection of the object toward which it is shown.” In Heavenly Places, 12.

One of the things we must understand is that God’s love is not dependent upon who we are; it is dependent upon who He is. That is especially important to remember as we are on our Christian walk, developing our faith. We know that we are to go through trials, growing from faith to faith, “from grace to grace, from strength to strength, obtaining one spiritual victory after another.” Daughters of God, 184. The reality is that we make mistakes and we fail. We stumble; and when we do, we give the devil ammunition.

We know that God takes careful record of everything we do and all we say, but the devil is writing down everything that we do and say too. Then, when he gets us to fall, he is there to accuse us and to use those things against us. Those are the fiery darts that he hurls at us to try to discourage us and to keep us from coming to God. We need to understand that God’s love is not dependent on who we are.

It was because of sin that mercy was brought into active exercise. We cannot do anything to merit God’s love. God’s love is a peculiar love. It is a love that is born of mercy and, as Mrs. White wrote, “Mercy implies the imperfection of the object toward which it is shown.”

So, God loves us. His love is unconditional.

Parent-Child Relationship

If you are a parent, you understand that you demonstrate love to a child in different ways, depending on whether the child is being rebellious or obedient. The Bible tells us that, “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” Hebrews 12:6. We are not to be discouraged by that, but we need to realize that how God’s love is manifested toward us is dependent upon our relationship with Him.

From the writings of Ellen White we read: “God has bound our hearts to Him by unnumbered tokens in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature, and the deepest and tenderest earthly ties that human hearts can know, He has sought to reveal Himself to us. Yet these but imperfectly represent His love. Though all these evidences have been given, the enemy of good blinded the minds of men, so that they looked upon God with fear; they thought of Him as severe and unforgiving. Satan led men to conceive of God as a being whose chief attribute is stern justice,― one who is a severe judge, a harsh, exacting creditor. He pictured the Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eye to discern the errors and mistakes of men, that He may visit judgments upon them. It was to remove this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the infinite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men.” Steps to Christ, 10, 11.

I did not grow up in a Seventh-day Adventist Christian home. My family did attend church, and I cannot pinpoint exactly what it was that influenced me, but this was the way I looked at God. This attitude is prevalent in the world in which we live. Satan is ever there to misrepresent the character of God through the very things that God has used to represent His character.

We can see in the world in which we live today that the devil is definitely on the attack. In Revelation 12:12 we read: “The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

In the parent-child relationship, the parent is to stand in the place of God to the child. The parent is to represent God to the child, so when the child looks to the heavenly Father, he or she understands the child-Father relationship. The problem is that this is the exception, not the norm. The world is full of broken families, and often the parent-child connection is nonexistent or strained.

The marital relationship is another way God has used for us to learn about Him. “The husband is to love and cherish his wife; and as their marriage vow unites them as one, so their belief in Christ should make them one in Him. What can be more pleasing to God than to see those who enter into the marriage relation seek together to learn of Jesus and to become more and more imbued with His Spirit?” Daughters of God, 181. But, of course, the devil is there to attack that institution as well.

With the breakdown of the parent-child relationship and the marital relationship, people do not have anything with which to relate to the love of God. They have no personal experience to help them to understand it. Then, these people come to the church, where the members are to be Christ’s representatives and reflect His character, but we see the dissension in the church, and we can see that the devil is attacking there too.

Live By Faith

The apostle Paul was one of the great men of faith in the New Testament of the Bible. There are many examples of men of faith in the Bible, but the apostle Paul wrote so much of the New Testament that we have the opportunity to “get inside of his head” to see the way he thought. In Galatians 2:20, he said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We must come to that point of understanding. To help us reach that point, Ellen White counsels, “It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit.” The Desire of Ages, 83. We need the persistence to develop this habit.

If we go to God thinking of Him as He was described earlier in the quotation from Steps
to Christ—as an unjust judge or a hard taskmaster—what confidence would we have to press on until
our prayers were answered? So, we need to understand who God is. That is where our faith is. That is where our confidence is—in who God is, because He is unchangeable.

“Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.” Luke 18:7, 8. We have the promise that if we persevere, if we continue in faith, God will give us what we desire.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” If we do not believe that, we will not have the confidence to press on and press through the trials that come to us.

All Things Possible

Ellen White shares what will happen when we believe God: “When we really believe that God loves us and means to do us good we shall cease to worry about the future. We shall trust God as a child trusts a loving parent. Then our troubles and torments will disappear, for our will is swallowed up in the will of God.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 100.

This is the kind of faith that we need, that we should want to have.

“The widow’s prayer, ‘Avenge me’—‘do me justice’ (R.V.)—‘of mine adversary,’ [Luke 18:3] represents the prayer of God’s children. Satan is their great adversary. He is the ‘accuser of our brethren,’ who accuses them before God day and night. (Revelation 12:10.) He is continually working to misrepresent and accuse, to deceive and destroy the people of God. And it is for deliverance from the power of Satan and his agents that in this parable Christ teaches His disciples to pray.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 166.

Jesus said, in Mark 9:23, “If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.”

Brooklyn Bridge

In 1883, John A. Roebling, an engineer, was inspired to build a bridge connecting New York City to Long Island. Bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat, and they advised Roebling to forget the idea; it just could not be done; it was not practical; such a thing had never before been done. However, Roebling could not ignore the vision of the bridge in his mind. He thought about it all the time. He knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He had to share the dream with someone else.

After much discussion and persuasion, he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge, in fact, could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started out well, but when construction was underway only a few months, a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington succeeded his father as chief engineer on the project, but then he was stricken with decompression sickness caused from working in the caissons. This left him with a certain amount of brain damage which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

Many of their associates chimed, “We told them so. Crazy men and their crazy dreams! It is foolish to chase wild visions.” It seemed as though everyone had a negative comment to make, and many felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roebling father and son were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.

In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged, and he maintained a burning desire to complete the bridge. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his hospital bed with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy curtains apart, and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up.

Suddenly he had an idea. All he could do was move one finger, but he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this one finger, he slowly developed a tapping code of communication with his wife. He tapped his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do.

It seemed foolish, but the project was soon underway again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances.

Focus

We can learn a lot from this story. We oftentimes allow ourselves to get beaten down by circumstances. We become discouraged. Washington Roebling certainly had a lot of reasons to be discouraged. His circumstances seemed pretty impossible. What was it that kept him from becoming discouraged? It was his focus. He was not focused on his weaknesses. He was not focused on his circumstances. He was not focused on the mistakes that he may have made. He was focused on the bridge and its completion.

Where is our focus? It is easy to get drawn into looking at ourselves, looking at our trials, and looking at everything that we are going through, and become discouraged. When that happens, we are looking in the wrong direction.

Again, consider the counsel of the apostle Paul: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, 14.

Paul had many reasons to be discouraged. He had many trials in his life—he was being chased around by the unbelieving Jews from city to city; in Ephesus, he was attacked by the craftsmen who made the idols of Diana,—but he could not be deterred from his goal of character perfection.

To be continued …

Jim Stoeckert is a Steps to Life staff member. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his two sons. He
may be contacted by e-mail at: jimstoeckert@stepstolife.org.

Two Principles of Faith, Part II

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In this article, we are looking at some basic principles of faith. These are not necessarily anything new, but it is good to review the basics. If we do not understand the basics, as we get farther down the line and start running into bigger problems, we will not have the skill to conquer them.

Ellen White wrote: “Faith is trusting in God—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good.” Gospel Workers (1915), 259. The foundation of faith begins with these two basic principles—believing that God “loves us and knows what is for our best good.”

Character Perfection

We hear about character perfection, and we hear about obedience, which we should. We know that we must have character perfection to enter into heaven, but it seems that we can get into a self-centered attitude of character perfection. We focus on ourselves and take our eyes off Christ. We see the things that we need to change, and we focus on trying to change those things on our own; we end up trying to work out our own salvation instead of letting Christ do it.

A Bible verse that may help us to stay focused and not to get off on different things is John 17:3. It says, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

We can spend our whole lives focusing on different reforms and making sure that everything that we do is just so, but that is what the Pharisees did. We must go beyond that. We must keep our eyes focused on Christ and His character.

Our goal is to know Christ and the Father, and as we focus on this, everything else will come into perspective—we will not be seeking to save ourselves by works or to overcome sins for selfish reasons.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and he will do anything he can to keep us from coming to Christ, because he knows when we do, then his power will be broken, so he will throw everything he can at us to discourage us, to make us feel unworthy, or to keep us from coming to Christ.

Consider Joshua

Consider Joshua: “‘Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments.’ [Zechariah 3:3.] Thus sinners appear before the enemy who by his masterly, deceptive power has led them away from allegiance to God. With garments of sin and shame the enemy clothes those who have been overpowered by his temptations, and then he declares that it is unfair for Christ to be their Light, their Defender.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

“The enemy works with all his energy to lead persons into sin. Then he pleads that on account of their past sins, he should be allowed to exercise his hellish cruelty on them as his own subjects.” Ibid.

When the devil comes to us, what has to be our response? We cannot plead anything on our own behalf; we have to claim the blood of Jesus, right? We must put our faith and trust in Christ. Satan first tries to snare us, and when that is unsuccessful, he presents our case before Christ. The good news is that Christ does not enter into a controversy with him. He just answers with, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 1:9.

Christ has paid the price for us, and if we come to Him, we have the assurance that our sins will be forgiven, and that is the answer for the devil. We cannot claim anything for ourselves, but Christ has died for us; therefore, we can put our confidence in that.

Promises to Claim

There are several promises that I have memorized and claimed as I have been struggling with discouragement or have felt unworthy to come to the Lord. I would like to share a few of them with you.

“Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.” Matthew 28:29–31. What a wonderful invitation this is that Christ gives to us.

John 6:37 says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Another promise we may claim is given in 1 John 2:1, 2: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.”

Surely we all know 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is a good Scripture to memorize and to put into our hearts and minds. Then, when the devil does come to discourage us, to try to keep us away from Christ, we have these words with which to fight against him.

As Little Children

Jesus told His disciples, unless you “become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3. Think through what we can learn from a little child.

In Genesis 18, when the angel came to Abraham and told him that Sarah, his wife, was going to have a son, and Sarah overheard it, the Scripture says that she laughed. She said, “Shall I have a son when I am old, when I am beyond the childbearing age?” (Verse 13.)

Now, if an angel had come to a five-year-old child and told him or her that Sarah was going to have a child, would that have been a big stretch of the imagination to the five-year-old? No. Why was it so hard for Sarah to believe? It was hard for Sarah to believe because she was old. She was old enough to understand that a woman her age did not have children, so it went against what her experience told her. We are products of our environment; we are influenced by our surroundings.

If we are fortunate enough to grow up in a Christian home, we are surrounded with right influences. There are teachings that influence us. “Faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. We filter any new information through all the things we know to be true, through the word of God, and then we choose whether or not we are going to accept the new information.

When our experiences go in opposition to what God’s word says, that tells us that God wants to give us another experience, and the only way He can give that to us is if we believe, if we put our trust in Him, and believe what He says. Sometimes we have to fight against our own natures; God seldom does things the way we expect Him to do them. Sometimes He leads us in ways we do not understand, but “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

No Regrets

A child does not have any regrets, does not have a history of mistakes with which to deal. One of the hardest things with which Christians must deal is their past. But our past should not dictate what our faith is. God says that if we come to Him, He will receive us. If we confess our sins, He will forgive us, and we must focus upon that and let go of the past.

Paul said, “This one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, … I press toward the mark.” Philippians 3:13, 14. So, through faith in Christ, we can let go of the past and trust in Him—that He has forgiven us—and we can move forward.

Quite often we take this passage in a negative context—“forgetting those things which are behind.” It is good that we can come to Christ; we can be forgiven, and we can put those things of the past behind us and move forward. But when Paul speaks about forgetting those things which are behind, he is not talking about his sins. He lists a number of good things. The devil will get us into one ditch or another. If he cannot get us discouraged, he will get us to look to ourselves in a way that we should not, thinking that we are better than we are.

Not only are we supposed to forget the things which are past—maybe our past sins, our past mistakes—but we are not to focus on our good works either. We need to put those behind us and keep focused on the mark, because we are easily led into self-righteousness. We must guard ourselves against that.

Our Best Good

We have concentrated mostly on the first principle of faith, “believing that God loves us.” The most fundamental thing we can do in our Christian experience is to have faith that works by love. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. If we do not understand that God loves us, then we cannot really love Him as we should, and we will not accept the fact that He “knows what is for our best good.”

Do we really believe that God is able to control our lives, that He is able to do things that are for our good? Do we really believe that? This may be a struggle. We have to lay aside our own plans, desires, and ambitions and trust the Lord that He is able to work things out for our best good.

Speaking of this unwilling spirit, Ellen White wrote: “Though their present needs are supplied, many are unwilling to trust God for the future, and they are in constant anxiety lest poverty shall come upon them, and their children shall be left to suffer. Some are always anticipating evil or magnifying the difficulties that really exist, so that their eyes are blinded to the many blessings which demand their gratitude. The obstacles they encounter, instead of leading them to seek help from God, the only Source of strength, separate them from Him, because they awaken unrest and repining.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 293, 294.

The apostle Paul said: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:11, 12.

How could he be content in all those things? Because he trusted in the Lord that He would do and was able to do that which was for his best good. This is the kind of faith the Lord wants to give to us—that we have perfect confidence and trust in His keeping and that we be content with whatever is our lot in life, whatever challenge we are called to experience.

“Faith in God’s love and overruling providence lightens the burdens of anxiety and care. It fills the heart with joy and contentment in the highest or the lowliest lot. Religion tends directly to promote health, to lengthen life, and to heighten our enjoyment of all its blessings. It opens to the soul a never-failing fountain of happiness. Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves. Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best, and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of transgression leads to misery and destruction; but wisdom’s ‘ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.’ Proverbs 3:17.” Ibid., 600.

“Our plans are not always God’s plans. …. In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition. … Many things He asks us to yield to Him, but in doing this we are but giving up that which hinders us in the heavenward way. …

“In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.” Conflict and Courage, 228.

The Lord has a blessing for each one of us. He has promised that if we put our faith and trust in Him and if we commit our way to Him, He will direct our paths, and He will lead us on that path that takes us to peace. We may be confident that if we are faithful, He who has begun a good work in you is faithful to finish it. (Philippians 1:6.) In that we can put our faith and trust.

Jim Stoeckert is a Steps to Life staff member. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his two sons. 

Vitamin F

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Vitamin F cannot be purchased from a grocery store. You cannot even get it from a health food store. It is not folic acid; it is not even an essential fatty acid, but it is important for our well-being.

What is a vitamin? Vitamins are powerful chemical substances (keep that word in mind), essential, or necessary, in small amounts, to our nutrition. The purpose of vitamins is to regulate specific functions that promote growth, reproduction, or the maintenance of health and life.

People are excited about taking vitamin supplements, but if vitamin supplements are taken without minerals, an imbalance in the body will be created, because the body does not operate just on vitamins. The body also needs minerals, so if you are going to take iron, you need to take vitamin C; if you are going to take B vitamins, you need to also take calcium. Vitamins initiate the body processes, and without them, you cannot utilize the other nutrients.

Substance

From the Bible, we read: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.

What word do you see in this passage of Scripture that is also used in defining vitamin? Substance! That word, substance, as used in the definition of vitamins, refers to something tangible, something upon which you can put your hand. Is faith something upon which you can put your hand? Sure, you can experience faith. God has given every person a measure of faith—substance. So this vitamin F is nothing more than healing faith—not just physical healing but the totality healing of man.

Vitamin F Defined

Inspiration gives definitions of this important vitamin, such as: “Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good.” Education, 253.

How do we develop this faith? God wants us to be obedient, but obedience will not come without trust and faith. He allows us to experience trials to strengthen our trust and faith: “Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these principles.” Ibid.

Biblical Example

The story is given in the Bible of a woman with an issue of blood for twelve years. “A certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.” Mark 5:25, 26. The significance of her medical problem is addressed in Leviticus 15:25–30.

In Scripture, the word woman symbolizes a church. This woman of Mark 5 may represent the church, while at the same time this woman could represent us personally. We might not have an issue of blood, but we have an issue of a heart problem, an emotional problem. It could be caused by anything that we face; any challenge that impedes our experience with God can be an issue.

This woman had exhausted her resources in an attempt to be healed. She had nothing left. However, God’s plan is accessible to everybody. You might not have the resources, but you will not be turned down by God’s medical plan.

The Bible says, in Mark, that this woman grew worse because there was no doctor that could heal her. The physician disciple, Dr. Luke, recorded: “A woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any.” Luke 8:43. Even Dr. Luke came to the conclusion that nobody in Palestine could heal this woman.

Just Touch the Hem

It could be said that this woman was in desperate need. She was not only physiologically and emotionally affected, but she was socially affected. Her only hope was to be healed by Jesus. Her one desire was to touch the hem of Christ’s garment.

“ ‘If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.’ Matthew 9:21. It was a poor woman who spoke these words—a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies.” The Ministry of Healing, 59. There is not one plant, not one herb that can heal people of disease. They only support the body. God said, in Genesis 15:26, “I [am] the Lord that healeth thee.”

Yet, she was “pronounced incurable.” How many of us have been struggling with sins in our lives, and we finally come to the time when we do not think we are ever going to overcome these issues? We think we are incurable. If that is where we are, then we are in the position of that woman. We need to touch His garment.

Ellen White continues, “But as she heard of the Great Healer, her hopes revived. She thought, ‘If only I could get near enough to speak to Him, I might be healed.’ ” Ibid.

Come Boldly

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. What does the word boldly mean? It means with confidence, with assurance that Christ is a rewarder of those who come to Him by faith. We can come boldly to Christ, knowing He will forgive, heal, and cleanse. We can come with the confidence that Jesus will give us power. We can come with confidence that He will not cast us aside. Men might reject us, but God has proven time after time that He can be trusted.

We must come boldly. This means that we must be resolved. The reason our faith is not strong enough is because when we go through trials, we are not in a frame of mind of being resolute. Yet God gives us trials and tests and shows us His mighty works that we can come to trust Him.

Priest’s Robes

Christ is the High Priest, the type of a priest that served in the tabernacle on earth. (See Hebrews 9:11.) In Exodus 28:33, 34, the hem of the earthly priest’s garment is described: “And [beneath] upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of] scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.” Notice, it says, “a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate.”

What is the significance of the bell and the purpose of the pomegranate? The Bible tells us that we must bring forth fruit. (John 15:16.) The bell represents profession. The bell makes noise; it professes, and it sounds. So, with our profession, we must bring forth fruit. We can talk; we can ring the bell of truth, but we must also bring forth fruit. We cannot have a life of profession without bringing forth fruit. If we are true Christians and we are clinging to the garment of Jesus Christ, we will not only have a profession, but we will bring forth fruit.

Why did God direct Moses to use pomegranates on the hem of the priest’s garment? Why not use mangoes? Well, pomegranates have a lot of seeds. My wife tried to count the number of seeds in a pomegranate. She cut one of the fruits into quarters and counted the seeds in one of the quarters. She counted over 50 seeds in that one quarter! In my travels, I have been to many countries and experienced their fruits. I have not found any fruit with more seeds than the pomegranate. It is a virtual seed basket.

Promises of God

What do seeds represent? The Bible says, “The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11.

What does this have to do with the woman with the issue of blood? Well, you see, the seeds represent the promises of God’s Word. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.” 11 Peter 1:4.

Claim Promises

She touched the hem of His garment, in faith reaching out and claiming the precious promises of the Word of God. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Word, the embodiment of every promise. We read: “The Word was with God, and the Word was God”; “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:1, 14. When Jesus walked on this earth, the Word was in the flesh. If the woman wished to be healed, it made sense for her to come into contact with the Word.

“For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:22. What is health to all flesh? It is the Word of God.

Ellen White wrote: “The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God.

“The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained. ‘By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4) shall man live.” Education, 126.

Who Touched Me?

The woman joined a crowd thronging Jesus. Writing about this event, Mrs. White penned: “To the curious crowd pressing about Jesus there was imparted no vital power.” The Ministry of Healing, 62. Notice, people were touching Him, pressing against Him, but there was no vital power.

“In making His way through the multitude, the Saviour came near to where the afflicted woman was standing.

“Christ knew every thought of her mind, and He was making His way to where she stood. He realized her great need, and He was helping her to exercise faith.” Ibid., 59, 60.

Even though many followers surrounded Him, Jesus recognized the woman’s need and faith, and He was moving in her direction. Even though in the crowd of more than six billion people on the planet earth, be assured that Jesus is always moving to that one soul who is crying out. He knows every need, every thought.

As Christ passed the woman, “She reached forward and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. That moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness disappeared. Instantly she felt the thrill as of an electric current passing through every fiber of her being. There came over her a sensation of perfect health….

“ ‘Somebody hath touched Me,’ Jesus said; ‘for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.’ Luke 8:46. He could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual touch of the careless throng. Someone had touched Him with a deep purpose and had received answer.” Ibid., 60.

“So in spiritual things does the casual contact differ from the touch of faith. To believe in Christ merely as the Saviour of the world can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere assent to the truth of the gospel. True faith is that which receives Christ as a personal Saviour. God gave His only-begotten Son, that I, by believing in Him, ‘should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16. When I come to Christ, according to His word, I am to believe that I receive His saving grace. The life that I now live, I am to ‘live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.’ Galatians 2:20.

“Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction, by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which, through the grace of Christ, the soul becomes a conquering power.” Ibid., 62. [Author’s emphasis.]

“And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Mark 5:34.

Measure of Faith

We have all received a measure of faith, and it must be cultivated. God helps us to cultivate it by permitting trials to come our way. He is continually measuring us, because without faith we cannot please Him. “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.

We should thank God for the trials. We should thank God for the issues in our lives. We should thank God for the disappointments. We should thank God that He does not waste His time on useless material. When we are going through trials, we should each exclaim, “God sees something of infinite value in me!”

Thomas Jackson is a Health Evangelist and Director of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He may be contacted by e-mail at: godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at: 731-986-3518.

Living by Faith

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The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17. This statement is the summing up of what the apostle has to say about the gospel. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, but only “to everyone that believeth.” In it the righteousness of God is revealed. The righteousness of God is the perfect law of God, which is but the transcript of his own righteous will. All unrighteousness is sin, or the transgression of the law. The gospel is God’s remedy for sin; its work, therefore, must be to bring all men into harmony with the law,—to cause the workings of the righteous law to be manifested in their lives. But this is wholly a work of faith,—the righteousness of God is revealed from “faith to faith”—faith in the beginning, and faith to the end,—as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

This is true in all ages since the fall of man, and will be true until the saints of God have his name in their foreheads, and see him as he is. It was from the prophet Habakkuk (2:4) that the apostle quoted the statement. If the prophets had not revealed it, the first Christians could not have known it; for they had only the Old Testament. To say that in the most ancient times men had but an imperfect idea of faith in Christ is to say that there were no just men in those times. But Paul goes right back to the very beginning and cites an instance of saving faith. He says: “by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” Heb. 11:4. He says of Noah, also, that it was by faith that he built the ark to the saving of his house; “by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Heb. 11:7. We say that their faith was in Christ, because it was faith unto salvation, and besides the name of Jesus “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

There are too many who try to live the Christian life on the strength of the faith which they exercised when they realized their need of pardon for the sins of their past life. They know that God alone can pardon sins, and that he does this through Christ; but they imagine that having once been started they must run the race on their own strength. We know that many have this idea, first, because we have heard some say so, and second, because there are such multitudes of professed Christians who show the working of no greater power than their own. If they ever have anything to say in social meeting, besides the ever-recurring formula, “I want to be a Christian, so that I may be saved,” they tell only of past experience, of the joy they had when they first believed. Of the joy of living for God, and of walking with him by faith, they know nothing, and he who tells of it speaks a strange language to them. But the apostle carries this matter of faith clear through to the glorious kingdom in the following most forcible illustration:—

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:5, 6.

Note the argument to prove that Enoch was translated by faith: Enoch was translated because he walked with God, and had the testimony that he pleased God; but without faith it is impossible to please God. That is enough to prove the point. Without faith not an act can be performed that will meet the approval of God. Without faith the best deeds that a man can do will come infinitely short of the perfect righteousness of God, which is the only standard. Wherever real faith is found it is a good thing; but the best faith in God to take away the load of the sins of the past will profit a person nothing unless it is carried right through in ever-increasing measure until the close of probation.

We have heard many people tell how hard they found it to do right; their Christian life was most unsatisfactory to them, being marked only by failure, and they were tempted to give up in discouragement. No wonder they get discouraged; continual failure is enough to discourage anybody. The bravest soldier in the world would become faint-hearted if he had been defeated in every battle. Sometimes these persons will mournfully tell that they have about lost confidence in themselves. Poor souls, if they would only lose confidence in themselves entirely, and would put their whole trust in the one who is mighty to save, they would have a different story to tell. They would then “joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Says the apostle, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. The man who doesn’t rejoice in God, even though tempted and afflicted, is not fighting the good fight of faith. He is fighting the poor fight of self—and defeat.

All the promises of final happiness are to the overcomer. “To him that overcometh,” says Jesus, “will I give to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things,” says the Lord. Revelation 21:7. An overcomer is one who gains victories. The inheriting is not the overcoming; that is only the reward for overcoming. The overcoming is now; the victories over the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, victories over self and selfish indulgences. The man who fights and sees the foe give way may rejoice that nobody can keep him from rejoicing, for joy comes spontaneously as the result of seeing the enemy give way. Some folks look with dread upon the thought of having to wage a continual warfare with self and worldly lusts. That is because they do not as yet know anything about the joy of victory; they have experienced only defeat. But it isn’t so doleful a thing to battle constantly, when there is continual victory. The old veteran of a hundred battles, who has been victorious in every fight, longs to be at the scene of conflict. Alexander’s soldiers, who under his command never knew defeat, were always impatient to be led into the fray. Each victory increased their strength, which was born only of courage, and correspondingly diminished that of the vanquished foe. Now, how may we gain continual victories in our spiritual warfare? Listen to the beloved disciple:—

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4.

Read again the words of the apostle Paul:—

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Here is the secret of strength. It is Christ, the Son of God, the one to whom all power in Heaven and earth is given, who does the work. If he lives in the heart to do the work, is it boasting to say that continual victories might be gained? Yes, it is boasting; but it is also boasting in the Lord, and that is allowable. Says the psalmist, “My soul shall make her boast in the Lord;” and Paul says: “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14.

The soldiers of Alexander were reckoned invincible. Why? Was it because they were naturally stronger and more courageous than all their enemies? No; but because they were led by Alexander. Their strength was in his leadership. Under another leader they would often have been defeated. When the Union army was feeling panic-stricken, before the enemy at Winchester, the presence of Sheridan turned their defeat into victory. Without him the men were a quacking mob; with him at their head, they were an invincible army. If you had listened to the remarks after the battle, of the soldiers who served under those and similar leaders, you would have heard the praises of their general mingled with all their rejoicing. They were strong because he was; they were inspired by the same spirit that he had.

Well, our captain is the Lord of hosts. He has met the chiefest foe of all and has vanquished him single-handed. Those who follow him invariably go forth conquering and to conquer. Oh, that those who profess to be his followers would put their trust in him, and then, by the repeated victories they would gain, they would show forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.

John says that he that is born of God overcomes the world, through faith. Faith lays hold of the arm of God, and his mighty power does the work. How the power of God can work in a man, accomplishing that which he could not possibly do for himself, no one can tell. It would be easy to tell how God can give life to the dead. Says Jesus: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8. How the Spirit works in a man to subdue his passions, and to make him victorious over pride, envy, and selfishness, is known only to the Spirit; it is sufficient for us to know that it is done, and will be done in everyone who wanted that work wrought in him, and above all things else, and who trusts God for the performance of it.

We cannot tell how Peter was able to walk on the water, when the waves were rolling about him; but as he kept his eye fixed on the Master, divine power enabled him to walk as easily as though it were solid rock underneath; but when he looked at the waves, possibly with a feeling of pride in what he was doing, as though he himself was doing it, fear very naturally took possession of him, and he began to sink. Faith enabled him to walk on the waves; fear made him sink beneath them.

Says the apostle: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days.” Hebrews 11:30. Why was that written? For our learning, “that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4. Why, is there any prospect that we shall ever be called upon to fight armed hosts, and to take fortified cities? No: “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12); but the victories which have been gained by faith in God over visible foes in the flesh, are placed on record to show what faith will accomplish in our conflict with the rulers of the darkness of this world. The grace of God, in answer to faith, is as powerful in these battles as in those days; for says the apostle:—

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3–5.

It was not physical foes alone that faith enabled the ancient worthies to conquer. We read of them that they not only “subdued kingdoms,” but “wrought righteousness, obtained promises,” and, most wonderful and most encouraging of all, “out of weakness were made strong.” Hebrews 11:33, 34. Their very weakness became strength to them through faith, because the strength of Christ is made perfect in weakness. Who, then, shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Since it is God that justifieth, and we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:35, 37. The Signs of the Times, March 25, 1889.

©1999 by Teach Services, Inc., and used with permission. www.teachservices.com

In 1888, the Lord brought a message of righteousness to the Church through Elders E.J. Waggoner and A.T. Jones. This message was identified as the beginning of the loud cry of the third angel whose glory was to fill the whole earth in preparation for the second coming of Jesus.

Faith

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Without faith it is impossible to please God.” The reason for this is that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23); and, of course, sin cannot please God. This is why it is that, as stated by the spirit of prophecy on the first page of The Review and Herald, October 18, 1898, “The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” And for this cause we shall hereafter, in this place in each number of the Review give a Scripture lesson on faith,—what it is, how it comes, how to exercise it,—that every reader of this paper may have this knowledge that “is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” The Review and Herald, November 29, 1898.

In order to be able to know what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, it is essential to know, first of all, what is faith.

Plainly, it must be to little purpose to urge upon a person the necessity of cultivating faith, while that person has no intelligent idea of what faith is. And it is sadly true that, though the Lord has made this perfectly plain in scriptures, there are many church members who do not know what faith is. They may even know what the definition of faith is: but they do not know what the thing is; they do not grasp the idea that is in the definition.

For that reason, the definition will not be touched now; but, rather, there will be cited and studied an illustration of faith, an instance which makes it stand out so plainly that all can see the very thing itself.

Faith comes “by the word of God.” To the Word, then, we must look for it.

One day a centurion came to Jesus, and said to him: “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed … When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matt. 8:6–10.

There is what Jesus pronounces faith. When we find what that is, we have found faith. To know what that is, is to know what faith is. There is no sort of doubt about this; for Christ is “the Author … of faith.” And he says that that which the centurion manifested was “faith”; yes, even “great faith.”

Where, then, in this is the faith? The centurion wanted a certain thing done. He wanted the Lord to do it. But when the Lord said, “I will come” and do it, the centurion checked him, saying, “Speak the word only,” and it shall be done.

Now, what did the centurion expect would do the work? “The word ONLY.” Upon what did he depend for the healing of his servant?—Upon “the word ONLY.”

And the Lord Jesus says that that is faith.

Now brother, sister, what is faith? The Review and Herald, December 6, 1898.

Faith is expecting the word of God itself to do what the word says, and depending upon that word itself to do what the word says. When this is clearly discerned, it is perfectly easy to see how it is that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Since the word of God is imbued with creative power, and so is able to produce in very substance the things which that word speaks; and since faith is the expectation that the word says, and depending on “the word only” to do what that word says, it is plain enough that faith is the substance of things hoped for.

Since the word of God is in itself creative, and so is able to produce and cause to appear what otherwise would never exist nor be seen; and since faith is the expecting the word of God only to do just that thing, and depending upon “the word only” to do it, it is plain enough that faith is “the evidence of things not seen.”

Thus it is that “through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were made of things which do appear.”

He who exercises faith knows that the word of God is creative, and that so it is able to produce the thing spoken. Therefore he can understand, not guess, that the worlds were produced, were caused to exist, by the word of God.

He who exercises faith can understand that though before the word of God was spoken, neither the things which are now seen nor the substances of which those things are composed, anywhere appeared, simply because they did not exist; yet when that word was spoken, the worlds were, simply because that word itself caused them to exist.

This is the difference between the word of God and the word of man. Man may speak; but there is no power in his words to perform the thing spoken: if the thing is to be accomplished which he has spoken, the man must do something in addition to speaking the word—he must make good his word.

Not so with the word of God. When God speaks, the thing is. And it is, simply because he has spoken. It accomplishes that which he was pleased to speak. It is not necessary that the Lord, as man, must do something in addition to the word spoken. He needs not make his word good: it is good. He speaks “the word only,” and the thing is accomplished.

And so it is written: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”—in you that exercise faith. I Thessalonians 2:13.

This also is how it is that it is “impossible for God to lie.” It is not impossible for God to lie only because he will not, but also because he can not. And he can not lie, just because he can not: it is impossible. And it is impossible, because when he speaks, the creative energy is in the word spoken; so that “the word only” causes the thing to be so.

Man may speak a word, and it not be so. Thus man can lie; for to speak what is not so, is to lie. And man can lie, can speak what is not so, because there is no power in his word itself to cause the thing to be. With God this is impossible: he cannot lie; for “he spake, and it was;” he speaks and it is so.

This is also how it is that when the word of God is spoken for a certain time, as in prophecy for hundreds of years to come, when that time actually has arrived, that word is fulfilled. And it is then fulfilled, not because, apart from the word, God does something to fulfill it; but because the word was spoken for that time, and in it is the creative energy which causes the word at that time to produce the thing spoken.

This is how it was that if the children had not cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” the stones would have immediately cried out; and this is how it was that when the third day had come, it was “impossible” that he should be any longer holden of death.

O the word of God is divine! In it is creative energy. It is “living and powerful.” The word of God is self-fulfilling; and to trust it and depend upon it as such, that is to exercise faith. “Hast thou faith?” The Review and Herald, January 3, 1899.

©Copyright 1995 TEACH Services, Inc. Used with Permission. www.teachservices.com

Fanaticism or Faith

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If a man believes a gospel that teaches that we can attain moral perfection before Christ comes, has he embraced fanaticism, or “the faith once delivered to the saints?” I believe Scripture proves that this matter touches the very heart of the Three Angels’ Messages, righteousness by faith, and sanctuary messages. It can be shown that these Bible messages constitute the very identity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But if “perfection” cannot be proven to be a consistent feature of the doctrine, or gospel, of Jesus Christ, it would seem to prove that the gospel that Evangelicals and espousers of the “New Theology” preach, that we are saved in sin, is true: then the doctrine of perfection is damnable heresy, and Seventh-day Adventism has grossly misapplied the first angel’s message in Revelation 14:6, 7, as well as the third angel’s message in Revelation 14:12. There is no room for pluralism here. Only one gospel is true, and the Bible is very clear regarding those who preach any other gospel.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8, 9.

I suggest that most “Christians” unwisely deny the possibility of perfection because of the experiences and feelings of the person they look at in the mirror and the failures of others they see all around them. Paul touches on this principle when he says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” II Corinthians 10:12.

It seems also that Christians limit themselves and God by repeating trite old bumper sticker-type slogans so often that they become more real to them than Scripture. Maybe you’ve heard or used one or more of these to excuse sin and failure. “I’m only human, not perfect.” “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” “Nobody’s perfect—nobody can be perfect in this world.”

I submit that “perfection” is controversial in Christianity mainly due to the unbelief of theologians and sin-loving professors of religion. Somehow just mentioning it as part of the gospel causes resentment. If you include it, you can expect to hear something like: “What and whom do you think you are, Mr. Perfect?” Saying this implies that perfection is unattainable, even unbiblical. Don’t get me wrong, I do not count myself to have arrived at the destination of perfection, but I cannot deny what the Bible teaches regarding perfection. (That would not be safe for any of us.) Also, we must be sure not to confuse O.C.D. (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) or human “perfectionism” that says you cannot, for instance, accidentally dot a “t” or cross an “i” and yet attain perfection. And we are not talking about physical perfection concerning the flesh. Jesus Himself came “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” (See Romans 8:3, 4.) So we are dealing with spiritual and moral, even character issues. Before we do a Berean search for the truth about perfection in the Scriptures, let’s look into Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary for a slightly abbreviated definition of the word:

PERFECT

Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind; as a perfect likeness; a perfect system.

Fully informed; completely skilled; as men perfect in the use of arms; perfect in discipline.

Complete in moral excellencies. (a.) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48. (b.) My strength is made perfect in weakness. II Corinthians 12. (c.) If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. I John 4.

Friends, we will approach this subject with questions, objections and a Bible answer format. First, is truth regarding “perfection” or any other Bible doctrine decided by what learned theologians say? Is truth decided by our feelings, personal opinions, experience, or comparing ourselves among others? (See Jeremiah 17:5, 9 for the wisdom of that.) If not, where does a real Christian find the truth of this matter? Does the Bible encourage or discourage man from believing that moral perfection is possible? Praying for the Holy Spirit to guide us, let’s start with Genesis and go through the Old and New Testaments to get a consistent Bible understanding by weighing the evidence for ourselves and seeking an experience in what God’s Word shows us.

Among the prevailing wickedness just before and during the time of the flood, two men are known for gaining just such a perfect walk and experience. What did it get them? Genesis 5:22, 24: “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.” Genesis 6:7–9. “And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.” After the flood, God commanded Abram to a certain kind of walk. What was connected with that walk? Genesis 17:1, 7: “The Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” It appears here that the words “And I will” following “walk before me, and be thou perfect” show that the Everlasting Covenant was (and is) conditional upon God’s command to be perfect. Was Abraham alone commanded to be perfect? No; God commanded all whom He has delivered from bondage to do the same. Deuteronomy 18:13, “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.”

Some vehemently insist, “No man has ever been perfect!” Is that true to God’s Word? Has God ever declared any mortal to have become perfect? If so, what kind of spirit challenges God’s declaration? We find the answers clearly stated in Job 1:8–11, “And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

It appears that it is a satanic spirit that denies and defies perfection. Did any test cause this mortal man, Job, whom God called “perfect,” to turn against Him? If I remember correctly, even though Job did not understand what had happened to him, he said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Job 13:15. But some will say, “Oh, that was then, in Old Testament times; today we stand in a different relation to perfection entirely.” Is that true? How does the Bible define how we stand? Romans 3:12, 23: “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

All have sinned, and come short of God’s glory (which is His divine character,) by breaking His royal law, the Ten Commandments (which also is an abbreviated transcript of God’s character). This is why the everlasting gospel defines itself with a loud voice, saying, “Fear God and give glory to Him.” Such a command calls us up to an experience opposite of Romans 3:12, 23. So if we limit our scope to the experience of Romans 3:12, 23, yes, it looks like we present a very imperfect picture. But how does that picture change when we receive God into it and into our experience? II Samuel 22:31–33: “As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him. God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.”

He does not leave us imperfect if we are joined to Him. His way becomes our way, and thereby He makes our way perfect in His strength and omnipotent power. Where do we most clearly see His perfect way? In God’s sanctuary and in Jesus Christ. (See Psalm 77:13 and John 14:6.) The process of our perfection starts as a command from the Lord. Matthew 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Peter, quoting Moses, and Moses, quoting the Lord, defines what this perfection means by using synonyms. 1 Peter 1:15, 16: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Leviticus 20:7, 8: “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.”

These directives from the Lord parallel perfection with holiness and sanctification. We are directed to make these our experience because God is perfect. He is holy and He is our sanctification. And we as His born-again children are empowered to reflect Him. Hebrews 12:14 makes it clear that without holiness, also known as sanctification, no man shall see the Lord. This experience is not optional, if we would be saved.

Again, the Lord’s biddings found in Matthew 5 and through Peter and Moses are direct commands, and we know all His biddings are enablings. “The heavenly intelligences will work with the human agent who seeks with determined faith that perfection of character which will reach out to perfection in action. To every one engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to help you.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 332. “As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command, may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 333.

Here are a few more good places to see this call or command to follow the Lord and God’s enabling and transforming power. Note the conditions. We have a part and must choose to have this experience to be saved. I Peter 5:10, 11, “But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 5:8, 9: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” “ ‘We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’ II Corinthians 3:18. Christ is the sinner’s advocate. Those who accept His gospel behold Him with open face. They see the relation of His mission to the law, and they acknowledge God’s wisdom and glory as revealed by the Saviour. The glory of Christ is revealed in the law, which is a transcript of His character, and His transforming efficacy is felt upon the soul until men become changed to His likeness. They are made partakers of the divine nature, and grow more and more like their Saviour, advancing step by step in conformity to the will of God, till they reach perfection.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 240.

There is no “creature merit” in all this. It is God’s power, and those who experience this perfecting power fear God and give glory to Him. Yet it is not automatically imparted to us! God does not force us; we must choose to believe, and act on that belief. Some try to hide the truth of this behind a smokescreen of falsehood or misapplication of words and concepts. They cause many to miss what God is offering. We must not let them deceive us or others by confusing worldly or human Perfectionism with the biblical process of Christian perfection, also known as sanctification. Romans 12:1, 2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Being transformed, proving (to all who look on) that God’s perfect will can be done “on earth, as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:10) is the reasonable service set before true Christians by the One Who calls us to it. Yes, it requires the sacrifice of our otherwise “unprofitable” lives. “True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God. We are to be sanctified to God through obedience to the truth. Our conscience must be purged from dead works to serve the living God. We are not yet perfect; but it is our privilege to cut away from the entanglements of self and sin, and advance to perfection. Great possibilities, high and holy attainments, are placed within the reach of all. The reason many in this age of the world make no greater advancement in the divine life is because they interpret the will of God to be just what they will to do. While following their own desires, they flatter themselves that they are conforming to God’s will.” The Acts of the Apostles, 564, 565.

Can we see that proving the perfect will of God through the imputed and imparted powers of heaven is not optional? It is an ongoing work of Christ and the willing receiver to daily partake of the divine nature. But the fact that it is not done for us unconditionally should not remove any real assurance from us. Quite the opposite. From all we’ve seen so far, and especially coupled with the next divine assurance, any Bible believer will be assured that if we cooperate, He, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will bring this work to completion or perfection. Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

There are those who will look at all this and worry that they may not live long enough to have the work of Christian perfection completed in them. It is a genuine concern, one that causes me to remember certain truths about God’s character and how he judges us. John 3:17–19: “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Remember that Jesus’ name is who He is and what He does: Matthew 1:21, 23: “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. And they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” So we can safely trust that if we will walk in the light with Him, He will complete the saving work He began in us. For reassurance, let’s examine the case of a man who had his time cut short, yet Jesus promises him a place with Him in His kingdom. It is the story of a man whose life brought him a cruel death sentence, yet in his last moments of time, despite how unpromising every circumstance looked, his faith reached out to mercy and perfection in the Person who hung on a cross with him that day.

Luke 23:39–43: “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

With everything he had, he reached out in faith to Christ, when Jesus looked like anything but a king; when even the other malefactor joined the crowd in mocking Jesus, the other man strove against the tide of evil, repenting of his past and looking to the Author and finisher of his faith. He confessed Christ with his heart and lips, and placed his case in Jesus’ nail pierced hands. In this, his faith opened the way for the Saviour and His perfection to stand in his place. This is righteousness by faith, including both justification and sanctification, bringing in both the imputed and imparted merits of Christ’s sinless life, sacrifice, and His Spirit, to complete or perfect the good work begun in this man’s shortened life.

Some will attempt to refute this doctrine no matter how much proof you have, but I believe such prove that they are allied to the enemy of truth, and that it is spiritually suicidal to take an opposing view, as it leaves one with a mere form of godliness, but denies the power thereof. (Compare Romans 1:16–18.)

“The enemy will suggest that the Lord will not keep us from sinning, and make us obedient to all his requirements. He will direct our mind to our past imperfections, to our sins, failures, and mistakes, and tell us we need not expect to come off conquerors at last. We are not to listen to the suggestions of the enemy, or think that our unaided efforts can save us, but we are to believe that Jesus does the work for us.” The Signs of the Times, September 12, 1892. (Emphasis added.)

No one is safe who focuses on past sins or who listens to the enemy’s reasoning. But if we are going to prove our position, our evidence on this matter must be very biblical. We can use the Spirit of Prophecy with believers who have tested these writings to the Bible standard, but those among us who have not tested them or who are seeking loopholes have no fear of making those writings of none effect. So the rest will be only from the Bible. What did the Lord inspire Paul to write to those surrounded with the shadows of unbelievers? II Corinthians 6:17, 18; 7:1: “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

God promises to receive as sons and daughters those who, in the fear of God, come out from among those who do not believe in the transforming grace that both justifies and perfects holiness in our lives. I pray that all who read this receive the power inherent in God’s promises. Without using the words “perfect” or “perfection” Peter and Jude described perfecting holiness as the result of believing and acting on God’s promises. What are the results He promises us? II Peter 1:2–4, 10: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. … Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” Jude 1:24: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

What do you get when you add this all together? We have the potential of being no longer “only human,” but enjoined with or a “partaker of the divine nature,” having escaped corruption, never falling, and faultless! May this also fit within the biblical definition of Christian perfection? By the way, who is given exceeding joy in this experience? Yes, it gives God joy to do it, and imagine the joy we can have as, in doing it, He lifts us up to sit with Him in His throne as overcomers! Paul wrote more about Christian perfection, though also here, other words describe that high, yet attainable condition. Please note once more who enables it and how it is accomplished. I Thessalonians 5:21–24: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.” It is interesting to note, in verse 23, how the word “wholly” is defined in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. G3651 ho-lo-te-las’ From G3650 and G5056, which means complete to the end, that is, absolutely perfect—wholly.

Our faithful God promises the power, but leaves it to us to believe Him and hold fast to it. But for those who maintain that “we will sin till Jesus comes,” I agree that you probably will! But nonetheless, take careful note that this absolutely perfect sanctification is something “preserved blameless” in its recipients “till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let’s go with Paul as he describes further his mission to teach Christian perfection, as well as to and through whom it is to be taught. Here again, the Bible points us to the power through whom it is accomplished and its ultimate effect, calling it a “mystery.” Colossians 1:26–28: “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

This is the purpose of the real gospel and its power—to present every man who receives it “perfect in Christ Jesus.” Can you say “Amen” to that? Friends, perfection is a continual biblical theme. Is it not precisely why we see Christ pouring spiritual gifts and administrations into His church? This is exactly what we see in Ephesians 4:7, 8, 12, 13: “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Paul discovered that his traditional old Pharisaic view of the law and righteousness had not the power of true righteousness by faith. I submit that many of us have scales over our eyes. And like Paul, we have received them by traditions of men, and they have blinded us to true righteousness by faith, also known as justification, along with sanctification, or “perfection.” Look how Paul describes his experience once he discovered the truth. Philippians 3:9–14: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Far from teaching “saved by the law” or “once saved always saved,” Paul preaches a gospel that clearly illustrates our cooperation in pressing toward the mark of which sin causes us to come short. He preaches that the true Christian presses on with strength and confidence, knowing that Christ has apprehended him, laid hands on him, if you will, and is pulling him as he presses forward up the narrow upward path to the prize. What is that calling and what is the prize? It is perfection and the literal presence of God—face to face and side by side with Christ. Don’t you desire that? Can we get it any other way than Paul got it?

Let’s start bringing this home as we read what Paul wrote of the successful tools and gospel efforts of others that aided even more as they pressed toward the same mark. Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

In his letter to Timothy, Paul defines the purpose of the Scriptures, in II Timothy 3:15–17: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” All through the New Testament, God assures us that it is His will to bring us out of the experience of Romans 3:23. Hebrews 13:20, 21: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

James also describes this same process, illustrating one of the elements God uses to bring it about. James 1:2–4: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Friends, after seeing what the Bible says for itself, are those who teach perfection merely fanatics, preaching an impossibility or even a false gospel? Or is this a biblical doctrine of Christ? If it is clearly biblical, and it is a doctrine of our Savior, Jesus Christ, why do so many deny it? It would be best to let God’s Word briefly answer that, lest I be perceived to be judgmental, unChristlike, or unloving. II John 1:9: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” John 14:23, 24: “If a man love Me, he will keep My words: He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings.”

We are coming around full circle in this study. And before we close, if there is still some doubt in us or somebody else, I’d like to ask Jesus to help us expose and dispose of it. Let’s read two passages from Jesus’ words found in Matthew 5:16, 48. Ask anyone who claims to be a Christian and denies the doctrine of Christian perfection, “Is verse 16 to be taken seriously and not verse 48?” Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Why is one cheerfully and confidently proclaimed and encouraged by nearly every Christian? And why is it that most who call themselves Christians doubt that we can experience the other, and whole denominations and seminaries and theologians really doubt it, and discourage preaching all that it can mean?

Do we really love the Lord? Don’t we really want God the Father and Son to receive all they paid for with the greatest sacrifice the eternal universe will ever have known? There is really a lot more at stake here than many will ever think. As we go to our closing Scriptures, let’s use our imaginations and lean close to the Lord as He prays His last prayer with His disciples before being betrayed into the hands of the mob to be tried and crucified. This is really a dying prayer. Let’s read it and ask Him, “Lord, did you pray an unanswerable prayer?” John 17:20–23: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

In this prayer, if we look closely, we see how or if Christianity accepts this truth and prayer, “that they may be made perfect in one.” This determines how or if the world can really ever know that Jesus was truly the divine sent of God the Father. Our perfection in Christ, or our doubt and rejection of it, preaches a louder gospel than the words we speak or write. What gospel will your life preach?

Paul’s farewell to all Christians who read his inspired letter to Corinth and the world also expresses my appeal to you. II Corinthians 13:11: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

You or I may not yet have experienced perfection. We may not have known or seen others who have, but does that make God’s words untrue? We need to walk by faith (which comes by the word of God) and not by sight, feeling, or comparing the experiences of others with God’s Word. By God’s grace and calling, let us come up higher.

Dean Ferrell has served as a Bible worker, a pastor, and an evangelist in a variety of locations. He and his wife, Blanca, make a powerful team in ministry. Dean is currently helping his spiritual mentor, Elder Ron Spear, in Kettle Falls, Washington.

Dependable Faith

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Faith is the depending upon the word of God only, and expecting that word 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 only to accomplish it.

Justification by faith is righteousness by faith; for justification is the being declared righteous.

Faith comes by the word of God. Justification by faith, then, is justification that comes by the word of God. Righteousness by faith is righteousness that comes by the word of God.

The word of God is self-fulfilling; for in creating all things, “he spake, and it was.” [Psalm 33:9.] And when he was on earth, he stilled the raging sea, cleansed the lepers, healed the sick, raised the dead, and forgave sins, all by his word: there, too, “he spake, and it was.”

Now, the same One who, in creating, “spake and it was,” the same One who said, “Let there be light: and there was light;” [Genesis 1:3.] the same One who on earth spoke “the word only,” and the sick were healed, the lepers were cleansed, and the dead lived—this same One speaks the righteousness of God unto and upon all that believe.

For though all have sinned and come short of the righteousness of God, yet we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath sent forth … to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God.” [Romans 3:24, 25.]

In creating all things in the beginning, God set forth Christ to declare the word which should cause all things to exist. Christ did speak the word only, and all things were. And in redemption, which is creation over again, God set forth Christ to declare the word of righteousness. And when Christ speaks the word only, it is so. His word, whether in creating or in redeeming, is the same.

“The worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” [Hebrews 11:3.] Once there were no worlds, nor was there any of the material which now composes the worlds. God set forth Christ to declare the word which should produce the worlds, and the very material of which they should be composed.

“He spake, and it was.” Before he spoke, there were no worlds; after he spoke, the worlds were there. Thus the word of God spoken by Jesus Christ is able to cause that to exist which has no existence before the word is spoken; and which, except for that word, never could have existence.

In this same way precisely it is in man’s life. In man’s life there is no righteousness. In man there is not righteousness, from which righteousness can appear in his life. But God has set forth Christ to declare righteousness unto and upon a man. Christ has spoken the word only, and in the darkness void of man’s life there is righteousness to everyone who will receive it. Where before the word is received, there was neither righteousness nor anything which could possibly produce righteousness, after the word is received, there is perfect righteousness and the very Fountain from which it springs. The word of God received by faith that is, the word of God expected to do what the word says, and depended upon to do what it says—produces righteousness in the man and in the life where there never was any before; precisely as, in the original creation, the word of God produced worlds where there never were any worlds before. He has spoken, and it is so to everyone that believeth: that is, to every one that receiveth. The word itself produces it.

“Therefore being justified [accounted righteous] by faith [by expecting, and depending upon, the word of God only], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. That is so, bless the Lord! And feeding upon this blessed thing is cultivating faith.

“The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” The Review and Herald, October 18, 1898.

Faith is expecting the word of God to do the thing which the word speaks, and the depending upon the word only to accomplish the thing which that word speaks.

Abraham is the father of all them which be of faith. The record of Abraham, then, gives instruction in faith—what it is, and what it does for him who has it.

What shall we say, then, that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the faith, has found? What saith the Scripture?

When Abram was more than eighty years old, and Sarai his wife was old, and he had no child, God “brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” [Genesis 15:5.]

And Abram “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:2, 6. Abram accepted the word of God, and expected by the word what the word said. And in that he was right.

Sarai, however, did not put her expectation upon the word of God only. She resorted to a device of her own to bring forth seed. She said to him, “The Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.” Genesis 16:2.

Abram, for the moment, swerved from the perfect integrity of faith. Instead of holding fast his expectation and dependence upon the word of God only, he “harkened to the voice of Sarai.”

Accordingly, a child was born; but the whole matter proved to be so unsatisfactory to Sarai that she repudiated her own arrangement. And God showed his repudiation of it by totally ignoring the fact that any child had been born. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and continued to talk about making him the father of nations through the seed promised, and of making his covenant with Abraham and the seed that was promised. He also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah, because she should “be a mother of nations” through the promised seed. [Genesis 17:16.]

Abraham noticed this total ignoring of the child that had been born, and called the Lord’s attention to it, saying, “O, that Ishmael might live before thee!” [Genesis 17:18.]

“But God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.” Genesis 17:15–21.

By all this, both Abram and Sarai were taught that, in carrying out the promise, the fulfilling of the word of God, nothing would answer but dependence upon that word only. Sarai learned that her device brought only trouble and perplexity, and delayed the fulfillment of the promise. Abram learned that in harkening to the voice of Sarai, he had missed the word of God; and that now he must abandon that whole scheme, and turn again to the word of God only.

But now Abraham was ninety-nine years old, and Sarah was eighty-nine. And, if anything, this seems to put farther off than ever the fulfillment of the word, and called for a deeper dependence upon the word of God—a greater faith than before.

It was perfectly plain that now there was no possibility of dependence upon anything, whatever, but the naked word only: they were shut up absolutely to this for the accomplishment of what the word said. All works, devices, plans, and efforts of their own were excluded, and they were shut up to faith alone—shut up to the word alone, and to absolute dependence upon that word only for the accomplishment of what that word said.

And now that the way was clear for “the word only” to work, that word did work effectually, and the promised “seed” was born. And so “through faith”—through helpless, total dependence upon the word only—“Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

And “therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand by the seashore innumerable.” Hebrews 11:12.

And thus was fulfilled the word spoken to Abram, when God “brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them … so shall thy seed be.”

This is a divine lesson in faith. And this is what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith. For this was imputed to Abraham for righteousness, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith.

Yet “it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:23–25.

And all “they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” [Galations 3:9] All they who, excluding—yea, repudiating—all works, plans, device, and efforts, of their own, depend in utter helplessness upon the word of God only to accomplish what that word says­—these are they which be of faith, and are blessed with faithful Abraham with the righteousness of God.

O, “understanding how to exercise faith: this is the science of the gospel!” And the science of the gospel is the science of sciences. Who would not strain every nerve to understand it?

When Abraham and Sarah had cleared themselves of all the scheme of unbelief which had produced Ishmael, and had stood upon faith alone—dependence on the word of God alone—Isaac, the true child of promise, was born.

In harkening to the voice of Sarai (Genesis 16:1), Abram had swerved from the line of strict integrity to the word of God, from the strictness of true faith; and now that he had returned to the word only, to true faith, he must be tested before it could be certainly said of him that his faith was counted for righteousness.

He had trusted the naked word of God as against Ishmael, and had obtained Isaac, the true child of promise of God. And now, having obtained Isaac, the question must be determined whether he would trust the naked word of God as against even Isaac himself.

Accordingly, God said to Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” [Genesis 22:2.]

Abraham had received Isaac from God, by trusting the word of God only; Isaac alone was the seed promised by the word of the Lord. After Isaac was born, God had confirmed the word by declaring, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Genesis 21:12. And now came the word of God, Take thy son, thine only son Isaac, and offer him for a burnt offering.

God had declared to Abraham, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude; “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”; [Genesis 22:18.] “In Isaac shall thy seed be called”; and now, Offer Isaac for a burnt offering!

But, if Isaac is offered for a burnt offering, if Isaac is burned up, what will become of the promise of the blessing of all nations in him? What will become of the promise, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven innumerable? Yet there stood the word, Offer Isaac for a burnt offering. Abraham had trusted the word of God only, as against Ishmael; but this is more than trusting the word of God as against Isaac; it is trusting the word of God against the word of God!

And Abraham did it, hoping against hope. God had said: Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven; In Isaac shall thy seed be called; Offer Isaac for a burnt offering. Abraham did not insist that God should “harmonize these passages.” It was all-sufficient for him to know that the statements were all the word of God. Knowing this, he would trust that word, would follow that word, and would let the Lord “harmonize these passages,” or “explain these texts,” if any such thing were needed.

Said Abraham: God has said, Offer Isaac for a burnt offering. That I will do. God has said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called;” [Genesis 21:2.] and, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude. I interfered once in the promise, and hindered it till I repudiated all that I had done, and came back to the word only. Then, by a miracle, God gave me Isaac, the promised seed. Now he says, Offer Isaac, the promised seed, for a burnt offering. I will do it: by a miracle God gave him at the first; and by a miracle God can restore him. Yet when I shall have offered him for a burnt offering, he will be dead; and the only miracle that can restore him is a miracle that will bring him back from the dead. But God is able to do even that, and he will do it; for his word is spoken. Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude, and, In Isaac shall the seed be called. And even the bringing back of Isaac from the dead will be to God no more than he has already done; for, as to offspring, both my body and Sarah’s were as good as dead, and yet God brought forth Isaac from us. He can raise Isaac from the dead, and he will. Bless the Lord!

It was settled. He arose, and took his servants and Isaac, and went three days’ journey “unto the place which God had told him.” And when on the third day he “saw the place afar off,” [Genesis 22:3, last part, 4.] “Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” Genesis 22:5. Who will go?—“I and the lad will go.”—And who will come again:—I and the lad will go… and come again to you.” Abraham expected to have Isaac come back with him as certainly as that he went with him.

Abraham expected to offer Isaac for a burnt offering, and expected I to see Isaac rise from the ashes and go back with him. For the word of God had gone forth, In Isaac shall thy seed be called, and, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude. And Abraham would trust that word only, that it could never fail. Hebrews 11:17–19.

This is faith. And thus “the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.” James 2:23. But yet above this, “It was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed; if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:23 25.

To trust the word of God only; to depend upon the word of God only; to depend upon the word of God, even as against the word of God,—this is Faith: this is the faith which brings the righteousness of God.

This is what it is to exercise faith. This is “what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of exercising faith.” And “understanding how to exercise faith,” this is the science of the gospel. And the science of the gospel is the science of sciences. Lessons on Faith, 16–23.

[Emphasis author’s.]

©1995, TEACH Services, Inc.

Used with Permission

www.teachservices.com

God our Dependence

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“To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, His faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5. This is the only way that anybody in this world can ever become righteous: first admit that he is ungodly; then believe that God justifies, counts righteous, the ungodly, and he is righteous with the very righteousness of God.

Everybody in the world is ungodly. “Ungodly” means “unlike God.” And it is written, “All have sinned and come short of the glory [the goodness, the character] of God.” [Romans 3:23.]

Anybody, therefore, who will admit that he ever came short of being like God in anything, in that confesses that he is ungodly.

But the truth is that everybody, in everything, has come short of being like God. For “they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:9–18.

Then, as there is not one on earth who is not ungodly, and as God justifies the ungodly, this on God’s part makes justification—righteousness, salvation—full, free, and sure to every soul on earth.

And all that anybody needs to do to make it all sure to himself on his own part is to accept it—to believe that God does justify, personally and individually, him who is ungodly.

Thus, strange as it may sound to many, the only qualification, and the only preparation, for justification is for a person to acknowledge that he is ungodly.

Then, having such qualifications, having made such preparations, all that is required of him to obtain justification, full, free, and sure, is to believe that God justifies him, the ungodly one.

It is quite easy for many to believe that they are ungodly, and even to acknowledge it; but for them to believe that God justifies them—that is too much.

And the sole reason why they can not believe that God justifies them is that they are ungodly, so ungodly.

If only they could find some good in themselves, or if only they could straighten up and do better, they might have some courage to hope that God would justify them. Yes, they would justify themselves by works, and then profess to believe in justification by faith!

But that would be only to take away all ground for justification; for if a man can find good in himself, he has it already, and does not need it from anywhere else. If he can straighten up and do better himself, he does not need any justification from anywhere else.

It is, therefore, a contradiction in terms to say that I am so ungodly that I do not see how the Lord can justify me. For if I am not ungodly, I do not need to be made righteous; I am righteous. There is no half-way ground between godliness and ungodliness.

But when a person sees himself so ungodly as to find there is no possible ground of hope for justification, it is just there that faith comes in; indeed, it is only there that faith can possibly come in.

For faith is dependence on the word of God only. So long as there is any dependence on himself, so long as there is any conceivable ground of hope for any dependence upon anything in or about himself, there can be no faith; so long as there is no place for faith, since faith is dependence on “the word only.”

But when every conceivable ground of hope of any dependence on anything in or about himself, is gone, and is acknowledged to be gone; when everything that can be seen is against any hope of justification, then it is that, throwing himself on the promise of God, upon the word only, hoping against hope, faith enters: and by faith he finds justification full and free, all ungodly though he be.

For forever it stands written, “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ.” “Whom God hath set forth … to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past.” [Romans 4:5; 3:22, 25.]

This is what it is to exercise faith. Are you exercising faith? For “understanding how to exercise faith: this is the science of the gospel.”

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1.

Since faith is the depending upon the work of God only, for what that word says, being justified by faith is simply being accounted righteous by depending upon the word only.

And since the word is the word of God, dependence upon the word only is dependence upon God only, in the word. Justification by faith, then, is justification—being accounted righteous by dependence upon God only; and upon him only because he has promised.

We are all together sinners,— sinful, and ungodly. We are, therefore, all subject to the judgment of God. Romans 3:9–19. Yet for all of us there is escape from the judgment of God, But the only way of escape from the judgment of God is to trust in God.

When David had sinned in numbering the people, and so had incurred the exemplary judgment of God, the Lord gave him his choice as to whether there should be seven years of famine, or he should flee three months before his enemies, or there should be three days’ pestilence. But David would not choose at all; he deferred it all to the Lord, for him to choose: saying, “Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great.” II Samuel 24:11–14.

When depending upon God alone, in his word, for righteousness, we have peace with God; because thus we really obtain righteousness, and “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isaiah 32:17.

When depending upon God alone in his word, for righteousness we have peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, because “He is our peace, who hath both” God and man “one,” “having abolished in his flesh the enmity” “for to make in himself of twain”—of God and man—“one new man, so making peace.” Ephesians 2:14,15.

Further, when depending upon God alone, in his word, for righteousness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, because God has “made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; … whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproachable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith”—if you continue to depend only upon God alone in his word. Colossians 1:20–23.

When he has made the way so plain, the justification so complete, and the peace so sure to all, and asks all people only to receive it all by simply accepting it from him, and depending upon him for it, why should not every soul on earth be thus justified, and have the peace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ?

This is “what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of exercising faith.” Are you exercising faith? Are you justified by faith? Have you righteousness by faith? Have you peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ?

“Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22.

Faith is complete dependence upon the word of God only, for the accomplishment of what that word says.

This being so, it must never for a moment be forgotten that where there is no word of God, there cannot be any faith.

This is shown also in the truth that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Since faith thus comes indeed by the very word of God itself, it is perfectly plain that where there is no word of God, there can be no faith.

This is beautifully illustrated by an instance in the life of David: because David had it in his heart to build a house unto the Lord, the Lord spoke to him by the prophet Nathan, saying, “The Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house. … And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.”
[I Chronicles 17:14.]

Then David prayed and said, “Now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as thou hast said, And let thy name be magnified forever saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

“For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
[I Chronicles 17:23–25.]

“And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: that it may continue forever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever.” II Samuel 7:11–29.

His prayer was altogether of faith, because it was altogether the word of God: the word of God was the cause of it; the word of God was all the hope of David that the prayer would ever be answered.

He asked according to the will of God, because the will of God was expressed in the word of God. Having asked according to the plainly stated will of God, David knew that his prayer was heard. And knowing that his prayer was heard, David knew that he had the petition which he desired of him. I John 5:14. Therefore he said, So let it be. And therefore also the answer to that prayer was, and is, and forevermore shall be, sure unto David.

And this was written for our learning; that we might know how to pray in faith, and how in prayer to cultivate faith. Therefore, Go and do thou likewise. Because “the knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.”

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Therefore the word of God is the only means of faith.

Therefore, where there is no word of God, there can not be any faith.

And where the word of God is, faith is the entire dependence upon that word for the accomplishment of what that word says.

From all this, which is the truth, it is perfectly plain that in order for any one to ask in faith, he must first of all be sure that he has the word of God for what he asks.

Having the word of God for what he asks, he, like David, can find it in his heart to pray with perfect confidence, which is only in perfect faith.

He who thus prays knows that he is asking according to the will of God: for he knows that he has the plain word of God for it.

Therefore he knows that God hears him; and knowing that God hears him, he knows that he has the thing for which he has asked; because the sole basis of his hope for it is the word which has spoken it, and which is the sole basis of his asking.

The Lord tells us thus to pray; and thus he has made provision for the steady, strong, and continuous growth of faith.

Many people pray, but do not have what they pray for, and so do not know whether they can certainly claim it; and not knowing whether they can claim it, they are all at sea as to whether their prayers are answered or not.

The Lord does not want anybody to move uncertainly. Therefore he has given his word, which thoroughly furnishes every one unto all good works, and by which are given all things that pertain unto life and godliness.

And any one who seeks in the word of God the things which God has there provided for all, and upon that specific word prays for that thing, thus asking according to the plainly expressed will of God, knows that his prayer is heard, and that he has the thing for which he prayed.

So doing, the prayers will be always certain, the life will be filled with the direct gifts of God, and the faith will be sure and strong, and will be ever increasing in strength.

Many pray the prayer of the disciples, “Lord, increase our faith.” This is well. Yet along with this, it must never be forgotten that faith comes only by the word of God. Therefore, as certainly as your faith shall be increased and it can be only by there being in you an increase of the word of God, is by harkening to that word, praying to the Lord for the thing which that word says, depending wholly upon that word for that thing, and thanking him that you have received it. Then and thus that word is received by you, and lives in you.

Thus while we can pray, “Lord, increase our faith,” at the same time we must remember that we are to build up ourselves on our most holy faith. Jude 20.

This is how to exercise faith. Faith can be exercised only on the word of God; for where there is no word of God, there can not be any faith.

And “understanding how to exercise faith, this is the science of the gospel.”

“The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17.

Who are the just?—They are only those who are of faith; because men are justified only by faith.

For though we all “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” yet we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” [Romans 3:23, 24.]

For “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.” [Romans 4:4, 5.]

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Romans 5:1.] Those who are of faith, and those alone, are the just in the earth.

Now faith is entire dependence on the word of God, that that word shall accomplish what that word says. “It shall accomplish that which I please.” Isaiah 55:11.

To be justified, then, is to be justified by entire dependence upon the word of God. The just are those who are of the word of God. This is how men become just.

Men must not only become just by faith,—by dependence upon the word of God,—but being just, we must live by faith. The just man lives in precisely the same way, and by precisely the same thing, that he becomes just.

We become just by faith; faith is entire dependence on the word of God. We, being just, must live by precisely the same thing by which we become just; that is, by entire dependence upon the word of God.

And this is exactly what Jesus said: Man shall live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” [Matthew 4:4.] When Jesus said that, it is perfectly plain that he simply said, in other words, Man shall live by faith.

There is no other way truly to live than by faith, which is simply living by the word of God. Without faith, without the word of God, men only die.

Indeed, without the word of God, everything only dies; for in the beginning everything came by the word of God. The word of God is the origin and life of everything; for, “He spake, and it was.”

All things animate and inanimate,—sun, moon, and stars, animals and men,—all are entirely dependent upon the word of God for existence. Only in the case of men, God has bestowed upon them the wondrous gift of choice as to whether they will do so or not. This gift opens the door of faith. And when a man does choose to live by the word of God, which is the only means of life, faith—entire dependence upon the word of God—is the means by which he lays hold on the means of life.

Thus “the just shall live by faith,” and thus “whatsoever is not of faith is sin”; which is simply to say, The just must live by the word of God; and whatsoever is not the word of God is sin.

“We can not have a healthy Christian experience, we can not obey the gospel unto salvation, until the science of faith is better understood; and until more faith is exercised.”

“Hast thou faith?” Have the faith of God. Here are they that keep “the faith of Jesus.”

“The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” Romans 1:17.

Faith is complete dependence upon the word of God, expecting that word to do what the word itself says. Is there, then, righteousness spoken by the word of God, so that people can depend completely upon that word, that the word shall accomplish what the word says?

There it is. Indeed, that is the very object of the gift of Christ. For him “God hath set forth … to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:25.

Seeing then that God hath set forth Christ expressly to declare, to speak, the righteousness of God, it is certain that the word of God has spoken, upon which there can be complete dependence, expecting that word to do what that word says. In other words, there is righteousness that can be received by faith.

Wherein is the word spoken? It is spoken in the word “forgiveness.” “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”; “there is forgiveness with thee.”

Now what is the meaning of “forgive”? The word “forgive” is composed of “for” and “give,” which is otherwise to give for. To forgive, therefore, is simply to give for. For the Lord to forgive sin, is to give for sin. But what does the Lord give for sin?—He declares “his righteousness for the remission of sins.”

Therefore, when the Lord forgives—[He] gives for—sins. He gives righteousness for sin. And as the only righteousness that the Lord has for his own, it follows that the only righteousness that God gives, or can give, for sin is the righteousness of God.

This is the righteousness of God as a gift. All men have only sinned, and, if they are ever clear, must have forgiveness entirely free, as the forgiveness of sin—the righteousness of God as a free gift “upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18.

Every soul, therefore, who ever asks God for forgiveness of sin, in that very thing asks God to give him righteousness for sin. Every soul who asks God for forgiveness, asks it solely upon the word of God, which speaks forgiveness. And faith is entire dependence upon the word for what the word speaks. Thus righteousness is altogether of faith.

“Every one that asketh receiveth.” You have asked the Lord many a time to forgive your sins; that is, you have asked him to give for your sin. But when you ask the Lord to give for your sin, in that you ask him to give the only thing that he does or can give for sin, which is righteousness. That is what it is to ask forgiveness of the Lord.

And he does forgive—he does give for—your sins when you ask him. He says he does, and he does. “He is faithful”—that is, he will never fail—“and just to forgive our sins.” And the only thing he gives for our sins is his righteousness.

Then why not thank him for the righteousness that he freely gives for your sins when you ask him to?

Do you not see that righteousness by faith is just as plain and simple as asking God for forgiveness of sin? Indeed, it is just that.

To believe that righteousness is given to you for your sin, when you ask forgiveness—and thankfully to receive that righteousness as the gift of God,—this is what it is to exercise faith.

Yet how true it is that we suffer much trouble and grief because of our unbelief, and show our ignorance of how to exercise faith.

“Hast thou faith?” Have the faith of God. “Here are they that keep … the faith of Jesus.” [Revelation 14:12.] [Emphasis author’s.]

Taken from the book, Lessons on Faith, A.T. Jones & E.J. Waggoner.

©1995, TEACH Services, Inc.

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